RV Rental Sonoma Coast State Park, CA

Sonoma Coast State Park offers a wide variety of unique outdoor activities for visitors to do. Thanks to its location next to various beaches, like Shell Beach, Blind Beach, and Schoolhouse Beach, it’s a great spot to go snorkeling or fishing. Some fish you might see while here are rockfish, perch, and salmon. However, there are many warnings about the water as rip tides, and drop-offs are abundant here. Because of this, use caution if you plan to snorkel or take a boat out. There are plenty of park ranger stations around which will inform you of dangerous conditions or answer any questions you might have.

For wildlife lovers, consider visiting the park around December to April for a great chance to see migrating whales. There are various points around the beach, which will give you incredible views of the gray and blue whale pods as they pass through. Thanks to the park’s high elevation, there are plenty of places to trek up to be able to see them, like Vista Point. Make sure to bring your binoculars to get a close-up view of the whales.

This state park is also home to plenty of trails, like the Vista Trail. This loop trail will take you up to Vista Point which has stunning panoramic views of the coastline. In addition to this trail, there’s also the Goat Rock Trail, Shell Beach Trail, and Pomo Canyon Trail. Along your hike, you’ll be able to view tidepools, Native American redwood houses, and fragrant wildflowers like blue lupine, verbena, and Indian paintbrush.

RV camping at Sonoma Coast State Park is allowed, but it has a few rules. Travel trailers no longer than 31 feet can stay at its campgrounds. While fees are required to stay, it has a few helpful amenities such as bathrooms with showers. There isn’t a water filling station here so you’ll need to make sure to fill up your tank at Bodega Dunes.

While the park does allow dogs, they must be kept on a leash at all times and are not permitted to enter certain areas. Because of this, it’s not the most pet-friendly spot. There are a few picnic areas around the campground which overlook the coastline and nearby forest.

For those who prefer to stay somewhere else, there are other campgrounds and RV parks around the area, like Bodega Dunes Campground and Wright’s Beach Campground. These tend to be smaller sites though and only have a few amenities such as water and electric. They are also pet-friendly.

Sonoma Coast State Park is located near many interesting attractions for you to take your Sonoma Coast State Park RV rental to. Fort Ross State Historic Park was once a Russian colony and known for its fur trading and agricultural products. It also housed one of the first windmills in California. While some original buildings remain, there are now replicas of former structures here, like an Orthodox chapel and barracks.

A quick drive away in Bodega is the Potter Schoolhouse. This historic building is best known for starring in the Hitchcock film The Birds. It is a private residence, so no tours of its interior are allowed, but you could pull over with your rental RV to take some pictures.

In Santa Rosa, you could stop by the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center. Dedicated to telling visitors about the life of this famous cartoonist, the museum features numerous exhibits with original Peanuts comics. It also explores more behind what inspired Schultz to create his iconic characters.

While in Santa Rosa, hop over with your RV rental to the Luther Burbank Home and Gardens. Created in 1875, visitors can wander through the many gardens filled with various types of plants. There’s also a historic home available to tour.

While the state park might seem to be out of the way, there are a few gas stations nearby to fill your RV up at. Many of these also are connected to small markets which sell basic necessities. When it comes time to grab a bite to eat, you’ll find a few small diners which sell locally caught seafood.