RV Rental Mill Valley, CA

Keen birdwatchers shouldn’t miss a visit to the Bothin Marsh Reserve, a 106-acre preserve of tidal wetlands that attracts a variety of shorebirds and waterfowl. Spot great egrets and California clapper rails, as well as more than 400 migratory bird species that stop to refuel here along the Pacific Flyway between October and February. The marsh also connects to Bayfront Park and its multi-use path, which you can explore on foot, by bike, or horseback while soaking up the views across Richardson Bay.

Mill Valley serves as the gateway to the Muir Woods National Monument, a spectacular tract of old-growth redwood trees on the slopes of Mount Tamalpais. Stop in at the visitor center to join a guided walk with one of the local rangers or follow the trails that lead to Cathedral Grove and Bohemian Grove to stare up at these natural giants. If you want a longer hike, follow the six-mile-long Bootjack Trail from Muir Woods through meadows and across streams to the Pantoll Ranger Station in neighboring Mount Tamalpais State Park. Alternatively, embark on the famous Dipsea Trail that comprises a number of steep stairways leading from Old Mill Park to pretty Stinson Beach where you can cool off with a swim.

After picking up your RV rental in Mill Valley, spend a day exploring the Golden Gate Recreation Area, which affords magnificent views of the Golden Gate Bridge from its coastal cliffs and historic sites. Spot whales migrating along the coast between December and February from the Muir Beach Overlook, tour the 19th-century buildings of Fort Baker and watch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean from the Point Bonita Lighthouse.

If you’re looking to book an RV in Mill Valley, you can pull in at the Golden Gate Trailer Park, a pet-friendly RV destination with laundry facilities, cable TV, and Wi-Fi. Alternatively, head to the nearby Marin RV Park which features more than 80 RV sites, is dog-friendly and has a swimming pool where you can cool off at the end of the day.

A 20-minute drive north from Mill Valley takes you to the Novato RV Park, which is ideal for nature lovers, with direct access to the surrounding oak-covered hills. There’s a convenience store on site where you can pick up last-minute supplies, as well as a laundry room and a seasonal pool.

If you want to be close to all the action of San Francisco, base yourself in the Candlestick RV Park, which lies just to the south of the city center. It offers more than 160 full hook-up sites and a game room where you can mingle with other guests, as well as laundry facilities and complimentary Wi-Fi.

There’s a gourmet grocer where you can stock up on food supplies and gas stations if you need to fill up your motorhome rental in Mill Valley, as well as a number of global eateries and cafes. If you’re after a more extensive range of services, San Rafael is just a 15-minute drive away or you can head across the San Francisco Bay to Richmond and its Walmart where you may be able to set up camp for a night or two with the manager’s permission.

Park your camper rental in Mill Valley and head out to explore on foot, with the charming downtown area clustered with art galleries, bookshops, and open-air cafes. Be sure to visit the city’s public library which nestles on the edge of Old Mill Park and offers superb views of the surrounding redwood forest from its multi-storied windows and deck. Another landmark worth visiting is the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, which drew on distinctly local architectural elements and locally sourced materials when it was built in the 1960s.

After exploring the downtown area, head out on one of the short trails that connect Mill Valley with Muir Woods and the Tamalpais State Park, including the steep Zigzag Trail, the Cowboy Rock Trail, and the Homestead Trail that traverses the western slope of the Homestead Valley.

Also nestled on the outskirts of Mill Valley is the Nature Friends Tourist Club - a Bavarian-inspired lodge that offers sweeping views across the rugged surrounds. It’s just one chapter of this global organization that’s dedicated to environmentally conscious tourism and the protection of natural and cultural heritage, with the 1914 lodge open to visitors on select weekends.

A more somber site to explore is the Mount Tamalpais Aircraft Crash Site - a collection of debris belonging to a US Navy plane that crashed here in November 1944. Now protected by the US government, it’s a place to remember the sacrifice made by the eight aviators and crew who died on that fateful night, with an aluminum fuselage and part of a bunkbed among the wreckage.

Whether you’re visiting Marin County for its artistic culture or mountain hiking trails, search for the best RV rental in Mill Valley and start exploring.