RV Rental San Francisco Bay Area

RV Rental San Francisco Bay Area: Motorhome, Camper, & Trailer Rentals CA

The San Francisco Bay area embodies so much fun, interest, and exhilaration. Rv rentals in the San Francisco Bay area provide you with the opportunity to participate in the excitement, peace, and joy of being in this atmosphere, exploring it, and becoming part of it, even if just for vacation time. 

The Bay Area is the gateway to the northern California wine country; the city itself is one of the most beautiful, grandest, and provocative in the world with sites like the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf, curiosities like Alcatraz Island, cultural venues like symphony, opera, and ballet, and eclectic cuisines that will literally leave a taste in your mouth that beckons you to return someday and do it all over again.

Popular RV Destinations in the San Francisco Bay Area

The Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most beloved sights in San Francisco and certainly one of the most photographed landmarks in the world. The bridge crosses the strait where San Francisco Bay meets the Pacific Ocean. You can drive, walk, or bike to Marin County on the bridge's opposite end. If you’d also like to admire the bridge from a vantage point instead of, or in addition to, crossing it, you can get a fantastic view from the Marin Headlands, which is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation area just north of the bridge. Closer areas for photos and views are Marshall Beach and Fox Point. You can also see the Golden Gate Bridge from Grand View Park.

Alcatraz Island

This island at one time was the site of a fort, a military prison, a federal penitentiary, and a Native American occupation. Explore remnants of all of these activities when you take a tour of the island (the park accommodates visitors with disabilities). Native Americans collected seabird eggs on the island before the U.S. military built the first West Coast lighthouse there. The U.S. military also built a fort and military prison on Alcatraz, which existed from 1850 to 1934. Probably the most notorious use of the island was as Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, a maximum security prison that operated from 1934 to 1963 and which housed some of the nation’s worst criminals. In 1969, as part of a wave of Native American protests for civil rights during the era, a group called the Indians of All Tribes occupied the island for 19 months.

Fisherman’s Wharf

No visit to San Francisco would be complete without a visit to Fisherman’s Wharf. You can get there by taking the Powell-Mason cable car, which drops you off only a few blocks away, or the F Market streetcar. The wharf began when Italian immigrants started fishing for and selling seafood to the people who were arriving by the thousands during the California gold rush. On the wharf, you will find Ghirardelli Square, Pier 39, A Ripley’s Believe it or Not museum, the Cannery Shopping Center, and the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. Some of the seafood restaurants on Pier 39 go back for generations. The pier also has a resident sea lion colony next to it and hosts an annual fireworks display on July 4th. 

Events and Entertainment in the San Francisco Bay Area

Sports 

Residents are proud that some of the most iconic sports franchises in the nation call the Bay Area home. The San Francisco Giants moved to San Francisco from New York City in 1958 and have had a string of World Series appearances since. Famous players from the past include Mel Ott, Christy Mathewson, Bobby Thompson, Willie Mays, and Carl Hubbell. The team’s rivalry with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who also moved to the West Coast in 1958 from Brooklyn, New York, is one of baseball’s longest-standing. The Giants play their home games at Oracle Park. The San Francisco 49ers football team is also tremendously successful. They have played in seven Super Bowls, winning five of them. Famous players include Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, Steve Young, and Ronnie Lott. They play at Levi’s Stadium. The NBA’s Golden State Warriors basketball team also hails from San Francisco. Famous team players include Tom Gola, Wilt Chamberlain, and Kevin Durant. The Golden State Warriors have won three NBA championships in recent years. They play at the Chase Center.

Comedy, Music, and Theater

For comedy, music, and theater, it’s hard to beat the San Francisco area. Check out Cobb’s Comedy Club, which was founded in 1982. It’s located in the North Beach area and features many stand-up comedians who have appeared on the Tonight Show and The Late Show. Cheaper Than Therapy in the Union Square neighborhood and The Punch Line in the Financial District are also popular comedy clubs. For jazz and blues, visit The Sound Room in Oakland with its compelling intimate atmosphere. Music fans also frequent the legendary Fillmore Auditorium, located on Geary Street in the Theatre District, which once hosted past greats such as Jefferson Airplane and Janis Joplin, and continues to showcase top talent today. The American Conservatory Theatre, also located on Geary Street, produces classic plays and other types of theatrical productions for your enjoyment. Other theatres include Theatre Rhinoceros, which features plays that address LGBT issues, and the contemporary Un-Scripted Theater Company near Union Square. 

Events

Many local and city-wide events around San Francisco will keep you entertained, educated, and thrilled. Every year since 1989, residents and visitors have welcomed the sea lions back to Pier 39. Seeing and hearing these barking pinnipeds delights crowds, and the event has made these mammals celebrities on a national level. The San Francisco International Arts Festival happens each year and features dance, theater, and music ensembles. The Union Street Music Festival has arts and crafts, food and libations, and community group presentations in addition to music. The San Francisco Jazz Festival has more than 30 performances during its run. You can also enjoy the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Japantown and the Chinese New Year’s Parade in Chinatown.

Campgrounds and Parks in San Francisco Bay Area

San Francisco RV Resort

Every campsite in the San Francisco RV Resort is right on the ocean. The resort is 15 miles from the sights of the city, such as Half Moon Bay, Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate Bridge. You can walk to the beach. Need we say more? Well, there is more. 

You have access to a heated pool, grills, barbecue grills, a hot tub, and picnic tables. You can surf, swim, walk the beach, enjoy the tide pool—there’s so much to do just by walking out the door of your RV. The staff helps you plan your day in the city or surrounding area. In other words, you get expert travel advice included with the price of the campsite. As the friendly staff says, “You may fall asleep to the sound of the waves.”

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

This is an interesting configuration for a park. It is not one continuous landmass, but a collection of areas that starts in southern Mateo County and runs to northern Marin County. It includes a number of areas in San Francisco itself and encompasses land that the U.S. military previously used. With over 82,000 acres, you can enjoy the Presidio of San Francisco, Alcatraz, and Muir Woods National Monument, among others. It is home to more than 3,000 animal and plant species. Savor 59 miles of ocean and bay shoreline, and explore former military forts and facilities that span many centuries of history in California, from the Spanish conquistadors to the Cold War.

Mount Diablo State Park 

This state park encompasses around 20,000 acres. It is bordered by some lands that are private but with conservation easements, which limits any development. It also includes 38 other preserves like watersheds, regional parks, and city open places. The mountain itself is 3,849 feet high and appears from a number of angles to be a double pyramid; the other peak is the 3,557-foot North Peak. Wildlife viewing is popular. You can see bobcats, coyotes, black-tailed deer, gray and fox squirrels, and gray foxes. Mountain lions are present in the park along with opossums, peregrine falcons, burrowing owls, and the American badger. Many plant and insect species also inhabit the park for visitors to observe and enjoy. 

RV Storage and Dumpstations in San Francisco Bay Area

You may need to store your RV for a season or for a short (or longer) time. Here are a few storage areas we can recommend:

• Affordable Self Storage, San Francisco. This facility is family-owned and customers rate it as Number 4 of all the storage companies in the San Francisco area. You get 24-hour access to their exceptionally clean units.
• Harbor Bay RV and Self Storage. Located in the Alameda, Bay Farm Island, and Oakland areas. Professionally managed with over 10 years of experience.
• Public Storage, various areas. The largest public storage company in the world. Started in 1972. 

Another service you’re going to need probably sooner than later is a sanitation facility (a dump station). It’s best to keep your RV’s sanitation system clean and clear of waste. Sanitize it on a regular basis at one of the stations you can locate in the Sanidump.com directory. 

FAQs:

1. What are RV rentals?

These are vehicles or trailers that are dedicated to vacation time and leisure. RVs come in a variety of styles. These include motorhomes, travel trailers, camper vans, fifth-wheel trailers, truck campers, and pop-up campers. RVs can sleep from two to six people comfortably. Pop-up campers are like a large tent on wheels; motorhomes have just about everything a stationary home has, such as showers, kitchens, and TVs. The other versions have a combination of facilities and appointments, depending on their design and size.

2. How much are RV rentals?

RV rentals range from a low of $50 per night up to $80 per night.

3. Do I need to be a certain age to rent an RV in San Francisco Bay Area

Yes. You must be at least 21 years old.

4. Do I need insurance when I rent an RV?

Yes. Similar to renting a car, you need to have insurance in case of an accident or any damage. You can add the RV rental company to your own auto insurance with a binder but this is a little complicated. The easiest option is to purchase insurance through the company you’re renting the RV from.

5. Do I need to return my rental RV with a full tank?

Yes, it is best to return the RV with a full tank. If you don’t, the rental company will top off the tank and probably charge you more per gallon, plus perhaps a service charge. If you do it yourself, you skip the service charge and you can find the best deal on gas.

6. Are RVs pet-friendly in the San Francisco Bay Area?

Many are. Those that are pet-friendly usually charge an additional fee that they add to the per-night charge. Other companies charge an additional fee that covers the entire rental period.