Raven’s RV
The ongoing education and adventures of two rank newbie RVers

Apr 11, 2008

Brannan Island State Recreation Area

Brannan Island State Recreation Area is on state highway 160 and sits on the California Delta near Rio Vista, California. It’s easily reached from state highway 160 and is a pleasant location with mature trees, plentiful vegetation and sites that come with a fire pit and picnic table. There are no hook-ups.

The fee was $15 a night as of March 2008.

It’s open year-round, though when we went in early March part of the campground was not yet open. It was really quiet when we were there, but during the hot months (May through October) it’s apparently, and not surprisingly, much busier.

The shower block is a standard concrete structure, adequate but not fancy, and kept clean. There’s a visitor center which promised to be open at the weekend but wasn’t: we later discovered this was because there weren’t enough volunteers to keep it open. There’s also a miniature amphitheatre for summer programs; it was thoroughly overgrown while we were there.

Surprisingly, there is wi-fi at the entrance station; it has a 150-foot range. Sadly, we weren’t able to connect to it. (You can also get free wi-fi in Rio Vista itself.)

Last but not least, there is a dump station but it was full while we were there. Blech.

There is a pleasant cycle trail that flanks about two thirds of the campground, and a boat launch/fishing area too. Given that the park is surrounded on three sides by water, this is definitely a place for those who love aquatic sports. ;)