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

Apr 18, 2008

Sandy Beach County Park (and campground)

Sandy Beach County Park is one of two parks operated by Solano County. It is found across the bridge on highway-12 (going west). Its address is 2333 Beach Drive, Rio Vista, CA 94571.

Basically, you make your way to Beach Drive and carry on along the road, away from town, until you see the entrance station to the campground. I would suggest looking at a map beforehand so that you don’t end up in a maze of little streets like we did. It’s fine in a small to medium rig but you’d have a nightmare in a 40-footer. ;)

At the time we were there the boat launch was closed due to storm damage and the entrance station was being dug up. Nonetheless there was a ranger on duty and he took care of us promptly. The camp sites surround a manicured lawn and are cleverly arranged so that your view is not of other RVs, but of green grass and trees.

Each site features fire pits and curved “bus shelters” for the picnic tables–a must in the hot summers. (Unfortunately, these were made with hollow tubes and were already getting filled up with wasps’ nests.)

There is a shower block that seemed a cut above average, and a very friendly campground host who chewed the fat with us for at least an hour. You can buy firewood if you need it.

At $25 a night it’s a bit steep, but the price did include electrical and water hook-ups and it was a very nice place to go. Allegedly there is a hiking trail but I did not find it. However, you can walk on the roughly half-mile of sandy beach beside the Sacramento River. :)

There is no internet here but if you can find your way to Rio Vista Library you can get wireless there for free. There’s a little museum in town and various restaurants/shops but it’s not really walking distance from the campground. The dump station is on the right, a little ways outside the campground.