Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Alcatraz Island adventure.
Get out your camera to take spectacular shots of the Golden Gate Bridge and the entire San Francisco Bridge. Get here early, because both the ferry and the island get pretty crowded. The self-guided audio tour lets you explore at your own pace, and there's a lot to explore. (Being there early makes it easier to see all the exhibits and information boards while you're exploring.) You can also wander around the island itself, which is a nature reserve filled with hummingbirds and beautiful flowers.
While you're there, you'll learn all about attempted escapes as well as the Native American occupation of the island. Park rangers know a lot of details about the Birdman of Alcatraz and Al Capone. Alcatraz is far more than just a prison, and learning the history makes the place come alive.
Bring a light jacket, because the wind across the Bay chills things down quite a bit, and you may find the boat ride nippy as well. There's really nowhere to eat on the island, so if you're making a day of it, pack some snacks.
There's certainly no camping on the island of Alcatraz itself or in San Francisco, for that matter. But Hipcamp can help you find wonderful spots across the Golden Gate Bridge or just down the San Francisco Peninsula a bit. Look for treehouses, cottages, farm-based B&Bs, and tent campsites with views of the Pacific.