Casini Ranch Family Campground is located about two hours north of the San Francisco Bay Area along the beautiful Russian River.
Situated among the trees between Guerneville and the Sonoma Coast State Park, Casini Ranch Family Campground is an “amenity rich” campground perfect for families with young children. It is twice as expensive as state or county-run campgrounds, but offers a range of activities and direct access to the Russian River.
Take your family to Casini Ranch Family Campground this year to experience an easy way to camp with kids. The campground is full of fun activities all located in one place. Here are some tips to make the most of your trip:
Casini Ranch Family Campground is located on the stolen lands of the Pomo.
Before you go:
- Reserve a campsite. Casini Ranch offers tent sites (~$81.40/night), RV sites (~$78.night), canvas tents (~$209/night), ranch wagons (~$200/night), and cottages (~$275-$390) to rent. Site prices range depending on site type, location, and capacity. Sites can be booked up in the summer. Book in advance to get the site of your choice.
- Prepare for the drive: It takes about two hours to drive to Duncan Mills, the town where Casini Ranch is located. Stop off in Santa Rosa to stretch your legs or stop for snacks. Consider a stop in Bodega Bay to view the California Coast on your way home.
- Check out the schedule of events: Casini Ranch has an active Facebook page, but only posts a few days in advance. Check out the schedule for the weekend you’re visiting, or for another weekend to see an example of what’s instore. Consider what you’d like to try to attend, or what you think you’d rather skip. If you’re smart, you’ll only tell your kids about the activities you actually want to do…
- Plan for variable weather. Monte Rio have variable weather, with warm summer days (mid-70’s) to chilly winters (~40s). Dress appropriately.
- Be prepared for limited cell service. I was unable to reach my husband a few times via cell while we were both walking through the campsite. WiFi is only available at certain locations.
5 Tips To Get the Most Out Of Your Trip to Casini Ranch Family Campground
1. Check out the General Store
Near the entrance to the ranch, the General Store offers last-minute camping purchases, cold beverages and food, snacks, Casini Ranch themed clothing wear, and much more.
Head to the store to ask questions about activities, or to buy passes for the jumping pillow and food for the animals (see below).
2. Take advantage of the amenities
This is the reason you’re staying at Casini Ranch, am I right?
When you arrive, the staff member that checks you in will provide you with a schedule of activities during your stay. Here are a few of the things we did that seemed worth the extra fee:
Jump on the Jumping Pillow
A “jumping pillow” is an inflatable floor that rises from the ground about four feet, allowing jumpers to run and jump across it.
It does not have walls like a bounce house. The lack of walls is nice because you can actually see what kids are doing, but also terrifying because with one wrong bounce your kid could go tumbling off the pillow! Despite my fears, my preschooler and husband (yes, they allow adults) bounced to their hearts’ content.
Cost is $5 per day per jumper. Jumpers are allowed to bounce for 10 minutes, then they must get back in line for another round.
Feed the animals
There is a pasture of horses, and a pond of fish and turtles near the entrance to the ranch.
Visit the main store to pick up pellet food to feed the animals ($1/bag).
Checkout the ice cream social
For $1-2, Casini Ranch sells small ice cream cups or popsicles at the main store.
Get in line, grab your delicious cold treat, and enjoy it on the patio with other campers. Don’t forget to bring wipes!
Find the playgrounds
Casini Ranch has two playgrounds, one located on either side of the campground. The closest bathroom to us was next to the playground, which made bathroom trips a bit of a challenge because the little kiddos wanted to play before and/or after their potty trip.
When we visited on non-potty trips, the playground’s proximity was nice to keep them entertained while I did things like set up camp or cook dinner.
Take a hayride
The free hayride is about a 20-minute ride through the campground, passing by various campsites and campers, and playing loud music the whole way.
We waved and cheered at campers as we passed by, and each and everyone of them waved and shouted back!
Check out evening activities
Since my kiddos go to bed early, we didn’t get to participate in the post-7pm activities, like movie nights with free popcorn, bonfires, or dance parties. They all sounded like a blast.
Please let me know if you make it to any of them!
3. Play in the Russian River
No matter which campsite you choose, you will be within a 5– to 10-minute walk from the Russian River.
Bring a wagon to carry your pop-up tent, beach blankets, coolers, stand up paddles (SUP), or other floatation devices and walk with your family to the riverfront. The riverbank is lined with small pebbles, so it is not comfortable to sit on without some type of padding or blanket.
My preschooler and I took the SUP out for about an hour, riding east upriver, turning corners, spying birds and fish, and waving at beach goers along the way.
Our family had a blast spending the whole day along the river, playing in the refreshing water, scooping tiny rocks with the sand toys, and enjoying a picnic lunch. Our two-year-old even napped out there! The riverbank did get very crowded after lunch.
4. Be prepared for crowds
The campground and river access always felt alive with people, and crowded. This came as a shock!
We were sleeping outside but felt like we were sleeping along the road of a small town. Cars often went by at night with campers going in and out of the campsites.
Our site was also very close to our neighbors, providing very little privacy and making everything rather loud for our kids who have an early bedtime.
We didn’t get the peaceful quiet of nature until late in the night, or the feeling like we were miles away from civilization, one of the things I really enjoy about camping.
5. Explore Guerneville
Just a fifteen-minute drive east will take you to the small town of Guerneville, another historic Russian River town.
Check out the Guerneville grocery store (Safeway) to restock on camping snacks and beverages, peruse the shops along River Road, then head to the newly renovated J.K. Wright Memorial Playground to get out those wiggles.
Antiracist Travel Considerations
History Corner:
The Southern Pomo called what is now known as the Russian River, Ashokawna, meaning “East water place” or “water to the East.” The Pomo lived sustainably with the land until the Spanish, Russians, and then Americans came and exploited the land and Indigenous peoples in the 1800s. The Pomo represent more than 21 independent communities speaking more than seven languages. Read more about the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians.
Our experience
We did not encounter many families of color at this campground except for our large group of BIPOC campers! Campground staff were kind and respectful. Other campers kept to themselves.
Learn More
1. Listen to the Pomo language here
2. Ask your kids about who they see camping, and who they don’t see. How can we make it more accessible to families like ours?
Our stay at Casini Ranch Family Campground was unlike any other camping trip I have ever experienced. The availability of kid-friendly activities, the accessibility of the river, and the convenience of the store was perfect for my family. We didn’t have to get back into our car for our entire stay!
As an avid camper and backpacker, staying someplace like this was a bit of a shock at first. The proximity of the amenities made this campsite feel a little less camping-like. We didn’t get the peaceful quiet of nature until late in the night, or the feeling like we were miles away from civilization, one of the things I really enjoy about camping.
Ultimately, I’d recommend this campsite for families with young kids who are looking for a camping experience that has a little convenience to it, with the intention of taking advantage of the multitudes of activities planned for you during your stay and the proximity to the river.
If you’d rather be at a rustic campsite among nature and trees, save your money and find another spot.
Have you tried a family campground like this before? What did you think? Share in the comments below.
Puerto Rican & Indigenous mama of two. Bay Area native. Salsa dancer. Backpacker. Doula. Angel (she/her/hers) is a co-founding member of the Beautiful Brown Adventures team. She has traveled to over 30 countries and loves to explore the world with her two daughters & partner - one ice cream shop at a time.
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