Richmond was incorporated in 1905, but a San Francisco legislator christened the area “Richmond” after his hometown in Virginia in 1854. This city on the San Francisco Bay contained the world’s largest winery until Prohibition shut it down in 1919. Manufacturing ramped up in the 1930s thanks to the building of a Ford Motor Company factory. World War II brought about a population and economic explosion due to the construction of the Richmond Shipyards, which were used to produce American warships. After the war, the population declined steadily over decades before increasing again as nearby cities like Oakland and San Francisco also grew. Today, more than 116,000 people live in this city that’s part of San Francisco’s East Bay region.
The Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park is one of the best places to visit to learn more about Richmond’s history, but there are plenty of other fascinating historic attractions in town. One of these is Point Richmond, which was Richmond’s first community. Shops, restaurants, and more are contained in lovely Victorian architecture that brings the past to life. You can also visit Winehaven, which is all that remains of the large winery shut down at the start of Prohibition. If you want to see some impressive stonework constructed during the Great Depression, you should pay a visit to Alvarado Park.
The Richmond Art Center features exhibitions and a gallery, so it’s a great place to learn about local art. You can also stop by the NIAD Art Center, which contains the Florence Ludins-Katz Gallery and a gift shop. Masquers Theater and the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts are excellent places to catch a show.
Unsurprisingly, Richmond is home to multiple outstanding regional parks on the San Francisco Bay. One of these is the Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline, which features a swimming beach, picnic area, and model railroad museum. Another popular option is the Point Pinole Regional Shoreline, which has multiple places for fishing, hiking, biking, and riding within its 2,432 acres.
If you’re looking for an excellent RV campground within about half an hour of Richmond, then you should check out Novato RV Park. This campground right off Highway 101 is close to Olompali State Historic Park and San Pablo Bay. Free Wi-Fi, full hookups, showers, and laundry facilities are some of Novato’s amenities. Another great campground half an hour from Richmond is Sunny Acres Mobile Home & RV Park, which is located in Concord close to Interstate 680. This campground allows pets to stay on the grounds, offers back-in spaces, and gets a strong cell signal. Should you decide to camp close to San Francisco, then you may want to choose Treasure Island RV Park. You can reach this campground after just 35 minutes of travel from Richmond. Large laundry facilities, easy public transportation access, and great shopping opportunities are available here.
Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park is right on Richmond’s coast, so visiting this tribute to the hard-working American civilians of World War II on your trip is a must. The Visitor Education Center contains a variety of exhibits and memorabilia detailing the personal and professional lives of those who kept the assembly lines humming during the war. Another moving part of this park is the Rosie the Riveter Memorial, which is a monument and garden dedicated to the women who built warships and more during this era. Other interesting places to visit here include the Ford Assembly Plant, Shipyard No. 3, and the Richmond Museum of History.
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park is one of two excellent national sites in San Francisco. This national site on Aquatic Cove is home to half a dozen historic ships built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. When you’re not touring these ships on Hyde Street Pier, you can learn more about the history of ships at the Maritime Museum, the Maritime Research Center, and the Visitor Center. For awesome views of Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, and more, you can take a stroll on Aquatic Park Pier.
If you drive 20 minutes from San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park across the Golden Gate Bridge, then you can explore Golden Gate National Recreation Area. This unorthodox national site is comprised of nearly 40 different park sites to the north and south of the Golden Gate Bridge area. Legendary Alcatraz Island is a part of this national historic park, as are popular destinations like the Presidio of San Francisco and Muir Woods National Monument. Some of the beaches included in this historical park are Stinson Beach, Baker Beach, Ocean Beach, and China Beach.
The entrance to beautiful Mendocino National Forest is about three hours north of Richmond. This forest’s more than 900,000 acres contain four wilderness areas that are ripe for exploration. The Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness, the Yuki Wilderness, the Snow Mountain Wilderness, and the Sanhedrin Wilderness all have plenty of wonders to encounter. Numerous campgrounds provide visitors with easy access to awesome places to boat, hike, fish, and more. Other fun activities you can do in Mendocino National Forest include stargazing, wildlife watching, and geocaching.
If you drive two hours and 15 minutes northeast of Richmond, you’ll reach Eldorado National Forest. This national forest’s more than 500,000 acres contain over 400 miles of trails that can ascend to the heights of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and descend to the valleys and foothills below them. Highways 50 and 88 cut through the forest so you can see some of it without having to leave your vehicle. Most visitors choose to get out in nature, though, as there are many fantastic areas to go fishing, hiking, camping, biking, horseback riding, boating, and more.
Two and a half hours southeast of Eldorado National Forest is Stanislaus National Forest. The nearly 900,000 acres of this national forest are home to over a thousand miles of trails and more than 800 miles of streams and rivers. This forest also has 78 lakes and two ski resorts, so it contains plenty of awesome places to have a good time. Unsurprisingly, fishing, boating, and swimming are popular here, as are hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Other fun pastimes you can do at Stanislaus National Forest include stargazing, snowmobiling, bird watching, and geocaching.
Pinnacles National Park is a little more than two hours southeast of Richmond. This national park is not as well-known or large as many of the others in California, but it still has much to offer adventurers and casual travelers alike. The biggest draw to this park is the towering volcanic rock formations that give the park its name, but visitors also enjoy touring the park’s talus caves. Hiking is popular here thanks to the park’s 30 miles of trails; rock climbing is another favored pastime since the park contains a wide variety of climbing routes of all skill levels.
About three and a half hours northeast of Richmond is Lassen Volcanic National Park, which is surrounded by Lassen National Forest. Volcanoes, hot springs, and other geothermal features call this park home, but so do snowy peaks, cool mountain lakes, and crisp streams. You can explore all of these environments courtesy of the park’s 150 miles of trails; in the winter, some of these trails can be used for skiing and snowshoeing. If you don’t want to leave your vehicle, you can still drive on the park’s 30-mile scenic highway that takes you past such delights as the Sulphur Works Hydrothermal Area, the Brokeoff Volcano Scenic Vista, and the Chaos Crags Viewpoint.
Yosemite National Park is roughly three hours and 45 minutes east of Richmond. This stunning national park is on many peoples’ bucket lists because it contains some famous, amazing features within its nearly 1,200 square miles. Yosemite Falls, Glacier Point, Half Dome, Mariposa Grove, and more are ripe for exploration on the park’s more than 750 miles of trails. Popular activities at Yosemite include rock climbing, horseback riding, stargazing, fishing, and biking.
You can reach the entrance to Mount Diablo State Park after traveling about an hour southeast of Richmond. Mount Diablo itself is more than 3,800 feet high; you can hike, bike, or drive to its summit. There are plenty of interesting activities to do a bit closer to sea level; one favorite pastime here is viewing the fossil beds spread throughout the park. More than 50 trails provide ample places to hike, bike, and ride; other popular activities here include birdwatching, wildlife photography, rock climbing, camping, and picnicking.
No visit to this part of California is complete without spending some time at the beach, so you should drive 50 minutes southwest of Richmond to beautiful Half Moon Bay State Park. Four separate beaches make up this state park, so you’ll have plenty of awesome places to soak up some sun or catch a wave or two. Surfing is especially popular here, so grab your board, and head to Pillar Point and El Granada. Beachfront trails provide ample vantage points to view gorgeous scenery from horseback, on bike, or on foot. Camping, fishing, and picnicking are other common activities at this lovely state park.
The entrance of Sugarloaf Ridge State Park is roughly an hour north of Richmond. The park’s 50 miles of trails will give you great views of meadows, mountains, streams, and more; you can even climb to the top of Bald Mountain, which is more than 2,700 feet high. If you’d rather try your hand at fly fishing, then you should drop a line in Sonoma Creek, which is home to trout, salmon, and more. You’ll be able to take a trek through the stars at Robert Ferguson Observatory, which has monthly star parties for campers.
In most areas, the price to rent a motorhome is around $200 a night and the price to rent a towable trailer is around $120 a night.
What does RVshare Protection cover with my Richmond, CA RV rental?RVshare's protection plan standard package covers up to $300,000 in comprehensive and collision coverage based on the value of the RV. It also includes free 24/7 roadside assistance and free towing and tire service. For more information on RVshare insurance, click here.
What is included in my Richmond, CA RV rental?You should find any amenities that are included with your rental in the listing details. But it never hurts to check in with the owner before you arrive at the RV or have it delivered to ensure you have everything that is needed to have a fun and enjoyable trip!
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