Best City Campground

Rob Hill Campground

Harrison & Central Magazine, The Presidio, 561-5444

Camping in the city usually follows some horrible miscalculation, such as losing your keys or your girlfriend. But at Rob Hill on the Presidio's west edge, people engage in old-school camping, with tents and mess kits, as they enjoy views of the Pacific and the Marin Headlands through the trees. The sites are large, surrounded by eucalyptus, and calm -- you nearly forget you're within city limits until a car roars by on nearby Lincoln. Day hikers have quick access to the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (which starts in Nogales, Ariz.) and the Bay Area Ridge Trail, which follows the Presidio's ridgeline from the Arguello Gate to the Golden Gate Bridge. Extra firewood is a must, as each site has a fire pit; there's also a larger common pit surrounded by rows of logs. Restrooms and running water are available, as are barbecue grills and picnic tables. Groups must have a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 30 campers.