Johnson's Beach

It was wonderful! As a kid my aunt took us there and I carried on the tradition for myself and friends. Me my bestie and my niece "besties granddaughter" Aubrey took this trip to the River to introduce her to the natural beauty in nature. Aubrey said to me "Best day ever" 🤩! Made my heart melt and filled me with Joy Joy Joy 😊.

A very pleasant stretch of beach with clean water, though there was some noticeable algal growth near the riverbanks. It was a perfect summer day, making it enjoyable for wading and swimming, but the area was fairly crowded. Parking is available for $10, and while there are food options on site, we chose not to eat there due to the crowds. Chairs and umbrellas are available for rent, but the prices felt steep—typical of popular tourist spots. Overall, it was a decent experience and a nice place to spend a summer afternoon.

This was my first time staying in a tiny house and my daughter I were blown away. It was perfectly clean, beautiful contemporary features with all the comforts of home. It's less than 100 yards to the river and 100 yards in the other direction to town. Perfect location. We'll be back!

Private Beach area on the Russian River. $10 for parking. $35 to setup your own shade (shade canopy). That's a bit pricey for something they are not providing. Lots of rocks, not sandy. Water is on the cold side, which is fine on a hot day. Avoid the algae. Crowded location. There's a boat ramp right next to it. Avoid getting hit by a boat.

I had a terrible experience here. $10 for parking is fair enough for a private beach in a tourist town, but if you’re charging customers that much you should at least treat them with basic human dignity. The man working at the burger shack the afternoon of Monday 6/30 gave perfectly kind and polite service to the people in front of and behind me. But he did not look me in the eye or utter a single word to me. I ordered politely, said please and thank you anyway because I was raised right. He did not respond or acknowledge me even when handing me my order. The only acknowledgement I received was an annoyed glare at the end because I apparently didn’t leave his sight fast enough. The only obvious differences between myself and the other patrons who received decent service was that I am a woman with short hair and tan skin. I believe I was treated poorly due to homophobia and perhaps racism. But even if that wasn’t it, even if he was somehow offended by my mere presence, what kind of family establishment charges these prices and treats customers like dirt?! And then asks for a tip??? The experience was so awful and degrading that I spent the rest of my time on the beach crying. The rest of the facilities were so rundown and expensive (bathroom floor covered in toilet paper and fluids) that I struggle to see how anyone can recommend this facility in good conscience. Gay and queer people, go anywhere else. And if you’re not gay but you (gasp!) want a clean bathroom, look elsewhere.

Probably the best beach on the Russian and a destination for all forms of river recreation. The location is about 400 ft. from Main Street Guerneville and maybe a shorter distance from the river. The grounds, including campsites, bungalows, and cabins, exude a classic river resort vibe, reminiscent of a forgotten era. During the summer season, this is a premier spot for family fun, including swimming, tubing, kayaking, and paddleboarding, etc. The accommodations were very clean, all in good order. Essential utensils and cookware were provided in the kitchenette that included a 2-person nook for morning coffee, with widows looking out to a view of the river.

Johnson’s beach is a fantastic place to take children camping, with the convenience of a lively little downtown just steps away. The river is beautiful, refreshing on a hot day, and just so peaceful. I highly recommend Johnson’s beach.

I've been coming here for 20 plus years! I love this place. Minus the prices!! They have gotten super expensive for accommodations even tent camping ⛺️. Since the new owner took over. I ended up staying in town since it was cheaper. Also strict policies about having your own alcohol on the beach ⛱️. You can only buy beer at the hamburger Hut. Otherwise, location is great. Walking distance to town, bars, restaurants & other accommodations.

Our group stayed in both the Historic Bungalows and Tiny Cabins. Def recommended the cabins! They are stand alone so you don't really hear your neighbors vs the bungalow walls were pretty thin and there are slight gaps in the floorboards that you can see straight down to the carport. With the cabins you get a fire pit and you can purchase firewood for $10+tax at the office. We also spent time at the beach and had reserved umbrellas for $20 each because previous reviews stated they were strict about not allowing outside umbrellas. This was not the case and we saw pop up tents and umbrellas. It is easier to rent because getting your own umbrella staked into the rocks is a little challenging! Getting from the accommodations to the beach was so easy and a nice option to go back and forth to use the restroom on your own cabin vs the port o potty. Overall a nice comfortable stay.

Review is for the beach only, they hold a Jazz and Blues Festival here every year that my friend goes to, and I had it bookmarked for the festival. We were trying to find somewhere with running water for the kids to play at and this was perfect early in the morning. You can easily find parking on the street and it's a very fast walk to the water. There were some people fishing and us, we made sure to move far away and the kids went crazy throwing rocks in the water and learning how to skip stones. They are at the perfect age now where even watching a stick flow downstream is fun and enchanting. You can go walk toward the bridge for a little change, there was no one else there and I always like seeing what's in the water at far off places. Overall, it's an easy to get to beach with entertaining running water. It's very small and I can imagine it getting crowded but it was perfect for our family and an early morning adventure to get your blood pumping.

Been camping here since childhood but, this is my first time coming since ownership changed. The bathrooms have gotten an upgrade since I last came and so have the campgrounds! We "glamped" in the canvas tents and I must say, it was quite lovely. The beds are heated, we had a fan in the tent and plugs for our devices. The area is wonderful as far as restaurants go... you really don't have to bring much with you. There's also a really good ice chest in the tent so... just bring your clothes and a flashlight and a couple of chairs and you're set! They even provide towels... it really was a lovely time.

What a cool river adventure this will be. I'm excited to go paddle boating on the Russian River. You can camp here or get a room which is kind of like camping.

We stayed in one of the bungalows and it was perfect. Very clean and had everything you could need for your stay. We had our own shower, bathroom, deck and little kitchen You even get wi-fi! FREE! Host and his pup were super nice and around if you had any problems, which we didn't. Right on the beach and free parking. Will be there again next Summer for sure!!

Offensively expensive for the most bare bones accommodation I've ever experienced. One day I'll laugh at how bad our stay was. But for now I'm just really offended that I paid almost $500 for a tiny, rinky dink room with no AC, no insulation, exposed to hearing campers yell into microphones for most of the night and no shared kitchen facility. I couldn't even take a shower because the water went back and forth between cold and scalding. Lesson learned. I'll never come back.

We were part of a large group for a wedding party, just after Labor Day. We had great facilities, a beautiful setting, and quiet restful beach time. We were all aware of the proximity to town activities including late night bars. It is part of the charm. We ate lunches at charming and friendly spots in town. We participated in Thursday night Street Fair. Our 20-30 something kids had a good time in the late night, and were able to safely come back to their beds at the resort. The facilities have been through a significant upgrade since any of us last stayed here. The public bathrooms are newly tiled & painted with all new fixtures. There is a digital code for "campers only" so outsiders are not able to vandalize as they once did. The grounds are clean & tidy, with compacted sand pathways cross-crossing the camp & tiny cabin areas. Some native landscaping has been added. The tiny cabins are magnificent! Self-contained with toilets, showers, kitchenette, shelves for storage, fluffy beds, pillows & upgraded sheets. You will not feel like you are camping! There are all levels of overnight options, from tent/RV camping, the tiny cabins, "glamping" tents (!) to old times but updated "Lodge" rooms (with covered parking!) The staff was very friendly & accommodating. But, keeping in mind that we had the entire resort, I think anyone who understands the nature of this "semi-urban" facility would have been happy. It's a lovely setting for "just barely" getting into the woods. The beach was full of "the general public" who we mixed with and appreciated. Everyone was respectful of the river, the environment, and each other. If you want a wilderness getaway, go away from the resort towns of this beautiful stretch of river.

We came here on a whim. It's been quite a few years since our last time. It was busy because of 4th of July weekend. Everything was sold out except umbrellas. We asked if we could hold a chair when one came open and they wouldn't since they were all booked yet there wasn't one time they were completely out because people leaving. The young kids there were helpful with putting umbrellas up, but that's about it. So for future, bring your own chair and food no alcohol. The snack shack line is always deep with people and you will wait awhile. Do not attempt to put up your own umbrella they will make you take it down and pop up tents as well. You definitely want something to sit on because the beach is all rock. There isn't shade so reserve online. They had canoes to rent but all out of kayaks but we've kayaked with them in the past and would do it again. Parking was $7 and worth it.

This is a review of the campsites and Guerneville in general. The beach and river activities are great. The bathrooms are clean. Unfortunately, the campsite borders a *very* loud homeless encampment underneath the adjacent bridge. Our evenings were disturbed by very tense verbal altercations from this camp, yelling at each other about substances they are abusing while they play loud music and letting their dogs bark at 2am. I do not recommend this place for anyone looking to get away from the chaos and problems of San Francisco, they are in Guerneville too. In fact while I'm at it, Guerneville is as dirty as the Upper Haight. You have the dystopic choice of really, really expensive meals and very sketch characters wandering all over town. This town is not cute or appealing at all and the campsite at Johnson's is impossible to get a good night's sleep in.

Staff isn't friendly, you cannot bring your own shade, you have to rent an umbrella. Someone hit and run our car in the parking lot, we were told there are cameras in the parking lot, but when we went to speak to the office, they just told us to call the sheriff. We won't be back.

Awesome weekend by the river. Nice area to camp and enjoy the small town vibes. The area have everything you need.

There is nothing like spending a summer day at Johnson's Beach- play in the river, get some quality beer, delicious soft serve ice cream and a ride in a canoe/kayak. I couldn't get my 7 year old out of the canoe, he loved it, and the beautiful view of the river and surrounding redwoods

Unfortunately our experience camping at Johnson's Beach was horrific... the campsite has a homeless encampment next to it and we were woken up at 1:30am with people walking around the campsite, very close to us yelling about killing each other, profanity and drug use. It was very disturbing, we left without finishing out our weekend there.

What once was a great family getaway for the day has turned into an expensive day. $7.00 parking when it used to be free. $7.00 hotdogs, $10 cheeseburgers, and $7.00 hamburgers used to be cheaper by more than half easily. Beach umbrellas are the kicker. The facility used to have nice, large sidewalk cafe umbrellas are replaced with cheap smaller patio umbrellas that cost $15 bucks to rent! PLUS, now, the snack bar closed way too early! The place is far from being a value like it used to be. Just scratching for every penny. The old days of just grabbing a towel and going to the beach for the day are gone. HOWEVER, we really like the beach very much, it's just that we have to bring more food, beverages, chairs, stuff than before. It is still safe, clean, and no trouble makers.

Always a GREAT time at Johnson's beach rather we bring our tents or grab a cabin. We love the staff, the friendly service and always enjoy the beach and the canoeing up the Russian River. Come every year and we are never disappointed. Good Times

Tip: go when it opens to avoid the afternoon crowd Great place to take the kids kayaking. canoe-ing, or just float along the river in your own floaties. They actually have a plug in pump for you in case you didn't bring yours, didn't want to pump yourself, or have a huge inflatable. The pedal boat is slow and not very efficient.

So unfair. There are no noise limits when you stay at the resort. Huge groups can take over the grounds and party with amplifiers as long as they'd like into the night. Midnight and beyond. Loud fights? No matter. Or they can start their party -- with amplifiers -- before 8 am. This is not a family place or an easy, restful getaway.

I had been so excited for our visit to Johnson's Beach. I had already had to cancel our $40 reserved beach spot earlier in the summer due to illness (no refund) but was willing to fork out *another* $40 to try again. We drove 2 hours and were greeted with what appeared to be a green meadow instead of a river. We asked the parking attendant if it was algae, and he said no, algae is microscopic. Yet when we pulled into the parking lot we saw signs posted that said beware of toxic algae, and here's what it looks like..and it looked just like what we were seeing. The signs explicitly said "this water does not meet state guidelines. Do not swallow water. There is an increased health risk for swimming and wading." It seems like the green stuff was not all toxic algae, but a plant growth that the Johnson's Beach people try to keep at bay by shoving it over the dam at the end of their property. Because they hadn't done so yet, the water was truly unswimmable. We went to the check-in attendant and he very graciously took our names and promised us a refund (which came through later in the day (this was yesterday Sep 12, 2021, same day as the review below that says they didn't get a refund. I hope that's been rectified). I feel that it is terribly unscrupulous to not post these warnings about toxic algae on the Johnson's Beach official website. My daughter can not be trusted to not drink the water, so I never would have brought her all the way up there if I knew that toxic algae was a possibility, and certainly would not have paid $40 for the privilege of swimming in disgusting water.

Overpriced. Yes u are right there in town and near the beach and yes very clean and quaint with cool kitchenette but... I get it's a 1920s house but still: can hear everything through walls and floor (including neighboring kids who are awake at 6am or crows outside), water was running between hot and tepid throughout my shower, missing another ring to towel holder (so hung on door). Also not a "cabin " as they are called!! Misleading. even though slightly separated by width of a wall they are still part of larger building so don't think u are alone in cabin beautifully spaced apart as scenically implied in photo or like the tiny house... not worth the $476(with fees) for 2 nights.

We have been coming here for years. The current staff is rude and very inconsiderate! Do not bother coming here. Take you business elsewhere. There are other areas to access the river. Go elsewhere!

I went here just for the kayaking. The online rental was quick and easy. $87 for two single person kayaks and parking for the whole day, which seemed a bit expensive as we only used them for a couple hours. Still, I had a lovely time on the river with a friend. We had some close encounters with some local ducks and a friendly cat lounging on a private dock. Even with the high price, I'd gladly do it again. The 2-person kayaks are cheaper than renting 2 single kayaks. The staff said we'd have my fun controlling our own kayaks, and we both agreed afterwards that was a good decision.

The option to drive up & park ($7) by the river was nice. You're going to pay for everything else. The BATHROOMS-absolutely disgusting!!! At best it's rustic with 3 cramped stalls. Toilets had not been flushed for hours or more. Full of seat covers, toilet paper, & body waste (#2 included). Toilet paper was not attached anywhere. While full rolls of toilet paper where on the ledges above the stalls including the ones that had previously dropped onto the wet, muddy floor, some were on the floor & one was in a toilet. Absolutely disgusting & inexcusable! Aren't there health code standards for this?

This review is for the beach only, as we didn't stay in the resort! We came for a couple days in July 2020. I reserved spots online a couple weeks in advance; there were no "front row" spots available at that point, but plenty of 2nd and 3rd row spots. FYI you are not allowed a shade structure! I thought I read all the rules very carefully online but did not see this one. Apparently they are liable if the wind whips it up and hits someone. They do enforce this. You are allowed four people per reserved spot; they do NOT enforce this one, which really bothered me. No dogs, no outside beer (which is clearly stated online). However, they don't check inside your cooler or look inside your cups ;). People are generally good about social distancing, but can't help but walk within 6 feet of some spots if you are going to the water. No one wore masks - understandable, as it's outdoors and people are going in the water. People are also pretty clean, I didn't see any littering.

This beach has been absolutely ruined by privatization. The amount of rules they have implemented is out of control. 1. No outside alcohol as they want you to buy from them 2. No outside umbrellas. The workers watched us set up our umbrella and once set up, they came over to tell us we had to take it down and rent from them. We go over to rent one and they tell us all the umbrellas are reserved. 3. No dogs 4. Very strict parking management. Even though there were open spots in the parking lot, they refused to open the gate to allow you to park due to concern about too many people flooding the parking lot (which was a dramatic reaction as there were only 3 cars) The rules just went on and on. Frankly, it's not nice enough of a beach to deal with these rules. There are so many public beach access areas around guerneville that are so much better. We ended up finding a much more fun spot and had a great day! Will never be going back to Johnson's beach.

Parking close to the beach made it easy to get the kayaks in. There was no fee to launch you own kayak. Parking is 7.50 and having a beach boy put your umbrella up makes it so much easier than having umbrellas flying around the beach! Concessions were a hot dog cart (very good) and a beer and chips stand. The more permanent stand had not been installed for the season..

My first camping trip was a SUCCESS! Yes, Yelpers! The Yelp Queen aka Diva went camping and I made it back alive; whoo! After two years of bailing on my Camping Meetup Group, I finally decided to pack my car up and head to Guerneville to try out camping. Johnson's Beach is a PERFECT first time camping trip for anyone! Why? Well, I have 6 good reasons: 1. Bathrooms 2. Spacious 3. Nice beach view 4. Safeway is walking distance 5. There is a phenomenal nightlife 3 mins away from the campgrounds 6. You can camp or stay in the cabin...Pick one! I wasn't fortunate to snag a cabin, but I also didn't mind getting the camping experience. The weekend we went was perfect weather! I was able to snag a spot (#15) in the back where it was perfect with a beach view and was quite. If you are interested in getting a lovely view of the beach, make sure you go with spot 15 and 4! Now, I've learned that camping is all about comfort. So, I made sure that I was extra comfortable. I imagined that my tent was my bedroom and made sure to bring not only my airbed, covers, clothes, and snacks...but I also brought my mirror (a sista' needed to make sure my face was FAB at all times!) and a seating chair (in the case I had any visitors!). You know EVERYONE was laughin' at me all weekend. ::Shrugs:: The weekend we went was a perfect weekend for getting out in the water and playing with the water toys. Many of the camping buds brought paddle boats, tubes, kayaks, and other water toys to play in the water. The beach was PACKED with families, singles and kids. I loved that the beach was clean and all the staff were friendly. They serve food and ice cream on the beach as well as an option to rent the kayaks/canoes/and any other beach rentals. For my first time camping, I truly enjoyed Johnson's Beach! I have to say that it has set the standard for other beaches and campsites. I would absolutely recommend this place for first-timers!

Johnsons beach is great The kids love it kids the kids love them. The kids love it they are great. The kids love that place the kids are happy there. The boys love the kids so go there Love. Love. Love. Love the people

I know my three-star rating is based on the comparison of how it used to be to how it is now. I have been coming to Johnson's Beach for years. What used to be a fun, cheap family day at the river has turned more expensive without any real benefit. I didn't have a problem with how things were going before so to pay double or 100% more... just not fun. We knew that our family could go with $20 in our pocket and get lunch and an ice cream. Made it nice for spur of the moment trips. Before new owners: Parking $0 3 chicken burgers $12 3 ice cream cones $6 BYO umbrella $0 Total $18 Now that same impromptu trip would be: Parking $5 3 chicken burgers $16 3 ice creams $11 Umbrella, cuz you no longer can bring your own: $10 $42 Obviously none of those are necessary and you can circumvent the parking by walking. Also, I understand the rule about umbrellas is based on their insurance and liability. It's just a bummer to have such an increase. As said, I see that there are some upgrades like the signage or new paint and maybe new trash cans but overall, those don't make the place worth the increases. So we will come back because it's a great place to hang out with friends, do some kayaking/swimming, and have a good time at a maintained beach on the river.

We dry camped here. The place is so unkept and ran down... it is screaming remodeling/maintenance! Bathrooms are terrible/nasty, the area is soo dry that's the dirt is loose, it powders everything and everywhere. There is trash everywhere. The shack/office is soo cool, can believe someone can work inside. Will not be back... :(

Definitely not a resort. Far from it. Do not go here. For starters they make you pay for your reservation in advance. We showed up and there are signs that say toxic algae. The water was absolutely disgusting. What a scam!! No chance of a refund. You you have to cancel two weeks prior for a beach reservation. That is just obnoxious. Please do not give these people your money... it should be considered fraud if they know there is toxic algae in the water and they are charging people money in advance to go to their beach!!

I get Johnson's beach a F in all areas !!!Don't patronize Johnson's beach! I have been going to Johnson's Beach for over 10 years. Now there are new owners that don't care about their business and their customers. This is one of the most poorly ran businesses I've seen in a long time. On memorial day weekend 2024 in Guerneville businesses need to get prepared, for a lot of customers right? Not at Johnson beach they could care less! Johnson beach has two outbuildings, one for food and one for rentals. In the rental building, there was a so-called manager with a gray beard talking to five teenagers standing around doing nothing waiting for somebody to rent an umbrella. With the previous owners at Johnson's Beach. They used to be 4-lines one for beer and wine, one for rentals and two lines for food and ice creams . After standing in the one man food stand line for 20 minutes I approached the manager. Again, he was casually sitting in the shade with five teenagers standing around doing nothing. I was just taken aback that the manager or owner was just casually sitting there while theres 30-40 people standing in the hot sun food line. Don't you wanna provide customer service, don't you want to make a lot of money, don't you want people to return? Meanwhile, after 30 minutes we get the front of the line. All we wanted was a cold beer oh no we're out of beer right now. We have to go up and get a new keg. They were out of all 3-types of beer. You can come back in a little while when we bring one into the food court,. So I have to wait another 30 minutes to get a cold beer? I give Johnson's Beach an out F in all areas!!! The outhouse had TP to the top of the seat, urine covered floor no TP or liners. OK went to the bathroom on the hill. Fecal filled toilets and urine soaked floors. Count the five teenagers clean the bathrooms. I ask myself? They don't care about customers. They don't provide good clean facilities. They don't respond to customer needs. There are a lot of other beautiful beaches in the Guernville area. Don't waste your time on a business that doesn't care about their customers. Our time is very valuable. I want to enjoy my vacation, not get upset at incompetence Poor customer service and crap filled restrooms!

I don't know where to start it's dirty noisy an the camp host is ridiculous I've seen fights first hand an a group even burn a tent ... Chris did nothin an can't even refund I don't recommend this place at all !

Well dang.. This place has changed and not for the better. Called to make a reservation. First, it took forever to get someone to answer the phone only to be told to "go on line and make the reservation" and she just hung up. She did not identify herself or that I had reached Johnson's beach. Well, OK .. Got on line .. And what! They don't seem to offer spots for RV or trailers. I thought may be you had to call to make reservations with an RV or trailer. So I called back, and again the phone rang and rang and rang and now a guy answers.. "Hello" . I had to ask him if I had reached Johnson's beach . He curtly said yes and "how can we help you" ? Am I calling on a back line or something. The staff seemed bothered I had called on the phone. So, yes it's true they don't allow RV or trailers anymore.. Tradition and fun at Johnson's had come to a close for my family. Pro tip call Parker's resort. By reading recent reviews of the campground I had to see for my self. You see the campground has been remapped with the camping spots becoming smaller with more of them to maximize profit.. Hence no trailers or RV, they take up to much room. So Johnson's beach is now trying to squeeze every penny out of the land and patrons alike.. 10 bucks for umbrella rental.. Criminal . Charging for parking .. Bad, charging $10 is loss of my business. I miss Clare and the Harris family's Dan and Nick I hope you make your fortune, I'm just not going to contribute.

This review is for the beach portion only as we didn't stay in the resort. Lucky us didn't have to pay $5 for parking because we found some on the street. Here are some tips for first timers like we were: *The beach is rocky so bring some water socks or water shoes so that you can get in and out without cringing in pain from your bare feet walking in the pebbles. Ahhhh, we learned this the hard way. *Bring floaties so you can float in the river and indulge in one of my favorite things-- being lazy.. Nothing like cool water with your legs dangling in the river and your head resting on a cushion while ducks swim alongside of you. *Of course bring all of your beach essentials-- towels to lay on, picnic stuff if you want to eat, umbrellas for shade. Food is available here for purchase but we didn't buy any so I can't comment on prices. *Lots of sunblock because there is no shade anywhere. If you're like me, you'll have your UV blocker umbrella.

I'm updating my review from this same time last year. It looks like all the concerns I had last year were addressed. Camping at Johnson's Beach this time around was a far better experience then last year. It seems like there was a different crowd of campers this time. I felt safe and didn't worry about anyone stealing any of our stuff. The Guerneville Bridge, which runs nexts to Johnson's Beach is the bridge to Toon Town. From our campsite, site 31, we watched so many strange people do a lot of strange things, but that didn't affect our camping experience. We will probably be coming back next year and making Johnson's a 4th of July tradition. The location is perfect if you want access to wine country or the coast. Not to mention, the yummy oysters from Tamales Bay. The only changes I wish could be made to the campground are updated bathrooms and showers that you didn't have to pay to use. A big thank you to the owners for addressing my issues and making changes.

I have been coming here since the seventies. My husband since the fifties. I know times have changed, but come on. The two biggest bummers were the doorless restrooms. One roll of toilet paper (on the floor) for three stalls. Couldn't even reach it from the third stall. The music, which was beautiful big band era music, from the forties, is now horrible rap, or whatever they are listening to these days. It's sad.

Yikes.. now they've taken the doors off the stalls in the bathroom. You better not eat or drink anything here unless you want to be humiliated by going to the bathroom in front of strangers.

No doors on the restroom stalls. Toilet paper up on the top of the partitions instead of on a holder near the toilet. This is deal killer. A real shame. I left immediately and won't be returning.

I don't know why people pay to visit this beach! It was incredibly disappointing. We we're staying at the AutoCamp resort nearby and they recommended we go here. It is private so we had to pay an entrance fee, plus I went ahead and rented tubes ahead of time. The beach is all sharp rocks and zero shade. Impossible to walk anywhere without shoes. We were not allowed to put up our own shade and had to rent. But they didn't have enough so we were left to roast. The line to collect our tubes was slow and long. One person was running the show and he was setting up umbrellas only. Ignoring anyone who was in line for other things. We left and found a FREE public beach on the river close by and had a blast. Unfortunately we lost money but it just wasn't worth it. Terrible beach and very unorganized. Save yourself the waste of time, rent tubes (or bring your own) and find a nice pocket beach with sand and less crowds.

Had a perfect day at Johnson's Beach on Sunday, July 2! As usual, the staff was friendly and welcoming. Scottie is the best gateman in the business ! Perfect way to spend the 4th of July weekend!!

This is my second year in a row staying at Johnson's Beach. This year we opted to get a cabin and a campsite. (I'm extra lol) This review will be for the cabin and overall atmosphere. Starting off, I will definitely come back to Johnson's Beach and definitely get a cabin again! The cabins are quite old but have rustic charm. The toilets looked new and the shower head had decent pressure. The bed was surprisingly comfortable. It did squeak a lot though which was a little awkward with our friends staying in the cabin next to us. There is a small tv with directv service. There is a wall heater and 2 fans. One is a mini bedside fan. The kitchen is quite small but hey it had a kitchen so I couldn't complain. Chris the guy who runs the office and his adorable dog Megan, have great customer service. I always stopped to pet her while they were making their almost hourly rounds around the campsite to make sure everything was ok. He was very approachable and friendly. I will list some of the cons I noticed but don't let them deter you from staying here. This place is really nice and the beach & town access is unbeatable! Cons - -the cabins are not insulated. They are pretty hot during the day time and the nights are extremely chilly -bugs - lots of spiders in and around the cabin. Also wasps. Lots of wasps. -not all the windows had screens which made it difficult to open the windows for air flow Regardless, we will definitely be back next year. Remember this place has a quiet ordinance from 10PM - 8AM. This place is not for loud party animals. Lots of families and tons of kids enjoying their early mornings. I had to update my review from 4 to 5 stars. This place is great and despite the cons I still think it deserves 5 stars.

First time staying here is was perfect for a two day trip. We stayed in a cabin that was very clean and comfortable all the amenities you need are included. Chris checked us in and made us feel right at home. Walking to the beach was just hop down the walk way super close. Other campers we're pretty respectful with noise. When you are in the cabin you can hear others talking however it's no problem.

All I want are sunny summer days, laying on the beach, wading in the river, eating cheeseburgers under umbrellas and drinking ice cold beer or orange swirl drinks. I woke up to another foggy San Francisco Saturday morning, rescued by a phone call from my sister - Wanna go to Russian River? It's going to be beautiful. Yes, yes I do. We arrive at the beach in the afternoon when some are heading home, but the sun is still out and us city kids need to soak up as much as we can get. We rented an umbrella by the shore ($6) and laid out in the sun. My nephew is playing in the water, showing me what he can do and playing other kids. All the kids are having fun, laughing and playing games, the adults are tossing around a football while wading in the water. We ordered yummy cheeseburgers ($2.50) and an orange swirl (orange soda with vanilla softserve - $2). Everything was inexpensive, nothing on the menu is over $3. I think we spent $20 max. It was a perfect day, family fun in the sun without spending a lot of money. A quick little escape from the city and the fog for a day to enjoy the summertime sun.

My family and I have been coming here to rent kayaks for the day for almost 7 years. We used to love this place, it had a real "mom and pop" type feel. The rental rates were reasonable and the customer service was wonderful. They used to walk with you down to the kayaks and help you off and then when you arrived back they used to help you get out and carry their equipment back to the shack for you.... Today we were EXTREMELY disappointed, to say the least. The people they have working here are an array of RUDE and lazy teens with absolutely ZERO customer service skills. The prices have skyrocketed and even though there are tip jars and a push to tip when you pay with credit card, these guys were just sitting there... FOUR of them... and not one offered help, not one smiled and greeted us and not one offered to help when we returned. I had given a $10 tip with payment expecting the service they used to provide and now I wish I had my $10 back because not one of those kids deserved anything extra. To top it off, the lifejacket they provided me and insisted I wear smelled absolutely rancid and when I came back in I mentioned nicely to the kid at the shack that it smelled aweful and should be either cleaned or decommissioned... to which he rolled his eyes and told me to just place it on the counter and then another employee grabbed it and put it away. CUSTOMER SERVICE TIPS: * SMILE AND GREET PEOPLE, YOU'RE WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC AND IF YOU CAN'T PROVIDE BASIC CUSTOMER SERVICE YOU SHOULDN'T BE WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC. * Inquire how customers day was when they return and smile and be friendly, make it appear that you appreciate your customers!! * When someone complains about something, show some sort of empathy and apologize for the inconvenience and at least make it seem like you care I don't know if thos place is under new ownership or what but it was an aweful and over-priced experience. Sadly, my family will not be returning, but I'm absolutely positive that not one employee will care about the business they're losing the company they're working for.

Bad day on a beautiful afternoon, thanks to the greedy new owners at Johnson's Beach! We specifically went there because I took 3 kids, and wanted the roped in swim beach for the kids safety. No roped in swim area! They even warned us that the river is moving unusually fast right now, and said to keep the kids close to shore, suggesting I rent life jackets for the little ones! We were charged $5 to park. Then they wouldnt let me set up my Sun Umbrella that I brought for shade. Instead they required me to leave it in my car, and rented me one for $10. Rudely telling me I could go elsewhere if I did not like it. I paid $3.50 for3 ice cream cones at the snack bar. 1 was perfect, the other two had only small amount of ice cream on them. I didnt have the funds for a 4th ice cream cone -so I went without. What should've been an inexpensive outing turned into $25.50 before I could even settle in to enjoy the FREE river and the picnic I packed. At least they let me eat my own sandwich and drink my own water. Phew! I missed meeting up with friends, since none if us realized that we would need at least $19 for 2 parents and 2 kids to enjoy an ice cream cone at Johnson's Beach in Guerneville. They planned to drop in and have ice creams with us on their way through town. But not after learning of the prices. The Russian River is long and winding and has lots of beaches. Without the roped in swim area for the little ones, it is not worth one red cent to go here instead of elsewhere. A lifeguard on duty might be a great way to make up for no roped in swim area. I should add that canoes and kayaks came by and were going pretty fast. This added to my safety concerns for the little ones. You pretty much glued to the kids under these circumstances. That you can do at any beach along the awesome Russian River. Last, but not least... late last summer I took my niece here late one evening to catch the last 1 1/2 hours of swim time. We paid to park, went in and noticed the river was full of the same algae that we are warned by health agencies to stay away from. Not only did I pay the same to park as anyone there all day- but, when I wanted to turn around and leave I was told my parking lot fee was not refundable.

This was the end spot for us after a 3 mile kayak down the river. There is camping and spots on the beach which includes umbrellas for families to sit under. They do require masks one the beach during COVID. To use the boat ramp for rafts and kayaks you will need an all wheel drive. Kayaks can also be rented there. Very well kept- there was a bit more people there than I would prefer but at least it was the ending spot for a perfect day on the river

Wow. So glad I found this place. - Free parking - Easy access to the river - You can buy beer and food for cheap. Beer is $3 for a giant bud light or $2.50 for a cheeseburger. Ice cream is $1.50 - Lots of sun (a plus for people like me who live in SF) - Close to lots of wineries - Seems to be family owned. I will DEFINITELY be coming back here. The only downside is the beach is rocky, but no biggie.

Searching little kid's backpacks for alcohol? Seriously? Will not return. Lots of friendly beaches we will go to instead.

5 star location 2.5 star staff - Most were bristly and standoffish, just bumping up against rudeness. They didn't explain things well and made me feel like an outsider, not a guest. 4 star prices - $5 beer Gold Medal people watching Hot Tips: Park on the street to avoid the fee. Bring an inflated innertube / raft Rent an umbrella from the concession stand ($10 for the day) Buy a beer cup, then self-refill on the sly. (Haven't tried, but I bet it's a good idea)