H. Dana Bower Rest Area Northbound

Open for over nights as of June 19th 2020.
Relatively level, plenty of spaces, good cell reception, fun hike down to the crabbing docks way beneath the bridge.
Amazing proximity to San Fran and Muir Woods.
Four or five other rigs parked nearby.
A tow truck driver told me the police will only bother you after about forty eight hours.
Not too noisy overall.
Did not check out the toilets.
Felt very safe.

PROS-

You would pay hundreds of dollars in a hotel to get a view like this, the city, the water, the bridge. I couldn’t even fall asleep because I was enjoying the view so much

Lots of other RVs and vans camping here as well. Felt pretty safe and friendly although theft seems to be a consistent issue

It is free and legal to stay especially super close to the city

CONS-
Noisy until much later in the night with lots of car head lights because everyone is pulling in to look at the bridge. Use curtains and ear plugs.

The bathrooms are pretty icky. I was lucky to find one nice stall.

If you’re heading back and forth from SF you have to pay a toll each way, about $8 so technically it isn’t completely free to stay

This was a perfect location for our 32 foot camper. We parked on the backside of the lot. The view of San Francisco is amazing. It was a little noisy but we just ran our fan at night and didn’t bother us. We parked one evening and rode our bikes the next morning across the Golden Gate bridge to San Francisco and spent the day there. Came back in the evening and spend a second night with the no issues! It was really nice. Added bonus of being free. The weather was perfect and almost a little chilly in late June.

No problem first night we stayed.
On the second day, it was 7h30 pm. We witnessed a car theft (window smashed) 2 parkings next to ours. In broad daylight. The couple just went to the toilet for 5 min. Still shocked. At your own risk.
View of the GGB was great. Accessibility only by going northbound on GGB.
Toilet ok-ish.
Highway patrol doing frequent tours.

We stayed 2 nights then back for another night a few days later end of Feb 19. Site has easy access coming across GG Bridge but can’t head back across without heading north first to do loop around. This time of the year the tourist numbers are pretty low & finding a park was never a problem nor was noise an issue. We left the van for full days twice as we ventured into SF and didn’t have any vandalism issues. Although there are toilets available they are pretty unclean

Views can’t be beaten as soon as you get up in the morning. Also good base point to walk Marin headlands to find a great spot for the evening photo of GGB.

You won't find anything close to the city of San Francisco with a free overnight parking spot. This is immediately north of the Golden Gate Bridge on Hwy 101. Very busy with tourists most hours of the day. It is legal to park overnight here. A car or van would be best, not sure if it could accommodate a class C or class A. Plenty of signs warning about thefts from cars. Bathrooms open 24 hours.Can be windy at time. Total boondocking, no services. Only accessible from north side, so if you are coming from the north you must go into the city and return on north 101.