RV Rental for Wine Country Big Q (BBQ Championship) in Santa Rosa, CA

Every June when the Wine Country Big Q rolls into the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds, I get the same call from competition teams and out-of-town fans: “Where do we sleep, and can you just bring the camper to us?” That’s exactly what an RV rental for the Wine Country Big Q is built for — I run this Fireside franchise out of Santa Rosa and deliver rigs down US-101 to the Petaluma fairgrounds and the campgrounds around it all season long. The fairgrounds sit right off the highway near the Washington Street area, so smoke from the pits drifts over the parking lots all weekend and the hotels in Petaluma and Rohnert Park book up fast. A delivered RV keeps you on the smoke schedule instead of stuck in a 25-minute commute back to a motel.

Why an RV Beats a Hotel for the Big Q Weekend

If you’ve ever competed in a BBQ championship, you already know the work doesn’t fit a hotel schedule. You’re tending a fire at 2 a.m., catching a couple hours of sleep, and back up before sunrise to start your turn-in timeline. Hauling yourself across Petaluma to a hotel mid-night isn’t realistic. With a camper parked at or near the fairgrounds, you’ve got a real bed, a bathroom, climate control, and somewhere to escape the June afternoon heat that builds up in the inland part of Sonoma County. Spectators get the same benefit — a home base with shade and a fridge full of cold drinks beats fighting for a parking spot every day.

Browse the full Fireside RV fleet to see what fits your crew, or call me at 707-595-0932 and I’ll point you to the right rig for the Big Q.

Parking and Camping at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds

The Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds does have RV space, but rules and hookup availability change by event, so the first thing to do is confirm directly with the fairgrounds whether RV camping is allowed for the Big Q and whether spots are first-come or reserved. Competition teams usually get assigned spaces with their booth, while spectators may need to look off-site. If the fairgrounds is full or day-use only for your situation, I’ll tell you straight — I’d rather set you up at a real campground than promise something that doesn’t exist.

For overnight options nearby, here’s where I actually send people for June dates:

• Spring Lake Regional Park (Santa Rosa) — about 20 minutes north up US-101, easy in-and-out and a swimming lagoon for families. Good for spectators who want a base near town.
• San Samuel P. Taylor State Park (Marin) — south on US-101 into the redwoods if you want cooler nights, though sites run tighter for bigger rigs.
• Doran Regional Park / Bodega Dunes (Sonoma Coast) — west on CA-116 to the coast if you’re making a weekend of it, but reserve early.

See more options in our Sonoma County campgrounds and RV parks guide.

How RV Delivery to Petaluma Works

You don’t need to know how to back up a trailer to use one of my rigs. With RV delivery to Petaluma, I tow the unit down 101, get it onto your assigned fairgrounds spot or campsite, level it, and walk you through everything before I leave. When the Big Q wraps up Sunday, I come back and haul it out — you never touch a hitch. The turn into some of the fairgrounds back lots can be tight depending on where you’re staged, so I’d rather handle the maneuvering for you, especially with a smoker and gear already set up around your space.

Delivery makes the most sense if you’re flying into Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport (STS) or coming up from SFO or Oakland without a tow vehicle. I deliver across Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Cotati, and the rest of Sonoma County.

What’s included in the RV?

Inclusions vary by unit and by what package you book, so I won’t promise specifics here — email me at [email protected] or call and I’ll tell you exactly what each rig comes with for your dates.

What June Weather Means for Your Setup

June in Petaluma usually means warm, dry afternoons inland and that classic North Bay cooling once the marine layer pushes in off the coast in the evening. The fairgrounds bakes a bit during the day, so the air conditioning in the rig earns its keep — that’s the number one thing teams thank me for after a long day at the pits. Nights cool down nicely, which is when having a comfortable bed close to your station really pays off. Pack a light jacket for the early-morning fire tending; it can be cooler than first-timers expect.

Book Your Big Q RV Early

June is peak season across Wine Country — between the Big Q, weddings, and harvest-prep events, my fleet gets spoken for fast. If you’re competing or coming to watch, lock in your camper rental for the BBQ championship as soon as your dates are set. Call 707-595-0932 or email [email protected] and I’ll match you to a rig and handle delivery to the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get an RV delivered right to the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds?

Yes, when the fairgrounds permits RV staging for the event. Confirm with the fairgrounds that your space allows an RV, then call me with the spot details and I’ll deliver, level, and set it up before you arrive — and remove it after the Big Q ends.

Is there RV camping on-site at the fairgrounds during the Big Q?

It depends on the event setup that year and whether you’re a registered team or a spectator. Check directly with the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds for availability and hookup details. If on-site space isn’t an option for you, I’ll help you book at a nearby campground like Spring Lake in Santa Rosa.

How far in advance should I reserve a motorhome for the Sonoma-Marin Fair area?

For a June event in Wine Country, reserve as early as you can — ideally a couple of months out. The fleet fills quickly this time of year with so many events overlapping across Sonoma County.

Do you serve areas beyond Petaluma?

Yes. I deliver throughout Sonoma County and the surrounding region — Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Windsor, Healdsburg, Sebastopol, Sonoma, and into Napa and Marin. Tell me where you need the rig and I’ll confirm delivery.