The best bocce courts in the United States are concentrated in three regions: the San Francisco Bay Area, metropolitan New York and New Jersey, and the Chicago metro area, with strong secondary scenes in Seattle, Boston, and South Florida. Top public-access destinations include Campo di Bocce in Livermore and Los Gatos (California), Highwood's outdoor courts north of Chicago, and the historic Carroll Park courts in Brooklyn. Most public courts are free or low-cost and welcome casual players any day of the week.
Bocce participation in the US has grown alongside the country's interest in low-impact outdoor games, a trend documented by Wall Street Journal lifestyle reporting on backyard sports and supported by the United States Bocce Federation (USBF), the national governing body. The USBF lists more than 1,200 affiliated clubs and tournament-sanctioned facilities. Coverage from The New York Times' reporting on the bocce revival traces the modern boom to a wave of public-park investment in the 2010s.
Key Takeaways
- The USBF coordinates more than 1,200 affiliated clubs and lists open tournaments at bocce.org.
- California and the New York metro area are the two strongest bocce regions in the country.
- Many top destinations are restaurant-bocce hybrids (Campo di Bocce, Pinstripes) where the courts are free with food and drink.
- Public park courts in Brooklyn, Seattle, and San Francisco are open to anyone with their own ball set.
- A 107mm tournament 8-ball set is the most versatile travel choice across US clubs.
Why bocce keeps growing in the US
The American bocce scene splits cleanly into two cultures: traditional Italian-American clubs concentrated in cities with strong 20th-century immigration histories, and the newer hospitality-bocce model where restaurants and breweries install courts as a draw for casual play. Both have grown together since 2015, and both welcome visitors.
The hospitality model has been documented by Wirecutter's coverage of backyard outdoor games and by trade publications tracking restaurant design trends. Pinstripes, a chain of bocce-bowling-bistros, now operates more than 15 locations from Washington DC to Houston. Campo di Bocce in California similarly built bocce destination dining decades before the trend became national. Public-park investment has filled in the gap between the historic clubs and the new restaurants.
The clubs and courts worth visiting
1. Campo di Bocce of Livermore (California)
Campo di Bocce in Livermore is widely regarded as the most complete bocce destination in North America. The facility has 13 regulation crushed-oyster-shell courts, runs leagues seven nights a week from spring through fall, and shares the building with a full Italian restaurant. Visitors can reserve a court by the hour and rent equipment, but most regulars bring their own.
2. Campo di Bocce of Los Gatos (California)
The Los Gatos sister property is smaller but more accessible to South Bay travelers. Eight outdoor courts and a covered patio support evening league play and weekend open court time. The owners have hosted national tournaments here, including USBF-sanctioned events.
3. Carroll Park Bocce Courts (Brooklyn, New York)
Brooklyn's Carroll Park, in the Carroll Gardens neighborhood, has hosted public bocce since the early 1900s. The Italian-American community that built the courts still anchors the scene, and old-school weekend matches draw a crowd. The courts are first-come, first-served and entirely free. Bring your own balls.
4. Highwood Bocce Courts (Highwood, Illinois)
The Highwood courts north of Chicago run one of the largest amateur leagues in the country, with more than 200 teams playing across 15 outdoor courts during the summer. The town's Italian heritage shows in everything from the festival schedule to the bocce-themed restaurants surrounding the courts.
5. North Beach Bocce (San Francisco)
The bocce courts in San Francisco's Joe DiMaggio Playground (between North Beach and Russian Hill) are the most photographed bocce courts in the city. They are public, free, and busy. Show up before 5pm if you want a court on a sunny weekend.
6. Seattle Center Bocce (Seattle, Washington)
Seattle Center's bocce courts at the foot of the Space Needle have helped seed a growing Pacific Northwest bocce scene. The courts are open year-round (rain notwithstanding), free, and run on a casual rotation. The nearby Cascade Bocce League is a good entry point for visitors who want a structured match.
7. Boston Bocce League (Boston, Massachusetts)
The Boston Bocce League runs across multiple public courts, including locations in the South End, Charlestown, and East Boston. The league publishes a public calendar and welcomes substitute players, which is the easiest way for a visiting bocce player to get into a real match without joining a team for the season.
How to find a court near you
The USBF website maintains a club directory at bocce.org, but city park departments often have more current listings than the federation. Searching "public bocce courts" plus your city name on Google Maps usually surfaces both restaurant-bocce locations and free public courts. NPR's reporting on community sports notes that bocce is among the fastest-growing low-impact sports in older adult demographics, which is one reason park departments keep building courts.
For travel planning, the easiest approach is to base in a major bocce city (Bay Area, NYC metro, Chicago) and spend two to three sessions across multiple courts in that region. Most US clubs do not require advance booking for casual play, but reservations matter at the restaurant-bocce destinations during peak hours.
What to bring with you
1. 107mm 8 Bocce Ball Set Bundle
Best for: serious doubles or team play at any USBF-affiliated club.
The 107mm 8-ball bundle is the standard tournament configuration in the US and matches what most American bocce leagues require. Get the 107mm 8-ball set bundle if you plan to play more than one match on your trip.
2. 107mm Blue/Orange/Yellow Marble 4-Ball Set
Best for: singles or doubles play where ball visibility matters.
The high-contrast marble pattern reads well at a distance, which matters on the longer outdoor courts at places like Highwood. See the marble 4-ball set if you only need a half-team's worth of balls.
3. 48" Wide Court Lute / Scarifier
Best for: backyard court owners and clubs maintaining their own surface.
If you are inspired by US destinations to build your own court, court-care equipment is the most overlooked starting purchase. The 48" Court Lute / Scarifier is the standard tool for keeping a crushed-oyster or stone-dust surface playing true.
Why buy from BuyBocceBalls
BuyBocceBalls ships from US warehouses, so equipment arrives in days, not weeks. The full EPCO tournament range is made in the USA to USBF-recognized weight specifications. For travelers, the bocce bag collection includes airline-friendly carry options.
Continuing the cluster: see also our guides to the best bocce courts in Italy, the best bocce courts in Canada, and the best bocce courts in Australia.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I play bocce in the US for free?
Most large US cities have free public bocce courts in city or county parks. Notable free options include Carroll Park in Brooklyn, Joe DiMaggio Playground in San Francisco, and Seattle Center. Free courts are usually first-come, first-served, and you bring your own balls.
What is the best bocce destination in the US?
Campo di Bocce in Livermore, California is the most complete dedicated bocce destination, with 13 regulation courts, an attached restaurant, and league play seven nights a week. The Bay Area in general is the strongest bocce region in the country.
Do I need to be a member to play at most US bocce clubs?
No. Most US bocce destinations are either free public courts or pay-by-the-hour restaurant courts. Members-only Italian-American social clubs exist but are the exception, not the rule.
How big is a regulation US bocce court?
USBF tournament-regulation courts are 12 feet wide by 76 feet long, with a hard backboard at each end. Recreational courts are often shorter (60 feet) and narrower, especially at restaurant-bocce locations.
Are there bocce tournaments open to amateurs?
Yes. The USBF and most regional federations sanction open tournaments throughout the year that any registered amateur can enter. Highwood, Livermore, and several New Jersey clubs host the largest annual open events.
