Summary
The Pacific coast and mountains near Santa Cruz offer some of the most appealing camping opportunities in northern California.
Santa Cruz serves as an excellent base for a variety of activities, providing countless options for adventurers and nature lovers alike.
Tips for Choosing a Place to Camp
In the Santa Cruz area, campgrounds can be found near the beach, town, or in the nearby mountains. When selecting your camping destination, ensure to check the map. Be cautious not to assume that locations with “Santa Cruz” in their name are close to town, as some may require a drive of up to 30 minutes.
For locations with “state” in their name, reservations are essential and should be made well in advance. This process may seem daunting; however, resources and guidelines are available to assist travelers.
Santa Cruz Beach Camping
If you’re looking for an experience where you can step out of your RV or pitch your tent directly on the beach, it’s important to note that true beach camping is not an option in Santa Cruz. Most coastal state parks include camping areas that are a short walk from the beach but do not sit directly on the sand.
- Manresa State Beach Campground offers walk-in tent sites close to the beach.
- New Brighton State Beach Campground features a sizable campground with over 100 sites for RVs and trailers.
- Seacliff State Beach Campground is situated along a beautiful coastal stretch, catering to self-contained RVs and camping trailers.
- Sunset State Beach Campground accommodates tents, travel trailers, and RVs, though no hookups are provided.
Other Santa Cruz Area Camping
Within the town of Santa Cruz, there is one campground, while others are located outside of the town.
Santa Cruz Harbor RV Park is conveniently positioned about a mile from the beach and accommodates fully self-contained vehicles.
Additionally, there are several campgrounds further from the town center:
- Costanoa brands itself as an “eco-adventure resort” and offers upscale tent cabins along with a KOA Kampground.
- KOA Santa Cruz/Monterey is situated in Watsonville, providing an excellent base for exploring both Santa Cruz and Monterey.
- Santa Cruz Ranch RV Resort, located in Scotts Valley, features RV and tent sites just a short drive from the beach.
Camping in the Mountains Near Santa Cruz
The Santa Cruz Mountains offer serene camping surrounded by natural beauty. Nevertheless, be prepared for winding roads that may not suit larger RVs or tow trailers safely.
- Big Basin Redwoods State Park provides almost 150 sites for various camping styles, including tent cabins, though it is approximately an hour’s drive from town.
- Castle Rock State Park features backpacking sites requiring a 2.5-mile hike, making it a unique camping experience.
- Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is just a 15-minute drive from Santa Cruz and boasts over 100 beautiful camping sites.
- Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort, located in Felton, provides both tent and RV sites, complete with amenities such as WiFi.
