Santa Cruz County camping options range from redwood forests at elevations around 400-1,800 feet to coastal beaches at sea level. Temperatures typically range from 50-75°F year-round in the forest locations, while coastal sites experience morning fog and afternoon clearing during summer months. Most campgrounds in the area stay open during winter, though some amenities may be limited and sites can be muddy after rain.
What to do
Hiking through redwoods: At Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground, trails connect directly to the camping area. "There were a few trails that started from the campground, which was nice," notes one visitor. The park features trails suitable for all fitness levels, with some connecting to the San Lorenzo River.
Beach access: Sunset State Beach offers direct beach access via a set of stairs. "Wanna see an epic sunset? Bring your family, and camp here. Hike to the top of the dune. Don't forget your layers, the windy is chilly!" reports a camper. The beach stretches for miles with relatively few visitors even during peak season.
Historical explorations: Mount Madonna County Park contains ruins of an old homestead accessible by car or hiking trails. "You can drive up to where the old homestead was and see some ruins," shares one visitor. The park also maintains pens with white fallow deer, descendants from William Randolph Hearst's exotic zoo.
What campers like
River proximity: Many campgrounds sit adjacent to the San Lorenzo River. At Smithwoods RV Park, sites offer riverside views. "We had a great view of the San Lorenzo River and Henry Cowell State Park," shares one camper. The river provides cooling opportunities during hot summer days.
Hot showers: Santa Cruz CA camping facilities typically offer good shower facilities. At Mount Madonna County Park, showers are maintained regularly and free to use. "Bathrooms are great," notes a visitor, while another mentions "Bathrooms have soap & TP and kept clean."
Wildlife viewing: Redwood forests harbor diverse wildlife. "Yellow jackets on trails, in campsites and near bathrooms. 5 in our group got stung and there was a massive nest in site 41," warns one Henry Cowell visitor. At Mount Madonna, a camper notes, "They are some critters here, I saw a few skunks and one wandered right into our campsite at night, so keep an eye out for them."
What you should know
Reservation challenges: Securing campsites requires advance planning. For New Brighton State Beach Campground, a camper notes, "hard to find a spot here these days but a great camping spot above the beach." Most state park campgrounds book up 6 months in advance for summer weekends.
Weather variations: Coastal and forest campgrounds experience different weather patterns simultaneously. "This is the only place I've seen the redwood trees harvest the fog and make their own rain, which is pretty cool. In the morning it's raining under the redwood trees but not under the madrone or tan oak trees, which is wild," explains a Mount Madonna visitor.
Site spacing concerns: Many campgrounds feature closely spaced sites. "The sites are pretty close together and a few had fairly sparse greenery separating you from others so we felt a little on display," notes a Henry Cowell camper. Sites on outer loops or corners typically offer more privacy than interior sites.
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday offers extensive family amenities. "TONS of activities on site- huge bouncy pad, a climbing wall, ping pong tables, a swimming pool, pedal go karts, the list goes on and on," describes one visitor. Most activities are included with your stay.
Campsite selection: For family camping, look for sites away from high-traffic areas. "We reserved site #69 and found it to be very spacious and flat. We had plenty of room for our 10 person tent and still had room for a few more," reported one visitor about Henry Cowell Redwoods.
Transportation planning: Several campgrounds provide paved roads suitable for children's bikes and scooters. "If you have littles the roads are paved so a scooter or bike could be fun," advises one visitor at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Bring helmets as state law requires them for children.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling needs: Many Santa Cruz CA camping sites require leveling. "Our paved site was decently unlevel," notes a New Brighton State Beach visitor. Bring leveling blocks, especially for the older state park campgrounds where sites may have settled over time.
Access limitations: Forest campgrounds have overhead clearance constraints. At Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort, "Roads to the sites are narrow, so again, keep your eyes pealed." Another visitor notes, "We had plenty of room for our 25ft camping trailer. There was plenty of room for it on site 105, however if it was any higher it would be hitting tree limbs."
Hook-up variations: Electric service varies between campgrounds. Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort offers full hookups at each site: "Water, shore power, cable," explains a visitor. Some campers report needing extension hoses: "I had to use a 6 foot extension on the sewer hose. Shore chord was fine as was the water spigot."
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