Looking for a place to go glamping near Aptos? Camping has always been a favorite form of travel for many, but Aptos, CA glamping is a new and unique way to do it. Whether you're looking for a quiet location in the woods or a site closer to all the action, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect glamping spot.
Visitors may choose from 116 drive-in and walk-in reservable campsites spread throughout four campgrounds. Each site comes equipped with a barbecue pit, food locker, and picnic table. Showers are also available (no coins needed) for campers (camping fee required for use of showers), as well as 29 partial hook-up RV sites. Yurts are also available for reservation. These domed-tent like structures come in three different sizes - 16', 20' and 24' offering bunk beds with mattresses, fold out futons and a wrap-around deck.
Overnight camping is one of the most popular activities at Mt. Madonna. View here for more information about tent, yurt and RV camping. There is no longer first-come, first-serve camping sites.
RVs and Tents. Sunset State Beach camping provides dozens of dune-protected family sites (without hookups) that hold recreational vehicles up to 31 feet in length. Pets must not be left unattended in campsites. Parking for one vehicle is included in camping fees. Additional funds may be collected on site for up to TWO additional vehicles at a nightly rate (this does not apply to tow-in cars or trailers).
CAMPGROUND CLOSED DUE TO FIRE:
Public access to Big Basin has been severely impacted by the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire and ongoing fire recovery work, but the park is now open for limited day-use access. Reservations for parking are not required, but are encouraged due to the limited amount of first-come, first-served parking available. Reserve a parking space. The parking fee is $6 per vehicle plus a $2 reservation fee or $10 per vehicle without a reservation. No reservations or fees are required for visitors arriving by foot, bike, or bus. Read the FAQs for more information on the reservation system and visiting Big Basin.
Established in 1902, Big Basin Redwoods is California’s oldest state park. In the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Big Basin camping's biggest attractions—literally—are its ancient coast redwoods. Some of these giants are more than 50 feet around and as tall as the Statue of Liberty. At 1,000 to 1,800 years old, some may predate the Roman Empire. The park also offers spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, lush waterfalls, and a fascinating natural and cultural history.
The park has more than 80 miles of trails. Some of these trails link Big Basin to Castle Rock State Park and the eastern reaches of the Santa Cruz range. The Skyline to the Sea Trail threads its way through the park along Waddell Creek to the beach and adjacent Theodore J. Hoover Natural Preserve, a freshwater marsh.
The park has a number of waterfalls, a variety of habitats (from lush canyon bottoms to sparse chaparral-covered slopes), many animals (deer, raccoons, bobcats) and lots of bird life—including Steller’s jays, egrets, herons and California woodpeckers.
$35 / night
Soak up the bright sun and take in the crisp ocean air along the California Coast when you stay with us at Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday. With our ideal location just minutes from Monterey Bay, you and your family will appreciate an oceanfront camping experience near Santa Cruz as you spend your days with your toes in the sand, relaxing on a beautiful beach. Book your stay with us at Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday today!
**Why Stay at Our Family-Friendly Campground in Santa Cruz? **
Santa Cruz is home to an assortment of wonderful attractions and places the whole family will love! Of course, the area is full of beautiful beaches for you to visit — a whopping 28 in total! After getting your tan on, take a short drive and visit the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and its endless array of fun things to do. You'll be able to ride rollercoasters, play mini-golf and eat your fill of fresh cotton candy. The area also has many opportunities to kick back and relax. Bring your clubs and head to the Pebble Beach golf course for a round of golf on some of the most pristine greens anywhere. Take a drive north and explore Napa Valley or head south to discover the more than 60 wineries in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Whether you want a relaxing getaway or one filled with adventure and thrills, the Santa Cruz area is the perfect place to be.
Ways to Stay With Us in Santa Cruz
Regardless of how you want to spend your time at our Santa Cruz beach campground, we offer a variety of ways to enjoy the camping experience. For something traditional, we provide individual Tent Sites equipped with water and electric hookups to give you everything you need to enjoy your nights beneath the stars. Our Camping Cabins also offer a rustic lodging experience with the benefits of a roof and a warm bed as you rejuvenate from a day filled with adventure in the outdoors. If you're looking for extreme comfort while beach camping in Santa Cruz, we offer Deluxe Cabins equipped with a kitchen, full bathroom, shower and beds for the whole family. We also provide unique Airstream and glamping cabin opportunities to provide you with a luxurious West Coast camping experience you'll never forget. Looking for a place to park your Airstream or RV? We offer Pull-Thru and Back-In RV Sites with the choice for full hookups. With connections for up to 50 amps and options with a KOA Patio™, you can choose the features you need to enjoy your vacation. Our RV Sites are excellent locations to rest and recuperate as you take in the beautiful surroundings of Santa Cruz!
Our Beach Camping Amenities and Activities
Our family-friendly campground in Santa Cruz offers various amenities and recreational activities to help you make memories that will last a lifetime. Spend your days splashing in the pool or participating in weekly events, including several weekends of Halloween fun or seeing the campground transform into a Winter Wonderland with twinkling lights every December.
Some of our other amenities include:
Reserve Your Site With Us Today
Are you ready to make memories along the California Coast? Take your family on a camping vacation with us near Santa Cruz and enjoy the adventure of a lifetime! Check the availability of our sites online and book your stay at Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday today!
$33 / night
Welcome to Uvas Canyon County Park. This lushly wooded park of 1,147 acres, is nestled in upper Uvas Canyon on the eastern side of the Santa Cruz
Mountains. This mountain park offers hiking, camping and picnicking opportunities throughout most of the year. Enjoy your visit today and return often to experience the many features of Uvas Canyon County Park.
$34 / night
$100 - $200 / night
We are located on 89 acres of forest land off Carmel Valley Road, just 5 miles from HWY 1. Nestled within oaks, Monterey pines, and redwoods, Saddle Mountain offers a great peaceful getaway for those seeking a break from the bustle of life. Experience Carmel Valley where the climate is tempered by the ocean just 15 minutes away. Our RV village offers 30-amp hook-ups, restrooms, free hot showers, wifi, cable, playground and we are pet-friendly. You can also enjoy our sparkling pool in the months of May to October. RV max length is up to 30ft. Enjoy Saddle Mountain Ranch and the surrounding areas with all the amenities and comforts of home. Our cabins have a variety of layouts and amenities to accommodate the different needs and desires of our guests. Camping Sites Pitch your tent on our cozy mountain amongst the trees and beautiful settings. Enjoy a short walk to our sparkling pool where you can relax under the gazebo with a propane fire pit. We also have fire pits (burning Duraflame logs only) for your campsite use as you gaze at the stars. Free hot showers/bathrooms are for our Saddle campers to use, and when you camp with us you can indulge in amenities such as ping pong, horseshoe pits, badminton or check out a board game. We welcome guests to try our Saddle Mountain trail up into the forest with beautiful views. Can’t wait to see you!
$34 / night
Ranger
The atmosphere here is wonderful. It’s quiet and right on the beach. Some RV spaces with hookups back right up to the sand/vegetation. Bathrooms and showers on site. We stayed in a spot without hookups and it was $35 per night. Gate staff was friendly and helpful. No dogs allowed in the beach in the park but a short walk away there is a public beach that is dog friendly, so that was nice for our doggo.
Guide
Pretty basic place. Level, noisy highway. Very friendly staff clean. I enjoy more of the outdoors so not really my cup of tea. Very narrow spaces.
Guide
We had a quick three-day trip here to visit family. The pool is small, yet well-kept and we had it to ourselves every time we went each day. The park was perfect for the kids biking around through the short- and long-term areas.
Guide
Nothing fancy but very nice park for tent camping, RVs. Electric and water included in price. The park gates are locked at sundown but they give you the combination (the combo changed routinely). Free open WiFi is provided but recommend a security app just to be safe. The Mountain Winery is 2 miles from the park, fantastic views and they host concerts all the time.
Traveler
So, if you’re looking to be in nature and have a proper camping experience, this ain’t it. If you want a resort style vacation, this isn’t it either… yet somehow it’s a little of both. I wouldn’t recommend tent camping because you’re literally right next to your neighbor camping and isn’t really in the “woods”. Suggest you get a delux tent which includes a bed, fire pit and bbq. That’s why I’ve rated it high because it’s what I needed for one night. Plus the pull and games (corn hill, ping pong) are nice additions. Just know what you’re in for.
Ranger
I had a big spot and no neighbors my entire half of the campground on a Monday night in June. I was under 2 big oaks that were buzzing with bird activity.
The bathrooms were clean and I had water on my site. I had some AT&T service.
GuideI have spent the last 7 hours listening to a child cry in the space that is 20 feet away from me b
GuideFirst of all this place is beautiful. It is a very well maintained campground. Its set up is very much like a KOA. The sites are very close to each other. There is room enough for your rig but parking is elsewhere and limited. The bathrooms are clean but small. On the men’s side there is one stall and one separate shower. There is another site but I didn’t see it. Overall I suppose if RV camping is your thing it’s ok. I just don’t like being this close to people when I am on vacation. It’s like a hotel room without walls. It was convenient, clean, and close to where I needed to go.
Traveler
This is a beautiful place, camp site behind woods, this, waving sound won’t bother at night.
Very clean and friendly staffs
Ranger
Loved everything about this campground! Registration online was really easy as was the check-in process. We stayed in Valley View 1, site 106. There was really no road noise at our site, though a few sites further around the loop did have noise. This particular site has a trail leading directly to the vast network of hiking trails. Huge bonus for us and we were pleasantly surprised that not one person used our site as a cut through. On the subject of hiking, this is a county park that allows dogs on ALL the trails. It’s hard to find that sometimes so we greatly appreciated how dog friendly it was. We didn’t actually encounter anyone else as we hiked, so I can’t attest to whether folks follow the rule that dogs must be on a 6 ft lead on the trails, but they certainly did in the campground. There are quite a few trails that are currently closed due to storm damage, but crews were actively working on them.
While the sites are a little close to each other, those on the outside of the loop had a great deal of privacy. Inner loop sites have none, but would be great if you were camping with friends. We didn’t use the restrooms or showers, but peeked in them anyway. Like everything else in this campground, they were clean and well maintained.
The RV sites have both water and electric hookups which was great! There is a very convenient FREE dump station just inside the entrance to the park that we used as we departed.
Our friends stayed in one of the yurts and it was great, albeit a little cold for them at night. I believe there are 2 dog friendly yurts. 106RV
What a gem of a campground! We’ll definitely come back!
Important to note that you can actually get a cell signal if you walk to the dump station!
Ranger
I had a very different take on this place than the others. The RV spot was a fair distance from the neighboring spots, it was low-density, quite, all good qualities, but there was very little see or do near the loop. There were no hikes suitable for young kids as far as I could tell. There was a little store for ice cream and camping supplies and dump station on the loop. HOWEVER, WARNING: the road around the campground looks wide but there are boulders every 10 feet or so making it insanely hard to back into our spot - and we had only a 22ft trailer! I can't see myself coming back here. The maps do accurately depict the relatively narrow space you have for back in spots. Once we were in, it was fine. The pedestal and sewer set-up was just fine. No issues there. It's just not worth the hassle.
As for the park/water part of the park, well, it was covered in garbage from the day-trippers. It was packed and only accessible by driving to it. Truly not a place I wanted to BBQ or picnic at. Cars, people, dogs, loud music, and garbage. A gross diaper on the shore. We took a very nice hike starting at the dog run. That was beautiful, but not worth the trip.
I didn't bother to photograph our site. There were all adequate, just avoid back in site here. There are so many better places to visit. I checked this off the list, no reason to return. I don't believe there was reception either from the campsite.
Last thing, we peaked in on the cabins in our loop. They looks very nice and maintained.
Guide
We liked the surrounding area and gorgeous rolling hills and while we were able to get a good spot it was not a campground that stood out too much to us. The pool is great though it was too cold to use it while we were there. No sewer hook up but dump station was close from our side. Overall happy with the stay
Guide
Big Basin is unfortunately closed to camping. You can't even bring a trailer in for day use as parking is very limited. This is due to a fire a few years back that devastated the park and completely burned down all structures, including ranger station, store, and all restrooms.
It is a shame because it is/was a fantastic place.
ScoutGreat lake and fishy, clean sites, bathrooms are great. All around awesome camping
Scout
Dispersed camping outside the campground perimeters. Very quiet and this is the place if solitude is your thing. Bring lots of water. Walk in or 4wd accessible. Never have seen another human here.
Scout
We are new popup campers and this KOA facility was just our 2nd time taking our popup camping. We arrived the day before Thanksgiving and our experience was fun. We plugged into the shore electricity and tried out our fridge, heater and other neat things about our popup that we were just starting to enjoy. Then Thanksgiving day came and with it, 100s of RVs. They parked and plugged into power. The whole place was full, not one space was left. Later in the evening, as we were getting ready for bed, we had a surge of electricity in our popup. The lights would get bright and then dim. We surmised it was because a lot of power was being used, as the lot was full and we didn't have problems the first night. When everyone was in bed, I saw a spark shoot up in the air with a'pop' sound and a burning smell. I quickly ran outside and unplugged from the power. Across our space, I observed several staff members working on an electrical box. They were apparently having another electrical issue. I advised, what appeared to be a lead worker of my incident, and he said once they finish with their work, he would come over and check. He never did. At 8:57 PM, we received a text from 831-220-3855 from KOA stating the following:"Hello Santa Cruz guests- We have a section of the park that has lost power. Our team is troubleshooting but we have not yet identified the problem. Unfortunately, we are not likely to have power restored tonight....." Then on the next day we attempted to try the power and our toaster surged and would only burn toast, my in law's electric blanket was non functional, we finally gave up and unplugged from the pedestal.(Friday) at 9:58 AM we received the following message:"We appreciate your patience as we work through these electrical issues that came up overnight. We ask that you unplug your RVs from the pedestals at this time....." The offer to refund part of the stay. We also found that our closest bathroom showers were also down. After we returned back from our trip, I brought the camper to our garage, and we tested the power. Nothing works, at all. After we found this out, I contacted management at KOA, and they heard what happened and advised that they would put me in touch with their claims service(insurance). Once they provided me the claims service, the said"once we submit, they will handle any communications." I had attempted a follow-up and left a message with their claims provided, Gallagher Bassett located out of Pittsburgh PA. So after I had left a voicemail(no call was every returned to me) I received a letter from the aforementioned claims provider which stated in part:"This letter is to advise you that we have completed our investigation into your claim against our client[KOA]. After careful consideration and review of the facts, we must respectfully decline payment for this matter for the following reason(s):"-"The power outage was beyond our client's control and subsequently, they are not liable for any damages incurred to your camper. They have taken all necessary precautions to ensure the smooth functioning of their facilities." I am very disappointed in KOA's lack of accountability for this incident. It's a shame, because the place makes great effort in all aspects for making it a welcoming place. But since KOA is unable and unwilling to take responsibility for ruining my camper, I decided to post this review. I would HIGHLY suggest you not visit any KOA sites as I don't believe they have the capacity for running their electric system, and you would run the same risk to your RV/campers as we did. If you do decide to visit a KOA site, I would recommend that you do NOT plug into their power system. I plan to advise KOA corporate and post this experience across all my platforms so families know the risks involved with KOA. It's a shame that KOA doesn't take accountability for their mistakes. Update: I spoke with corporate KOA and was advised there is nothing they can do either.
Scout
Just a warning that apparently this is a franchise KOA and by "owner decision" no rooftop tents are allowed. So if you go there with a rooftop tent on your rig, I guess you will need to bring a ground tent too
GuideWe arrived on Sunday and left on Tuesday, so we didn't get to experience the weekend activities. We will be back for that! We got to camp about 6, so it was dark. It was a little confusing as we couldn't see exactly where the camp check in was as compared to the resort check-in. Once we figured it out, the late check in paperwork was detailed on how to find our space. The spaces are tight - (I'm a reformed back Packer and tent camper) but ample for Stella (our 26-foot type C RV) The grounds are IMMACULATE! Plenty of bathrooms, back-in spots had cute little decks nearby, a fire ring, and moveable picnic table. People were courteous. Sunset was amazing. Took a short hike to the beach. Had dinner at the Castanoa restaurant. Beware of the kid's pizza, it is huge! Grandkids wanted to ride the bikes before we left, kiosk wasn't open yet, but the gentleman at the camp kiosk helped us. They are harder than they look. Overall a great visit. Recommended to friends already.
GuideThe RV area has ~20 sites. They all have water and 30 amps hookups. RVs are pretty close to each other, but not too invasive. Restrooms and showers are clean and in a very decent condition. Each site has a table and a charcoal . Barely any cell reception, but wifi worked pretty well (we could have a video conference).
The Sanborn park has multiple picnic areas, and plenty of space for folks/kids to play around. There are also some trails for short and longer hikes.
The tent / group camp sites are closed due to fores restoration.
To get to Sanborn you will have to drive up a narrow road. We didn't have any issue with a 21' though.
ScoutI am so lucky to stay here one night! Thanks, Bob! Welcome to BC !
GuideThis park surprised me. It is just off Highway 101 but the noise is not distracting. Mostly the park is concrete with little patches of beautiful landscaping. Campers are pretty close, but quiet and privacy rule. Bathrooms have security locks and are clean. Laundry room is clean with nice, big washers and dryers. The WiFi was outstanding!
Communication from the office was a little lacking. We were here for Halloween. I asked when I checked in on the 29th if anything was happening. The clerk said I would get an email with all of the activities. We stayed 8 nights and I still don’t have an e-mail. A children’s parade of trick or treaters came by my camper at 6 pm, but I was not prepared. Several times during the week it looked like there was an event in the clubhouse, but we were never invited or informed. We are full time RVers and I met several permanent residents here.
There is no store n the office. Shopping and pharmacy are walking distance. Many California activities are less than an hour away.
ScoutOne of my favorite campgrounds as it’s very local and has beautiful scenery. I come here atleast once a month for some camping!
LegendWe rarely make reservations to camp in California Beach Parks, as they are usually filled up weeks or even months in advance. While meeting up with some friends in Half Moon Bay we happened along the campsite and simply enquired if they had an open site for the night. They did, and we ended up staying for 2 nights due to a cancellation. It never hurts to ask!
The campsite is a nice quiet stretch of grass, live oak trees, and beach shrubs about 30 vertical feet above the Pacific beach shoreline. While you get away from the blowing sand, you get to hear the pounding ocean at night. I can’t imagine a more gentle lullaby, frankly. The sites themselves are a little close quarters, but all provide just about enough space for a long camper and a tow/towed vehicle as well. For a small camper like us, there’s even enough room to have a friend visit.
The sites offer electrical and water hookups, additionally there is a dump station just as you exit the camping area. Showers and flush toilets are available, but also used by all the beach goers in the area, so you know what they look like....never clean.
The town of Half Moon Bay offers pretty much everything you need in terms of restaurants or grocery stores. Riding your bike, or walking along the path toward town for a well-earned brunch should definitely reach the top of your to-do list while you’re there. We had brunch at Mavericks Creparie and dinner at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company. Both are absolutely fantastic!
Beachcombing, sunbathing, swimming, horseback riding, and skim boarding during the warmer months also are great ways to fill up the day. The beach path goes for miles in either direction so you can get some exercise off of the main roads.
RangerI’m taking this up a notch to five full stars because I don’t think it’s fair to compare it to a national park anymore. It’s its own thing and it’s very successful at it. It’s fantastic at catering families with kids. This is our second stay at this particular KOA and we found the campground to be super clean the bathrooms to be ultra clean. The restaurant at the lodge, the Cascade, was phenomenal. This is coming from someone used to San Francisco and Oakland restaurants. The vegetables were all grown in the garden and the dishes were expertly executed, and so dang fresh we could not believe we were at a KOA.The cocktails are equally impressive. The bike rentals were a hit with the kids and I know they were lots of activities. We missed out on due to time a crunch. Once I accepted that we were actually Glamping, I had a great time and stop being such a snob.
I do recommend paying a bit more for the more spacious sites. Next time I’m going for the ones with the patio, those people looked quite happy.
TravelerWe had a great time staying in RV site. A lot of trails. Bring bug repellent and enjoy nature. We saw a lot of deer and wild turkey. We hardly had a signal.
ScoutCampsites are right by the beach. Campsite 38 has an extraordinary view of the beach. Wonderful trail along the beach line. Showers were clean and spacious with great pressure and warm water. We went during Labor Day weekend and the campground was full so the bathrooms were not very clean. Having said that, I would highly recommend this campground.
GuideThis place was awesome for kids. A little loud and busy but still had clean bathrooms, hot showers, pool, hot tub, outdoor games, bike rentals… they were even delivering pizzas to campsites when we stayed that smelled amazing. Compared to other KOAs we have stayed at, this one was extremely expensive. However, given the location and all of the included amenities I can understand why. We had a great time and used this a launching off point to visit Big Sur.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Aptos, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Aptos, CA is Mount Madonna County Park with a 4.6-star rating from 29 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Aptos, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 25 glamping camping locations near Aptos, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
