Best Tent Camping near Aptos, CA
Looking for the best Aptos tent camping? With The Dyrt, it's easy to find Aptos campgrounds for you and your tent. You're sure to find the perfect campsite for your California tent camping excursion.
Best Tent Sites Near Aptos, CA (20)
1. Uvas Canyon County Park
New Almaden, California9 Reviews•53 Photos•304 SavesWelcome 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.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
- Tents
$34 / night
2. Ben Ries Campground — Butano State Park
Pescadero, California18 Reviews•46 Photos•63 SavesBen Ries Campground
- Pets
- Fires
- Reservable
- ADA Access
- Tents
- Group
$35 / night
3. Seacliff State Beach
Aptos, California7 Reviews•2 Photos•330 Saves- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- ADA Access
- Tents
- Cabins
4. Manresa State Beach Campground
Freedom, California7 Reviews•24 Photos•282 SavesManresa State Beach Camping is tents only, no RVs, mid-May through September. Parking for over 60 walk-in tent sites at Manresa Uplands is in a separate lot near the campground. Pets must not be left unattended in campsites. One vehicle is included in camping fees.
- Pets
- Fires
- Reservable
- ADA Access
- Tents
- Group
$35 / night
5. Castle Rock Trail Camp — Castle Rock State Park
Saratoga, California8 Reviews•18 Photos•257 SavesCastle Rock State Park is a land of sculpted sandstone, lush forests, and sweeping vistas. From one of the highest ridges in the Santa Cruz Mountains, park visitors enjoy hiking, backpacking, and horseback riding. Rock climbers explore the park's caverns and rocks, including the namesake Castle Rock. Plant-lovers come for California black oaks, knobcone pines, and high-elevation coast redwoods. The park’s 34 miles of rugged trails conveniently connect to an extensive trail system that links the Santa Clara and San Lorenzo valleys to nearby Big Basin Redwoods State Park and open space preserves on the Skyline to the Sea Trail.
The Castle Rock Trail Camp is open year round on a first-come, first-serve basis. The campground is a 2.5 mile (4 kilometer) hike from the parking area and you will have to carry all of your equipment into the camp. Castle Rock Trail Camp has trash receptacles, bathrooms, and 20 campsites with picnic tables and fire rings. Wood is available for sale during the wet season. Fires are not allowed during fire season.
Camping is permitted only in designated camps. Campers are required to be in their campsites from sunset to 6 a.m.
To register and pay your fees, check in at the Entrance Station at the Castle Rock parking lot. If you arrive when the station is not staffed, you can use the self-registration envelopes. Make sure you bring exact change or a check to use in case you must use the self-registration. Place your receipt on the dashboard in a visible place as proof of payment. Rangers will verify payment. For more information about camping and fire closure dates, please call Castle Rock State Park at (408) 867-2952. For more information and reservations for Waterman Gap Trail Camp, please visit the Santa Cruz Mountain State Parks Backcountry Trail Camp Page.
- Fires
- Tents
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Drinking Water
$8 / night
6. Little Basin Cabins and Campground — Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Boulder Creek, California5 Reviews•19 Photos•200 SavesCAMPGROUNDS CLOSED TEMPORARILY
This park unit is partially open. Please take the time to read the information contained on this webpage to find out what is open and closed, and what COVID-19 guidelines are in place: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=540
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Reservable
- Tents
- Group
- Cabins
7. Sunset State Beach Campground
Watsonville, California2 Reviews•9 Photos•5 SavesSouth Camp (sites 1-37)
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
- Tents
$35 - $335 / night
8. Joseph D Grant County Park - Horse Camp
Mount Hamilton, California4 Reviews•26 Photos•41 SavesHikers and equestrians have access to an extensive 51 mile trail system. Mountain bikes are permitted on over 75% of the park's trails as designated. The diverse trail system at the park makes this a popular place to stage large-scale organized trail events such as equestrian endurance rides, mountain bike events and foot races. Dogs are also allowed on the trails, picnic areas, and campgrounds as long as they are on a 6 ft. leash.
Shaded picnic areas are available on a first-come first-served basis. Campers can choose from almost forty (40) reservable family campsites. Hot showers are available with paid campsite use. Group picnic and youth camping areas are available by reservation. One large lake and several smaller ponds are accessible for warm water fishing. Fires are permitted in designated fire rings only. Do not gather wood. Extinguish fires when unattended. When posted "NO FIRES", only campstoves or gas grills are permitted. For further questions please call the park office: (408) 274-6121.
- Pets
- Fires
- Reservable
- Tents
- Group
- Equestrian
$15 - $400 / night
9. Joseph D. Grant County Park
Mount Hamilton, California2 Reviews•7 Photos•52 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Reservable
- ADA Access
- Tents
- Group
10. Black Mountain Backpacking Camp
Los Altos Hills, California1 Review•3 Photos•64 Saves- Reservable
- Tents
- Group
- Toilets
$2 / night
Showing results 1-10 of 20 campgrounds
Recent Tent Reviews in Aptos
617 Reviews of 20 Aptos Campgrounds
michael D.
Guide
Dumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay
We liked this extremely clean and well maintained Park.
We stayed here for 12 days while visiting relatives in the Bay area. This campground, while in the heart of Fremont, feels remote and safe in spite of being close to town. Sites are not huge, but arranged in such a way as to feel private. It is in the Coyote hills regional Park. There are many many trails for hiking and biking, and wildlife is plentiful. Our RV is small and we used the showers and bathrooms quite a bit. They are cleaned daily and we're always in great shape. The laundry is run by an outside organization, and the change machine was always empty, but everything worked well.
Wendy S.Guide
Laguna Seca Recreation Area
Perfect for our needs!
We were just traveling through since part of 1 is closed. Found this spot for $51 and it was great. It is hilly, which made it cool to walk around for views. The water is not potable, but bathrooms were very clean and the staff were so kind. There was not a race, but there were some cars running the track the next morning. Which was pretty cool!
Alana S.
ScoutDumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay
Great for first time campers
The staff was amazing. Tent site was spacious. Not too crowded. Clean bathroom and shower. Several trails to walk. Close to town in case we forgot something.
Amy M.
Traveler
New Brighton State Beach Campground
Close to beach, but still in town
Location is great. Easy access. Noise from the freeway. Heard sirens.
Jenner K.Scout
Enchanted Forest Mountain Redwood Retreat
I think its good
I hope you keep giving the community great material age of war
- Amy M.Traveler
Sunset State Beach Campground
Close to beach
My husband and I love to stay here because of the nice walk to the beach. Restrooms and shower are dated , but clean.
- UUT801
Ranger
Coyote Valley RV Resort
Buttoned up, formal atmosphere RV resort
High priced. Nice people at desk. Damon who helped us park was very friendly. Almost entirely high-priced big rigs, some of whom seem settled here but it's clean, 'orderly,' very quiet. Rigid rules keep the order; nice that no political flags/signs allowed. 2 dog parks and lots of grassy areas to take for a walk. Showers in locker-room/bldg, bathrooms nice and clean. Green grass. Also has laundry with 2.50 wash and.25 dry for 8 min. Skunk wandered by site in the night. Cool train sounds from nearby tracks at night. Was probably the most convenient to San Jose, otherwise we likely would've been in mtns. and too far away from town for our needs at the time. Would not be a regular choice for us.
- E
Emma T.Scout
Veteran's Memorial Park Campground
Fghj
Fghj
- KKorey Y.Guide
Salinas-Monterey KOA
Parking lot with a pool
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.
Joseph R.Guide
San Luis Creek Campground — San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area
Pretty good camping
Camping spot was clean and a tall fire pit a good distance from the water and bathroom at site 22. Was hot af was the only issue for us, 103 and the sun just hurt. There were plenty of fish and fishing folks on the shore and boats all were catching.
Laura M.
LegendNew Brighton State Beach Campground
Love it here
There are a ton of reviews for this place already so I will try to keep it short and only add info that I didn't see mentioned in previous reviews.
Showers are $0.25 per min ($0.50 min to start). You don't get to adjust water temp, but it was pleasantly hot. Showers are non-gendered and individual.
Dump station is no longer free; all California State Parks are charging $10 to dump now, even for campers. You pay at the dump site with a credit card. There are 4 dump holes and a potable water fill as well.
We love staying here as it's so convenient to Capitola. We were able to park our RV in Capitola and walk to the shops. We got last minute reservations (it's really hard to book a site here in the summer), but had to move sites in between days, and so we used that 2 hour block between noon checkout and 2pm checkin to drive the RV to Capitola. It seemed like it would have been too much of a hassle to try and get to move to the new spot before checkin, so this worked out fine.
We love all the state parks along the beach in California, and I'm sure we'll be back at some point.
- Elizabeth S.Traveler
Sunset State Beach Campground
Quiet nice views
Campground is quiet except those who run their generators all day and play the radio loud. It is spread out. (But still close, you do see your neighbors.) The camp ground is between fields and the ocean. Site 25 has amazing views but also can be breezy. Or windy. Old but clean bathrooms with coin showers. Water close to sites.
- Laura M.Legend
Medeiros Primitive Campsites — San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area
Great for a stopover
This place always comes through for us when we need a quiet place to stay when traveling in the area. It's $20/night, there seems to always be room, and it's always been nice and quiet when we stay here.
Sites are hit or miss, so drive around until you find one that suits you. One of these days we'll nab one of the sites to the right of the fork when you enter the campground, but they always seem to be taken.
Good cell reception, pit toilets, trash dumpster (no recycling).
- JJason R.Guide
Joseph D Grant County Park - Horse Camp
Gate closes 8:15pm
Nice bathrooms no tokens needed, hot water, clean sink for dishes. Lotsa shaded oak spaces. Good trails.
- CJ S.Scout
Enchanted Forest Mountain Redwood Retreat
Not great for the price
The pictures here are very deceiving. Driving in, the first 4 campsites are occupied by broken down trailers, an overturned couch and broken BBQ pits. We stayed in site #6 which was probably one of the best sites. Great shade and car was able to be parked nearby (you walk down non-maintained "stairs" with rotted tree branches as the steps).
Overall, I had high hopes based on the description here especially reading: "Our onsite staff will go around and enforce the rules." but this is clearly a non-maintained campground that was probably very nice 45 years ago. No hiking trails are maintained, the bathrooms are "rustic" which is fine--nice to have running water when you've got little ones to clean. But the floors were rotted and I was afraid we'd step through the floorboards.
If you are a true car camper who can lock your doors at night, this is probably the spot for you. Running water, showers and washing machine. If you are a tent camper with small kids like me, this is not where you want to stay. I'm disappointed I paid the price I did to stay here, I'd pay $25/night because this is essentially a parking space in a poorly maintained campground.
- SStacy W.Scout
Portola Redwoods State Park Campground
It sucks. Don’t go there.
Cold. Foggy. No amenities. Don’t go there.
-Coastside Local
Meleny M.ScoutMedeiros Primitive Campsites — San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area
Loud people
Loud music playing at this hour clearly says quite time is at 10 pm and it’s so loud
Yihan H.ScoutBeach RV Park
Yeye
Happy
Jason M.Guide
Gilroy Garlic USA RV Park
Great Layover
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.
- KKorey Y.Guide
Laguna Seca Recreation Area
Hidden jewel
No crowds late August. Great staff and price. Views, trees and TRACK. Some air traffic. Quiet.
- EEdward F.Scout
Basalt Campground — San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area
It’s currently closed construction and will be closed for few months
Park is closed for few months according to security officer at the entrance/toll booth.
Michael O.Traveler
Saddle Mountain Ranch
In between camping and glamping, but somehow neither
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.
- Laura M.Legend
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground
Gorgeous - and so much poison oak
This is a gorgeous campground! It's big and it's busy, but the sites are mostly very private and lush and green. Each site has a different configuration, but this place books up fast, so you have to look at photos online and the dimensions of the site and hope it works out.
We were a little worried when we arrived in our 26ft class c, we worried that we wouldn't make it through the narrow roads and overhanging trees, but we were ok. Not sure that this place would be good for giant rigs though. Getting into our spot was a bit tricky, and when coming out a ranger truck was blocking our road (he was cleaning the bathrooms, I believe), which made leaving very tricky as well.
There are beautiful hiking trails all over this campground, but there is so much poison oak - everywhere. All over the camp sites, trails to the bathroom, hiking trails, etc, it was everywhere.
Showers and toilets looked clean, showers are coin operated, $0.50 for 2 min.
If you arrive before checkin they will have you wait at the day use area several miles away - heads up.
Vincent B.GuideNew Brighton State Beach Campground
Good spot with availability
Despite the website showing every site booked, we drove in about 4 pm to a decent number of sites. Entry ranger was available pretty late. Site was $35 I believe, and has paid showers and restrooms. Site had a fire pit, paved parking for a larger vehicle, table and decent amount of shade. Lots of families and lots of kids. Cool weather along the beach, can't ask for much more.
Chris N.GuideVeteran's Memorial Park Campground
Affordable Monterey/Carmel Access
I have family in Monterey, but can't see paying the higher prices for a hotel or home rental when I visit. This location gives you complete access to the beautiful surrounding area at a price that doesn't hurt. Showers, restrooms, tables and fire rings make it really sweet for the family on a light camping adventure. I dry camp a lot, and having the amenities is worth the fees they're asking. Your best bet to get a site is to show up a day or two early, if you can, due to a first come first serve policy for sites. The early bird gets the worm. No reservations can be made.
- MMonica M.Traveler
Enchanted Forest Mountain Redwood Retreat
This was an excellent getaway
Booked this as a last minute escape from the heat where I live and it didn’t disappoint. Towering Coastal Redwoods provide for tons of shade and really nice campsites. Definitely a dry time of year but there were still some beautiful wildflowers to be seen. There’s a lovely easy trail that takes you to a stream along a mostly shaded path. I imagine that during the spring you’ll get a greater runoff but it was still really nice. Saturday was pretty bust with campers but Sunday was almost all vacant so it felt like I had the whole place to myself and the wildlife showed up. The hosts were communicative and descriptions and directions were great. Zero cell service with Verizon but it was nice to just unplug. I would definitely recommend this one. Happy camping!
Laura D.Traveler
Manresa State Beach Campground
Right on beach!
First time visiting, We stayed at site 63 for two nights June 30 and July 1st. Sites are very private and seperated by bushes and trees. The loading zone was a short walk to our site. It was an easy 5-7 minute walk down to the beach. Beach was clean and not crowded. Beautiful sunset views. Only complaints are that the bathrooms were filthy. One of the showers wasn’t working and robbed us of $2. They need to put a quarter change machine for coins for the showers. We had to drive to KOA to get change to shower. We will definitely come back !
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Aptos, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Aptos, CA is Uvas Canyon County Park with a 4.7-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Aptos, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 20 tent camping locations near Aptos, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.