Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Boulder Creek, CA is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. Boulder Creek is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. Discover great camping spots near Boulder Creek, reviewed by campers like you.
$7 - $35 / night
"This is a nice campground in a great part of California with lots of hiking and beaches nearby. The bathrooms were clean and well kept."
"There were bigger sites that would've suited us better but it was a nice little tucked in site. The poison oak is prolific. Our site was literally surrounded by it."
$35 / night
"Fun creek behind campground for pups to splash around. Easy flat trails to walk. There were Friendly Europeans with their families, Quiet park, But a ton of misquitos! Bring the spray."
"Tall redwoods all around, plenty of shade, potable water, a dish washing stations (!!!!)"
$35 - $185 / night
"Camped with electricity and water, situated on a bluff near the ocean. Easy walking distance to the water, nice roomy campsites with fire rings and tables. Not too close to other campers."
"New Brighton is a jewel on the California coast. Camping is on a bluff above beach and you must walk down stairs to get to the beach. Camping in the woods with the beach below is perfect."
"Do not take highway 9 from Santa Cruz as the RV park will tell you. Our car navigation changed our route even after we were approaching 17 north. Keep your eyes out for the highway signs."
"Sites surrounded by redwoods, friendly helpful staff, close to attractions."
$33 / night
"This is a nice camping away from the car experience. It's a short walk up a paved path from the parking to the campsites."
"Great walk-in campground so close to home in the South Bay Area (albeit walk is slightly uphill)."
$35 / night
"It is a smaller park than many of the other redwoods parks in Northern California, so it was very nice and peaceful. Butano is a bit off the beaten path to get to, but so worth it."
"Large, user-friendly campsites surrounded by redwood trees. Great ferny hiking trails for every level of camper/hiker. Very easy access to campsites and near Pescadero and Highway One."
$100 - $200 / night
"But for a quick weekend jaunt for RV campers, this location slightly more than an hour from the Bay Area is hard to beat."
"There is a nice playground next to an equally nice café called the pinecone. The weather here is cold just a heads up be prepared for wind and overcast weather."
"Entrance is a little nerve racking on your first visit, but once your at your site you can relax. Bathrooms are a little dated, no cell service but good WiFi if your close to the office."
"The place is old, but it has a great location. There are great hiking trails assessable from the campground."
$35 - $50 / night
"It's a great place to use as a basecamp for exploring the myriad of hiking trails that exist in the redwoods and nearby coastal hikes.
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"Given all that and its proximity to SF, I’ll be aiming to get reservations here every summer, and some winter seasons too."
$8 / night
"The parking lot for the trail head is just a bit further down Hwy 35. "
"There is a nearby shooting range and you can hear the gunshots during the daylight hours."
ScoutSuper clean and maintained. Especially the bathrooms and showers. The sites are spaced out nicely and there is a water faucet and trash bins plus recycle every couple of sites. On the trails theres quite a bit of poison oak so keep dogs close. Not every site is able to car camp due to rocks blocking off the parking area but every campsite is pretty nice.
TravelerI stayed in site 5 and the walk from my car was not far. I enjoyed this campground!
ScoutPositiv: 50 $, full hooked, warm showers Negativ: Our slot 170 was very narrow, other spots had more space. You could not see that on the onlinemap. No bench or table belonged to the spot. My neighbour had a slide-out. There was only one meter to my van. I found two showers, the free one had a damaged, sliced curtain, so everybody could have seen my body while taking a shower. There was no separation and all my clothes on the bench got wet. The shower for handicapped persons didn't have any curtain at all.
ScoutBeware coming here with anything other than a tent! All sites have a nice level tent pad area.
We camped two nights at Fremont Peak State Park with our pop-up tent trailer. We stayed in Valley View site #2 and were lucky that the paved driveway levelled out at the top (mostly). Some people came to site #3 with a camper van and ended up leaving because they were at such a sharp angle.
It was not clear from reading other reviews or the park website, but this campground has plenty of potable water spigots around all the sites. We found the vault toilets clean and well maintained. Although dogs are not allowed on the trails, there is a service road up to the communication tower that you can hike part way on.
We observed the carpet of valley fog below us in the mornings and evenings, while mid-day you can see out to Moss Landing. We also got to enjoy one of the Fremont Peak Observatory Association (https://fpoa.net/) programs which was amazing! The views of the stars and the Milky Way are unbelievable and the volunteers were awesome.
TravelerThe sites in the campground are very close to each other, so there is not much privacy and space. The neighbors nearby were very noisy during the two days I was there, but the bathrooms and toilets are very clean.
ScoutLots of activities for younger kids. Convenient location, lots of amenities.
Cabin was super nice to stay in after a week of car camping! Kitchenette, bathroom, hot water. Perfect.
ScoutThe campsites specifically are nice, but the campground was very disappointing. Lots of freeway noise, amenities were disappointing (fitness center was only open until 9-5?), dog park was closed, beach requires a brutal walk through soft sand. It’ll work as a landing point for a couple nights, but don’t plan on this being a nice campground to enjoy your vacation at.
ScoutWe have stayed here in the past and the experience was great, but this visit was a disappointment. There was a group campsite that violated the noise curfew until 1:00am!!! We did not get any sleep and decided to cut our short trip, forfeit a paid campsite, and leave the next morning knowing that the same group was there another night. Multiple campers reported the noise throughout the night, but the campers would not keep quiet. We did report our dissatisfaction the next morning and asked for the staff to visit the site. Hoping it was resolved and wishing the other campers a better night.
TravelerMy wife and I have stayed at this campground three years in a row. It's a great place to use as a basecamp for exploring the myriad of hiking trails that exist in the redwoods and nearby coastal hikes.
The Pros
The Cons
I like camping miles away from people and not seeing or hearing them. It's just not possible in campgrounds. This campground can be tightly packed at times with a neighbors tent pitched just 20-30 feet away.
It can get very noisy at times, caterwauling drunks, people scream talking late at night etc. Usually its dies down around 11pm.
Despite the noise and close proximity to other tents I still plan on coming to this campground in future years. The beauty and greenery, and hundreds of miles of hiking trails make this place and the surrounding area a real natural treasure.
Camping near Boulder Creek, California, offers a mix of stunning nature and fun activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, this area has something for everyone.
Camping near Boulder Creek, California, has its perks and quirks. With the right preparation, you can enjoy a memorable outdoor experience!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Boulder Creek, CA is Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 43 reviews.
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