Redwood camping destinations near Campbell provide outdoor recreation options within a 30-minute drive. Most Campbell-area campgrounds sit at elevations between 800-2,000 feet in the Santa Cruz Mountains, creating temperature differences of 10-15°F cooler than the valley floor. Campgrounds typically operate year-round with peak season running April through October when temperatures average 65-80°F during daytime hours.
What to do
Waterfall hiking: 2.5-mile trail loops at Uvas Canyon County Park provide access to multiple cascades. "A nice small campground nestled in the eastern side of Santa Cruz Mountains, west of Morgan Hill, easily accessible off of Highway 101. Short hikes along the Uvas Creek and Swanson creek are right next to the campground. Trails are narrow and steep at some places but mostly shaded. Small waterfalls are the highlights of the trail, but kids will enjoy playing in the water on hot days."
Archery practice: 28-target trail through the woods at Mount Madonna County Park offers a unique recreational option. "There is an archery trail with 28 targets on a trail through the woods. We were there 3 days in a row and did 20 of the 28. It's really pretty and a cool challenge."
Beach access: 20-minute drive from several mountain campgrounds to coastal beaches. At Ben Ries Campground, "The campground is very close to PCH/Highway 1 and the beaches are lovely. PCH is also dotted with farms and fruit stands, artisan pies, etc. The closest town is Pescadaro, and has a tiny main street with an excellent coffee shop, and grocery store with fresh baked pies, breads, jams, sauces, and a deli counter as well as sundry items."
What campers like
Convenient location: 20-40 miles from Campbell puts campers close to urban conveniences while still feeling remote. At Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, campers appreciate being "close to grocery stores and gas stations." Another reviewer noted it's "just outside of Santa Cruz about 15 minutes or so in Felton. It is pretty and the sites are private."
Shade coverage: 90-100% shade at most campsites due to the redwood canopy. "Almost all the sites were fully shaded by the big redwoods," explains a visitor at Mount Madonna County Park. This makes these campgrounds "a great campground for hot weather" during summer months when temperatures can exceed 90°F in nearby San Jose.
Wildlife viewing: dawn and dusk animal sightings are common at several parks. At Castle Rock Trail Camp, the ecosystem supports diverse wildlife. "Butano State Park, Ben Reis was an excellent experience. The park itself has great hikes, thick with Redwoods, immediately you feel like you are in Ewok territory."
What you should know
Weather variations: 15-20°F temperature swings between day and night in the mountains. At Mount Madonna County Park, campers should "prepare for it to be 40deg colder than Gilroy or San Jose. We weren't prepared & had to drive into town & buy more clothes!"
Water access: seasonal limitations affect some parks. "Although there is a communal water source at the campsite entrance, the water was deemed not safe to drink when I was there, and that had been the case for a while. The water tank apparently needs to be decontaminated," reports a Castle Rock Trail Camp visitor.
Cell service: spotty connectivity throughout the mountains. "There is no cell service," reports a camper at Ben Ries Campground, while at Mount Madonna "you can actually get a cell signal if you walk to the dump station!"
Reservation requirements: 2-5 months advance booking needed for summer weekends at most campgrounds. "It's a nice relatively quiet campground on a bluff, above a fairly calm ocean beach. We had one of the electric sites in the interior of the campground. The sites on the bluff overlooking the Pacific looked spectacular!"
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly water play: shallow creek access at several campgrounds provides safe recreation. "There is a little creek that's only about a quarter mile hike down a trail. The campground is only a 10 minute drive down to Pescadero State Beach so we went there after we broke camp. The kids all loved it," reports a visitor to San Mateo Memorial Park.
Bike-friendly campgrounds: paved loops at some parks provide safe cycling areas. At Mount Madonna, "there are a few big hills so make sure they know how to use their brakes." And at Henry Cowell, "if you have littles the roads are paved so a scooter or bike could be fun."
Wildlife education: guided ranger programs run weekends at several parks May-September. "Near the ranger station there are pens with white fallow deer. They are descendants of the exotic zoo at William Randolph Hearst's mansion down the coast," explains a Mount Madonna visitor.
Tips from RVers
Parking access: narrow, winding mountain roads limit large RV access to many sites. At Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort, "Getting there takes some attention... Roads to the sites are narrow, so again, keep your eyes pealed. Site was nice, partially under a redwood."
Hookup variations: 30-50% of campgrounds offer water and electric connections. "Hookups at every campsite. Water, Shore power, Cable," notes one camper at Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort, though many county and state parks have limited or no hookups.
Leveling requirements: bring blocks as many mountain sites aren't flat. "If you plan to sleep in your car, you may want to take leveling blocks as I found the car parking spot to be not leveled at all," warns a visitor to Uvas Canyon County Park.
These best places to camp near Campbell, California offer diverse experiences for outdoor enthusiasts seeking redwood forests, mountain vistas, and coastal access all within a short drive of Silicon Valley.
