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Several RV parks near Capitola offer full-hookup services within a short drive of beaches and attractions. Santa Cruz Ranch Campground in Scotts Valley provides electric, water, and sewer hookups with 30-amp service on sites that accommodate travel trailers and motorhomes. Smithwoods RV Park in Felton features full hookups with spacious pull-through sites along the San Lorenzo River, suitable for big rigs despite the wooded setting. New Brighton State Beach Campground, closer to Capitola itself, has some RV-compatible sites with electric and water connections, though maneuvering can be challenging on narrower park roads. "Spot 64 was humongous and extremely private," noted one camper about New Brighton.
Full-hookup RV sites throughout the region typically include 30-amp service, with 50-amp connections available at parks like Thousand Trails Morgan Hill and Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort. Cell service varies considerably—strong near coastal highways but limited in canyon locations like Mount Madonna County Park. Most RV parks in the area remain open year-round, though reservations become essential during summer months and holiday weekends. Dump stations are available at most parks, though some now charge additional fees. Many properties welcome pets but maintain specific dog areas and leash requirements. For travelers with larger motorhomes, several reviews mention tight turns at Harbor RV Park and recommend calling ahead to confirm site dimensions before booking, particularly for rigs exceeding 30 feet.
"Great camp hosts and relaxing quiet site"
"Not quiet though, lots of kids."
"Family friendly and tight community with an awesome river down a few steps! 15 mins down to the boardwalk! Ocean during the day and camping a night. We loved our experience. Highly recommend!"
"Cozy tight quarters but just enough room for a picnic bench, fire pit and hanging out area. This campground is covered entirely by redwoods with plenty of shade for a cool vacation."
"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."
"Marginal cell coverage. Camp WiFi is acceptable. Need to use WiFi to supplement cell service."
from $60 - $100 / night
Check Availability"Full hook ups. We had a great view of the San Lorenzo River and Henry Cowell State Park. The staff is great and helpful."
"The location is mostly flat and surrounded with Redwoods. Shady and sunny locations; larger and small RV spots. No tent camping. It backs into Henry Cowell State Park and you can walk into it."
"We got a nice spot close to the dump station near front. Their pool is huge and very very well kept. The spot was 30amp and back in however they have 50amp/pull through also."
"Got propane filled, nice staff. No full hookups but dump station was convenient. Lots of nice activities going on."
"Nice super clean close to the PCH walking distance from a amazing beach. Nice facility as well. No views but I would stay again. Super safe feeling as well."
"I have a camper van and I didn’t need all the hook up. There is a Best Western right next to this place were we ended up getting a room instead as that was less expensive."
"Only about 8 minutes from Santa Cruz beach/boardwalk. Off a quiet street. Reasonable price for the location."
"Almost level ajoining asphalt parking slots face boats in harbor. Water / electric / sewer connection at back of parking slot. Picnic tablet in parking slot."
from $65 / night
Check Availability"Pretty quiet with the exception of the Monterey Regional Airport next to it and even then it wasn’t very noticeable."
"Great location near Monterey. Full hookup and fully paved. Restrooms were fairly clean. Great for a stopover or if you’re visiting Monterey."
"Just an FYI, if they have open spots after the office closes they put out packets for up to 2 pull thru and 2 back in spots for late arrivals without a reservation. Pros
- Great central location!"
"Several shade trees. Lots of little kids. Wi-Fi was great. Could work and stream TV. Facilities (bathrooms and showers) were nice. Pool was wonderful. Staff were super friendly. Gave my dog a treat!"
ScoutThis is a great RV resort for extended stay or overnight if traveling through. Lots of pull through sites for long RVs which are OK here. In the summer, there is a strong coastal influence so it stays cool here! Amenities include a pool, very clean bathrooms and showers and a small store.
GuideWe happened upon this RV Park as a drop in when our other park was not available. What a pleasant surprise! We’ll be making this our go to spot when traveling through the Gilroy area from now on.
For starters, the staff is wonderful. So friendly. Just an FYI, if they have open spots after the office closes they put out packets for up to 2 pull thru and 2 back in spots for late arrivals without a reservation.
Pros
Cons:
GuideWe got a nice spot close to the dump station near front. Their pool is huge and very very well kept. The spot was 30amp and back in however they have 50amp/pull through also. There is multiple lodges and a recreation center so plenty to do. Nice spot to bring the family. Close to local wine tastings and even had Safeway close enough for grocery delivery. Plus good nature hike trails in park.
LegendYou are probably thinking "Parking lot? Why did you give it 4 stars?" Because of the location! We stayed here for three nights in our 34 foot travel trailer. We barely fit into the back in site, and had to park our truck in visitor parking a short walk away. Other, smaller trailers had enough room for their vehicle to fit in alongside. The facility has full-hookups and they functioned fine. The harbor itself has trails but no other facilities for campers. No wifi but Verizon had good signal. The weather is perfect and we loved walking to the beach, to get coffee in Seabright, and driving into downtown and the boardwalk. It's fairly quiet at night, but you do have to watch your stuff. The first night we stayed here we got woken up at 5:30 in the morning by a rattling noise. Open the door and someone is walking away from our trailer. A look at our bike rack revealed that our ties had been cut. I guess the would-be thief didn't notice that the bikes were locked to the rack. Either way, you have to be careful, because this is Santa Cruz and there are a lot of weird folks about. So yes, there are some downsides. But we love Santa Cruz and it was great to be in such a central location.
GuideGreat spot right off the highway and on the beach. Lots of activities and places to eat within walking distance. Surfing, walking/bike trails, kayaking….Pet friendly
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.
LegendNice parklike campground run by the City of Monterey. It’s adjacent to a day use area with a big playground and some little hiking trails. You can walk to downtown Monterey’s restaurants and shops from here, about 1-2 miles away. The campground is on a hill though, so you’re going downhill the whole way down and uphill the whole way up.
Cost is $44/night, plus a $6 surcharge for RVs. Sites are dry camping but there’s a dump station with potable water, free for campers, $12 for non-campers. Showers are free for campers as well! A rarity in California. Showers were clean and had good pressure, but the water was only warm, not hot.
The website and the signs in the campground say there’s a 21ft vehicle limit. But according to other reviews it seems to be hit or miss if you get called out on it by the rangers. We are in a 26ft class C and decided to go for it and had no issues. I can see why there’s a length limit though, as the roads in the campground are narrow and full of overhanging trees. The drive through town to get to the campground was a little gnarly as well. UPDATE: Ranger spoke with us about the size of our motorhome and didn’t kick us out, but asked us not to come back. Fair enough. He was very nice about it.
Cell service was really weak in the campground, and the cell booster did not help (this was for both Verizon and ATT). Lots of trees in the campground so our solar panel didn’t get much sun. Also most sites are iffy on flatness, but #30 was ok with levels.
TravelerPlenty of sites if you have 30 amp. Plenty of full hook up sites. The 50 amp sites were all in one section. If you don’t need to run your A/C you can get by with 30 amp hook up. We loved most of the sites were pull thru. Had good picnic tables. Restrooms and showers were great. Like others have said this place needs a lot of care. A lot of sites were out of order. Nice trails there. Gilmore was a distance for us to restock on supplies. Pool was open but not heated. Hot tub was closed for the winter season. You are out in the sticks so no cell phone service. You could purchase WiFi and patch your phone thru WiFi calling.
TravelerLevel, concrete pads. Spacing is tight. We had an end space with a nice patch of grass. Small space to walk dogs.
Campground is directly adjacent to the parking lot and marina from which multiple boats sail for whale watching trips. You can also rent kayaks nearby to kayak in the calm waters where you will almost certainly see sea otters.
Easy in and out, but tight turns if you have a big rig. Our 30’ class C had no troubles and there were a lot of much larger trailers and class A’s so maybe tight but definitely doable.
You can easily walk to Phil’s, but expect very long lines. They were not allowing dogs even in outdoor seating area.
It was very quiet at night, but very loud during the day. Everyone there was very friendly. Very nice and helpful people running the office.
I would definitely stay here again, especially if going whale watching or kayaking with the sea otters.
RV sites near Capitola, California offer both coastal and forested camping experiences within a 30-mile radius. Summer temperatures typically range from 60-75°F with morning fog common at coastal locations. Campgrounds in the Santa Cruz Mountains maintain cooler temperatures year-round due to significant redwood tree cover, while sites closer to Monterey experience consistent coastal breezes.
Hiking near state parks: Access Henry Cowell State Park directly from Smithwoods RV Park in Felton. "There is a little trail that goes down to the River where you can find a neat little beach. It's a goofy little descent/climb to get there and out but worth it," notes one camper at Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort.
Beach activities: Marina Dunes RV Park provides beach access within walking distance. "About a 5 min trek through sand and dunes and you'll find yourself at a beach not many people frequent. On Friday we were the only ones for as far as I could see. No exaggeration," writes one reviewer.
Train rides: The Roaring Camp Railroad runs near multiple campgrounds in Felton. "It was a short nice hike to the state park and the train through the red woods. Fun experience on a real steam locomotive," explains a visitor at Smithwoods RV Park.
Wine tasting: Multiple wineries operate within 15 minutes of camping options in Morgan Hill. "Close to local wine tastings and even had Safeway close enough for grocery delivery," mentions a camper at Thousand Trails Morgan Hill.
Redwood cover: Many campgrounds in the region offer significant shade from mature redwoods. "This campground is covered entirely by redwoods with plenty of shade for a cool vacation," shares a visitor at Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort, adding that it creates "a perfect woodsy campsite."
Private beach access: Less crowded coastal access points are available near certain campgrounds. "The real reason to camp here is the beach. About a 5 min trek through sand and dunes and you'll find yourself at a beach not many people frequent," notes a camper at Marina Dunes RV Park.
Weather conditions: The Santa Cruz Mountains maintain moderate temperatures even during summer heat waves. "Scotts Valley is lovely in summer, no high heat like the valley," reports a camper at Santa Cruz Ranch Campground.
Swimming pools: Several RV parks maintain heated pools for guest use. At Gilroy Garlic USA RV Park, a visitor notes: "The pool is small, yet well-kept and we had it to ourselves every time we went each day."
Cell service limitations: While WiFi is available at most campgrounds, cell signals vary widely. "No cell service but good WiFi was provided, however it would go out late at night after 10 pm until the morning time," reports a visitor to Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort.
Access challenges: Some campgrounds have narrow entry roads. At Carmel by the River RV Park, visitors warn "the road in is basically a one lane road. Pray you don't encounter oncoming traffic," though most add "you will make it without any trouble."
Tent camping limitations: Many RV parks have limited tent options. At Santa Cruz Ranch Campground, a tent camper notes: "They had a small plot to the side of the rest of the rv slots with a little grass to pitch a tent. Not secluded at all from the hustle and bustle."
Reservation requirements: Availability is extremely limited during summer months without advance booking. Sites at Thousand Trails Morgan Hill often require booking 6+ months in advance for summer weekends.
Kid-friendly activities: Multiple campgrounds maintain dedicated recreation areas. At Cotillion Gardens RV Park, families appreciate that "there's a pool, hiking trails, a little river. So beautiful and peaceful here."
Biking opportunities: Several parks offer safe riding areas for children. At Gilroy Garlic USA RV Park, "the park was perfect for the kids biking around through the short- and long-term areas."
Recreation facilities: Shared amenities often include game rooms and sports courts. "Lots of recreation. We had an Uber come get us and it worked. There for a sports event in Morgan hill. Got propane filled, nice staff," reports a visitor to Thousand Trails Morgan Hill.
Safety considerations: Campgrounds with limited river access require supervision. One visitor to Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort noted they "felt safe, with my young kids, that everyone was driving slowly and respecting the rules."
Hookup configurations: The placement of utilities varies between parks. At Marina Dunes RV Park, campers note "the location of the electrical/water is awkward" requiring extended hoses or cables at some sites.
Leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven sites at certain locations. At Monterey Pines RV Park - Military, "sites need renovation and they claim it is coming. Their answer to uneven sites is to give you pieces of wood to try and level. Good luck, I saw some raised up 2-3 feet."
Space constraints: Site dimensions vary significantly between parks. One RVer at Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort mentioned it has "cozy tight quarters but just enough room for a picnic bench, fire pit and hanging out area. Spots were leveled with dirt."
Extended stay considerations: Some parks have significant numbers of long-term residents. A visitor to Gilroy Garlic USA RV Park observed: "There are likely long term rentals, but I couldn't point them out because all the sites were neat and clean with flowers and landscaping. The park was super quiet."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near Capitola, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Capitola, CA is Santa Cruz Ranch Campground with a 3.6-star rating from 5 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 94 RV camping locations near Capitola, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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