Camping near Castroville, California provides access to both coastal and inland camping environments with significant temperature differences between locations. The region experiences frequent coastal fog that can reduce visibility and create temperature drops of 10-15 degrees compared to inland sites just a few miles away. Seasonal strawberry fields surround several campgrounds, with harvest activities visible from April through October.
What to do
Observe wildlife from camp: At Veteran's Memorial Park Campground in Monterey, located just minutes from downtown, campers regularly spot deer in the evenings. As one visitor noted, "This first come first serve campground is amazing! They don't have any hookups but a pump out and potable water fill station is available below the lower restrooms by the entrance... There are deer on the field every night."
Kayak with sea otters: Moss Landing KOA Express provides easy access to wildlife viewing opportunities in Elkhorn Slough. "Moss Landing is a must not miss area. Lots to do. Don't miss exploring the Elkhorn Slew. Kayaking or take a guided tour by experienced guid. See Sea Otters and tons of birds," shares one reviewer. Rental equipment is available within walking distance of the campground.
Watch motorsports events: Laguna Seca Recreation Area combines camping with racing excitement. A camper described the unique experience: "Driving up to the main entrance i already knew this place was going to be awesome. The sites are placed near/around a racetrack. The view from almost every site is like a dream, you have panoramic views of hills and mountains to one side and a huge racetrack with sexy cars on the other side."
Hike through redwoods: Mount Madonna County Park offers miles of forest trails with elevation gains ranging from 200-1,000 feet. "The park is a on beautiful forested hilltop. Some areas are redwood, other parts mixed with other kinds of trees. This is the only place I've seen the redwood trees harvest the fog and make their own rain, which is pretty cool," explains one visitor. The park maintains 14 miles of hiking trails.
What campers like
Ocean access with fewer crowds: Sunset State Beach offers direct beach access with significantly lower visitor numbers compared to Santa Cruz beaches. "Beach is long and expansive with very few people on an average day. Nice place to take a stroll and relax. Not far from Santa Cruz, maybe 25-30 minutes depending on traffic," reports one camper. The campground sits atop a bluff with a trail leading to the beach below.
Coastal forest camping: New Brighton State Beach Campground provides a unique forest-meets-ocean environment. "Very quiet area and pretty well spaced out sites (for a coastal campground). Once the sun went down there were very few people outside. Good beach access (down a ramped pathway and then staircase)," describes one visitor. Most sites are shaded by mature trees despite proximity to the ocean.
Self-registration convenience: First-come, first-served sites at Veteran's Memorial Park are popular with last-minute campers. One reviewer notes, "Super easy self registration with availability on most weekdays and weekends if you get here before mid afternoon." The campground offers 40 sites with a limit of 25-foot RVs and no hookups.
Proximity to restaurants: Moss Landing KOA puts campers within easy walking distance of dining options. "You are minutes from launch points for both power or paddle sports. If you want a site seeing tour, they take off from the parking lot next to the KOA. There are multiple restaurants within walking distance," explains a camper. Many visitors mention Phil's Fish Market as a popular spot, though lines can be long.
What you should know
Water restrictions: Several campgrounds have water limitations. Laguna Seca Recreation Area has no potable water. "No potable water. They mention this several times on their website but still people miss it. Bring your own water," warns one reviewer. Always check water availability before arrival.
Highway noise: Salinas-Monterey KOA and other inland campgrounds experience traffic noise. A camper notes, "Nice secluded place that's want to busy... All day/night highway noise but it starts to become white noise after a while." Sites furthest from highways typically command premium prices.
Reservation challenges: Popular coastal campgrounds fill months in advance. For Sunset State Beach, one camper states, "hard to find a spot here these days but a great camping spot above the beach." For last-minute trips, consider first-come, first-served options like Veteran's Memorial Park.
Temperature variations: Mount Madonna experiences significantly colder conditions than surrounding areas. "It is a lot colder here than on the valley floor. Prepare for it to be 40deg colder than Gilroy or San Jose. We weren't prepared & had to drive into town & buy more clothes!"
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday offers numerous activities for children. "This KOA is great for a family getaway. TONS of activities on site- huge bouncy pad, a climbing wall, ping pong tables, a swimming pool, pedal go karts, the list goes on and on," shares one parent. Daily activity schedules are texted to guests.
Beach access considerations: When camping with children at coastal sites, consider the beach access difficulty. At Marina Dunes RV Park, "It's about a quarter of a mile walk in sand. There is no sidewalk." Sunset State Beach requires navigating stairs to reach the beach below.
Wildlife awareness: At Mount Madonna, campers should prepare for wildlife encounters. "There are some critters here, I saw a few skunks and one wandered right into our campsite at night, so keep an eye out for them." Food storage lockers are provided but must be secured properly.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: At Moss Landing KOA Express, RVers face tight spacing challenges. "Level, concrete pads. Spacing is tight. We had an end space with a nice patch of grass. 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."
Dump station timing: New Brighton State Beach experiences long dump station lines during peak checkout times. "Warning: the line for the dump station wound through nearly the entire park." Plan to use the station early morning or late afternoon to avoid waits exceeding 45 minutes.
RV size limitations: Veteran's Memorial Park restricts RVs to 25 feet or smaller with no hookups available. "RVs are limited to 25' and smaller and They don't have any hookups but a pump out and potable water fill station is available below the lower restrooms by the entrance." The campground's tight roads make maneuvering larger rigs difficult.
