The central coast area near Castroville offers RV accommodations amid coastal terrain and inland valleys. Summer temperatures typically range between 65-75°F with frequent morning fog that burns off by midday. Most RV sites near Castroville, California operate year-round with peak season falling between May and September when advance reservations become essential.
What to do
Beach access: 5-minute hike: At Marina Dunes RV Park, campers can reach uncrowded beaches via a short trail. "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," notes James from Marina Dunes RV Park.
Golf course proximity: 0.1 miles: Military personnel staying at Monterey Pines have immediate access to the adjacent course. "Sits next to a beautiful golf course, recently revamped parking spots, now cement vs. dirt. The golf course next to it is beautiful so bring your sticks or rent them from the clubhouse. One of the more affordable courses to play in the area," according to Harry S. and Jose J.
Wildlife viewing: multiple locations: San Benito camping areas offer excellent wildlife viewing opportunities within the campground boundaries. "We had Condors above our cabin, deer around us, wild pigs crossing the roads. Deer wandered through camp at all times of the day. You can see wild boar passing along the hillsides," report multiple campers from Thousand Trails San Benito.
What campers like
Short drives to coastal towns: The Castroville area provides convenient access to nearby attractions. "Near the town of Gilroy home of the garlic festival. A little out of the way but a nice scenic backroad alternate from I5 or 99 if traveling north/south," notes Tyler V.
Redwood shade coverage: The natural canopy at several area campgrounds creates comfortable camping conditions. "This campground is covered entirely by redwoods with plenty of shade for a cool vacation," explains a visitor to Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort, while another adds, "Plenty of trees for shade, there's a pool, hiking trails, a little river. So beautiful and peaceful here."
Clean facilities: Despite varying price points, many campgrounds maintain high cleanliness standards. "Bathrooms and showers are great," notes a camper at Marina Dunes. Another reports that Cotillion Gardens has "Clean showers and bathrooms. Dog and kid friendly. Beautiful gardens."
What you should know
Narrow access roads: Several campgrounds have challenging entrance roads. "The road in is a bit narrow but don't give up! You will make it without any trouble," notes a visitor to Carmel by the River. Another camper at Carmel by the River RV Park warns, "Steep price ($95-$105/night) but I suppose everything is expensive in Carmel. Note that the road in is basically a one lane road. Pray you don't encounter oncoming traffic."
Airport proximity: Military camping at Monterey Pines positions campers near flight patterns. "It is located on a public-accessible military-run golf course right on top of the regional airport. I mean, right on top of. The airplanes will warm up within site of my RV and take off over top of us. It was very loud. But tolerable."
Leveling challenges: Uneven sites require additional equipment at several campgrounds. "Sites need renovation and they claim it is coming. Of course they have said that for the last 3 years. 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."
Tips for camping with families
Recreation options: Multiple RV parks near Castroville offer comprehensive family activities. "We liked the pool and clubhouse. Compared to the campground at Pinnacles where we were going, we feel this is the better option," notes a visitor. At Cotillion Gardens RV Park, there's "a large clubhouse with foosball, ping pong and arcade games which is open from 9am - 9pm."
Pet accommodations: Most campgrounds welcome pets but with varying facilities. "Truly dog welcoming, with multiple dog poop baggy bins and a dog run so your best friend can run leash free. They even gave my dog premium dog treats upon arrival," reports a camper at Gilroy Garlic USA RV Park.
Activity scheduling: Some campgrounds offer organized events for children. "In mid October the campground is still running kids activities daily and they're good! Great culture here - friendly, lots of things to do (pool, basketball, volleyball, horse shoes, playground, billiards, karaoke, tennis)."
Tips from RVers
Electrical access placement: Note the location of hookups when reserving sites. "Good location, nice weather. The location of the electrical/water is awkward," explains a reviewer at Marina Dunes. Another camper adds, "Full hook-ups, although for some strange reason they are at front of site."
Sewer hose requirements: Some campgrounds require extension equipment. "I had to use a 6 foot extension on the sewer hose. Shore chord was fine as was the water spigot," notes Patrick J. at Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort.
Site spacing considerations: Proximity to neighbors varies significantly between parks. "Our site was level left to right but we did have to jack the front of the trailer up higher than usual," mentions a military camper. At Thousand Trails Morgan Hill, visitors find "nice drive thru spots" though others note "sites are not level."
