Camping near Gilroy sits in the eastern foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains with elevations ranging from 200-2,000 feet. The area experiences mild winters with temperatures rarely dropping below 40°F and summer highs that can reach 95°F. Camping options near Gilroy include established campgrounds with varying levels of facilities, from primitive sites to fully-equipped RV parks with hookups.
What to Do
Hiking through redwoods: At Mount Madonna County Park, trails wind through mature redwood groves with unique weather patterns. "This is the only place I've seen the redwood trees harvest the fog and make their own rain, which is pretty cool. In the morning it's raining under the redwood trees but not under the madrone or tan oak trees, which is wild," notes one Mount Madonna visitor.
Archery practice: Mount Madonna offers a specialized archery course through the forest. "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," shares a camper.
Wildlife observation: Hikers at Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park regularly encounter local wildlife. "We saw lots of wildlife - deer, wild pigs, turkeys, frogs just to name a few," reports one visitor. Trails through oak woodlands provide ample spotting opportunities.
Beach activities: Camping at Sunset State Beach offers direct beach access. "A great beach to relax on, sometimes there's surf here too," mentions a camper at Sunset State Beach.
What Campers Like
Zero cell coverage: Mount Madonna County Park offers a true digital disconnect. "No cell coverage for a truly disconnected glamping experience," reports a reviewer. For those seeking glamping close to Gilroy, California without digital distractions, this makes Mount Madonna particularly appealing.
Year-round accessibility: Most campgrounds near Gilroy remain open throughout the year. At Uvas Canyon County Park, one winter visitor notes, "During less crowded times (winter) this campground is one of the best. Extremely beautiful & peaceful surroundings."
Hot showers and facilities: Many glamping accommodations near Gilroy provide clean bathroom facilities. "Bathrooms are extremely clean and well kept. The lake is nice (and you may spot geese or ducks), and there's plenty of room for kids to run around," reports a Coyote Lake visitor.
Level sites: Thousand Trails Morgan Hill offers various site types for both RVs and glamping units. "We got a nice spot close to the dump station near front. Their pool is huge and very very well kept," shares a visitor.
What You Should Know
Temperature variations: The mountains around Gilroy create significant microclimate differences. One Mount Madonna camper warns: "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!"
Wildlife encounters: Wild pigs are common at several glamping sites near Gilroy. "There are food lockers since wild pigs come out at night. Be sure to lock all food up! They will roam through the camp ground all through the night if anyone has left any food out," cautions a Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday visitor.
Site selection matters: Campsite quality varies widely within the same campground. At Uvas Canyon, a camper advises: "If you have a roof top tent, we scoped out a few sites which are more flat, and also have the picnic table near the parking spot. They are: 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, and 12."
Reservation difficulty: Some popular sites book quickly. "Seacliff campsites are adjacent to the 'boardwalk' beach path and the beach. Yes, your rig is within 20' of the beach at all campsites," notes a camper, explaining why reservations are challenging to secure.
Tips for Camping with Families
Kid-friendly pools: Several glamping options near Gilroy feature swimming facilities. At Thousand Trails Morgan Hill, "The pool is huge and very very well kept. Nice spot to bring the family."
Biking opportunities: Several campgrounds offer safe biking routes for children. "Great campground for the kids to bike at but there are a few big hills so make sure they know how to use their brakes," advises a Mount Madonna visitor.
Playground access: Casa de Fruta offers family attractions beyond camping. "It's a great weekend place for families with cute fruit and candy stores, carousels for the kids, little train, and animals," notes a visitor to this unique glamping destination near Gilroy.
Educational opportunities: The white fallow deer at Mount Madonna provide a learning opportunity. "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 camper.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: At Uvas Canyon County Park, one RVer suggests: "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."
Diverse site options: Campgrounds offer varying levels of hookups and amenities. "The sites are full-hookup and concrete," notes a camper about Casa de Fruta, which provides a convenient glamping location close to Gilroy with RV-friendly facilities.
Quiet time enforcement: Campground quiet hours vary in enforcement. One RVer at Uvas Canyon observed: "People were fairly loud until about 11pm. Saturday, in came the crowd. Loud, obnoxious, and inconsiderate way past midnight. There was no reinforcement of quiet hours past 10pm."
Late arrival protocols: Some campgrounds accommodate after-hours check-ins. "Made a reservation night-of on a Friday, wasn't going to make it there before sunset, so I called and they gave me a gate code in case the gate is closed by the time we arrived," shares an Uvas Canyon camper.
