Cabins near Hollister, California range from basic forest accommodations to more developed sites with amenities. The region sits within California's Coast Range mountains at elevations between 200-2,000 feet, creating diverse microclimates. Winter temperatures can drop significantly, especially in higher elevation sites like Mount Madonna where campers report temperatures up to 40 degrees colder than surrounding valleys.
What to do
Hiking trails access: Mount Madonna County Park offers extensive trail networks right from campsites. "This particular site has a trail leading directly to the vast network of hiking trails. Huge bonus for us and we were pleasantly surprised that not one person used our site as a cut through," notes one visitor to Mount Madonna County Park.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Multiple cabin locations provide excellent wildlife spotting. "Deer wandered through camp at all times of the day. You can see wild boar passing along the hillsides. We also saw a couple of foxes one evening on the perimeter," reports a camper at Thousand Trails San Benito.
Cave exploration: Pinnacles National Park offers unique geological features. "The Pinnacles have some great hikes, there are bat caves to explore, lakes and slot canyons. We really enjoyed hiking thru caves and tight places. Super fun for adventurous kids," shares a visitor to Pinnacles Campground.
What campers like
Free hot showers: Clean facilities are consistently mentioned. "Absolutely soo clean and a great place to camp without having to travel so far. Bathrooms are constantly cleaned and showers are free and clean," writes a visitor to Mount Madonna County Park.
Fog harvesting redwoods: Natural phenomena impress visitors at Pinnacles Campground. "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," reports one camper.
Swimming pools for hot days: Several cabin locations offer swimming options. "A beautiful campground nestled in the Carmel Valley hills. The fog rolls in just barely touching the campground on most evenings. The vibe is relaxed, from the large pool with twinkle lights in the trees above, to the clean restrooms and friendly staff," notes a visitor to Saddle Mountain Ranch.
What you should know
Temperature variations: Mountain locations can be significantly colder than nearby towns. "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 interactions: Several campgrounds report active wildlife. "We have stayed here twice and enjoyed it both times," says a visitor about the wildlife at Thousand Trails San Benito.
Reservation timing: Busy seasons require advance planning. At Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday, "We stay at this KOA 3-4 times a year. We especially enjoy the Halloween and other theme weekends they have. They have made tons of improvements over the last 10 years."
Road conditions: Some cabin locations require careful driving. "First off the road coming to the campground is very steep, could be challenging for some rigs," cautions a visitor to Saddle Mountain Ranch.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Several locations offer organized activities. "This KOA has everything you need. The Wi-Fi here is good enough to check email but not for streaming or anything intensive," reports a visitor to Cabana Holiday RV Park-cabins.
Child-appropriate hiking: Trails vary in difficulty. "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.
Pool availability: Swimming options vary by location and season. "It is a very large park and the space between spots wasn't bad. Cell service here wasn't good either. The pool was too cold to enjoy unfortunately," notes a camper at Thousand Trails San Benito.
Tips from RVers
Site selection considerations: Not all sites accommodate larger rigs. "Site 211 was listed as 30' trailer but that was definitely not the case as it was a weird triangle parking area. We made it work and enjoyed the park," shares a visitor at Mount Madonna County Park.
Hookup accessibility: Utility placement varies by location. "This place is okay it's just small and loud. It's hard to get bigger Rv's into spots also. We have a 35' 5th wheel and there are only some spots that will fit it. It looks like motorhomes fit in a lot of these spots okay," reports a visitor to Marina Dunes RV Park.
Noise factors: Highway proximity affects some locations. "It is also very loud here with the freeway right behind you. It didn't bother us in the day. At night I had a sound machine so it didn't bother us. Our neighbors ended up leaving after a day because of the noise."
