Best Glamping near Los Banos, CA

Mount Madonna County Park and Thousand Trails San Benito provide upscale glamping accommodations close to Los Banos, with options including yurts and luxury canvas tents equipped with modern amenities. Mount Madonna's yurts feature comfortable bedding, electricity, and heating for year-round comfort, while Thousand Trails San Benito offers premium glamping structures with private decks overlooking the 300-acre property. One guest highlighted that "it's absolutely beautiful here, campground was very clean and quiet. This place made it much better, with walking trails and daily activities for the family." Both locations provide easy access to hiking trails and natural scenery, with Mount Madonna situated amidst redwood forests and Thousand Trails offering panoramic views of rolling California hills.

Wildlife viewing opportunities abound at these glamping destinations, particularly at Thousand Trails San Benito where deer regularly wander through the property. A visitor noted, "We had multiple deer wandering the grounds, wild pigs crossing the roads, and even saw Condors above our cabin. It's amazing!" Nearby Pinnacles National Park, accessible from both glamping locations, offers additional outdoor adventures including bird watching and hiking. Mercey Hot Springs, another glamping option in the region, features private mineral hot tubs and a swimming pool accessible to overnight guests staying in their luxury accommodations. Most glamping sites in the area maintain a tranquil atmosphere perfect for disconnecting, with limited cell service at some locations enhancing the sense of escape. Seasonal considerations include cooler winter temperatures at San Benito, though heated accommodations remain comfortable year-round.

Map showing campgrounds near Los Banos, California

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Best Glamping Sites Near Los Banos, California (16)

1. Santa Nella RV Park
3 Reviews
Los Banos, CA
10 miles
Website
+1 (209) 826-3105
$50 / night
2. Pinnacles Campground — Pinnacles National Park
91 Reviews
Pinnacles, CA
45 miles
Website
+1 (831) 200-1722
$44 - $164 / night
"We had a separate dome tent to keep out bugs. The site had two picnic benches, a fire pit and bear lockers for your food."

"The campground loop we were in was full and the sites are fairly close to your neighbor but it wasn't bad. The main reason being absolutely NO generators allowed so it was peaceful."

3. McConnell State Recreation Area Campground
6 Reviews
Atwater, CA
25 miles
Website
+1 (209) 394-7755
$30 - $200 / night
"over night & day sites, hot showers and indoor restrooms surrounded by beautiful nature."
4. Mercey Hot Springs
2 Reviews
Pinnacles National Park, CA
25 miles
Website
+1 (209) 826-3388
$70 - $185 / night
"If you’re doing the long drive from the Bay Area to LA, a nice place to stay is Mercey Hot Springs. It takes about 20 minutes to get there from the freeway and is in the middle of nowhere. "

"When I arrived the nights were hot so I decided to take an AC Cabin #10 where I could park right next to the cabin and slept comfortably."

5. Mount Madonna County Park
32 Reviews
Gilroy, CA
48 miles
Website
+1 (408) 842-2341
"There's something for everyone here, RVers, tenters, and those who want to rent tent cabins. There are plenty of trails to hike, as well as equestrian trails. No bikes on trails though."

"While it was nice to hear the other campers having a great time with their families and friends, the noise level from it was extraordinary. The campground in the forest and beautiful."
6. Thousand Trails San Benito
12 Reviews
Paicines, CA
36 miles
Website
+1 (888) 707-1477
"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."

"Typical TT resort park off the beaten path, far out but nice place, we enjoyed our stay. At the time we were there a lot of the riverfront sports were out of order."

7. Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park
11 Reviews
San Martin, CA
38 miles
Website
+1 (408) 842-7800
$34 / night
"The lake is closed to any and all water-craft because the water level is too low. It is very clean and well maintained for the most part. Cell phone service for Xfinity/Verizon is spotty at best."

"Campsites are along the beautiful Coyote lake. The lakeside sites are mostly shaded as are the sites along the road. Sites 43, 44 and 45 would be the most secluded."
8. Casa de Fruta
3 Reviews
Hollister, CA
30 miles
Website
+1 (408) 842-9316
"Always stop by and get fresh fruit, but have camped on site. Great place with lots to do during the day."

"I saw lower sites that looked like tent sites, it is perfect if you want less highway noise. There are some“permanent resident” sites in the back of the park. Bathrooms are kept clean."

9. Lake McSwain Recreation Area
11 Reviews
La Grange, CA
43 miles
Website
+1 (209) 378-2521
$30 - $40 / night
"My family and I stayed at Lake McSwain Campgrounds for a weekend during a mountain bike race at Exchequer."

"There are free warm showers and the bathrooms are fairly clean. If you are staying in a tent make sure to layer up and bring lots of blankets because nights can get very cold."
10. Arena RV Park
2 Reviews
Madera, CA
33 miles
Website
+1 (559) 665-1752
"Close to hwy but far enough that road noise isn't onerous. Train passes through once at night time, bring earplugs. Clean, tidy, well kept campground."

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Recent Glamping Photos near Los Banos, CA

11 Photos of 16 Los Banos Campgrounds

Glamping Reviews near Los Banos, CA

210 Reviews of 16 Los Banos Campgrounds

r
roxanne
Traveler
Aug. 4, 2021
Pinnacles Campground — Pinnacles National Park
Wonderful campground nestled in Pinnacles National Park
Great camping spot with a small creek running by the site. Water = mosquitoes and this was no exception. Plenty of shade at this site, level ground and space was plentiful for our 14 x 15 tent. We had a separate dome tent to keep out bugs. The site had two picnic benches, a fire pit and bear lockers for your food. The potable water was just steps away and the parking area easily accommodated two vehicles (vans). The bathrooms were a short stroll away, along with the big trash dumpsters. They have a pool near the visitor’s center/camp store which was very popular. Staff was really nice and the sites are well-kept. The pool and showers are a longer walk from our site so we ended up driving to those accommodations. Pay showers and the water was generous and shower stalls were relatively clean. Pinnacles trail heads are close by. Lots of trails, but when we were there an excessive heat warning was in place. Definitely a place to return to!
Laura M.
Legend
Mar. 7, 2021
Pinnacles Campground — Pinnacles National Park
Crowded But Not Awful
The park is amazing and there are so many great hikes, wildlife viewing and picturesque landscapes!

The campground loop we were in was full and the sites are fairly close to your neighbor but it wasn't bad. The main reason being absolutely NO generators allowed so it was peaceful. The sites were semi private as the brush and trees have grown around most sites offering a little privacy. Other campers were friendly and considerate. Note that the RV side with the hook up does not offer any privacy and is near the main road. RVs are not confined to that area though.

The spots are flat and include fire pit, picnic table and food locker. Raccoons apparently are a big problem here so keep your food locked up. There is a small general store/visitor center with a variety of food items, stove fuel, firewood, general camping supplies and souvenirs. WiFi also available for $10 for 7days per device. We paid, but our T-Mobile hotspot with Weboost won out in the end because the WiFi did not reach our spot. There is better reception for the WiFI in other spots. No cell reception with AT&T or Verizon.

The hiking is great! and during the week pleasantly absent of tons of other hikers. Masks are required even on trails when 6 ft distance cannot be maintained, and people were very respectful of that on the trails. There is a lot of wildlife to see though sadly we did not see any condors on this trip. The caves are currently closed due to Covid.

Other amenities:

Tent cabins

RV only loop with 30amp hook up only (no sewer or water hook up)

Showers

Bathrooms

Garbage and Recycling

RV dump station (flush water only)

Fresh water filler up (near RV camping area)

Group camping

Pool (currently closed)

Pets allowed but NOT allowed on any trails

Overall a great experience for a lesser known National Park, would come here again!
Shawnna B.
Traveler
Jun. 13, 2019
Mount Madonna County Park
My favorite campground of the Monterey Bay
Mount Madonna County Park has 4 campgrounds. I've been camping in this park since the late 70s. I've seen some changes over the years...ahem...decades. There's something for everyone here, RVers, tenters, and those who want to rent tent cabins. There are plenty of trails to hike, as well as equestrian trails. No bikes on trails though.

There are several micro climates in this area and temps can vary, besides our weather varies from day to day.

There are trails offering views of the Santa Clara Valley, and trails offering views of the Monterey Bay. The park is above the fog line (most of the year). We don't get rain in the summer here. The park is situated at the County lines of Santa Clara County and Santa Cruz County and is part of the Santa Clara County Parks system.

No stores or markets in the park, but you can easily run into town, either Watsonville or Gilroy. It's slightly closer to Watsonville where you will find a gas station/market on 152 (Currently a Valero), or go into Gilroy on 152 for Safeway and more.

There's a small cabin (ranger's station) with a history exhibit and the white reindeer up from the kiosk. My favorite campground in the park is the Tan Oak campground at the top and through the day use area. There are plenty of Geocaches on the trails.

The bathrooms are generally clean. I say generally because I prefer the off season when I have the campground to myself and the bathrooms are super clean, but when the campground is full, like any public bathroom they can need more attention. (Or maybe people just need to clean up after themselves) I've never used the showers, nor the tent cabins. I like the sites because overall they are separated by trees so you don't feel as crowded as more open campgrounds.

Despite signage warning of mountain lions, I have never encountered a single one in all the years of camping here. I've had raccoons and skunks (so lock up your food and belongings), turkeys and deer.

Weekends, especially a holiday weekend such as Memorial Day weekend, can be full. (Not my favorite) I have also stayed for the 4th of July when it fell midweek and had the campground (Tan Oak) literally to myself.

Leashed pets are allowed (2 per site) and 2 cars and 8 people per site.
s
stephanie
Guide
Jun. 20, 2021
Gilroy Garlic USA RV Park
Nice RV Park, Reasonable Rates
We 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

Great central location!

Roomy spaces, by RV park standards.

Water, sewer, electric, WiFi, and trash.

Propane on-site for purchase.

Laundry mat on site. Prices more reasonable than going to a laundry mat off site.

Showers and restrooms.

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. Wow!!

A really nice pool.

Wide back in spots, with wide roadways. Even a novice RVer can back it up with out concern.

This place can accommodate truly large rigs, there were quite a few of them during our visit.

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.

Open, lush grassy area.

Cons:

It’s an RV park, so there is a lot of smooth new concrete and the sites are close together. If you want natural turf and more space, you’ll need to give up the amenities and go to a State Park or Forest.
Toni R.
Traveler
Feb. 22, 2022
Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park
Nice but crowded-SUV tent camper review
It was a nice campground to go to. Lots of wildlife and hiking. Dogs are allowed. The lake is closed to any and all water-craft because the water level is too low. It is very clean and well maintained for the most part. Cell phone service for Xfinity/Verizon is spotty at best. There is weak wifi.

However, here's where it loses a star:

I arrived on a Friday late afternoon. Set up my tent. People were fairly loud until about 11pm. Bathrooms were really nice and clean…at first. Saturday, in came the crowd. Loud, obnoxious, and inconsiderate way past midnight. There was no reinforcement of quiet hours past 10pm. The toilets were clogged by 9pm at both restrooms. Men's restrooms have ONLY ONE STALL. And they were clogged beyond belief. I cannot understand why people do not know how to flush a toilet in public. Do they do this crap at home? Anyway, Sunday morning past 9am, still clogged up. Lines waiting to use the compromised restrooms as well. Ridiculous. Unfortunately, that's what ruined my experience. People just being completely selfish in a public campground and staff not be able to keep up with their antics. Maybe there shouldn't be so many sites for so few facilities. Just a thought.

For SUV tents, check out campsite pics on other sites before booking. SUV tents are usually limited to one entrance/exit point on the tent. Usually the driver's side. Each campsite is different. The one I reserved had only one pic that basically showed me nothing. I only could back in to set up my tent on the grass. Both the picnic table and firepit were facing the passenger side way far from the parking spot (as you can see in the second pic) opposite the entrance to my tent. So something to consider.
Susie G.
Guide
Sep. 10, 2019
Pinnacles Campground — Pinnacles National Park
Wonderful wildlife sounds, hiking trails, and more
CAMPFIRES ARE NOT ALLOWED HERE. Not even in the fire rings at each site!

We enjoyed seeing LOTS of wildlife in Pinnacles from our campsite: California quail scurrying up a hill, mule deer, and raptors of all kinds. Lots of nocturnal animal activity!

But the campsites themselves were dispersed around a parking lot -- not much more to it, and very little shade or barrier between sites. Quiet hours were not enforced at all. People were loud through the night.

Wrong name was written on our placard so we worried all night that someone would accuse us of taking their spot, even though we had reserved. and pre-paid for the one we were in. Camping host was indifferent to this error.

Great National Park, though, and seemed to be the only camping option in the area.
Tom and Marianne H.
Guide
May. 3, 2020
Mount Madonna County Park
In the forest but very noisy
We camped here on Easter Eve, 2019. It seems everyone else did, too! While it was nice to hear the other campers having a great time with their families and friends, the noise level from it was extraordinary.

The campground in the forest and beautiful. The bathrooms were well maintained. And the fire pits were large and had grills.

I don't think we'll camp here again except in the dead of winter when there might not be as many people.
Ben V.
Guide
Oct. 10, 2021
Salinas-Monterey KOA
Great campground for a few days
They have nice facilities and a heated pool although a hot tub would be nice also. The sites are a little small but very mature trees and they keep it clean. Some of the back in sites for tent trailer are a pain to get into but very nice setup with private dishwashing station and cook space. Bathroom is. Lean and nice club/game room and clean washing facility. Close to the highway with a fairly easy on and off the although it's a little confusing at first. All day/night highway noise but it starts to become white noise after a while. Staff are friendly and accommodating and quick to respond to any issues. Its got a grocery store nearby and the camp store is fairly complete as well. Not a lot of outdoor activities other than the pool and bags and the K9 trail, but pleasant to walk though. It is very hilly and steps are around to get between levels. After being here for 4 days, I would consider coming back again.
K
Kerry V.
Traveler
May. 14, 2018
Mount Madonna County Park
Quiet and Comfortable
We had a HUGE campsite. Not sure of the number. The fire pit and picnic table were up near the camp road, but our site had a huge "dish" that was shaded by large trees where we pitched our tent. We camped in November, and it was cool, but not cold. It had been raining and things were damp, but we were comfortable with jackets and a fire in the evenings. Jackets came off during the sunniest part of the day. We did a short hike. Mostly, we stayed in our site and played tabletop games at the picnic table. We really so no other campers or park workers while we were in our site as it was quite secluded.