Los Gatos, CA is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Los Gatos is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. Discover great camping spots near Los Gatos, reviewed by campers like you.
$7 - $35 / night
"This is a nice campground in a great part of California with lots of hiking and beaches nearby. The bathrooms were clean and well kept."
"There were bigger sites that would've suited us better but it was a nice little tucked in site. The poison oak is prolific. Our site was literally surrounded by it."
$33 / night
"This is a nice camping away from the car experience. It's a short walk up a paved path from the parking to the campsites."
"Great walk-in campground so close to home in the South Bay Area (albeit walk is slightly uphill)."
$35 / night
"Not far from the hustle and bustle of the Bay Area in California. When you arrive it's like stepping in to a whole other world. Huge redwoods blanket the mountain and line every site."
"So sad the devastation of last month's fires on the oldest state park in California, home to thr biggest redwoods south of San Francisco."
$35 - $185 / night
"Camped with electricity and water, situated on a bluff near the ocean. Easy walking distance to the water, nice roomy campsites with fire rings and tables. Not too close to other campers."
"New Brighton is a jewel on the California coast. Camping is on a bluff above beach and you must walk down stairs to get to the beach. Camping in the woods with the beach below is perfect."
"Do not take highway 9 from Santa Cruz as the RV park will tell you. Our car navigation changed our route even after we were approaching 17 north. Keep your eyes out for the highway signs."
"Sites surrounded by redwoods, friendly helpful staff, close to attractions."
$8 / night
"The parking lot for the trail head is just a bit further down Hwy 35. "
"There is a nearby shooting range and you can hear the gunshots during the daylight hours."
"We were happy to have the electric hook up since the redwood and oak tress surrounding all the sites are huge and block out the sun."
"It has some privacy, we liked that it was in between two yurts away from others. The trail does go right behind the site but it wasn’t super busy."
$34 / night
"Uvas Canyon County Park https://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/parkfinder/pages/uvascanyon.aspx is located about 15 miles west of Gilroy, on the east side of the Santa Cruz Mountains."
"This is a great spot for people looking to get away and camp but not trying to drive for 3-4 hours to do so."
"Entrance is a little nerve racking on your first visit, but once your at your site you can relax. Bathrooms are a little dated, no cell service but good WiFi if your close to the office."
"The place is old, but it has a great location. There are great hiking trails assessable from the campground."
$35 - $50 / night
"Given all that and its proximity to SF, I’ll be aiming to get reservations here every summer, and some winter seasons too."
"Bathrooms are easily accessible but showers are a bit of a walk maybe 5 mins from your site."
GuideWe loved how wooded this campground is and is close to nearby towns! We went to Sea Harvest in Moss Landing for dinner and would definitely recommend!Long walk to the beach, so we ended up just parking at the day use parking lot. Beach had plenty of litter and even a decaying seal which was a little unpleasant. Our paved site was decently unlevel. Bathrooms had private showers- 50 cents for 2 minutes. One shower ate my 2 quarters and didn’t work, but the next one worked fine and had hot water! Most people seem to not follow leash rules with their dogs.
LegendThis is our 3rd or 4th stay here. We visit people in the Bay Area and this place is convenient to Palo Alto and the Peninsula. It is usually not crowded, but this trip has more rigs the bathrooms are modern and clean, if spartan. The showers are roomy with ok water pressure (for California) and warm water. The laundry is super convenient. They even have summer ranger programs but we didn’t see many kids here. We are in a Class B van, but many sites are large enough for Class A rigs. Every time we have stayed here it has been windy. Sites, though asphalt, require some leveling.
TravelerFrom afar it looked pretty basic. But the wildlife and lake make this place. I saw the sunrise over the lake, but didn’t snap a picture because I was too comfy!
GuideHad a great 1 night stay at Juniper! We didn’t have a reservation, but got 1 upon arrival around 2pm. We asked for the site with the best view and were given site 23 at Juniper. It did not disappoint!! Our site was pretty private & we had our own sunset viewpoint. It’s next to a trail, & nearby bathrooms with showers & trash dumps. Site included picnic table, fire pit, 2 food storage boxes, & is very spacious.
The weather in May was really nice imo. Not too cold at night with layers, & starts warming up quick in the morning. Bugs weren’t too bad. Heard coyotes howling night and day which was neat. No raccoons. Saw some lizards.
Just a heads up the drive is windy, I got carsick on the way down. Will be returning & hopefully trying some hikes next time!
*Site 13 & 15 also seemed like they had nice views! (:
GuideUpper sites asphalt paved gently sloped for runoff. Two sites share one electrical box... bring 50A / 30A adapters just in case. Upper rest-room bldg has one shower with good pressure and hot water. Also has one outside washer/dryer. Be sure to note arrival and paperwork deadlines. Lower mostly unpaved level parking lot was only partially available due to food Faire w/ music taking place. Music stopped around 10pm. Fairly quiet after that but airplane liftoffs began 6am. I found commercial and private jet noise tolerable. You might want foam earplugs. You are paying for basic parking space with hook-ups that is close to Monterey. Limited options in this area.
GuideAlmost level ajoining asphalt parking slots face boats in harbor. Water / electric / sewer connection at back of parking slot. Picnic tablet in parking slot. Garbage and recycle bins at end of RV parking row. NO bathrooms or showers available as part of RV parking fee. No public facilities close by. Nice walk alone south side of harbor to three restaurants and small market by mouth of harbor / beach that also sells food and soft serve ice cream ($4/cone). Benches along the way. Commerants nesting in trees. Longer walk along north side of harbor to town/other areas. Camp ground host provided map when arrived. Good location to rest after and/or before a long drive. Quiet no-frills.
GuideWe arrived the Friday afternoon before Memorial Day, all campsites were full but the host was kind enough to allow us to use the overflow spot. It has the basics. Showers, dump station, a little over priced but it worked for what we needed.
GuideWe arrived after the front office was closed. We were still able to check-in and get a spot right next to the lake. There are about 25 spots for rigs of all sizes, on a leveled surface. There are restrooms available, and some areas for grilling and walking. In the morning there was some people fishing or in their fishing boats. There are plenty of sicks flying and swimming in the lake, with their poop all over the deck
GuidePretty & windy drive. No visitor center but rangers drove by once. We were the only ones at the site that night. It lightly rained but mostly the air was misty, & the fog got more dense as the night went on. The table benches got wet so come prepared. By the morning the thick fog cleared, revealing a great view. (Site 8 seemed like it had an awesome view!)
Our site was right next to a trail but again we were alone so no issues. Didn’t get to try a trail this time but the campground is still just a pretty place to hang out. Picnic table, fire pit, & nearby water, trash can, & bathroom. Saw quails, a mouse, & a bobcat? Had a great time!
Camping near Los Gatos, CA, offers a fantastic escape into nature with beautiful landscapes and plenty of activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, there are several campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Los Gatos, CA, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. With beautiful campgrounds and plenty of activities, you're sure to have a great time!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Los Gatos, CA is Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 42 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 parks near Los Gatos, CA that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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