Manchester State Park Campground sits between the coastal highway and the Pacific Ocean, offering year-round camping with both quiet weekdays and busier weekends. The campground provides access to miles of dune-backed beaches and coastal trails. Visitors camp on grassy sites with limited tree cover, experiencing both fog and sunshine depending on coastal weather patterns.
What to do
Beach exploration: Access Manchester State Beach via a mile-long trail from Manchester State Park Campground. "It is so wonderful. The campground is just above the driftwood beach offering walks in solitude with the breaking waves in the background," notes one visitor who appreciates the peaceful setting.
Ocean activities: Rent kayaks or canoes at Narrows Lodge Resort for water adventures. "We rented a motor boat for a few hours to explore the beautiful lake. Pet friendly. Great little beach. A dock to fish from. Everything you need to have a great time," shares a camper who enjoyed the water access.
Wildlife watching: Look for birds, deer, foxes and other wildlife at Camp One in Jackson Demonstration Forest. "Beautiful, clean and peaceful. Plenty of trails to explore and Noyo River meanders through the center," reports one visitor who enjoyed the natural setting.
What campers like
Secluded camping spots: The northern loop at Manchester State Park Campground offers more protection from coastal winds. "I would recommend the sites in the high 30's as they are more secluded," suggests a recent visitor who appreciated the site selection.
Beachfront access: Campers can enjoy private beach access at Westport Beach RV Park. "Beautiful Beach campground. Space are decent size. The beach private so it's just you and the other campers," explains a visitor who valued the exclusive beach setting.
Stargazing opportunities: The lack of light pollution creates excellent nighttime viewing conditions. "No city lights to speak of = incredible stargazing. Oceanside = fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves," notes a visitor to Manchester State Park.
What you should know
Weather preparation: Coastal temperatures fluctuate dramatically with fog and wind. "Being so close to the beach though, it gets COLD at night," warns a visitor to Mendocino Redwoods RV Resort, highlighting the need for appropriate clothing and heating.
Reservation systems: Many campgrounds operate on different booking models. "Nearly all the other campgrounds on the CA coast require a reservation 6 months in advance for weekends, with weekday availability not much better. This small campground had a number of empty spots available at 8pm on a Saturday," explains a camper about Manchester State Park's first-come, first-served system.
Facility limitations: Some campgrounds have minimal amenities. "Bathrooms are vault toilets, and there are no sinks available. Water spigots are located throughout the campground, though, and the bathrooms were clean and almost odorless," shares a visitor to Manchester State Park about the basic facilities.
Tips for camping with families
Activity-focused stays: Choose campgrounds with dedicated family programming. "They had movie night for the kids and 'no kids' hot tub hours for the adults," explains a visitor to Westport Beach RV Park, highlighting organized activities.
Water recreation options: Look for campgrounds with swimming facilities. "The pool is nice and heated, they do have a spa but it was closed because of Covid. Staff was super nice too," notes a family who stayed at Westport Beach RV Park.
Glamping alternatives: For families new to outdoor stays, consider the glamping options in Manchester, California. "This is the sweetest campground. The sites were on the smaller side, but came with a picnic table. And you're blocked from the other campers by your RV. It's a short walk from anywhere in the campground down to the lake," shares a visitor who enjoyed the lakeside glamping experience at Narrows Lodge Resort.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Check campground utilities before arriving. "We had a site with full hook ups, including sewage (no need for dumping station!!). This is a great campground that is right on the beach! It has showers, flushing toilets, a little store, fire wood for sale, dish washing station, and even WiFi!" explains an RVer who stayed at Dunlap Campground.
Road access concerns: Some campgrounds have challenging approach roads. "The road to get into the campground is very sketchy. It is extremely narrow and there is no where to pass along it. So make sure you abide by the check in check out times, which are significantly far apart, to ensure that nobody meets each other on the road," warns an RVer about access to Narrows Lodge Resort.
Site spacing: RV sites vary widely in privacy and spacing. "Almost every spot seemed to be pretty nice. Pull throughs seemed a little tight, but all back-ins were spacious. Very clean grounds," notes an RVer who appreciated the layout at Westport Beach RV Park.
