Mount Madonna County Park offers unique yurt camping 25 miles inland from Marina, California, situated at an elevation of 1,800 feet among redwood groves. These hillside accommodations remain above the fog line most of the year, creating ideal conditions for stargazing while providing views extending to Monterey Bay and Santa Clara Valley. The park contains miles of hiking trails through redwood forests and along ridgetops with temperatures typically 40 degrees cooler than nearby valley floor locations.
What to do
Explore hiking trails: Mount Madonna County Park features extensive trail networks accessible directly 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 a visitor from Mount Madonna County Park.
Visit the beach: The shoreline near Sunset State Beach offers long stretches of relatively uncrowded coastline. "Beach is long and expansive with very few people on an average day. Nice place to take a stroll and relax," explains one camper who found this location "not far from Santa Cruz, maybe 25-30 minutes depending on traffic."
Wildlife viewing: San Benito RV and Camping Resort provides opportunities to observe local wildlife within the campground. "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 visitor describing the abundant wildlife activity at this 300-acre property.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Campground cleanliness ranks high among visitor priorities at Pinnacles Campground. "Clean. Friendly staff. Wonderful showers. Campground was full the weekend we were there," notes a recent visitor who appreciated the well-maintained amenities despite high occupancy.
Swimming options: Several campgrounds offer swimming facilities for cooling off after hiking. "They have a heated pool, laundry facilities and on site store. There are however some large raccoons so use caution with your trash," warns a visitor to Santa Cruz KOA, highlighting both the amenities and wildlife challenges.
Privacy levels: Site selection significantly impacts privacy at Mount Madonna County Park. "While the sites are a little close to each other, those on the outside of the loop had a great deal of privacy. Inner loop sites have none, but would be great if you were camping with friends," advises a recent visitor who carefully considered site placement.
What you should know
Weather variability: Coastal fog and temperature swings affect camping comfort. "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!" cautions a Mount Madonna visitor.
Wildlife encounters: Raccoons are particularly active at Pinnacles Campground. "Raccoons... everywhere.... seriously leave your car locked, these little buggers were not afraid of humans," warns a camper who otherwise enjoyed the "good showers, clean bathrooms, private sites."
Beach access: Reaching the beach from Marina Dunes RV Park requires effort. "If you like to walk, there is a path that will take you to the ocean. It's about a quarter of a mile walk in sand. There is no sidewalk," explains one visitor who also noted highway noise as something to consider when selecting sites.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Look for campgrounds with dedicated children's activities. "This KOA is great for a family getaway. TONS of activities on site- huge bouncy pad, a climbing wall, ping pong tables, a swimming pool, pedal go karts, the list goes on and on," reports a Santa Cruz KOA visitor.
Spacious sites: Select larger sites when camping with children and gear at Saddle Mountain Ranch. "Camp sites and cabins are a little close together but nice, clean grounds make it comfortable. Good playground for kids. Foosball, ping pong, corn hole, horseshoes, and other games available," notes a visitor who found the campground "perfect for beginning campers and glampers."
Noise considerations: Family-oriented campgrounds may have varying noise levels. "Lots of activities for younger kids. Convenient location, lots of amenities. Cabin was super nice to stay in after a week of car camping! Kitchenette, bathroom, hot water. Perfect," shares a satisfied family visitor at Saddle Mountain Ranch.
Tips from RVers
Site access challenges: RV campers should evaluate campground roads before arrival. "First off the road coming to the campground is very steep, could be challenging for some rigs," warns a Saddle Mountain Ranch visitor about potential access issues for larger vehicles.
Highway noise: Marina Dunes RV Park offers ocean proximity but with ambient noise. "It is 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," shares one RVer describing the tradeoffs of this location.