Best Glamping near Mendocino, CA

We've spent most of our twenty years of camping together off the beaten path, avoiding the likes of anything KOA, but for our RV's maiden voyage we thought we'd start with the Machester Beach KOA, and we were very glad we did. We arrived early evening as camp activities were getting underway, setting up to the soundtrack of Beetlejuice showing nearby. The site was clean, KOA's office and service staff were very friendly, not that corporate-disengenuous-give-us-a-good-rating friendly, but real, authentic hospitality. Everything quieted down after 10:00p. We stayed for four days, enjoying everything the area has to offer from Mendocino to Point Arena and had one of the best camping experiences of our lives, and it wasn't just the RV that made it that way. 

One little-known secret about this site is that the beach (a moderate walk away) is the home of the Manchester Cable Station, built by AT&T in 1954 on the United States’ closest point to the Hawaiian Islands, where the internet backbone starts its journey across the Pacific.

On the positive side, the people that work there are very hospitable and friendly.  We had reserved 2 days.  But for $70 per day for 2 people (they charge by the person per day) there are not enough amenities and the grounds are not well kept.  Check in is not until 4pm.  First, there is no place to put garbage.  You have to take it with you.  Bathrooms are just blue porta-potties.  There is a map of the property, but almost no signs on the property, so it's hard to know where you are in relation to the map.  The campsites are numbered on the map, but not at the physical campsites.  Although the property is in the mountains and there is a reservoir for swimming and boating, (a big plus), there are tools and equipment in various stages of disrepair at several places on the facility that are not screened from view of the camping areas.  The RV hookup areas are too primitive compared to typical campsites.  (again, the price is too much for what you get)  There are canoes and kayaks available for use at the reservoir, (a very nice amenity) but various boating equipment litter the shores and spoil the views.  I was told this facility caters mainly to group events, like weddings and there are nice glamping tents available.   But it looked like they just didn't pick up after the last party.  We left after one day.

Senior camping at it's best. A heated cabin and pad on bed that was comfortable. Got showers and a family vibe. Great location for scouting Mendocino coastline and Pt Arena. No wifi though so don't bring work.

The Mendocino redwoods RV resort just outside of Willits on CA-20 to Fort Bragg, California, was 3 years ago a KOA resort. The overall facility is still in fairly good shape but you can see the results of the pandemic and a little bit lack of effort on maintaining various things with inside the facility. Not to get me wrong, it's still a very nice resort but the new affiliation that they've decided to go with needs to step it up a little bit otherwise it will go into disrepair and short order. After traveling recently to a very high-end KOA resort, I can assess and compare between the two locations very quickly. I think it is a very wonderful location with a lot of wonderful things to do and activities within an hour's drive of it, I just wish they would do a little bit more to start bring it up to the level that it once was.

It's a KOA. It's pretty much exactly what you might expect. It's beautiful hinder the trees, with an excellent location to make beach access pretty convient too. Being so close to the beach though, it gets COLD at night. We usually rent a cabin. The cabins have heaters with is definitely nice. They also have beds, but the beds are really uncomfortable, it's just a pad on top of a slat wood frame, remember to bring a foam topper. Store/pool/hot tub. Perfect location to set up and use as a base of operations while you explore up and down the mendocino coast.

Middle creek campground was as close as we could find to free camping in Upper Lake CA. At the time of our visit 90% of the Mendocino National Forest was closed as a result of fires the past year as well as landslides due to rains.this is normally a ohv area but since all trails are closed it is quiet and peaceful.you can hear the creek running along the camp, as well as the wild turkeys . There must be over 15 different species of birds as well. Each campsite has a picnic table , fire pit as well as a bbq grill. They do have vault toilets and running water. It was $8.00 a nite but offered a discount with a America the beautiful pass

The campground is nice and quiet. Plenty of space without being noisy. But I’m not sure how they’ve justified charging $58 per night for no basic trash disposal (you have to take all trash with you) and only portable toilets on site.

3 sites are currently closed due to COVID to encourage social distancing; sites fill up quickly on weekends; no on-site camp host, but Cal Fire does come through to write receipts and pick up trash. Not sure if there's water (we brought our own). Good option if needing first come first serve sites since all of the state parks are reservation-only currently. All sites have fire ring and picnic table, also some access to the creek/river bed below to explore. Really convenient to Fort Bragg (30 min away) or Willets (30 min away). No cell service. Only possible complaint would be that you can hear the road noise, but get used to it after awhile.

We rented a cabin here back in October. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful, and their check-in area/shop had everything you needed if you forgot it. Our cabin was a five minute walk to the beach, with closer spots for RV’ers and tent campers.

The camp spots were all beautiful, flowery and grassy, with trees overhead.

I would definitely go again!

I’m not an RV park person but this place was great! We stayed in our van in the tent area which was secluded, with a stream meandering through, and it was nearly deserted in April. Clean bathrooms, hot showers for quarters, and an outside sink for doing dishes. You walk through the RV section to get to the beach, which definitely had more of a party vibe, but the beach was beautiful. At $68/night it’s expensive for camping but overall a nice overnight stop on our way South.

One of the best places to stay ever

This place is amazing. Full hookups a nice store with everything you need. No reason to leave you have a beach just 50 yards from your campsite.

Great spot for my first solo trip in my 23’ motorhome. Cell service only on the beach and no working Wi-Fi which worked for me cuz I needed a break. Campground was clean. Staff was friendly. Bathrooms clean. Campgrounds were only at 50% capacity so it was super quiet. Beach was vast and a stone’s throw from my campsite

Quiet in the off season. Fires on the beach are great. Rediscovered this place in February and have reservations for November. Only down side is if you make reservations in person, they don't guarantee you that spot.