Camping options near Monterey, California sit between the coast and inland foothills, with most sites located 15-50 miles from downtown. The region experiences Mediterranean climate patterns with cool coastal fog in summer mornings, while inland areas can reach 90°F during peak season. Equestrian facilities are limited, though several campgrounds provide strategic locations for accessing nearby horse trails.
What to Do
Kayaking at Coyote Lake: The lake at Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park provides calm waters for paddling. "We had a big spot and no neighbors my entire half of the campground on a Monday night in June. I was under 2 big oaks that were buzzing with bird activity," notes Michelle W.
Wildlife viewing: The inland campgrounds offer excellent wildlife spotting opportunities. At Thousand Trails San Benito, campers report remarkable animal sightings: "We had Condors above our cabin, deer around us, wild pigs crossing the roads. Its amazing!!!! My favorite part of our California trip was staying here!" shares Samantha N.
Hiking trail access: Multiple parks connect to trail networks, some allowing horseback access with proper permits. "Henry Coe is a completely underrated state park. There are ample opportunities for backpacking and bikepacking. The lakes throughout the park are beautiful to camp by," writes Caitlin S.
What Campers Like
Proximity to attractions: While lacking dedicated horse facilities, Salinas-Monterey KOA serves as a convenient base camp. "The location is very secluded as bd far from stores but fairly close to the sea. Have visited a few time and enjoy the stay," notes Javier J.
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained bathrooms and amenities. "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," reports Ben V. about Salinas-Monterey KOA.
Spacious sites: Several campgrounds offer adequate spacing between sites. "This small and quite campground is our favorite in Bay Area. Each site has a picnic table and a fire pit, with enough of trees and privacy," writes Marta T. about Coe Ranch Campground.
What You Should Know
Limited equestrian accommodations: None of the campgrounds near Monterey offer dedicated horse corrals within camping areas. Closest options for actual horseback camping require driving to more distant counties.
Wild pig activity: Multiple campsites report wild pig sightings, especially at night. "There are food lockers since wild pigs come out at night. Be sure to lock all food up! They will roam through the camp ground all through the night if anyone has left any food out," cautions Quyen W.
Terrain challenges: Some campgrounds have difficult terrain. "We were surprised when we made it to this campground that it was built on the side of a hill. The walk-in sites may be different, but all of the pull in sites were extremely off-level," warns Karen about Coe Ranch Campground.
Tips for Camping with Families
Pool access: Cabana Holiday RV Park offers amenities families appreciate. "This KOA has everything you need. the streets are wide and the pull-ins are easy to access. they also give cookies to guests and treats to dogs," mentions CJ J.
Educational opportunities: Several parks have nature programs or visitor centers. "Near the Coe Ranch campground there is a camp book store, which has some items for sale, including many field guides to wildlife and plants in the park," notes Sara W.
Site selection for shade: When booking, look for sites with natural shade coverage. "I'd recommend sites 10-12, 13 looked ok - and sounds like other folk recommend the ones down the hill a bit," advises Josh J. about camping at Coe Ranch.
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: RVers should research site grading before booking. "The campground is pretty remote and there are a good amount of sites with tree cover and shade. It's a gigantic park with plenty of hiking trails," mentions Andre V. about camping without highlighting horse facilities.
Utility hookups: Most campgrounds offer partial hookups. "Part of the KOA franchise, this is a very clean, well positioned RV and Cabin park for exploring the Monterey, Salinas, Watsonville, Santa Cruz area," shares Richard S.
Road access: Some campgrounds have tight access roads. "From main road it takes about 35 min drive up the hill through narrow road which is paved but I don't think it is appropriate for RVs," advises Lady L. about accessing certain areas.
