Joseph D. Grant County Park sits in the eastern foothills of Santa Clara County, about 28 miles northeast of Moss Landing. The park covers over 10,000 acres with elevations ranging from 1,500 to 2,900 feet. Temperatures often fluctuate between 50-90°F depending on the season, with summer days regularly reaching the high 80s. The diverse terrain includes both oak woodland and open grasslands that support a variety of wildlife.
What to do
Stargazing opportunities: Joseph D. Grant County Park offers excellent night sky viewing due to its distance from city lights. "There are nights to gather and stargaze," notes one camper who enjoyed the clear night skies at the park.
Wildlife viewing: The parks around Moss Landing provide numerous opportunities to observe local animals. At Thousand Trails San Benito, visitors report remarkable wildlife encounters: "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!"
Kayaking: The coastal location near Moss Landing makes water activities popular. A visitor to Salinas-Monterey KOA noted, "Like most of my beach camping choices, Monterey is ideal for ocean activities like Kayaking, whale watching, etc. It's absolutely beautiful and worth the trip year round!"
What campers like
Clean facilities: Many equestrian camping areas near Moss Landing maintain well-kept amenities. At Joseph D. Grant County Park, campers appreciate the "bathrooms and showers available. Camp host was friendly. They also sell ice which was nice to grab for the cooler."
Proximity to attractions: The location makes it easy to explore regional highlights while having a peaceful base camp. A visitor to Cabana Holiday RV Park-cabins described it as "a very clean, well positioned RV and Cabin park for exploring the Monterey, Salinas, Watsonville, Santa Cruz area."
Secluded atmosphere: Despite being relatively close to urban areas, many campgrounds offer a sense of remoteness. At Salinas-Monterey KOA, one camper mentioned it's a "Nice secluded place that's want to busy."
What you should know
Seasonal variations: Weather conditions can change dramatically throughout the year. At Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park, visitors should note that "20 min drive into town with lots of amenities" is available if you need supplies during inclement weather.
Wildlife precautions: Several parks have notable wildlife that requires preparation. "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," warns a camper about wild pigs at Coyote Lake.
Reservation requirements: Most equestrian camping areas require advance booking. At Joseph D Grant County Park's Horse Camp, spaces fill quickly during peak seasons, especially weekends from spring through fall.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies widely between campgrounds. A visitor to Joseph D. Grant County Park noted there was "No cell service, ride up the mountain is nauseating."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: When camping with children near Moss Landing, look for campgrounds with swimming facilities. At Salinas-Monterey KOA, families appreciate the "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."
Indoor recreation: For days with poor weather, some campgrounds offer indoor activities. Thousand Trails San Benito provides "a tv, games and arts for the kids in the clubhouse" according to a family who stayed there.
Educational opportunities: Turn camping into a learning experience by visiting nearby nature centers. "There is a small visitor center close to the entrance, with a few souvenirs and some snacks and drinks" at Henry Coe State Park, which can provide educational materials about local ecosystems.
Tips from RVers
Site selection considerations: When booking equestrian camping sites near Moss Landing with an RV, pay attention to the terrain. At Henry W. Coe State Park, one RVer warned: "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 (even with all our blocks we couldn't get close)."
Connectivity options: RVers who need to stay connected should research internet availability. At Cabana Holiday RV Park-cabins, a camper reported "the Wi-Fi here is good enough to check email but not for streaming or anything intensive. however you can get a good starlink connection and over 100 megabits per second."
Hookup availability: Check what utilities are available before arriving. San Benito RV and Camping Resort offers full hookups, but as one camper mentioned, "Compared to the campground at Pinnacles where we were going, we feel this is the better option" for RVers needing amenities.
