Yurt camping options near Moss Landing, California feature diverse accommodation styles across the region's varied terrain. The coastal climate creates moderate temperatures year-round, with summer highs rarely exceeding 75°F and winter lows typically above 40°F. Fog patterns affect campground temperatures, with inland locations often warmer than coastal sites during summer months.
What to do
Hiking trails: Mount Madonna County Park offers numerous hiking trails through redwood forests at varying difficulty levels. The park contains an archery trail with 28 targets winding through the woods. One visitor noted, "The park has some unique features. Near the ranger station there are pens with white fallow deer. They are descendants of the exotic zoo at William Randolph Hearst's mansion down the coast."
Beach activities: Sunset State Beach provides camping within walking distance of a spacious beach perfect for long walks. A camper mentioned, "Wanna see an epic sunset? Bring your family, and camp here. Hike to the top of the dune. Don't forget your layers, the windy is chilly!" The beach remains relatively uncrowded even during peak season.
Wine tasting: Several wineries operate within 20 minutes of Saddle Mountain Ranch, making it a good base for exploring Carmel Valley vineyards. The campground sits in the hills with views of the valley. One reviewer shared, "Big Sur is just a short drive south and Monterey is just a short drive north. You can spend the day driving the 17 mile drive and seeing Pismo Beach or shop the quaint shops in Carmel by the sea."
What campers like
Waterfall viewing: At Uvas Canyon County Park, the waterfall loop trail showcases multiple cascades. A visitor observed, "The park is a on beautiful forested hilltop. Some areas are redwood, other parts mixed with other kinds of trees. This is the only place I've seen the redwood trees harvest the fog and make their own rain, which is pretty cool." The park has 25 campsites with access to these natural features.
Heated pool access: Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday maintains a heated swimming pool that operates year-round. A camper wrote, "We stayed in one of the airstreams they have for rent there. The family loved it... Kids loved the jump pillow/the blob and the playground and the pool." The campground offers various recreational facilities regardless of weather conditions.
Secluded beaches: Marina Dunes RV Park provides access to less-visited stretches of coastline. As one reviewer explained, "About a 5 min trek through sand and dunes and you'll find yourself at a beach not many people frequent. On Friday we were the only ones for as far as I could see. No exaggeration. Saturday there were maybe 30 people."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Yurt camping at Mount Madonna requires advance booking, especially during summer months. Sites fill quickly despite the park having multiple accommodation areas. A visitor advised, "When booking campsites here, I recommend taking some time to research the campsites as they vary in size and privacy."
Campsite spacing: Morgan Hill RV Resort features variable site spacing and some uneven terrain. A camper mentioned, "Beautiful mature trees all over campground. The bathrooms need to be cleaned more often. Sites are not level." The resort does offer numerous amenities that offset these limitations.
Weather preparation: Coastal fog creates temperature variations between nearby campgrounds. The inland hills can be significantly colder than expected. One Mount Madonna visitor warned, "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!"
Tips for camping with families
Activity scheduling: Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA sends daily activity updates via text message. A parent shared, "They have activities daily and things to do which are sent out daily in a text. The store has many items that may be needed and some souvenirs." Children's programs typically run through mid-October.
Playground access: Thousand Trails Morgan Hill provides numerous recreational facilities suitable for children. A visitor reported, "Great culture here - friendly, lots of things to do (pool, basketball, volleyball, horse shoes, playground, billiards, karaoke, tennis)." Consider campsite location relative to play areas when booking.
Educational opportunities: Mount Madonna's white deer herd offers learning experiences for children. A reviewer noted, "The park used to have hundreds of them, but a number of years ago the park service stopped allowing them to breed because they're an introduced species. So now they're down to just two white deer and when those die that'll be the end of that."
Tips from RVers
Leveling requirements: Many sites at Uvas Canyon County Park require leveling blocks. A camper advised, "If you plan to sleep in your car, you may want to take leveling blocks as I found the car parking spot to be not leveled at all." This applies particularly to vehicle campers and smaller RVs.
Access limitations: Saddle Mountain Ranch has a challenging approach road. A reviewer cautioned, "First off the road coming to the campground is very steep, could be challenging for some rigs. Didn't bring the RV here but did tent camp." The campground layout also presents navigation challenges for larger vehicles.
Hookup positioning: Marina Dunes RV Park has unusual utility placement at some sites. One RVer noted, "The location of the electrical/water is awkward." Bring extension cords and longer water hoses to accommodate these arrangements.
