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Moss Landing KOA Express welcomes pets at all 46 concrete pad sites within walking distance of Salinas Beach. This small, tightly packed campground provides full hookups for RVs while maintaining clean, well-maintained facilities with pet-friendly policies. Sunset State Beach Campground also accommodates pets on leashes throughout the campground, offering both North and South camping areas with sites that can fit tent campers and smaller RVs. The camp hosts enforce leash rules consistently to protect wildlife and other campers. Sites have varying levels of privacy with some offering ocean views, particularly site 25 which features panoramic coastal vistas. Bathrooms and showers remain clean though somewhat dated at state beach locations.
The marina location of Moss Landing KOA provides unique opportunities for pet owners to walk dogs along working harbor areas where sea lions can be heard barking nearby. Many surrounding restaurants have outdoor seating areas, though some like Phil's do not allow dogs even at exterior tables. Elkhorn Slough offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, though pets must remain leashed to protect sensitive habitat areas. A short walk across the bridge leads to beach access where dogs can explore shoreline areas, though wind conditions can make beach time challenging during afternoon hours. The campground provides free bike locks for campers, allowing secure bike storage while exploring nearby trails with pets. New Brighton State Beach Campground and Veterans Memorial Park also permit pets with proper leash control throughout their facilities.
"Dogs can be allowed on beach if you go to the right of the main entrance. No dogs to the left. Camp sites vary but the best loop is South Loop. Some with ocean views but those are hard to reserve. "
"The beach only allows dogs in one location and you need to drive to it. There are stairs to the trail from Dune Camp but dogs are not allowed there because it is a Plover nesting site."
"We loved how wooded this campground is and is close to nearby towns! We went to Sea Harvest in Moss Landing for dinner and would definitely recommend!"
"Great campground and location. You can easily walk to the beach. Close to Capitola Village, Santa Cruz, and Kayaking at Moss Landing."
from $35 - $185 / night
Check Availability"Moss Landing KOA Express is a small campground for fully contained RV's. Very clean but sites are small and meant to be a stop over or a place to sleep while enjoying the area."
"Moss Landing CA. We love this small town and have stayed here several times. Campground is nicely located and within walking distance to restaurants and shops."
from $69 - $80 / night
Check Availability"Nice spot right near downtown Monterey. I live in the area, but when friends or family come into town, we usually stay here."
"It’s adjacent to a day use area with a big playground and some little hiking trails. You can walk to downtown Monterey’s restaurants and shops from here, about 1-2 miles away."
from $10 - $47 / night
Check Availability"There was really no road noise at our site, though a few sites further around the loop did have noise. This particular site has a trail leading directly to the vast network of hiking trails."
"There are plenty of trails to hike, as well as equestrian trails. No bikes on trails though."
"Lots of activities for kids, convenient location for area attractions, pet friendly. Local roads to the KOA were in pretty bad condition."
"We had a campfire and relaxed outside at night. The temperature was perfect. We didn’t have to run the A/C at all."
"There is a Best Western right next to this place were we ended up getting a room instead as that was less expensive. We did arrive there with no reservation and after hours."
"Nice super clean close to the PCH walking distance from a amazing beach. Nice facility as well. No views but I would stay again. Super safe feeling as well."
"we stayed here for two days while camping in california- it was sweet! we had the whole tent/dry camping campground to ourselves this time of year."
"Which had beautiful views, and got our Camper situated. The spots could be a bit updated in my opinion. The gravel was coming apart and the table and fir ring could use a bit of cleaning."
"Dogs allowed, but can’t bring them into bathrooms. Flush toilets and coin showers, I think about 1 quarter per minute."
"This is a nice campground in a great part of California with lots of hiking and beaches nearby. The bathrooms were clean and well kept."
from $7 - $35 / night
Check Availability"Short walk from parking to camp sites. Clean bathrooms. Water spigot at many sites, Wi-Fi is pretty variable at different place around the campsites."
"Beautiful views of the ocean just steps from your tent. During the summer months, whales and dolphins can be seen cruising through the ocean around sunset."
from $35 / night
Check Availability
GuideMoss Landing KOA Express is a small campground for fully contained RV's. Very clean but sites are small and meant to be a stop over or a place to sleep while enjoying the area. Moss Landing is a must not miss area. Lots to do. Don't miss exploring the Elkhorn Slew. Kayaking or take a guided tour by experienced guid. See Sea Otters and tons of birds. Great restaurants within walking distance.
GuideMoss Landing CA. We love this small town and have stayed here several times. Campground is nicely located and within walking distance to restaurants and shops. There is a great bird sanctuary where you can ride your bike or hike around. Seals barking out you door. Fun.
TravelerMoss Landing RV park is a small, tight park close to Salinas Beach. Lots of great food close by. Cell and WiFi have been ok to good this past week, with a couple nights not being able to connect or stay connected. 20-30 drive to downtown Santa Cruz or downtown Monterey. Lots of trails, hiking, kayaking available. One of our favorite RV parks while traveling in this area.
GuideWe loved how wooded this campground is and is close to nearby towns! We went to Sea Harvest in Moss Landing for dinner and would definitely recommend!Long walk to the beach, so we ended up just parking at the day use parking lot. Beach had plenty of litter and even a decaying seal which was a little unpleasant. Our paved site was decently unlevel. Bathrooms had private showers- 50 cents for 2 minutes. One shower ate my 2 quarters and didn’t work, but the next one worked fine and had hot water! Most people seem to not follow leash rules with their dogs.
GuideGreat campground and location. You can easily walk to the beach. Close to Capitola Village, Santa Cruz, and Kayaking at Moss Landing. There are some wonderful large campsites facing the beach but hard to reserve unless you are quick to get in when window opens up. The other sites are OK and there are a lot of them. Some are close together but walk to the beach and there is lots of room.
TravelerThis park has mostly long-term residents. It was super quiet, though there was a somewhat noisy road next to us. We were on the first site next to the road, so I suspect it would be a non issue for most of the sites.
The dog park is extremely well-maintained. Beautiful grass, very nice fence, a bench to sit on, water for your pets and plenty of space to run.
There a really nice stream to hike along. And underneath a bridge there are bat houses. We went under there at sundown and watched the bats come out. Strongly recommended!
The lady who runs the place was extremely nice and helpful.
Full hook-ups and relatively large, gravel sites with some shade. However, I needed to raise one wheel about 5 inches and another 2 to get level.
Short drive to downtown Morgan hill or Gilroy. And there’s a Camping World as well.
ScoutEasy peasy! Not much to this campground; however, the location is great as a base for exploring Monterey, Moss Landing, Carmel by the Sea and even Pebble Beach. It’s nice & quiet and clean. Bathrooms are good. One washer & dryer on site. Overall a good experience.
ScoutWe visited the first week of December 2020. The staff was helpful and the grounds were well maintained. Flat easy pull through with full hook-ups. Definitely in a canyon around the corner from Thousand Trails. You can see the stars at night and it is a very quiet campground. We were surprised at all the high-end rigs there, some full-timers. A nice dog park area and a stroll along the creek - our dog loved it. They recycle and are very environmentally aware. No pool or playground but lovely nature away from the hustle and bustle of silicon valley. It is about 6 miles to shopping and many restaurants. A very easy drive off the highway if you take the Tennant Road exit.
ScoutBeware coming here with anything other than a tent! All sites have a nice level tent pad area.
We camped two nights at Fremont Peak State Park with our pop-up tent trailer. We stayed in Valley View site #2 and were lucky that the paved driveway levelled out at the top (mostly). Some people came to site #3 with a camper van and ended up leaving because they were at such a sharp angle.
It was not clear from reading other reviews or the park website, but this campground has plenty of potable water spigots around all the sites. We found the vault toilets clean and well maintained. Although dogs are not allowed on the trails, there is a service road up to the communication tower that you can hike part way on.
We observed the carpet of valley fog below us in the mornings and evenings, while mid-day you can see out to Moss Landing. We also got to enjoy one of the Fremont Peak Observatory Association (https://fpoa.net/) programs which was amazing! The views of the stars and the Milky Way are unbelievable and the volunteers were awesome.
Camping options near Moss Landing occupy a unique position on California's central coast, situated between Santa Cruz and Monterey at approximately 10 feet above sea level. The region experiences mild temperatures year-round with summer highs rarely exceeding 70°F. Morning fog often blankets campgrounds until mid-day, creating cooler camping conditions compared to inland areas just a few miles away.
Wildlife viewing at Elkhorn Slough: The natural habitat surrounding Moss Landing KOA Express offers exceptional wildlife opportunities beyond the harbor. "Lots to do. Don't miss exploring the Elkhorn Slew. Kayaking or take a guided tour by experienced guid. See Sea Otters and tons of birds," suggests Carina B., who recommends taking organized tours for the best experience.
Beach exploration with timing considerations: Beaches near Manresa State Beach Campground provide expansive shorelines with fewer crowds. "It was pretty foggy in the morning but that burned off and gave way to a nice warm(ish) day (in June). Wind picks up in the afternoon- bring layers!" advises Kelly M. Morning hours offer calmer conditions for beachcombing and tide pool exploration.
Redwood hiking options: Family-friendly hiking trails at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park connect directly from the campground. "There were a few trails that started from the campground, which was nice," notes Queenie M. The paved roads throughout the campground also make it accessible for children with mobility equipment.
Private beach access: Campers value the secluded beach areas at Manresa State Beach. "Private beach, dog friendly, clean campground... you can bring the pup and it's off the beaten track a bit," writes Lizzy C. Unlike more crowded beaches, this location allows for more solitude while still being pet-friendly.
Variety of accommodation options: Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday offers multiple camping styles beyond standard sites. "There are also Plenty of options on how to stay- RV sites, cabins, tent sites, you can even book one of the campgrounds Airstreams!" reports Daniel D., highlighting options for campers who prefer different comfort levels.
Unique camping experiences: Laguna Seca Recreation Area offers an unusual camping setting. "The sites are placed near/around a racetrack. The view from almost every site is like a dream, you have panoramic views of hills and mountains to one side and a huge racetrack with sexy cars on the other side," shares Minerva R. This provides entertainment beyond typical campground activities.
Water availability concerns: Several campgrounds have water limitations visitors should prepare for. At Laguna Seca, "No potable water. They mention this several times on their website but still people miss it. Bring your own water," warns Erin S. Pack extra drinking water, especially during summer months.
Reservation challenges: High demand makes securing sites difficult at popular locations like Sunset State Beach. "If you can get a reservation here (which is VERY difficult) you will have the best time," notes Kate L. Book 6 months in advance when reservation windows open, especially for summer weekends.
Weather patterns affect comfort: Coastal fog significantly impacts camping experiences. "It is a lot colder here than on the valley floor. Prepare for it to be 40deg colder than Gilroy or San Jose," advises April N. about Mount Madonna County Park. Pack warm clothing even for summer camping.
Campground amenities for children: Santa Cruz KOA Holiday provides extensive family facilities. "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 Daniel D. These activities keep children entertained without leaving the campground.
Wildlife education opportunities: Mount Madonna County Park offers unique wildlife viewing. "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," explains April N. This provides easy educational opportunities for children.
Beach accessibility considerations: When choosing pet-friendly camping near Moss Landing, consider beach access difficulty. "It's a bit of a walk to the beach from the campground. It's a beautiful beach and not crowded however," notes Kelly S. about Manresa State Beach. Families with small children should pack beach wagons for gear transportation.
Site selection strategies: At Moss Landing KOA Express, strategic site selection matters. "Our 40' double expando barely fit and you had to go into the neighboring sites just to access your hook ups etc. Waste hook up is inches from our picnic table," warns Ryan S. Request end spaces for more room.
Dump station logistics: New Brighton State Beach Campground requires planning for departure. "Warning: the line for the dump station wound through nearly the entire park," advises Alma L. Plan to dump early morning or late evening to avoid long waits.
RV size limitations: Veteran's Memorial Park Campground restricts larger vehicles. "Not suitable for RV's over 20ft. No hook ups but decent bathrooms," notes Katherine J. Confirm your RV size compatibility before booking at smaller coastal campgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Moss Landing, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Moss Landing, CA is Sunset State Beach with a 4.3-star rating from 28 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Moss Landing, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 94 dog-friendly camping locations near Moss Landing, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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