T
Tamatha B.
Traveler
TravelerSanta Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday
This is a great camp ground. Plenty of activities. Showers are clean, laundry room takes tap pay.
Cabin Camping near Mount Hamilton, CA
2 campgrounds with availability next weekend
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Several cabin accommodations exist near Mount Hamilton in the eastern San Francisco Bay area. Del Valle Campground offers cabin rentals with varying amenities, while Mount Madonna County Park provides rustic cabin options within a woodland setting. "The cabins in our loop looked very nice and maintained," noted one visitor about Del Valle. Cabins at Thousand Trails Morgan Hill feature standard amenities including beds, basic furniture, and access to campground facilities. Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area and French Camp Recreational Vehicle Park also maintain cabin accommodations with limited availability.
Rustic cabins predominate in the region, typically featuring basic furnishings and requiring guests to bring their own bedding and toiletries. Reservations are essential, particularly during summer months when cabins book quickly. Most locations permit pets in cabin accommodations with additional fees, though policies vary by campground. Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday offers more deluxe cabin options with upgraded amenities. A camper described the Del Valle cabins as "spacious" with "good shade" and noted the "bathrooms were brand new."
Most cabins include beds with mattresses but require visitors to bring their own linens, pillows, and sleeping bags. Kitchen facilities vary significantly between locations, with some offering only outdoor fire rings and picnic tables while others provide indoor cooking capabilities. On-site camp stores at Del Valle and Santa Cruz KOA sell basic provisions, firewood, and ice. Bathroom and shower facilities are typically shared and centrally located within campgrounds rather than inside individual cabins. Water and electricity availability differs between cabin types, with more rustic options providing minimal utilities.
Best Cabin Campgrounds near Mount Hamilton (22)
1. Del Valle Campground — East Bay Regional Park District
"It’s a cozy place with boat rentals! Plenty of shade and bathrooms available. Only reason got 4 star is the constant blue-green algae, making the water unavailable for swimming."
"Our campsite (#139) could have used some shade, but we had plenty of space and the views were awesome. Almost every site was occupied, but luckily everyone respected the quiet hours."
Check Availabilityfrom $15 - $200 / night
2. Mount Madonna County Park
"There's something for everyone here, RVers, tenters, and those who want to rent tent cabins. There are plenty of trails to hike, as well as equestrian trails. No bikes on trails though."
"Location & Safety: Conveniently located between San Jose and Monterey - easy access off Highway 152. Felt completely safe throughout the stay."
3. Thousand Trails Morgan Hill
"Great culture here - friendly, lots of things to do (pool, basketball, volleyball, horse shoes, playground, billiards, karaoke, tennis)."
"Dog park, nice showers, nice bathrooms, trails to walk your dog, nice people, quiet. I loved it here."
4. Lower Blooms Creek — Big Basin Redwoods State Park — CAMPGROUND CLOSED
"We got one of the tent cabins, which are just adorable and so cozy. The sites are nice and distanced from each other, bathrooms were in great shape and it was pet friendly."
"We stayed in a tent cabin at the Huckleberry campground which was nicer than we thought it would be. It had just the right amount of space for my wife and I, our two daughters and all our gear."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $35 / night
5. pieffer big sur campground
6. Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday
"General: So many options, including full hookup back-in or pull-thru sites, sites with just w/e, pet sites, nine different types of cabins, and tent sites."
"The small cabins are nice and I quite like them. This is a good place for hiking, but unfortunately there is not a lot more to do. You can go to Monterey and do things there though."
7. Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area
"The place has showers and bathrooms clean enough for being it the middle of towns. Each space has a fire ring and a table."
"There are toilets and showers on the campground and it only cost 10$! the campsite is perfect for traveling through and getting a night's sleep."
8. Cotillion Gardens RV Park
"Park is rustic, but has a lot of amenities and is very close to Santa Cruz. We visit family and friends in the area often, but this was the first time we camped in the area."
"Entrance is a little nerve racking on your first visit, but once your at your site you can relax. Bathrooms are a little dated, no cell service but good WiFi if your close to the office."
Check Availabilityfrom $60 - $100 / night
9. Seacliff State Beach
"All camping spots are adjacent to the 'boardwalk' beach path and the beach. Yes, your rig is within 20' of the beach at all campsites."
10. Costanoa Coastal Lodge & Campground
"The sites in the Eucalyptus loop where we were had back-in sites, with a paved driveway, and are level. The sites have a picnic table, a fire ring, and wood-fenced platforms."
"Once we figured it out, the late check in paperwork was detailed on how to find our space."
Check Availabilityfrom $100 - $200 / night
Drive Time
- 40 min from San Jose, CA
- 1 hr 14 min from Santa Cruz, CA
- 1 hr 27 min from Salinas, CA
- 1 hr 41 min from Modesto, CA
Recent Cabin Photos near Mount Hamilton, CA
10 Photos of 22 Mount Hamilton Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Cabin Reviews near Mount Hamilton, CA
218 Reviews of 22 Mount Hamilton Campgrounds
- TTamatha B.Traveler
Treasure Island MH and RV Park
Henry in the office is amazing. Bathrooms are clean. laundry room very large and has many washers and dryers. Subway close walk, MUNI is at the park entrance. A gas station and Grocery store are both across the street.
- DDoug O.Traveler
Marina Dunes RV Park
Our favorite place. We have stayed here 14 times. Always clean.
- TTwindaddy
GuideDel Valle Campground — East Bay Regional Park District
East Bay Parks - IYKYK
Like most/all east bay parks, this is well appointed for the masses. It’s also surrounded by rolling hills and close to suburbia. For many, these are positives. As an east bay resident they are for me as well. Del Valle is a bit more removed than many east bay parks. From my location in Fremont, it’s a one hour drive. A pleasant drive for the most part. I camp to get away for a bit and almost always to mountain bike. As such, I seek parks that have trails. Del Valle has a map of many trails. They also appear on many of the mapping services used by mountain bikers. Review those and digest them if this is also your intention - these are east bay parka style trails. In other words, mostly steep and loose fire roads, with many “social trails” sprinkled between. If you are compelled to stay legit/legal trails, bring an ebike. Now on to the camping. I picked a spot as far removed from any booked spot on the map. I triple checked this up until the day before I arrived. I want solitude! When I arrived Thursday afternoon, I was surprised to see the sites just 3 spaces away, on both sides, occupied. This is a fairly compact area. And while I’m sure they’re lovely folks, this isn’t what I expected on a Thursday. Saturday? Sure. Anyway… be aware that these reservation services aren’t completely reliable in that regard. The bathrooms and showers are amazing! Clean, smell good, cared for. Noteworthy is the hot showers in the camp grounds are free and your one push of the button provides water for two minutes I'd guess. Very nice! The space, 135 for me, is okay. A couple trees for shade, a nice table and fire pit. It’s now dark and the noise is minimal - mostly from the group campsite just down the hill. I’ll update this with more details in the coming days since it’s a 4 day visit.
Update 1: it’s my first morning here. Using starlink as there is no cell signal to be found. What I noticed last night was that this park is directly below the flight path to the local airports. Every couple minutes last night, a plane would fly overhead. According to flight aware, they’re at about 10,000 feet. If this will ruin your getaway, you’ve been warned.
Update 2: On Friday night, the majority of the spots were filled. Many large groups of people with varying degrees of consideration, but to their credit almost all (except the barking German Shepard) were quiet by 10PM. It was a bit more crowded come Saturday morning. Some friends came to visit for a mountain bike ride, and we set off at about noon. I had been complimentary of the facilities and bragged that I'd be taking a nice shower after our ride. Unfortunately, upon our return, there was no hot water and no lighting in the showers. And, sadly, someone decided to remove the tags and hangers from their TJ Maxx haul and leave them all over the floor of two of the showers.
Verdict: I'd only come back here in the springtime when it's likely to be green and have some water in the arroyo and only during the week. The density and composition of the people here was akin to being at Costco on a Saturday, and I only did that once.
David W.GuideBeach RV Pleasure Point
Convenient spot in Santa Cruz
I came into Santa Cruz to visit family and needed a place to park my bus while there- this park was available and fit my needs perfectly. It’s a simple gravel parking lot set up - clean bathrooms / showers, full hookups. Not what I would call camping but a great place to stay with proximity to the things that matter.
Tim P.TravelerThousand Trails Morgan Hill
Great Campground
I liked this Thousand Trails resort because it’s more like camping. The staff is amazing. The facilities are great amazing big pool. The only problem I had is they didn’t have any sewage hook up, but I have a tote so it wasn’t that big of a deal.
- TTom H.Guide
Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday
Great place for kids, lots to do.
Koa’s in this area are typically expensive and this is no exception. But, for families it may be worth it. Playground, jumping, bouncing area, dog yard. Lots to do. It has good shower facilities, bathrooms are clean. For retirees and older folks, it may not be worth it. Not much room between sites and lots of kids for the nervous folks. My site (35) was electric and water only with a dry creek behind us. My only beef (and it was not only with the campground, but with irresponsible dog owners) was the piles of poop I had to pick up before I could safely walk around. Come on people! If you own a dog, please take care of them and pick up after them. Otherwise, the location was convenient, the place was clean (exception noted) and I will likely return.
Rosa M.
ScoutCarnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area
Stayed 2 nigths, it was perfect
We stayed 2 nigths, 10$ per night. The staff was very kind. The place has showers and bathrooms clean enough for being it the middle of towns. Each space has a fire ring and a table. There's a little bit of noise in the morning and afternoon because of the cars that avoid the highway and pass nearby. It's first come first served. Overall, it's a very safe and good place to camp
Lee D.
LegendSanta Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday
Many options for families
General: So many options, including full hookup back-in or pull-thru sites, sites with just w/e, pet sites, nine different types of cabins, and tent sites. Some sites are paved and some are gravel.
Bath/Shower: The one closest to our site had a women's and men's restroom, and the showers are individual units but shared for both genders. I expected a more upscale shower (it was ok but a little tight, skimpy on hooks and no bench).
Activities/Amenities: So many amenities including a pool and hot tub, playground, jump pad, climbing “palms”, rec center with bike rentals and concessions, and a train (I’ve probably missed a few). Laundry is available on site (operated via an app and your phone).
Although this is not our preferred type of camping, after five nights in California State parks with limited amenities, we stayed here for hot showers, laundry, and full hookups for van maintenance. This was a typical KOA in many ways, but one thing that was different was that we had to wear wristbands, and there was a gate to enter and leave. While it should have made us feel safe, I wondered why there were extra security features.
Guide to Mount Hamilton
Cabin accommodations near Mount Hamilton range from rustic to modern, with options located within a 45-mile radius of the 4,265-foot peak. Winter temperatures at higher elevations can drop below freezing, while summer brings temperatures averaging 75-85°F at most cabin locations. Most cabin rentals require advance booking, especially during peak summer months when demand is highest.
What to do
Hiking trails: Del Valle Campground offers access to extensive trail systems with varying difficulty levels. "Close to home! Love the hiking trails. Mountain biking for those who can climb," notes Jamie H. about the recreation options at Del Valle Campground.
Lake activities: Water recreation is available at several cabin locations. "Great lake for paddling as the speed limit for boats is low. Good fishing too," shares Tom G. about the water activities at Del Valle. The lake offers boat rentals and swimming areas during summer months.
Forest exploration: Mount Madonna County Park provides redwood forest trails directly from cabin sites. "The park is on beautiful forested hilltop. Some areas are redwood, other parts mixed with other kinds of trees," explains a visitor at Mount Madonna County Park. The park features historic ruins accessible via short trails from the cabin area.
What campers like
Wildlife viewing: Many cabins offer opportunities to observe local fauna. "I saw deer and turkeys roaming the campground," reports Uriel S. about their stay at Del Valle Campground. Early morning hours provide the best wildlife viewing opportunities.
Secluded settings: Mount Madonna cabins feature forest surroundings away from urban areas. "This is a nice county park in the redwood forest of the coastal range. Varied sites and multiple campgrounds make for a choice option for everyone," according to Patrick H. The site provides a sense of isolation despite being relatively close to nearby towns.
Natural features: The cabin locations showcase distinctive natural environments. "This is the only place I've seen the redwood trees harvest the fog and make their own rain, which is pretty cool. In the morning it's raining under the redwood trees but not under the madrone or tan oak trees," describes April N. regarding Mount Madonna County Park.
What you should know
Temperature variations: Elevation affects cabin conditions significantly. "It is a lot colder here than on the valley floor. Prepare for it to be 40deg colder than Gilroy or San Jose," warns a visitor about Mount Madonna. Pack additional clothing layers regardless of season.
Facility maintenance: Bathroom and shower facilities vary between locations. "Bathrooms are constantly cleaned and showers are free and clean," notes Carolina M. about the facilities at Mount Madonna. However, some locations have limited bathroom facilities.
Site spacing: Cabins at some locations provide limited privacy between units. "The sites are close together. The place is old, but it has a great location," explains Linda S. about Cotillion Gardens RV Park. Sites on outer loops typically offer more seclusion than interior areas.
Connectivity: Cell service is limited at most cabin locations. "The lack of cell reception really helps the feeling of being away from the city life," mentions Uriel S. about Del Valle. Some sites offer WiFi near office areas but coverage is inconsistent.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Several cabin locations cater to families with children. "Plenty of trees for shade, there's a pool, hiking trails, a little river. So beautiful and peaceful here," shares Ariya B. about Cotillion Gardens RV Park. Many sites include playground equipment and recreation areas.
Educational opportunities: Cabins near Mount Hamilton provide learning experiences. "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 a visitor to Mount Madonna about the unique wildlife feature.
Easy access options: Some cabin locations offer convenience for families. "We stayed in one of the airstreams they have for rent there. The family loved it - it was the perfect size for us and everything worked and the outdoor patio had heavy duty tables and chairs along with fire pit and even a Weber grill," reports a visitor to Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Choose cabin locations carefully based on specific needs. "Our campsite (#139) could have used some shade, but we had plenty of space and the views were awesome," advises Colleen S. about Del Valle Campground. Request specific site numbers when making reservations.
Accessibility: Some cabin areas have challenging access roads. "Entrance is a little nerve racking on your first visit, but once you're at your site you can relax," notes Ben T. about Cotillion Gardens. Larger vehicles may have difficulty navigating narrow roads at some locations.
Hookup availability: Utilities vary significantly between cabin sites. "Some spaces are tight to back into. Marginal cell coverage. Camp WiFi is acceptable. Need to use WiFi to supplement cell service," reports Charlie G. about Cotillion Gardens. Research specific amenities before booking to ensure they meet requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin
campsite near Mount Hamilton, CA?
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Mount Hamilton, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Mount Hamilton, CA is Del Valle Campground — East Bay Regional Park District with a 4.1-star rating from 24 reviews.
What is the best site to find
cabin camping near
Mount Hamilton, CA?
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Mount Hamilton, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 22 cabin camping locations near Mount Hamilton, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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