Best Campgrounds near New Almaden, CA
Searching for the best camping near New Almaden, CA? Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of New Almaden. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your California camping adventure.
Best Camping Sites Near New Almaden, California (134)
1. New Brighton State Beach Campground
44 ReviewsCapitola, CA15 milesWebsite+1 (831) 464-6330$35 - $185 / night
"Camped with electricity and water, situated on a bluff near the ocean. Easy walking distance to the water, nice roomy campsites with fire rings and tables. Not too close to other campers."
"New Brighton is a jewel on the California coast. Camping is on a bluff above beach and you must walk down stairs to get to the beach. Camping in the woods with the beach below is perfect."
2. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground
42 ReviewsMount Hermon, CA16 milesWebsite+1 (831) 438-2396$7 - $35 / night
"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."
"There were bigger sites that would've suited us better but it was a nice little tucked in site. The poison oak is prolific. Our site was literally surrounded by it."
3. Mount Madonna County Park
31 ReviewsGilroy, CA14 milesWebsite+1 (408) 842-2341"We were happy to have the electric hook up since the redwood and oak tress surrounding all the sites are huge and block out the sun."
"It has some privacy, we liked that it was in between two yurts away from others. The trail does go right behind the site but it wasn’t super busy."
4. Uvas Canyon County Park
9 ReviewsNew Almaden, CA6 milesWebsite+1 (408) 779-9232$34 / night
"Uvas Canyon County Park https://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/parkfinder/pages/uvascanyon.aspx is located about 15 miles west of Gilroy, on the east side of the Santa Cruz Mountains."
"This is a great spot for people looking to get away and camp but not trying to drive for 3-4 hours to do so."
5. Sanborn County Park
19 ReviewsSaratoga, CA14 milesWebsite+1 (408) 867-9959$33 / night
"This is a nice camping away from the car experience. It's a short walk up a paved path from the parking to the campsites."
"Great walk-in campground so close to home in the South Bay Area (albeit walk is slightly uphill)."
6. Sunset State Beach
27 ReviewsWatsonville, CA19 milesWebsite+1 (831) 763-7063"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. "
"Strawberry fields surround the campground and are next to the Hike and Bike area. The walk is not too difficult down to the beach."
7. Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort
19 ReviewsFelton, CA17 milesWebsite+1 (831) 335-8312"Do not take highway 9 from Santa Cruz as the RV park will tell you. Our car navigation changed our route even after we were approaching 17 north. Keep your eyes out for the highway signs."
"Sites surrounded by redwoods, friendly helpful staff, close to attractions."
8. Lower Blooms Creek — Big Basin Redwoods State Park — CAMPGROUND CLOSED
34 ReviewsBoulder Creek, CA22 milesWebsite+1 (831) 338-8860$35 / night
"Not far from the hustle and bustle of the Bay Area in California. When you arrive it's like stepping in to a whole other world. Huge redwoods blanket the mountain and line every site."
"So sad the devastation of last month's fires on the oldest state park in California, home to thr biggest redwoods south of San Francisco."
9. Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday
16 ReviewsFreedom, CA17 milesWebsite+1 (831) 722-0551"I would recommend booking away from the jump pillow or playground, unless easy playground access is important, because the spots are pretty noisy."
"There is also relatively quick access to Santa Cruz to the north and Monterey to the south.
My only criticism is that it is not that woodsy. But hey, this is a KOA!"
10. Thousand Trails Morgan Hill
8 ReviewsSan Martin, CA12 milesWebsite+1 (888) 707-1477"We got a nice spot close to the dump station near front. Their pool is huge and very very well kept. The spot was 30amp and back in however they have 50amp/pull through also."
"The nature around it is amazing, and the convenience of being so close to all the things around you about 20 min to town and county parks."
Recent Camping Photos near New Almaden, CA
272 Photos of 134 New Almaden Campgrounds
kaela L.
Uvas Canyon County Park
The Dyrt
Willow Springs Ranch Hilltop
Aidan P.
Van Life Campgrounds @ Enchanted Forest
The Dyrt
Sunrise Point
Name
Sunrise Point at Candlestick Point SRA - TEMPORARILY CLOSED
The Dyrt
Tentrr Signature Site - Redwood Grove A
The Dyrt
Tentrr Signature Site - Avocado Grove C
Nicole R.
Thousand Trails Morgan Hill
Renee W.
Joseph D Grant County Park - Horse Camp
Lisa D.
Grant County Park
Sophie S.
Joseph D. Grant County Park
April N.
Mount Madonna County Park
Recent Reviews near New Almaden, CA
816 Reviews of 134 New Almaden Campgrounds
- L
Linda S.
GuideThousand Trails Morgan Hill
Good campground
Beautiful mature trees all over campground. The bathrooms need to be cleaned more often. Sites are not level.
Mike M.
LegendCandlestick RV Park
Close to downtown, a lot of homelessness around the campground
I camped here prior to Covid and there was already a lot of peeps camping up and down the streets outside the campground and I know that it has increased in numbers since. Inside the campground it was fine and didn't get hassled at all. Used this spot to attend an event at the Marconi Center and commuted on my bike without issue. Don't know that I would vacation here necessarily but the campground overall had nice showers and worked for what I needed overall a nice place just in a tough neighborhood.
- Mike M.Legend
Laguna Seca Recreation Area
Camping at the racetrack
So really only stay here during the Sea Otter Classic and always stayed with all the downhill racers which if you haven't can be chaos (and quite entertaining). There are established sites for larger rigs but we stayed in the fields that get opened up for the large bike event so you really need to pick your spot well if you have a camper as it is not all level.
- Mike M.Legend
Saddle Mountain Ranch
Nice camground with options and lots of shade
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, You need to carry your items in to the spots but that lets you spread out (get away) from other peeps if too noisy. I really liked the amount of shade, price is up there but being in Carmel Valley and close to Monterey really not too bad.
- Mike M.Legend
San Francisco RV Resort
On the water right in town
Very nice park for an on the water location, I've been to some where you can't even turn without hitting someone. The area is a bit industrial but quick access to San Fran and the other sites around town. Nice bike trail right on the water
- NNathan S.Guide
Monterey County Fairgrounds
Slept by the pigs
Where they put me had no WiFi there was a bright halogen light right outside my window and on the other side were squealing pigs. But the shower ( one only) has hot water.
- kkat B.
ScoutValley View Campground — Fremont Peak State Park
Trailers iffy, definitely not all sites work for more than a tent!
There might be one or two sites that work for trailers but we gave up when trying to level 8 inches. Road up is nominally two lanes- (more like 1-1.5) combined with the limited sight distance it means you should drive slower than the speed limit.
If you are car camping or on a small RV this is a great place, once you make it up the last 11 miles!
Hattie R.GuideNew Brighton State Beach Campground
Beautiful wooded campground!
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!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.
Kim G.LegendDumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay
Reliably consistent
This is our 3rd or 4th stay here. We visit people in the Bay Area and this place is convenient to Palo Alto and the Peninsula. It is usually not crowded, but this trip has more rigs the bathrooms are modern and clean, if spartan. The showers are roomy with ok water pressure (for California) and warm water. The laundry is super convenient. They even have summer ranger programs but we didn’t see many kids here. We are in a Class B van, but many sites are large enough for Class A rigs. Every time we have stayed here it has been windy. Sites, though asphalt, require some leveling.
Guide to New Almaden
Camping near New Almaden, California, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a quiet retreat in the woods or a family-friendly spot, there are plenty of options to explore.
What to do:
- Hiking: There are numerous trails in the area. Campers at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground rave about the beautiful hiking trails, with one reviewer noting, "There are beautiful hiking trails all over this campground."
- Beach Access: If you want to hit the beach, New Brighton State Beach Campground is a great choice. One visitor mentioned, "Great views and easy access to the beach."
- Wildlife Watching: Many campers enjoy spotting local wildlife. A reviewer at Sanborn County Park shared, "We saw a lot of deer and wild turkey."
What campers like:
- Privacy: Campers appreciate the spacious sites at Ben Ries Campground — Butano State Park. One happy camper said, "The spots are spread out, the air feels pure to the lungs, and it’s very woodsy."
- Clean Facilities: Clean restrooms and showers are a big plus. A visitor at Mount Madonna County Park noted, "The VERY cleanest restrooms, with the added convenience of hand soap!!"
- Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Many campgrounds cater to families. A reviewer at Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort mentioned, "Cozy tight quarters but just enough room for a picnic bench, fire pit and hanging out area."
What you should know:
- Poison Oak: Be cautious of poison oak at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground. One camper warned, "There is so much poison oak - everywhere."
- Limited Cell Service: Many campgrounds have poor cell reception. A visitor at Del Valle Regional Park mentioned, "Pretty much ZERO cell service, which is a good thing, helps you to disconnect."
- Tight Spaces: Some campgrounds have close quarters. A reviewer at Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort said, "They’ve really squeezed spots in to every nook and cranny of the property."
Tips for camping with families:
- Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for spots that cater to kids. A camper at New Brighton State Beach Campground noted, "Lots of families and lots of kids."
- Plan for Activities: Make sure to have activities lined up. A visitor at Mount Madonna County Park shared, "There are plenty of trails for folks/kids to play around."
- Pack Snacks: Keep snacks handy for the kids. A reviewer at Santa Cruz North-Costanoa KOA mentioned, "The restaurant at the lodge was phenomenal."
Tips from RVers:
- Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A camper at New Brighton State Beach Campground said, "Spot 64 was humongous and extremely private."
- Be Prepared for Tight Turns: Some campgrounds have narrow roads. A reviewer at Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort advised, "The road is too winding and narrow."
- Use Online Reservations: Many campgrounds allow online booking, which can save time. A visitor at Mount Madonna County Park noted, "Registration online was really easy as was the check-in process."
Camping near New Almaden, California, has something for everyone. From beautiful trails to family-friendly spots, you’ll find plenty to enjoy in this scenic area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near New Almaden, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near New Almaden, CA is New Brighton State Beach Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 44 reviews.
What parks are near New Almaden, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 parks near New Almaden, CA that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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