The Paicines area sits in the foothills of California's Diablo Range, approximately 40 miles inland from Monterey Bay at elevations ranging from 800-1,200 feet. Seasonal temperature swings are significant, with summer highs regularly exceeding 90°F while winter nights can drop below freezing. Wildlife sightings are common throughout campgrounds in the region, including deer, wild boar, bobcats, and California Condors.
What to do
Hiking at Pinnacles National Park: Located near Thousand Trails San Benito, this park offers unique hiking opportunities. "Pinnacles NP has lots of great hikes, bird watching is a thing out here and home to the California Condors," notes Tyler V., who found San Benito to be a "good spot to explore Pinnacles National Park."
Wildlife viewing: The campgrounds around Paicines provide excellent wildlife observation opportunities. "We found a lot of wildlife here to see. Deer wandered through camp at all times of the day. You can see wild boar passing along the hillsides. We also saw a couple of foxes one evening on the perimeter," reports Butch C. about his experience at San Benito.
Swimming: During warm months, take advantage of pool facilities. At Yanks RV Resort in Greenfield, visitors appreciate the swimming amenities. Patrick J. notes it has "one of the cleanest well maintained RV Parks" with impressive facilities, while karl mentions the "nice pool" among the amenities that make Yanks "outstanding."
What campers like
Wildlife encounters: Many campers value the diverse animal sightings. Samantha N. enthusiastically shares about her stay at San Benito: "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!"
Peaceful disconnection: Casa de Fruta RV Orchard Resort in Hollister offers a tranquil setting despite attractions nearby. Alberto C. found San Benito "absolutely beautiful here, campground was very clean and quite. This was our first outing in our pop up and this place made it much better, walking trails and daily activities for the family."
Varied terrain: The landscape diversity around Paicines appeals to many campers. "This campground is 300 acres, so they say. We went here for the first time end of July when it can be hot toddy. It was only low 90s," reports Lynda D., who appreciated the surrounding "beautifully green hills" during winter visits to San Benito.
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies widely throughout the region. Alberto C. mentioned that staying at San Benito lets you "disconnect from the world," with the nearest town "about 20 mins away." This isolation is part of the appeal for many campers.
Seasonal considerations: Weather patterns affect camping comfort significantly. "We stayed in a cabin in January," shares Samantha N. about her winter experience at San Benito. Andre P. cautions that "on the winter the place is very cold," though he found the "staff is very cool" and appreciated the "free hot water showers."
Campground maintenance: Facility upkeep varies between properties. At Thousand Trails Morgan Hill, Linda S. notes, "Beautiful mature trees all over campground. The bathrooms need to be cleaned more often. Sites are not level." Jennifer D. similarly reported about San Benito: "We stayed here for a few nights and it wasn't a bad park, but not well kept either. It is a very large park and the space between spots wasn't bad."
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Many campgrounds offer organized recreation for children. Bonnie O. describes San Benito: "They had a tv, games and arts for the kids in the clubhouse. The pool was closed for the winter but I can't wait to visit again."
Recreational amenities: Gilroy Garlic USA RV Park provides family-friendly facilities. Derek & Kristen A. found Morgan Hill great for families: "In mid October the campground is still running kids activities daily and they're good! Great culture here - friendly, lots of things to do (pool, basketball, volleyball, horse shoes, playground, billiards, karaoke, tennis)."
Safety precautions: Watch for natural hazards specific to each campground. A reviewer warned about San Benito: "Park does have a lot of those devil spikes in the grass so beware of those with the dogs or bare feet. I did see someone bare foot walking and I was confused as how he was not stepping on them little spiked mines/thorns then it happened and he went down having to crawl back to the road and get shoes."
Tips from RVers
Road access considerations: Approach with caution on narrow roads. Regarding Carmel by the River RV Park, Dave N. warns: "Note that the road in is basically a one lane road. Pray you don't encounter oncoming traffic."
Site selection: Choose sites based on specific needs and preferences. John B. appreciated Yanks RV Resort: "Clean everything, perfect level cement pad, large very nice dog park with room for the pups to run and play and a friendly helpful staff."
Electrical options: Different rv sites near Paicines, California offer varying hookup capabilities. Butch C. notes that San Benito has "a large selection of 50 and 30 amp sites for the rv crowd" and that "most tent sites have their own water and some also have electric hookups."
Temperature management: Plan for seasonal extremes when selecting campgrounds around Paicines. Laura S. advises about driving to Carmel by the River: "Unless you're driving a sports car, definitely DO NOT drive on Lorales Grade! It's a narrow, windy, dark road with a 17% grade. It is well worth driving around."
