Mount Madonna County Park sits in the redwood-covered Santa Cruz Mountains at about 1,900 feet elevation, offering a cooler climate than nearby Pebble Beach. The park's diverse camping options include traditional tent sites, RV spots, cabins, and yurts with temperatures often 40 degrees cooler than the valley floor. During foggy mornings, visitors can witness the unique phenomenon of redwoods harvesting fog to create their own rain underneath the canopy.
What to do
Hiking through redwoods: Mount Madonna County Park features miles of hiking trails through dense redwood forests. One visitor noted, "The campground was almost empty in the middle of the week with only a few vehicles and tents there early for the weekend. Strawberry fields surround the campground and are next to the Hike and Bike area."
Beach access: Marina Dunes RV Park provides a unique coastal experience within driving distance of Pebble Beach. "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," shares one camper who enjoyed the solitude.
Archery practice: Mount Madonna offers an archery trail with 28 targets set up through the woods. "We were there 3 days in a row and did 20 of the 28. It's really pretty and a cool challenge," notes one visitor who tried this unique outdoor activity with their daughter.
Historical exploration: Visit the ruins at Mount Madonna's old homestead area to learn about local history. The park also maintains pens with white fallow deer near the ranger station, descendants of William Randolph Hearst's exotic zoo.
What campers like
Privacy options: Sunset State Beach offers campsites with varying levels of seclusion. A camper shared: "Nice lots on a cliff above the beach protected from the wind by some doug firs and eucalyptus. Beach is long and expansive with very few people on an average day."
Unique yurt camping: Pebble Beach area visitors seeking alternative accommodations can find yurt camping at Mount Madonna County Park. One visitor mentioned, "We rented a yurt for two nights right on the Big Sur River. My girls had a blast playing in the mud, traversing the meadow and climbing redwoods."
Temperature relief: During hot summer months, Pinnacles Campground offers a swimming pool as respite from hiking. A visitor shared: "Summer is not the best time to go. It gets hot and you can't have fires. I went in late June and it was bearable to do an early hike...They have a pool that will be full of kids but feels really refreshing after a hot hike."
Natural sounds: Many campgrounds in the region offer peaceful natural soundscapes. At Fernwood Campground & Resort, "the creek was refreshing and the sounds of the water and owls at night was soothing."
What you should know
Weather variations: Coastal fog and elevation changes create microclimates. At Mount Madonna, visitors should "prepare for it to be 40deg colder than Gilroy or San Jose. We weren't prepared & had to drive into town & buy more clothes!"
Road noise: Some campgrounds experience highway noise. At the Salinas-Monterey KOA, reviewers mention "lots of road noise" but note it "starts to become white noise after a while."
Wildlife encounters: Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday and other area campgrounds have active wildlife. "There are however some large raccoons so use caution with your trash," warns one visitor. At Pinnacles, "raccoons are very active here so be sure to lock all of your food away."
Limited availability: Securing reservations can be difficult, especially during peak seasons. One camper noted about Sunset State Beach: "If you can get a reservation here (which is VERY difficult) you will have the best time."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: The Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday offers numerous family amenities. "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 one satisfied parent.
Quiet camping locations: For families seeking peace, consider timing and location. "We stay at this KOA 3-4 times a year. We especially enjoy the Halloween and other theme weekends they have. They have made tons of improvements over the last 10 years."
Biking opportunities: Mount Madonna County Park offers good biking terrain for children. "Great campground for the kids to bike at but there are a few big hills so make sure they know how to use their brakes."
Site selection strategy: When booking at Ventana Campground, be aware that "some sites are much more private than others & many share a driveway with neighbors; some have spectacular views of Carmel Valley (like site 35)."
Tips from RVers
Site spacing awareness: At Marina Dunes RV Park, "the sites were small and it was a hike to the water. It's hard to get bigger RVs into spots also. We have a 35' 5th wheel and there are only some spots that will fit it."
Hookup options: Saddle Mountain Ranch offers various RV amenities, but access can be challenging. One camper warns: "First off the road coming to the campground is very steep, could be challenging for some rigs."
Electric site selection: At Pinnacles Campground, "a lot of the RV sites had electric. And there is water stations throughout. Also a dump station on the way out."
