Lake San Antonio's North Shore campground offers spacious sites with full hookups for RVs and tent camping areas about 60 miles from Pinnacles National Park. The temperature often reaches over 100°F during summer months, making adequate hydration essential for both humans and horses. The campground maintains several equestrian-focused features including designated areas for horses to stay safely while campers explore nearby trails.
What to do
Hike at Pinnacles National Park: The park features unique rock formations and caves approximately 50 miles from Thousand Trails San Benito, which serves as a convenient base camp. "Pinnacles NP has lots of great hikes, bird watching is a thing out here and home to the California Condors," notes reviewer Tyler V.
Wildlife watching: The region offers abundant wildlife viewing opportunities beyond the famous California Condors. At San Benito RV and Camping Resort, campers report seeing "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," according to Butch C.
Fishing from shore: Lake San Antonio provides good fishing access from multiple points when water levels permit. "Launched the boat and anchored it to shore. Literally had the place to ourselves. Fishing was great from shore in morning and dusk," reports Jack J. about his experience at Lake San Antonio.
What campers like
Equestrian facilities: Horse-friendly campgrounds near Pinnacles National Park provide dedicated amenities for equestrians. Lake San Antonio North Shore features horse corrals and designated areas for horses, making it suitable for overnight trail riding trips.
Pool access during hot weather: Several campgrounds offer swimming pools to combat the intense summer heat. At Salinas-Monterey KOA, campers appreciate the "Warm pool!!!" as Betsi B. notes, though she also mentions "Lots of road noise."
Seclusion and quiet: Many campers value the peaceful settings available at certain sites. "We stayed towards the back site 353 I believe abs had no others around us," reports Alberto C. about San Benito RV and Camping Resort, adding it's "absolutely beautiful here, campground was very clean and quite."
What you should know
Drought impacts water levels: Lake levels fluctuate significantly based on rainfall patterns. At Lake San Antonio, "During the drought the water level has dropped significantly as well as the quality of the water. Some years the lake is almost dry," reports Chip K.
Wildlife encounters: Be prepared for various wildlife throughout campgrounds in the region. At Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park, wild pigs are common. "There are food lockers since wild pigs come out at night. Be sure to lock all food up! They will roam through the camp ground all through the night if anyone has left any food out," warns Quyen W.
Limited cell service: Connectivity can be spotty throughout the region. Several campgrounds report intermittent service or weak signals. At Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park, one camper notes "Intermittent signal with ATT," which is typical for many of the rural campgrounds in this region.
Tips for camping with families
Look for dedicated activities: Some campgrounds offer specific family-oriented amenities. At Thousand Trails San Benito, Bonnie O. notes "They had a tv, games and arts for the kids in the clubhouse," making it easier to entertain children during your stay.
Consider shade availability: Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F in this region. "Our site was shady enough, though not all sites appeared so lucky," notes Patricia O. about San Benito RV and Camping Resort, highlighting the importance of securing a shaded site when traveling with children.
Plan for wildlife viewing opportunities: The diverse ecosystem provides educational opportunities. "We had Condors above our cabin, deer around us, wild pigs crossing the roads. Its amazing!!!!" exclaims Samantha N. about her family's experience at San Benito RV and Camping Resort.
Tips from RVers
Check electrical capacity: Be aware of available hookup types when selecting your site. At Cabana Holiday RV Park, "the streets are wide and the pull-ins are easy to access," according to CJ J., making it suitable for larger rigs.
Use campgrounds as base camps: The central location of several campgrounds makes them ideal for exploring the broader region. Richard S. notes that Cabana Holiday RV Park serves as a "very clean, well positioned RV and Cabin park for exploring the Monterey, Salinas, Watsonville, Santa Cruz area."
Consider amenities during extreme heat: RVers should prioritize campgrounds with shade and water access during summer months. Some sites at Lake San Antonio provide water hookups, but "finding shade can be a challenge" according to reviewer Chip K., an important consideration when temperatures regularly exceed 100°F.
