Mount Madonna County Park and Santa Cruz North-Costanoa KOA offer premium glamping experiences near Portola Valley, California. Sites range from secluded redwood forest settings to coastal properties with ocean views. Most locations maintain year-round operation with seasonal temperature variations and varying levels of amenities depending on accommodation type. Many visitors note the striking temperature differences between valley floor locations and higher elevation sites.
What to do
Hiking at Big Basin Redwoods: Trek through towering redwoods on well-maintained trails. "Best thing about this campground is proximity to the Berry Creek Falls... a huge series of water falls on a super long and strenuous hike," notes one visitor at Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
Beach exploration: Walk or bike along coastal trails within minutes of your campsite. At Half Moon Bay State Beach Campground, "You can walk for miles on the beach or on the bluff trails. Everyone is laidback which makes for a peaceful experience. Great sunsets!!"
Wildlife viewing: Watch for native animals throughout the region. "We camp here every year in May or June. It's always fun. The tent cabins are super convenient," reports a regular visitor about spotting wildlife at Big Basin Redwoods.
Seasonal swimming: During hot weather, seek cooling spots at nearby water sources. "We drove 9 miles to Boulder Creek and found an epic swimming hole by Cafe to help cool us in the 95 degree heat," shares one camper about their Big Basin Redwoods visit.
What campers like
Private sites: Some campgrounds offer secluded spots despite high visitation. At Mount Madonna County Park, "While the sites are a little close to each other, those on the outside of the loop had a great deal of privacy. Inner loop sites have none, but would be great if you were camping with friends."
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms and showers enhance the camping experience. "Bathrooms are great," notes a Mount Madonna visitor, while another adds, "Absolutely soo clean and a great place to camp without having to travel so far. Bathrooms are constantly cleaned and showers are free and clean."
Temperature variation: Prepare for significant cooling at night in forest campgrounds. At Sanborn County Park, a camper observed the unique microclimates: "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."
Diverse accommodation types: Options range from simple tent sites to luxury cabins. "The campground provides carts to help with hauling gear, and storage boxes are provided at the site, near the picnic table," explains a Sanborn County Park visitor about the walk-in camping area.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly, particularly during summer months. At Uvas Canyon County Park, "Reservations are required. Very family friendly so expect it to be crowded on weekends and a level of noise and foot traffic by your site as well."
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies widely across the region. "Good to be disconnected, but if needed, Verizon cell service worked at the campground," notes an Uvas Canyon camper, while at Mount Madonna visitors found "barely any cell reception, but wifi worked pretty well."
Bug protection: Insect repellent is essential in warmer months. "It was a nice park with a lot of old redwood trees. Fun creek behind campground for pups to splash around. Easy flat trails to walk... But a ton of mosquitos! Bring the spray," advises a Big Basin camper.
Temperature preparation: Pack for colder nights than expected. "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 Sanborn County Park visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Water play opportunities: Creeks provide natural entertainment for children. "This campground has a creek that runs through it that the kids loved playing in all day. The slugs were hanging out in trees all around us and it was so much fun looking for them," reports a Big Basin visitor.
Bike-friendly campgrounds: Several parks feature good riding terrain for children. At Mount Madonna, "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."
Wildlife education: Turn animal sightings into learning experiences. "The park has some unique features. 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.
Activities coordination: Plan around scheduled events at campgrounds. Santa Cruz North-Costanoa KOA offers structured family programming: "We attended a presentation on the wild birds in the area that an employee provided, and then he took us on a hike through Costanoa and over to the ocean. He was awesome and the hike was great!"
Tips from RVers
Site selection critical: Research specific sites before booking. At Pelican Point RV Park, "narrow rv spots (pretty close to your neighbor), $$ 85/night, WiFi sucks" but "5 minute walk to the beach, grounds are up kept, everyone is pretty laid back."
Leveling requirements: Bring leveling equipment for uneven surfaces. An Uvas Canyon camper notes, "If you plan to sleep in your car, you may want to take leveling blocks as I found the car parking spot to be not leveled at all."
Space limitations: Expect tight parking at most coastal locations. At Santa Cruz North-Costanoa KOA, "The pull through spaces are extremely tight to the point that our slide out was hitting vegetation and our neighbors awning was about two feet from our Rv."
Dump station availability: Check for sanitation facilities before arrival. "There is a very convenient FREE dump station just inside the entrance to the park that we used as we departed," notes a Mount Madonna visitor about this often-overlooked amenity.
