Best Glamping near San Jose, CA

Mount Madonna County Park houses several glamping options including yurts and tent cabins nestled within a redwood forest above the fog line. The park offers both RV sites with water and electric hookups and more secluded glamping accommodations with comfortable beds and heating options. Glamping sites feature picnic tables, fire pits with grills, and access to clean shower facilities. The park's glamping accommodations provide a perfect balance of comfort and nature, with sites situated among redwoods that create a cool, misty environment. According to a camper, "We love Mount Madonna and have camped here often. It has a few RV sites with water and electric but the dry campsites are a little bigger and very nice. Great hiking trails. Flat looks for kids to bike on."

Visitors at Mount Madonna can explore numerous hiking trails offering views of both the Santa Clara Valley and Monterey Bay. The park contains unique attractions including pens with white fallow deer, descendants from William Randolph Hearst's exotic zoo collection. An archery trail with 28 targets winds through the woods, providing a distinctive outdoor activity not commonly found at other glamping destinations. The park experiences several microclimates, with temperatures significantly cooler than surrounding areas like Gilroy or San Jose. One reviewer noted, "In the morning it's raining under the redwood trees but not under the madrone or tan oak trees, which is wild. The park is a on beautiful forested hilltop. Some areas are redwood, other parts mixed with other kinds of trees."

Best Glamping Sites Near San Jose, California (23)

    1. Sanborn County Park

    19 Reviews
    Saratoga, CA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (408) 867-9959

    $33 / night

    "RVs are pretty close to each other, but not too invasive. Restrooms and showers are clean and in a very decent condition. Each site has a table and a charcoal ."

    "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."

    2. Mount Madonna County Park

    32 Reviews
    Gilroy, CA
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (408) 842-2341

    "It has a few RV sites with water and electric but the dry campsites are a little bigger and very nice. Great hiking trails. Flat looks for kids to bike on."

    "Prepare for it to be 40deg colder than Gilroy or San Jose. We weren’t prepared & had to drive into town & buy more clothes!"

    3. Uvas Canyon County Park

    11 Reviews
    New Almaden, CA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (408) 779-9232

    $34 / night

    "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."

    "A nice small campground nestled in the eastern side of Santa Cruz Mountains, west of Morgan Hill, easily accessible off of Highway 101."

    4. Lower Blooms Creek — Big Basin Redwoods State Park — CAMPGROUND CLOSED

    34 Reviews
    Boulder Creek, CA
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (831) 338-8860

    $35 / night

    "We got one of the tent cabins, which are just adorable and so cozy. The sites are nice and distanced from each other, bathrooms were in great shape and it was pet friendly."

    "We stayed in a tent cabin at the Huckleberry campground which was nicer than we thought it would be. It had just the right amount of space for my wife and I, our two daughters and all our gear."

    5. Thousand Trails Morgan Hill

    8 Reviews
    San Martin, CA
    18 miles
    Website
    +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."

    "Got propane filled, nice staff. No full hookups but dump station was convenient. Lots of nice activities going on."

    6. Sunset State Beach

    27 Reviews
    Watsonville, CA
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (831) 763-7063

    "Clean bathrooms with running water. Very very very safe. Lots of families but again, super safe and beautiful"

    "Close to the beach, hot showers, fire pits"

    7. Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park

    11 Reviews
    San Martin, CA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (408) 842-7800

    $34 / night

    "The lake is closed to any and all water-craft because the water level is too low. It is very clean and well maintained for the most part. Cell phone service for Xfinity/Verizon is spotty at best."

    "Campsites are along the beautiful Coyote lake. The lakeside sites are mostly shaded as are the sites along the road. Sites 43, 44 and 45 would be the most secluded."

    8. Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday

    16 Reviews
    Freedom, CA
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (831) 722-0551

    "A short drive to Santa Cruz and Monterey. They have a heated pool, laundry facilities and on site store. There are however some large raccoons so use caution with your trash."

    "The family loved it- it was the perfect size for us and everything worked and the outdoor patio had heavy duty tables and chairs along with fire pit and even a Weber grill."

    9. Lupin Lodge Nudist Resort

    1 Review
    Los Gatos, CA
    12 miles
    Website

    $35 - $175 / night

    "Lots of space with bathrooms very accessible.

    Hiking and only minutes from San Jose. You feel like your in another world.

    Check on-line for calender of fun events (when Covid changes)."

    10. Sunrise Point at Candlestick Point SRA - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

    1 Review
    Monte Sereno, CA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (831) 818-2260

    $40 - $150 / night

    "Dispersed camping outside the campground perimeters. Very quiet and this is the place if solitude is your thing. Bring lots of water. Walk in or 4wd accessible. Never have seen another human here."

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Glamping Reviews near San Jose, CA

244 Reviews of 23 San Jose Campgrounds


  • Pineapple H.
    Feb. 8, 2021

    Lupin Lodge Nudist Resort

    Nice pool, jacuzzi, sauna,tennis court- Friendly crowd.

    Lots of space with bathrooms very accessible.

    Hiking and only minutes from San Jose. You feel like your in another world.

    Check on-line for calender of fun events (when Covid changes).

    Bring your own food and supplies. Because store is back in town, Los Gatos.

    There's water and a communal kitchen which they just Re-Did.

    Sand and paved Volleyball courts.

    The Resturant is seasonal and only weekends.

    Clothing Optional around the pool.

  • DEREK B.
    May. 13, 2015

    Uvas Canyon County Park

    Uvas Canyon County Park

    Getting there: From San Jose it took me about 40 minutes. The road is windy, narrow, and not for the car sick. Be prepared to pay $6 for parking.

    Campsites: The campsites are nicely maintained. Plenty of area to pitch a tent, all the sites have a BBQ, fire pit, and picnic table. The sites are close together to maybe bring ear plugs in case you have loud neighbors.

    The Park: Really pretty, really small. I would say in 1 full day you can explore 100% of this park. No need to make an entire weekend out of this place when you can do all of the pretty stuff in just a few hours.

    What to do: Go see the waterfalls. With the current California drought all of the falls were at little more than a trickle but still something to see. To hike to each fall it's about 6ish miles with just a few hundred feet of total elevation gain. The trails are large and well defined for an very entry level experience.

  • Natalie G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 28, 2020

    Lower Blooms Creek — Big Basin Redwoods State Park — CAMPGROUND CLOSED

    Idyllic campground close to loads of beauty

    We stayed here with our 2 dogs last November as a nice winter getaway from L.A. We got one of the tent cabins, which are just adorable and so cozy. The sites are nice and distanced from each other, bathrooms were in great shape and it was pet friendly. We got a package with the tent cabin that came with bedding, cooking utensils and firewood, so were pretty much set once we got there. The beds are comfy and the wood burning stove (photo attached) is the only source of heat. It is neat but BE WARNED...it gets COLD on those winter nights so make sure you a) have enough wood; b) are good at keeping fires going throughout the night; and c) have lots of dry wood. The wood that was left for us as part of our package was really wet and wouldn't burn so we had a very chilly night even with loads of sleeping bags and blankets. Other than that, we had a great experience and got to take the dogs for a great walk on the paved trails in the State Park. Can't wait to go back!

  • Tom and Marianne  H.
    Apr. 5, 2020

    Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park

    Convenient to San Jose. Crowded.

    Pros: Lots of sites. Pretty area. Facilities well maintained. Cons: We stayed here several times because of its proximity to San Jose. Almost every time time, though, it was crowded and noisy. Also there are lots of wild pigs! In my opinion, it’s a last resort campground.

    The first time here, we put a table cloth and some small items on the picnic table at our site, then left to run an errand. When we returned, someone else was camping in our spot. :0/  Luckily, there was another spot available so we moved and all was well. Still surprised that someone would do that, though.

  • C
    Jul. 30, 2020

    Mount Madonna County Park

    Close to town County Park

    We love Mount Madonna and have camped here often. It has a few RV sites with water and electric but the dry campsites are a little bigger and very nice. Great hiking trails. Flat looks for kids to bike on. Don't miss the deer pen and the historic house hikes. One of the best local campgrounds near San Jose, Morgan Hill, Gilroy and Watsonville area. Close but very much a camping experience. Some fog can creep in so be prepared for it to get cold and wet some nights. Camp sites can be close together if in one fo the electric water sites but not too bad. Nice for families. Showers are clean.

  • A
    Sep. 22, 2016

    Lower Blooms Creek — Big Basin Redwoods State Park — CAMPGROUND CLOSED

    Summer Family Fun at Big Basin

    We visited the Big Basin Redwoods State Park late July this year with a large group of friends and their families and it was such an awesome experience. We stayed in a tent cabin at the Huckleberry campground which was nicer than we thought it would be. It had just the right amount of space for my wife and I, our two daughters and all our gear. The entire campground is loaded with trees so there was plenty of shade everywhere. There's also a few decent hiking trails close to the campground which is really cool and convenient. My daughters enjoyed every minute from the hiking, riding their bikes, campfires as well as all the other great things to do when camping. We also explored the Visitor Center to see some of the most magnificent dinosaur-like redwoods including what they call the 'Father of the Forest' and 'Mother of the Forest' trees. The guide was an encyclopedia of information on the massive trees which he shared with us along the tour. If you're at all interested, then you must go on the short tour. The only complaint I have is about the one night there were what seemed to be very loud college students, probably from UC Santa Cruz or another nearby college, who were in the cabin at the site next to ours and were partying way too hard. We had to tell them to keep it down since they had woken us up. I'm all for a little partying, but damn, they were loud and no one came around to tell them to keep it down besides us. Other than that, all in all, we had a great tent cabin campsite and did notice some even better in the campground, so we will definitely be going back again.

  • A
    Jun. 26, 2021

    Mount Madonna County Park

    Pretty park, well-maintained

    The park is a on beautiful forested hilltop. Some areas are redwood, other parts mixed with other kinds of trees. 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, which is wild.

    It is a lot colder here than on the valley floor. Prepare for it to be 40deg colder than Gilroy or San Jose. We weren’t prepared & had to drive into town & buy more clothes! Also, sometimes the fog whistles through on a stiff breeze so not only is it cold but also clammy wet.

    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. The park used to have hundreds of them, but a number of years ago the park service stopped allowing them to breed because they’re an introduced species. So now they’re down to just two white deer and when those die that’ll be the end of that.

    There is an archery trail with 28 targets on a trail 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. Now my daughter’s asking to put a target in the back yard.

    The campgrounds are really well maintained. Bathrooms have soap & TP and kept clean. “Tan Oak” campground seems to have bigger sites than the others, but we drove through all the campgrounds and none of them are awful. Our site (418) was huge and private. There is a large vacant campsite across the road that’s reserved for docents but it was empty when we were there so we had the cul-de-sac all to ourselves. Sites 416 and 417 are also big with hidden spots back off the road for pitching your tent.

  • Shawnna B.
    Jun. 13, 2019

    Mount Madonna County Park

    My favorite campground of the Monterey Bay

    Mount Madonna County Park has 4 campgrounds. I've been camping in this park since the late 70s. I've seen some changes over the years...ahem...decades. There's something for everyone here, RVers, tenters, and those who want to rent tent cabins. There are plenty of trails to hike, as well as equestrian trails. No bikes on trails though.

    There are several micro climates in this area and temps can vary, besides our weather varies from day to day.

    There are trails offering views of the Santa Clara Valley, and trails offering views of the Monterey Bay. The park is above the fog line (most of the year). We don't get rain in the summer here. The park is situated at the County lines of Santa Clara County and Santa Cruz County and is part of the Santa Clara County Parks system.

    No stores or markets in the park, but you can easily run into town, either Watsonville or Gilroy. It's slightly closer to Watsonville where you will find a gas station/market on 152 (Currently a Valero), or go into Gilroy on 152 for Safeway and more.

    There's a small cabin (ranger's station) with a history exhibit and the white reindeer up from the kiosk. My favorite campground in the park is the Tan Oak campground at the top and through the day use area. There are plenty of Geocaches on the trails.

    The bathrooms are generally clean. I say generally because I prefer the off season when I have the campground to myself and the bathrooms are super clean, but when the campground is full, like any public bathroom they can need more attention. (Or maybe people just need to clean up after themselves) I've never used the showers, nor the tent cabins. I like the sites because overall they are separated by trees so you don't feel as crowded as more open campgrounds.

    Despite signage warning of mountain lions, I have never encountered a single one in all the years of camping here. I've had raccoons and skunks (so lock up your food and belongings), turkeys and deer.

    Weekends, especially a holiday weekend such as Memorial Day weekend, can be full. (Not my favorite) I have also stayed for the 4th of July when it fell midweek and had the campground (Tan Oak) literally to myself.

    Leashed pets are allowed (2 per site) and 2 cars and 8 people per site.


Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best glamping sites near San Jose?

The best glamping sites near San Jose offer unique experiences in stunning natural settings. Big Basin Redwoods State Park (note: currently closed due to wildfire recovery) was highly praised for its tent cabins nestled among ancient redwoods, with guests describing them as "adorable and cozy" with well-distanced sites. Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park offers glamping options just a short drive from San Jose in a pretty lakeside setting. Other notable options include Thousand Trails Morgan Hill for those seeking more upscale accommodations with resort amenities, and Sanborn County Park for a more secluded forest experience. Most sites require reservations 3-6 months in advance for peak season.

Are there beach glamping options near San Jose?

Yes, several beach glamping options are available within a 1-2 hour drive from San Jose. Sunset State Beach offers glamping accommodations with beautiful ocean views and beach access. Half Moon Bay State Beach Campground features premium sites with partial ocean views where you can set up in comfort while enjoying the coastal atmosphere. While not directly on the beach, Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday offers deluxe cabins just minutes from beach access. Marina Dunes RV Park also provides upscale accommodations near the shoreline. Most beach glamping locations fill quickly during summer months, so reservations 4-6 months in advance are recommended. Prices typically range from $120-250 per night for beach glamping, with higher rates during peak season.

How much does glamping cost in San Jose?

Glamping prices near San Jose typically range from $75-250 per night depending on accommodation type and amenities. Mount Madonna County Park offers tent cabins at the more affordable end of the spectrum, around $75-100 per night. For unique experiences, Lupin Lodge Nudist Resort has glamping accommodations starting around $100-150 nightly. Luxury glamping options at private resorts can exceed $200 per night. Most locations require a two-night minimum stay on weekends, and prices typically increase during summer months and holidays. Additional fees may apply for extra guests, pets, or premium amenities. Booking well in advance (3-6 months) is recommended to secure the best rates.

What types of glamping accommodations are available near San Jose?

The San Jose area offers diverse glamping accommodations to suit various preferences. Tent cabins are popular at several locations, including Uvas Canyon County Park, where you'll find nicely maintained sites with BBQ pits and picnic tables about 40 minutes from San Jose. Yurts can be found at select locations, offering circular canvas structures with solid flooring and comfortable furnishings. For those seeking more amenities, Gilroy Garlic USA RV Park provides deluxe cabins with private bathrooms. Some properties feature treehouse accommodations, safari tents with real beds and furniture, and even tiny houses with full kitchens and bathrooms. Most glamping sites provide linens, though it's always wise to confirm what's included when booking.