Best Campgrounds near San Martin, CA
San Martin, California sits at the gateway to diverse camping environments ranging from redwood forests to coastal beaches. County parks like Mount Madonna and Uvas Canyon offer tent and RV camping within 15 miles of town, with Mount Madonna providing yurt options for those seeking a glamping experience. Henry W. Coe State Park, California's second-largest state park, lies just east of San Martin and features primitive walk-in sites ideal for hikers and backpackers seeking solitude. For RV enthusiasts, Thousand Trails Morgan Hill and Uvas Pines RV Park provide full hookup options with amenities like showers, dump stations, and picnic tables.
Reservations are essential for most established campgrounds in the region, particularly during summer weekends and holidays when sites fill quickly. The Santa Cruz Mountains create varied microclimates, with coastal areas experiencing cooler temperatures and inland locations reaching high heat in summer months. As one camper at Henry W. Coe State Park noted, "From the main road it takes about 35 minutes to drive up the hill through a narrow road which is paved but not appropriate for RVs." Fire restrictions vary seasonally, with complete bans common during dry summer and fall months. Cell service is limited in many campgrounds, particularly those in canyon areas or at higher elevations.
Wildlife viewing opportunities abound throughout the region's campgrounds. Visitors to Pinnacles National Park, about an hour south, regularly spot California condors, while deer are common at Henry W. Coe and Mount Madonna. A camper at Thousand Trails San Benito remarked, "We had condors above our cabin, deer around us, wild pigs crossing the roads." Campsite privacy varies significantly between locations. Coastal state beach campgrounds like New Brighton and Sunset State Beach tend to have more exposed sites, while mountain locations often provide better separation between campers. Mosquitoes can be problematic near water sources, particularly in summer months, and ticks are present in grassy and wooded areas year-round.
