The Santa Cruz region sits between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Cruz Mountains, with elevations ranging from sea level to over 2,600 feet. Most glamping accommodations cluster within 15 miles of the coast where evening fog and marine layer create cooler conditions than inland areas. Many tent camping sites receive less than 30 inches of annual rainfall, with nearly all precipitation falling between November and April.
What to do
Waterfall hiking: 6-mile round trip through Uvas Canyon County Park provides access to multiple cascades even during drier months. "There are hiking trails that we haven't yet had time to explore," mentions one reviewer, while another shares, "The trails are large and well defined for a very entry level experience."
Wildlife viewing: White fallow deer at Mount Madonna County Park can be viewed near the ranger station. "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 who noted, "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."
Archery: 28-target trail winds through Mount Madonna's woods. "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," shares a camper who adds, "It's really pretty and a cool challenge."
Strawberry fields exploration: at Sunset State Beach offers agricultural education opportunities. "Strawberry fields surround the campground and are next to the Hike and Bike area," notes one reviewer who appreciated the rural setting. Another mentions that "We had a spot that was facing the strawberry fields instead of the water and it was still great."
What campers like
Beach access: Walk down 100 stairs or drive to Sunset State Beach from the campground. "A great beach to relax on, sometimes there's surf here too," mentions one reviewer. Another notes, "Beautiful sunsets and a quick walk to the beach (down about 100 stairs or you can drive down and park)."
Temperature variations: Cooler mountain sites at Sanborn County Park provide relief during summer heat. "The camping is situated in a dreamy redwood forest," says one visitor, while another adds, "It is a lot colder here than on the valley floor. Prepare for it to be 40deg colder than Gilroy or San Jose."
Dog-friendly trails: Many parks restrict dogs, but Mount Madonna welcomes them. "This is a county park that allows dogs on ALL the trails. It's hard to find that sometimes so we greatly appreciated how dog friendly it was," explains a camper who adds, "While the sites are a little close to each other, those on the outside of the loop had a great deal of privacy."
Quiet, off-peak experiences: Several campgrounds offer solitude during weekdays or winter. A Uvas Canyon County Park visitor notes, "During less crowded times (winter) this campground is one of the best. Extremely beautiful & peaceful surroundings. Once we were the only campers there. Heaven!"
What you should know
Coastal weather differences: Temperatures can drop dramatically in evening hours near the coast. "It can get cold at night in the redwoods so the wood stove was great at night," reports a Big Basin Redwoods State Park cabin visitor. Another guest warns, "It was 95 degrees in this redwood forest. We drove 9 miles to Boulder Creek and found an epic swimming hole to help cool us."
Wildlife encounters: Several campgrounds report active nocturnal visitors. "We suffered the consequences when we awoke to a family of raccoons raiding the box," reports a Sunset State Beach visitor whose bear locker wouldn't close properly. At Mount Madonna, a camper cautions, "There are some critters here, I saw a few skunks and one wandered right into our campsite at night."
Walk-in campsite logistics: Some parks require hauling gear short distances. "It's a short walk up a paved path from the parking to the campsites. The park provides carts to help with hauling gear," explains a Sanborn County Park visitor, though another notes potential issues: "Each and every group was fighting for the 'wagons' to haul stuff up the hike-in campsites."
Insect preparation: Specific areas report higher concentrations of biting insects. "If you are prone to welt-y bug bites," advises a Big Basin visitor, "the ONE nit I have is that the lack of air movement during the summer = LOTS of bites. I highly recommend camping in the spring or fall."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly water features: Uvas Canyon provides safe water exploration. "The sites are spaced out nicely and there is a water faucet and trash bins plus recycle every couple of sites," shares a visitor who adds, "On the trails there's quite a bit of poison oak so keep dogs close."
Age-appropriate activities: Planned events and amenities target different age groups at Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday. "There is a nice playground next to an equally nice café called the pinecone," mentions a visitor. Another notes, "This KOA is great for a family getaway. TONS of activities on site - huge bouncy pad, a climbing wall, ping pong tables, a swimming pool, pedal go karts."
Campground-provided entertainment: Many locations offer organized activities. A KOA visitor reports, "They have activities daily and things to do which are sent out daily in a text," while another explains, "Security guy was awesome, kind, friendly, helpful! We arrived at 11:30 pm - exhausted, with no reservation, asking for a tent site. No problem!"
Biking opportunities: Many campgrounds have paved or graded roads suitable for children. A Mount Madonna visitor notes, "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."
Tips from RVers
RV site selection: At Thousand Trails Morgan Hill, picking the right location improves the experience. "We got a nice spot close to the dump station near front. Their pool is huge and very very well kept," writes a visitor who adds, "The spot was 30amp and back in however they have 50amp/pull through also."
Level site challenges: Many campgrounds have uneven terrain. A Morgan Hill visitor warns, "Sites are not level," while at Uvas Canyon, one reviewer 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."
Spacing and privacy concerns: Sites at Santa Cruz North-Costanoa KOA can be tight. "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," explains a visitor who recommends, "I do recommend paying a bit more for the more spacious sites. Next time I'm going for the ones with the patio."
RV length restrictions: Many parks limit vehicle size. "RV sites are basically parking lot with 4' strips of grass in between," notes a Sanborn County Park camper, while another from the same park suggests, "If you have a roof top tent, we scoped out a few sites which are more flat, and also have the picnic table near the parking spot. They are: 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, and 12."
