Santa Cruz, CA is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Santa Cruz. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Santa Cruz, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
"Not quiet though, lots of kids."
"Close to 6 Santa Cruz county state parks and Santa Cruz beaches and town. We will stay here again! Side note. Don’t use hwy 9 south from Santa Cruz towing. The road is too winding and narrow."
"Do not take highway 9 from Santa Cruz as the RV park will tell you. Our car navigation changed our route even after we were approaching 17 north. Keep your eyes out for the highway signs."
"Clean, quiet campground nestled in the big trees. Friendly staff and a quick drive into the Santa Cruz beach communities."
"Park is rustic, but has a lot of amenities and is very close to Santa Cruz. We visit family and friends in the area often, but this was the first time we camped in the area."
"Full hook ups. We had a great view of the San Lorenzo River and Henry Cowell State Park. The staff is great and helpful."
"This is our favorite place to camp, Redwoods everywhere, 9 miles from Santa Cruz, kids love this place we have camped in the group area with 8 trailers and other spots on site great weather"
"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."
"Pretty quiet with the exception of the Monterey Regional Airport next to it and even then it wasn’t very noticeable."
"Great location near Monterey. Full hookup and fully paved. Restrooms were fairly clean. Great for a stopover or if you’re visiting Monterey."
"I have a camper van and I didn’t need all the hook up. There is a Best Western right next to this place were we ended up getting a room instead as that was less expensive."
"We love Marina Dunes RV Resort! This was our first stay here and we thoroughly enjoyed it! We love the proximity to the beach and the beautiful dunes. The park was very clean and well-maintained."
$110 - $235 / night
"Just small enough to not feel like a city and big enough for Class A motor homes. The road in can be tricky if you meet head on with another RV, but don't let that happen stop you. We will be back!"
"The campground was very clean, and quiet! Every camper I met was very pleasant. I would absolutely go again!!
Yes they have 30 amp service."
"Just an FYI, if they have open spots after the office closes they put out packets for up to 2 pull thru and 2 back in spots for late arrivals without a reservation.
Pros
- Great central location!"
"Several shade trees. Lots of little kids. Wi-Fi was great. Could work and stream TV. Facilities (bathrooms and showers) were nice. Pool was wonderful. Staff were super friendly. Gave my dog a treat!"
LegendYou are probably thinking "Parking lot? Why did you give it 4 stars?" Because of the location! We stayed here for three nights in our 34 foot travel trailer. We barely fit into the back in site, and had to park our truck in visitor parking a short walk away. Other, smaller trailers had enough room for their vehicle to fit in alongside. The facility has full-hookups and they functioned fine. The harbor itself has trails but no other facilities for campers. No wifi but Verizon had good signal. The weather is perfect and we loved walking to the beach, to get coffee in Seabright, and driving into downtown and the boardwalk. It's fairly quiet at night, but you do have to watch your stuff. The first night we stayed here we got woken up at 5:30 in the morning by a rattling noise. Open the door and someone is walking away from our trailer. A look at our bike rack revealed that our ties had been cut. I guess the would-be thief didn't notice that the bikes were locked to the rack. Either way, you have to be careful, because this is Santa Cruz and there are a lot of weird folks about. So yes, there are some downsides. But we love Santa Cruz and it was great to be in such a central location.
GuideWe just got back from New Brighton, stayed in site 108. Love this State Beach! Our site was large enough for our big truck and 26 ft trailer, plus a 2nd small SUV. There was plenty of flat area for my sons tent as well. Not a ton of trees, so this particular spot didnt get a lot of natural shade, bring pop ups! The site next door, 110, had many more trees and shade. The sites are far enough apart to feel secluded. At night you can still hear the ocean even though we werent in a premium spot. You can walk a short ways to see the ocean and there are several trails down, but the one with real stairs is closed so you better be sure-footed if you're taking the other trail. We opted for the short drive to the beach lot. There are bathrooms with flush toilets and showers close by and a dump station on the way out. Plus New Brighton is just a few mins from downtown Capitola, and not much further from Santa Cruz so there are SO many things to explore when you're there. Definitely a new favorite place!
ScoutThis is a great RV resort for extended stay or overnight if traveling through. Lots of pull through sites for long RVs which are OK here. In the summer, there is a strong coastal influence so it stays cool here! Amenities include a pool, very clean bathrooms and showers and a small store.
GuideWe happened upon this RV Park as a drop in when our other park was not available. What a pleasant surprise! We’ll be making this our go to spot when traveling through the Gilroy area from now on.
For starters, the staff is wonderful. So friendly. Just an FYI, if they have open spots after the office closes they put out packets for up to 2 pull thru and 2 back in spots for late arrivals without a reservation.
Pros
Cons:
GuideOnly about 8 minutes from Santa Cruz beach/boardwalk. Off a quiet street. Reasonable price for the location.
GuideWe 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. There is multiple lodges and a recreation center so plenty to do. Nice spot to bring the family. Close to local wine tastings and even had Safeway close enough for grocery delivery. Plus good nature hike trails in park.
GuideWe stayed at Smithwoods October 18-20. We were in site J, on the point. It was nice and big. Full hook ups. We had a great view of the San Lorenzo River and Henry Cowell State Park. The staff is great and helpful. We had a small issue with our cable tv(no fault of theirs) and they came right over and fixed our issue. The place is dog friendly. We had our two dogs. Be ready for no cell or WiFi. We occasionally got 1 bar of cell service in our site if we stood in a certain spot. (AT&T)There was WiFi up at the office but it was inconsistent. Our son did his online school and he kept dropping off. But we worked through it. It was a short nice hike to the state park and the train through the red woods. Fun experience on a real steam locomotive. We would stay there again next time we are in the Santa Cruz area.
LegendWe rarely make reservations to camp in California Beach Parks, as they are usually filled up weeks or even months in advance. While meeting up with some friends in Half Moon Bay we happened along the campsite and simply enquired if they had an open site for the night. They did, and we ended up staying for 2 nights due to a cancellation. It never hurts to ask!
The campsite is a nice quiet stretch of grass, live oak trees, and beach shrubs about 30 vertical feet above the Pacific beach shoreline. While you get away from the blowing sand, you get to hear the pounding ocean at night. I can’t imagine a more gentle lullaby, frankly. The sites themselves are a little close quarters, but all provide just about enough space for a long camper and a tow/towed vehicle as well. For a small camper like us, there’s even enough room to have a friend visit.
The sites offer electrical and water hookups, additionally there is a dump station just as you exit the camping area. Showers and flush toilets are available, but also used by all the beach goers in the area, so you know what they look like....never clean.
The town of Half Moon Bay offers pretty much everything you need in terms of restaurants or grocery stores. Riding your bike, or walking along the path toward town for a well-earned brunch should definitely reach the top of your to-do list while you’re there. We had brunch at Mavericks Creparie and dinner at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company. Both are absolutely fantastic!
Beachcombing, sunbathing, swimming, horseback riding, and skim boarding during the warmer months also are great ways to fill up the day. The beach path goes for miles in either direction so you can get some exercise off of the main roads.
GuideGreat spot right off the highway and on the beach. Lots of activities and places to eat within walking distance. Surfing, walking/bike trails, kayaking….Pet friendly
Santa Cruz, California, offers a fantastic array of RV camping options nestled among stunning natural landscapes and close to vibrant local attractions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near Santa Cruz, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Santa Cruz, CA is Santa Cruz Ranch Campground with a 3.3-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find RV camping near Santa Cruz, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 77 RV camping locations near Santa Cruz, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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