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Camping near Scotts Valley, CA

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    Camping near Scotts Valley spans redwood forests and coastal terrain in California's Santa Cruz Mountains, with campgrounds ranging from tent sites to RV parks with hookups and cabin rentals, most situated within 10-15 miles of town. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground provides spacious, shaded sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and bear boxes in a wooded setting. Several RV-friendly options exist, including Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort and Cotillion Gardens RV Park in nearby Felton. The region supports tent camping, RV sites with hookups, and cabin rentals, with most campgrounds situated within 10-15 miles of Scotts Valley proper.

    Many campgrounds in the area require reservations, particularly during summer months when coastal proximity makes them popular destinations. Most developed sites feature drinking water, restrooms, and showers, though amenities vary significantly between state parks and private RV resorts. The terrain consists primarily of forested hillsides with moderate temperatures year-round, though morning fog is common during summer and fall months. Cell service can be limited in some campground areas, especially those tucked into redwood groves. One camper noted, "Most of the sites are large, with the sites around the loops perimeters more private. The sites on the inside of the loops not so much. Lots of poison oak."

    Campers consistently highlight the redwood setting as a primary draw for the area's campgrounds. Sites at Henry Cowell receive particularly positive reviews for their spaciousness and privacy compared to more densely packed RV parks. Several visitors mentioned the convenient proximity to both forest hiking trails and coastal attractions in Santa Cruz, making the area ideal for mixed outdoor activities. "We had site 95 and I have to say that our 26 ft trailer plus our truck was a tight squeeze. There were bigger sites that would've suited us better but it was a nice little tucked in site," shared one reviewer. Bathroom facilities at campgrounds are generally well-maintained, though some visitors note the prevalence of poison oak throughout the region's natural areas, which requires careful attention when setting up camp or hiking nearby trails. When planning your camping trip to Scotts Valley, consider that the best campsites tend to fill quickly during peak season from late spring through early fall.

    Best Campgrounds near Scotts Valley (124)

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      1. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground

      4.4(45)2mi from Scotts ValleyRVs, Tents

      "The nearest place is in Scotts Valley but it was closed on Sunday. After that the nearest station is New Brighton Beach, 30 mins away."

      "This is a nice campground in a great part of California with lots of hiking and beaches nearby. The bathrooms were clean and well kept."

      from $7 - $35 / night

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      2. New Brighton State Beach Campground

      4.5(46)7mi from Scotts Valley103 sitesRVs

      "Camped with electricity and water, situated on a bluff near the ocean. Easy walking distance to the water, nice roomy campsites with fire rings and tables. Not too close to other campers."

      "New Brighton is a jewel on the California coast. Camping is on a bluff above beach and you must walk down stairs to get to the beach. Camping in the woods with the beach below is perfect."

      from $35 - $185 / night

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      3. Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort

      4.2(24)3mi from Scotts ValleyRVs

      "They are a bit narrow, so much of the camp side you will have a close look at your neighbors utilities. When the park is full, it is close. Go on weekdays, not as busy and more room is likely."

      "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."

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

      4.7(34)14mi from Scotts Valley33 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Not far from the hustle and bustle of the Bay Area in California. When you arrive it's like stepping in to a whole other world. Huge redwoods blanket the mountain and line every site."

      "So sad the devastation of last month's fires on the oldest state park in California, home to thr biggest redwoods south of San Francisco."

      from $35 / night

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      5. Cotillion Gardens RV Park

      3.5(15)3mi from Scotts ValleyRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Entrance is a little nerve racking on your first visit, but once your at your site you can relax. Bathrooms are a little dated, no cell service but good WiFi if your close to the office."

      "The place is old, but it has a great location. There are great hiking trails assessable from the campground."

      from $60 - $100 / night

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      6. Sunset State Beach

      4.3(28)15mi from Scotts ValleyRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "Dogs can be allowed on beach if you go to the right of the main entrance. No dogs to the left.  Camp sites vary but the best loop is South Loop. Some with ocean views but those are hard to reserve. "

      "Strawberry fields surround the campground and are next to the Hike and Bike area. The walk is not too difficult down to the beach."

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      7. Mount Madonna County Park

      4.5(33)18mi from Scotts ValleyRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Great spot if you're looking for a quick escape from the Bay Area with that classic California redwood experience."

      "We were happy to have the electric hook up since the redwood and oak tress surrounding all the sites are huge and block out the sun."

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      8. Sanborn County Park

      4.0(20)13mi from Scotts ValleyRVs, Glamping

      "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."

      "Great walk-in campground so close to home in the South Bay Area (albeit walk is slightly uphill)."

      from $33 / night

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      9. Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday

      4.3(19)13mi from Scotts ValleyRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "I would recommend booking away from the jump pillow or playground, unless easy playground access is important, because the spots are pretty noisy."

      "Although this is not our preferred type of camping, after five nights in California State parks with limited amenities, we stayed here for hot showers, laundry, and full hookups for van maintenance."

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      10. Smithwoods RV Park

      4.6(7)3mi from Scotts ValleyRVs

      "The location is mostly flat and surrounded with Redwoods. Shady and sunny locations; larger and small RV spots. No tent camping. It backs into Henry Cowell State Park and you can walk into it."

      "I’m so glad we did because we were surrounded by these beautiful red wood trees and we could hear the train whistle in the daytime coming from Roaring Camp Railroad."

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    Recent Camping Photos near Scotts Valley, CA

    222 Photos of 124 Scotts Valley Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers

    Recent Reviews near Scotts Valley, CA

    858 Reviews of 124 Scotts Valley Campgrounds

    • T
      Sep. 18, 2026

      Del Valle Campground — East Bay Regional Park District

      East Bay Parks - IYKYK

      Like most/all east bay parks, this is well appointed for the masses. It’s also surrounded by rolling hills and close to suburbia. For many, these are positives. As an east bay resident they are for me as well. Del Valle is a bit more removed than many east bay parks. From my location in Fremont, it’s a one hour drive. A pleasant drive for the most part. I camp to get away for a bit and almost always to mountain bike. As such, I seek parks that have trails. Del Valle has a map of many trails. They also appear on many of the mapping services used by mountain bikers. Review those and digest them if this is also your intention - these are east bay parka style trails. In other words, mostly steep and loose fire roads, with many “social trails” sprinkled between. If you are compelled to stay legit/legal trails, bring an ebike. Now on to the camping. I picked a spot as far removed from any booked spot on the map. I triple checked this up until the day before I arrived. I want solitude! When I arrived Thursday afternoon, I was surprised to see the sites just 3 spaces away, on both sides, occupied. This is a fairly compact area. And while I’m sure they’re lovely folks, this isn’t what I expected on a Thursday. Saturday? Sure. Anyway… be aware that these reservation services aren’t completely reliable in that regard. The bathrooms and showers are amazing! Clean, smell good, cared for. Noteworthy is the hot showers in the camp grounds are free and your one push of the button provides water for two minutes id guess. Very nice! The space, 135 for me, is okay. A couple trees for shade, a nice table and fire pit. It’s now dark and the noise is minimal - mostly from the group campsite just down the hill. I’ll update this with more details in the coming days since it’s a 4 day visit. Update 1: it’s my first morning here. Using starlink as there is no cell signal to be found. What I noticed last night was that this park is directly below the flight path to the local airports. Every couple minutes last night, a plane would fly overhead. According to flight aware, they’re at about 10,000 feet. If this will ruin your getaway, you’ve been warned.

    • C. K.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 17, 2026

      San Mateo Memorial Park

      Under the Redwoods

      Nothing like camping under the redwoods with sounds of streams nearby. Restrooms and facilities are clean and well maintained. Park Rangers are extremely nice and helpful.

    • C
      Sep. 15, 2026

      Monterey Pines RV Park - Military

      Nice small military RV park

      RVs only. No tent camping. Some sites have partial hookups and some have full hookups. This is at the edge of the Monterey Pines Golf Course. In fact you check in at the golf course office. Sites 1-14 have a view of the course. Mature shade trees, picnic tables and bbq’s in each site. No fire rings.

      The bathrooms are nice and clean and have heaters! Laundry is free! Four washers and eight dryers.

      As of Sept 2026 they’re actively building a new dog park.

      It’s right next to a private airport and there are 2-3 planes (jets and smaller planes) taking off each hour. It stopped at 10pm and started up again at 5am. Suggest earplugs at nighttime.

      Verizon service is pretty poor. They have free Wi-Fi but it didn’t reach to site 1.

    • Jason The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 11, 2026

      Monterey Pines RV Park - Military

      Amenities are great, Navy wives not so much.

      Great park. Monthly rates are the most expensive in the country, for a military camp, but still about 2/3 of what it is off base. Watch out for golf balls, stay in spots 7-10. Whatever you do, do not let the door open and let your dog run out by accident...the Navy Knives, err Wives club is always watching. Anyway, close to all Monterey, Big Sur, Salinas, Carmel Valley. Really nice, clean Park. Bathhouses are very clean. Laundry requires quarters, but they work well. Shaded spots, so if you need Starlink stay on the east side row to point north.

    • C. K.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 3, 2026

      Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground

      Your average camp site

      It’s quite large compared to to other campsites. It was pleasant and have no complaints. Nothing special but hiking trails are fantastic.

    • HThe Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 2, 2026

      New Brighton State Beach Campground

      Busy state beach campground

      Very well run & clean. Mostly quiet. 20 minute walk to Capitola Village (north) or Seacliff (south). Some shady sites, some are exposed.

    • David W.The Dyrt Pro User
      Aug. 26, 2026

      Beach RV Pleasure Point

      Convenient spot in Santa Cruz

      I came into Santa Cruz to visit family and needed a place to park my bus while there- this park was available and fit my needs perfectly. It’s a simple gravel parking lot set up - clean bathrooms / showers, full hookups. Not what I would call camping but a great place to stay with proximity to the things that matter.

    • C. K.The Dyrt Pro User
      Aug. 25, 2026

      Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground

      Nice location

      Many said this particular location is large and nice. It’s just ok along with many other locations. I guess it comes down to what individual preferences are. I have no negative things to say, the experience here was good to visit.

    • Tim P.The Dyrt Pro User
      Aug. 24, 2026

      Thousand Trails Morgan Hill

      Great Campground

      I liked this Thousand Trails resort because it’s more like camping. The staff is amazing. The facilities are great amazing big pool. The only problem I had is they didn’t have any sewage hook up, but I have a tote so it wasn’t that big of a deal.

    Guide to Scotts Valley

    Camping options near Scotts Valley provide access to diverse ecosystems within the Santa Cruz Mountains at elevations ranging from 500 to 2,600 feet. The area experiences moderate temperature fluctuations throughout the year, with summer highs rarely exceeding 85°F and winter lows typically staying above 40°F. Most camping areas require advance planning as weekend spots fill 3-6 months ahead during peak season (May-September).

    What to do

    Hike among giant trees: Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground features several trails that start directly from the campground area. "We stayed here for a night and thought that it was a clean campground. Our site was on the smaller side, but it accommodated us all. There were a few trails that started from the campground, which was nice," shares Queenie M.

    Visit historic attractions: Located just a mile from Smithwoods RV Park, Roaring Camp Railroad offers steam train rides through redwood forests. "It was a short nice hike to the state park and the train through the red woods. Fun experience on a real steam locomotive," notes David H.

    Swim in natural settings: The San Lorenzo River runs adjacent to several campgrounds. At Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort, campers can access the river via a short trail. "There is a little trail that goes down to the River where you can find a neat little beach. It's a goofy little descent/climb to get there and out but worth it," according to Jaime C.

    Practice archery: Mount Madonna County Park offers a unique 28-target archery course through the forest. "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," explains April N.

    What campers like

    Spacious campsites: Some of the best places to camp near Scotts Valley feature sites with ample room. At Sunset State Beach, "Very quiet area and pretty well spaced out sites (for a coastal campground). Once the sun went down there were very few people outside. Good beach access (down a ramped pathway and then staircase)," reports Karen.

    Clean facilities: Campground cleanliness ranks high in visitor satisfaction. Mount Madonna County Park maintains high standards: "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," writes Carolina M.

    Easy beach access: Many campsites offer convenient ocean proximity. At New Brighton State Beach Campground, "We tent camped here but most people had a trailer. Translation: the bathroom was empty. Quiet with quick access to the beach via a steep paved path. The premium spots seem super worth it with panoramic views of the Pacific," notes Alma L.

    Unique camping options: Beyond standard tent and RV sites, some campgrounds offer alternative accommodations. At Santa Cruz KOA Holiday, "We stayed in one of the airstreams they have for rent there. 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," says Jay.

    What you should know

    Site selection matters: Campsite locations can significantly impact your experience. At Sanborn County Park, "Some campgrounds have tables and others don't - some are too close to others but the higher up hill, you're closer to the trail heads," advises Ellice O.

    Wildlife encounters: Several campgrounds report animal interactions. At Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, "The park has a bit of a yellow jacket problem that they dont really seem too concerned about addressing. Yellowjackets on trails, in campsites and near bathrooms. 5 in our group got stung," warns Megan B.

    Weather variations: The coastal-mountain interface creates unique microclimates. Mount Madonna County Park can be surprisingly cool: "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," cautions April N.

    Limited connectivity: Cell service varies widely across campgrounds. At Smithwoods RV Park, "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," reports David H.

    Tips for camping with families

    Kid-friendly activities: Cotillion Gardens RV Park offers dedicated recreation spaces. "This R.V. Park is rustic, but has a lot of amenities and is very close to Santa Cruz. There are lots of things for the kids to do and lots of friends to play with... playground, bicycling, playing basketball, and swimming in the pool," shares Jessica R.

    Biking opportunities: Several campgrounds have suitable terrain for young cyclists. 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," advises Weston W.

    Water features: Seasonal creeks and swimming spots provide natural entertainment. At Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort, "The campground is all natural! Trees and nature all around. Viewing areas that allow all to enjoy the stream, at the back of the resort, and paths to take a closer look," notes Brittany F.

    Gear transport assistance: For walk-in sites, campgrounds often provide equipment. Sanborn County Park has "a short walk up a paved path from the parking to the campsites. The park provides carts to help with hauling gear, and storage boxes are provided at the site, near the picnic table," explains Amanda P.

    Tips from RVers

    Site leveling challenges: Many RV sites in the area require leveling equipment. At Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, "We had site 95 and I have to say that our 26 ft trailer plus our truck was a tight squeeze. There were bigger sites that would've suited us better but it was a nice little tucked in site," shares Chesney S.

    Dump station logistics: Plan for potential waiting times at popular campgrounds. At New Brighton State Beach, "Warning: the line for the dump station wound through nearly the entire park," observes Alma L.

    Hookup locations: RV site utility connections may require extensions. At Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort, "I had to use a 6 foot extension on the sewer hose. Shore chord was fine as was the water spigot," notes Patrick J.

    Narrow access roads: Several campgrounds have challenging approach roads. Patrick J. warns about Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort: "Getting there takes some attention... Roads to the sites are narrow, so again, keep your eyes pealed."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular campground near Scotts Valley, CA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Scotts Valley, CA is Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 45 reviews.

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