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Camping near Soquel, California ranges from beachfront state parks to redwood-shaded campgrounds, with options covering tent sites, full-hookup RV sites, cabins, yurts, and glamping facilities. New Brighton State Beach Campground offers ocean-view sites on bluffs above the Pacific, while Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park provides camping amid ancient redwood groves just northwest in Santa Cruz. Mount Madonna County Park and Santa Cruz KOA represent additional developed campgrounds within a 30-minute drive of Soquel.
Campground availability in this region typically requires advance planning, with most developed sites bookable up to six months ahead. The coastal climate remains mild year-round, though summer fog is common along the shoreline campgrounds, with clearer, warmer conditions usually arriving by late summer and early fall. Most campgrounds provide drinking water, toilets, and picnic tables, while shower availability varies by location. RV-friendly sites with hookups can be found at Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort and Santa Cruz KOA, though many state park campgrounds offer only dry camping. A visitor noted, "So nice to fall asleep to the sound of the waves. Early summer can be foggy, but it tends to get sunnier by late summer/early fall."
Campers consistently rate beach access as a primary attraction, with New Brighton State Beach earning particular praise for its ocean views and beach trail. Proximity to both natural settings and urban amenities creates a unique camping experience, as most campgrounds are within minutes of grocery stores and restaurants. Several visitors mentioned the convenience of being able to walk or bike to nearby towns like Capitola Village from New Brighton. While roadway noise can be noticeable at some coastal sites, campgrounds in the redwoods provide quieter alternatives. Bathroom cleanliness received positive mentions across multiple campgrounds, though many state park facilities require quarters for showers. Fire pits and picnic tables are standard at developed campgrounds throughout the area, with firewood typically available for purchase from camp hosts.
"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
Check Availability"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."
"There were bigger sites that would've suited us better but it was a nice little tucked in site. The poison oak is prolific. Our site was literally surrounded by it."
from $7 - $35 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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
Check Availability"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
Check Availability"Park is well maintained easy access to sites several cool places to eat close by"
"Situated off highway 1 and surrounded by the marina is very appealing for us. Reservations were made over the phone with Liz. She did a nice job of getting us in for the following day."
from $69 - $80 / night
Check Availability"Uvas Canyon County Park https://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/parkfinder/pages/uvascanyon.aspx is located about 15 miles west of Gilroy, on the east side of the Santa Cruz Mountains."
"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."
from $34 / night
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TravelerThis is a 10 out of 10 stay. The outdoor kitchen and gardens are to die for and the owners are incredibly hospitable and kind we stayed for five days. It’s really the type of place you just have to see for yourself. Multiple showers and bathrooms. I stayed in my RV, but there are a cabin options as well as tent options booked to be a Hipcamp and beyond worth the cost. I highly recommend more than one night.
TravelerAround this time of year, park is practically empty during weekdays. Nice and quiet and peaceful place where you can slow things down
GuideGreat location with spaces in safe SE bay area location and reasonable prices New development small young trees limited natural shade
TravelerIt’s about the only campground we could find in Monterey, it’s clearly city camping. It’s expensive, crowded on the weekends and the campsites are close together. We managed to get in on a Thursday and snag site 22. It’s technically a “walk in” site, where your car is not parked AT the site but it’s honestly about 60 feet, and you get SO MUCH more space. They charge extra for a shower, which seems crazy to me and there’s no electric, which is wild for $50/night. But we needed to be in the area so here we are. It’s not terrible, there’s just a lot of noises. Oh and you hear the various songs and calls from the military base.
ScoutVery quiet campground at night. See stars clearly. Use the fire pit after 730pm when the wind has calmed down.
GuideThis is at a racetrack. During the week, there's a handful of campers and some track noise during the day only. Evenings are very peaceful.
Coming from San Francisco, the spacious sites and price are a welcomed change. There are trails all around. The views are great. There are squirrels and birds all around.
GuideLike 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 I'd 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.
Update 2: On Friday night, the majority of the spots were filled. Many large groups of people with varying degrees of consideration, but to their credit almost all (except the barking German Shepard) were quiet by 10PM. It was a bit more crowded come Saturday morning. Some friends came to visit for a mountain bike ride, and we set off at about noon. I had been complimentary of the facilities and bragged that I'd be taking a nice shower after our ride. Unfortunately, upon our return, there was no hot water and no lighting in the showers. And, sadly, someone decided to remove the tags and hangers from their TJ Maxx haul and leave them all over the floor of two of the showers.
Verdict: I'd only come back here in the springtime when it's likely to be green and have some water in the arroyo and only during the week. The density and composition of the people here was akin to being at Costco on a Saturday, and I only did that once.
TravelerNothing 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.
GuideRVs 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.
The Soquel area sits at the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, with elevations ranging from sea level at coastal campgrounds to over 1,800 feet at inland mountain sites. Winter camping temperatures typically range from 40-60°F, while summer brings average highs of 70-75°F along the coast and 80-90°F in the inland campgrounds. Morning fog is common during summer months at coastal sites, often clearing by midday.
Hiking through redwood forests: Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground offers several trails directly accessible from campsites. "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," reports Queenie M.
Access to water activities: At coastal campgrounds like Manresa State Beach Campground, water-based recreation is steps away. "The beach was clean and not crowded. Beautiful sunset views," notes Laura D. The beach is about a "5-7 minute walk down" from the campsites.
Visit historical sites: Several campgrounds provide access to local history. At Mount Madonna County Park, "you can drive up to where the old homestead was and see some ruins," explains Weston W. The park preserves remnants of cattle baron Henry Miller's 19th-century summer home.
Archery opportunities: Mount Madonna County Park features a dedicated archery range with targets throughout 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," shares April N.
Privacy between sites: Mount Madonna County Park receives high marks for site separation. "While the sites are a little close to each other, those on the outside of the loop had a great deal of privacy. Inner loop sites have none, but would be great if you were camping with friends," notes Lori T.
Clean facilities: Consistent bathroom maintenance ranks high with campers. At Uvas Canyon County Park, visitors appreciate that "bathrooms and shower were clean, and some even have baby changing stations. Park ranger and County Maintenance's presence was there periodically to pick up trash and to clean facilities," according to Mon M.
Wildlife viewing: Several parks offer unique wildlife experiences. Mount Madonna County Park features "pens with white fallow deer. They are descendants of the exotic zoo at William Randolph Hearst's mansion down the coast," explains April N.
River access: Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort provides water access beyond the ocean beaches. "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," shares Jaime C.
Reservation timing: The best places to camp near Soquel require advance planning. At Sunset State Beach, getting spots can be challenging. "If you can get a reservation here (which is VERY difficult) you will have the best time," notes Kate L.
Cell service limitations: Coverage varies significantly between campgrounds. At Uvas Canyon, "Verizon cell service worked at the campground," reports Mon M., while at Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort, "Wifi provided, however it would go out late at night after 10 pm until the morning time."
Wildlife concerns: Raccoons are commonly reported at coastal sites. At Manresa State Beach, "There are a LOT of raccoons, so pack up your stuff well," warns Lizzy C., while at Sunset State Beach, one camper "suffered the consequences when we awoke to a family of raccoons raiding the box."
Temperature variations: The redwood campgrounds are significantly cooler than surrounding areas. At Mount Madonna, "prepare for it to be 40deg colder than Gilroy or San Jose. We weren't prepared & had to drive into town & buy more clothes!" shares April N.
Kid-friendly amenities: Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday offers extensive family activities. "TONS of activities on site- huge bouncy pad, a climbing wall, ping pong tables, a swimming pool, pedal go karts, the list goes on and on," reports Daniel D.
Biking opportunities: Several campgrounds feature paved roads ideal for children's bikes. At Mount Madonna County Park, it's a "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.
Beach proximity: For families who want easy beach access, Sunset State Beach offers direct paths. "You can walk to it from the campground some sites are further away than others since there are three big loops of sites," notes Kelly S.
Extra supplies: Weather changes can require additional gear. For redwood campgrounds, "bring layers" advises Kelly M. from Manresa State Beach, where "wind picks up in the afternoon."
Site leveling: Cotillion Gardens RV Park requires preparation for RVers. "Entrance is a little nerve racking on your first visit, but once you're at your site you can relax," notes Ben T. Multiple reviewers mention that some sites are uneven.
RV size limitations: Many campgrounds near Soquel have restrictions on larger rigs. At New Brighton State Beach, one camper notes they "had one of the electric sites in the interior of the campground. The sites on the bluff overlooking the Pacific looked spectacular!"
Hookup information: Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort provides full service sites. "Hookups at every campsite. Water, Shore power, Cable," reports GotelRV, adding that there's a "$5 fire pit rentals for your entire stay."
Dump station access: Several campgrounds have dump stations with varying wait times. One camper at New Brighton State Beach cautions that "the line for the dump station wound through nearly the entire park."
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to camp at Soquel and what are the seasonal considerations?
The best time to camp in the Soquel area is typically late spring through early fall when temperatures are mild and rainfall is minimal. At San Mateo Memorial Park, campers find the redwood setting ideal for summer camping, providing a cool escape from heat. Near the coast at Laguna Seca Recreation Area, off-season camping (late fall) can mean having entire sections to yourself, though at higher rates ($40-50 for dry camping). Coastal locations can get cold at night year-round, so pack accordingly. Summer weekends fill quickly, so reservations are strongly recommended several months in advance, especially for popular campgrounds.
Where is Soquel Campground located and how do I get there?
Soquel is situated in Santa Cruz County, California, near the redwood forests and Pacific coast. For a similar camping experience, New Brighton State Beach Campground is located on a bluff near the ocean in the Soquel area, offering easy beach access. Another option nearby is Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground, which is accessible via Highway 9. Both locations provide a great base for exploring the coastal redwoods region with well-maintained access roads suitable for most vehicles.
What amenities and facilities are available at Soquel Campground?
While camping in the Soquel area, you'll find a range of amenities at nearby campgrounds. Sanborn County Park offers walk-in campsites with provided carts to help transport gear, storage boxes near picnic tables, and clean bathrooms. For RV campers, Half Moon Bay RV Park provides pull-through sites with helpful staff for check-in and setup. Most campgrounds in this region feature fire rings, picnic tables, and access to water. The proximity to both forest and coastal areas means you'll have diverse recreational opportunities regardless of which specific campground you choose.
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