T
Tamatha B.
Traveler
TravelerSanta Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday
This is a great camp ground. Plenty of activities. Showers are clean, laundry room takes tap pay.
Cabin Camping near Sunol, CA
3 campgrounds with availability next weekend
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Cabins near Sunol range from rustic to fully furnished accommodations with varying amenities. Del Valle Campground offers cabin camping with nearby showers and toilets, while Mount Madonna County Park provides tent cabins throughout several campground areas. Many locations include wood-burning stoves for heating, picnic tables, and fire rings. The Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday features cabins with outdoor patios, heavy-duty tables and chairs, fire pits and Weber grills. Some cabins include sleeping platforms, built-in tables, and basic furniture. "The cabins were nice, and each cabin has 2 double beds, a table, and a wood stove. It can get cold at night in the redwoods so the wood stove was great at night."
Rustic cabins typically include minimal furnishings while deluxe options may feature electricity and more comfortable accommodations. Brannan Island State Recreation Area offers "one cabin with electricity. It has a bunk bed and a queen. Bring air mattresses cause they are just wooden frames." Pet policies vary by location, with most allowing two leashed pets per site. Reservations are essential, particularly for popular locations like Big Basin Redwoods, where one camper noted "We stayed in a cabin in the huckleberry campground. The cabins were nice, and each cabin has 2 double beds, a table, and a wood stove." Booking windows typically open six months in advance for peak summer months.
Most cabins provide basic furnishings but require visitors to bring their own bedding, pillows, and cooking equipment. Some locations offer "add-on packages with the cabins, which include things like sheets and pillows for the beds, propane lanterns, and cooking items." Firewood is available for purchase at many locations, though campers report it can sometimes be wet, making fires difficult to maintain. On-site stores at larger facilities like KOAs stock essential items, while smaller campgrounds may require bringing all supplies. Many cabins feature outdoor cooking facilities with fire pits or grills rather than indoor kitchens. "You can get 'add-on' packages with the cabins, which include things like sheets and pillows for the beds, propane lanterns, and cooking items."
Best Cabin Campgrounds near Sunol (28)
1. Del Valle Campground — East Bay Regional Park District
"It’s a cozy place with boat rentals! Plenty of shade and bathrooms available. Only reason got 4 star is the constant blue-green algae, making the water unavailable for swimming."
"Our campsite (#139) could have used some shade, but we had plenty of space and the views were awesome. Almost every site was occupied, but luckily everyone respected the quiet hours."
Check Availabilityfrom $15 - $200 / night
2. pieffer big sur campground
3. Lower Blooms Creek — Big Basin Redwoods State Park — CAMPGROUND CLOSED
"We got one of the tent cabins, which are just adorable and so cozy. The sites are nice and distanced from each other, bathrooms were in great shape and it was pet friendly."
"We stayed in a tent cabin at the Huckleberry campground which was nicer than we thought it would be. It had just the right amount of space for my wife and I, our two daughters and all our gear."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $35 / night
4. Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area
"The place has showers and bathrooms clean enough for being it the middle of towns. Each space has a fire ring and a table."
"There are toilets and showers on the campground and it only cost 10$! the campsite is perfect for traveling through and getting a night's sleep."
5. Mount Madonna County Park
"There's something for everyone here, RVers, tenters, and those who want to rent tent cabins. There are plenty of trails to hike, as well as equestrian trails. No bikes on trails though."
"Location & Safety: Conveniently located between San Jose and Monterey - easy access off Highway 152. Felt completely safe throughout the stay."
6. Costanoa Coastal Lodge & Campground
"The sites in the Eucalyptus loop where we were had back-in sites, with a paved driveway, and are level. The sites have a picnic table, a fire ring, and wood-fenced platforms."
"Once we figured it out, the late check in paperwork was detailed on how to find our space."
Check Availabilityfrom $100 - $200 / night
7. Cotillion Gardens RV Park
"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."
"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."
Check Availabilityfrom $60 - $100 / night
8. Brannan Island State Recreation Area
"They have one cabin with electricity. It has a bunk bed And a queen. Bring air mattresses cause they are just wooden frames. Very close to the Sacramento River for a nice cruise."
"Brennan Island State Park is an absolute gem nestled in the heart of the California Delta. From the moment you arrive, you're greeted by friendly staff who make you feel right at home."
9. Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday
"General: So many options, including full hookup back-in or pull-thru sites, sites with just w/e, pet sites, nine different types of cabins, and tent sites."
"The small cabins are nice and I quite like them. This is a good place for hiking, but unfortunately there is not a lot more to do. You can go to Monterey and do things there though."
10. Thousand Trails Morgan Hill
"Great culture here - friendly, lots of things to do (pool, basketball, volleyball, horse shoes, playground, billiards, karaoke, tennis)."
"Dog park, nice showers, nice bathrooms, trails to walk your dog, nice people, quiet. I loved it here."
Drive Time
- 20 min from San Jose, CA
- 45 min from Vallejo, CA
- 46 min from Santa Cruz, CA
- 49 min from Stockton, CA
Recent Cabin Photos near Sunol, CA
8 Photos of 28 Sunol Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Cabin Reviews near Sunol, CA
235 Reviews of 28 Sunol Campgrounds
- TTamatha B.Traveler
Treasure Island MH and RV Park
Henry in the office is amazing. Bathrooms are clean. laundry room very large and has many washers and dryers. Subway close walk, MUNI is at the park entrance. A gas station and Grocery store are both across the street.
Laura K.
ScoutCalifornia Delta's Snug Harbor
This campground needs a lot of work including docks, boat births and sites need pads and less weeds, stickers, burs.
- TTwindaddy
GuideDel 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 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.
David W.GuideBeach 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.
Tim P.TravelerThousand 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.
- TTom H.Guide
Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday
Great place for kids, lots to do.
Koa’s in this area are typically expensive and this is no exception. But, for families it may be worth it. Playground, jumping, bouncing area, dog yard. Lots to do. It has good shower facilities, bathrooms are clean. For retirees and older folks, it may not be worth it. Not much room between sites and lots of kids for the nervous folks. My site (35) was electric and water only with a dry creek behind us. My only beef (and it was not only with the campground, but with irresponsible dog owners) was the piles of poop I had to pick up before I could safely walk around. Come on people! If you own a dog, please take care of them and pick up after them. Otherwise, the location was convenient, the place was clean (exception noted) and I will likely return.
Rosa M.ScoutCarnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area
Stayed 2 nigths, it was perfect
We stayed 2 nigths, 10$ per night. The staff was very kind. The place has showers and bathrooms clean enough for being it the middle of towns. Each space has a fire ring and a table. There's a little bit of noise in the morning and afternoon because of the cars that avoid the highway and pass nearby. It's first come first served. Overall, it's a very safe and good place to camp
Lee D.
LegendSanta Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday
Many options for families
General: So many options, including full hookup back-in or pull-thru sites, sites with just w/e, pet sites, nine different types of cabins, and tent sites. Some sites are paved and some are gravel.
Bath/Shower: The one closest to our site had a women's and men's restroom, and the showers are individual units but shared for both genders. I expected a more upscale shower (it was ok but a little tight, skimpy on hooks and no bench).
Activities/Amenities: So many amenities including a pool and hot tub, playground, jump pad, climbing “palms”, rec center with bike rentals and concessions, and a train (I’ve probably missed a few). Laundry is available on site (operated via an app and your phone).
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. This was a typical KOA in many ways, but one thing that was different was that we had to wear wristbands, and there was a gate to enter and leave. While it should have made us feel safe, I wondered why there were extra security features.
Guide to Sunol
Cabin camping near Sunol, California offers overnight experiences surrounded by oak woodland, coastal redwood, and riparian environments. The region sits at elevations between 400-2,200 feet, creating significant temperature variations between summer days and nights. Winter temperatures typically range from 40-60°F while summer can reach 85-95°F during the day and cool to 50-60°F at night.
What to do
Hiking trails access: Del Valle Campground provides direct trail connections to wilderness areas. "Close to home! Love the hiking trails. Mountain biking for those who can climb," notes Jamie H., highlighting the terrain diversity available from camp.
Lake swimming: Del Valle Campground sits near a swimming lake with designated beach areas. "The water is perfect temperature. Great hikes, paddle boarding, kayaking, swimming and beginner windsurfing. The only cons are that you have to drive to go swim and the campground isn't really walking distance to swimming," writes Rosina A.
Wildlife watching: Mount Madonna County Park features resident fallow deer. "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 April N., adding historical context to the wildlife viewing.
What campers like
Secluded redwood experience: Big Basin Redwoods State Park offers dense forest cabins. "Redwoods galore and look out for the slugs please don't step on them. If you need a place to chill this is the spot," recommends Francisco N., highlighting the immersive forest setting.
Family-friendly amenities: Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday provides extensive children's 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," explains Daniel D., outlining why the site works well for families.
River access: Brannan Island State Recreation Area connects visitors directly to delta waters. "It has great facility for disabled and has great area to run around and you can fish the bay area from the area or go fishing in boat," notes George A., pointing out the site's accessibility features.
What you should know
Weather conditions: Mount Madonna experiences significant temperature changes. "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!" warns April N.
Rental options: Cotillion Gardens RV Park provides tent sites with deck platforms. "The spot was small, but had a picnic table, fire pit, and elevated wooden deck. I'm not sure if the deck is for setting up your ten on or lounging on, but we opted to set up our tent on the ground," describes Jessica R.
Seasonal considerations: Park availability varies throughout the year. "We camped here a few years ago. What can we say- we enjoyed our stay. The sites were spaced nicely and clean. We were there the first of January (off season) so some amenities were not offered but we had an enjoyable time," reports Michael P. about Santa Cruz KOA.
Tips for camping with families
Bug protection needed: The dense forest creates conditions for insects. "For those who welt up with mosquito bites, 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 if you are prone to welt-y bug bites," advises Tai W. about Big Basin.
Off-site activities: The area connects to regional attractions. "A short drive to Santa Cruz and Monterey. They have a heated pool, laundry facilities and on site store. There are however some large raccoons so use caution with your trash," warns Michael P. about regional wildlife.
Wildlife encounters: Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area provides basic cabin camping with wildlife viewing opportunities. "We stayed 1 night and it was perfect. The staff was very nice and the place was clean and quiet. There are toilets and showers on the campground and it only cost $10," reports NOra M. about this budget-friendly option.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: Mount Madonna requires careful site consideration. "Site 211 was listed as 30' trailer but that was definitely not the case as it was a weird triangle parking area. We made it work and enjoyed the park," shares Weston W., warning about potential site limitations.
Hookup availability: Santa Cruz North-Costanoa KOA provides varied electrical services. "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. But, if you expect that, it's a great place to stay," advises Andrea A., setting realistic expectations.
Cell reception limitations: Many campgrounds have limited connectivity. "Spaces at the bottom of the first loop with awesome sunset views are my favorite. Very grassy and 'outdoorsy' for a KOA," suggests Daniel D., noting site preferences for optimal views and atmosphere.
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Sunol, CA?
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Sunol, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Sunol, CA is Del Valle Campground — East Bay Regional Park District with a 4.1-star rating from 24 reviews.
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cabin camping near
Sunol, CA?
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Sunol, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 28 cabin camping locations near Sunol, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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