Top Camping Spots Near Rio del Mar, CA: Your Ultimate Guide to Nature Escapes
Nestled along the stunning Monterey Bay coastline, Rio del Mar, CA, offers an array of camping options that cater to outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds. For those traveling in recreational vehicles, nearby Manresa State Beach Campground provides scenic ocean views, paved sites, and easy access to sandy shores, making it ideal for family-friendly getaways. Tent campers can immerse themselves in nature at Big Basin Redwoods State Park, where towering ancient redwoods create a serene backdrop, along with ample hiking trails and diverse wildlife to enhance the experience. Adventurous campers seeking solitude may opt for dispersed camping in the adjacent Santa Cruz Mountains, where secluded spots allow for a true back-to-nature experience amidst lush forests and vibrant ecosystems. The rugged coastline, coupled with the rolling hills of the region, ensures breathtaking vistas and myriad opportunities for outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, and beachcombing. Whether you prefer the comforts of an RV, the simplicity of tents, or the ruggedness of dispersed camping, Rio del Mar serves as a perfect gateway to explore California's diverse landscapes.
Seacliff Campground is part of Seacliff State Beach in California (just 16 min east of Santa Cruz, CA) with an elevation of 100 feet. There are a total of 59 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 35 and 45 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 25 sites have full hookups (electric, water and sewer). Fees range from $55.00 to $65.00. Some amenities include shower, accessible, swimming, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include fishing, floating sports.
Manresa Beach Campground is part of Manresa State Beach in California (just 16 min west of Watsonville, CA) with an elevation of 0 feet. There are a total of 60 campsites including 57 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of April to the end of October. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. Prices start at $35.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, swimming, restroom, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include fishing, floating sports.
New Brighton Campground is part of New Brighton State Beach in California (just 12 min east of Santa Cruz, CA) with an elevation of 123 feet. There are a total of 106 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 26 and 36 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. 10 sites have electric and water hookups. Fees range from $35.00 to $50.00. Some amenities include shower, accessible, swimming, restroom, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Sunset Campground is part of Sunset State Beach in California (just 17 min southwest of Watsonville, CA) with an elevation of 132 feet. There are a total of 84 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 24 and 31 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $35.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, swimming, restroom, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Cowell Campground is part of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in California (just 9 min north of Santa Cruz, CA) with an elevation of 661 feet. There are a total of 104 campsites including 11 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of April to the end of October. 92 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 35 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $7.00 to $35.00. Some amenities include shower, drinking water, accessible, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include biking, hiking trails.
Sempervirens Campground is part of Big Basin Redwoods State Park in California (58 min southwest of Cupertino, CA) with an elevation of 998 feet. There are a total of 26 campsites including 20 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 6 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 18 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $35.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, drinking water, accessible, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include hiking trails.
Huckleberry Campground is part of Big Basin Redwoods State Park in California (1 hr southwest of Cupertino, CA) with an elevation of 1,054 feet. There are a total of 29 campsites including 14 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 15 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 20 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $35.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, drinking water, accessible, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include hiking trails.
Blooms Creek Campground is part of Big Basin Redwoods State Park in California (59 min southwest of Cupertino, CA) with an elevation of 977 feet. There are a total of 48 campsites including 40 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $35.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, drinking water, accessible, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include hiking trails.
Wastahi Campground is part of Big Basin Redwoods State Park in California (1 hr 1 min southwest of Cupertino, CA) with an elevation of 1,080 feet. There are a total of 26 campsites which are all tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $35.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, drinking water, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include hiking trails.
Coe Ranch Campground is part of Henry W Coe State Park in California (36 min northeast of Morgan Hill, CA) with an elevation of 2,623 feet. There are a total of 15 campsites including 5 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 10 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 22 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $20.00 per night. Some amenities include restroom. Activities include hiking trails.
Valley View Campground is part of Fremont Peak State Park in California (51 min northeast of Salinas, CA) with an elevation of 2,722 feet. There are a total of 13 campsites including 5 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 8 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 25 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $25.00 per night. Some amenities include restroom. Activities include hiking trails.
Oak Point Campground is part of Fremont Peak State Park in California (50 min northeast of Salinas, CA) with an elevation of 2,722 feet. There are a total of 11 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 25 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $25.00 per night. Some amenities include restroom. Activities include hiking trails.
Portola Redwoods Campground is part of Portola Redwoods State Park in California (43 min southwest of Palo Alto, CA) with an elevation of 425 feet. There are a total of 49 campsites including 13 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of April to the end of October. 36 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 24 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $35.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, drinking water, accessible, restroom, amphitheater, pay telephone, flush toilets. Activities include hiking trails.
Ben Ries Campground is part of Butano State Park in California (1 hr 3 min southwest of Palo Alto, CA) with an elevation of 236 feet. There are a total of 35 campsites including 17 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 18 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 24 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. Prices start at $35.00 per night. Some amenities include drinking water, restroom. Activities include hiking trails.
San Luis Creek Campground is part of San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area in California (just 24 min west of Los Banos, CA) with an elevation of 546 feet. There are a total of 49 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 30 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. All sites have electric and water hookups. Prices start at $40.00 per night. Some amenities include dump station, boat ramp, restroom. Activities include boating, fishing, floating sports.
Andrew Molera Campground is part of Andrew Molera State Park in California (44 min south of Seaside, CA) with an elevation of 89 feet. There are a total of 22 campsites which are all tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to the end of December. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $30.00 per night. Some amenities include drinking water, trash dumpster. Activities include fishing, hiking trails.
Francis Beach Campground is part of Half Moon Bay State Beach in California (just 24 min southwest of San Mateo, CA) with an elevation of 33 feet. There are a total of 49 campsites including 4 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 45 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 40 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 37 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $35.00 to $65.00. Some amenities include shower, accessible, swimming, restroom, amphitheater, ramada, flush toilets. Activities include biking, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
White Oaks Campground is located in the Monterey Ranger District, Los Padres National Forest (1 hr 8 min southeast of Seaside, CA) with an elevation of 4,013 feet. There are a total of 8 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs between 20 and 30 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Prices start at $30.00 per night. Activities include biking, hiking trails.
China Camp is located in the Monterey Ranger District, Los Padres National Forest (1 hr 20 min southeast of Seaside, CA) with an elevation of 4,311 feet. There are a total of 10 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 20 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Prices start at $30.00 per night. Activities include biking, hiking trails.
Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground is part of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park in California (56 min south of Seaside, CA) with an elevation of 225 feet. There are a total of 157 campsites including 1 tent-only site. The campground is open all year. 156 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 32 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. Fees range from $35.00 to $50.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, general store, accessible, laundry facility, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include fishing, floating sports.
Carnegie Campground is part of Carnegie SVRA in California (just 16 min southwest of Tracy, CA) with an elevation of 658 feet. There are a total of 23 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 40 feet. All sites are currently first-come first-served. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. Prices start at $10.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include ohv trails nearby, ohv allowed from campsite.
Pinnacles Campground is part of Pinnacles National Monument in California (46 min southeast of Hollister, CA) with an elevation of 2,008 feet. There are a total of 134 campsites including 10 cabins. The campground is open all year. 109 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 16 and 90 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 34 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $40.00 to $129.00. Some amenities include shower, drinking water, dump station, general store, swimming, restroom, amphitheater, pay telephone, gift shop, flush toilets. Activities include hiking trails, rock climbing.
Los Banos Creek Campground is part of San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area in California (just 24 min southwest of Los Banos, CA) with an elevation of 351 feet. There are a total of 14 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 30 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. Prices start at $25.00 per night. Some amenities include swimming. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Arroyo Seco Campground is located in the Monterey Ranger District, Los Padres National Forest (59 min south of Salinas, CA) with an elevation of 956 feet. There are a total of 39 campsites including 17 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 22 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 50 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $35.00 to $150.00. Some amenities include shower. Activities include biking, fishing, hiking trails.
Escondido Campground is located in the Monterey Ranger District, Los Padres National Forest (2 hrs 14 min southeast of Seaside, CA) with an elevation of 2,186 feet. There are a total of 9 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs between 25 and 50 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. Prices start at $38.00 per night. Some amenities include restroom. Activities include biking, horseback riding, hiking trails.
Live Oak Campground is part of Mount Diablo State Park in California (just 27 min northeast of Danville, CA) with an elevation of 2,892 feet. There are a total of 18 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 20 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $30.00 per night. Some amenities include accessible, restroom, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include hiking trails.
Memorial Campground is located in the Monterey Ranger District, Los Padres National Forest (2 hrs 1 min southeast of Seaside, CA) with an elevation of 2,102 feet. There are a total of 8 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs between 20 and 80 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Prices start at $30.00 per night. Activities include biking, hiking trails.
Juniper Campground is part of Mount Diablo State Park in California (38 min northeast of Danville, CA) with an elevation of 2,892 feet. There are a total of 30 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 20 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 2 sites have water hookups. Prices start at $30.00 per night. Some amenities include accessible, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include hiking trails.
Caswell Campground is part of Caswell Memorial State Park in California (just 14 min southeast of Manteca, CA) with an elevation of 53 feet. There are a total of 55 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 24 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $30.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, swimming, restroom, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include fishing, floating sports.
Limekiln Campground is part of Limekiln State Park in California (3 hrs 26 min southeast of Seaside, CA) with an elevation of 105 feet. There are a total of 23 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 18 and 24 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. Prices start at $35.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, accessible, swimming, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
map icon in the lower right corner.
*Earn our 
Show your commitment in keeping our forests healthy and protecting our public lands by earning the Leave No Trace badge.