Highest-rated campgrounds in the Santa Cruz area by visitors

Camping is a favorite leisure activity among Americans of all stripes. According to KOA's 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality report, the number of camping households in the United States has increased by 67% over the last decade. As of this year, 1 in 4 leisure trips involves camping.

When planning a camping trip, many factors must be considered, including the amenities. Car camping usually means driving up to your campsite, which allows campers to haul a few more amenities to the campgrounds. These sites may offer electrical outlets, public restrooms (including showers), and a grill or fire pit for cooking. RV camping and cabin rentals may also have these amenities within their units.

On the other side, backcountry or primitive camping usually involves hiking into a campsite with few to no amenities. For example, at primitive sites, campers may need equipment light enough to carry to their campgrounds. They may also need to hang toiletries to keep wildlife away and treat their drinking water.

The National Park Service manages campgrounds inside 130 park units across the United States. Each state also manages parks with campgrounds, and there are a myriad of privately-owned campgrounds, too. According to the Camping & Outdoor Hospitality report, more than half of people tend to camp within 150 miles of their home, but there are endless options for where and how to camp.

People typically must reserve a campsite ahead of time—up to a year in advance for some of the most popular sites. To help you get a head start on planning, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated campgrounds in the Santa Cruz area using data from Yelp as of Aug. 19, 2025. Rankings factor in the average rating and number of reviews. Keep reading to see if your favorite spot made the list.

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McAlpine Lake & Park

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#30. McAlpine Lake & Park

- Rating: 2.5/5 (64 reviews)
- Address: 900 Anzar Road San Juan Bautista, California
- Categories: Fishing, RV Parks, Campgrounds
- Read more on Yelp

Garlic Farm RV Park

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#29. Garlic Farm RV Park

- Rating: 2.5/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 5878 Garlic Farms Drive Gilroy, California
- Categories: Campgrounds, RV Parks
- Read more on Yelp

Thousand Trails Morgan Hill

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#28. Thousand Trails Morgan Hill

- Rating: 2.5/5 (148 reviews)
- Address: 12895 Uvas Road Morgan Hill, California
- Categories: RV Parks, Campgrounds, Resorts
- Read more on Yelp

Santa Cruz Ranch Campground

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#27. Santa Cruz Ranch Campground

- Rating: 2.8/5 (41 reviews)
- Address: 917 Disc Drive Scotts Valley, California
- Categories: RV Parks, Campgrounds
- Read more on Yelp

Santa Cruz Harbor Rv Park

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#26. Santa Cruz Harbor Rv Park

- Rating: 2.8/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 135 5th Ave. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Campgrounds
- Read more on Yelp

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Marina Dunes RV Park

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#25. Marina Dunes RV Park

- Rating: 3.3/5 (218 reviews)
- Address: 3330 Dunes Drive Marina, California
- Categories: RV Parks, Campgrounds
- Read more on Yelp

Gilroy Garlic USA RV Park

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#24. Gilroy Garlic USA RV Park

- Rating: 3.3/5 (63 reviews)
- Address: 650 Holloway Road Gilroy, California
- Categories: Campgrounds, RV Parks
- Read more on Yelp

Betabel RV Park

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#23. Betabel RV Park

- Rating: 3.5/5 (59 reviews)
- Address: 9664 Betabel Road San Juan Bautista, California
- Categories: Campgrounds, Venues & Event Spaces, RV Rental
- Read more on Yelp

Smithwoods R V Park

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#22. Smithwoods R V Park

- Rating: 3.5/5 (135 reviews)
- Address: 4770 Hwy 9 Felton, California
- Categories: Campgrounds, RV Parks
- Read more on Yelp

Santa Cruz / Monterey Bay KOA

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#21. Santa Cruz / Monterey Bay KOA

- Rating: 3.6/5 (324 reviews)
- Address: 1186 San Andreas Road Watsonville, California
- Categories: Campgrounds, RV Parks
- Read more on Yelp

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Saddle Mountain

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#20. Saddle Mountain

- Rating: 3.6/5 (182 reviews)
- Address: 27625 Schulte Road Carmel, California
- Categories: Campgrounds, RV Rental, Hiking
- Read more on Yelp

Manresa Uplands Campground

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#19. Manresa Uplands Campground

- Rating: 3.7/5 (43 reviews)
- Address: 205 Manresa Uplands Road Watsonville, California
- Categories: Campgrounds
- Read more on Yelp

Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park

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#18. Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park

- Rating: 3.7/5 (35 reviews)
- Address: 4514 Roop Road Gilroy, California
- Categories: Hiking, Campgrounds, Parks
- Read more on Yelp

Laguna Seca Recreation Area

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#17. Laguna Seca Recreation Area

- Rating: 3.8/5 (32 reviews)
- Address: 1025 Monterey-Salinas Hwy 68 Salinas, California
- Categories: Campgrounds
- Read more on Yelp

Half Moon Bay RV Park

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#16. Half Moon Bay RV Park

- Rating: 3.8/5 (70 reviews)
- Address: 460 Wavecrest Road Half Moon Bay, California
- Categories: RV Parks, Campgrounds
- Read more on Yelp

Lupin Lodge

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#15. Lupin Lodge

- Rating: 3.8/5 (89 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 20600 Aldercroft Heights Road Los Gatos, California
- Categories: Campgrounds, Hotels, Nudist
- Read more on Yelp

New Brighton Campground

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#14. New Brighton Campground

- Rating: 3.8/5 (23 reviews)
- Address: 1 Potbelly Beach Road Aptos, California
- Categories: Campgrounds
- Read more on Yelp

New Brighton State Beach

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#13. New Brighton State Beach

- Rating: 3.8/5 (235 reviews)
- Address: 1500 Park Ave. Capitola, California
- Categories: Parks, Beaches, Campgrounds
- Read more on Yelp

Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort

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#12. Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort

- Rating: 3.9/5 (242 reviews)
- Address: 4980 Highway 9 Felton, California
- Categories: Campgrounds, RV Parks
- Read more on Yelp

Mount Hermon Christian Camps & Conference Center

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#11. Mount Hermon Christian Camps & Conference Center

- Rating: 4.0/5 (55 reviews)
- Address: 37 Conference Drive Mount Hermon, California
- Categories: Campgrounds
- Read more on Yelp

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Little Basin Cabins & Campground

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#10. Little Basin Cabins & Campground

- Rating: 4.0/5 (68 reviews)
- Address: 21700 Little Basin Road Boulder Creek, California
- Categories: Campgrounds, RV Parks
- Read more on Yelp

Moss Landing KOA Express

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#9. Moss Landing KOA Express

- Rating: 4.0/5 (107 reviews)
- Address: 7905 Sandholdt Road Moss Landing, California
- Categories: Campgrounds, RV Parks
- Read more on Yelp

Sanborn County Park

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#8. Sanborn County Park

- Rating: 4.2/5 (169 reviews)
- Address: 16055 Sanborn Road Saratoga, California
- Categories: Parks, Hiking, Campgrounds
- Read more on Yelp

Redwood Christian Park

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#7. Redwood Christian Park

- Rating: 4.2/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 15000 Two Bar Road Boulder Creek, California
- Categories: Campgrounds, Churches
- Read more on Yelp

Mission Peak Regional Preserve

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#6. Mission Peak Regional Preserve

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1824 reviews)
- Address: 43600 Mission Blvd. Fremont, California
- Categories: Parks, Hiking, Campgrounds
- Read more on Yelp

Redwood Resort

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#5. Redwood Resort

- Rating: 4.4/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 150 Grove St. Boulder Creek, California
- Categories: Campgrounds, RV Parks
- Read more on Yelp

Big Basin Redwoods State Park

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#4. Big Basin Redwoods State Park

- Rating: 4.4/5 (666 reviews)
- Address: 21600 Big Basin Way Boulder Creek, California
- Categories: Parks, Campgrounds, Hiking
- Read more on Yelp

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

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#3. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

- Rating: 4.5/5 (624 reviews)
- Address: 101 Big Trees Park Rd. Felton, California
- Categories: Parks, Hiking, Campgrounds
- Read more on Yelp

Mount Madonna County Park

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#2. Mount Madonna County Park

- Rating: 4.6/5 (145 reviews)
- Address: 7850 Pole Line Road Watsonville, California
- Categories: Parks, Hiking, Campgrounds
- Read more on Yelp

Uvas Canyon County Park

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#1. Uvas Canyon County Park

- Rating: 4.6/5 (278 reviews)
- Address: 8515 Croy Road Morgan Hill, California
- Categories: Parks, Campgrounds, Hiking
- Read more on Yelp

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Madison Troyer, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 199 metros.

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