Waterside camping near Saratoga

Experience the Santa Cruz Mountains and Pacific Ocean while camping near Saratoga.

95% (2691 reviews)

United States
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California
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Saratoga

95% (2691 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Saratoga

2 top waterside campgrounds near Saratoga

75%

(24)

Redwood Ranch with Sweeping View

8 sites · Lodging, Tents6 acres · Gilroy, CA

Our 6+ acre ranch Misthaven sits in the redwood forest at Gilroy, just 20min from Gilroy downtown and 45min from San Jose. This ranch has huge space, lots of ranch amenities and many ranch related activities. If you are planning a short trip that you do not have to drive several hours to the busy lake Tahoe, Misthaven would be an ideal destination for family retreat, team building, or even a birthday party. The ranch includes a 2,000 sq ft large barn with spacious indoor space, a 400 sq ft woodworking and crafts workshop, a 1,000 sq ft ranch center with microwave, oven and refrigerator, an amazing zipline, a shooting range for archery and BB gun under our staff guidance and supervision, a fenced petting zoo with goats, chicken, bunny and guinea pig, hammocks in the redwood forest and plenty of beautiful redwood trees. With the ranch booking, you will have the access to: - BBQ and fire pit usage (charcoal/propane with extra charge of $20) - Fire-Roasted Golden Marshmallow Challenge (bring your own marshmallow or purchase with us, we provide skewers) - Trampoline - Hammock - Tree climbing - Petting zoo ($5/cup snack food for pets and animals) - Edible garden - 2,000 sq ft large barn indoor space - 400 sq ft woodworking and crafts indoor space (woodworking activities need to be booked separately) - Water gun - 18ft inflatable Water slide - Outdoor movie projector/screen - Tables and folding chairs There are plenty of ranch activities that you can book with us WITH A FEE separately during your stay. All will be supervised and guided by our professional instructors: - archery - Knife Throwing - Learn survival techniques for lighting your campfire - Spear making - Water filtration in an outdoor environment - Shelter building - Tomahawks - Outdoor BB gun arcade - Camp Zipline and fun forest features. - Woodworking such as Candy dispenser making, Bird feeder making, etc - Pizza making and Ice cream making, butter churning - and many others 20min to the Mt. Madonna County park. 20min to the Gilroy Garden theme park. 50min to Santa Cruz beach and the beautiful Capitola beach. 1hr to Monterey/Carmel.

99%

(111)

Mission Ranch "Mi Querida"

7 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · CA

Annular Eclipse Saturday, October 14, 2023 Nearby SF Bay Area viewing 9:20am PDT (16:20 UDT) The New Moon—on October 14—will coincide with the Great American Annular Eclipse, providing a fantastic opportunity to observe the “Ring of Fire” – an incredible thin ring of sunlight that is visible around the moon during this phenomenon. The Nearby Second Best viewing opportunity is a quick and easy 60 minute drive from the SF Bay Area. At Mi Querida we will be viewing a 80% Annular Eclipse on Saturday morning 9:20am, while live streaming the full path of the eclipse from Mexico through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada and Oregon. Your booking includes a pair of safe solar viewing “eclipse glasses” for your safety. NEWS FLASH: Charge your EV on-site while watching the eclipse! Come to your "Nearby Getaway" at Mi Querida - an easy drive from the SF Bay Area - for great Annular Eclipse views. Book today. Space is limited. Contact Host for Special Daytime Eclipse Viewing rate. Learn more about this land: This is a large flat site with rolling hills, lovely rural views, rolling oak studded pastureland, open views, lovely sunsets and beautiful mornings. Very quiet, private, peaceful and serene. Afternoon breezes while red tailed hawks ride the thermals, and woodpeckers work on their treasure hoarde. Wildlife abounds. Easy access from Highway 101, yet private and secluded. Historic San Juan Bautista Mission and town nearby. Monterey/Carmel 30 minutes. Santa Cruz/Beaches 30 minutes. Hollister, Salinas, or Gilroy 20 minutes. Site will accommodate RV, Sprintervan, or trailer 50/30/20 amp service. Tents welcome too! Water. Ranch "outhouse" with flushable RV style toilet, running hot & cold water, shower and electricity. Bunkhouse accommodations available. Contact Host for details. Tent and Car Top Tent sites also available. Contact Host for details. Beautiful peaceful historic San Juan Bautista. Quaint historic mission town nearby with restaurants. Hiking trails nearby Horseback riding woods & beach. Equine Facilities available. 20 min to beach or redwoods. Beautiful rural area. Weddings, anniversaries, celebrations of life; event camp; event site. Family groups and events always welcome! Call for more information. NOTE: This property is located in a very private country area. It is approximately 10 minutes from the small historic town of San Juan Bautista. We meet our first time guests at the Park & Ride as a welcome courtesy so you can easily follow us in and around the potholes on our rural roads! Let us know if we can assist you with any special interests or attractions in the Monterey Bay and Central Coast Area. As your hosts, our goal is that you will rest easy, enjoy the relaxation, peace and harmony for your "getaway."

Waterside camping near Saratoga guide

Overview

Sitting at the edge of the Santa Cruz Mountain Range, Saratoga is a great starting point for exploring alpine trails and local culture. Castle Rock State Park offers an extensive trail system for hiking and cycling through the mountains, while Monte Bello Open Space Preserve provides a haven for local grassland and mountain wildlife. Tent campsites in both parks make it easy to step right into nature, while campsites closer to Saratoga put urban fun at the doorstep.

Where to go

Castle Rock State Park

With one of the highest elevation points in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Castle Rock Park is an exciting destination for rock-climbers, hikers, cyclists, and horseback riders. The trail system covers mountain and forest landscapes, allowing campers to admire the area’s redwood and black oak forests. Some backcountry tent camping sites are available within the park, and early reservations are encouraged to score a spot. Note that there’s no cell service inside Castle Rock Park.

Monte Bello Open Space Preserve

With over 3,000 acres of protected open space, Monte Bello is the perfect place to explore the region’s mountain and grassland scenery. Designated campsites inside the preserve allow campers to catch a glimpse of local species like mule deer, wild turkeys, and California scrub-jays. Pick up a permit to camp at Monte Bello, or make a day trip to enjoy the park’s hiking, biking, and equestrian trails.

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

Big Sur is a stretch of rugged mountains and expansive Pacific Ocean views that runs from Carmel to San Simeon. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park offers scenic hiking trails, birdwatching opportunities, and an array of camping opportunities. Find tent campsites along Big Sur River, as well as a larger campground for tents and RVs. A central lodge with accommodations, a grocery store, and cafe makes it easy to stock up on essentials without leaving the park. In addition to self-guided adventures through Big Sur, campers can find nature walks and other activities available for a day-use fee.

When to go

The area surrounding Saratoga is a popular camping destination year-round, since the climate makes it comfortable to camp in tents and RVs through winter. Some campers prefer late spring and early fall, when competition for campsites typically declines. Summer highs often reach 75°F in August, while lows fall to 45°F in December.