Camping in Big Basin Redwoods State Park

97% (361 reviews)

Soak up the shade of old growth redwood trees & take some selfies with banana slugs!  

Top camping in Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Public campgrounds here are often sold out.
97% (361 reviews)

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Big Basin Redwoods State Park adventure.

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Top-rated campgrounds near Big Basin Redwoods State Park

97%
(235)

FEEL GOOD CAMP

17 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents5 acres · Watsonville, CA
This is camping made easy. No need to bring your cooking supplies, stoves, barbeque and dinnerwares ! We have them all. If you like to be social and have bonfire and have a nice chat with fellow campers , this is the place for you. However, if you plan to have a group larger than 10 people please consider The Secret Gardens in Watsonville, they have private sites for group camping. The campground is located in a serene oak grove area of the property. Its a peaceful getaway with an abundance of bird varieties and occasional wild turkeys passing through. Take a stroll around our 5-acre property and catch a breathtaking sunset from the hillside. We're only 11 minutes away from Mount Madonna State Park and just 10 minutes from a local healthy grocery store and yoga studio. The beautiful Pajaro Dunes coastal area is just a 15-minute drive away, and the Santa Cruz Fairground is only two minutes away. Our location is surrounded by family friendly farms such as Gizdich ranch and nurseries, hence why it's considered the salad bowl of the United States There are plenty of activities to enjoy nearby, including horseback riding at Mount Madonna Stable, Mount Madonna Retreat Center, hiking at Mount Madonna State Park, wine tastings at various wineries with stunning views, kayaking at Elkhorn Slough or any beaches, yoga at Watsonville Yoga or onsite, swimming, scuba diving in Monterey, visiting the Hanoman temple at Mount Madonna retreat center, and attending any events at the Santa Cruz Fairground. The property has 3 stalls for hot showers, 1 hand washing sink, 3 flushable toilettes, 1 communal outdoor kitchen with supplies of cookwares, dishes, mugs, glasses, utensils, pots and pans, coffee mugs, and 1 sink with hot water, 3 fire pits (2 of them is fire burning and 1 of them is propane), camping stoves, 1 gas barbeque and there is an electricity in the communal kitchen area. Propane for fireplace is included and Firewoods are available for sale. Board games, Books, Magazines, Lawn games are available as well as drawing papers and coloring pencils/markers/oil paint for our little artists. Your parking spot is within a very short walking distance and there is a wagon for you to use to haul your belongings to your camp site.
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$69
 / night
79%
(72)

Amaya Creek Redwood Campground

19 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents40 acres · Los Gatos, CA
Welcome to the Amaya Creek Redwood Campground! We are deep in the Santa Cruz mountains and it’s rustic so be prepared! The road is all paved but it can be narrow, bumpy and steep in some areas. Be sure to follow our directions to bypass the road closure! There is no cell phone service in some areas. PLEASE NOTE, we do not have a trash service for the campground, we require all campers to PACK OUT THEIR TRASH with them! We have 40 acres of redwood forest and two creeks running through including the Amaya Creek which serves the boundary of our property at the end of Amayak Creek Trail. There’s also a small waterfall off the Amaya Creek Trail, but it may dry out during the summer. Enjoy hiking, creeks and small waterfall exploration, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, star gazing, relaxation, meditation and more. Our campground has running water from a natural spring, Men and Women's Restrooms each with 2 toilets and 1 FREE hot water shower, utility shed with sink and hot water, and an outdoor amphitheater. The kitchen and washer/dryer is Staff Only not for campers. . Most campsites allow 4-6 guests maximum with 1 car included in the nightly rate. Each additional vehicle is $15 per day and will be added at checkout once you add the correct number of vehicles you will be bringing. Pets are $10 per day, 1 pet per group ONLY. Please add this as an extra at the time of booking, you will see the option to add extras once you begin the checkout process. Dogs must be on leash at all times! Quiet hours are 10pm-8am. No drugs of any kind including marijuana allowed. No loud music allowed. This is a private property so no visitors are allowed, only paid guests. Our onsite staff will go around and enforce the rules. No hookup for RV and trailer, check each site description to see if RV/trailer is ok for that site.
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$30
 / night
98%
(197)

The Secret Gardens by the Bay

33 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents11 acres · Watsonville, CA
The Secret Gardens is surrounded by lots of natural beauties that will open your heart. The spirit of the ocean, the wave, the mountains, the trees, the creativity, the details, the people and the fragrant of the roses, the beauties of our amazing Dahlias will take you to another world. No pictures can describe how beautiful this place and we hear that every time our guests step out of their cars. One night isnt enough our guests say and you'll know why when you get here. This campground is also a great setting for your celebrations with the way things laid out and set up. A huge indoor outdoor kitchen furnished with everything you can think of (2 big fridges, freezers, grills, stoves), two communal fire pits, three clean bathrooms and shower areas (yes, we have hot showers), a lounge area, lavender falls and a hiking trail. We also have three private camp sites to choose from if you want to have a separate area away from anyone else. They can accommodate at least 6 to 30 people. Please check out those sites if you plan to come in a group. However, 10 PM is quiet time, no exceptions. We don't tolerate inconsiderate guests and will absolutely show the way out if any group is being loud after exactly 10:00 PM. We purposely do not put out a lot of pictures to keep this place mystical and a secret gem. We'd like to WOW you when you get here. We are so occupied so please do not ask us to send more pictures, everyone always impress when they get here. These pictures are not current because we constantly make improvement. What to expect: - Access to fully stocked kitchen (except for the Private RV Group camping sites): Propane powered grill and stove (commercial grade), refrigerators, freezer, pots, pans, utensils, kitchenware, dinnerware, basic spices and olive oil. - Hot showers and flushable toilettes - If you reserve a cabin, it comes with beddings (sheets, blankets, pillows) - A heater in your cabin - Coffee, tea and hot chocolate 24 hours bar What not to expect: - Towels - Free s'mores
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$89.10
 / night
85%
(116)

#2 HMB Highway Overnight Rest Stop

3 sites · RVs, Tents1 acre · Half Moon Bay, CA
WELCOME PLEASE READ! Overnight parking and Rest Stop on South Highway One. ***Not zoned for big groups, meet ups, celebrations or parties*** 1-4 persons One vehicle per booking. Single car, trucks, campers vans or motorcycles are welcome. NO Towable Trailers or RVs. Gravel road. Follow directions given at booking, no signage is allowed on highway. Parking SITE IS MARKED ON TABLE TOP. ONE picnic table, a parking spot and a tent area. Site #1, 2 and 3. Site #1 and 3 are next to open grass area. Site #2 is more private and a favorite of camper vans or Inside sleeping. Private gravel road into parking area and grounds for overnight tent. Port-a potty, water hose and garbage in same area. No Charcoal stoves, Okay to use ‘PROPANE Bar-B-Que’ on gravel only. NO OPEN FIRE PITS allowed. Walk to beach bluffs 10 minutes west. Walk to town 10 minutes north. An abundance of seasonal wildflowers and wild berries year round. Observe rare. Species of birds. Next to FARM horses and chickens. Ocean may be loud. Highway may be heard. No pets please. Noise curfew is sundown.
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$45
 / night
96%
(305)

Elkhorn Ranch

6 sites · RVs, Tents11 acres · CA
Five minutes from the beach, Elkhorn Ranch is home to goats, sheep, wild chickens followed by their baby chicks, and a couple of cows, dogs, and sheep. In addition to the animals there is a greenhouse and an acre of pumpkins, corn, and beans. A small fruit orchard borders the chicken coop. Anybody who enjoys small farm life and activity will find this place enchanting. Norris and Roberta are incredible hosts and inclusive to any guests that want to participate in farm life. Close to restaurants and the cute harbor town of Moss Landing, 30 minutes from Carmel and Santa Cruz, Elkhorn Ranch can be a place to relax or a gateway to explore Big Sur and all the amazing hidden gems of the Central California Coast. After your stay here if you would like to continue your exploration of the coast, we have a partner who does surfing tours between Santa Cruz and San Francisco. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566796147238 Thanks and hope to see you soon!
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$80
 / night

Other options near Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Camping in Big Basin Redwoods State Park guide

Overview

About

In the heart of the Santa Cruz mountains you can find California’s oldest state park. It is home to the largest continuous stand of ancient Coastal Redwoods. Some of the giant trees are more than 50 feet around and as tall as the Statue of Liberty. In addition to the beautiful, historic trees (some which predate the Roman Empire), the park offers insane views of the Pacific Ocean (hikers adore the 10.5-mile Skyline to Sea Trail!). Berry Creek falls is just one of the many waterfalls to explore.

Elevation in the park varies from sea level to above 2,000 feet and the natural features are diverse, ranging from wet forest to arid and desert-like. With over 18,000 acres of area to hike, bike and play in, there is no opportunity for boredom at Big Basin. Big Basin offers 146 campsites, four group sites, tent cabins, backcountry hike-in trail camps, and horse camping. So what’re you waiting for? Book your Big Basin camping adventure!

When to go

The best time to visit Big Basin Redwoods State Park is during the spring and fall when the weather is mild and the natural beauty is at its peak. Summer offers longer days for exploration, though it can be busier. Winter may present challenges with wet conditions and limited access.

Know before you go

  • Check current trail conditions and closures before your visit to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
  • Day-use parking is limited; reservations are recommended and can be made online.
  • Cell service is unreliable, so plan ahead and download maps or directions.
  • Remember, this is a Crumb Clean park; always dispose of trash properly to protect wildlife.
  • For a seamless visit, arrive with a full tank of petrol as there are no filling stations nearby.
97%
361 ratings · 57 reviews
  1. Big Basin Redwoods State Park