Saddle Mountain Carmel

Really lovely! RE: the other reviews, yes some spots are tight and yes there is ambient noise, but silence and great hiking are just a five minute walk away. Beautiful views, the staff was very nice, and I think $60/night when you get a sauna, shower, and clean bathrooms is a good deal in this area.

Cassie S.

4 reviews

Recommends

· January 2026

Tent ·

Beautiful views, but still felt very tucked away. Staff was super friendly & bathrooms were very clean, we had a great stay!

Martie M.

2 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· January 2026

Family camping

15 ft campervan · With kids ·

Cozy Cabin #1 | "Big Sur"

I love our spot and I can’t wait to be back over summer. I would highly recommend “saddle mountains” to all my friends and family.

Lorenzo T.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· January 2026

perfectly cozy and accommodating

Group trip ·

Had a wonderful experience in this peaceful and amazing space, so much so that as soon as I left I was already looking into booking another experience in the future. . Big Sur accommodated exactly the needs I envisioned for my 30th birthday with my closest friends. We all adored the property so much and wish we could have extended. Though small, it definitely provided enough space and sleeping arrangements for my group. Thank you Saddle Mountain! Can’t wait to return ◡̈

Jennie H.

3 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· December 2025

Winter camping

Luxury Tent - Middle Grove

Immaculate vibes, short drive into Carmel, private setting - I stayed in December and was super cozy and warm! Would return.

Niamh M.

3 reviews

Recommends

· December 2025

Hidden Mountain Gem

20 ft campervan · With kids ·

Worth the drive!! What an amazing hidden gem, just outside of town you feel like you've escaped to a private island -- amenities galore (fancy fire pits with cozy seating, a playground, pool, sauna, and gorgeous views, all included). We only had one night to stay, and it was "off season" December, but still a fantastic stay and we'll definitely be back.

Denise M.

2 reviews

Recommends

· November 2025

Tent ·

Cozy Cabin #7 | "Mission Trail"

I loved our drive-in tent spot. The accommodations were very nice. Really liked watching the sunset from our hillside spot.

Billy B.

2 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2025

With kids ·

Beautiful setting, cabin was great, great for kids, just wish the pool was a little warmer!

Haley R.

10 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2025

An easy get-away near Carmel.

19 ft Class C ·

This was a great get-away. Easy trip from the Bay Area. 19’ camper van, full hook up spot 19. EZ check in. Clean spaces. Feeling of privacy even though your neighbors are just the other side of the plantings. Nice that they have a dish cleaning station. Woke up to no TP in the communal bathroom, that was a momentary inconvenience. Good thing we had our own. Didn’t use the pool but it was a nice area and looked well maintained. Several nice seating areas around the communal area. You are on the side of a mountain so if you want to walk or hike around the camp area, be prepared for some definite incline. Camp area was level. Great way to spend the 4th with our dogs away from the fireworks.

Kelly E.

2 reviews

Recommends

· June 2025

25 ft Class C · With kids ·

This place is great! The staff was super helpful. We did an RV trip and they guided us on places to go, warned us of narrow roads (to uber instead of taking RV cause it could be stressful) and helped with everything we needed. They sell ice cream which my son loved, and the place was clean and quiet the entire 4 nights we stayed there. We slept well, and had lots of fun. I highly recommend this spot :)

Ken D.

9 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2025

Absolutely loved it !

Site 1 - Luxury Tent

I’ll definitely be back . This was a first time experiencing camping like this and I will never camp another way ! Everything was so convenient and cozy . Super secluded campgrounds and the front desk were great as well .

Angelica E.

9 months on Hipcamp

Mixed feelings

· June 2025

Good fit for some

Great if you have never camped before or have small children. If you’re looking for peace and quiet, or a place to spread out, keep on looking. The campsites are cramped (particularly the middle ones), there’s little privacy between them, and parking is challenging to fit full sized vehicles. Definitely optimized for car camping. The pool was nice (bring your own towels) and the sauna was nice

Charles C.

2 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2025

Beautiful and serene!

Site 1 - Luxury Tent

The campsite was beautiful and clean! We didn't have any issues staying warm with the heated blanket and thick bed. Generally bug free except a spider but hey, it's camping for a reason. Slept like a baby to the sounds of frogs and crickets - wished we stayed the entire week!

Laura G.

9 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2025

Tent · With kids ·

We spent a couple of days camping at Saddle Mountain and had the best family time. The campground is well organized, sharing facilities clean and well maintained. Location is gorgeous. We had much fun and we will definitely come back asap!

Federico C.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2025

Tent ·

It's a beautiful site with plenty of accommodations for a comfy stay. I'd say it's much more glamping than camping, and our "walk in" site was just down a quick flight of stairs from our car - barely any walking needed! Definitely recommend

Becky S.

10 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2025

Site 1 - Luxury Tent

This was my first Hipcamp experience and it was wonderful. The tent space was so cute and offered me the perfect amount of privacy. The facilities were clean and the staff was pleasant! This is a gorgeous, special place.

Quinn S.

10 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· May 2025

Unexpected delight

16 ft travel trailer ·

Extraordinary location, excellent facilities...we hope to return soon

John M.

13 reviews

Mixed feelings

· April 2025

Good location, not all spots equal

19 ft campervan ·

Overall, we enjoyed our stay. The hosting staff was very accommodating and friendly. The facilities were clean and well kept. With that said, there was some additional information during the booking process that would have been helpful to ensure a more enjoyable stay, though. We initially booked a partial hookup spot and was later told this was not available so we agreed to take a drive-in tent/van site as we were booking fairly last minute. Navigating these particular spots was not easy in our van. There is a fairly steep incline and narrow turns with some spots - definitely easier to navigate during daylight. We were also in spot 37 - this caused several issues with our “neighbors” in 36 because there is no way in or out without 36 moving their vehicle. Set-up is weird and guests should be made aware of this. We were lucky that our neighbors came in after us and were leaving before us otherwise there would have been disruption anytime someone needed to move. We also felt weird walking through their camp every time we went to the facilities or for a hike, etc.

Patrick L.

4 reviews

Recommends

· April 2025

Tent ·

Lovely view, hot shower, nice trail with flowers in bloom, quiet spot out of the way. Yet close to the Big Sur Marathon finish. More than I was hoping for. Just with the bathroom had been a bit closer, and the rain a little lighter.

Don E.

11 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2025

The most magical place.

Site 4 - Luxury Tent

Amazing. Simply amazing. Will return. From the forest to the sea!

Brittney A.

3 reviews

Recommends

· April 2025

15 ft campervan ·

Awesome campsite, well worth the extra pennies, especially for families. The tent/van sites are nicely arranged and feel private without being too far away from the main area. Will definitely be coming back.

Rob L.

4 reviews

Recommends

· April 2025

Lovely stay

Tent ·

It was welcoming to be greeted by a warm smile when I checked in. I was camping using my tent, but other options seem to more convenient. However, my favorite part was the mountains, trees everywhere and the smell of fresh air. In addition, this place is in close proximity to one of my favorite spots - Carmel by the Sea so I had to stop there before I went back home.

Sergio O.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2025

Tent ·

Location was easy to find and well kept. Small trail accessible from location has good views of the valley.

George C.

3 reviews

Mixed feelings

· April 2025

Beautiful surprising setting!

25 ft Class C ·

Good overall customer service and location. We just don't enjoy the packed quarters. The RVs are just too close together to be relaxing. Loved the pool area, great for laying in the sun and reading a book. Hike up the hill into the woods and really enjoy the beautiful setting.

Teresa R.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2025

April Camping

20 ft campervan · With pets ·

Site 29 was close to the bathrooms and the hiking trail. We liked being able to take the dogs with us. There's a lot of poison oak and poison hemlock right off the trail. It's ok as long as you keep your dog on a 5'-6' leash.

Ida S.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2025

Tent ·

Overall a great little campground. We loved our site #37, we arrived late and the campground personnel were very accommodating in letting us switch from a site just above where our car and tent would not have fit. We like the little amenities that felt like luxuries when you are used to camping or backpacking. Like hot water at the bathrooms for hand washing and dishes , hot showers that were very nice and good pressure, and Reverse Osmosis drinking water. Our 3 yo twins enjoyed the playground! It is steep and took some watching to keep our I Kiddos away from the edges in the campsite. I wish early in the season that they allowed campfires, there is something quite soulless about having to burn a duralog, and i wish their staff cleaned the bathroom at a time other than mid morning when the bathrooms are in high demand. We enjoyed access to carmel, beaches, big sur, flower farm down the road, monterey and aquarium! We had a lovely week of camping and adventures!

Stella H.

11 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2025

Tent ·

Luxury Tent - Lower Grove

Saddle Mountain was great! We camped at one of the regular campsites, and it was just like a public campground except for the awesome amenities. It was so nice to have an area to do dishes, shower, and hang out. We loved the sauna and propane firepits too! Plus all of the games and fun things you could borrow. 10/10 would recommend!

Sophia D.

3 reviews

Recommends

· April 2025

We had such a lovely stay!! Beautiful location, the staff were super friendly, and everything on site was very clean, calm, quiet, and peaceful. We particularly enjoyed the hot shower facilities, sitting by the pool next to the gas fire pits, and our tent. Will absolutely stay again for a premium quality experience!

Shanti E.

3 reviews

Recommends

· April 2025

With kids ·

Cozy Cabin #10 | "Garland Ranch"

We loved the vibe and how friendly the personnel were. The facility was well organized and clean and the trail was outstanding. Highly recommended !

Mohammad K.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2025

Tent · Group trip ·