Camping Around Santa Cruz

My campsite on the weekend of the 11th 12th and 13th may not be open due to the fires in the Big Sur area. I had hoped to stay at Limekiln but things are open at this point. Does anybody have any inside information on how campsites can be found around the coastal area near Santa Cruz. California state campgrounds are next to impossible to get a spot in unless one books it years in advance it seems. I don't know if there are any private tent camping places. Truth be known I am trying to avoid hotel rates on the weekend and would rather not have to drive up to Oregon where I know I could find a spot as I have in the past especially with gas being as expensive as it is. I am really wanting to kayak fish the Monterey bay as many days as possible during a 2 week stay.

Three that I know of are monterey veterans memorial campground which is high up on the hill in the city of monterey, carmel by the river r.v. park out in carmel valley, and marina dunes r.v. park which is right off the freeway before you get into monterey/seaside. The latter two are pretty expensive but without reservations this time of year if you can get a site anywhere you are doing good. Good luck! jim/redyak          Also sometimes you can score a cancelled campsite by checking early in the day with the rangers on site at state parks. This has worked for me at seacliff in santa cruz and also at refugio in santa barbara. But this does require you to " go before you know".

In the Santa Cruz area, there is Henry Cowell (off Graham Hill, but is is full), then there's Big Basin on 236 out of Boulder Creek( also likely full), New Brighton State Beach/Park, Seacliff (RV's only).

This time of the year and especially with the Big Sur Parks shut down, you are probably out of luck..

Sleeping on the northern beaches is not recommended as they tend to draw the denizens of society out at night and can be pretty darn dangerous.

Good Luck!!!!

Sunset Manresa and New Brighton State Park are another two to check if Limekiln is still closed.  You'll have to hope for a cancellation...

There is a KOA near Sunset Manresa, too.  Not like camping a state park but I have friends with kids that enjoy it...  Good luck and keep your fingers crossed.

I feel pretty lucky, getting a spot this weekend at Mnt. Madonna, after only registering for it last week.  I didn't think there would be spots, but actually were 3-4 for a holiday weekend!  Possibly cancellations I guess?

Almost all "close to home" camp spots fill up really early in the year it seems.  Like you need to plan your trips in January, or forget it.  But what you can do is use the search engines like, http://gooutsideandplay.org/ and http://www.reserveamerica.com/ to search for sites.  Thats exactly what I did, putting in some details like days, and distance from home, and just searched all of them at once.  There was a spot at Newbrighton, and a couple at Mnt. Madonna.  Pondered for about 10 mins, and picked MM since I have been going there for many years.

There are also private campgrounds out there, but I don't know where they are.  I hear many guys say they just head down Hwy 1 along the coast and see signs for camping.