Joseph D. Grant

Mt. Madonna

Mt. Madonna sits in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where 110 sites spread across Valley View and Tan Oak loops at elevations cooler than the valley floor. The county park offers everything from yurts and RV hookups to rustic tent sites under redwoods, with hot showers, 14 miles of trails, and an archery range. Sites run $41-106 per night and book up to six months ahead.

2591 Graham Hill Road, Scotts Valley, CA 95060

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground sits in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Scotts Valley at 805 feet elevation. The campground has 107 sites for tents and RVs, with fees ranging from $10 to $35 per night. Sites closer to the interior loops offer more shade but sit closer together, while outer sites provide better seclusion.

The Forest Of Nisene Marks SP

West Ridge Trail Campground sits in the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park at 1,516 feet elevation, offering primitive tent camping in dense second-growth redwood forest. Reservations are required for these trail camps, which provide a rugged, isolated retreat from the Highway 1 corridor.

Coyote Lake - Harvey Bear Ranch

Coyote Lake - Harvey Bear Ranch sits in the golden hills east of Gilroy, where 73 sites (tent, RV, and group) overlook a reservoir and valley terrain. The county park charges $41-$53 per night and offers full hookups at 18 sites, plus real showers and flush toilets. Reviewers praise the clean facilities and abundant wildlife, though summer heat and busy weekends are common tradeoffs.

Uvas Canyon

Uvas Canyon County Park sits tucked into a 1,147-acre canyon on the eastern side of the Santa Cruz Mountains, where half a dozen waterfalls tumble over moss-covered rock within walking distance of camp. The 25-site campground offers hot showers and clean restrooms, and reservations are required year-round. Fees run $6–$41 per night.

9000 E. Dunne Ave., Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Manzanita Point sits at 2,600 feet in Henry W Coe State Park, accessible only by a 2-3 mile hike from the Coe Ranch Entrance. The 11 group sites accommodate parties of at least nine people, with vault toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables at each site. Fees range from $5-$75 per night. No potable water is available on site.

9000 East Dunne Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Coe Ranch Campground sits on an exposed ridge at 2,600 feet in Henry W. Coe State Park, offering 20 primitive and tent sites with sweeping views of the Diablo Range and southern Santa Clara Valley. Fees run $5-75 per night depending on site type. Expect flush toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables, but no showers. One vehicle per site; overflow parking is near the Visitor Center.

16055 Sanborn Rd, Saratoga, CA 95070

Sanborn County Park spreads across 3,453 acres of redwood forest in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Saratoga. The campground offers 47 sites including walk-in tent spots and an RV area with 20 sites that have 30-amp and water hookups. Fees run $22-$53 per night. Gates lock at sundown, so plan your arrival accordingly.

15000 Skyline Boulevard, Los Gatos, CA 95030

Main Campground sits at 980 feet in Castle Rock State Park, accessible only by trail. The 20 primitive tent sites include potable water, vault toilets, fire rings, picnic tables, and a weather shelter. Fees run $15 per night. Sites cluster together in one main area, though sites 1-5 offer more separation.

1895 Geary Road, Sunol, California, 94586, United States

Sunol Regional Wilderness offers backpack-in campsites along the Ohlone Wilderness Trail, 18 primitive spots scattered across 6,859 acres at 440 feet elevation. The campground sits on Pleasanton's southeastern edge, managed by East Bay Regional Park District. Sites range from 3 to 30 people. Fees run $15-50 per night. Expect vault toilets, picnic tables, and no potable water.

9400 Quarry Road, Fremont, CA 94555

Dumbarton Quarry Campground sits on 45 acres of reclaimed quarry land along the southern East Bay shoreline, where the Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge meets Coyote Hills Regional Park. The campground has 63 sites total, including 61 full-hookup RV spots and 2 tent-only sites. Nightly fees run $4. Trails to both neighboring parks start right from the campground.

8000 Patterson Ranch Road, Fremont, California, 94555, United States

Coyote Hills Regional Park sits on 978 acres along the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay, where tidal marshes meet Coast Range foothills. The park has one group campsite (Dairy Glen) that holds up to 50 people for $5/night. A network of trails draws hikers, bikers, and bird watchers looking for migratory shorebirds and wildflower displays. Cell service is spotty.

7000 DEL VALLE ROAD, LIVERMORE, California, 94550, United States

Del Valle Family Campground spreads 150 sites across 4,316 acres of oak-studded hills in California's East Bay, about 10 miles south of Livermore. The East Bay Regional Park District manages this lakeside setup where campers can reserve tent sites, RV hookups (up to 90 feet), or cabins for $35-$50 per night. The campground delivers full amenities. Hot showers, flush toilets, a camp store. But cell service is nonexistent, and mosquitoes can be aggressive after sunset.

1320 Garin Avenue, Hayward, California, 94544, United States

Garin Regional Park sits in the East Bay Hills near Hayward, offering one group campsite at Arroyo Flats that accommodates up to 75 people. The park's 5,800 acres include ridgeline trails, a historic apple orchard, and sweeping views across the Bay Area. Cell phone reception is spotty inside the park.

18600 West Corral Hollow Road, Tracy, CA 95376

Carnegie SVRA Campground sits on the valley floor of Corral Hollow Canyon, 636 feet up where Alameda and San Joaquin counties meet. Twenty-three sites with gravel pads (up to 75 feet) and ramadas cost $10 per night and accommodate eight people each. The campground has flush toilets, coin showers, and a camp store. Road noise from a nearby highway carries into camp, especially at night.

Coyote Lake - Harvey Bear Ranch

Coyote Lake - Harvey Bear Ranch sits in the golden hills east of Gilroy, where 73 sites (tent, RV, and group) overlook a reservoir and valley terrain. The county park charges $41-$53 per night and offers full hookups at 18 sites, plus real showers and flush toilets. Reviewers praise the clean facilities and abundant wildlife, though summer heat and busy weekends are common tradeoffs.

Mt. Madonna

Mt. Madonna sits in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where 110 sites spread across Valley View and Tan Oak loops at elevations cooler than the valley floor. The county park offers everything from yurts and RV hookups to rustic tent sites under redwoods, with hot showers, 14 miles of trails, and an archery range. Sites run $41-106 per night and book up to six months ahead.

7000 DEL VALLE ROAD, LIVERMORE, California, 94550, United States

Del Valle Family Campground spreads 150 sites across 4,316 acres of oak-studded hills in California's East Bay, about 10 miles south of Livermore. The East Bay Regional Park District manages this lakeside setup where campers can reserve tent sites, RV hookups (up to 90 feet), or cabins for $35-$50 per night. The campground delivers full amenities. Hot showers, flush toilets, a camp store. But cell service is nonexistent, and mosquitoes can be aggressive after sunset.

Uvas Canyon

Uvas Canyon County Park sits tucked into a 1,147-acre canyon on the eastern side of the Santa Cruz Mountains, where half a dozen waterfalls tumble over moss-covered rock within walking distance of camp. The 25-site campground offers hot showers and clean restrooms, and reservations are required year-round. Fees run $6–$41 per night.

16055 Sanborn Rd, Saratoga, CA 95070

Sanborn County Park spreads across 3,453 acres of redwood forest in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Saratoga. The campground offers 47 sites including walk-in tent spots and an RV area with 20 sites that have 30-amp and water hookups. Fees run $22-$53 per night. Gates lock at sundown, so plan your arrival accordingly.

9400 Quarry Road, Fremont, CA 94555

Dumbarton Quarry Campground sits on 45 acres of reclaimed quarry land along the southern East Bay shoreline, where the Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge meets Coyote Hills Regional Park. The campground has 63 sites total, including 61 full-hookup RV spots and 2 tent-only sites. Nightly fees run $4. Trails to both neighboring parks start right from the campground.

18600 West Corral Hollow Road, Tracy, CA 95376

Carnegie SVRA Campground sits on the valley floor of Corral Hollow Canyon, 636 feet up where Alameda and San Joaquin counties meet. Twenty-three sites with gravel pads (up to 75 feet) and ramadas cost $10 per night and accommodate eight people each. The campground has flush toilets, coin showers, and a camp store. Road noise from a nearby highway carries into camp, especially at night.

9000 East Dunne Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Coe Ranch Campground sits on an exposed ridge at 2,600 feet in Henry W. Coe State Park, offering 20 primitive and tent sites with sweeping views of the Diablo Range and southern Santa Clara Valley. Fees run $5-75 per night depending on site type. Expect flush toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables, but no showers. One vehicle per site; overflow parking is near the Visitor Center.