Campgrounds and RV parks near Rio del Mar, CA

The beach itself is the main draw. Seacliff State Beach has nearly two miles of sandy shoreline beneath sandstone cliffs, a fishing pier, picnic areas, and a visitor center, with surf fishing, swimming, kayaking, beachcombing, and wildlife viewing all common activities. New Brighton's protected pocket beach is popular for swimming, sunbathing, beach walks, and surf fishing. Beyond the immediate coast, downtown Capitola, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium are common day trips. Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve at Moss Landing is one of California's largest coastal wetlands and a launching point for whale-watching cruises into Monterey Bay. Cyclists use the flat paved roads and bluff-top paths that connect several of the state parks.

The coast here is a year-round destination, but conditions shift through the year. Summer brings the heaviest demand: weekends fill quickly, and morning fog is common along the shoreline before clearing by midday. Seacliff State Beach is one of the most popular beachfront campgrounds in California, and summer weekends usually see day-use parking lots full by mid-morning. Fall is widely considered the most comfortable stretch. Daytime highs in the low 70s and overnight lows in the low 50s are typical, and September and October often feel warmer and drier with fewer foggy mornings than late spring. Winter is the wet season, and Pacific storms can affect coastal infrastructure, so RV travelers should confirm site status with the park before booking. At Sunset State Beach, South Camp and the group camp are open all year, while Dunes and Pine Hollow close from October through the middle of March. Spring sees wildflowers on the bluffs and lighter crowds outside holiday weekends.

Rig limits and hookups vary by park. Seacliff offers 26 full-hookup sites and roughly 37 to 38 non-hookup sites in a single beachfront row, with maximum RV length of 45 feet in the hookup lot and 35 to 45 feet in the non-hookup lots; tents are not allowed and only self-contained RVs are accepted. New Brighton campsites accommodate tents, trailers, and RVs up to 36 feet, each with a parking spur, table, fire ring, and grate, and 11 sites have hookups. Sunset State Beach has no individual hookups and the on-site dump station status varies, though the dump station at New Brighton is available to guests; RVs and trailers are limited to 31 feet. The Santa Cruz / Monterey Bay KOA Holiday offers full-hookup RV sites, tent sites, and cabins. Cell service is generally reliable in the area. Dogs are allowed in campgrounds on leash but are restricted from most beach sand.