Camping in Monterey County

Camping?  As this view shows, we have dry summers in Monterey County.

Please be extra cautious with fires.

Are you a touring cyclist or other visitor looking for our campgrounds?

On June 1, I stopped to chat with some French Canadians on the bike path in Monterey, and they asked me how to get to the Carmel State Beach campgrounds. When I told them “no such campgrounds,” they pulled out a well-known cycling publication that told them otherwise.  On July 26, the same thing happened  with some German cyclists I met in Carmel.

Whoops! That publisher was mistaken.  I contacted the publisher immediately to provide correct info for their future editions.  Until that misinformation gets weeded out of others’ guides, please help travelers by sharing the local information found here.

So where can you actually camp in beautiful Monterey County?

In the City of Monterey:  Veterans Park

If you want camping right in the City of Monterey, it’s Veterans Memorial Park.  Head up fairly early, before you’re all tuckered out, as there’s a hill to climb to reach the park.   Recently I  directed some San Luis Obispo cyclists who were looking for Veterans.  Having noted some already tired faces in their group, and being in my car with my bike rack, I decided to drive up and be sure they made it okay.  Sure enough, one cyclist was lagging way behind, with a gear problem.  Glad I followed my intuition!

Wondering about bike-and-ride options to get up that hill to Veterans Park?  As of June 27, 2010, Veterans isn’t on the MST bus “Points of Interest” list.  As of this date, closest MST bus would be to Skyline and Mar Vista (MST line #3), with service 7 days a week, every 2 hrs (and no evenings).  Before planning on this MST route, confirm with MST that there haven’t been route changes.

Plan for the climb to Vets Park, and be rewarded by a lovely setting and nice facilities.   How long does it take to bike it?  Two young guys from St. Louis told me the other day that they biked up the hill (from roughly Monterey Library to the campgrounds) in about 20 minutes.  You may want to allow more time, especially if you’re tired.

Weather advisory:  If high wind conditions exist, be prepared for wind at Veterans.

Want food delivered to Veterans Park?

Got up the hill, then decided you really wanted some restaurant or other food–but were ready to stay put?

1. Schedule permitting, Green Pedal Couriers (831/920-8181) will pedal up to Veterans Park with take-out food, such as Chinese take-out from HER Helmet Thursdays spot Great Wall, or Lebanese take-out from Maha’s, both downtown.  Green Pedal is also happy to swing by Trader Joe’s, downtown or Whole Foods, Del Monte Center and pick up some groceries for you.
   
2. Another option is to call a nearby pizza place that delivers; HER Helmet Thursdays downtown spot Bellagios Pizzeria does deliveries at night, and they’re open late. 
3. Many other HER Helmet Thursdays  spots (extra bike-friendly places that you’re encouraged to support seven days a week!) are among the restaurants hooked up for take-out deliveries with Doorbell Dining.  Browse the menus and you’ll find HHT restaurants not far from Veterans Park, such as Bullwacker’s on Wharf II, Epsilon downtown, Erik’s Delicafe downtown, Lalla Grille at the Del Monte Center, and Pico de Gallo on Del Monte Ave, plus more not far away on Lighthouse Ave (Loose Noodle) and Cannery Row (El Torito).  Check their Doorbell Dining menus, and if you want to bike there yourself instead, be sure to check their HHT listings for bike-there tips.

Along the Salinas-Monterey Corridor: Laguna Seca

Another popular place to camp when visiting the Monterey Peninsula is Laguna Seca Recreation Area (yes, home turf of the Sea Otter Classic). Laguna Seca is off Highway 68/the Monterey-Salinas Highway.

In the grandeur of Big Sur

For camping along the majestic Big Sur Coast, check out the California State Parks and US Forest Service campgrounds.   Links are provided on the list of popular campgrounds below.

And there are still more campgrounds in MoCo!

Carmel Valley and King City are among the other beautiful places to camp in Monterey County and are also included below.

May 13, 2011 update: Limekiln and Other State Parks and Beaches

It is easy to take the access to our California State Parks and Beaches for granted–until budget cuts that end such access loom.   While efforts are being made to keep them open, if you want to pay a visit to Garrapata, Henry Coe, or Limekiln, or to Moss Landing or Zmudowski State Beach, don’t delay.   For updates, see SaveStateParks.org.

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Shower and change locations

Maybe you’re camping in a more rustic location without showers.  Or, maybe you’re not even camping here overnight, just passing through as a day visitor.  In either case, you may want a place to shower.   We have options:   check out the “Where to Shower & Change” section of Tips for Tourists Bicycling Monterey County©.

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Some popular Monterey County campgrounds

While this list is not a complete one showing every campground in Monterey County, these are some public campgrounds that you may wish to check out first:

Big Sur:

Andrew Molera (CA State Parks) – See “All kinds of trails for all kinds of cycling–Biking in California State Parks.”

Bottchers Gap (Park Management Company)

Julia Pfeiffer Burns (CA State Parks) – Read tips from Nicole Gustas of blogmonterey.com:  Camping at Julia Pfeiffer Burns.  Also see Nicole’s tips in “Partington Cove: Day Hikes” (trailhead is 1.8 miles north of entrance to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park).

Kirk Creek (US Forest Service)

Pfeiffer Big Sur (CA State Parks)

Plaskett Creek (US Forest Service)

Big Sur/South Coast/part of US Forest Service’s Monterey County Ranger District:

Courtesy of US Forest Service staff, here is info on some lesser known spots.  There is a trailhead at old Salmon Creek guard station, across the street from the Salmon Creek waterfall.  Off the Salmon Creek trail there are also Spruce Creek, Buckeye, Lion Den, Three Peaks, and Estrella campgrounds.  Salmon Creek trail runs into South Coast Ridge Road.  Other water sources nearby are Soda Spring (no campground) and Villa Creek (Villa has a campground).

Carmel Valley:

China Camp – [link was broken, so necessary to search it on their site] (US Forest Service – see note re mountain biking)

Tassajara Road is a paved road that becomes a dirt/gravel road.  Per US Forest Service staff, it passes these US Forest Service areas: Bruce Flats (trailhead), White Oaks campground, China Camp campground, and Pine Ridge trail.  It also goes down by Church Creek trail and Wildcat campground, and on to Tassajara Hot Springs.

An aside re Tassajara:  Over the years, I’ve stayed at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center many times–a favorite of my mom as well! Receiving their booklet by mail each spring always got us on the phone to make overnight reservations for their summer guest season right away, although locals could also check about availability due to cancellations.  Reservations are still required at Tassajara, and overnight reservations are booked up well in advance.  However, day use is also an option, and this would make a very special bathing and relaxation spot for avid cyclists who are camping out this way; you may also make a lunch reservation.  Day use is booked no more than two weeks in advance, as of 6/27/10.  Please refer to their website for details.

King City:

Escondido Camp (US Forest Service – see note re mountain biking)

Lake San Antonio (Monterey County Parks)

Memorial Park (US Forest Service – see note re mountain biking)

San Lorenzo Park (Monterey County Parks)

White Oaks Camp [link was broken, so necessary to search it on their site] (US Forest Service – see note re mountain biking)

Monterey:

Veterans Memorial Park (City of Monterey Park)

Salinas:

Laguna Seca Recreation Area–on the Monterey-Salinas Highway (Monterey County Parks)

San Juan Bautista:

I’d originally omitted Fremont Peak from this post because San Juan Bautista is not in Monterey County.  However, Fremont State Park is at the northern tip.  I have enjoyed star-gazing there on many occasions and highly recommend it; my first good look at the rings around Saturn was courtesy of some Stanford students who brought their telescopes there one night long ago.  Head on up and make your own night-sky memories!

Fremont Peak State Park

Additional resources

Have questions?  Who to call?

Over the years, I’ve visited most—not all—of the campground locations listed here, even if I’ve not stayed overnight.  My California camping tends to be in the Sierras, i.e., Yosemite.  Here in MoCo, I usually head home for a comfy bed.  So, you may have questions about camping here that I cannot answer.

Here are some other sources of local info, in addition to the Web links provided above.  These are Monterey Bay area resources who all share a love of the outdoors:  Ventana Wilderness Alliance, Monterey Peninsula Audobon Society, Ventana Wilderness Society, Ventana Wildlife Society, Ventana Chapter of the Sierra Club.

If you are have questions specific to bicycling in wilderness areas, check in with some of the folks on my Bicycle Shops, Services, Clubs, and Resources page, starting with the Monterey Off Road Cycling Association (MORCA).

Share your experience

And if you’re a local or visitor with experience in camping in Monterey County, please add a comment to this post. Thank you.

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Sometimes plans must change; here’s a low-cost alternative to camping

If you planned on camping, your budget planned on camping, and you find yourself needing a night indoors, check out the Monterey Hostel. They are definitely a cyclist friendly lodging spot, with bike lockers, a bike map on the wall alongside the registration desk, and a special exemption for cyclists from the usual check-in hours.  They even have a do-it-yourself pancake and waffle breakfast and coffee set up the night before,  a helpful amenity for cyclists who are anxious to get on the road early. And they’re in the HER Helmet Thursdays project, so you can get a discount on your Thursday night stay.

And all lodging providers in HER Helmet Thursdays–from the hostel to luxury hotels–give discounts to cyclists on their Thursday night stay.  Details here. Or, check out the post: “Lodging Providers Show Monterey County Is a Bike-Friendly Place.“