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Camper submitted image from Sunset State Beach - 1

Camper submitted image from Sunset State Beach - 2

Nature

Camper submitted image from Sunset State Beach - 3

People

Camper submitted image from Sunset State Beach - 4

Camping

Camper submitted image from Sunset State Beach - 5

Facilities

Verified

Established Camping

Sunset State Beach

26 Reviews

About

State Park

RVs and Tents. Sunset State Beach camping provides dozens of dune-protected family sites (without hookups) that hold recreational vehicles up to 31 feet in length. Pets must not be left unattended in campsites. Parking for one vehicle is included in camping fees. Additional funds may be collected on site for up to TWO additional vehicles at a nightly rate (this does not apply to tow-in cars or trailers).

Location

Sunset State Beach is located in California

Address

201 Sunset Beach Rd
Watsonville, CA 95076

Coordinates

36.89900046 N
121.83200027 W

Open in Google Maps

Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site

Stay Connected

WiFi
Available
Verizon
Fair
AT&T
Good
T-Mobile
Poor

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group
Tent Cabin

Features

For Campers

ADA Access
Trash
Picnic Table
Firewood Available
Phone Service
Reservable
Showers
Drinking Water
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Sanitary Dump
Pull-Through Sites

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For information regarding reservations, contact this campground directly.

Contact

General Info

Alma L.

Ranger

Reviewed May. 29, 2023

High Spot variability

We traveled with a 22ft travel trailer. Spot 79 at Dunes Camp. This is the best spot at Dunes camp. Flat with lots of space.

There is NO dump station or water for RVs anywhere at this campground. Closest dump station is at New Brighton State Beach 10 miles away for $20.

Bathrooms old. Showers ok, old but clean.

The beach only allows dogs in one location and you need to drive to it. There are stairs to the trail from Dune Camp but dogs are not allowed there because it is a Plover nesting site. Rangers drive by to tell you that if they see you.

Last thing, only one bar AT&T cell coverage

Site79

Month of VisitJune

(11) View All

Todd M.

Scout

Reviewed Oct. 24, 2022

Quiet with majestic views

Amazing location

Site29

Month of VisitNovember

Sam B.

Scout

Reviewed Feb. 24, 2022

Fantastic location

The location and calmness of this place is what makes it. Although bathrooms were relatively clean they weren’t very private and could do with renovating. However for the price they were fine. Camp hosts were kind, lovely spots available in Dunes Camp and a 5 minute walk to an unbelievable sunset. Would return.

Month of VisitMarch

Anna G.

Scout

Reviewed Dec. 31, 2021

Beautiful

Perfect camping spot 2 minutes from the beach. Clean bathrooms with running water. Very very very safe. Lots of families but again, super safe and beautiful

Site26

Month of VisitJanuary

Jon S.

Traveler

Reviewed Nov. 9, 2021

Great hidden spot

Lived in the area for years and never knew it was there. Clean campground and restrooms. Easy walk to the beach.

Site019

Month of VisitDecember

Scott B.

Scout

Reviewed Sep. 8, 2021

Incorrect Phone Numger

The actual phone number is Phone:(831) 763-7063.

You can make reservations 48 hours ahead of time at their website. Otherwise, First Come, First Served.

Cory D.

Guide

Reviewed Jun. 24, 2021

Breathtaking Sunset View

This was such an easy going trip, the staff was great and worked well With security. Plenty or area to picnic with large groups, charcoal grills, sinks. Great place for a small fat get to gather or couples tent in the water.

Site10

Month of VisitJuly

Ashish K.

Scout

Reviewed Apr. 29, 2021

Beautiful sunsets

Some campground sites are large enough for two tents and cars can be parked close by but the real benefit here is the beach access. Sunsets are very beautiful and certainly make it worthwhile to go camping here.

Month of VisitDecember

Nils B.

Traveler

Reviewed Apr. 26, 2021

Coastal scrub campground near huge dunes and empty beach

Nice campground, relatively quiet. Beach access walking over the dunes or for less walking, drive down 1/4 mile to the beach parking at the south end. Beach is wide and empty.

Dunes Camp and South Camp loops have decent spacing in most sites. Pine Hollow campsites seemed a little tight.

Reservations are hard to get in 2021, we lucked out and happened to find a reservation that must've just been cancelled.

Site72

Month of VisitMay

Tiffany W.

Scout

Reviewed Mar. 3, 2021

Stunning

We stayed here for three nights and it was beautiful! You can walk down to the beach, take a trip to the henry cowel redwoods, go ride bikes in santa cruz. We have so much fun. Things we learned.. don't let your kids pick flowers. Do not hang things on tress.

Maddy P.

Traveler

Reviewed Aug. 5, 2020

Beautiful sunsets & large sites

Recently stayed at Sunset State Beach for one night on a Hwy 1 road trip. This spot is only about 20 minutes of the main hwy but definitely feels off the beaten path. We made reservations at site number 62 about a week ahead of time as this know to be a busy area during the summer time. We were pleasantly surprised when we arrived to a half empty campground(Every other campground we had passed in the area was full to the brim). The campground has bathrooms with hot water and quarter payed showers. As for the sites they are large enough that you are plenty far from your neighbors, but open so you can definitely see what everyone around you is up to. There are a couple of short, but steep trails to the nearby beach. The nearby beach is beautiful and definitely called Sunset beach for a reason! If you take a walk along the beach you’ll be sure to find a few different shells and maybe even a whole sand dollar. Definitely a great spot to stay for a Hwy 1 road trip.

(5) View All

Josh T.

Traveler

Reviewed Aug. 4, 2020

mix of woods and ocean

great location, close enough to civilization in case you forget any necessities, yet far enough away to make you feel away from everything.

campsites are pretty close to each other.

Site46

Month of VisitAugust

(4) View All

Carina B.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 30, 2020

Beautiful State Beach with huge public beach

We love camping at Sunset State Beach. We have camped and have done day trips on the beach. Dogs can be allowed on beach if you go to the right of the main entrance. No dogs to the left. Camp sites vary but the best loop is South Loop. Some with ocean views but those are hard to reserve. All sites are close to beach trails. Steps down to the beach but can drive to beach parking lot if not full to spend the day or ferry down your stuff for the day. The campground is next to typical watsonville fields. We love seeing the tons of strawberry plants when in season. Can be cold at night. Campfires allowed. Rangers do come around to enforce quiet time after 10pm but we didn't mind. Make sure to secure your food or the racoons will get into your cooler.

Site17

Month of VisitJune

Cat R.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 5, 2019

Pretty but lacks privacy.

This site has showers, water, bathrooms and trash bins. There are a lot of sites and I reserved mine to guarantee a spot as it does fill up. It has beach access that is easy to get to and is very beautiful! The sites do not really have any boundaries between them and I could see everyone’s site. Definitely could use some shrubs or trees so each site isn’t in full view of Each other.

Mark P.

Traveler

Reviewed Jun. 17, 2019

Tent camping site 89

This site was less then ideal yet worked out in the end. It’s a bit windy from 4-8 pm. We were here in June. The bat show in the evening was great. Close to the beach. Ground was in even yet close to the bathroom and had its own water spout.

Austin C.

Legend

Reviewed May. 29, 2019

Good Coastal Beach Camping

Nice campsite within driving distance on the Bay area on a 1 night stop on the way down to Big Sur. Only negative experience was our bear locker wouldn't close properly, and we suffered the consequences when we awoke to a family of raccoons raiding the box.

Mauriel O.

Guide

Reviewed Sep. 29, 2018

Great campground away from the hustle and bustle

Nice lots on a cliff above the beach protected from the wind by some doug firs and eucalyptus. Beach is long and expansive with very few people on an average day. Nice place to take a stroll and relax. Not far from Santa Cruz, maybe 25-30 minutes depending on traffic. Sometimes there's a decent sandbar for surfing. Always had a good time at this campground.

Month of VisitSeptember

Tim J.

Ranger

Reviewed Sep. 10, 2018

Quiet and Empty During the Week

The campground was almost empty in the middle of the week with only a few vehicles and tents there early for the weekend. Strawberry fields surround the campground and are next to the Hike and Bike area. The walk is not too difficult down to the beach.

SiteHike and Bike

Month of VisitJune

(4) View All

Jeff B.

Traveler

Reviewed Jul. 31, 2018

Awesome location

Close to the beach, hot showers, fire pits

Apryl E.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 17, 2018

Not crowded for California

This is a great place for the day or for a few nights. As far as California beaches go, this one is always the least crowded. The sand is wide enough that all the people can spread out fairly well. You bound to find plenty of sand dollars and hopefully a sea lion or two!

Month of VisitAugust

Martha G.

Traveler

Reviewed Jul. 9, 2018

Gorgeous

Nice quiet campground surrounded by rich soil that strawberries are grown . Beautiful view from the cliff of the ocean .

Month of VisitSeptember

Carl N.

Guide

Reviewed Jun. 6, 2018

Awesome spot by the beach!

Multiple areas to camp that are all pretty close to the beach. I've been camping here for 20 years.

Month of VisitOctober

(5) View All

Kelly S.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 8, 2017

...as far as beach camping goes it's great

I'd say every place I've ever stayed on the beach is lacking in privacy. It's always so strikingly in my face though since most of my camping is done in the forest where you always at least have the illusion of privacy. Truthfully I hate it but that's a matter of preference. There are some more private-ish spots to be found here. I like to have space and at least shrub lined sites that separate you from the other campers. The beach here is beautiful. You can walk to it from the campground some sites are further away than others since there are three big loops of sites. It's mass camping near the beach. Great for loading up your stuff for the day and spending the day at the beach then coming back to your site to eat and crash. Everything I've read says no dogs on the beach but if you enter the beach near the ranger kiosk at the opening and go right after descending the stairs you aren't technically on Sunset beach and you can take your on leash dog for miles.

SiteSite 12

Month of VisitAugust

Kate L.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 31, 2016

Truly a magical spot

If you can get a reservation here (which is VERY difficult) you will have the best time. We had a spot that was facing the strawberry fields instead of the water and it was still great. Beautiful sunsets and a quick walk to the beach (down about 100 stairs or you can drive down and park). The campground is full the whole summer and sometimes the bathrooms suffer from overuse. Campsites are close together and not private. But really, you are here for the proximity beach.

(8) View All

J.d. E.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 9, 2015

They Call it Sunset for a Reason

Wanna see an epic sunset? Bring your family, and camp here. Hike to the top of the dune. Don't forget your layers, the windy is chilly! A great beach to relax on, sometimes there's surf here too.

Pete M.

Guide

Reviewed Jun. 24, 2015

Beach delight

Awesome beach camping. We camped in the winter and had no reservations, but got a good spot anyway. Winter can be a very nice weekend!