Santa Cruz / Monterey Bay KOA Holiday Blog
Summer Sites Available Now - Check Out Our Events & Plan Your Stay!
Whether you’re exploring the local area or hanging out at the campground, KOA Holidays are an ideal place to relax and play. There’s plenty to do, with amenities and services to make your stay memorable. Plus, you’ll enjoy the outdoor experience with upgraded RV Sites with KOA Patio® and Deluxe Cabins with full baths for camping in comfort. Bring your family, bring your friends, or bring the whole group – there’s plenty of ways to stay and explore.
Whether you’re exploring the local area or hanging out at the campground, KOA Holidays are an ideal place to relax and play. There’s plenty to do, with amenities and services to make your stay memorable. Plus, you’ll enjoy the outdoor experience with upgraded RV Sites with KOA Patio® and Deluxe Cabins with full baths for camping in comfort. Bring your family, bring your friends, or bring the whole group – there’s plenty of ways to stay and explore.
We are located 11 miles South of Santa Cruz.
From Hwy 1 use Exit #432 for San Andreas Rd.
At the end of the exit ramp, go WEST on San Andreas Rd. for 3.2 miles.
We will be on your left. Look for the Yellow KOA Sign!
**If you are traveling on Hwy 1 North: DO NOT TAKE BUENA VISTA EXIT.
And despite what GPS, Google maps or other services may inform you, DO NOT TURN ON PEACEFUL VALLEY DR.**
Fall here is about crisp mornings, sunny afternoons, and fewer crowds. It’s prime time for coastal adventures, harvest festivals, and wine country escapes. Take a look at these ideas for the perfect weekday fall camping escape at Santa Cruz / Monterey Bay KOA Holiday and book your stay today.
Apple Season in Watsonville
Visit Gizdich Ranch for u-pick apples, fresh cider, and pie.
October often brings apple festivals and farm tours.
Harvest Festivals & Fairs
Capitola Art & Wine Festival (early September)
Watsonville’s Santa Cruz County Fair (mid-September)
Davenport’s Farm & Sea Harvest (October)
Fall Foliage
The coastal redwoods keep their green, but sycamores and maples in the valleys turn golden.
Surf Season
Fall is the “sweet spot” for surfers — warm-ish water, clean waves, fewer crowds.
Redwood Hiking
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park or Nisene Marks for peaceful weekday hikes.
Fall fog gives the forests a magical feel.
Scenic Drives
Highway 1 north to Davenport — dramatic cliffs and pumpkin patches along the way.
South toward Monterey — artichoke fields and coastal dunes.
Whale Watching
Humpback whales feed off the coast into late fall.
Wine Tasting
Corralitos Wine Trail or the mountain wineries in Bonny Doon and Felton.
Art & Culture
First Friday Art Walk in downtown Santa Cruz.
Cabrillo Stage fall performances or Kuumbwa Jazz.
Seasonal Seafood
Phil’s Fish Market (Moss Landing) — cioppino and chowder.
Stagnaro Bros. on the Wharf — fresh crab in late fall.
Farm-to-Table
Gabriella Café or Soif Wine Bar (Santa Cruz).
The Hideout (Aptos) for cozy evenings.
Breakfast Spots
Gayle’s Bakery (Capitola) — pumpkin muffins in October.
Café Brasil (Santa Cruz) — vibrant plates and fresh juice.
Treats
Marianne’s Ice Cream — seasonal flavors like pumpkin and apple pie.
Gizdich Ranch pies to take back to camp.
Shorter lines at the Boardwalk’s fall rides.
Easier parking at Capitola Village and Seacliff State Beach.
Better deals on whale watching tours and kayak rentals.
Bring layers — mornings can be foggy, afternoons sunny.
Keep a camp blanket handy for evening stargazing.
Use weekdays for popular spots like Natural Bridges, Wilder Ranch, and Capitola to avoid weekend crowds.
The Santa Cruz area has so much to offer for a quick trip or stay a while and do it all! Book your weekday fall camping stay today at Santa Cruz / Monterey Bay KOA Holiday.
That doesn't mean this area has to always be empty. When you start reviewing camping options, your history will display here to help compare sites and find the best stay. You will be able to share your stay information with friends or family and save it for a later time if you have a KOA Account.
Make checkout easy by booking all your reservations at once. Add your sites from different campgrounds into your shopping cart* and then choose checkout.
