Manresa State Beach Campground

Manresa State Beach Campground is in southern Santa Cruz County, between Seacliff Beach and Sunset Beach. Visitors to Manresa Beach often find it far less crowded than its neighbors. Manresa State Beach Campground is situated on the bluffs well above the beach. Access to the beach from the campground area is via a gently sloped paved ramp. Visitors enjoy walking the shoreline, watching for wildlife, sunbathing, playing in the sand, and surf fishing.

Manresa State Beach Campground is set up for tents only. Campers may park nearby to unload their gear and then must move their vehicles to an upper lot for overnight parking. The campground's 60 campsites are arranged in 3 clusters around central lawn areas - Willow Camps, Bay Camps, and Lupine Camps.

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Manresa State Beach Campground Basics
Manresa State Beach Campground Location:	San Andreas Road off Highway 1, south of Aptos
Campground Open:	year-round
Number of Sites:	60
Max. People per Site:	8 (including children)
Vehicles per Site:	2 (one driven and one towed)
Pets:	On leash, always attended
Operated by	California State Parks
Information:	(831) 761-1795 or (831) 724-3750

Reservations for Manresa State Beach Campground
Reservations available	Manresa State Beach Campground reservations are available for camping dates from mid-May through September.
Booking Window:	Reservations are taken from 2 days up to 6 months in advance of your arrival.
wheelchair accessible Sites:	#38, 29
Fees:	Standard sites - $35
Online Reservations at ReserveCalifornia:	Manresa State Beach Campground Reservations or call (800) 444-PARK (7275) between 8 AM and 6 PM
Check-out, Check-in:	Noon, 2 PM

Manresa State Beach Campground Amenities
Campsites:	Picnic table, grill, fire ring, food storage locker, no hook-ups
Campground:	Restrooms with flush toilets, piped water, amphitheater
Showers:	Hot showers, coin operated
Dump Station:	No
Campground Map:	Manresa State Beach Campground Map
Attractions near Manresa State Beach Campground:	Relax at Manresa Beach with sunbathing, picnicking, surfing, and fishing. Explore the nearby Forest of Nisene Marks in Aptos. Head over to neighboring Seacliff Beach and Sunset Beach.

Manresa State Beach

Oregon Coast

Manresa State Beach Campground

Reviews from Previous Campers

2021 - 2024

Private sites separated by foliage.

Not too crowded.

Clean campsites.

Bring quarters for showers.

Some bathrooms not clean; some showers not well maintained.

Santa Cruz - Monterey Beach Attractions

Visitors to the Santa Cruz - Monterey coast find many wonderful attractions from popular surfing destinations around Santa Cruz to the wild and scenic Big Sur coast. Campers at Manresa State Beach Campground find a quiet beach to enjoy without the crowds.

Surfing is popular at Santa Cruz's famous Steamer Lane as well as to the south at Carmel.
Excellent pier fishing can be enjoyed at Santa Cruz's well-developed wharf as well as at the Capitola's pier and the popular Seacliff Beach pier.
For wildlife and scenery, Point Lobos State Park leads the list. There are also many more wonders to be enjoyed all the way down the Big Sur coast.
Attend the festivities on Labor Day weekend at Capitola Beach.
Visit beautiful Sand Dollar Beach and Jade Cove.
Enjoy the beauty of the waterfall at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.
See the green sand and the spectacular rocks at Pfeiffer Beach

Key Manresa State Beach Campground Regulations

Do not feed or leave food out for wildlife.
Dogs must be on leash and are not permitted on trails or the beach. At night they must be confined to a tent or vehicle.
Generators are not allowed at Manresa State Beach.
For safety, stay on the hiking trails as the canyon walls are steep.

Manresa State Beach Campground

Santa Cruz County

Manresa State Beach Campground

Santa Cruz County