Did you know there are (roughly) 100 days of camping in the summer from Memorial Day to Labor Day? Our family of nine had a fun-filled summer of exploring and camping together with our travel trailer. From northern Washington to southern California, we traveled all up and down the western United States making the most of these summer camping days. We finished up our own 100 days of camping in the Monterey Bay area and I can’t wait to share our thoughts of this great option for camping near Monterey! This article is in partnership with Thousand Trails, all opinions and experiences are my own.

camping near Monterey

It was so fun finishing up the summer camping season on the beautiful California coast. Thousand Trails Marina Dunes is the perfect place to go camping near Monterey!

what is Thousand Trails?

I talked a lot about what Thousand Trails is in this blog post, but here are some main points as a reminder:

• Thousand Trails has been around for over 50 years and is a membership-based network of campgrounds and RV resorts.
• As a Thousand Trails member you have access to over 200 locations across the United States and Canada.
• Purchase a membership Camping Pass for your desired region (Southwest, Southeast, Northwest, Northeast, or Midwest) and then you can add on more regions at discounted rates.
• You have the ability to add on the Trails Collection. This gives you access to reciprocal campgrounds across the country, giving you even more places to choose from!

| Read: Camping at Thousand Trails Grandy Creek in Washington |

location of Thousand Trails Marina Dunes

Thousand Trails Marina Dunes is in a great location on the Monterey Bay. It is conveniently located between Monterey and Santa Cruz, giving you a lot of options for family-friendly attractions in the area! The campground is also located across from the Marina Dunes Preserve. There’s even a walking trail directly from the campground to the beach!

distance of Marina Dunes from:

• Monterey Bay Aquarium, 11 miles
• Carmel-by-the-Sea, 13.8 miles
• Santa Cruz Boardwalk, 33.5 miles
• Big Sur, 38 miles
• San Francisco, 109 miles

camping options at Thousand Trails Marina Dunes

Our family loved our campsite at Thousand Trails Marina Dunes! There were trees and bushes on both sides of us and a low wall at the back of our site separating us from “Yurtville” (more on that in a minute). We felt like we had our own cozy space! We also had full hookups with a 20/30/50 amp power connection. Some spots at this option for camping near Monterey back Reservation Road (a dead end road with the Marina Dunes on the other side), and some back Highway 1. The spots backing Reservation Road are definitely quieter, however the Highway 1 noise is fairly constant and creates a nice white-noise experience. All Standard RV spots offer a fire ring, barbecue grill, and picnic table.

No tents are allowed at Thousand Trails Marina Dunes, but there are other options if you don’t have an RV or trailer. This campground also offers yurts that sleep two, or larger vacation rentals. Like the RV sites, the yurts each have a fire pit, barbecue grill, and outdoor seating. The yurts do not have self-contained bathrooms, but are conveniently located near the immaculate restroom and shower facilities. The two vacation rentals on-site are fully furnished and have a full kitchen and full bath. They even have cable television!

amenities while camping near Monterey

One of the things that stood out to me about Thousand Trails Marina Dunes was that everything was so immaculate. The office and camp store was bright and tidy. The bathrooms were secure with functioning door locks and were clean. The campsites were well maintained and gravel parking pads helped keep down the dirt.

| Read: Tips for Camping With Kids |

Our family enjoyed the clubhouse during our visit, which is in the main building where the office, restrooms and laundry facilities are. There is also a small fitness center that you can access through the clubhouse as well. Hot cocoa, tea, and coffee are available in the clubhouse area in the morning which make sit the perfect place to relax while the kids play some games that are provided. In fact, my kids had a fun time getting to know some other campers and playing board games with them!

| Read: Fun Camping Crafts for Kids |

Behind the clubhouse is a fun outdoor gathering space, with plenty of shady seating. There is also a sand volleyball court, small playground, and some cornhole games set up. You can hang out here in the evening too as you watch the sunset over the sand dunes. Our family enjoyed some beautiful sunsets during our stay at Thousand Trails Marina Dunes!

final thoughts on camping near Monterey at Thousand Trails Marina Dunes

Our family loved this camping option near Monterey and would love to go back! There is so much to do in the area that I really recommend spending several says here if you can (remember, Thousand Trails members pay no nightly fees!), but it’s also a great spot for a quick weekend getaway, like we recently did.

Don’t forget to follow along on all our family’s adventures on Instagram!