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New Brighton State Beach
Categories: Active Life Parks Active Life Beaches Parks, Beaches [Edit]
1500 Park AveCapitola, CA 95010
(831) 464-6330
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
61 reviews for New Brighton State Beach
61 reviews in English
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Review from Angela W.
Saratoga, CA
8/28/2011
I can't help but give Mother Nature herself a rave review... the ocean has always been awe-inspiring for me. So when my friends invited B and I for their annual camping trip here for the second year in a row, I was excited.
The campgrounds are quite large and kept pretty clean. They have trash cans/recycling bins everywhere and plenty of restrooms and showers. The sites themselves are somewhat close together but there's enough trees and brush to give you a bit of privacy.
There's a fire pit, picnic table, and wooden storage locker at every site. As for parking, most spaces can easily fit two, if not four cars. There was a tiny snaafu with the parking arrangement thanks to the rangers at the front entrance (they assinged our friends in the wrong spot so we couldn't park by our tent... and they refused to fix it) but it wasn't a HUGE inconvenience. $10 a night for parking for extra cars, btw.
The beach itself is nic eand has lots of room for walking. If you're feeling particularly ambitious you can either walk to Capitola (about 40 mins up the railroad tracks) or along the beach in the other diection to see the old concrete ship. We did both- and let me tell you... my legs are not thanking me! -
Review from Sylvia G.
San Jose, CA
10/5/2011 2 photos
I stayed here the first weekend of October 2011. We stayed at campsite 97. It was close to the bathrooms and had a decent amount of shade during the day. I noticed some of the camp sites were a bit crammed together and not much privacy. We lucked out and had only one campsite occupied next to us. Bring something warm to sleep in because it gets pretty cold at night.
The bathrooms and showers near the day use area were much cleaner than the ones near my campsite. The picnic tables that are covered in the "campers day use area " have some electrical outlets located under the light switch.
I had a few issues. Raccoons got into our food locker at about 3 am. I got up and shoo'd them away. There was a 2-3 inch gap on the side of our food locker and they pushed all the food over and the box of eggs kept the doors a little open and they were able to stick their hands in and get food out. I cleaned up the left overs and put any food that was not in cans or bottled in the trunk of my car for the remainder of the stay. I strongly suggest you do the same. I propped my axe against the doors to prevent them from trying to get in again. I notified maintenance the next morning and they said they would fix the gap. As for the doors not closing completely, I don't believe there is a solution for that. Check your food locker for spiders before you put anything inside. I found a black widow inside of my food locker. There are spiders everywhere . All different shapes and sizes.
The park was very nice and it was very close walk to the beach and a short drive to the city. It has a beautiful view of the ocean. You can hear the ocean at night. My kids and I enjoyed our stay and will be back. The staff was very nice. -
Review from Jellyfish Z.
Oakland, CA
10/3/2011
Unfortunately, due to a mix-up (which will be outlined) I can't describe the beach or campsites, but I do have something to say about their customer service.
We arrived on Friday afternoon after a long drive (bad traffic!) from Oakland. We were out for a birthday weekend on a reservation we had made a month in advance. The only spot that was available was a wheelchair accessible when we had made the reservation but we went ahead and made it anyways. We drive up to the camp and stop to register, there is a sign that says "campground full." I cheerfully greet the two young woman inside:
Me: "Hi, we're here to check in for a reservation, last name ____ and it's in a wheelchair site."
The ladies behind the counter: "Do you have a handicap sticker or registration?"
Me (confused and ask my girlfriends in the car): "What, do we have that?"
We realize that we'd made a mistake and although it was supposedly apparent when making the reservation on ReserveAmerica, we had missed the note that said you had to be registered as handicap to have a wheelchair site.
I let the two woman know we don't have a placard and that we made an honest mistake and asked what our options were. They proceed to go on a power trip "you have no options, you made a reservation and it was wrong. We're all full and there's nothing we can do." They were obviously enjoying their role in being able to turn us away and not willing to be helpful in ANY manner. My roommate asks if we can get a "day-pass" for the evening ($10) since we had already paid online ($50) for a campsite that we were unable to use, they reply "no, it's out of our hands. Since you reserved a site that you can't use, we can't give you a day-pass and you'll have to buy one for $10." At this point, I request to speak to their supervisor who was the only saving grace of this Park.
After insisting I speak to the supervisor, they tried to dissuade me: "they'll just tell you what we have," another Park Ranger shows up. She is the only helpful and understanding one of the whole thing and tells us that these mix-ups happen frequently (campers too excited when making the reservation and don't see the fine print on ReserveAmerica). She proceeds to call Sunset Park where they honor our reservation and money we had spent and take us in for the night.
I love camping and I love to support State Parks. However, I don't want my money supporting childish, non-helpful, and snide rangers who are on power trips. What a shame to have hired those two women, but thank goodness for their understanding and helpful supervisor. -
Review from GirlRacer Z.
San Mateo, CA
9/6/2011
Pros :
-Great location
-Near the Pier
-Premium sites are nice w/ a view of ocean
-Near Capitola down town/mall....so there is unlmtd. conveniences (gas, food, stores, fishing supplies, etc.)
-Lots of bathrooms/showers
-For those who have kids, there's a kids singalong/group activity at night
Cons:
-Don't ever get a site in the middle (which I did only b/c everything else was old out)...there is way too much foot traffic through your site...yes ppl actually were walking thru our campsite....no matter how much I rearranged the chairs, car, etc.
-Half of the people staying had trailers/rv's so it would have been nice if they had a designated area away from the "real" campers......
-No privacy........I'm used to campsites having an abundance of trees but it seemed like a large portion of sites were close together (even tho some sites were fairly big), few bushes here and there, with tall trees but the bottom halves of the trees were cut so it was wide open. Only see a few sites which appeared more private.
**Verdict--- only go here if you rent a premium site or site overlooking beach. I might go here again due to its location, but it appears that they are pretty sold out on weekends as far as I could see.......
Tip: Careful there are huge black spiders (Tarantula size) not sure if poisonous but they are scarey looking! eeekkk... -
Review from Saul P.
Walnut Creek, CA
1/30/2012
Just returned from a 3 night stay at the campground. Beautiful setting, quite and peaceful, gorgeous beach and good facilities. Will be back for sure !
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Review from Jessica L.
Livermore, CA
5/20/2011
Do not come here if you're a group of teenagers, minors or not. I would not consider this a safe environment with safe rangers or employees.
My friends and I spent weeks planning on camping here for our Senior trip and the minute we get there, we're stereotyped as those typical, "unruly" teenagers (we are AP students, so I think that says a lot). Our names were all taken down along with our License plates - I don't even know if this is normal procedure or not.
Two hours later, our friends that came late were not allowed into the park because of one forged permission slip (she was a minor). Although they called both parents to get verbal consent, the park ranger not only didn't let the whole group, but he proceeded to "eject" our whole group from the beach and out of the park. He claimed that if one note was forged, all 15 some notes were forged and that even the adults had to leave.
The park ranger would not speak to us and explain to use what was going on. He said he "didn't have the time to deal with us" and that he "didn't want to talk about it" He threatened to take us to jail. He illegally searched one of our four cars. He said that we could sue them for all he cared. He clearly used his adult position to intimidate us by raising his voice, stepping right in front of us, and looking down on us.
They did not give us our money back and were left with no where to go and not enough money to get a new place. We were banned from all public west coast camp sites and like he told us to do, at the end of the day we "took our cars and went back to wherever we came from".
A parent was finally able to reach him and he said, "well I've had troubles with teenagers in the past so I just wanted to get these guys out of the way. You could tell they weren't good kids".
Way to stereotype us. Ageism ruined our whole trip. -
Review from me y.
Santa Rosa, CA
6/27/2011
Just got back from our first time at New Brighton. Stayed 4 days.
This is a popular place to camp because it proximity to the beach and Capitola so there is not a problem with filling up the park.
What that means for you; camp sites are literally crammed together, no joke. I guess if you don't mind being 5 feet( or less) from other campers, and packed in like sardines then its ok.... not me though. Besides a very poor lay-out to the camp ground, you'll notice very little camp site maintenance. Sites are basically over grown and unkept.
Overall, place seems generally safe for kids. It was crazy how around 10pm the whole park went silent every night we stayed there...
Beach access is a short hike down the bluff. Beach was nice, with bathrooms and places to rise off.
Capitola is an fairly easy and safe 20 minute cruiser bike ride.Our 9 yr old did it fine. Bike lanes for the whole route.
Rangers patrol occasionally and just kinda keep to themselves, which I actually liked.
My advice.... if you go get one of the premium sites. They are the best sites in the whole place.They are bigger, awesome ocean views, and spaced farther apart from one another.These are 5 star sites, and well worth the wait to reserve one. If you can't get one, I would wait to go until you can. -
Review from Subrosa I.
Palo Alto, CA
4/26/2011
Being dog friendly is about the only thing that this beach has going for it.
This dumpy beach is strewn with drift wood, seaweed, and random flotsam and jetsam. It is also overcrowded and suffused with smoke from too many bonfires.
Not worth the $10 admission fee.Listed in: Beaches
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Review from Jonathan J.
Emeryville, CA
8/21/2011
So we love both backpacking and car camping, so we planned a few more car camping adventures this summer than usual.
While it was nice to camp near the beach, I wasn't overly impressed with this place. Others have it right...there are just too many people crammed into one campground. The occupancy rule is not enforced here at all. Some campsites had 4 of those gigantic tents that sleep like 10 people, if they didnt have they aerobeds in them. One site right near us had at least 12 people.
It absolutely amazed me what people at this site call "camping." I dont think Ive seen anything like it. Giant trailers towed behind their trucks, loaded with furniture and gas grills, bikes, and even TVs! Yes! TVs. I saw one group sitting around the box watching some DVD.
There is a mix of camping trailers and tent campers. If the areas were separate, it might be better. I dont want to hear your TVs or listen to the generators running to power all of your toys.
I personally only liked the premium sites. Too bad they were all booked. Those would have earned 4 stars. The sites in the middle of the traffic circle are especially awful--rarely a tree and no privacy.
Pros:
*Beach nearby,
*Decent nearby parks and Santa Cruz.
*Individual bathrooms and showers that were kept pretty clean (but see below).
*Dog friendly.
Cons:
*No privacy.
*Site size is variable and there is no way to know til you get there.
*Little upkeep to the entire park--our site was a mess with trash when we got there.
*Too much noise from both people and machines
*Get ready to wait in line for your morning dump. The bathrooms are limited. -
Review from Peter F.
San Mateo, CA
4/12/2011
This is definitely a good camping destination for when you don't want to rough it too much. There are almost as many restroom/shower buildings as campsites, and downtown Capitola is maybe a mile away. The park is kept clean and firewood is sold by the friendly campground hosts at the campsites. The beach is pretty (though there's lots of houses there) and not crowded (early April) and we even spotted two dolphins frolicking in the waves. Unlike other campsites, the ever-present plant is blackberry, not poison oak. There's a variety of singing (and squawking) birds and we heard the cats, but didn't experience any raccoons.
We walked down the beach a few miles to Seacliff, a tiny little town with a great Indian buffet and not much else. Again, not roughing it much this trip.
The negatives: Highway 1 is very close and pretty noisy almost all night. We were there to pitch our tents, but the RVs were there to share their bright lights and country music (OK, one of them did, but all it takes is one). There are no walk-in or more secluded campsites, so this is not a good choice if you're up for a peaceful, quiet camping experience. -
Review from Eric J.
12/12/2010
Most of the other reviews have said it all!
Within 2 hours from most cities in the bay area, awesome place to spend the day or even better a few nights. Very popular, even during late fall and winter.
If you are camping, be sure to secure your food. If the raccoons don't get into it, the many feral cats will! -
Review from Maureen G.
Stockton, CA
7/2/2011
Many summer days were spent here during our years of family vacations to the Santa Cruz area. It's quite a trek down to the beach but well worth the effort. The last time I visited we came with several families and built a huge bonfire from found wood. We have yet to camp here since I can't stay up all night waiting for just the right moment and time to book the site on line. Looking for a great trip while visiting Santa Cruz, Capitola or Monterey? This would be a great pic! Don't forget to pack at least 2 meals, lots of water and layers of clothes as nights can be very cool.
Listed in: Santa Cruz, CA
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Review from meg w.
Chicago, IL
6/21/2010
I've spent many hours at this beach over the past few weeks, happily bobbing about in waves, napping in the sun, eating sand-encrusted lunches.
Cinzia and Reno are in their glory here, thanks to wetsuits (water = cold) I've never seen Reno so alive. I believe my family's first generation of surfers may have hatched.
I saw dolphins here, frolicking perhaps 30 feet away, while I peacefully bobbed upon my board. It was amazing. There was no glass wall separating us. This was not some huge aquarium, yay.
Then some idiot yelled *shark*
there wasn't one, but the damage was already done. -
Review from Ashleigh B.
Capitola, CA
8/12/2011
I haven't spent much time at this beach but when I have gone I really enjoyed it!! I felt like it wasn't quite as windy as some of the other beaches and I heard it's a good place for kayaking??? And it's dog friendly.
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Review from Dar D.
San Jose, CA
9/20/2009 4 photos
Well the good news....looks as if New Brighton State Beach is one of the few State parks that has little or no chance of being closed! The popularity and year round use of the park apparently is enough to not have it on the chopping block. Yay! Boo, that if it becomes one of only a handful open; it will become even harder to book a camping site then it is right now! Bummer!
This review is for the campgrounds. My first time there and I must say that I thought the park staff were pretty outstanding keeping bathrooms well stocked with TP and showers pretty clean. The campgrounds, well I'm not going all out on 5 stars because there were just too many sites, that I don't know that I would happy with, but I'm sometimes a little fussy with having a bit of privacy when camping. So I've broken my review of sites etc. down by a few different categories.
Size by my definition: (s) particularly small; one tent at most. (L) particularly large site that could accommodate several large tents. (see my pics for examples) Most sites are a good medium size most likely get a couple of tents.
Premium sites: #73 (L), awesome site, right on the bluff with gorgeous views. #75, 76, 78, very nice sites, no shade, again right on bluff, great views but these 3 sites are very close to each other with little privacy. # 79, 82, 87, 88 all (L), no shade where table/fire pit are, on bluff, but large sites means bluff is farther away. #90, have no idea why this is considered premium. Very long and narrow, table/fire pit right on road so little or no privacy at all/with no shade; but if you walk through site all the way to bluff you can tell that folks have set up their tents in right along bluff
where there is some shade etc.
These are sites I thought offered a fair amount of privacy i.e. usually had at least 2-3 side of bushes/trees to block views from other campsites or a well placed tent might also offer a bit more privacy from. Pls note that many of these sites had RV/trailers in them so site might have appeared more private then it really was. Sites #1, 2,3,7,14, 31 (L), 35, 57, 69, 70, 91, 92 (s), 96 (s). Sites 67/68 are fairly private from the rest of the camp but not from one another and very sloped sites. #111 seemed fairly private as well but close to the main road.
These sites in particular are very close together as in it would be most conducive to "knowing" your neighbors! Sites 16/17, 18/19, 23/25, 24/26, 28/29, 32/33, 67/68.
These sites are VERY unshaded, so you may want to consider bringing your own. Sites # 5,6,8-12, 36, 37 (L), 38-40, 43, 65 (L), 77 (L).
Lastly large (L) sites that are not considered "group" sites, yet could accommodate many tents that were not mentioned above: 27, 65, 97, 100, 102, 103, 104, 106. I find this significant only that if you are camping with several families or parties, it might be necessary to book multiple sites where one or two of these large ones might do the trick.
A couple other notes. Wood is $8 per bundle, good size, decent deal. I definitely wouldn't tent camp in the RV/hook up sites, but saw folks doing it. Walk down to beach is steep but well paved and plenty of great views just going 1/2 way down. Didn't think the beach was really "clean" but at least it's not trash, but see debris such as seaweeds etc.
Overall, the fact that you can camp amongst the trees and walk down to the beach during the day makes this place awesome. And like my review of Big Sur, though there are preferences to sites depending your needs....even the worst site (#23...because its so open to main path for 1/2 campground to get to beach) would be better then not enjoying this park at all!Listed in: Different Dog Adventures!!!!
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Review from Samantha R.
San Francisco, CA
7/5/2009
DISCLAIMER: IF YOU OWN A CAMPER OF ANY KIND AND HAVE NOT STAYED HERE, YOU ARE AN IDIOT...that is all.
I never understood the camper-camping ideal. Do people go to a car dealership thinking, "I want to camp, but I don't want to sleep in a tent outside...or poop in the woods...or cook over a fire...yeah, I would like a bathroom and a kitchen...But not a hotel...if I make my own bed and stuff, that's roughing it?"
My aunt bought one of those fancy ones about a decade back...Dude.... That is not camping, but whatever it is--me likey. Crown molding, king sized bed, matching wood cabinet treatments for the cabinets and fridge, marble tiling... Given the poor state of the economy, I'm thinking about renting that thing out and being the first person to make others envy living in a trailer.
But I digress...People subconsciously get trailers to go to New Brighton. 30 bucks a night, panoramic ocean views, and luxury. You are close enough to Capilola/Aptos to do things other than sit around a fire and read, but you are also far enough away from civilization to just enjoy the forest AND the beach (two things that are usually not in walking distance that are now in your front yard).
Definitely look into it. Book hella in advanced though, the word is starting to spread and this place is getting hard to get into. I think you can tent camp here too, but you would feel like a total whack @$$ being surrounded by the macho RVs. -
Review from S J.
Livermore, CA
8/15/2010 1 Check-in Here
We keep coming back although it is not quite as nice as when our son was younger. It's a really good campground for families even with young kids. The bathrooms have hot water and it's very close to grocery stores and medical help. Kids love hanging out at the beach and enjoying the evening group of kids that ride scooters and bikes around the grounds. My husband always comments on the playground atmosphere.
There is a low key Junior Ranger program for 7-12 year olds on Thursdays and Saturdays.
What I've noticed the last couple of times (we usually camp here 2x per summer) is that there is little ranger interaction with campers. The rules on noise, number of people and vehicles per site are not enforced. Many sites, posted as max 8 people, are essentially used as group sites - which means lots of noise. I understand that people are trying to save money and that there are only a few official group sites but on our last trip most of the sites had 3-5 vehicles with groups that appeared far larger than 8 people. We did have a ranger come around in the AM warning us that a small Honda generator and a bike had been stolen the night before. Otherwise we only saw the volunteer campground hosts checking tags. On Saturday the bathroom also ran out of TP thankfully we always carry our own. Possibly the state budget cuts have caused some of this.
Regarding Dar D's thorough review, I want to point out that although some sites may be nicely private, they also have freeway noise. Many of the lower digit numbers back to houses and are near the group sites, which can be very noisy. Also sites on the main thoroughfares and near the picnic area have frequent cars in and out and are not really safe for campers with little kids. I would personally recommend choosing a less private site with less traffic. Overall, there is not much privacy at this campground but kids always have a good time here. -
Review from Rox M.
San Leandro, CA
3/25/2007
I spend many of my Sundays beaching. 3/25/07 was no exception. I should write a little California Beach Travel Book titled, "Travels In My Truck. The 411 on California's Beaches." By: Rox M.
Believe it or not I had not actually planned on going to the beach this Sunday. When I checked Yahoo! weather on Saturday night, it claimed that it was going to be 'Mostly Cloudy.' Imagine my disappointment.
But then today, Sunday morning, what was there but some sun after 9AM. I had previously planned on maybe catching a flick at the theatre. But since there was some sun....NAH!! Forget the movies!!
I belong in the sunshine by the water. I decided to explore some beaches that I hadn't visited previously. New Brighton State Beach was the main one. It's very easy to access off of Highway 1 South. You will pay a $6.00 state parking fee at the kiosk, then drive down to a fairly large parking lot. As you walk towards the beach, you won't really see the beach, but ahhh.....you will hear it!!
You'll walk down some stairs, and then there you are. This is a wide and peaceful beach. The weather was mild when I went. The water was, of course, cold, but not too cold to walk in. Too cold to swim in?? Yes!!
There were people all over the beach, but spaced out, so it didn't appear to be super crowded at all. The bathrooms are decent too.
Lots of natural rocks can be found by the shore. The sand is golden in the water, black in some areas outside of the water, and there is some super soft sand off the shore.
The water was slighty reminescent of Bay water, in that there was no roaring surf. But it definitely was not Bay water!! And I did see two folks kayaking far in the distance.
The water was beautiful. I didn't stay more than an hour and a half. I wasn't dressed to go beaching. I looked more like I should have been attending a cocktail party. Haha.
I took a long walk from the beach entrance almost to the pier/sunken boat area, but not all the way, and then back. Will save that for next time. I did stop and sit for a while to take in the atmosphere. It's a long wide beach my friends!! -
Review from Nine N.
San Jose, CA
7/14/2010 1 photo
2 stars for the better than other beaches bathroom (there are three stalls instead of one)..
-3 stars for the non-spectacular view; the dirty foamy sea water (i was scared to stick my body in the water); and last but not least, the grumpy park rangers who are supposed to collect the $10 fee as you enter state beach to park.
oh, and negative on the dead kelp with NASTY flies all over!! next time i will head the other way and just drive the extra miles to monterey, pacific grove or carmel (SOOO much more worth it!) -
Review from Ron L.
Concord, CA
4/1/2010
This place holds many memories for me. Growing up in the Central Valley, we camped here every two years. Going to sleep hearing the waves at the bottom of the bluff . . . campfire programs . . . walking down that long curved driveway to get to the beach . . . sea creatures to the right, the cement ship waaaaaay down to the left . . . "sheep cliff" . . . look out for the poison ivy . . .
So when my first baby was born, my wife and I wanted to take her camping. New Brighton was her first spot, age 7 months. If something bad happened to her, Dominican Hospital is only a few miles away. Nothing bad happened, and she loved it.
Yes, it's in the middle of metro Santa Cruz, surrounded by suburbia. Freeway 1 is close to the border. But this is real camping. Dirt and trees everywhere, room for tents and trailers, and look out for the poison ivy. Except for the occasional train, you cannot see or hear anything of the surrounding civilization. They also have showers available, if you need to wash off and would rather not brave the cold ocean.
The beach is great, too. If you're not camping here, you can park just off of Park Blvd., walk across the railroad tracks into the parking lot, and you're there. Being Northern California, the water is cold, so beware.
Reserve early . . . September and October are the warmest months . . . look out for the poison ivy . . . -
Review from Kursten O.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
6/7/2010
This is a breathtakingly gorgeous place to camp. We paid a few extra dollars to get a spot facing the ocean and it was soooo worth it! The facilities are kept clean for a state beach, they clean the bathrooms in the morning. They have pretty strict generator hours which I think contributes to the serenity of the place.
Our only complaint is about the showers. The water pressure was so low that I could spit harder then it sprayed. And the water temperature was not adjustable! They charge .25 for 2 minutes. I spent .12 waiting for the lukewarm water to come out :(Listed in: Camping trip up hwy 1
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Review from Mira G.
San Jose, CA
9/21/2007
This is one of my favorite beaches to visit with my dogs. A leash is required, but as long as there is not a ranger on the prowl my dogs are cruising without it.
This past weekend myself, my dogs and seven friends camped at New Brighton and it was a BLAST. There are camping areas on the bluffs above the beach. There are prime camping sites that overlook the ocean, but they were scooped up by the time we made our reservations.
The weather was AWESOME and sunny all weekend. Bugs were not an issue. The only critters we saw were raccoons that stole four of my cupcakes off of our picnic table. Damn raccoons!
We had group sites 26/27 which were located right next to the restrooms. It kinda sucked always having strangers spying on us every time they had to use the Lou. FYI, the bathrooms are fully operational WITH a flush toilet and sink. There are also coin operated showers that will run you about .25 for 3 minutes.
It's about 10pm, campfire is raging and champagne is flowing. We had surprised my friend with a wig party camping style. Considering how loud and obnoxious we were being, not one person or ranger complained. A final camping trip for a summer that was not long enough.
P.S. The drive home is only 30 minutes. Yay for that! -
Review from Amy F.
Carmichael, CA
10/28/2011
We love this campground for its great location. Unfortunately it is really crowded and can be especially crowded during the summer - to the point where people are walking or riding their bikes through our site. When it is not so crowded, the facilities are fine, the ocean is a short walk away (you can hear it from your site), and the park itself is close to amenities and Capitola. I would strongly suggest reservations and a careful look at the map to choose the most secluded spot possible (the ones on the main throughways can get a little crazy/loud). Overall, we love the park and always try to stay here at least once a year.
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Review from Nichole M.
Fresno, CA
8/7/2006
We camp here with the family in August. I'm not much of a camping girl, nor a camping girl in fucking AUGUST, but this place is the exception!
You are on a bluff overlooking a beach. It's the north end of Monterey. You can take a lil walk down, and ta da you're at the beach! It's high was 70 this year, and that is much warmer than last year! It's about 10 miles away from the boardwalk, and a very fun flea market.
One night we were there they had this beautiful Polynesian music playing. It was so incredible to see this ladies perform. Where can you get that camping???
But it is camping. Don't get me wrong, I didn't bring my blow dryer here! They have many bathrooms and decent showers. We were the *loud* ones camping, so I guess when we're not there it would be really peaceful.
I would definitely recommend this place for a camping trip. -
Review from kate r.
San Francisco, CA
7/25/2007
LEGALLY BONFIRE UNTIL 10PM
-$6 Parking day use fee
-About 7 or so bonfire pits
-Hepatitis-filled bathrooms, I'd rather pee in the ocean
-Short walk from the beach to the parking lot
-CHEAP DATEListed in: places to see.
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Review from C G.
San Jose, CA
6/3/2008
We love this place! It's not far from San Jose which is mighty convenient. It has a small trail that takes you down to the beach where you can just relax and enjoy yourself all day long... with your dog too (as long as they are on lead).
The campgrounds are always well kept and have all the modern amenities for superb car camping. They have clean flush toilets (Yay!), hot showers (bring quarters), fire ring (you can buy wood there), table and conveniently located water spigots for dish washing and such. The best spots are sites 69-82 that overlook the ocean... but they are hard to come by. You have to make reservations far in advance to camp in the summer too... just pre-plan and you are A-OK. It's worth the effort for this beautiful spot. -
Review from Rita R.
Santa Clara, CA
11/30/2008
I used to take my kids camping here when they were younger and we always enjoyed it. The campsites are clean and the location is convenient for people living in the Bay Area - why drive 3 or more hours to camp when this gem is so close to home?
In recent years it has become a favorite beach for me and my dogs to spend some time "away from it all". The beach is is somewhat protected from the weather and it is "too crowded" only on holiday weekends and very hot summer days.
Bring a picnic lunch or food to barbeque because once you get here, you'll want to spend the day. -
Review from terry h.
San Jose, CA
8/18/2008
We used to come here as a family all of the time when I was young and everytime we came I loved it. It has everything. Great camping, dogs are allowed to do almost whatever. Please don't let them poop will ya'. Clean up after your little angel.
The bluffs that are in the background are really beautiful and the beach long and smooth for long. long walking. It is a true beach park gem in the California Park System and it gets really crowded so make reservations early in the year for the best spots and times.
It's great during the winter when no one is here but in the summer it really turns nice in the afternoon when all the fog burns off. No trails, lots of poison oak so stay out of the blackberry patches. It isn't worth it.
Unlike many other parks, the rangers are pretty cool. Why I do not know? It must be in the water I guess. You can stay up late and talk or cook or play dominoes. Whatever! And the bug issue doesn't seem to be that bad except for the yellow jackets. They can smell that meat and they go crazy.
If you are a kid, teenager, young adult, this is a great beach campout for you because people leave you alone to talk and be with your friends in peace. -
Review from mike b.
Southlake, TX
3/9/2008
Only camping spot on the beach within spitting distance of Santa Cruz (allright, Capitola).
And when the couple times a year huge storm blows in and the waves are too big everywhere else, New Brighton goes off! -
Review from Lil B.
Oakland, CA
6/20/2008
I love a good beach and this one is a gem. The cliffs are beautiful and I had numerous sightings of dolphins, various birds circling in the distance, a little lizard, and seals (or sea lions?). Absolutely gorgeous.
This beach is very family-oriented. There are a lot of little kids running around which was ok for me. The downside was all of the seaweed strewn around, which felt a little dirty to me, but was not that big of a deal. Parking was easy but cost $6 for the day. If you want to skip out on the parking fee, I hear there's free parking on Coronado St. nearby and a convenient path that leads down to the beach from there.
Also, the park service reps walk the beach. I saw them fine some people who brought beer in their cooler. They had to dump all of the beers and throw the cans away. That's kind of a drag.
I will definitely visit this beach again. -
Review from John P.
Hollister, CA
Updated - 7/13/2008
Just stayed here again for 4 days.
Good times and nothing but. I love camping here. The staff seems pretty lax about the 2 car and 8 person max. We had upwards of 12 people and 5 cars without any problems.
I love this place!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/21/2007
My favorite place to camp and go in the summertime.
Great location.
Friendly staff.
Safe part of the… Read more »
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Review from Anthony K.
San Francisco, CA
7/20/2008
This place is excellent for summer camping.
Our neighbors were nice and lent us oil since we forgot to bring some.
Our group bbq'd till late, 12 am, then decided to head to the beach. We had no trouble being on the beach after the 10pm curfew because it was too foggy above the beach for patrols to look down.
I always get excited for being on the beach at night. It was also fairly epic seeing the houses lined up next to the sand a little bit down the coastline. -
Review from Meia M.
San Francisco, CA
4/3/2011
Just went here over the weekend. Luckily, the weather was great.
I booked 1 month in advance and had the last available spot. This campground definitely tends to fill up fast! There are some spectacular sites with ocean views that I imagine are booked out way in advance.
My site was spacious. I did not feel like I was on top of any other party. This was really fantastic for a state park. Also, the campground was filled with younger party goers that were responsible. Therefore, this might be a good place to go if you want to make a little noise.
25 cents bought me 2 minutes of warm shower! Also, the views are spectacular in the group day use area.
Lots of dogs and pretty dog friendly overall.
My only complaint is due to parking. When booking on reserve america it stated " 2 vehicles per campsite". We had 4 cars and two campsites. As it turned out, reserve america's fine print states 1 car and 1 towed in vehicle.The reservation office is open 7-5pm. Since I arrived at 5.30pm, I had to deal with campground parking police at 8am. Basically, I booked an extra site just for the two cars ( we weren't using it otherwise) and I still had to pay $20 per night for our extra two cars. Bonus, they only take cash. The staff was reasonably nice about this issue but pretty much non-empathetic to their poor website feature that caused the mess! So beware of that! -
Review from Brenda M.
Tracy, CA
12/8/2010
Enjoyed our stay here. The view is great and if you're lucky, you can see dolphins playing in the water. Nice campgrounds, we will be back.
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Review from Rachel A.
4/17/2007 4 photos
Newbies welcome, New Brighton State Beach is an excellent camp site to convert city girls into camping champions. There are really clean toilets and showers here. I call it fake camping but it's as close as I am going to get to real camping for now. I need to be broken in slowly.
We went camping on the rainiest of all days. I was skeptical of going but uncontrollable conditions such as this are what help constitute camping as roughing it. The sun did come out eventually and we used that opportunity to pitch our tents as well as set up shop.
There are countless grills and picnic tables available as well as water spouts and your very own fire pit. This makes for excellent bbqing and campfire shenanigans. The beach is minutes away within hiking distance. Consider it your own private beach. Bonfires and dogs are allowed on the beach but horses and cars are not. The beach is absolutely beautiful and many were taking advantage of the waves by boogie/wake boarding. When nighttime hits, you'll be falling asleep to the sounds of the Pacific Ocean.
Things I learned from camping at New Brighton: flip burgers from front to back instead of left to right, you can make your own bbq sauce (from salsa, ketchup, 2 beers, salt, pepper, salsa, teriyaki sauce, mustard, grill seasoning...) from pretty much anything you've got on the table, dress warm because it gets very cold in April, dogs can choke on rice and miniature marshmallows don't really cut it when you are trying to make smores and roast the marshmallows on a stick.
I thought I would have a Jessica Simpson moment camping but New Brighton State Beach is so friendly even those who need Camping For Dummies can survive a weekend here.Listed in: Let's Go Parking
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Review from Caroline I.
Santa Clara, CA
5/15/2008
This is my favorite beach in the South Bay! I haven't camped here before, just been here for the beach access. Parking's $6 for the day and only once has it ever been full. When you go, park on the right side near the cliffs...your car will be in the shade all day long.
I've been to New Brighton a few times now and each time it's been wonderful. The people at this beach tend to be less "touristy" since most of them go to the Boardwalk or downtown Capitola. The sign says dogs are welcome on leash, but I had my dog off leash yesterday, and as long as your dog is well-behaved, no one seems to mind. Surprisingly, the water wasn't even that cold yesterday as well! I usually scream when even just my toes get wet, but I went in all the wait to my waist yesterday. That's big for me. Oh yeah, and the dog jumped into the ocean for a swim for the first time yesterday too. -
Review from Pat W.
Roseville, CA
12/13/2010
Just spent 3 glorious nights in a premium site right on the bluff. WOW...Oh by the way we TENT camp it has clean showers and bathrooms. The beach was clean also and our dogs loved it.
Only problem is the big motorhomes run their generators for hours, very noisy and rude. -
Review from Ali A.
Stockton, CA
1/20/2011
Summers don't count for me unless I take a few day trips a month to this beach. If you're lucky enough to find the spot where my girlfriend and I used to plop ourselves on our Sunday beach days, you'll be left in (relative) peace... it's definitely not one of the busier beaches, I would say. No sand getting kicked up your face (go down to the Boardwalk for that), no fear of dropping your iPod player in the sea (go to Natural Bridges for that fun time).... just pure relaxation.
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Review from Diana R.
Newark, CA
3/4/2007
I love this place. Milla does too, my pug! We have been there twice and it has always been really nice. Great place to go for a long walk. Milla loves running in the sand and keeping away from the water. There are lots of dogs there, beyond a certain point they can be without their leash.
I remember coming here, before Milla, to visit friends who were camping and it seemed like a fun place to go camping too. I have only been camping out in the valley, where it's hot, dry, did I say HOT, this place seemed like a nice change.
The water is COLD, but isn't it cold everywhere in the "Bay Area". I have given up trying to find a warm beach to actually go swimming in...only in Hawaii and Portugal! But this is a great place to hang out!
****OMG We went there this weekend and there were so many dead birds all over. I'm thinking there might have been some kind of spill or something, but then again maybe some drunken youngsters feeding the birds something they shouldn't have! It was sad, I spotted 6 birds and a set of wings...ewh! -
Review from Eilo B.
San Jose, CA
7/2/2010
One of the best beaches for the 4th of July celebration. A couple years back some idiots aimed their fireworks to the hills rather than the ocean and caught the hill on fire. Other than running up there and jumping on the fire to put it out, it was the most amazing fireworks display that I have ever seen. It sort of looks like a war zone... Highly recommended.
