Manresa State Beach

205 Manresa Uplands Rd, Watsonville, CA 95076, United States

Contact: 8317611795

http://www.parks.ca.gov/manresa

$35per night

RV/TrailersThis campground does NOT allow RVs or Trailers

This campground has NO Electric hookups

This campground has NO sewer hookups

This campground has NO water hookups

This campground has showers on site

This campground is pet-friendly. Bring your pals!

This campground does NOT have accessibility campsites and features

Updated 2024-07-16

Overview

The waves of the beach are hypnotically relaxing, and you’ll find this to be true with some time spent at Manresa State Beach. The peaceful beach allows for plenty of opportunities for fishing, boogie boarding, surfing, or simply just enjoying the sunsets.

Located in Monterey Bay near Watsonville in Santa Cruz County, from Highway 1 south of Aptos, take San Andreas Road southwest for four miles then turn right on Sand Dollar Road, then turn left towards the campground.

Manresa State Beach Campground has 64 walk-ins, tent-only sites located on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The campground is divided into 3 sectors; Willow, Bay, and Lupine. Each site that can host a maximum of 8 people has a table, fire pit, and a food locker. There are pay showers so bring plenty of quarters.

You have to park at the lower lot to unload your gear and then move your vehicle to the upper lot, so you might want to bring a dolly or wagon.

Manresa is pet-friendly, and dogs on a six-foot leash are permitted within the campground as well as on the beach.

There are no group campsites, and Manresa is open from mid-May through to October.

Best Campsites at Manresa State Beach

Below are Power Camper’s recommended sites if you want to have the best experience at Manresa State Beach Campground.

Campsites 10-27

Proximity to lawn areas
Sites 25, 26, 11, and 10 are in proximity to showers and pay showers
Site 10 is large and can accommodate 3-4 big tents
Site 27 is in proximity to the campfire center

Campsites 28, 29, 55, 64, 63

Sites 28 and 29 are wheelchair-accessible
Proximity to lawn areas
55, 64, and 63 are in proximity to the restrooms and pay showers

Unique Experiences

Let your children participate in the Junior Lifeguard program to learn lifesaving, fitness, and water safety to children.
Enjoy bonding with friends and or family over a picnic using the tables at the beach.
Get a few friends and go fishing for halibut, perch, bass, starry flounder, or surf smelt.
If you’re fascinated by spirituality, visit the Avalon Visions Center for Creative Spirituality.
Go surfing and catch a few waves.
Relax and let a variety of birds sing to you at the shores of the beach
Cheer on your kids to win a medal or two at the annual Sandman Triathlon, Duathlon & Kids’ Fun Run
Get acquainted with a variety of plants and wildlife at the beach

Manresa State Beach Campground Rules

Max People per Site

Fires allowed?

Only in designated fire rings

Pets allowed?

Yes

Manresa State Beach Reservation Information

Reservations Allowed?

Reservations Required?

Yes

Reservations at Manresa State Beach can be made at any time, depending on the campsite you’d like to stay at. All 64 campsites can be reserved on a first-come-first-served basis at least six months before your due date of arrival. Your reservation, however, is to be made between 6 months and two days from the day of your arrival.

Camping fees are $35 a night and you can make reservations online at www.parks.ca.gov or by calling (800) 444-7275 between 8 AM and 6 PM.

Ensure you have the following information to make a reservation:

Park selections
Date you wish to start camping
Type and size of camping equipment
Number of people that will occupy the campsite
Number of nights you wish to camp
Alternative park and camping date choices
Your phone number and area code
Method of payment/Credit card number and expiration date
Mailing address

Group Camping Reservations

There are no group campsites at Manresa State Beach. However, a maximum of 8 people per tent site is allowed, so feel free to book multiple adjacent sites.

Campsite Reservation Cancellations

All year round and two days before your day of arrival, you can make your reservations through ReserveCalifornia or by phone: 1-800-444-PARK (7275). You’d have to pay a $7.99 cancellation fee as a penalty if a cancellation is made after 6 PM on the day of arrival.

Manresa State Beach Campground Cost

Standard Campsite

$35

Activities

Fishing

Hiking

Bike Trails

Swimming

Photography

Surfing / Windsurfing

Amenities

RV/Trailers

Hookups

Pull Through Spots

Pet Friendly

ADA Sites

Showers

Cell Service

Wifi

Amphitheater

Picnic Tables

Potable Water

Campfire Rings

Manresa State Beach Campground Map

VIEW IN FULL SCREEN

Directions

FAQs

Is Manresa State Beach camping open?

Are bonfires allowed at Manresa beach?

Does Manresa State Beach have restrooms?

Nearby Campgrounds to Manresa State Beach

Sunset State Beach

Being both beach-facing campgrounds, Sunset State Beach is similar to Manresa State Beach, with the key difference being that Sunset State Beach has RV and trailer sites. You enjoy the same activities at both beaches, from surfing and sports to picnics and beachcombing.

As a plus, Sunset State Beach has bottled-nosed dolphins and even whales as attractions to enjoy. Interestingly, Sunset State Beach & Manresa State Beach have the same admission fee.

There are 90 Campsites at Sunset State beach as opposed to Manresa’s 64. ** **

New Brighton State Beach

It costs the same to stay at New Brighton State Park. The New Brighton Beach, however, has more bluff campgrounds and sheltered coves. New Brighton State Beach has more to offer, with RV sites offering hookups, 3 group campsites, and a hike and bike site, all of which Manresa does not.

New Brighton also has over 100 sites compared to Manresa’s 64.

Andrew Molera State Park

Aside from being a park, the Andrew Molera State Park differs from Manresa State Beach with attractions like a hiking trail and horseriding tours.

Additionally, Andrew Molera State Park doesn’t allow dogs in the campground and has only 24 walk-ins, and tent-only sites compared to Manresa’s 64. Although there are also no group sites at Andrew Molera, unlike Manresa State Beach, there are two hike and bike sites. Andrew Molera costs $30, while Manresa costs $35.

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

This large campground is nestled inland with hiking trails and fern-lined creeks significantly different from Manresa’s beach scenery. It also has 189 campsites, including 2 group campsites, a hike & bike site, and trailer and RV sites, all of which are absent at Manresa State Beach.

They, however, share the similarity of offering activities like surfing and fishing and have the exact cost per night; $35.