New Brighton State Beach
1500 Park Ave. Capitola, California 95010
Overview
One of the most popular beach campgrounds in California, New Brighton State Beach Campground is located four miles from Santa Cruz in Capitola. With stunning views of Monterey Bay, the campsites on the hill are scattered amid the woods, with 9 premium campsites facing the ocean. Trails connect the campground to the Pacific Ocean where swimming, fishing, and beach combing await.
New Brighton State Beach Campground offers 109 family campsites in total. A maximum of 8 people including children are allowed on each campsite along with a maximum of 2 vehicles up to 36 feet in length. 11 of them feature RV or trailer hookups and there are 9 tent-only campsites and one bike-in site. The remaining sites, including the premium ones, may accommodate RVs, trailers, and tents.
All campsites at New Brighton State Beach Campground have a picnic table, fire ring with grill, and food storage locker. There are restrooms available with flush toilets, piped water, and coin-operated hot showers.
The New Brighton State Beach Campground also features three group campsites and a hike and bike campground. Dogs are permitted but must be kept on a leash no longer than six feet at all times.
Best Campsites at New Brighton State Beach
Below are Power Camper’s recommended sites if you want to have the best experience at New Brighton State Beach Campground.
Sites 1-3, 7, 14, 31, 35, 57, 59, 69, 70, 91, 92, 96
- These sites have trees for shade and ocean views.
Site 73
- This site is located on the bluff's edge and has better views than the ones around.
Sites 67 and 68
- These sites make a good 2-family combination.
Be warned!
- Sites 16-19, 23-26, 28, 29, 32, 33, 67, 68 don’t have shade.
- It is recommended you bring a shade tent.
Unique Experiences
- Dive into the nearby S.S. Palo Alto shipwreck and enjoy the teeming aquatic life
- New Brighton State Beach was historically a Chinese fishing community, and it is now a popular fishing destination for both day tourists and campers. Bring your fishing rod and roast your catch over the crackling of the midnight flames. Go fishing from the pier without a license, but Department of Fish and Wildlife limits still apply.
- Go swimming, surfing, and stand-up paddle boarding in the Pacific Ocean.
- Join the free campfire and Junior Ranger activities during the summer.
New Brighton State Beach Campground Rules
Max Trailer/RV Length
36 FeetMax People per Site
25Max Vehicles per Site
4Fires allowed?
Only in designated fire ringsPets allowed?
YesNew Brighton State Beach Reservation Information
Reservations Allowed?
Reservations Required?
YesNew Brighton State Beach Campground accepts reservations throughout the year, up to 6 months in advance of the expected date. Reservations can be made online at https://reservecalifornia.com or by calling (800) 444-PARK (7275) between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Bookings can be made at New Brighton State Beach Campground and cost $35 for standard sites, $50 for hookup sites, $50 for premium sites and $5 per person at Hike & Bike site.
Group Camping Reservations
There are 3 group campsites at New Brighton Beach. Each tent-only campsite may accommodate 9 to 25 people as well as up to 4 vehicles. The group sites are located on the campground's west side. Reservations for the group campsites can be made online at https://reservecalifornia.com or by phone between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. at (800) 444-PARK (7275). The fee for group campsites is $185.
Campsite Reservation Cancellations
If you withdraw a reservation, you will be charged a cancellation fee of $7.99 per reservation. Cancellations are accepted online or by phone at (800) 444-PARK (7275). This service is accessible from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. Customers who cancel after 6:00 p.m. the day before arrival will be charged a $7.99 cancellation fee and will forfeit the unit cost for one night as well as the $7.99 reservation fee.
New Brighton State Beach Campground Cost
Standard Campsite
$35Hookup sites
$50Premium sites
$50Activities
Fishing
Hiking
Bike Trails
Whale Watching
Surfing / Windsurfing
Snorkeling
Swimming
Canoeing / Kayaking
Amenities
RV/Trailers
Hookups
Pull Through Spots
Pet Friendly
ADA Sites
Showers
Cell Service
Campfire Rings
Grills
Picnic Tables
Campground Host
Potable Water
Visitors/Rec Center
Directions
FAQs
Nearby Campgrounds to New Brighton State Beach
Sunset State Beach
Both New Brighton and Sunset State Beach are located in bluffs with spectacular views of Monterey Bay.
Sunset State Beach has 85 campsites, divided into 3 sections which are less than the 109 campsites offered by New Brighton State Beach.
New Brighton State Beach distinguishes itself mainly from the 10 hookup campsites whereas Sunset State Beach has none. There are no premium campsites available at Sunset State Beach whereas 9 premium campsites are available at New Brighton State Beach.
Seacliff State Beach
Seacliff State Beach Campground is only for self-contained RVs and trailers. There is no tent camping, unlike New Brighton State Beach. There is no availability of group campsites and showers at Seacliff State Beach compared to those offered at New Brighton State Beach.
Full hookups are available at 26 of the campsites at Seacliff State Beach Campground, and all of their 63 sites are placed in a single row so everyone enjoys ocean views. Their sites cost $55 and $65 for hookup sites, significantly more than New Brighton which costs $35 for standard and $50 for hookups.
Manresa State Beach
The Manresa State Beach has a tent-only campground compared to New Brighton which can accommodate RVs and trailers.
Campers need to park nearby to unpack their belongings before moving their vehicles to another area for nighttime parking. The 60 campsites in the Manresa State Beach campground are far less than those 109 offered at New Brighton State Beach.
There are no group sites, dump stations, and hookups available at Manresa as opposed to all these services offered at New Brighton. In addition, Manresa is only open from mid-May through October, compared to New Brighton which is offered year-round.
Half Moon Bay State Beach
The campground at Half Moon Bay is located on Francis Beach and features 52 campsites that are appropriate for both tent and RV camping. Most sites offer electric hookups but there are no water or sewer hookups. The dump station can be used for $10, and there is potable water.
In contrast, New Brighton has some sites offering full hookups and there is no fee listed for the use of the dump station.
Both campgrounds charge $35 for a standard site and $50 for a hookup site, but Half Moon Bay’s Hike and Bike fee is $7 compared to $5 in New Brighton.
