Seacliff State Beach Parking and Campground, located in Aptos, California, offers a unique camping experience with its beachfront location and the iconic SS Palo Alto "cement ship". This campground provides RV camping opportunities, access to a beautiful beach, and a variety of recreational activities, making it an ideal destination for those seeking a memorable coastal getaway.
Environment: Seacliff State Beach Campground is situated directly on the beach, offering campers stunning views of Monterey Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The campground's unique feature is the SS Palo Alto, a historic concrete ship that was intentionally sunk and now serves as a fishing pier and breakwater. The surrounding area boasts a beautiful coastline with opportunities for wildlife viewing, including seabirds, seals, and even whales during migration season.
Services and Facilities: Seacliff State Beach Parking and Campground offers a range of services and facilities to enhance visitor experience:
Activities and Features: Staying at Seacliff State Beach Parking and Campground provides access to a variety of activities and features:
Campground Promotion Information:
Seacliff State Beach Parking and Campground is a true gem of the California coast, offering visitors a chance to experience the beauty of Monterey Bay, explore a unique historical landmark, and enjoy a variety of outdoor activities. Come and discover the magic of Seacliff for yourself!
Picnics
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Barbecue grill
Picnic tables
Public restroom
Credit cards
Debit cards
Good for kids
Good for kids birthday
Dogs allowed
I visited Seacliff State Beach in the afternoon to catch the sunset. The area itself is quite scenic, with a long stretch of beach and parking to accommodate visitors. One notable aspect is the sunken ship just off the shore, which adds a unique charm and made for some great sunset photos. However, I was disappointed to learn find the pier is no longer there—it was apparently damaged by a storm about a year ago. While the beach's natural beauty makes up for it, I had been hoping for a walk along the pier and to get some pics with the sun setting behind it, and be able to get closer to the sunken ship The facilities left something to be desired. The restroom I used was out of toilet paper, though fortunately, I didn’t need it. It wasn’t dirty per se, but I wouldn’t call it clean either. No soap was provided, which was a bit of a letdown if you want to clean your hands - luckily i had some hand wipes with me. On the positive side, the beach has plenty of picnic areas with pavilions and BBQ spots, making it a great place for a family outing or gathering. Despite the small inconveniences, the sunset views made the trip worthwhile.
Got lucky and there was a cancelation for a two night stay. We booked it immediately. It is very hard to get a spot with hookups here. I hate the price of gas but it may bring more cancellations. This beach just brings the BP down as soon as you get there. One of my happy places.
Such a great place to take the kids. I can't wait to book a campsite right next to the beach and really enjoy it. They're booked solid in advance so I'll plan for 2021.
I am updating my review after some visits to this place. We discovered this beach has a long shoreline that can be traveled by car. There are many BBQ areas and available restrooms. The restrooms are still requiring more attention, but they can still serve the needs of the beach goers. There are plenty of parking spots, but I would recommend coming very early or close to the sunset to have a parking space closer to the beach.
Only stay here if you're rich, white, and entitled. They should rename this park Rich White Sardines. It's a glorified parking lot on the ocean full of insanely expensive motorhome, full of really grumpy people. The park rangers here definitely know where their money is coming from and had no hesitancy to wake my family up at 8 am to tell us to leave because our camper van "must have its own washroom facilities." I think because we have a fairly old model camper van that looks a bit silly next to the million dollar RV next to us... We simply weren't welcome here. I have searched the website and haven't seen any mention of a regulation like this. Not sure why these people would spend so much on their RVs to just end up in a parking lot ten feet from each other, and with some of the worst kept bathrooms and showers I've seen. Never again.