Wake Up to Ocean Views: Camping at New Brighton State Beach

New Brighton State Beach

New Brighton State Beach is a California state beach located east of Santa Cruz. It’s about a two-hour drive south from San Francisco and just under an hour from the South Bay. Known for being less crowded, New Brighton State Beach has an interesting history—back in the 1850s, Thomas Fallon, then mayor of San Jose, purchased the area and built a seaside resort named after his favorite vacation spot in England, also called New Brighton.

One of the perks of camping here is that the campground is situated on seaside cliffs, offering stunning ocean views. You can even spot whales directly from the campsite. If you prefer staying in a hotel, there are accommodations available on the other side of the beach. The beach is only a 20-minute drive from Santa Cruz, making it a convenient base for exploring the area. Campsite reservations follow state park pricing, and a premium oceanfront campsite was recently booked for $50.

Campsite Review

• Camp Comfort: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• Camp Space: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• Facility Cleanliness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• Location Convenience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
• Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The camping environment at New Brighton State Beach is exceptionally comfortable. Although it’s located by the ocean, the campsites are shaded with trees, so it's not overly sunny. There’s no sand at the campsites, but the ground is soft enough that you don’t even need a sleeping pad.

We’ve been there twice—once at a premium campsite right next to the ocean, and another time at a site a bit farther from the shore but still on a cliff with ocean views. The premium campsites are located in the front row closest to the sea. From there, you can relax and watch the ocean and whales from a high vantage point, all from the comfort of your campsite. At night, you fall asleep to the sound of the waves.

If you choose a site a bit farther from the ocean, the sea view won’t be as close, but it tends to be a bit quieter.

Even the smaller campsites here at New Brighton State Beach offer ample space—each site’s parking area can typically accommodate around four SUVs. It’s common to see several families camping together, setting up four tents along with party tables and chairs, and still having plenty of room left. The site we stayed at the second time was exceptionally large—almost like a group site. It was spacious enough that you could probably pitch up to ten tents without any issues.

The area around the campground is very clean, and the restrooms are equipped with hot water showers. In terms of accessibility to beach trails and campground facilities, it’s a solid five-star experience—everything is just steps away. There’s a nearby path leading down to the beach, making it easy to enjoy the water.

Although the beach itself isn’t large, it’s usually uncrowded, adding to the relaxing atmosphere. That said, the nearest towns are about a ten-minute drive away, so in terms of overall convenience, I’d give it three stars. This campground is mainly ideal for those looking to unwind and enjoy the ocean views in a peaceful setting.

New Brighton Beach Trail

Right next to the campground’s Day Use Area is the beach trail—just a short two-minute walk down the path and you’ll find yourself standing on New Brighton Beach. The beach is usually quiet and uncrowded, making it a relaxing spot to enjoy the water.

Before it became a resort area, this beach was home to a small fishing village inhabited by Chinese immigrants. Historically, many Chinese immigrants came to California due to the demand for labor in building the railroads. Some of them later settled here and made a living by fishing, which is why the beach was once known as China Beach.

However, with the development of the area into a resort and the rise of anti-Chinese sentiment in the 1890s, the government eventually passed laws that prohibited fishing here. As a result, the fishing village disappeared.

Oak Trail

If you’re tired of the beach and feel like going for a hike, there’s an inland trail called the Oak Trail, with its entrance located just across from the beach access. You can also reach it by walking up a small hill from the parking lot near the beach.

This trail connects to the railroad tracks, and both sides of the tracks are shaded by trees, making it a pleasant and easy walk. The terrain is slightly elevated, offering some great vantage points where you can enjoy more expansive views of the bay.

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