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Carmel By the River RV Park
Overview
Overview
Carmel By the River RV Park provides a peaceful, nature-focused escape tucked away in a scenic valley near the central California coast. This property offers a quiet park atmosphere that emphasizes relaxation and natural beauty. Unlike busy, high-density resort parks, it provides a more intimate setting where travelers can retreat after a day of exploring the rugged coastline. It serves as an ideal base camp for those who appreciate a slower pace while visiting one of California’s most famous regions.
Location & Surroundings
Situated along the Carmel River, the park is positioned in a serene valley setting just a short drive from the historic village of Carmel-by-the-Sea. The location provides a distinctive riverfront charm, surrounded by lush vegetation and towering trees that offer a sense of seclusion. Guests will find themselves minutes away from the dramatic vistas of the Pacific coastline, while still enjoying the protection and quietude that this inland valley location provides against the coastal winds.
Amenities & Park Features
The park is designed to accommodate a variety of setups, offering full hookup sites that simplify the camping experience for long-term travelers and short-term visitors alike. The grounds are meticulously maintained to ensure a comfortable stay, featuring clean restrooms and shower facilities. Guests can enjoy the outdoors at their sites, as the park’s layout promotes a relaxing environment. The facility is well-suited for those who prioritize convenience and consistent services during their travels along the scenic Highway 1 corridor.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Visitors have easy access to the world-renowned Monterey Peninsula, including the iconic 17-Mile Drive and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Nature enthusiasts can spend their time exploring the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, famous for its breathtaking hiking trails and wildlife viewing opportunities. Additionally, the nearby village of Carmel-by-the-Sea offers boutique shopping, art galleries, and diverse dining options that capture the unique cultural spirit of the area. There is no shortage of coastal beauty to explore nearby.
Who This Park Is Best For
This RV park is best for travelers seeking a tranquil getaway rather than those looking for massive water parks or extensive recreation centers. It is perfect for couples, solo travelers, and retirees who want to be close enough to experience the excitement of Carmel and Monterey but prefer to retreat to a quiet, natural environment at night. If you value a peaceful atmosphere and a central location for exploring the California coast, this park will meet your travel style perfectly.
Features & Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Discounts
- Facility
- Internet
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
Reviews
Aide Torres
We were driving from Arizona to Oregon and needed a place to stay for the night. Booking online was quick and easy, and I called ahead to make sure a late check-in would be okay and it wasn’t a problem at all. When we arrived, we pulled right into our campsite and had everything we needed for the night. The campsite was clean and well maintained. For us, the bathrooms and showers were especially important so we could freshen up before getting back on the road and they were great! Like someone mentioned, you’ll need to press the shower button every 40–60 seconds to keep the water running. It wasn’t a big deal. Overall, we had a great experience! 🚐
Jeffrey Leathem
The campground is close to Carmel by the Sea. So that’s a plus. The sites are decently sized. However, the road to get to the campground once you exit the highway is narrow but our 38’ TT was no issue getting to the park. The real issue we had was they had a known septic line issue that they didn’t bother to tell us about before I dumped my tanks and found the line completely clogged. When I went to report the issue to the receptionist, she already knew about the issue and offered for us to move sites but the lines were already full of waste water. They did have extra lines so I could run the septic to another site, but o still had to deal with the waste already in the line. Needless to say, I was pissed off and both the receptionist and owner heard about it. The owner gave me his apologies, and “she was supposed to tell you about the sewer when you checked in.” She don’t. And by the , the apologies were too little too late. The owner seemed oblivious to the potential mess and offered no sympathies and absolutely no compensation for dealing with the disgusting job of coping with the root ball in his sewer line and not spilling my black tank waste all over his site. He just “didn’t appreciate getting yelled at.” Believe me, if I had been yelling, the entire county would have heard me. For what we paid to say there, I expected everything to work. I would never stay there again and would advise anyone going to the area to find another place to camp. Over priced and unfriendly. The least he could have done was reimburse 1/3 of my fee since I got 2/3 of what I paid for.
Gabriel
A very nice area for an RV park. It is a gorgeous and comfortable place. The front office is very nicely decorated and welcoming, with some helpful and friendly staff. I loved the privacy of the beautiful bushes in the RV spots. At night, this place gets very dark and quiet with only the sounds of frogs in the river behind the camp, which makes it a comfortable place to sleep. It is also literally minutes from the start of Big Sur. My only two half complaints would be the showers; they are just a strange choice. There is no temperature control, just a button that you literally have to press every 5 seconds to keep the water on. The temperature you get is comfortable, but I would expect a little more from a pretty expensive RV park like this. I assume the button is to save water, but I bet that most visitors just keep pressing it to keep it from turning off. It's more of an inconvenience than anything. The RV spots are also very tight; there is not much room to back in, and you have to hope you have an empty site across the road to use as extra space to back in. If you don't have that, good luck getting in. But these are minor complaints in an otherwise amazing place. We would gladly accept these small drawbacks to come here again. Also, gotta dig the free coffee!
Josephine Herrera
We stayed at this RV resort the last week of April 2026. Originally, we booked for three nights but loved it so much we extended our stay to five nights! We stayed in the Lily site, which was perfectly located near the bathrooms, showers, rec room, and the wonderful dog park. Our dog absolutely loved it — she had the best time sniffing all the new smells, and we really appreciated that the park is gated and secure. Upon our arrival, we were welcomed with warm cookies, fresh fruit including oranges, apples, and bananas, along with refreshing cold lemon water. Such a thoughtful touch! The service was outstanding, the grounds were spotless, and the atmosphere was peaceful and relaxing. Everything was very well managed. Another huge plus is the location, it’s only a few miles from the beach, and there are plenty of nearby stores and conveniences if you need anything during your stay. We highly recommend this resort and were so impressed that we already recommended it to close friends who will be staying there in mid-June. We enjoyed it so much that we decided to book another stay and join them as well!
Kelly Strahl
We love this quaint RV park! Close to everything! There is a long road to just get to the entrance, then it narrows as you get closer to the entrance of the park. But, other than that its been great. Has a small enclosed dog area too. We would definitely come back!