Sites

Water

20 Amp

30 Amp

50 Amp

Sewer

WiFi

Cable TV

Facilities

Club House

Laundry Room

Swimming Pool

Hot Tub

Fitness Center

Game Room

Rec Hall

Pavilion

Exercise Room

Restroom/Shower

Restroom Only

Shower Only

Restaurant

Groceries

RV Supplies

ATM Machine

Dog Park

Cocktail Lounge

Dog Washing Station

Pit Toilet

Snack Bar

Play Ground

Services

Escort to Site

Self-Service RV Wash

Metered LP Gas

Firewood

Fishing Supplies

Pet Supplies

Onsite Rentals

Worship Services

Golf Carts

Fishing Guides

Onsite RV Service

Staffed RV Wash

Fishing Licenses

Complimentary Breakfast

Policies

RV Age Restrictions

Pets Welcome

Pet Restrictions

Pet Restriction on Quantity

Pet Restriction on Breed

Pet Restriction on Size

No Pets

Tent Camping Allowed

Folding Tent Campers Allowed

No Tents

No Overnight Guests

Recreational activities in or near the park

Recreational Activities

Archery Range

ATV Riding

Biking

Boating

Body Of Water

Casino

Climbing

Dock

Driving Range

Fishing

Golf

Heated Pool

Hiking

Horseback Riding

Horseshoes

Kayaking

Lawn Bowling

Mini Golf

Paddle Boats

Pickle Ball

Putting Green

Ramp

Sauna

Shuffleboard

Snow Sports

Splash Pad

Swimming

Tennis

Wading Pool

Water Slide

Water Sports

Water Umbrella

Whitewater Rafting

<h2>Overview</h2><p>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 <strong>quiet park atmosphere</strong> 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.</p><h2>Location & Surroundings</h2><p>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 <strong>distinctive riverfront charm</strong>, 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.</p><h2>Amenities & Park Features</h2><p>The park is designed to accommodate a variety of setups, offering <strong>full hookup sites</strong> 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.</p><h2>Nearby Attractions & Things to Do</h2><p>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 <strong>Point Lobos State Natural Reserve</strong>, 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.</p><h2>Who This Park Is Best For</h2><p>This RV park is best for travelers seeking a <strong>tranquil getaway</strong> 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.</p>



Carmel by the River RV Park is a family-friendly RV park located in the heart of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. The park is situated on the banks of the Carmel River, offering stunning views of the river and the surrounding hills. The park offers a variety of amenities, including full hookups, a heated pool, a playground, a clubhouse, and a laundry facility. The park also offers a variety of activities, such as fishing, kayaking, and hiking. The park is conveniently located near the beach, shopping, and dining.

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Carmel By the River RV Park

Visit Carmel By the River RV Park in Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA. Enjoy a quiet, riverfront stay with full hookups near Monterey and the scenic Pacific coastline.

Carmel By the River RV Park: Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA

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! 🚐

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.

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!

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!

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!

After an 11-day journey from Florida to California — our very first adventure as new RVers — this stop was pure peace. A full week surrounded by nature, calm mornings, and the kind of quiet that lets everything sink in. 🌲🚐☀️

We are in a double site. Bbq and propane fireplace have been used often.

The staff was very friendly.  Office and restroom/showers were clean and welcoming.  Unfortunately, those were pretty much the only positive parts of our week long stay.  1. The road getting in for almost a mile is very narrow. And guests must leave prior to noon and can only come into the park after 1pm.  We were told to stop on the road prior to getting to the RV park to unhook our tow vehicle (about a mile before actually getting to the park). Then had drive down the middle of VERY narrow road and tree limbs hitting both sides of the RV. 2. Our site was not well maintained.  Weeds growing tall enough to touch the underside of the rig, leaves everywhere as the hedge on our door side was dying.  It looked like the drip system was clogged up.  3. The entire week we were there, I never once saw any maintenance people anywhere.  Guests would leave and not once did I see anyone check the lots that had just been vacated.  4. The name of the park seems to indicate a river—there was no river! 5. For almost $1,000 a week, I was surprised to find no laundry facilities at the park.  Instead we had to plan our grocery and laundry trips to begin before noon and not come back til after 1. And 6. It seemed long term residents were allowed to have all kinds of bins and trash on their spaces and dogs were never kept on leashes.

This was actually our second time staying here, this time we stayed long term, from  May to August.
During the week we were one of a handful of guests, but they were fully booked every weekend, so plan accordingly if you we be here during the summer!

This park is super peaceful, at night you can hear owls and frogs, and there is no light pollution. It has a country feel as you have to go down a road with boar and horses, with the occasional deer and turkey.
My toddler enjoyed looking for frogs in the pond by the office, as well as reading in the clubhouse, and walking down Schulte road to feed the boar.

I wish I could give 4.5 stars, the only things lacking for a perfect score would be a designated play/green area for kids (separate from dog potty area) and access to the river. But we will definitely come back if in the area, and would recommend you staying here too!

We enjoyed our stay for one night at this site! Our only (big) complaint is that the showers felt unsafe. Rather than shower stalls for privacy, they use curtains. There was no ease of mind while I was showering, especially since I was showering at night and the door into the women's restroom is quiet (in the case that someone snuck in). Please renovate inside the showers to make your guests more comfortable, especially since we paid $140 to be there!

Beautiful Stay with lots of greenery and flowers. Clean amenities. Loved the frog theme 🐸

My husband and I just stayed here 4 nights and it was so hard to leave! Susan and Jeff are such sweet hosts and went above and beyond to make our stay perfect. Quiet,peaceful and yes, you can even hear the frogs in the river! We will definitely be back! Thank you for welcoming us and making us feel so at "home"!

We loved our stay here! The park is friendly and comfortable. The location is nice--it's quiet and peaceful, tucked away on a back road in Carmel Valley. The road is narrow in parts, but we had no trouble driving our truck or trailer on it. We enjoyed the walk down the road to say hello to the pigs. There are some nice parks nearby, and Carmel is an easy drive away. Wifi worked well. Would definitely come back!

This a lovely, cozy RV park. The hosts, Susan & Jeff, are good people and know how to add that personal touch. The grounds are clean, well equipped, and dog friendly. The evenings are especially tranquil with the main fire pit by the office. You can also rent smaller ones and get your s’mores on! I totally recommend and would come back again!

I am a first time RV'r and Jeff was absolutely the best! The other campers were very nice and I really enjoyed my visit and will be back. Wish there was a fenced dog area, but everything was great. They were very accommodating. I highly recommend this park. Very helpful!

Reviews

Carmel By the River RV Park