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>Veterans Memorial Park is a hidden gem operated by the City of Monterey, offering a rare opportunity to camp within city limits. Tucked away on a forested hillside, this park provides a <strong>serene, natural escape</strong> just minutes from the busy coastal waterfront. Unlike the luxury resorts found further inland, this municipal park offers a rustic camping experience within a lush, 50-acre environment. It is a popular choice for travelers who prefer a <strong>first-come, first-served system</strong> over rigid reservation schedules, though space for larger motorhomes is notoriously limited.</p><h2>Location & Surroundings</h2><p>The park is situated at the top of a hill on Skyline Drive, providing a distinct sense of seclusion despite being close to downtown. Surrounded by a thick canopy of <strong>Monterey pine and oak trees</strong>, the atmosphere remains cool and shaded even on sunny California days. The winding roads leading up to the park can be narrow and steep, but the reward is a quiet environment where the sound of the ocean breeze filters through the trees. It serves as an excellent central base for exploring the entire <strong>Monterey Peninsula</strong>.</p><h2>Amenities & Park Features</h2><p>The campground provides essential facilities designed for smaller rigs and traditional campers. Many sites offer <strong>water and electrical hookups</strong>, while others are geared toward a more primitive stay. On-site features include the following:</p><ul><li>Restrooms with <strong>coin-operated showers</strong> for guest convenience.</li><li>A community playground and large lawn area for recreation.</li><li>A <strong>convenient dump station</strong> located within the park grounds.</li><li>Individual campsites equipped with picnic tables and fire rings.</li></ul><h2>Nearby Attractions & Things to Do</h2><p>Staying here places you within a short drive of world-class coastal attractions. You can spend the morning at the <strong>Monterey Bay Aquarium</strong> or strolling along the historic shops and restaurants of Cannery Row. Nature lovers will appreciate the proximity to the scenic 17-Mile Drive and the rugged hiking trails at <strong>Point Lobos State Natural Reserve</strong>. For those who prefer to stay close to camp, the park itself features nature trails that weave through the wooded hills, offering occasional glimpses of the bay through the forest.</p><h2>Who This Park Is Best For</h2><p>This park is ideal for travelers with <strong>smaller RVs or camper vans</strong> who value a natural, park-like setting over high-end resort amenities. It is a perfect fit for flexible road trippers who enjoy the spontaneity of non-reservation camping and the rustic charm of a municipal forest. If you are looking for an <strong>affordable and quiet retreat</strong> that still offers quick access to urban coastal attractions, Veterans Memorial Park is one of the most unique options in the region.</p>



Veterans Memorial Park is a city park located in Monterey, California. The park is dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. The park features a memorial wall with the names of local veterans, a flagpole, and a memorial garden. The park also has a playground, picnic tables, and a walking path. The park is open to the public and is a great place to honor and remember those who have served our country.

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Veterans Memorial Park (City Park)

Experience rustic RV camping at Veterans Memorial Park in Monterey, CA. Enjoy wooded sites with electric hookups near Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Veterans Memorial Park, Monterey, CA | RV Camping

Love it up here. It feels like a secret. If you dont know that its up in the mountain here you would never find it. You can see everything from the view. Bathrooms and trails and play structures available too. Great place to camp or throw a birthday party.

I really enjoyed my time here.  I was originally only going to stay for two nights but decided to extend to 3.

It's a really fun location, at the top of a pretty steep hill with with some beautiful views of the Bay and the city below.   It is a short, easy drive to most Monterey attractions such as fisherman's wharf and 17 Mile drive, not to mention whatever sort of shopping you may need to do.

The sites were roomy and amongst some beautiful trees which made for a very pleasant atmosphere.

The bathrooms were clean and well-tended.  The showers were free during my visit in April of 2026 but there was a sign on the board that they will soon be going to paid showers.

The Presidio of Monterey is close by so be prepared to hear Revelry every morning at 7 a.m. and Taps every night at 10:00 p.m.  it's noticable but not obnoxious .  Though it took me by surprise the first time, I found myself looking forward to it each morning and evening.

Driving through for the aquarium... and needed a dump site. Don't go here. Its backing up waste. YUCK. I tried calling and after their long message you are unable to leave a message. The voicemail is full. Walked over to try to find someone at the check in/ pay area... no help either. Quite the job to get everything hooked up to dump... to not be able to.

The campsites looked very nice and peaceful though.

A cyclist's perspective:

I've camped up and down the west coast, staying at hiker/biker sites. This one is a bit different. Cost is $10/night, but you can stay up to 3 nights (hiker/biker sites typically have a one-night limit). Showers were free when I camped here (2/19/26), but that's about to change. Signs posted said all showers would soon require a $4 token for a 5 minute shower. Men's bathroom has just 2 showers for the whole camp, so you may have to wait if the camp's full. Shower temp is not adjustable, and shower is just a stall (no seat or bench).

The hiker/biker site is spacious, and can easily handle 12-15 small tents. Some areas flood, so pick high ground if you're there when it rains. With just one super-long picnic table in the center, this site seems designed for groups. The grounds are thickly wooded and you feel like you're in the wilderness. A local cyclist told me there's a hiking trail just above the hiker/biker site that has beautiful views, but unfortunately it was closed while I was there. I was surprised when taps played loudly in the evening, and reveille the next morning. Rise and shine!

Cyclists note: expect a steady climb to get here (steepest at the end). Something to look forward to after a long day's ride!

This is a very useful campground in the middle of Monterey. Handy to everything from Point Lobos to Pebble Beach and Monterey itself. First come first serve, which is great, as you don’t have to find a half empty campground that is “full”. The sites are too crowded together and hard to level for rvs. But it has showers and a dump station. I like the three day only limit, as it keeps it limited to real visitors/tourists rather than long-timers filling the campground.

Warning. My wife and I have camped at the park for several years, and returned in 2025. The cost has nearly doubled, although they do give a discount to seniors and Vets. The men's showers are gross. But there is a lawn for kids. That's the good news. This year we planned on spending 4 nights, and on the last night a very strange individual parked his car next to our spot and set up a tent. About 2 in the morning I saw this person running around with a light on his head and stick in his hand. Apparently his dog had taken off. When we found the dog he beat the dog. I heard its cry. He then began talking with the dog and yelling at it. It cried again from being abused. He started his car and roamed around the camp ground again all night until we had had enough and we picked up and left. What a major disappointment. This person was totally off his rocker. I also noticed that people are staying longer than the maximum 3 days... I believe this place is a homeless encampment now. We will never go back. I called the person who was supposedly in charge and he didn't have much of a response. You've been warned.

We go there about once or twice a year for friends' birthdays. Great park with play structure that kids enjoy, quality tables. I think there are grills there but may be misremembering. We've never camped there, but we have friends who do and who love it, even though they live close by.

This is a great campground. I stated here for two nights for Monterey Car Week because Hotel/Motel rates were 3-4x the normal going rates this week.

Rates here are $47/night if you're camping with one vehicle. It $13 more for an additional vehicle.

The system is first-come-first-served and you're able to check in at anytime of the day. First you go around and look for a vacant site. They will either have no reservation slip clipped to the site marker post or if the site is empty and there is a slip, check to make sure the that group has already departed for the day. Some people come by in the morning, claim a site and leave for the day to come back at night, so make sure your aren't taking someone's site. Then when you do find a site you want to take, either leave belongings or someone from your group there to show that the site has been claimed. You go to the Self registration booth and pay your appropriate fee. Make sure you do pay your fees because they have someone checking every morning.

They do allow non-campers to use the showers for a $4 fee and limited to 10 minutes You pay at the self registration booth. Fill out an envelop, enclose your fee, display the reservation slip on your dash and park near the showers. I'm not sure how much they enforce this, but why risk it to save $4.

My only (very minor) complaints:

They typically don't allow overnight parking on the grounds if you're not a registered camper, but my first night there, the trail head parking lot was full of cars with people sleeping in them. I'm not sure if they let them slide because it was Monterey Car Week, but the next night they were all gone. I was a little mad because I was car camping as well and felt like I paid the fee for nothing. These people were also using the restroom and showers, keeping us registered people from using them.

Now on to my second complaint. Check out time is 12 noon. On the day of my check out, I decided to pack up the van, leave to grab breakfast and come back to shower and get ready for the day. I left at 10am and when I came back 30 mins later, the hosts have removed my reservation slip that was clipped to my site marker, rendering my site up for grabs, even though I'm technically paid up until 12 noon. Luckily when i came back, my spot was still empty.

My third complaint. They close the restrooms and showers around 10am for about half an hour to clean them (which I'm thankful for). But closing them at this time poses an inconvenience if you're trying to get ready before you check out at 12 noon (hence why I left as mentioned above). Once the restroom/showers open back up around 11, everyone bombards it, hoping to get ready before check out time.

Overall, still a fantastic campground and will definitely be coming back.

A lovely not oversized Campground. Well-maintained always clean bathrooms on a daily basis sterilized. Beautiful Oak and pine trees offering plenty of shade even though it doesn't get hot there. Water spickets available near campsites. And a beautiful green playground park. A 3-day Max you can stay for $47 a day, if you are a veteran or a senior you can take $5 off. The Rangers are friendly and helpful.

Second time camping here.  Extremely well run and quiet campground walkable distance (1-2 mile with a hill) to many attractions and restaurants in Monterey/Pacific Grove.  Wake up /retire to the sounds of Reveille, Retreat and Taps. Has showers and hot water (but not in the sinks- go around back to the dishwashing station for hot water). There are fire rings, but a few of them are blocked off for some reason.  About $50 a night, some discounts.  Showers included.

Hillside park, campground centrally located to many local walking, food, coffee, shop, Aquarium, Museum destinations. Clean, bathroom, shower, dump station facilities. Majority of the camper sites are short ~20 foot lengths. Bicyclists, hikers tent sites. Monitored.

Great local place to grab a camp spot at for some light camping. Kids, teens, or just a night out.

I will say, that the potential of NOT finding a spot was a little inconvenient. But, that's part of the fun.

I love running the stairs here!! It’s so relaxing and the views are great! Also perfect for a quick hike!

Reviews

Veterans Memorial Park (City Park)