Bike camping at New Brighton State Beach

New Brighton State Beach in Santa Cruz County near Capitola, California has bike camping available.

Bike camping costs only $5 per night at New Brighton. Compare to $35 / night for the people who drive there.


Bicycle Camping at New Brighton State Beach

I biked through on the weekend after the July 4 holiday, when literally tens of thousands of people hit the beaches for the holidays. Every car camping site for a hundred miles up and down the coast was completely full, but the five bike camping sites were unused and available!


Bicycle Camping at New Brighton State Beach

Each campsite has a fire pit, BBQ grill, picnic table, and a large lockable box for your supplies. Bring a padlock if you’d like to lock your stuff up for safety. Bring warm clothing — even during the summer months, the coast can get socked in with a chilly fog.

New Brighton State Beach is located a few miles south of the city of Santa Cruz, and is somewhat less hectic than the busy beaches in Santa Cruz. It’s perfect for an overnight or weekend camping trip from just about anywhere in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you’re not up for longer distances, take public transit to San Jose Diridon Station and the Highway 17 bus to Santa Cruz. From Santa Cruz, bike south to Capitola and New Brighton either via Soquel and Park Avenue, or take the meandering coastal route along East Cliff Drive.

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