State Parks Near Salinas, California

41 state park units lie within 50 miles of Salinas. The closest is Fremont Peak State Park, about 9 mi northeast of town. 20 parks are within 25 miles, close enough for an evening visit.

Closest park
Fremont Peak State Park9 mi northeast
Within 25 miles
20of 41 within 50 mi
With camping
22parks list campsites
Dog-friendly
24pets allowed

State parks near Salinas, nearest first

Straight-line distance from central Salinas; driving distance is usually longer.

  1. Fremont Peak State Park

    9 miles northeast · San Juan Bautista, California · State Park

    CampingDogs allowedHiking$6 per day

    Hours, fees and rules for Fremont Peak State Park →
  2. Marina State Beach

    10 miles west · Marina, California · State Beach

    CampingDogs allowedSwimmingFishing

    Hours, fees and rules for Marina State Beach →
  3. Fort Ord Dunes State Park

    10 miles west · Marina, California · State Park

    CampingDogs allowedSwimmingHikingFishingBoating

    Hours, fees and rules for Fort Ord Dunes State Park →
  4. Salinas River State Beach

    11 miles northwest · Moss Landing, California · State Beach

    CampingDogs allowedSwimmingFishing

    Hours, fees and rules for Salinas River State Beach →
  5. San Juan Bautista State Historic Park

    12 miles northeast · San Juan Bautista, California · State Historic Park

    Day-use reservation needed at times$3 per adult

    Hours, fees and rules for San Juan Bautista State Historic Park →
  6. Moss Landing State Beach

    12 miles northwest · Watsonville, California · State Beach

    CampingDogs allowedSwimmingHikingFishing

    Hours, fees and rules for Moss Landing State Beach →
  7. Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area

    13 miles northeast · Hollister, California · State Vehicular Recreation Area

    CampingDogs allowedHiking$5 per day

    Hours, fees and rules for Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area →
  8. Monterey State Beach

    14 miles southwest · Monterey, California · State Beach

    Dogs allowedSwimmingFishing

    Hours, fees and rules for Monterey State Beach →
  9. Zmudowski State Beach

    14 miles northwest · Watsonville, California · State Beach

    CampingDogs allowedSwimmingFishing

    Hours, fees and rules for Zmudowski State Beach →
  10. Monterey State Historic Park

    16 miles southwest · Monterey, California · State Historic Park

    Dogs allowed

    Hours, fees and rules for Monterey State Historic Park →
  11. Asilomar State Beach

    18 miles west · Pacific Grove, California · State Beach

    CampingSwimmingHiking

    Hours, fees and rules for Asilomar State Beach →
  12. Hatton Canyon Park Property

    18 miles southwest · Carmel-by-the-Sea, California · Park Property

    Hours, fees and rules for Hatton Canyon Park Property →
  13. Sunset State Beach

    18 miles northwest · Watsonville, California · State Beach

    CampingDogs allowedSwimmingHikingFishing$10 per day

    Hours, fees and rules for Sunset State Beach →
  14. Carmel River State Beach

    19 miles southwest · Carmel, California · State Beach

    Dogs allowedSwimmingHikingFishingBoating

    Hours, fees and rules for Carmel River State Beach →
  15. Point Lobos Ranch Park Property

    20 miles southwest · Carmel, California · Park Property

    1 alertSwimmingHikingBoating

    Hours, fees and rules for Point Lobos Ranch Park Property →
  16. Manresa State Beach

    20 miles northwest · Watsonville, California · State Beach

    CampingDogs allowedSwimmingHikingFishing$10 per day

    Hours, fees and rules for Manresa State Beach →
  17. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

    21 miles southwest · Carmel, California · State Natural Reserve

    Day-use reservation needed at timesHiking$10 per day

    Hours, fees and rules for Point Lobos State Natural Reserve →
  18. Garrapata State Park

    23 miles southwest · Carmel, California · State Park

    Dogs allowedSwimmingHikingFishing

    Hours, fees and rules for Garrapata State Park →
  19. Seacliff State Beach

    25 miles northwest · Aptos, California · State Beach

    CampingDogs allowedSwimmingHikingFishing$10 per day

    Hours, fees and rules for Seacliff State Beach →
  20. The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park

    25 miles northwest · Aptos, California · State Park

    CampingHiking$8 per day

    Hours, fees and rules for The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park →
  21. New Brighton State Beach

    26 miles northwest · Capitola, California · State Beach

    CampingDogs allowedSwimmingHikingFishing$10 per day

    Hours, fees and rules for New Brighton State Beach →
  22. Twin Lakes State Beach

    28 miles northwest · Santa Cruz, California · State Beach

    Dogs allowedSwimmingHikingFishingBoating

    Hours, fees and rules for Twin Lakes State Beach →
  23. Lighthouse Field State Beach

    28 miles northwest · Santa Cruz, California · State Beach

    Dogs allowedSwimmingHikingFishing

    Hours, fees and rules for Lighthouse Field State Beach →
  24. Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park

    30 miles northwest · Santa Cruz, California · State Historic Park

    Dogs allowed

    Hours, fees and rules for Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park →
  25. Natural Bridges State Beach

    30 miles northwest · Santa Cruz, California · State Beach

    Dogs allowedSwimmingHiking$10 per day

    Hours, fees and rules for Natural Bridges State Beach →
  26. Point Sur State Historic Park

    30 miles southwest · Big Sur, California · State Historic Park

    Hours, fees and rules for Point Sur State Historic Park →
  27. Andrew Molera State Park

    30 miles southwest · Big Sur, California · State Park

    1 alertSwimmingHikingBoating$10 per day

    Hours, fees and rules for Andrew Molera State Park →
  28. Wilder Ranch State Park

    31 miles northwest · Santa Cruz, California · State Park

    1 alertCampingDogs allowedSwimmingHiking$10 per day

    Hours, fees and rules for Wilder Ranch State Park →
  29. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

    32 miles south · Big Sur, California · State Park

    1 alertCampingDogs allowedSwimmingHiking$10 per day

    Hours, fees and rules for Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park →
  30. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

    34 miles northwest · Felton, California · State Park

    CampingDogs allowedHikingFishing$10 per day

    Hours, fees and rules for Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park →
  31. Henry W. Coe State Park

    35 miles north · Morgan Hill, California · State Park

    CampingHikingFishingBoating$8 per day

    Hours, fees and rules for Henry W. Coe State Park →
  32. Pacheco State Park

    35 miles northeast · Holllister, California · State Park

    1 alertCampingHiking$10 per day

    Hours, fees and rules for Pacheco State Park →
  33. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

    37 miles south · Big Sur, California · State Park

    CampingHiking$10 per day

    Hours, fees and rules for Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park →
  34. San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area

    38 miles northeast · Gustine, California · State Recreation Area

    CampingSwimmingHikingFishingBoating$10 per day

    Hours, fees and rules for San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area →
  35. Castle Rock State Park

    45 miles northwest · Los Gatos, California · State Park

    CampingHiking$10 per day

    Hours, fees and rules for Castle Rock State Park →
  36. Big Basin Redwoods State Park

    47 miles northwest · Boulder Creek, California · State Park

    Dogs allowedSwimmingHiking$10 per day

    Hours, fees and rules for Big Basin Redwoods State Park →
  37. Limekiln State Park

    47 miles south · Big Sur, California · State Park

    CampingDogs allowedSwimmingHikingFishing$10 per day

    Hours, fees and rules for Limekiln State Park →
  38. Año Nuevo State Park

    48 miles northwest · Pescadero, California · State Park

    Hiking$10 per day

    Hours, fees and rules for Año Nuevo State Park →

Best picks by activity

Camping near Salinas

  1. Fremont Peak State Park 9 mi northeast · Campground listed
  2. Marina State Beach 10 mi west · Campground listed
  3. Fort Ord Dunes State Park 10 mi west · Campground listed
  4. Salinas River State Beach 11 mi northwest · Campground listed
  5. Moss Landing State Beach 12 mi northwest · Campground listed

+ 17 more in the list above

Dog-friendly state parks near Salinas

  1. Fremont Peak State Park 9 mi northeast · Pets allowed under park rules
  2. Marina State Beach 10 mi west · Pets allowed under park rules
  3. Fort Ord Dunes State Park 10 mi west · Pets allowed under park rules
  4. Salinas River State Beach 11 mi northwest · Pets allowed under park rules
  5. Moss Landing State Beach 12 mi northwest · Pets allowed under park rules

+ 19 more in the list above

Swimming near Salinas

  1. Marina State Beach 10 mi west · Beach, pool or swim area
  2. Fort Ord Dunes State Park 10 mi west · Beach, pool or swim area
  3. Salinas River State Beach 11 mi northwest · Beach, pool or swim area
  4. Moss Landing State Beach 12 mi northwest · Beach, pool or swim area
  5. Monterey State Beach 14 mi southwest · Beach, pool or swim area

+ 18 more in the list above

Hiking near Salinas

  1. Fremont Peak State Park 9 mi northeast · Hiking trails listed
  2. Fort Ord Dunes State Park 10 mi west · Hiking trails listed
  3. Moss Landing State Beach 12 mi northwest · Hiking trails listed
  4. Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area 13 mi northeast · Hiking trails listed
  5. Asilomar State Beach 18 mi west · Hiking trails listed

+ 24 more in the list above

Fishing near Salinas

  1. Marina State Beach 10 mi west · Fishing listed
  2. Fort Ord Dunes State Park 10 mi west · Fishing listed
  3. Salinas River State Beach 11 mi northwest · Fishing listed
  4. Moss Landing State Beach 12 mi northwest · Fishing listed
  5. Monterey State Beach 14 mi southwest · Fishing listed

+ 13 more in the list above

Questions about state parks near Salinas

What is the closest state park to Salinas?

Fremont Peak State Park is the closest, about 9 miles northeast of Salinas in a straight line. Next are Marina State Beach and Fort Ord Dunes State Park.

How many state parks are near Salinas?

41 state park units are within 50 miles, and 20 within 25 miles. That includes parks, recreation areas, historic sites and natural areas run by the state.

Which state parks near Salinas have camping?

22 parks list camping, the nearest being Fremont Peak State Park, Marina State Beach and Fort Ord Dunes State Park. Check each park page for site types, hookups and how to reserve.

Are dogs allowed at state parks near Salinas?

Yes, at 24 parks, including Fremont Peak State Park, Marina State Beach and Fort Ord Dunes State Park. Dogs usually must be leashed, and some areas such as beaches or buildings may be off-limits.

Are there free state parks near Salinas?

None of the nearby parks list free entry; most charge a daily vehicle fee or accept an annual pass. Fees are on each park page.

Built from official park data and updated as parks change; this list was last rebuilt Oct 30, 2026. Features shown are those the official source lists. Filter these parks on the map.