State Parks Near Santa Cruz, California
48 state park units lie within 50 miles of Santa Cruz. The closest is Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park, about 1 mi northeast of town. 24 parks are within 25 miles, close enough for an evening visit.
- Closest park
- Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park1 mi northeast
- Within 25 miles
- 24of 48 within 50 mi
- With camping
- 23parks list campsites
- Dog-friendly
- 33pets allowed
State parks near Santa Cruz, nearest first
Straight-line distance from central Santa Cruz; driving distance is usually longer.
Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
The park supports historic sites, ranger programs, geocaching, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park →Lighthouse Field State Beach
Things to do include historic sites, fishing, wildlife watching, geocaching, and biking. Water access includes a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Lighthouse Field State Beach →Natural Bridges State Beach
The park supports surfing, historic sites, ranger programs, wildlife watching, and geocaching. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Natural Bridges State Beach →Twin Lakes State Beach
Popular activities here are surfing, boating, swimming, fishing, and geocaching. On the water side, there is a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Twin Lakes State Beach →Wilder Ranch State Park
Things to do include horseback riding, historic sites, ranger programs, wildlife watching, and geocaching. On the water side, there is a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Wilder Ranch State Park →Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
The park supports horseback riding, historic sites, fishing, ranger programs, and wildlife watching. Overnight options include campsites, with RV sites and tent sites.
Hours, fees and rules for Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park →New Brighton State Beach
Visitors come for surfing, fishing, geocaching, and hiking. On the water side, there is a swimming beach. For overnight stays there are campsites (RV sites, tent sites, group camping, and showers).
Hours, fees and rules for New Brighton State Beach →Seacliff State Beach
Popular activities here are surfing, fishing, geocaching, biking, and picnicking. On the water side, there is a swimming beach. Overnight options include campsites, with RV sites and showers.
Hours, fees and rules for Seacliff State Beach →The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
The park supports historic sites, geocaching, picnicking, and hiking. The official site lists about 30 miles of trails. For overnight stays there are campsites (tent sites).
Hours, fees and rules for The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park →Manresa State Beach
Things to do include surfing, fishing, geocaching, and hiking. On the water side, there is a swimming beach. Camping is available: campsites, including tent sites and showers.
Hours, fees and rules for Manresa State Beach →Sunset State Beach
The park supports surfing, fishing, geocaching, picnicking, and hiking. Water access includes a swimming beach. Camping is available: campsites, including RV sites, tent sites, group camping, and showers.
Hours, fees and rules for Sunset State Beach →Rancho San Andrés Castro Adobe Park Property
The park supports historic sites and ranger programs.
Hours, fees and rules for Rancho San Andrés Castro Adobe Park Property →Zmudowski State Beach
Popular activities here are surfing, swimming, fishing, wildlife watching, and geocaching. On the water side, there is a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Zmudowski State Beach →Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Popular activities here are surfing, horseback riding, historic sites, swimming, and ranger programs.
Hours, fees and rules for Big Basin Redwoods State Park →Moss Landing State Beach
Visitors come for surfing, horseback riding, swimming, fishing, and wildlife watching. On the water side, there is a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Moss Landing State Beach →Castle Rock State Park
Popular activities here are horseback riding, historic sites, geocaching, and hiking. For overnight stays there are campsites (tent sites).
Hours, fees and rules for Castle Rock State Park →Año Nuevo State Park
Popular activities here are historic sites, ranger programs, wildlife watching, picnicking, and hiking.
Hours, fees and rules for Año Nuevo State Park →Salinas River State Beach
Visitors come for surfing, horseback riding, swimming, fishing, and wildlife watching. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Salinas River State Beach →Portola Redwoods State Park
The park supports historic sites, swimming, geocaching, picnicking, and hiking. Camping is available: campsites, including RV sites, tent sites, group camping, and showers.
Hours, fees and rules for Portola Redwoods State Park →Martial Cottle Park State Recreation Area
In Santa Clara County, about 3 miles southwest of San Jose, Martial Cottle Park State Recreation Area covers about 137 acres.
Hours, fees and rules for Martial Cottle Park State Recreation Area →Marina State Beach
The park supports surfing, swimming, fishing, geocaching, and picnicking. Water access includes a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Marina State Beach →Butano State Park
The park supports horseback riding, historic sites, ranger programs, geocaching, and biking. Overnight options include campsites, with RV sites and tent sites.
Hours, fees and rules for Butano State Park →Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park
The park supports surfing, historic sites, swimming, fishing, and ranger programs. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park →Fort Ord Dunes State Park
The park supports surfing, historic sites, boating, fishing, and biking. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Fort Ord Dunes State Park →Asilomar State Beach
The park supports surfing, historic sites, swimming, ranger programs, and wildlife watching. Water access includes a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Asilomar State Beach →Monterey State Historic Park
Visitors come for historic sites, ranger programs, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Monterey State Historic Park →Monterey State Beach
Popular activities here are surfing, swimming, fishing, geocaching, and picnicking. Water access includes a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Monterey State Beach →Bean Hollow State Beach
The park supports surfing, boating, swimming, fishing, and wildlife watching. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Bean Hollow State Beach →San Juan Bautista State Historic Park
The park supports historic sites, ranger programs, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for San Juan Bautista State Historic Park →Pescadero State Beach
Visitors come for surfing, boating, swimming, fishing, and wildlife watching. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Pescadero State Beach →Hatton Canyon Park Property
Hatton Canyon Park Property is a park in Monterey County, in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Hours, fees and rules for Hatton Canyon Park Property →Pomponio State Beach
Things to do include surfing, historic sites, boating, swimming, and fishing. On the water side, there is a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Pomponio State Beach →Henry W. Coe State Park
Popular activities here are horseback riding, historic sites, boating, fishing, and ranger programs. Overnight options include campsites, with RV sites, tent sites, and group camping.
Hours, fees and rules for Henry W. Coe State Park →Carmel River State Beach
Popular activities here are snorkeling and diving, boating, fishing, wildlife watching, and hiking. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Carmel River State Beach →San Gregorio State Beach
Things to do include surfing, boating, swimming, fishing, and wildlife watching. On the water side, there is a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for San Gregorio State Beach →Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
Popular activities here are wildlife watching and hiking.
Hours, fees and rules for Point Lobos State Natural Reserve →Point Lobos Ranch Park Property
The park supports snorkeling and diving, historic sites, boating, swimming, and ranger programs. On the water side, there is a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Point Lobos Ranch Park Property →Fremont Peak State Park
Visitors come for historic sites, ranger programs, wildlife watching, geocaching, and biking. Camping is available: campsites, including RV sites, tent sites, and group camping. The park says there are no showers.
Hours, fees and rules for Fremont Peak State Park →Garrapata State Park
Visitors come for snorkeling and diving, surfing, historic sites, fishing, and ranger programs. Water access includes a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Garrapata State Park →Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area
Visitors come for off-highway vehicle riding, horseback riding, historic sites, ranger programs, and wildlife watching. The official site lists about 200 miles of trails.
Hours, fees and rules for Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area →Burleigh H. Murray Ranch Park Property
Visitors come for horseback riding, historic sites, wildlife watching, geocaching, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Burleigh H. Murray Ranch Park Property →Half Moon Bay State Beach
Visitors come for surfing, horseback riding, boating, swimming, and fishing. Water access includes a swimming beach. Camping is available: campsites, including RV sites, tent sites, group camping, and showers.
Hours, fees and rules for Half Moon Bay State Beach →Pacheco State Park
The park supports horseback riding, historic sites, ranger programs, geocaching, and picnicking. Camping is available: campsites, including tent sites.
Hours, fees and rules for Pacheco State Park →Lake Del Valle State Recreation Area
Popular activities here are surfing, horseback riding, historic sites, boating, and swimming. On the water side, there is a swimming beach, a boat ramp, and boat or kayak rentals.
Hours, fees and rules for Lake Del Valle State Recreation Area →Point Sur State Historic Park
The park supports historic sites, ranger programs, and wildlife watching.
Hours, fees and rules for Point Sur State Historic Park →Montara State Beach
Visitors come for surfing, horseback riding, boating, swimming, and fishing. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Montara State Beach →Gray Whale Cove State Beach
Things to do include surfing, boating, swimming, fishing, and wildlife watching. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Gray Whale Cove State Beach →Andrew Molera State Park
Popular activities here are surfing, historic sites, boating, swimming, and ranger programs. Its trail network totals roughly 15 miles, according to the park. On the water side, there is a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Andrew Molera State Park →
Best picks by activity
Camping near Santa Cruz
- Wilder Ranch State Park 3 mi west · Campground listed
- Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park 5 mi north · Campground listed
- New Brighton State Beach 5 mi east · Campground listed
- Seacliff State Beach 7 mi east · Campground listed
- The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park 7 mi east · Campground listed
+ 18 more in the list above
Dog-friendly state parks near Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park 1 mi northeast · Pets allowed under park rules
- Lighthouse Field State Beach 2 mi south · Pets allowed under park rules
- Natural Bridges State Beach 2 mi southwest · Pets allowed under park rules
- Twin Lakes State Beach 2 mi southeast · Pets allowed under park rules
- Wilder Ranch State Park 3 mi west · Pets allowed under park rules
+ 28 more in the list above
Swimming near Santa Cruz
- Lighthouse Field State Beach 2 mi south · Beach, pool or swim area
- Natural Bridges State Beach 2 mi southwest · Beach, pool or swim area
- Twin Lakes State Beach 2 mi southeast · Beach, pool or swim area
- Wilder Ranch State Park 3 mi west · Beach, pool or swim area
- New Brighton State Beach 5 mi east · Beach, pool or swim area
+ 25 more in the list above
Hiking near Santa Cruz
- Lighthouse Field State Beach 2 mi south · Hiking trails listed
- Natural Bridges State Beach 2 mi southwest · Hiking trails listed
- Twin Lakes State Beach 2 mi southeast · Hiking trails listed
- Wilder Ranch State Park 3 mi west · Hiking trails listed
- Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park 5 mi north · Hiking trails listed
+ 30 more in the list above
Fishing near Santa Cruz
- Lighthouse Field State Beach 2 mi south · Fishing listed
- Twin Lakes State Beach 2 mi southeast · Fishing listed
- Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park 5 mi north · Fishing listed
- New Brighton State Beach 5 mi east · Fishing listed
- Seacliff State Beach 7 mi east · Fishing listed
+ 20 more in the list above
Questions about state parks near Santa Cruz
What is the closest state park to Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park is the closest, about 1 miles northeast of Santa Cruz in a straight line. Next are Lighthouse Field State Beach and Natural Bridges State Beach.
How many state parks are near Santa Cruz?
48 state park units are within 50 miles, and 24 within 25 miles. That includes parks, recreation areas, historic sites and natural areas run by the state.
Which state parks near Santa Cruz have camping?
23 parks list camping, the nearest being Wilder Ranch State Park, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and New Brighton State Beach. Check each park page for site types, hookups and how to reserve.
Are dogs allowed at state parks near Santa Cruz?
Yes, at 33 parks, including Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park, Lighthouse Field State Beach and Natural Bridges State Beach. Dogs usually must be leashed, and some areas such as beaches or buildings may be off-limits.
Are there free state parks near Santa Cruz?
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.
State parks near other cities
- Near Watsonville, CA15 mi east
- Near Saratoga, CA20 mi north
- Near Gilroy, CA25 mi east
- Near San Jose, CA25 mi northeast
- Near Seaside, CA27 mi southeast
- Near Sunnyvale, CA28 mi north
- Near Salinas, CA30 mi southeast
- Near Menlo Park, CA35 mi north
Or see all California state parks or every city we cover.
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.