Travel

Lake Tahoe is one of the easiest big-scenery trips you can take in a rented Airstream: about 149 miles from our Lathrop shop to South Lake Tahoe, roughly two hours and forty minutes east on US-50, and under three hours to the Truckee side via I-80. The payoff is enormous. Tahoe is the second-deepest lake in the United States at 1,645 feet, per the U.S. Geological Survey, and the area is packed with nature hikes, mountain bike trails, lake activities, and even gambling on the Nevada side if you are so inclined. Campsites here mostly run without hook-ups, with a few full hook-up RV parks mixed in. Here is what we know first-hand, and what our customers recommend. The Lake Tahoe shoreline from above. Logger Campground, Truckee (north of Lake Tahoe) Logger Campground sits north of Lake Tahoe in the Truckee area. Two things to know. First, there are no hook-ups, so we advise experienced or adventurous RVers here (read our dry-camping post for what that actually means). Second, Google Maps will take you the wrong way. Follow the campground’s own directions instead: take I-80 to HWY 89, exit right at Hobart Mills Rd, merge left onto old HWY 89, take a right at the fork to stay on Hobart Mills Rd (also called E. Pasture Rd), then left onto Dog Valley Rd to the campground. Your reward is beautiful views of Stampede Reservoir directly behind the campground, where you can boat, water ski, swim, and fish. Lake Tahoe itself is a 45 minute drive, but the secluded spot means far more privacy than the busy lake. Sites come with a fire ring and picnic tables. Grover Hot Springs State Park, Markleeville (south of Lake Tahoe) Grover Hot Springs State Park is about 45 minutes from Stateline in South Lake Tahoe. You will be dry-camping here too, rewarded with trees outside your Airstream window and a 5 minute drive to the hot springs the park is named after, fed into a pool you can enjoy all day for a small entrance fee. There are hiking trails throughout the park and a trout creek. It is one of the few campgrounds open year-round, which makes it a great fall trip when the crowds thin out. We found this one by asking locals. The posted max trailer length is 24 feet, and we recommend experienced towers only, since there are some tight spots. Recommended by our customers Coachland RV Park (Truckee, 20 minutes from the lake): a repeat-customer favorite in the Tahoe area. If you want full hook-ups (water, electric, sewer, and cable) plus basic WiFi, this is your best bet. Read about Jason and Grace’s Airstream road trip here. Ice House Campground (near Kyburz, on the US-50 route): another customer recommendation on the way up to South Lake Tahoe. We have also stayed at one of our all-time favorite campsites in the greater Tahoe region: Silver Lake East on the Eldorado National Forest, which we wrote about here. Ready to go? Browse our Airstream fleet and check your dates here. Every rental comes stocked and trip-ready, and if you would rather skip the towing, ask us about delivery and setup. Here is how the rental process works.

Airstream Destination: Costanoa One of the most popular questions to us at GoSilver is “Where should I take my rented Airstream?”  And one of our favorite local Northern California spot (and a favorite spot for Airstream deliveries) is Costanoa.  Costanoa is the perfect place for those who love nature and that country life, but who don’t want to necessarily camp in the boonies.  This is glamping at its finest.  The resort is located on the California coast between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz (about 25 miles from each on Hwy 1).   The resort does have a lodge (for those who want the full hotel experience) and tent bungalows (with shared dorm style bathrooms), but of course our favorite way to stay at Costanoa is in one of our Airstreams (the comfort of home on wheels).  Plus, it is one of the few ways we can stay at Costanoa with our dogs (no dogs allowed in the lodge or the tent bungalows).   Have a BBQ with friends and family on the premises and play some competitive ladder golf (it’s surprisingly addictive and fun).  Costanoa also has a kids camp, mountain biking trails, and horseback riding for beginners.  And take advantage of Costanoa’s organic gourmet restaurant, Cascade.  All their ingredients come form local farms or their own organic farm, and their menu changes seasonally.  I had a really excellent kale and seaweed salad (trust me, it tastes way better than it sounds).  Where else in the world can you glamp/camp and have fine dining?   Each RV site allows for up to 6 people with the added wood platform for tent camping.  This is a super family friendly camp site where kids can play safely almost everywhere on the resort grounds.  For the adults, there’s a heavenly spa and even a free sauna at their comfort stations.   While staying at Costanoa, check out some of our favorite places near by: Pie Ranch: for delicious pie and fresh organic produce sold at their farm stand (plus it’s a teaching farm that helps future farmers learn the ins and outs of organic farming) Pigeon Point Lighthouse: the perfect spot for an awesome photo shoot with your DSLR or selfie stick Arcangeli’s: A bakery that’s been family-run since 1929.  Their garlic herb artichoke bread is famous and for good reason.  It’s not hype!  It’s delicious!  And if the weather is nice, grab some grub (including the bread of course) and head over to the beach to have a picnic in the sand. Pescadero Country Store: If you don’t feel like going to the beach for lunch and the famous artichoke bread is sold out, then equally wonderful is the Pescadero Country Store.  They have a space outside with picnic tables where you can drink an ice-cold beer and munch on some really wonderful fried artichoke hearts. Swanton Berry Farm: In the summer you can pick your own berries!  Don’t feel like doing the work?  You can still buy some at their farm stand when in season. Harley Farms:  A goat-lover’s paradise.  See the goats outback and buy some goat cheese and goat milk bath & body products at the farm stand.  They also host some fun dinners and tours, but check with their website for availability. Slow Coast Airstream store:  This cool Airstream store is chock full of local unique gifts, and even if you’re not in the mood to shop this store is definitely worth checking out (ok, I might be a little biased because I love all things Airstream). Butano State Park:  Hike amongst the giant Redwood trees Ano Nuevo State Park:  Hike along the ocean and spy on some elephant seals

Yosemite National Park is the single most popular destination for GoSilver Airstream renters, and it is an easy tow from our Lathrop shop: about 117 miles east on CA-120, roughly two and a half hours to the Big Oak Flat entrance and right around three hours into Yosemite Valley. You are on Highway 120 from the moment you leave Lathrop, one road nearly the whole way. The National Park Service counted more than 4 million visits a year, so the difference between a great Yosemite trip and a stressful one comes down to two things: taking the right road with the trailer, and reserving your campsite early. Here is what we tell every renter. Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View. The scale of these granite cliffs cannot be captured by photos, though of course we tried. The drive from Lathrop, and the one road to avoid Follow CA-120 East through Manteca, Oakdale, and Chinese Camp toward Groveland. As you approach Groveland, your maps app will try to send you onto Old Priest Grade. This is important: if you are towing, do not take Old Priest Grade. It is a steep shortcut meant for cars only. Stay on CA-120. We have had a couple of customers take Old Priest Grade anyway, and even though they made it, it was a white-knuckle experience we would not recommend to anyone. Highway 120 is not exactly a walk in the park either, but if logging trucks can make their way up and down this road, so can Airstream towers. Half Dome at Yosemite. Along Highway 120 from Groveland to the park, there are a handful of RV parks and campgrounds you can stay at. To make it easy, we have checked them all out. Our top recommendations: Yosemite Lakes RV Resort if you want hook-ups, and Dimond-O Campground if you can do without. RV parks with full hook-ups Yosemite Lakes RV Resort: We recommend this park for beginner Airstreamers or anyone who wants the glamping rather than camping experience, meaning no roughing it required. It is part of the Thousand Trails collective (membership), but they keep quite a few spots for non-members too. The spots are close together, but they come with full hook-ups and the resort is well maintained. The biggest bonus: it is the closest full hook-up RV park to Yosemite, only 9 minutes from the park entrance. It is popular with families and can be crowded in peak season. Yosemite Ridge Resort: Another great full hook-up option, quite a bit smaller with only 15 spaces, which means no big crowds. It has a pool, its own gas station, a general store, and a restaurant. In exchange, you are further from the entrance (about 17 minutes), and there are no fire pits. Yosemite Pines: Closest to Groveland and its restaurants, bars, and grocery markets, but the furthest from the park entrance (about 28 minutes). Around 200 sites with both full and partial hook-ups, plus a general store, pool, petting zoo, and family activities. Each site has a fire pit. We stayed here on one of our own trips and were not fans of how close the sites are, and there are quite a few long-term residents. Campgrounds with no hook-ups Dimond-O Campground: For the more adventurous, or anyone experienced with towing and backing up, we highly recommend this campground just 15 minutes from the park entrance. Only 38 sites, so reserve the moment you know your dates. One customer told us she booked the day her window opened, six months in advance, and that is normal for peak season (April through September). Most sites are back-in, so backing experience helps, though we will send you off with walkie-talkies if you and your travel partner are up for the challenge. There are no hook-ups here. Read what dry-camping in an Airstream actually means here, and we recommend renting a generator. In exchange you get a secluded, private campground surrounded by trees, quite possibly the most serene campsite on Highway 120. Sweet Water Campground: A good option if you are willing to rough it but not yet confident backing up the trailer. It is 13 minutes from the entrance with 14 sites, some pull-through. Space is limited, so reserve far in advance, and bring a generator. The sites sit in a large cleared area, so less privacy, but some have clear, beautiful views of the surrounding forest. The Pines Campground: The smallest and furthest from the entrance (21 minutes), set in the Stanislaus National Forest with its own hiking trails. Only 12 sites plus a group option that works well for large parties. Open year-round; reservations highly recommended. We do not recommend Lost Claim Campground due to the narrow, bumpy roads inside the campground. Camping inside the park Camping inside Yosemite National Park is also a great option. The NPS details for RV camping are here. RV sites (listed as RV non-electric and Standard non-electric) book up fast, so make reservations the moment they open, five months in advance. Reservation information is here. Ready to go? Browse our Airstream fleet and check dates here. Every rental comes stocked and trip-ready, and if you would rather skip the towing altogether, ask us about delivery and setup. Here is exactly how the rental process works.

Destination: Silver Lake East – El Dorado Campground We are so very lucky in this business that we not only get to take our own Airstream trip once a year, but we also learn about some of the best campground and RV parks from our awesome customers.  And well, we learned of Silver Lake East-Eldorado Campground from a repeat customer who repeatedly comes to this particular campground (and so we knew it must be special).  And it did not disappoint!   Silver Lake campground is a little over 3 hours away from our San Jose garage and is located near Kirkwood in South Lake Tahoe.  The roads getting there are all fairly wide and easy (if you take the CA-88) and isn’t hair-raising like most other mountain roads.   Because this is a campground there are no hook-ups and you are dry-camping.  The campground itself is very well maintained and each campsite comes with a picnic bench, fire ring, and bear bin.  And the campsite hosts were very welcoming and helpful.  The little roads within the campground are quite narrow so we recommend taking the 20′ Flying Cloud or smaller since these are the narrow-bodied Airstreams.  If you are experienced in towing and are extra careful, then you might be able to take one of the larger Airstreams.  If you do choose to take a larger Airstream we recommend taking site number 20 (and reverse into the spot without doing a full loop around the campground) or site number 29.  Like at almost all campgrounds in California, you’re going to want to reserve your campsites way ahead of time unless you’re doing a road trip in the fall or spring.  Also this campground closes after the first week of October.   What makes this campground so amazing is that it is a short hike (about 5 minutes) to Silver Lake, which is a beautiful mountain lake fed by snow melt.  Just carry a cooler and our camping chairs to the lake and have a lakeside picnic.     If you’re looking for a more active vacation, there are some of hikes around the area (or drive out a bit and there are many more hikes available as well).  If you have a fishing permit, you can spend sometime fishing at the lake.  Or go to the Kit Carson lodge (which is within walking distance if you head to the lake first and then follow the shore to the lodge’s boat house) to rent kayaks or canoes.  The Kit Carson lodge also has a restaurant and a small market for last minute supplies.   There is also little to no cell signal at the campground so if you need your internet fix, there is wifi available at the Kit Carson Lodge (pictured below).   Brian and I enjoyed our time at this campsite immensely and look forward to coming back.  If you’re looking for a lake-side retreat with your Airstream then we can’t recommend this campground enough.  We think it’s one of the best ones around the Lake Tahoe area!

Airstream Destination: Petaluma/ San Francisco North KOA Though taking your rented Airstream to an ancient Redwood forest at Santa Cruz or near Big Sur is an experience that shouldn’t be missed, some folks prefer less hiking and more gourmet food and beverage type of experiences.  Then Petaluma/San Francisco North KOA is the RV park for you.  Situated about 40 miles north of the city, Petaluma KOA is the perfect place to stay if you want to visit Sonoma and Napa wineries, tour several breweries (including the famous Lagunitas Brewery), grab fresh oysters from local oyster farms, or eat your way through Northern California’s Cheese Trail.  This is the place for Airstream’in foodies. But first a note about this amazing KOA, which sits on 70 acres of prime Marin County land.  One of the best things about this RV park is the multitude of pull-through sites.  In fact, the majority of them are pull-through so if you’re a novice to towing, you don’t have to stress about reversing into a tight spot.  Also, if you opt for the end sites, they come with wood swings and loungers (see picture above).  And each campsite comes with your own firepit.  The majority of the sites also come with full hook-ups so there’s no need to dry-camp here (though if you like the challenge of no hook-ups, they have some of those sites as well). This RV park also has a variety of tiny homes you could comfortably stay in as well as tent camping sites.  There’s something for everyone here.   This KOA also has more activities for the whole family than most other RV parks.  There’s a petting zoo with some adorable goats (along with lamb and chickens).  There is a large pool with yellow cabanas, a 30-foot rockwall, a large bounce-pillow and a play ground for the kids, an expansive picnic area complete with charcoal grills, and a large dog park with obstacles.  You could easily spend several days at the park just enjoying their amenities.   But of course, part of the charm of staying at this KOA is to experience all the best that Marin County has to offer.  Here are some things you don’t want to miss when you’re here: – Downtown Petaluma, which is just minutes from the RV park, has a plethora of small boutiques and restaurants.  If you’re big on antiques, there’s a lot of that here.  Otherwise check out Acre Coffee for your caffeine fix and Central Market for some of the freshest farm-to-table cuisine out there (they even have their own organic farm in Petaluma).   – A short 30-minute drive west will take you to the California coastline.  Dillon Beach is a popular spot with some picnic benches and grills.  It’s also dog-friendly, so your well-behaved pooch can come with you to enjoy some surf and sand.  A little further north along the coastline is the town of Bodega Bay, which is also famous for their beach Bodega Head. source source – Also in that neck of the woods are several oyster farms where you can purchase oysters straight from the sea (you can also take some to go and enjoy them at Dillon Beach).  Hog Island Oyster Farm is about 32 minutes from the RV park and Tomales Bay Oyster Company is about 38 minutes away.  If you like your oysters cooked for you (BBQ’d) then Nick’s Cove is even closer. – If you want some wine to go with your oysters, then 30-minutes east of the KOA will take you to the famous wineries of Sonoma Valley.  There are just way too many to list here, but take a look at some of the top-ranked ones on tripadvisor.  If these aren’t enough for you, then Napa is just another 15 minutes away (Napa Valley Wineries on tripadvisor here). – And if beer is more your style, then Lagunitas Brewing Company is a 5 minute drive.  Also clustered in that area are 101 North Brewing Company and Petaluma Hills Brewing Company.  And 15 minutes north of the KOA is the Russian River Brewing Company. – If you’re a fan of cheese, then you will be in cheese heaven when you stay at the Petaluma KOA.  It is perfectly located so that you can enjoy a day of cheese-eating on the California Cheese Trail.  Plan out your cheese-trip using their handy trail map and you get to see these dairy farms and their cows up-close. – And lastly, for adults there is the Graton Casino and for kids of all ages there is the Charles M. Schultz Museum.   Whatever your interest, there’s something for everyone when you stay at the Petaluma/North San Francisco KOA!

Destination: Jalama Beach, Santa Barbara County Park If you’re looking for a hidden RV campground next to a beautiful California beach, then we’ll let you in on a little secret. Jalama Beach County Park is part of Santa Barbara County and is about a 4.5 hour drive south from our Airstream garage in San Jose.  Thus, you’d probably want to make this stop a part of your itinerary if you’re doing an Airstream trip for 4 days or more.  And believe me, once you get here you’re going to want to stay longer!   This county park is very secluded and tucked away along the coast.  To get there, you will need to drive about 30 minutes on some narrow and winding roads.  But the trek out to the coast is worth it!  Once you get there, there is everything you need to make your rental Airstream your own beach cabin, mainly a large unpopulated beach.  For the most part, the only other beach goers here are your fellow campers.   Here’s a quick look at the sites available at Jalama.  Most of the sites (indicated in navy) are reservable sites.  The walk-ins are indicated in teal.  Because this beach park can get quite crowded in the summer, we recommend reserving sites ahead of time.  We advise calling in for your reservation since even though their website has a site for online reservations, it requires Flash.  After a quick chat with the rangers there, we learned that the “best” sites are 117 and 80-87.  We were able to snag site 108 (a walk-in site) since we were there in October.  And I have to say those sites at the top have some of the best views!  Also all the sites at the top have electrical hook-ups (indicated by the yellow dot).  If you’re okay to “rough it” a bit, then the sites at the bottom, 53-64 are right on the beach and the sand is pretty much at your doorstep.   The picture below is of sites 10-14, which is also quite close to the beach (though not on the sand).  There is also a dumping station conveniently located near the entrance to the park.  So you can dump and refill your Airstream before and/or after your stay or even during your stay if need be.  So even though there are no water and sewer connection at each site, at least you can take care of your dumping needs within the park.   Another great thing about this beach park is the Jalama Beach Store, where you can pick up anything you might have forgotten (thus saving you the trek out and back to grab your missing item).  The store has everything from personal care products to fishing supplies, and even beer and wine.  They also have a famous Jalama burger, which is quite good (but to be honest tastes like any other burger).   This campground is open year around and even in December the temperatures hover around the 70s.  Though I wouldn’t recommend swimming during the winter and spring months.  In the summer they do have a lifeguard but the water will still be chilly and there are rip currents and high surf to be wary of.  But if you’re looking for a beautiful beach getaway, it would be tough to find something better than Jalama.   The only drawback to this RV campground is that there is little to no cell reception or data service.  But the park does provide a slow wifi connection that can allow you to check email if need be.   We were lucky to find out about this place from one of our Airstream renters, who even extended their trip because they loved this beach park so much.  They were told by their fellow campers to keep this a secret (as were we).  But this secret is just too good not to share!

Airstream Destination and Delivery: Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort Hands down, one of the best places to take an Airstream in the SF Bay Area is Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort.  There’s nothing quite like living among some ancient giant trees to make you forget about city life.  These breathtaking redwoods emanate a special energy that you really can’t feel anywhere else.  Yet, you don’t have to drive hours into the forest to get away.  This park is a quick 35 minute drive from the GoSilver shop (and thus also a perfect place for those who want to get their Airstream rental delivered to a camp site).   The park is owned and operated by the nicest people, and their staff are super friendly.  When we got there, they saw that our site was partially flooded so they immediately moved us to a dry primo spot (we didn’t even have to ask!).  Here’s a map of their camp sites.   We stayed at campsite 20 and loved it.  I think campsites 1-22 are some of the best since the back of your RV faces the river, so there’s some views and some privacy.  This is one RV resort that definitely doesn’t feel like just another parking lot.  You can rent a fire pit for $5 (you can also bring your own as long as there’s no cut-outs on the sides) and buy a bundle of wood for $7 to get the complete camping experience. If you’re going to be there with a big group, you can rent out the clubhouse for a large dinner, and it comes complete with full kitchen and recreation room.  And the park plans to do some wine tasting events and breakfasts on the weekends.   One of the best things about this park is that it’s right next door to Henry Cowell State Park, with its 30 miles of hiking trails.  Check out that link for a comprehensive list of hikes categorized by difficulty and how much time you have.   Some other awesome places to check out while you’re there: Mount Hermon Adventures: a jungle gym up in the trees (but definitely not for those who are afraid of heights). The Mystery Spot: A little touristy perhaps, but also just a fun place to see at least once for yourself.  And get one of those bumper stickers that seem to be on every other car in Northern California. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: a family fun institution since 1907, but now with modern rides for thrill seekers.  And for the laid back types, there’s always the beach. Roaring Camp Railroads: for kids of all ages who love trains (but just come prepared with water and some of your own snacks since refreshments seem to be lacking here). Santa Cruz Wharf: A great place to dine on some local seafood and shop for souvenirs.  Also if you walk to the end of the pier and look down, you might see some sunbathing sea lions hanging around. Natural Bridges State Park: Named after the limestone natural bridge, this state park is a beautiful place to take some breathtaking photos on the beach.  There is also a Monarch Grove, where 100,000 butterflies roost in the eucalyptus trees from fall to early winter. If you only have a weekend to spare for some much needed R&R then I highly recommend Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort.  Even though it’s less than an hour away, it feels like another world.  And if you happen to have more than a weekend, then a splendid Airstream trip itinerary would be several days at Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort and then hitching up and towing to Costanoa for several days near the California coastline.  This way, you can enjoy both the redwood forests of California along with its beaches.  You get the best of what Northern California has to offer with minimal driving time!

Destination: Carpinteria State Beach Campground Hi guys, so this is a bit of an unusual Airstream Destination review because I’m not only recommending one particular campground at Carpinteria State Beach Park, but I’m also recommending one particular RV spot.  Speaking from personal experience, if you’re in the Santa Barbara area and want to experience your Airstream like your own personal beach house, then you need to go to the Santa Cruz campground, spot 210. It is the best spot in the park by general consensus (that would be Brian and I, as well as the park ranger who was helping us).  And this is why:   Yep, that’s your own private access walk-way to a sprawling California beach right behind your Airstream.  Spot 210 is also surrounded by greenery, with the fire pit behind your parked trailer.  So it’s the most private and secluded spot in the park.  Also the bathroom is located conveniently directly in front of the spot (the bathroom has flushing toilets and hot water showers).  The rest of the spots in this campground, as you can see is a bit more like a parking lot.  If you unfortunately aren’t able to snag spot 210 in the Santa Cruz campground, then the Santa Rosa and San Miguel campgrounds (also part of Carpinteria State Beach Park) are also fronting the beach.  These campgrounds also have clean and spacious dumping stations, which will make maneuvering your trailer easy, as well as a water source to fill up your fresh water tank.   Now a little bit about Carpinteria.  It’s 12 miles south of Santa Barbara and is a small sleepy surf/beach town.  There’s only one street of restaurant and shops that span about two blocks and it’s conveniently located about 4 blocks from the campground, which is walkable if you’re up for a bit of exercise (or it’s a 3-minute drive).  But as tiny as the town is, there is a lot of options for dining.  The Thai restaurant, Siam Elephant there comes highly recommended, but we opted for the tacos at Casa Don Roge and it was delicious!  And in the morning, you have to hit up Ernie’s café for an all-American diner breakfast.  For a list of restaurants in Carpinteria, go here. But what you’re really there at Carpinteria for is the beach!  In addition to some pretty amazing wildlife viewing (whale watching, seals, sea lions and shore birds to name a few), visitors can enjoy surfing, swimming, beach-combing, fishing, hiking, and biking.  Or just relax under an umbrella with a good book.   So if you’re looking to turn your Airstream rental into your own personal beach cabin, then spot 210 at Carpinteria State Beach Park is the one for you!

Destination: Big Sur Campground and Cabins If you want to camp in California’s Redwood forests you could go to Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort or go to Big Sur Campground and Cabins, which has the added benefit of being near Monterey, Carmel, and some of the most beautiful beaches California has to offer.  In all transparency, we haven’t camped there yet ourselves, but have had several of our Airstream rentals towed there by guests and we’ve also delivered Airstreams there.   Big Sur Campground and Cabins is located 2 hours south of our Airstream garage, about 30 miles south of Monterey.  The drive there is absolutely beautiful, though if you are towing a trailer you probably won’t be able to enjoy the scenery as much.  Here are some things we learned about the actual campground: – The most important thing to know about Big Sur Campground and Cabins is that it does not have a sewer connection.  That means all the water that is used onboard the Airstream will need to be stored in holding tanks during your trip.  They do have one dumping station which looks like a big well of filthy water, which can be used in case you really need to clear the tanks.  But most Airstream renters probably won’t want to deal with the hassle of dumping (and as Elite RV guests you won’t need to since we do all the dumping and sanitation for you).  But this does mean that when you’re staying at this campground you will need to be very conscious of your water usage, especially your gray water usage (this is all water from sinks and showers).  Once your gray water tank is full, you will see dirty water start pooling in the shower.  The 19′ International and 20′ Flying Cloud can hold 21 gallons of gray water, while the 25′ Flying Cloud and 25′ International can hold 35 gallons and the 27′ International can hold 37 gallons.  You will also need to be aware of your black water usage (that’s all things flushed down the toilet), but that won’t be as much of an issue normally since the black tank can hold as much as the gray tank, but each flush is minimal.  So what does it really mean to not have a sewer connection?  No long showers.  But the campground also provides bathrooms with free hot showers, and their bathrooms are clean and well-maintained. – Also the spaces at this campground are very close together and the path/road to get to sites are very narrow with some really tight corners.  In fact, the first incidence of major damage to one of our Airstreams occurred at this campsite.  So we recommend that only experienced towers come to this site or have an Airstream delivered here.  Also, some RV parks will have staff help you back up an RV (especially since the staff usually know the easiest ways to maneuver into sites), however this RV campground doesn’t offer that service.  So you’re on your own, and for brand new towers this campsite can prove to be quite a challenge.  And definitely do not try to go there after dark.  I imagine trying to reverse a trailer in those narrow spots without light would be beyond impossible. – There is no cell reception here for AT&T and Verizon, and they don’t offer wifi.  So if you’re planning to do a working vacation, you will need to head to a bar that offers wifi (there’s one 3 miles away and one 1/4 mile away).   That was all the bad news, but if you’re ready to take on the challenge of partial dry-camping, this campground and Big Sur has plenty to offer! – This is a super family-friendly campground and they provide a lot of activities for the whole family.  They have basketball and volleyball courts as well as playgrounds for the younger kids. – There’s a mix of RV and tent camping, many times right next to each other.  So if you’re going with a big group and the rest of the group wants to experience tent camping, then its possible to do that with adjoining sites. – There’s a swimming hole on site and you can rent inner tubes for the day. – And from some research, the best RV sites are near the river.  So those are sites #99, #100, #11 and #13.  This particular site in the pictures is site #72.   The best part about Big Sur Campground and Cabins?  Location, location, location!  It’s close to some of the most beautiful beaches and state parks California has to offer. – Pfeiffer State Park (1.5 miles south): this beautiful picture below was taken here (enough said, right?).  The park can be a bit hard to find so here’s some tips. source – Andrew Molera State Park (2.5 miles north) is great for hiking and horseback riding on the beach. – Do some treasure hunting at Jade Cove, where you might find some actual pieces of jade. – Jade can also be found at Sand Dollar Beach, along with the beach’s namesake, sand dollars. (For more info on all of Big Sur’s beaches, find it here and here). – Bixby Bridge (pictured below), is on the way to Big Sur. – Carmel, which is about 25 miles north of the campground is one of the quaintest towns in California.  A bit upscale, but a fun place to browse.  More info here. – Monterey, home to one of the best aquariums in the country and the Monterey Bay is a great place to kayak (we’ve done it before and it’s the best way to see sea otters fairly close and in their natural environment). And if you’re looking to eat in the Big Sur area these places have come highly recommended: Big Sur Bakery, Big Sur Roadhouse, Nepenthe, and the Restaurant at River Inn (right next door to the campground).