Saddle Mountain Carmel Introduce
For those seeking an elevated outdoor experience and exploring options for "RV Parks Near Me" or "Camping Near Me" in the picturesque Monterey Peninsula region of California, Saddle Mountain Carmel stands out as a highly acclaimed destination. Located at 27625 Schulte Rd, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923, USA, this campground offers a unique blend of rustic charm, modern convenience, and stunning natural beauty. You can reach them by phone at (831) 624-1617 or +1 831-624-1617.
Saddle Mountain Carmel boasts an "absolutely beautiful setting," strategically "tucked into the trees with great views" and exuding a "quiet, laid-back vibe." The campground is ingeniously designed, with campsites "carved into the side of the mountain," many offering "beautiful views" of the surrounding landscape, and even distant ocean vistas after a hike. This unique terraced layout maximizes privacy and views for campers.
Despite its secluded feel as a "hidden gem," Saddle Mountain Carmel offers exceptional proximity to world-renowned attractions. It's just a "short drive from Carmel-by-the-Sea and other stunning coastal spots," including the iconic Big Sur coastline and the charming towns of Monterey and Pacific Grove. This makes it an ideal base for exploring the rich cultural, culinary, and natural wonders of the Monterey Peninsula.
The immediate surroundings of the campground feature lush natural vegetation, contributing to a sense of being immersed in nature. The elevation provides invigorating air and clear skies, conducive to exceptional stargazing. While the access road into the campground is noted as "a bit narrow and steep in spots," particularly for larger rigs, it is consistently described as "totally manageable and 100% worth it once you're settled in," suggesting that the rewards far outweigh this minor navigational challenge. Grocery stores and restaurants are within walking distance (approximately a 4-mile roundtrip walk), or a very short drive, adding to the convenience without compromising the serene ambiance.
Saddle Mountain Carmel is committed to providing a comfortable and enjoyable stay, offering a range of services and amenities that cater to both RV and tent campers. The "facility is adorable," and the campground has "created all kinds of lovely hangout spaces," enhancing the communal atmosphere.
Key amenities and services include:
- Campsite Hookups: RV sites are equipped with full hookups, ensuring that "the hookups worked great" for power, water, and sewer. This provides all the necessary conveniences for a comfortable RV stay.
- Clean Facilities: The communal bathrooms and showers are consistently praised for being "clean and well-kept." This is a significant highlight for campers, ensuring a pleasant experience even when not using private RV facilities.
- Swimming Pool: A pool area is available for guest enjoyment, although it may be seasonally closed for maintenance or preparation (as noted in one review during winter prep for summer). Despite being closed, it still "looked lovely!"
- On-Site Hiking Trail: A major feature is the "private hiking trail on the property." This trail, approximately "4.5 miles" long, includes "a good set of switchbacks and climbs about 800 ft in elevation," leading to "stunning views of the ocean and Carmel Valley." This offers an immediate and rewarding outdoor activity without having to leave the campground.
- Laundry Facilities: While not explicitly mentioned, it is typical for well-equipped RV parks of this caliber to offer laundry facilities.
- Pet-Friendly: The welcoming environment and natural setting make it a great place for those traveling with pets, although specific rules should be confirmed.
- Friendly and Helpful Staff: The staff, from the "super friendly and helpful" desk staff (like Julie) to the "warm, easygoing, and super helpful" property manager (Drew) and the "chill, easy to talk to" camp host (Gage), consistently receive high praise for their kindness, accommodation, and positive presence. This contributes significantly to the overall positive experience.
- Online Booking: The "ease of booking online made the whole planning process seamless," indicating a user-friendly reservation system.
Saddle Mountain Carmel offers spacious and well-appointed campsites, designed to integrate seamlessly with the natural landscape.
- Spacious Spots: The campground offers "several spacious spots available that could easily accommodate" larger trailers, such as a 29-foot rig. This ensures comfort and maneuverability even for bigger RVs.
- Privacy and Nature: RV sites are described as "clean and surrounded by nature, with just enough privacy and space to feel comfortable." This balance allows campers to enjoy the outdoors while having their own secluded area.
- Scenic Views: As mentioned, many sites are "carved into the side of the mountain," providing "beautiful views" and a unique vantage point.
- Variety of Sites: While not explicitly detailed, the mention of RV sites versus tent sites (implied to be different from boondocking) suggests a range of options, though the reviews focus heavily on the RV experience.
- Well-Maintained: The campground overall is described as "very well maintained," reflecting care in upkeep of the sites and communal areas.
Each site typically includes a picnic table and a fire ring, allowing campers to enjoy outdoor dining and campfires (subject to local fire regulations and conditions).
Saddle Mountain Carmel's most compelling "promotional information" comes directly from the overwhelmingly positive experiences shared by its guests. The sentiment, "it was worth every cent. In fact, I returned an extra day I was so enchanted," speaks volumes about the value and enjoyment offered. The campground is consistently described as "lovely and charming," offering a "peaceful and relaxing experience."
Key takeaways from customer feedback that serve as promotion include:
- Exceptional Value: Despite being perceived as potentially pricey compared to basic boondocking, guests feel it is "worth every cent" due to the quality of the facilities, staff, and overall experience.
- Ideal Blend: It's highlighted as "the perfect blend of rustic charm and convenience," appealing to those who want an outdoor experience without sacrificing comfort and accessibility to amenities.
- High Revisit Intention: Multiple reviews express a strong desire to "absolutely come back again," indicating a high level of guest satisfaction and loyalty.
- Stargazing and Nature Immersion: The "stunning views" and the on-site hike leading to "stunning views of the ocean and Carmel Valley" are significant drawcards for nature lovers. The "quiet, laid-back vibe" and surrounding trees contribute to a deep connection with nature.
- Seamless Experience: From online booking to helpful check-in, the entire process is described as smooth and accommodating.
Saddle Mountain Carmel actively cultivates a positive atmosphere through its attentive management and friendly camp hosts. The personalized service, as exemplified by Julie helping with a lounge chair or Drew and Gage's approachable demeanor, creates a welcoming and supportive environment for all guests. While specific promotional offers might not be detailed, the consistently high quality of service and facilities serves as its best form of marketing. Prospective guests are encouraged to check their official website for current rates, seasonal availability (especially for the pool), and to utilize their online booking system for a seamless planning experience.
In conclusion, Saddle Mountain Carmel is far more than just a place to park an RV; it is a meticulously crafted camping destination that offers an immersive and luxurious outdoor experience near Carmel-By-The-Sea. Its unique mountain-carved sites, extensive amenities, commitment to cleanliness, and exceptionally friendly staff combine to create an unforgettable stay for anyone searching for a top-tier "Camping Near Me" option in Central California.
Saddle Mountain Carmel Photos










Saddle Mountain Carmel Location
Saddle Mountain Carmel
27625 Schulte Rd, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923, USA
Saddle Mountain Carmel Reviews
Staying at campsites rather than boondocking is my new hobby and I have never paid so much to stay in one. I have to say it was worth every cent. In fact, I returned an extra day I was so enchanted. The layout is clever, carving campsites into the side of the mountain, many of which have beautiful views. The private hiking trail is delightful. The facility is adorable. They created all kinds of lovely hangout spaces. The desk staff were super friendly and helpful. I can't say enough good things about this lovely and charming campground.
Mar 09, 2025 · Beth MadisonMy husband and I stayed at Saddle Mountain RV Park last week and had such a peaceful and relaxing experience. Our trailer is about 29 ft, and there were several spacious spots available that could easily accommodate it. The directions and instructions for getting there were clear, and the ease of booking online made the whole planning process seamless.Julie at the front desk was incredibly helpful when we checked in and even helped me grab a lounge chair from the pool area (which was unfortunately closed for the season while they prep for summer--but still looked lovely!).The setting itself is absolutely beautiful--tucked into the trees with great views and a quiet, laid-back vibe. It felt like a hidden gem, yet it's just a short drive from Carmel-by-the-Sea and other stunning coastal spots. There are grocery stores and restaurants within walking distance (we did the roundtrip walk twice--about 4 miles total), but they're also easy to reach by car.One of the highlights was the ~4.5 mile hike on the property. It has a good set of switchbacks and climbs about 800 ft in elevation, leading to stunning views of the ocean and Carmel Valley. We thoroughly enjoyed it.Our RV site was clean and surrounded by nature, with just enough privacy and space to feel comfortable. The hookups worked great, and the campground overall was very well maintained. We also appreciated the communal bathrooms and showers--they were clean and well-kept. Both my husband and I used the men's and women's facilities one evening and had a great experience.The staff were friendly, helpful, and incredibly accommodating. Drew, the property manager during the day, was warm, easygoing, and super helpful. The camp host, Gage, was also great--chill, easy to talk to, and just an overall lovely presence around the campground.Just a heads-up for future guests: the road into the campground is a bit narrow and steep in spots, so take it slow if you have a larger rig. That said, it's totally manageable and 100% worth it once you're settled in.All in all, we really enjoyed our stay and would absolutely come back again. It's the perfect blend of rustic charm and convenience!
Apr 01, 2025 · Chana SchamesI recently stayed at Saddle Mountain Ranch with my husband and 3 children, and unfortunately, it was a disappointing experience. We rented cabin 8 for two night and our cousins rented cabin 9.Overall, the property is very small and hard to navigate or park especially with a larger vehicle. The hills there are pretty steep, and we just so happened to be there in the rain, so they were incredibly slippery.Check in was pretty smooth, but beware you have to arrive before 8 or no one can help you. On our second night, we arrived late at night (9:30pm) and no one was in the office at that time. All the parking was taken. It really felt like a safety hazard, especially for families or anyone with mobility issues.I found the cost of renting a cabin to be extremely exorbitant. Additionally, the cancellation policy is pretty inflexible. If you need to cancel your trip, you will be charged a steep fee.The hosts were another letdown. They were far from welcoming, which created an uninviting atmosphere. They seemed more focused on enforcing their strict rules than offering any help or hospitality. Every little thing felt like it was under scrutiny. From how we parked our car to how our children were playing, we were made to feel like we were breaking some unwritten code if we weren't following their exact instructions. It quickly became clear that relaxation was the last thing on their minds.Lastly, the policies at this campground are overly strict, making it feel less like a vacation. It was difficult to truly unwind and enjoy the outdoors when it felt like we were constantly being monitored. We even checked out early due to the strict policies.Overall, this campground has the potential to be a nice place if it weren't for the dangerous terrain, unwelcoming hosts, and stifling rules. Unfortunately, it didn't allow us to relax or enjoy our time in nature. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone looking for a laid-back camping experience.Thankfully, our experience at the Carmel River RV resort down the hill was the complete opposite. My in-laws rented an RV space there, and thankfully we were able to go enjoy that property for the weekend. The camp hosts were more than hospitable and welcoming.Based on the other negative reviews of this place I’m expecting some sort of snarky reply to my review, blaming me and my family for any issues we experienced.
Nov 26, 2024 · Sarah ProvenceWe stayed here at Saddle Mountain in our camper for quite a while and absolutely loved it! Beautiful grounds, wonderful office staff, camp hosts and maintenance crew, very accommodating people and just a great place to park for a bit. Recent upgrades to the exit making it less scary for bigger rigs as well. Would highly recommend!! Loved our time here!!!
Dec 22, 2024 · Adrianna SpanglerThis was so close to Monterey, yet still tucked perfectly in the mountains.The levels of campspots make it to where each campsites view is not impeded by another campsite. The views are terrific. The pool and amenities were nice also.We came for Mothers Day 2024. I'm making this my Mothers Day tradition from now on. This was such a peaceful, enjoyable campsite.Thank you for all the hard work you put into this location! It's perfect!
Dec 10, 2024 · Mandy Babcock
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Saddle Mountain Carmel