Laguna Seca Recreation Area

Great location central to many coastal and inland destinations. We were visiting family stationed in Monterey, and while it is inexpensive compared to closer parks, the drive does get tiring. Only 22 minutes to Franklin Gate though. There is a large open area to the right before you start up the 16% grade where you can drop your tow vehicle, which is advisable. Very sharp left turn after the gate to turn in to campground. Water has too much arsenic for drinking, but is ok for showers and washing dishes. Noisy during the day with racecars or motorcycles on the track but very quiet at night. Also a shooting range, which we could sometimes hear long after dark. Temperature is 10-20 degrees warmer than coast.

I’m traveling with friends who are staying at the beach in Marina. I wanted to stay at a less expensive campground, and am pleasantly surprised. This campground is up in the hills outside Monterey with great views and oak trees. It was utterly dark and silent overnight, and though there is racing going on right now down on the track, it’s background noise to me. Same with the shooting at the rifle range. I would definitely stay here again.

Check-in was easy. There is a steep grade to get up to Chapparal campground.

Note that the water hookups are with non-potable water, due to levels of arsenic higher that state health law (15ppm vs 10ppm). So don’t drink it or cook with it, but fine to shower and do dishes with. I forgot to read the instructions before i got here, and should have filled my tank before leaving my last spot.

As some of the other reviews note, the views here are great. The gentleman staffing the entry gateway when we arrived was very helpful and friendly. The campground itself could use some upgrading, the roads are in need of repair and site pads are all pretty worn at this point. Sites are pretty open but that also helps with the views a bit on the plus side. The restrooms weren't horrible but definitely could have used a bit more cleaning attention. The showers were free and nice and warm which was great.

Was disappointed they don't allow you to pick a site when you reserve online

We tend to boondock so price is a bit higher than our target rate but not bad for the area and you do get electric, we'd definitely consider staying here again on our way through the area.

We stayed one night for the 4th of July. The site had beautiful views of the surroundings hills, and was next to two portable restrooms. It also has water at the site, but no hook ups. Plenty of trash and recycling cans close by, and the site was very clean. The site was so level we didn’t need to level our camper.

They had racing on the track when we arrived at 2 pm and it went until 5 pm. We went for a hike until the shut the track down. Once the racing stopped the only sounds were from the hawks flying overhead.

We would stay here again.

A friend recommended this as an affordable place to stay on the Monterey Peninsula. What an unexpected delight! The views, especially in the early morning, watching the sunrise over Mt. Toro, were spectacular at times, otherwise merely gorgeous. Our stay was during the late winter season, so it was relatively peaceful and open. The only caveats are that the sites don't have sewer hookups, and the water is non-potable (arsenic). Our on-board Berkey water filter has an arsenic filter, so no issue for us. We definitely plan on visiting again.

Rustic = very unkempt. Many of the sites are very unlevel, unkempt, the roads in the campground are narrow and the hill getting to the campground is really damn steep. Plus the water is not potable. Uh,,, and don't forget the shooting range below the campground...Really is a but overpriced for what you get...

All that said, the views are killer and the location to get around the Monterey area make it worthwhile. It is also fun to hike around the race ground ... there were no events going on while we were there but there was practice racing going on everyday.

We weren’t there to hang in the campground so the gun range and the car noise weren’t an issue in the evenings. It was really quite peaceful and the views/sunsets killer!

We needed an XL site as our coach is 40 ft so that does limit you a bit if you are in a larger coach. Our original site was 81XL but the road was a mess right in front of the site and it is on a steep hill so that would have made getting in and out of the site impossible. Luckily the camp Host Mindy was vert nice and accommodating, told us to drive through and take a look at the sites. There wasn’t a lot of other sites available but she recommended site 70XL which was okay to get into but had very little usable outdoor area and was right by the trash cans. We did have some nice views out the front the coach and could see cars on the track so it was ok. It was great to sit in the front seats of eat the coach and look out on the view, often in the morning. The fog was rolling in over the mountains from the coast and it was just beautiful.

If you are a big coach ...sites 40, 71 78, 79 are great. Bathrooms were clean but old.

The Monterey area is easily accessible form this campground and there is so much to do in this beautiful area.

Be aware the Monterey Park system no longer handles the reservations for Laguna Seca. The correct website is https://www.weathertechraceway.com/. If you "think" you're booking through the park system and have to cancel your reservation, you will be subject to a non-refundable reservation fee of $10 and a cancellation fee of $15. Don't make the same mistake! Happy Camping!