Santa Cruz KOA vs Marina Dunes RV park

Question

As part of our pacific coast RV trip we plan to spend 4-5 days in the Carmel/Monterey area. We have young kids (ages 7, 3 and 1) and the Santa Cruz KOA looks like it would be a lot of fun for them to unwind after a 3 week trip. I’d like to spend a day or two exploring Carmel, do a 1 day Big Sur drive and then I had thought a day or two hanging out at the campground. My only concern is that the KOA is a 45 min drive to Carmel (assuming traffic is ok) vs a 20 min drive from Marina Dunes. Has anyone stayed at the KOA and made a few trips down to the Carmel area? Are the amenities for the kids worth the extra drive or should we plan to stay closer? Thanks!

Answer

When deciding between Santa Cruz/Monterey KOA and Marina Dunes RV Park, it’s helpful to weigh convenience versus amenities, especially for families with young children.

The Santa Cruz/Monterey KOA is geared toward families and offers numerous kid-friendly amenities such as a large playground, splash pad, mini-golf, organized activities, and sometimes seasonal events. This can be a big advantage if you’re planning downtime where your children can safely play and unwind after several weeks of travel. The campground is spacious and designed for families, which makes it ideal for younger kids to expend energy and for parents to relax.

The main downside is the distance to Carmel and the Monterey Peninsula attractions. From the KOA, it’s roughly a 45-minute drive to Carmel and Monterey, assuming moderate traffic. If you plan multiple day trips to Carmel, Monterey, and Big Sur, that driving time can add up, particularly if you’re trying to stick to nap schedules or meal times for young kids.

Marina Dunes RV Park, on the other hand, is only about 15-20 minutes from Carmel. This makes it far more convenient for exploring Carmel, Monterey, and Big Sur without long drives. However, the park is smaller and has fewer amenities tailored for kids, so you may not get the same level of entertainment for the little ones on non-exploration days.

Some considerations to help decide:

If your priority is a fun, activity-filled stay for your kids, and you don’t mind longer drives to Carmel/Monterey, the Santa Cruz KOA is excellent.
If your priority is convenience for daily excursions and less time driving, Marina Dunes is better suited.
Traffic and timing matter: peak summer traffic along Highway 1 can increase drive times significantly. Factor this in if you plan multiple short trips.
Alternating your schedule: some families choose a mix—stay a couple of nights closer to Carmel for sightseeing and a few nights at KOA for kid-focused recreation.

Overall, the KOA amenities are definitely worth it if your children enjoy camp-based activities and you are prepared for the longer daily drives. For maximum convenience to Carmel and Big Sur, Marina Dunes is the better choice. Given the ages of your children (7, 3, 1), the KOA’s amenities may help reduce cabin fever and provide a more relaxing pace for the family, while Marina Dunes works better for short excursions and minimizing driving stress.