RV Rental King City, CA

Big Sur is undoubtedly the main outdoor attraction for anyone visiting the Salinas Valley. It’s a relatively short drive from King City and offers big waves for surfers, stunningly beautiful landscapes for photographers, and lots of great hiking trails in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Its popularity with tourists has also made it something of a foodie destination, so enjoy a delicious meal after a hard day on the trail.

One of the best outdoor destinations near King City is also one of the most overlooked, Pinnacles National Park. It sees few visitors due to the blazing summer temperatures that make it un-hikable in the heat of the day. However, it’s worth checking out in the cooler hours as the park is home to some fascinating rock formations, thanks to a volcanic eruption that occurred here 23 million years ago, and it also serves as a habitat for tons of wildlife including bobcats, black-tailed deer, and gray foxes.

For an enjoyable afternoon with the camper rental from King City, there’s no better place to visit than San Lorenzo County Park. This expansive green space along the Salinas River is popular with picnicking families and those looking for a stroll in nature. Its location on the southeastern edge of town also makes it the most convenient place to take pleasure in the outdoors.

As Big Sur/Monterey is quite popular with tourists, it should come as no surprise that there are quite a few good RV parks in the area. One of the closest is Yanks RV Resort, which is just a short drive north of King City on Route 101. Their sites have full hookups for your RV rental from King City, along with a heated swimming pool, fitness center, laundry facilities, and a pet area for if you brought furry companions on your trip. They’re also not far from Pinnacles National Park if you’re hoping to do some exploring up there.

A bit farther away is Carmel by the River RV Park, a short distance to the south of Monterey. They also have full hookups for your King City motorhome rental, plus showers and a comfortable lounge area. The real draw here is the scenery though, with the park surrounded by dense woodlands that are ripe for intrepid hikers. Sites are also quite close to the ocean if you’re hoping to make this a beach-y stay.

If you don’t mind a more rustic setting and don’t want to drive very far from King City when you rent an RV here, you can consider staying at the campground in San Lorenzo Park, right in the middle of town. Sites still have full hookups and laundry facilities, but aside from that, you’ll want to be fairly self-sufficient. Here you'll find some great hiking trails branching off from the camping area following the Salinas River.

The Salinas Valley has been one of California’s agricultural powerhouses over the past 150 years. One of the best places to explore this fascinating history is at the Monterey County Agricultural and Rural Life Museum. It’s located in the middle of San Lorenzo County Park and has exhibits showcasing farm implements throughout the age along with the reconstructions of some of the facilities that would have been found in small-town California like railway depots, one-room schoolhouses, and hay barns. Together they weave together a fascinating story of California’s past, but also how important the agricultural industry is today.

Having filled your brain with history and scientific tidbits at the museum, you can enjoy the fruits of all that agricultural labor by visiting one of the nearby vineyards for a tasty glass of wine. While the Salinas Valley doesn’t have the production levels of Sonoma, it does have a few vineyards that are open for tastings and that offer tours of their facilities.

California’s history did not begin when settlers from the east arrived here in the 1800s but goes back much farther to its time as a Spanish colony. This history is most evident in the Catholic missions that dot the Salinas Valley. You can visit the Mission San Antonio de Padua to the south of King City or Mission Nuestra Senora de la Soledad to the north. Either of them are excellent day trips for history buffs and those who enjoy beautiful architecture.