Big Sur and Monterey Bay
Big Sur and Monterey Bay |
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This 80-acre RV park has a festival-like atmosphere to it, with country music and dancing every weekend in the summer and barbecues on Sunday. The resort is also busy during the Gilroy Garlic Festival in July and the Hollister Independence Rally, a motorcycle event held nearby during the Fourth of July weekend. Huge, but sparse, San Luis Reservoir is 20 miles to the east.
Campsites, facilities: There are 300 sites with full hookups (30 amps) for RVs; some sites are pull-through. Tent sites are also available. Picnic tables are provided. Restrooms with flush toilets and showers, dump station, Wi-Fi, satellite TV, coin laundry, playground, swimming pool, wading pool, outdoor dance floor, horse- shoes, volleyball courts, wine- and cheese-tasting room, candy factory, bakery, fruit stand, 24-hour restaurant, motel, gift shop, carousel, narrow-gauge train ride through animal park, and a mini mart are available. Some facilities are wheelchair-accessible. Leashed pets are permitted. Reservations, fees:, Reservations are accepted at 1(800)548-3813. RV sites are $40-45 per night, tent sites are $34 per night, $2 per person per night for more than two people, $3 per pet per stay. Some credit cards accepted. Open year-round.
This is one in a series of state park camps set on the bluffs overlooking Monterey Bay. They are among the most popular and in-demand state campgrounds in California. Reservations are a necessity. This camp is set near a forest of Monterey pine and live oak. The summer is often foggy and cool, especially in the morning. Beachcombing, swimming, and surf fishing for perch provide recreation options, and skiff rentals are available at the nearby Capitola Wharf. The San Lorenzo River enters the ocean nearby.
Campsites, facilities: There are 82 sites for tents or RVs up to 36 feet; one RV per site, back-in only. Some sites have partial hookups (30 amps). There are also three group sites (9-25 people each) and four hike-in/ bike-in sites. Picnic tables, fire rings, and food lockers are provided. Drinking water, restrooms with coin showers and flush toilets, and a visitors center are available. Dump stations, propane gas, groceries, coin laundry, restaurant, and gas station are available within 2.5 miles. Some facilities are wheelchair-accessible. Leashed pets are permitted. Reservations, fees: Reservations are recommended and can be made at 1(800)444-PARK or www.reserveamerica.com ($8 reservation fee). Premium sites are $50 per night, RV sites (with hookups) are $50 per night for up to eight people, sites without hookups are $35 per night, $10 per night for each additional vehicle, the group site is $185 per night, hike-in/bike-in camping is $5 per person per night. Two-night maximum stay per month. Open year-round, weather permitting. Some areas and sites may close for part of the year.
Here is a very pretty spot on a beach along Monterey Bay. Beach walks are great, especially on clear evenings for dramatic sunsets. A visitors center is available in the summer. This is a popular layover for vacationers touring Highway 1 in the summer, but the best weather is from mid-August to' early October. This is a popular beach for swimming and sunbathing, with a long stretch of sand backed by coastal bluffs. A structure many call the "old cement ship" nearby provides some fascination, but for safety reasons visitors are no longer allowed to walk on it. It is actually an old concrete freighter, the Palo Alto. Fishing is often good adjacent to the ship.
Campsites, facilities: There are 35 sites for self-contained RVs up to 40 feet, and an overflow area that can accommodate 21 RVs up to 34 feet (no hookups). Picnic tables and fire grills are provided. Drinking water, restrooms with flush toilets and coin showers, and picnic area are available. Propane gas, groceries, a coin laundry, and a visitors center are nearby. Some facilities are wheelchair-accessible. Leashed pets are permitted in the camping area and on the beach. Reservations, fees: Reservations are accepted at 1(800)444-PARK or www.reserveamerica.com ($8 reservation fee). Premium sites are $65 per night, sites without hookups are $55 per night, $10 per night for each additional vehicle. Open year-round, weather permitting.
Pinto Lake can be a real find. Of the nine lakes in the nine Bay Area counties that offer camping, it is the only one where the RV campsites are actually near the lake. For the few who know about it, it's an offer that can't be refused. But note that no tent camping is permitted. The lake is best known as a fishing lake, with trout stocks and a small resident population of crappie and bluegill. Rainbow trout are stocked twice monthly in season. A 5 -mph speed limit has been established for boaters, and no swimming or wading is permitted. The leash law for dogs is strictly enforced here.
Campsites, facilities: There are 28 sites with full hookups (30 amps) for RVs of any length. No tents. Picnic tables, cable TV, and barbecues are provided. A boat ramp, boat rentals, Wi-Fi, volleyball, and softball field are available nearby in the summer. Leashed pets are permitted. Most facilities are wheelchair-accessible. Open year-round. Reservations, fees: Reservations are accepted at 1(831)728-6194. Sites are $35 per night, $2 per night per person for more than two people (children 12 and under are free), $2 per night for each additional vehicle, $2 per pet per night. Credit cards are not accepted.
Bike rentals and nearby access to Manresa State Beach make this KOA campground a winner. The little log cabins are quite cute, and security is first class. It is a popular layover spot and weekend vacation destination. The only downer is the amount of asphalt. In 2012, Santa Cruz KOA won both the KOA President's Award and the Founders Award for exceptional service.
Campsites, facilities: There are 180 sites, including five pull-through sites, with full or partial hookups (30 and 50 amps) for RVs of any length, seven sites for tents only, 50 camping cabins, 25 camping lodges, and six Airstream trailers. Picnic tables and fire grills are provided. Restrooms with showers, two dump stations, free Wi-Fi, cable TV, swimming pool, spa, playground, two recreation rooms, bicycle rentals, miniature golf, basketball court, convenience store, and propane gas are available. Some facilities are wheelchair-accessible. Leashed pets are permitted. Reservations, fees: Reservations are advised at 1(800)562-7701. RV sites are $88-108, tent sites are $60-80, camping cabins are $130-145 per night, Airstreams are $180-200 per night, and camping lodges are $205-230 per night. Some credit cards accepted. Open year-round.
On clear evenings, the sunsets here look as if they are imported from Hawaii. The camp is set on a bluff along Monterey Bay. While there are no ocean views from the campsites, the location makes for easy, short walks down to the beach for beautiful shoreline walks. The beachfront features pine trees, bluffs, and expansive sand dunes. Large agricultural fields border the park. This area was once a good spot for clamming, but the clams have just about been fished out. The best weather is in late summer and fall. Spring can be windy here, and early summer is often foggy. Reservations are often needed well in advance to secure a spot.
Campsites, facilities: There are 91 sites for tents or RVs up to 31 feet (no hookups), one hike-in/bike-in site, and one group site for 9-50 people. Picnic tables, food lockers, and fire grills are provided. Drinking water, restrooms with flush toilets and coin showers, and firewood are available. Some facilities are wheelchair-accessible. Leashed pets are permitted, except on the beach. Reservations, fees: Reservations are accepted at 1(800)444-PARK or www.reserveamerica. com ($8 reservation fee). Sites are $35 per night, $10 per night for each additional vehicle, $5 per person per night for hike-in/bike-in site, $335 per night for group site. South Camp and the group site are open year-round, but Dunes and Pine Hollow campgrounds are only open mid-March through October.
This is the only privately operated campground in the immediate region that has any spots for tent campers. The camping cabins here look like miniature log cabins, quite cute and comfortable. In addition, the park has a 40-foot-deep lake stocked with trout, bass, bluegill, sturgeon, and catfish; no fishing license is required. The swimming pool was recently transformed into a trout-fishing pond. Other highlights of the park are its proximity to Mission San Juan Bautista and the relatively short drive to the Monterey-Carmel area.
Campsites, facilities: There are 45 sites for tents only, 27 sites with partial hookups (30 amps) for tents or RVs, 14 sites with full hookups (30 amps) for RVs, and four cabins. Picnic tables are provided; small fire pits can be brought in. Restrooms with flush toilets and, showers, dump station, group barbecue facilities, fishing pond, bait and tackle, coin laundry, propane gas, and groceries are available at a country store. Some facilities are wheelchair-accessible. Leashed pets are permitted. Reservations, fees: Reservations are accepted. RV sites are $40 per night, tent sites are $32 per night, $10 per person per night for more than four people, $5 per night for each additional vehicle. Some credit cards accepted. Weekly and monthly rates available. Open year-round.
This RV park has an ideal location for many vacationers. It's a 10-minute drive to San Juan Bautista, 15 minutes to winery tours, 30 minutes to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and 40 minutes to Monterey's Fisherman's Wharf and Cannery Row. It's set in an attractive spot with some trees, but the nearby attractions are what make it a clear winner. The park is next to the old stagecoach trail where famous outlaw Joaquin Murrieta once ambushed travelers. Note that about half of the sites are occupied by long-term renters.
Campsites, facilities: There are 88 sites with full hookups (30 amps) for RVs up to 40 feet; many are pull-through. No tents. Picnic tables and barbecues are provided at some sites. Restrooms with flush toilets and showers, coin laundry, Wi-Fi, and propane gas are available. Some facilities are wheelchair-accessible. Leashed pets up to 40 pounds are permitted, with certain restrictions. Reservations, fees: Reservations are recommended for three-day holiday weekends; $27-35 per night, $3 per person per night for more than two people, $1 per pet per night. Some credit cards accepted (except on discounts). Open year-round.
The primary appeal of this RV park is that it is within easy walking distance of San Juan Bautista. The park is set beside a walnut orchard surrounded by redwood trees—it's a very quiet place. Golfing and fishing are nearby.
Campsites, facilities: There are 144 sites with full hookups (30 amps) for RVs up to 33 feet and a grassy area for tents. Picnic tables are provided. Restrooms with flush toilets and showers, coin laundry, and propane gas are available. Some facilities are wheelchair-accessible. Leashed pets are permitted. Reservations, fees: Reservations are recommended. Sites are $35 per night, $8 per person per night for more than two people, $5 per pet per night. Monthly rates available. Some credit cards accepted. Open year-round.
If Big Sur, Monterey, and Carmel are packed, this RV park provides some overflow space. This KOA is located right by the highway, about a half-hour drive from the Monterey area.
Campsites, facilities: There are 79 sites with full or partial hookups (30 amps) for RVs up to 40 feet; some sites are pull-through. There are also 21 cabins. Picnic tables are provided. Restrooms with showers, recreation room, swimming pool (heated and open midMay-midOct.), playground, cable TV, clubhouse, basketball court, and coin laundry are available. Some facilities are wheelchair-accessible. Pets are permitted, with breed restrictions, and must be attended and leashed at all times. Reservations, fees: Reservations are recommended. RV sites are $55-60 per night, $10 per night per each additional vehicle. Some credit cards accepted. Open year-round.
This unique park was designed for off-highway-vehicle enthusiasts. It provides 80 miles of trails for motorcycles and 40 miles of trails for four-wheel-drive vehicles. Some of the trails are accessible directly from the campground. All trails close at sunset. Note that there is no direct access to Fremont Peak State Park, bordering directly to the west. Elevations at the park range 800-2,600 feet. Visitors are advised to always call in advance when planning a trip because the area is sometimes closed for special events. A sidelight is that a 288-acre area is set aside for hiking and mountain biking. In addition, a self-guided natural history walk is routed into Azalea Canyon and along the San Andreas Fault.
Campsites, facilities: There are seven campgrounds with a total of 125 sites for tents or RVs of any length (no hookups) and group sites for up to 300 people. Picnic tables and fire rings are provided. Drinking water, rest-rooms with flush toilets and showers, and a camp store are available. Some facilities are wheelchair-accessible. Leashed pets are permitted. Reservations, fees: Reservations are not accepted. Sites are $10 per night per vehicle. Group sites are $250 per night. Open year-round.
Most vacationers in this region are heading to Monterey Bay and the surrounding environs. That's why Fremont Peak State Park is missed by a lot of folks. It is on a ridge (2,900 feet) with great views of Monterey Bay available on the trail going up Fremont Peak (3,169 feet) in the Gavilan Range. An observatory with a 30-inch telescope at the park is open to the public on specified Saturday evenings. There are views of the San Benito Valley, Salinas Valley, and the Santa Lucia Mountains. A picnic is held in the park each April to commemorate Captain John C. Fremont, his expeditions, and his raising of the U.S. flag in defiance of the Mexican government. Note: There is no access from this park to the adjacent Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area.
Campsites, facilities: There are 21 primitive sites for tents or RVs up to 25 feet (no hookups), and one group site for up to 50 people. Picnic tables and fire rings are provided. Drinking water and pit toilets are available. Some facilities are wheelchair-accessible. Leashed pets are permitted. Reservations, fees: Reservations are accepted at 1(800)444-PARK or www.reserveamerica.com ($8 reservation fee). Sites are $25 per night, $10 per night for each additional vehicle, $100 per night for group site. The Valley View campground is open March through November; the Oak Point and the group campgrounds are open year-round.
This is a popular park for RV cruisers who are touring Highway 1 and want a layover spot near Monterey. This place fills the bill, open all year and in Marina, just a short drive from the many side-trip opportunities available in Monterey and Carmel. It is set in the sand dunes, about 300 yards from the ocean. Horseback riding, boat rentals, and golfing are nearby.
Campsites, facilities: There are 65 sites, most with full hookups (30 and 50 amps), for RVs of any length and 10 sites for tents. Picnic tables and barbecue grills are provided. Restrooms with showers, drinking water, coin laundry, cable TV, Wi-Fi, recreation room, playground, volleyball, horseshoes, meeting room, picnic area, RV supplies, gift shop, dump station, and propane are available. Some facilities are wheelchair-accessible. Leashed pets are permitted. Reservations, fees: Reservations are recommended. RV sites are $55-75 per night, tent sites are $35 per night Credit cards accepted. Open year-round.
This campground is just minutes away from the sights in Monterey and Carmel. It is situated in oak woodlands overlooking the world-famous Laguna Seca Raceway. There are three separate camping areas: Chaparral, Cam-Am Circle, and Grand Prix Campgrounds.
Campsites, facilities: There are 172 sites for tents or RVs up to 40 feet; most sites have partial hookups (30 amps). A large overflow area is also available for RVs and tents. Picnic tables and fire pits are provided. Restrooms with showers, dump station, pond, rifle and pistol range, clubhouse, and group camping and meeting facilities are available. Some facilities are wheelchair-accessible. Leashed pets are permitted. Reservations, fees: Reservations are accepted at 1(888)588-2267 ($15 reservation fee). There are 70 tent and RV sites (no hookups) at Grand Prix for $30 per night. RV sites (water and electricity) are available at Chaparral and Cam-Am Circle for $35 per night, $10 per night for each additional vehicle, $2 per pet per night. Off-season and group rates available. Some credit cards accepted. Open year-round.
Location, location, location. That's what vacationers want. Well, this park is set on the Carmel River, minutes away from Carmel, Cannery Row, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, golf courses, and the beach. Hedges and flowers separate each RV site.
Campsites, facilities: There are 35 sites with full hookups (30 and 50 amps) for RVs up to 45 feet. No tents. Restrooms with showers, cable TV, Wi-Fi, recreational cabana, game room with pool tables, barbecue area, and river access are available. A convenience store, and propane gas are nearby. Some facilities (and a bathroom) are wheelchair-accessible. Leashed pets are ,a permitted. Reservations, fees: Reservations are accepted for two or more nights. Sites are $68-75 per night, $3 per person per night for more than two people over age 12, $5 per night for each additional vehicle, $2 per pet per night. Open year-round.
This pretty park is set about 100 yards from the Carmel River amid a grove of oak trees. The park offers hiking trails, and if you want to make a buyer's swing into Carmel, it's only a five-mile drive. Note: The Carmel River is reduced to a trickle most of the year and can go dry in drought years.
Campsites, facilities: There are 28 tent sites and 23 sites with full hookups (30 amps) for RVs up to 40 feet. Picnic tables, cable TV, Wi-Fi, and barbecue grills are provided. Restrooms .with flush toilets and showers are available. A seasonal swimming pool, playground, horseshoe pits, badminton, croquet, and a basketball court are available nearby. Some facilities are wheelchair- accessible. Leashed pets are permitted in the RV area only; check for current status of pet policy for campground. Reservations, fees: Reservations are accepted. RV sites are $65-72 per night, tent sites are $35-60 per night, $5 per person per night for more than two people, $5 per night for each additional vehicle, $5 per pet. Weekly and monthly rates available. Group rates available. Open year-round.
This is the only camp at the Pinnacles National Monument, where there are more than 30 miles of hiking trails and two sets of talus caves. Pinnacles National Monument is like a different planet—it's a 24,000-acre park with volcanic clusters and strange caves, all great for exploring. The jagged pinnacles for which the park was named were formed by the erosion of an ancient volcanic eruption and are popular for rock climbing. This is a popular place for astronomy buffs—ranger-led dark sky viewings are offered occasionally—and condors can sometimes be seen flying in the monument and over the campground. Campfire programs are held in the amphitheater most of the year. If you are planning to stay a weekend in the spring, arrive early on Friday evening to be sure you get a campsite. In the summer, beware of temperatures in the 90s and 100s. Also note that the Bear Gulch Caves can be closed seasonally to protect nesting bat populations; always check with rangers.
Campsites, facilities: There are 99 sites for tents, 36 RV sites with partial hookups (30 amps), and 14 group sites for 20 people each. Picnic tables and fire grills are provided. Drinking water, restrooms with flush toilets and showers, dump station, amphitheater, convenience store, and a swimming pool (Apr.-Sept.) are available. Campfires are permitted, but are subject to change without warning. Although discouraged, leashed dogs are permitted in the campground. They are not permitted on trails. Reservations, fees: Reservations are accepted at 1(877)444-6777 or www.recreation.gov ($9 reservation fee). Tent sites are $23 per night, RV sites are $36 per night. Group sites are $75 per night for 1-10 people, $110 for 11-20 people. Some credit cards accepted. There is a park entrance fee of $10. Open year-round, weather permitting on the Big Sur River
A lot of folks might find it difficult to believe that a spot that feels so remote can be so close to the manicured Carmel Valley. But here it is, one of two camps on Tassajara Road at an elevation of 4,500 feet. This one has a trail out of camp that is routed into the Ventana Wilderness. Tassajara Hot Springs, a private facility, is seven miles away at the end of Tassajara Road.
Campsites, facilities: There are nine sites for tents or RVs up to 20 feet (no hookups). Picnic tables and fire grills are provided. Vault toilets are available. No drinking water is available. Leashed pets are permitted. Reservations, fees: Reservations are not accepted. There is no fee for camping. Open April through November, weather permitting.
This camp is in the redwoods. Campers can stay in the redwoods, hike on great trails through the forest at nearby state parks, or explore nearby Pfeiffer Beach. Nearby Los Padres National Forest and Ventana Wilderness in the mountains to the east provide access to remote hiking trails with ridge-top vistas. Cruising Highway 1 south to Lucia and back offers endless views of breathtaking coastal scenery.
Campsites, facilities: There are 35 sites with partial hookups (20 and 30 amps) for RVs up to 40 feet, 35 sites for tents and RVs (no hookups), 16 cabins, and four camping cabins. Picnic tables and fire grills are provided. Restrooms with flush toilets and showers, drinking water, dump station, playground, basketball, inner-tube rentals, convenience store, and coin laundry are available. Leashed pets are permitted at campsites, but not in cabins. Reservations, fees: Reservations are recommended. RV sites are $65-90 per night, tent sites are $50-80 per night, $5 per person per night for more than two people, $15 per night for each additional vehicle with a maximum of two cars, $5 per pet per night. Some credit cards accepted. Open year-round.
This is one in a series of privately operated camps designed for Highway 1 cruisers touring the Big Sur area. This camp is set amid redwoods. Side trips include expansive beaches with sea otters playing on the edge of kelp beds (Andrew Molera State Park), redwood forests and waterfalls (Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park), and several quality restaurants, including Nepenthe for those on a budget, and the Ventana Inn for those who can light cigars with $100 bills.
Campsites, facilities: There are 35 sites for tents or RVs up to 34 feet; 12 sites have partial hookups (20 amps). Twelve cabins are also available. Picnic tables and fire pits are provided. Restrooms with flush toilets and coin showers are available. A coin laundry and free Wi-Fi and firewood are available. A store is on-site. Leashed pets are permitted at campsites and in most cabins. Reservations, fees: Reservations are recommended at 1(831)667-2414 or reservations@riversidecampground. com. RV sites are $55-60 per night, tent sites are $50-55 per night, $5 per person per night for more than two people over age 6, with a maximum of five people, $10 per night for each additional vehicle, with a maximum of two vehicles, $5 per pet per night at tent and RV sites, $20 per pet per night in cabins. Some credit cards accepted. Open year-round, weather permitting.
This resort is on the banks of the Big Sur River in the redwoods of the beautiful Big Sur coast. Many of the campsites are set along the river. There also are eight tent cabins and a roadside motel. A highlight is that there is live music on Saturday nights in season. You can crown your trip with a dinner at the on-site Redwood Grill or a hike at nearby Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.
Campsites, facilities: There are 15 sites for tents only, 31 sites with partial hookups (30 amps) for RVs up to 36 feet,10 tent cabins, and a motel. Fire grills and picnic tables are provided. Restrooms with showers, grocery store, restaurant, and a bar are available; Wi-Fi is available in restaurant/bar area. Some facilities are wheelchair-accessible. Leashed pets are permitted. Reservations, fees: Reservations are recommended. RV sites are $65 per night, tent sites are $55 per night, $5 per person per night for more than two people (maximum of six), $5 per night for each additional vehicle, $5 per pet per night. Tent cabins are $90 per night, $10 per person per night for more than two people. Discounts available in the off-season. Some credit cards accepted. Open year-round.
This stretch of coast is one of the most beautiful anywhere. This is one of the most popular state parks in California, and it's easy to see why. You can have it all: fantastic coastal vistas along Highway 1, redwood forests and waterfalls in the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park (11.5 miles to the south), expansive beaches with elusive sea otters playing on the edge of kelp beds in Andrew Molera State Park (4.5 miles north), great restaurants such as Ventana Inn (a few miles south), and private, patrolled sites. Reservations are a necessity. Some campsites in this park are set along the Big Sur River. The park features 800 acres of alders, conifers, cottonwoods, maples, oaks, redwoods, sycamores, and willows, plus open meadows—just about everything, in other words. Wildlife includes raccoons, skunk, deer, squirrels, occasional bobcats and mountain lions, and many birds, among them water ouzels and belted kingfishers. Wild boar are spotted infrequently. A number of loop trails provide spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and the Big Sur Gorge. Big Sur Lodge is also within the park.
Campsites, facilities: There are 204 sites for tents or RVs up to 32 feet and trailers up to 27 feet, two hike-in/ bike-in sites, and two group sites for up to 35 people each. Picnic tables and fire grills are provided. Fires may be prohibited during fire season. Restrooms with flush toilets and showers, Wi-Fi, a coin laundry, and drinking water are available. Groceries, a cafe, a dump station, and propane gas are nearby. Some facilities are wheelchair-accessible. Leashed pets are permitted in the campground only. Smoking is prohibited in undeveloped area, on trails, and in the campgrounds. Reservations, fees: Reservations are accepted at 1(800)444-PARK or www.reserveamerica. com ($8 reservation fee). Tent and RV sites are $35 per night, premium sites are $50 per night, $10 per night for each additional vehicle, $150 per night for group sites, $5 per person per night for hike-in/bike-in sites. Open year-round.
This pretty spot near the Arroyo Seco River is just outside the northern border of the Ventana Wilderness. The elevation is 900 feet. Arroyo Seco Group Camp is available to keep the pressure off this campground.
Campsites, facilities: There are 49 sites for tents or RVs up to 26 feet, plus a group site for 25-50 people. Picnic tables and fire grills are provided. Drinking water and restrooms with flush toilets and coin showers are available. Firewood is available from the camp host, and a grocery store is within five miles. Some facilities are wheelchair-accessible. Leashed pets are permitted. Reservations, fees: Reservations are accepted for individual sites and required for group sites at 1(877)444-6777 ($10 reservation fee) or www.recreation.gov ($9 reservation fee). Single sites are $25 per night, double sites are $50 per night, primitive single sites are $20, primitive double sites are $40 per night, $5 per night for each additional vehicle, and the group site is $75 per night. Open year-round.
A lot of folks cruising up and down the state on U.S. 101 can underestimate their travel time and find themselves caught out near King City, a small city about midpoint between Northern and Southern California. Well, don't sweat it, because San Lorenzo County Park offers a spot to overnight. It's set near the Salinas River, which isn't exactly the Mississippi, but it'll do. A museum complex captures the rural agricultural life of the valley. The park covers 200 acres, featuring playgrounds and ball fields.
Campsites, facilities: There are 93 sites with full or partial hookups (30 amps) for tents or RVs of any length; some sites are pull-through. Picnic tables and fire pits are provided. A dump station, restrooms with flush toilets and showers, picnic area, coin laundry, meeting facilities, playgrounds, horseshoes, putting green, volleyball, softball fields, walking trail, and computer kiosks are available. Leashed pets are permitted. Reservations, fees: Reservations are accepted at 1(888)588-2267 or 1(831)385-5964 ($5 reservation fee; $15 for groups). Tent sites are $35 per night, RV sites (water and electricity) are $35 per night, RV sites (full hookups) are $40 per night, $10 per night for each additional vehicle, $2 per pet per night. Off-season and group rates available. Open year-round.
Limekiln State Park reopened in the summer of 2010 to near-full glory. It had closed in 2008 after the Chalk Fire, but the redwoods and the neighboring coastal grasslands are fire resilient. Limekiln provides spectacular views of the coast and is a layover spot for Highway 1 cruisers south of the Big Sur area. Drive-in campsites are set near both the beach and the redwoods—take your pick. Several hiking trails are nearby, including one that is routed past some historic lime kilns, which were used in the late 1800s to make cement and bricks. A short rock hop on a spur trail (just off the main trail) leads to gorgeous 100-foot Limekiln Falls. One problem: Parking is limited.
Campsites, facilities: There are 11 sites for tents or trailers up to 15 feet provided. Drinking water, flush toilets, and firewood are available. Fire restrictions may apply. Some facilities are wheelchair-accessible. Leashed pets are allowed, except on trails. Reservations, fees: Reservations are accepted at 1(800)444-PARK or www.reserveamerica. com ($8 reservation fee). Sites are $35 per night, $10 per night for each additional vehicle. Some credit cards accepted for reservations, but not at the park. Open year-round, weather and road conditions permitting.
This little-known spot is set near the Nacimiento River at 1,600 feet elevation. Most campers will head up Nacimiento-Ferguson Road to camp on a Friday night and get up Saturday morning to head off on a hiking or backpacking trip in the nearby Ventana Wilderness.
Campsites, facilities: There are eight sites for tents or RVs up to 25 feet (no hookups). Picnic tables and fire grills are provided. Vault toilets are available. No drinking water is available. Leashed pets are permitted. Reservations, fees: Reservations are not accepted. Sites are $15 per night, $10 per each additional vehicle. Open year-round.
As soon as you turn off Highway 1, you leave behind the crowds and enter a land that is largely unknown to people. This camp is set at 1,500 feet elevation in Los Padres National Forest, not far from the border of the Ventana Wilderness (good hiking and backpacking) and the Hunter Liggett Military Reservation (wild-pig hunting is allowed there with a permit). It is one in a series of small camps on Nacimiento-Ferguson Road.
Campsites, facilities: There are 23 sites for tents or RVs up to 35 feet. Picnic tables and fire grills are provided. Vault toilets and drinking water are available. Leashed pets are permitted. Reservations, fees: Reservations accepted at 1(877)4446777 ($10 reservation fee) or www.recreation.gov ($9 reservation fee). Sites are $20 per night, $10 per each additional vehicle. Open year-round.
This pretty camp is set along Kirk Creek where it empties into the Pacific Ocean. There is beach access through a footpath. Another trail from camp branches north through the Ventana Wilderness, which is sprinkled with little-used, hike-in, backcountry campsites. For gorgeous scenery without all the work, a quaint little cafe in Lucia provides open-air dining on a cliff-top deck, with a dramatic sweeping lookout over the coast.
Campsites, facilities: There are 34 sites for tents or RVs up to 30 feet (no hookups). Picnic tables and fire grills are provided. Vault toilets are available. There is no drinking water, but a camp host may have firewood and drinking water for sale. Leashed pets are permitted. Reservations, fees: Reservations are required at 1(877)444-6777 ($10 reservation fee) or www.recreation. gov ($9 reservation fee). Sites are $25 per night, hike-in/ bike-in sites are $5 per night, $10 per each additional vehicle. Open year-round.