Pinnacles National Monument - Camping

There are no campgrounds within Pinnacles National Monument.

As of May 1st, 2009, Pinnacles Campground will be operated by a concessionaire. Reservations are still being handled by recreation.gov. For campground information, maps, or to make a reservation, please visit recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777. Please direct campground specific questions to 831-389-4538.

Pinnacles Campground is located near the east entrance of the park and offers tent, group, and RV sites. Each tent and group site has a picnic table and fire ring. RV sites have electrical hookups and share community tables and barbecue pits. Water spigots are located throughout the campground. Oak trees provide shade in many of the sites. The campground swimming pool is now open for the spring and summer seasons.

The campground store is located inside the visitor center, and is open from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm every day. If the campground store desk is not staffed, it may possible to make purchases by using a self-pay station where exact change is needed.

Showers and a dump station are located nearby. During the spring and summer, ranger programs are offered on weekends at the campground amphitheater.

Reservations for Pinnacles Campground can be made by visiting www.recreation.gov or calling (877)444-6777. Tent and RV sites can be reserved up to 6 months in advance, and Group sites can be reserved up to 12 months in advance.

Pinnacles Campground is currently operated by a concessionaire. It has been part of the park since March 2006, and was operated by the National Park Service for a short time. Before this time the Pinnacles Campground was privately owned and operated until March 2006.

Campgrounds you can reserve online

Arroyo Seco Campground

Mileage:23 mi

Description: Campfires are permitted within the campgrounds. All Areas outside the dayuse or campground are CLOSED until further notice. This includes the Gorge, The Lake and up River from the West end of the dayuse area. This campground is nestled into the hillside, having lots of shrubbery and many large oak trees. Its elevation is 900 ft. in the Los Padres Forest. You will see many species of wild life; deer, wild turkey, foxes, raccoons and squirrels. There are many wild birds in the area such as humming birds, quail, doves, blue jays, woodpeckers, roadrunners plus butterflies and lots more. At the entrance gate, a splash of color greets you with lilies and petunias when you arrive. In the spring and fall, the leaves change to all the beautiful shades of green, red, yellow, and orange making a pictorial scene. In the spring, Lupines bloom all around - quite a pretty site. The day-use area has a river with rocky beaches, a picnic area with grills and fire rings, flush toilets, and water hydrants throughout. The parking lot is paved with many designated parking spaces and some being handicap accessible. There is a lot of large old oak trees and shade covers where there are no trees. The Ventana wilderness, which we also call the "Gorge", is available for hiking, backpacking, bicycling, hunting and horse back riding. No motorized vehicles are allowed beyond the gated road and parking lot. There are no designated camping areas up the trails, but the trails are maintained by the forest service. Bring lots of water and be sure to pack out what you take in. Arroyo Seco offers both modern and primitive sites, and both single and double sites. There are water hydrants throughout the grounds close to all sites, but there are no water, sewer or electrical hookups. RVs are welcome and the sites are level and large enough to accommodate all sizes of RVs. There is no dump station. All roads are paved and each site has a picnic table and pedestal BBQ. In the modern camping area there are very nice modern coin operated showers and flush toilets, that are handicap accessible. The primitive campground has pit toilets, water hydrants, shade trees and a lot of vegetation. These campgrounds also have picnic tables, fire rings, and pedestal grills at every site (double sites have 2 tables and 2 pedestal grills). The sites are not as level, but the roads are paved. There is a group site that can be reserved that will accommodate 50 people maximum and 10 vehicles, all extra vehicles above 10 are $5.00 each to be paid on arrival. This area has pit toilets, and a water hydrant to fill buckets with for use at site. There are tables, fire ring, and grills to accommodate family and group gatherings. There is fishing in the lake for bass and catfish. A fishing license is required if you are over 16 years of age.
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Fremont Peak Sp Campground

Mileage:25 mi

Description: Season for Peak Fees: 05/15 to 09/15 This park features expansive views of Monterey Bay, from its hiking trails in the grasslands of the higher peaks of the Gavilan Range. Other views include the San Benito Valley, Salinas Valley, and the Santa Lucia Mountains east of Big Sur. Pine and oak woodlands in the park are home to many birds and mammals. There are camping and picnic facilities in the park. The park also features an astronomical observatory with a 30-inch telescope, which is open for public programs on selected evenings.
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Julie Pfeiffer Burns Sp Campground

Mileage:34 mi

Description: Season for Peak Fees: 05/15 to 09/15 Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park stretches from the Big Sur coastline into nearby 3,000-foot ridges. The park features redwood, tan oak, madrone, chaparral, and an 80-foot waterfall that drops from granite cliffs into the The park also has a 1,680-acre underwater reserve which protects a spectacular assortment of marine life. Special-use permits allow experienced divers to explore the reserve. Seals, sea lions and sea otters can be seen in the park's cove. Hikers can discover the park's backcountry via several trail systems. There is no park kiosk at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park for fee collection. Campers should register at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park or Big Sur Station. Park Visitation Hours:, Hi Season: 8AM-8PM, Lo Season: 8AM-5PM
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Limekiln Sp Campground

Mileage:36 mi

Description: Limekiln SP will be closed until further notice due to fire Season for Peak Fees: 05/15 to 09/15 Limekiln State Park contains 716-acres. The park features breath taking views of the Big Sur Coast. The park features the beauty of the redwoods, the rugged coast, and the cultural history of limekilns. The park has 28 reservable campsites. Park Kiosk Hours:, Hi Season: 9AM-7PM, Lo Season: 10AM-5PM
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Pfeiffer Big Sur Sp Campground

Mileage:36 mi

Description: Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park has 1,006 acres of redwoods, conifers, oaks, sycamores, cottonwoods, maples, alders and willows - plus open meadows. Park is bordered by redwood and oak forests, chaparral slopes of the Santa Lucia Mountains. Wildlife includes fox, raccoons, skunks, and birds, such as American dippers and belted kingfishers. Hikers can enjoy the many scenic trails, including a self-guided nature loop. Park has 8 miles of hiking trails; 210 miles of hiking trails in the nearby Ventana Wilderness (USFS) BE ADVISED: Several trails in the State Park and Ventana Wilderness remain closed due to fire and flood damage. Overlooks provide spectacular views of the Big Sur Valley and the Big Sur River Gorge. Campsites are on the valley floor through which the Big Sur River flows. A limited amount of overnight enroute camping MAY be available 5pm to 9am, when the campground is full, for self-contained vehicles only. Steelhead season usually opens in December, West of Highway 1 bridge, only on Saturdays, Sundays, Wednesdays, legal holidays and opening and closing days through February. Please see Department of Fish and Game regulations for fishing in the park. The concessionaire-operated Big Sur Lodge provides motel-type cottage accommodations (1-800- 424-4787). The group picnic sites may be reserved by contacting the park (831-667-2315). Fishing is permitted in-season ONLY and only on the west side of Highway 1. Park Kiosk Hours:, Hi Season: 9am-9pm, Lo Season: 9am-4pm
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San Luis Reservoir Sra Campground

Mileage:39 mi

Description: Season for Peak Fees: 05/15 to 09/15 Nestled in the grassy hills of the western San Joaquin Valley near historic Pacheco Pass, San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area is noted for boating, board sailing, camping, and picnicking. But itA?is anglers who find this unit's three lakes most inviting. San Luis Reservoir was constructed as a storage reservoir for the federal Central Valley Project and the California State Water Project. It stores runoff water from the Delta that would otherwise flow into the ocean. The water arrives through the California Aqueduct and the Delta-Mendota Canal, and is pumped from the O'Neil Forebay into the main reservoir during the winter and spring. The Los Banos Creek Reservoir was built to prevent storm runoff from flooding the canals. A visitor center at the Romero Overlook provides full information on the reservoirs and water projects through audio-visual and printed materials. Telescopes are also available for viewing the area. Long before the dams and canals were built, this land was the home of the Northern Valley Yokuts, native Americans who harvested seeds, acorns, and the roots of the tules that grew in the marshes of the sluggish San Joaquin River. There were also fish, geese, and ducks for food, as well as huge herds of pronghorn antelope and tule elk on the plains. With the coming of the Spanish, though, this way of life disappeared. Many of the valley people were taken to missions around 1805, and an epidemic, possibly of malaria, decimated the human population of this area in 1833. In the 1850s, the survivors were killed or driven off by American settlers. Pacheco pass was named for Don Juan Pacheco, who settled here in the 1840s. The pass was used by Native Americans, Spanish soldiers and missionaries, Mexican ranchers, and gold miners, as well as more recent travelers. In 1856 Andrew Firebaugh improved the pass and made it a toll road, with a toll house two miles west of the summit. He had hardly finished when the Butterfieid-Overland stages began using the road as part of their route from San Francisco to Missouri. The first water works in the area were constructed in 1871, when farmers built a canal from Mendota Dam to Los Banos Creek to irrigate their wheat crops. Many canals were added over the years, until they totaled 180 miles in length. Ground was broken in 1962 for the San Luis Project, which created the current reservoirs. Today, Los Banos area farmers cultivate alfalfa, grapes, tomatoes, melons, corn, cotton, beans, sugar beets, fruits, nuts, and raise dairy and beef cattle.
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Plaskett Creek Campground

Mileage:42 mi

Description: Plaskett Creek Campground is located in Big Sur, CA approximately 40 miles north of Cambria, CA and 55 miles south of Carmel, CA. It sits on the east side of Hwy. 1 and is just south of Sand Dollar Beach Day Use area which is the largest sandy beach in Big Sur. Altitude is approximately 150 above sea level. Average Temperature in the summer is high 60s to mid 70s in the day and high 50s to mid 60s at night. Average Temperature in the winter is mid 60s in the day and high 40s to mid 50s at night. Wildlife includes Fox, Bobcat, Deer and Raccoon. Occasional Mountain Lion and Bear are seen in the area although they have never entered the campground. Keep food in a secure location as the Raccoons will get at anything left out. Campground is like a large meadow with mature pine trees located throughout campground. Forest Service is enforcing a 2 car maximum per family site at the campground.
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Sunset Sb Campground

Mileage:44 mi

Description: Season for Peak Fees: All Year Sunset State Beach features pine trees, mountainous sand dunes, and ocean side picnic spots. Bordered by large agricultural fields between the cities of Santa Cruz and Monterey, the beach is a year-round destination for thousands of visitors. Park Kiosk Hours:, Hi Season: 7am-10pm, Lo Season: 9am-4pm
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Manresa Sb Campground

Mileage:47 mi

Description: Season for Peak Fees: All Year Manresa State Beach features a beautiful expanse of sea and sand, with surf fishing, clamming, and recreation. Park Kiosk Hours:, Hi Season: Varies, Lo Season: Varies
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Henry W. Coe Sp Campground

Mileage:52 mi

Description: Season for Peak Fees: All Year Henry W. Coe is primarily a wilderness park; hot and dry in the summer. Spring is the most popular time to visit the park, with it's fabulous display of wildflowers. There are numerous ponds and lakes in the park, ranging from 2 to 22 miles from the campground at Coe headquarters. You must hike or ride a bicycle or ride a horse to get to all ponds and lakes; there is no vehicle access to them. The closest fishing pond, Bass Pond, is a two mile hike from the campground and can dry up in the summer. Each campsite has drinking water, picnic table, and fire ring. There are no showers or flush toilets available for campers. Some sites have sun shades (ramadas). Backpack (trail) camps are available on a 1st come/1st served basis. Contact the park directly for horse camping and group camping information.
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Note: All mileage numbers are "as the crow flies"