Description
Sleep in a grassy open meadow in your Big Sur campsite at Andrew Molera Trail Camp, waking early to meander along a trail beside the Big Sur River to Molera Beach—a pristine cove that offers excellent surfing, beachcombing, and access to miles of trails along picturesque meadows, beaches, and striking stretches of coastline. Choose among 24 walk-in campsites, none of which offer much privacy due to the meadow features of the campground. Each campsite is about a .3 mile walk from the parking lot, so come prepared to trek supplies into your site. Sites come equipped with a picnic table, fire ring, and access to a food storage locker to keep animals at bay. To truly experience all in nature that Big Sur has to offer, Andrew Molera State Park camping is not to be missed.
Activities
Offered near the campground.
Biking
Andrew Molera features out-and-back bike trails for a reason - you’ll want to see the park’s scenery more than once. Andrew Mo...Read more
Boating
While there is no motorboating in the area, check out our kayaking & canoeing section for more information.
Hiking
Andrew Molera State Park offers a variety of trails that can take hikers along the Big Sur river or more towards the coast. A...Read more
Horseback riding
Is there anything more picturesque than riding a horse down California's coastline? We couldn’t think of anything either. That ...Read more
Paddling
Although the Big Sur coast is, by nature, fairly inaccessible, it can be a rewarding place for kayakers to explore. Andrew Mol...Read more
Wind sports
When the conditions are right, Andrew Molera can be a wonderful place for watersports such as kiteboarding and windsurfing. Th...Read more
Off-roading (OHV)
Much of Andrew Molera is off the beaten path, making it suitable for off roading. Rocky mountain trails connect Bixby Bidge to ...Read more
Surfing
Surfing at Andrew Molera State Park can be a hit-or-miss adventure (but when it’s a hit, it’s a hit). The area doesn’t coincide...Read more
Wildlife watching
Marked by a variety of different landscapes, Andrew Molera state park is great for those seeking to watch wildlife . If patie...Read more
Terrain
Natural features you'll find at Andrew Molera Trail Camp.
The vibe at Andrew Molera Trail Camp
11 Reviews
These sites are in a big open field, and while it makes for nice, flat camping, there is ZERO privacy. The only exceptions are sites 4, 20, and 22, which are nestled back into a large bushy tree. Max 4 ppl/site.

Make sure to get there VERY early (around 7am) and walk into the campsite, and ask people who are awake if they plan on leaving or not. If so, tell them that you'll be taking their place, then go fill out a self-reservation form at the ranger's station
It was a lot of fun to camp here! We got a great spot with some nice shade. Squirrels were running around looking for food so be careful not to leave anything out! The hike to the beach was great and we saw a huge pod of whales!




This is a beautiful, open place to camp. My partner and I camped on a weekday in December and there were only three other campers. If you are lucky, as we were, the sites around two incredible Sycamore trees will be open and you can camp underneath their massive canopies.
A couple of warnings about the area:
Poison oak is everywhere; up, down, all around. Stay in the center of the trails if you are allergic. Also, the trail to the beach from the campsite floods out when there has been rain. However, it's not much of a hassle to head back to the main parking lot and take that trail down; and it is a very enjoyable walk no matter which way you take.

My friends and I loved this site! It is a huge open field so be prepared for the beaming sun unless you get lucky to snag one of the couple spots with a tree. The hike to the site and the beach is very easy ehich made this ideal for our weekend in big sur. There is TONS of wildlife at this site so use the lockers and a dry bag for any food or scents. We encountered bears, raccoons, squirrels, and deer during our stay in October. After our first night there we were not bothered so it seems the animals were just curious.
Great surfing here when the conditions are right!!! Get the latest here: http://magicseaweed.com/Andrew-Molera-State-Park-Surf-Report/260/
Amazing place to watch the sunset, one of the best.
A beautiful campground in a meadow, pretty open so not much privacy. You'll be carrying your stuff in from the parking lot maybe 1/4 mile and then it's another 10 minutes or so to the beach. All first come first serve! Last time I was there someone got a ticket for having their dog...
Hike in, nice spread out camp spots. Hike another mile to get to the purple sand beach, popular for surfers.

Be prepared to carry everything in for the first come first serve sites :)


It's been washed out since the rains last year so I think it's closed now!
- Park
- Andrew Molera State Park
- State
- California
- Country
- United States
- Phone Number
- (831) 667-2315
- Directions
- View on Google Maps
- Official Website
- View Website
- Coordinates
- 36.287° N, 121.851° W
- $25/night
- Tent Only - Hike In: 24 Sites (Up to 4 people per site)