99% (287)
Top-rated campgrounds
99% (287)
Top-rated campgrounds
Stories from the community
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Carolyn
4 days ago
16 ft travel trailer
Beautiful property! Amazing views and super quiet. Felt far away, but there is a lot nearby. Will definitely rebook!
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Nicholas
1 week ago
19 ft campervan
With pets
Great Camping Spot! Beautiful drive up the mountain to some amazing views. Hosts were very friendly and the bathrooms were really clean. Highly recommended.
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Kegan
3 weeks ago
Tent
With pets
Beautiful location and nice and communicative hosts! Definitely make sure you have a 4x4 as the listing says because the last little climb gets pretty steep. Overall, would stay again.
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Annie
November 2025
Tent
Group trip
Lovely lovely time. Karina is so kind.
The view is something I won't forget. And the animals. They were just too cute!!
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Dalton
November 2025
Tent
Karina and Chris are great hosts that have created a seamless stay. The Ranch was very quiet and secluded, and we were greeted by their pigs, sheep, goats, and their dogs, all of who were very friendly and patient with our small dogs. We spent evenings walking the forest roads around the mountain ridge and taking in the orange sunsets!
The wind snuck up on us in the middle of the night, which was to be expected high up and close to the ocean. It was by no means unpleasant, but something to think about when you're picking a spot of your tent - there's plenty of cover. We had cell service, which was a nice convenience.
All that to say, La Montaña Ranch is magical and we'll definitely be back!
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Keegan
October 2025
Tent
Group trip
It was an amazing campsite! We saw 3 dogs and huge pig too which was super fun. Gorgeous view, and not too far from campus.
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Trey
October 2025
25 ft Class C
With pets
We stayed 4 nights. Karina was responsive. The Range was a wonderful view with the neighborly pigs, goats and sheep visiting, along with their friendly dogs. We worked on training our ‘city’ dogs with new friends.
The 25’ RV we travelled in slowly made the exciting hillside drive up and down.
Karina and Chris have dedicated themselves to off the grid living, a constant work. We had a lovely visit of their home with a million $$ view.
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Steve
October 2025
20 ft pop-up camper
This was our second time camping here and it was just as nice as the first. This time we stayed at Salinan and it’s a very private site with great views perfect for star gazing. I’m glad I have 4x4 to get to this site as it’s steep and rocky. The site is mostly level but I used leveling blocks for a perfect night’s sleep in my truck. In the morning we woke up to a beautiful sunrise and panoramic views. Karina and Chris are great hosts, very communicative!
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Jim
October 2025
10 ft campervan
We love staying at Chris & Karina’s land. It is private and quiet with beautiful views. They are great hosts. This was our 3rd stay and we can’t wait to return!
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Jeremiah
October 2025
Tent
I truly enjoyed my stay at the Salinan Campsite! The stars were incredible and you could even see the Milky Way. You really feel like you are up in the mountains, even though you are only a few minutes from SLO.
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Bob
October 2025
16 ft travel trailer
With pets
Sending are kids and grand kids next - pigs, goats, great views and dogs to keep us company. Don't miss out.
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Seth
September 2025
Tent
With pets
We were a group of 8 and loved staying at The Range. Karina and Chris were super welcoming, friendly and responsive. The animals were such a fun vibe, the views were great, and the site was private. We will definitely come back!
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skanda
September 2025
16 ft car
Amazing vibes and a great way to explore getting a feel for dispersed camping :) Like the other reviewers have commented, road signs and access roads do not seem well maintained (by the city/county?) making it a challenge to find the way. Cannot imagine trying to get to this ranch after dark, please try to get there before sunset.
On the ranch, owners are responsive, polite and provide clear instructions!
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Ty
September 2025
Tent
With pets
Great rustic camping! We had an excellent view from the site! There was even a pit toilet at the top with a view that was not noted in the listing! Our host's communication was excellent and everything was as described.
Some notes worth mentioning:
The showers are a bit far from the site and the hill is quite steep down (and up) to them. Recommend driving over! There is only one shower, so you might be waiting a bit if there are other campers.
It is quite windy at the top and there is not much tree coverage. We had a rooftop tent and were very exposed, but we figured that would be the case from the listing.
If you are coming on 101 southbound, you will have to do a U turn. The truck brake check lane has a spot to take a left turn around the middle barrier but once you make the turn you need to almost immediately get over to the shoulder, so next time I would take a U turn further down the highway.
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Gray
September 2025
Tent
Awesome site! Great views, proximity to SLO, and easy to access.
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Allyx
August 2025
Tent
The hosts were so kind/communicative and the views were stunningggg! The site was very private and extremely spacious. It was so fun to walk around and commune the animals. I will CERTAINLY be back! WOOHOO!
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Dave
August 2025
16 ft car
Group trip
Great host, awesome place! Absolutely will be back and selfishly hope noone else finds out how great this place is!
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Eric
August 2025
19 ft campervan
Great remote getaway Hipcamp. The host was very responsive and the site had spectacular views and sunset.
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Gabe
August 2025
Tent
Group trip
Such an amazing spot! Spectacular views, great weather while we were there (no wind) and some lovely goats and pigs to say hi to. Highly recommend this spot!
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Alex
August 2025
Tent
We loved our campsite! Felt safe and had no problem walking back and forth to showers/bathrooms. Would recommend getting there in daylight as the listing says lol. Great place to stay if you're visiting morro bay or SLO.
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The best private sites RV camping near Avila Beach guide
Where to go
The Big Sur Coast
North of Avila Beach, the Big Sur Coast has long attracted a mix of bohemian artists and outdoorsy types with its larger-than-life coastlines and miles upon miles of virgin forest. Here you'll find campgrounds, hiking trails, hot springs, and spiritual retreat centers galore.
Los Padres National Forest
Encompassing both coastal areas and inland woodlands, Los Padres offers an extensive network of hiking trails and a solid mix of public campgrounds. It also has a variety of wilderness areas, including the Ventana Wilderness, home to the Sisquoc Condor Sanctuary.
The Southern California Coast
Drive far enough and you'll end up in crowded Los Angeles, but there's plenty of SoCal coastline between the Avila Beach area and LA that merits a visit. Popular areas include posh Santa Barbara, Emma Wood State Beach (a favorite among RV campers) and Malibu, at the base of the rugged Santa Monica Mountains.
When to go
Avila Beach has a temperate climate, and as it's hemmed in by coastal headlands, the weather tends to be a little warmer than elsewhere on the Central Coast. Late spring through early autumn is the most pleasant time to visit, with temperatures in the 70s from May through October, though winters—while rainy—rarely see temperatures drop below the mid-40s.