RV Camping in Big Sur, California: Best Big Sur RV Parks 2026

The California Coast has many gems along its 840 miles, but Big Sur is arguably the crown jewel. If you’re driving south from Monterey, the awe starts as you approach Bixby Creek Bridge and realize you’ve seen this dramatic coastal scene in movies and shows—and that it’s even better in person. Continuing down Highway 1, sandy beaches sit between ocean cliffs until the road veers inland next to the Big Sur River. Here, campgrounds and resorts nestled among redwoods offer full RV hookups and amenities like firepits, restaurants, and picnic tables. Back on the coast, visitors flock to McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, but you can try to escape some crowds by hiking in the Ventana Wilderness or Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. A couple of state parks also have RV campsites. All camping in Big Sur is highly coveted and fills up early, so try to plan ahead.

88% (2.2K)

Top-rated RV parks near Big Sur

The California Coast has many gems along its 840 miles, but Big Sur is arguably the crown jewel. If you’re driving south from Monterey, the awe starts as you approach Bixby Creek Bridge and realize you’ve seen this dramatic coastal scene in movies and shows—and that it’s even better in person. Continuing down Highway 1, sandy beaches sit between ocean cliffs until the road veers inland next to the Big Sur River. Here, campgrounds and resorts nestled among redwoods offer full RV hookups and amenities like firepits, restaurants, and picnic tables. Back on the coast, visitors flock to McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, but you can try to escape some crowds by hiking in the Ventana Wilderness or Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. A couple of state parks also have RV campsites. All camping in Big Sur is highly coveted and fills up early, so try to plan ahead.

88% (2.2K)

Top-rated RV parks near Big Sur

1. Saddle Mountain Carmel

91%

(560)

41 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Carmel, CA

Welcome to Saddle Mountain, RV and Campground! We are located on 89 acres of forest land off Carmel Valley Road, just 5 miles from HWY 1. Nestled within oaks, Monterey pines, and redwoods, Saddle Mountain offers a great family friendly getaway for those seeking a break from the bustle of life. PLEASE NOTE, our RV and tent sites are pet friendly but YOU MUST ADD THE PET FEE EXTRA WHEN MAKING YOUR BOOKING. We charge $15 per pet and you can bring a maximum of 2 pets. On site seasonally heated pool (Mid May through Oct). ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: *Please continue reviewing/monitoring California Travel guidelines as they may change and affect your reservation* On site seasonally heated pool (seasonally), private hiking trail, playground, Foosball table and more. No refund for inclement weather during the Winter months. We provide complementary Wi-Fi in designated areas of the park. We ask that there is no streaming at the Park so we can share Wi-Fi with all our guests. Thank you!

2. Fernwood Resort

100%

(2)

24 sites · Big Sur, CA

Fernwood Resort stands out as a unique all-purpose facility nestled within a stunning redwood forest, offering a diverse range of accommodations and amenities for every type of traveler. Our property features a cozy 12-unit motel, charming Forest and Meadow View cabins, and a delightful Redwood Bar & Grill. Guests can also enjoy the convenience of our General Store & Espresso Bar, as well as a welcoming tavern. For those seeking outdoor adventure, our 60-unit campground is perfect for large RVs up to 30 feet and includes tent cabins situated along the picturesque banks of the Big Sur River. We also offer Adventure Tents for glamping enthusiasts, providing a luxurious camping experience. Stay connected with our Calendar of Events, where you can find information about weekend music, festivals, and various activities. Fernwood Campground is conveniently located adjacent to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, granting easy access to breathtaking hiking trails and a memorable winter camping experience. Whether you're looking to relax or explore, Fernwood Resort has something for everyone.

Electrical hookup

Water hookup

Pets

3. Los Padres National Forest

95%

(452)

762 sites · Mission Canyon, California

From beach to mountain, California's second largest forest offers recreation in diverse ecosystems.

Pets

4. Limekiln State Park

99%

(108)

28 sites · Pine Canyon, California

A perfect intro to Big Sur, Limekiln serves up peaceful walks, crashing surf, and scenic camping "from the Redwoods to the Sea."

Pets

5. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

98%

(888)

174 sites · Carmel Valley Village, California

Settle into the Big Sur forest at this inland state park.

Sewer hookup

Pets

Public campgrounds in and near Big Sur

White Oaks Campground

7 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

98%

(888)

Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground

174 sites · Tents, RVs · in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

100%

(4)

China Camp Campground

9 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

Escondido Campground

9 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

96%

(35)

Arroyo Seco Campground

38 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

Memorial Campground

8 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

Pretty cool when you wake up and you are above the clouds...

83%

(3)

Bottchers Gap Campground

11 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

One of the Redwood sites in the morning light.

99%

(108)

Limekiln Campground

28 sites · Tents, RVs · in Limekiln State Park

97%

(136)

Kirk Creek Campground

32 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

If you don't make it to the top, there are lots of rad pull-offs on the way up to grab a spot. C'mon, look at that view!

91%

(27)

Nacimiento Camp Campground

8 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

60%

(5)

Ponderosa Campground

22 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

100%

(59)

Plaskett Creek Campground

40 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

B

Billy

November 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Saddle Mountain Carmel

I loved our drive-in tent spot. The accommodations were very nice. Really liked watching the sunset from our hillside spot.

K

Kelly

July 2025

19 ft Class C

Weekend Trip to Saddle Mountain Carmel

This was a great get-away. Easy trip from the Bay Area. 19’ camper van, full hook up spot 19. EZ check in. Clean spaces. Feeling of privacy even though your neighbors are just the other side of the plantings. Nice that they have a dish cleaning station. Woke up to no TP in the communal bathroom, that was a momentary inconvenience. Good thing we had our own. Didn’t use the pool but it was a nice area and looked well maintained. Several nice seating areas around the communal area. You are on the side of a mountain so if you want to walk or hike around the camp area, be prepared for some definite incline. Camp area was level. Great way to spend the 4th with our dogs away from the fireworks.

Ken

June 2025

25 ft Class C

With kids

4 nights at Saddle Mountain Carmel

This place is great! The staff was super helpful. We did an RV trip and they guided us on places to go, warned us of narrow roads (to uber instead of taking RV cause it could be stressful) and helped with everything we needed. They sell ice cream which my son loved, and the place was clean and quiet the entire 4 nights we stayed there. We slept well, and had lots of fun. I highly recommend this spot :)

F

Federico

June 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Saddle Mountain Carmel

We spent a couple of days camping at Saddle Mountain and had the best family time. The campground is well organized, sharing facilities clean and well maintained. Location is gorgeous. We had much fun and we will definitely come back asap!

John

May 2025

16 ft travel trailer

Weekend Trip to Saddle Mountain Carmel

Extraordinary location, excellent facilities...we hope to return soon

S

Sergio

April 2025

Tent

1 night at Saddle Mountain Carmel

It was welcoming to be greeted by a warm smile when I checked in. I was camping using my tent, but other options seem to more convenient. However, my favorite part was the mountains, trees everywhere and the smell of fresh air. In addition, this place is in close proximity to one of my favorite spots - Carmel by the Sea so I had to stop there before I went back home.

G

George

April 2025

Tent

2 nights at Saddle Mountain Carmel

Location was easy to find and well kept. Small trail accessible from location has good views of the valley.

S

Stella

April 2025

Tent

7 nights at Saddle Mountain Carmel

Overall a great little campground. We loved our site #37, we arrived late and the campground personnel were very accommodating in letting us switch from a site just above where our car and tent would not have fit. We like the little amenities that felt like luxuries when you are used to camping or backpacking. Like hot water at the bathrooms for hand washing and dishes , hot showers that were very nice and good pressure, and Reverse Osmosis drinking water. Our 3 yo twins enjoyed the playground! It is steep and took some watching to keep our I Kiddos away from the edges in the campsite. I wish early in the season that they allowed campfires, there is something quite soulless about having to burn a duralog, and i wish their staff cleaned the bathroom at a time other than mid morning when the bathrooms are in high demand. We enjoyed access to carmel, beaches, big sur, flower farm down the road, monterey and aquarium! We had a lovely week of camping and adventures!

I

Ida

April 2025

20 ft campervan

With pets

2 nights at Saddle Mountain Carmel

Site 29 was close to the bathrooms and the hiking trail. We liked being able to take the dogs with us. There's a lot of poison oak and poison hemlock right off the trail. It's ok as long as you keep your dog on a 5'-6' leash.

Jose

April 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Saddle Mountain Carmel

Awesome place to camp at. Easy to get around town. High recommend

Stephen

April 2025

22 ft campervan

1 night at Saddle Mountain Carmel

What an incredible place to camp- perfect spot, really loved our stay here!

Rob

April 2025

15 ft campervan

2 nights at Saddle Mountain Carmel

Awesome campsite, well worth the extra pennies, especially for families. The tent/van sites are nicely arranged and feel private without being too far away from the main area. Will definitely be coming back.

Beth

March 2025

24 ft Class C

With pets

Weekend Trip to Saddle Mountain Carmel

Saddle Mountain is probably one of the best if not the best campground we’ve stayed at (and we’ve stayed in many). Every space has privacy but also greenery, and even the fact that the whole campsite is set on the hilly side of a mountain gives an extra sense of space and seclusion. Check-in was easy and the amenities are superb. Even though we were in a full-hookup RV, we really appreciated that there’s such a variety of sites offered here - everything from car camping to tent camping to tent glamping with private fenced in yards, all spaces come with fire pits and grills no matter what your particular space is. There’s also clean public bathrooms, showers, handwashing stations, a full fenced in playground, and a large pool/spa/sauna situation. Our favorite was being able to walk to the end of the campground and go right into a private 4 mile loop hike up the mountain for some gorgeous views. We would absolutely stay here again, whether it’s on our own in a Class C with our dog, or with a large group of family and friends. We only wish there were more places like Saddle Mountain around!

K

Kylee

March 2025

Tent

1 night at Saddle Mountain Carmel

Our stay here was very enjoyable! The facilities were kept very clean and we loved our site’s location, looking out over Carmel Valley. The staff was very helpful and kind. 10/10 would recommend and visit again!

D

Daniel

March 2025

16 ft car

Weekend Trip to Saddle Mountain Carmel

Excellent experience, very quiet, nice amenities, friendly staff, we will be staying here again!

M

Michael

February 2025

25 ft campervan

With pets

1 night at Saddle Mountain Carmel

Nice RV park that is very well maintained. The staff were all super friendly and all the amenities looked great.

S

Serena

February 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Saddle Mountain Carmel

We loved the small drive in camp sites. The bathrooms were great too.

Justin

February 2025

21 ft travel trailer

With pets

3 nights at Saddle Mountain Carmel

The staff were friendly, facilities were nice, and good location, central to the Carmel Valley and Carmel by the Sea areas. It was easy to camp there with our small dog too.

J

Justin

February 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Saddle Mountain Carmel

My stay was a very comfortable and easy experience. Check-in was easy. The site was well maintained. The amenities are clean, easy to access, and very abundant. This is honestly a glamping site. 10/10 all around.

K

Kevin

January 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Saddle Mountain Carmel

Beautiful and easy access campsite, the staff were better than expected and very knowledgeable of the area, they had many recommendations of what to do in town. Our campsite had an amazing view of Carmel Valley even though it was a very cloudy day. Super clean and well kept bathrooms, and located the restrooms was no problem at all. I would definitely stay here again next time I come in town for a visit.