The best camping in Los Padres National Forest, CA

Spanning 1.75 million acres, and stretching for nearly 220 miles from Big Sur nearly to Los Angeles, Los Padres National Forest encompasses a wide range of elevations and terrain, including beaches, forests, rugged coastal mountains, and ten designated wilderness areas. Visitors can enjoy a wide range of outdoor recreational activities, including hiking, backpacking, biking, horseback riding, off-roading, fishing, and hunting. The park is also a biodiversity hotspot, teeming with wildlife and plant life. More than 60 campgrounds and plenty of space for dispersed camping offer tent campers, RV campers, families, groups, and solitude seekers numerous overnight options.

• Best for ocean views and beach access: Situated on a bluff just a short distance from a beach, nearly every site at Kirk Creek Campground offers ocean views.
• Best for stargazing: At 8,300 feet, Chula Vista Campground offers 12 tent-only sites, and dark skies popular with amateur astronomers.
• Best for water enthusiasts: The Arroyo Seco Campground is set near a small lake and a river that provide opportunities for swimming, fishing, and limited boating.

1. During the peak summer season, reserve a site as soon as you know your dates. Reservations can be made at least one to three days and up to six months in advance for individual sites and 12 months for group sites.
2. If you don’t have a reservation, plan to arrive early in the morning to grab a site at a first-come, first-served campground.
3. Be sure to check seasonal opening and closing dates, which vary by campground.

Nearly all campgrounds are open between May and October. Summer is the busiest time, and popular campgrounds fill up early, especially on weekends. Spring is the best time for wildflowers, trout fishing, and water sports. After winter snowfalls, cross-country skiing and sledding are possible in certain areas.

• Wilderness permits are not required for any of the wilderness areas, but campfire permits are outside of designated recreation sites and developed campgrounds. Adventure passes are required for recreation in certain areas of the forest.
• Bicycles and other mechanized equipment are not permitted in wilderness areas, where travel is restricted to foot, horseback, and wheelchairs.
• Poison oak and ticks can be a problem in certain areas of the forest.
• Fishing licenses are required for anglers 16 and older. Special regulations may apply to wild and scenic river areas.

• Discover the beauty of coastal camping at Rincon Parkway. Set up camp along the scenic shoreline, indulge in beach activities, and fall asleep to the soothing sound of ocean waves. Embrace the laid-back atmosphere and create lasting memories in this coastal paradise.

• Experience coastal camping bliss at Faria Beach Park. Set up camp near sandy shores, enjoy beach activities, and relish breathtaking sunsets. Embrace the laid-back beach lifestyle, listen to the soothing ocean waves, and create unforgettable memories in this beachside paradise.