100% (9)
Do a bit of hiking, fishing, or boat-in camping at this popular California lake.
Snag sold-out campsites.
Get notified the instant a national park campsite becomes available, for free.
See the best spots in one place.
Explore 500K+ public lands, RV resorts, and private sites you won't find anywhere else.
Book with confidence.
Read millions of real reviews from campers like you—so you know what to expect.Top-rated campgrounds near Santa Margarita Lake
Camp Arroyo Grande
Camp Arroyo Grande
96%
(952)
15mi from Santa Margarita Lake · 21 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Welcome to Camp Arroyo Grande! Enjoy 29-acres that feature beautiful ocean views, oak woodlands, and plenty of rustic charm. All this is conveniently tucked into the hillside just steps away from the Village of Arroyo Grande where you will find restaurants, coffee, shopping, parks and Roosters.
The property is home to many youth groups and local non-profits, continuing a 135-year legacy as an Event Center and Retreat Space. The historic Tabernacle building has been hosting church and schools gatherings, dinners, fundraisers, weddings, family reunions, festivals and more since 1897. Community Events are likely to be taking place but follow quiet time guidelines.
*pool is seasonal and subject to availability
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
from
$28
/ night
Twisselman Ranch
Twisselman Ranch
99%
(905)
21mi from Santa Margarita Lake · 15 sites · Tents, Lodging
Twisselman ranch is a 6 generation working cattle ranch that has been in the family since the 1800’s. We all enjoy this wonderful place and hope to share our experiences with others.
Voted BEST HIPCAMP Glamping in the United States to visit in 2021 & 2022!! Come Glamping & experience our Rual Retreat here at Twisselman Ranch.
We are located about 1 hour east of Paso Robles California a short drive off highway 58 and about 1.5 hours west of Bakersfield.
Carrisa Plains is known for its beautiful display of wild flowers in the spring time, incredible sunny days, and spectacular wildlife viewing. The ranch is also located a short 29 min drive from the Carrizo Plain National Monument and Las Padres National Forest.
Tule elk, prog horn antelope, and valley quail are just some of the animals you may encounter on our ranch. The pond is full of fish (bass, blue gill & sun perch) so don’t forget your fishing poles (catch & release).
-We
have beautiful 2 stall hot water showers, and three stall restroom including handicap stall. **Cleaned & Sanitized DAILY
Our communal kitchen has : a large gas bbq grill, 3 smaller gas grills
as well as gas burners & sink. **Cleaned & Sanitized DAILY.
There are several counter high prepping tables around the kitchen (please clean up your cooking essentials & food after each meal as everyone shares this space).
Campfires -
We are an ember free site year round due to wildfire risks & insurance purposes. We do however have propane fire pit rentals for $20 per night. - great for roasting s’mores & the ambience of camping. Please do not cook any meals on them. All cooking is to be done in the communal kitchen area.
The summer days can get pretty toasty and the winter nights can get very chilly so check the weather before your stay and plan accordingly. Don’t forget your swim suits as we have soaking troughs for you to cool off in.
-Also please note we are located an hour from the nearest town, no stores or gas stations. Please come fully equipped with your own utensils, cooking essentials, food and beverages. We sell ICE!! $5 per 5lb bag.
We are off grid, there is no electricity, all lights are battery or solar powered. You may want a flashlight or headlamp for walking around at night.
We have wildflower honey available for sale straight off the ranch. If your interested in purchasing during your stay please visit Twisselman Ranch . Com
be sure to specify in comment at check out that your a guest.
Cellular Service - Verizon is the only dependable steady service out here as we have a Verizon tower on the ranch. All other service is spotty if existent at all.
We are a self check-in site. Upon arrival show yourself to the site following welcome note directions. Check in is anytime after 3pm, but no later than 9pm unless arranged with us (a $20 late fee will apply after 9pm). Check out is 11am on the day of departure.
Instagram @temblormountainpacktrain #temblormountainpacktrain #camptheranch #twisselmanranch
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from
$60
/ night
Camp Tule Elk
Camp Tule Elk
99%
(93)
22mi from Santa Margarita Lake · 3 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
The property is located in the historic area of Carrizo Plains National Monument.
We are in between Los Angeles and San Francisco 60 miles from the coast.
You can fish in the
small bass pond located on the property or drink your morning coffee while floating on the Kayak.
There is also a resident herd of Tule elk nearby.
*PLEASE NOTE PROPERTY IS ABOUT ONE HOUR FROM THE NEARST TOWN.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from
$60
/ night
Wine Country Glamping
Wine Country Glamping
100%
(76)
23mi from Santa Margarita Lake · 2 sites
This land has been in our family since the early 70's and is very special to us and we hope you will enjoy what is has to offer. You will be able to escape it all, yet still be close to amenities. Our property is surrounded by winery's and vineyard, so we encourage you to take a drive or a walk and do some tastings and indulge in some of the worlds best wine.
There is a lot of wildlife near us. Deer pass through daily, owls howl at night and birds chirp all day long.
Cozy, rustic, romantic accommodations that are
completely renovated tucked away in the rolling hills of wine country. Peaceful setting, with many views of famous winery's and rolling hay fields. If your looking to be near winery's this is the place to stay. Right off scenic Highway 46 West.
Owners live on property, but will give you your privacy. There are also a few ranch animal's and livestock.
Welcome!
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from
$200
/ night
The Rock Loft
The Rock Loft
100%
(32)
28mi from Santa Margarita Lake · 1 site
This house is now 1 of 2 vacation rentals on the property. You will definitely notice the home's unique architecture as soon as you walk in. You will not find another home like this nor the massive 50 ft+ rock wall that provides cover to back side of the house.In 2016, after more than 50+ years operating as a working cattle ranch (Brookins Ranch) and a viewing attraction for Adelaida Wine Trail travelers, the property was unfortunately shut down and put up for sale.As a born and raised local, I had to purchase the property with the hopes of restoring it to its greatest and to allow others to enjoy what it has to offer. Since March 2017, my family and I have been working hard on the restoration - attempting to keep a lot of it's uniqueness while integrating modern technologies that will help expand the property's life. As such, we welcome you to come enjoy the experience as we continue to bring this property back to life!
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from
$149
/ night
Rancho Rio Del Sol: Paso Robles, CA
Rancho Rio Del Sol: Paso Robles, CA
100%
(23)
31mi from Santa Margarita Lake · 3 sites
With over 1500 Four star + reviews, our property has hosted thousands of happy guests. Situated on 10 acres overlooking the Salinas River and beautiful Paso Robles estate vineyards, the epic views are spectacular. Comprised of three separate and all private sites, we host guests in our micro trailer, affectionately called The Dream Catcher, our Tiny House, which is a cottage style wooden fairy tale cottage, and our main Bungalow that sits atop one of the best look out points in SLO county.
The Places:
The Dream Catcher is two micro trailers with a large outdoor deck space and cast iron tub in between them. One trailer is sleeping quarters with a mini kitchenette and the other trailer is a full bathroom with shower. The spaces are small and cozy. The views are epic. Overlooking the majestic Paso Robles valley with vineyards with world class views, the spacious deck is the place to be for sunset.
The Tiny House:
A Fairy tale cottage style wooden tiny home built in the 1980's with a bottle wall, full bath, and reading nook. This three story wonder will leave you inspired to step into your own story. Fully equipped with a small kitchen, queen bed, reading nook and two beautiful outdoor decks, you'll feel like you stepped into another world.
The Main Bungalow is a 1970's GEM, built by a movie industry icon with views of the valley through the stunning and huge five windows overlooking the Salinas River. Two bedrooms downstairs and two full baths, accompany a well appointed kitchen. The upstairs loft accommodates two additional semi private queen beds, and additional seating area. Sunrises from the bedrooms are rivaled by few.
Guest access
Most all of the property except the barn. Access to the riverbed.
Other things to note
We have a cell tower on our property. Horseshoes are available by the tiny house.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from
$125
/ night
Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community
Paul
2 weeks ago
With pets
We enjoyed our stay! Mattress is very firm and comfortable. We appreciated that the sheets and towels did not have strong fragrances. Excellent communication from host. Recommended!
See more
K
Kira
3 weeks ago
With kids
This was our second stay at Camp Arroyo Grande and we loved it. Its so quiet and even though there are other guests, it feels like we have the whole place to ourselves. The only downside was our particular site didn't have a fire pit like some of the others, and we planned to cook over the fire, so we had to use our camp stove, which we luckily had with us. But no s'mores :( There's a group firepit we could have used but it was a bit far from thr cabin to go with the kids. Also, the grounds around this cabin are very steep and it was hard for our baby to walk around. The older kids were fine. I would have chosen a different cabin if I had known the particulars, but we still loved it, and had a nice cozy stay!! Can't wait to return!
See more
J
John D
3 weeks ago
Group trip
The views from here are outstanding, I took my dog for a walk down to the village and grabbed a coffee and enjoyed the beautiful weather after a rainstorm.
The heater in the room was sufficient enough to heat the cabin. I would recommend bringing a table with you, this is glamping but you still need to have items as if you were tent camping.
We usually bring sleeping bags and pillows, blankets and/or sheets. There were very little guests there during our trip and I had the men’s facilities all to myself in the morning before 7 am.
This is extremely valuable compared to the hotels/motels in the area and is a great way to experience Arroyo’s beautiful city and surrounding areas. It is close to everything and if you’re a walker, there’s nice trials onsite that lead you offsite.
We’ll be back to experience there awesome grounds again.
See more
R
Rosalba
November 2025
With kids
So close to restaurants, cafes and stores. Very quiet and relaxing!
See more
B
Brenda
November 2025
With pets
Such a cute and cozy loft! It was bigger than we expected and it was great that they had all the amenities! The outdoor is super cute and it was great that they had BBQ. The host also made sure we had enough pellets to keep warm throughout the night. Loved how it was dog friendly, though I didnt think it would be best off leash.... We were able to walk to nearby winery, chill, enjoy nature and eat good food. High recommend this stay!
See morep
pam
October 2025
1 night at Camp Arroyo Grande
this was our 2nd stay at Camp AG. We opted for a cabin since the weather was wet. Very comfortable stay. Thanks!
See more
S
Sarah
September 2025
Group trip
I love this place! So cute, close to town, and just what we needed for a party of 4! Basic accommodations with a clean community bathroom. This would be a wonderful place for an event. The camp hosts are very nice and accommodating:)
Don’t forget bedding!!
See more
T
Taylor
September 2025
With pets
Very clean and comfortable stay! The grounds were beautiful and peaceful. Staff was friendly and welcoming.
See more
T
Tasha
August 2025
With kids
Always a good time when we get a cabin here. Loved the hike around the camp, saw 2 deer, and took shortcut trail down the the village. Had a great time
See moreM
Malou
August 2025
Group trip
Camp Arroyo Grande provided a wonderful experience for our family. We stayed in the Rooster Mason cabin, which, while not having an in-cabin bathroom, was located just steps away from the restroom facilities. The convenience made it feel no different than walking down a hallway at home. The pool was well-maintained, safely chlorinated, and stocked with beach balls and a basketball hoop that added to the fun of the afternoon. The grounds themselves are beautiful, with plenty of space to explore and endless opportunities for great photos. Our cabin offered plenty of room, with clean and comfortable beds that suited our needs perfectly. Overall, Camp Arroyo Grande is an affordable and enjoyable place for families, and we would happily return.
See moreY
Ying
August 2025
With kids
This is our second time camp there, as last time we loved this place. Friendly, clean, quiet and great size of cabin for a family. Some improvement to the road make it easier to access the each cabin.
See moreK
Kathy
August 2025
3 nights at Wine Country Glamping
The view from the bedroom was absolutely stunning! With a large picture window, we enjoyed incredible sights of the vineyards and mountains in the area. The location couldn’t have been more perfect for wine tasting on West Hwy 46! The cozy coach house was so clean and inviting. We brought along a few groceries and even visited the SLO farmer’s market, so we were all stocked up and cooked our meals in between wine tastings. We had such a wonderful time! I highly recommend Sally’s cottage!
See moreK
Kevin
July 2025
With pets
The pictures don't do it justice. The place is so nice. Wife and I spent our first anniversary there. Loved it. So close to wineries. So nice that it's dong friendly and the Texas longhorns are so cool!
10/10 recommend
See moreG
Greg
May 2025
With kids
We only stayed a short time on a road trip on the PCH. Very quiet camp, dark sky for stargazing, and a really great base for Pismo. Lovely walk down into Arroyo Grande for dinner, if simple pleasures float your boat, this is perfect.
See more
S
Samantha
May 2025
With kids
I loved the campground. The cabin area, restrooms and showers were very clean, we had a lot of space and there was a space heater in the cabin which was perfect for the cold night. It was very close to the beach and conveniently close to a lot of stores and restraunts. The host was very kind. We will definitely be coming back again.
See moreS
Sureydi
May 2025
With kids
We enjoyed our stay at the cabin. It was clean and had plenty of electrical plugs to recharge our phones, headlamps, etc. The pool was clean and water heated. Restrooms and showers were very clean too. One tiny criticism is that the women's restroom light sensor turns off quickly. I had to come out of the stall to waive my hand to get the lights to turn on again. Overall, we enjoyed it and will stay again if the opportunity presents.
See more
f
frances
May 2025
4 nights at Arrowed Ground
what a peaceful retreat it was staying in this little cabin! comfy bed, a porch and birds on surround sound. it was like staying in a sanctuary! if you’re looking to get off the grid and not have the sound of roads anywhere nearby, this is the place. i would absolutely stay again.
See more
Dennis
May 2025
2 nights at Camp Arroyo Grande
We loved the camping experience at camp AG all the staff were amazing. We stayed mid week and had the place to ourselves. The cabin was comfortable and so were the beds. I highly recommend staying here
See more
Mary
May 2025
3 nights at Camp Arroyo Grande
We stayed in a wonderful cabin which was spotlessly clean with lots of windows for ventilation. The bathrooms were also spotlessly clean. It was very quiet while we were there with lots of birdsong. It was a very easy check-in and check-out. I highly recommend this HipCamp.
See moreE
Emma
May 2025
1 night at Camp Arroyo Grande
We absolutely LOVE staying at Camp Arroyo Grande! The cabins are always clean and surprisingly comfy, and the location is hard to beat. Great spot for larger groups or a quick and affordable weekend getaway!
See more 100%
9 ratings · 3 reviews
October 2017
I spent a weekend at Khus Camp, which is one two boat-in sites. It was peaceful. The environment is unspoiled and there is wildlife. Khus isn’t developed so you have to pack-in/out your gear, water and trash. There is a communal fire-ring and a clean composting toilet. Since I kayaked in, my kit was a cross between backpacking and car-camping gear. If you have a motor boat, you might do it differently.
I didn’t love the second boat-in camp, Sapwi. It’s nice but Khus is shadier. The developed, car-camping sites are fine too. There are clean showers and a swimming pool.
The only drawback to this lake is that swimming isn’t allowed. That said, I’m already planning another ~300 miles trek back to this sleepy, little spot.
Randall G.
8 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· October 2017
Hard to believe but the KOA rustic cabins in this area are surprisingly nice, spread out nicely through the woods.
Glenn R.
8 years on Hipcamp
August 2015
The drought really changes this place. The water level is v low so it's not like the lake is the point of camping here. What's great about this place is the hikes around the lake. They take you up classic central coast ecology—beware poison oak and ticks! Camping here was chill. Lot's of stars!
Jaymie S.
5 reviews