Destinations

A Guide to Big Sur Camping—From the Campsites With the Best Views, to When to Visit

This iconic stretch of California's coast promises redwood trees and turquoise waters—and camping promises total immersion in it all. 
Big Sur Camping Guide 2022 The Best Campsites When to Book and the Best Time of Year to Visit
Kodiak Greeenwood

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Situated along a remote stretch of California’s central coast, Big Sur casts a spell on all who visit with its inspiring mix of forest and sea. It’s the southernmost habitat for the state’s coastal redwood trees, the tallest in the world, and its turquoise waters are protected by the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, where sea otters swim among giant kelp forests and migrating whales. The region’s grandeur has long lured bohemians and soul seekers, yet no one is immune to Big Sur’s enchantments. You’ll see both Teslas and vintage Westfalias winding along Highway 1’s seaside cliffs en route to the coastal nirvana, making frequent roadside stops to gawk at the views.

While lodging options range from serviceable inns to spendy resorts, most visitors are here to camp and immerse themselves in the area’s splendor. Whether you’re hoping to mentally refresh or simply want to get the kids outdoors for a weekend, consider this your ultimate guide to Big Sur camping—from when to visit to when to book. Most importantly, we also cover the camping sites with the very best views and amenities, at every comfort level.

All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The campground at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is a short stroll from McWay Falls

Braxton Stuntz/Unsplash

What to know before you go

While many think of Big Sur as the compact stretch of Highway 1 that’s clustered with restaurants, inns, and destination parks—what locals refer to as The Village—it’s actually a roughly 70-mile expanse that extends from the Carmel Highlands to just shy of San Simeon.

When to go

Camping and summer go hand-in-hand, and in Big Sur, it’s no exception with balmy days and cooling dips in the Big Sur River this time of year. Yet summer also brings swarms of tourists and a morning marine layer that can obscure those glorious vistas. While there’s little chance of avoiding crowds altogether—mild weather makes Big Sur popular year-round—you’ll better appreciate the area’s charms during the shoulder seasons of spring, when wildflowers abound, and in fall, when the region enjoys its very best weather. If you can brave cooler temps, November through February offers primo whale watching, as much of the coast is dotted with the misty plumes of migrating humpbacks.

How far in advance to book

Outside of a rainy Tuesday in February, you’re not likely to nab a campsite by showing up on the day of your visit—it's very hard to camp in Big Sur without a reservation. Most sites book up six months in advance, even during the winter. If you miss your window of opportunity, try Campflare which alerts users of last-minute cancellations. Just resist the urge to camp along the side of the road, or risk a $1,000 fine.

Always check the weather before your visit

In recent years, Big Sur has weathered devastating wildfires and landslides that have shut down roads, hiking trails, and campsites. Before you load up the trunk, check road conditions for Highway 1, the primary route in and out of Big Sur, in addition to fire restrictions. A campfire ban could squash those plans for s’mores.

The best Big Sur campsites to book

Big Sur campsites run the gamut, from rustic hike-in spots to glampsites jam-packed with amenities—and the price points vary accordingly. 

Drive-in sites

For a Big Sur camping experience that’s well-suited for families and first-timers—we’re talking roomy sites, running water, well-stocked general stores—look to the area’s car campgrounds. If you’re lucky enough to score one of the 189 spots at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, you’ll be treated to a gorgeous old-growth redwood grove enlivened by the Big Sur River and set against a backdrop of the Santa Lucia Mountains. Activities include seasonal campfire programs, a scenic one-mile hike to Pfeiffer Falls, and, in warm weather months, leaping into the crystalline pools of the Big Sur River Gorge.

Located toward Big Sur’s southern end, Limekiln State Park offers one campground set along an ambling creek within a lush, fern-lined redwood forest, and another fronting a rugged beach cove. The park is named for the massive, historic kilns that processed the site’s limestone, a critical ingredient of the cement that helped build a booming, 19th century San Francisco (note: check Campone.com for status updates on the Limekiln Falls Trail which leads to the kilns and a 100-foot waterfall; it is currently closed due to damage from the 2020 Dolan Fire). At nearby Kirk Creek Campground, you’ll have to bring your own water and settle for non-flushing toilets, but you’ll enjoy sweeping ocean views and sunsets from each of the 33 spacious sites that sit atop a grassy blufftop. A short trail leads to a rocky shore where you can comb for polished sea glass and jade. When the state and federal parks are booked? Try a private camp such as Big Sur Campground & Cabins. In addition to spiffy tent sites—request one along the Big Sur River—they outfit guests with complimentary firewood, ice, camp mugs, and inner tubes to plunk into the property’s two swimming holes.

Alila Ventana Big Sur

Alila Ventana Big Sur

Walk-in sites

A handful of parks offer special settings and facilities comparable to car campgrounds, yet lack the convenience of parking at your site. You’ll have to lug your gear a half-mile to the diminutive campground at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, but the payoff is one of two coveted sites perched on cypress-shaded cliffs just above the churning Pacific. The campsites are a short stroll from the wildly popular McWay Falls—if you’ve seen any imagery of Big Sur, it’s likely of this waterfall splashing down upon a sandy cove—so it’s not exactly solitude. Yet when the park’s day use area shutters at sundown, it’s heaven on earth. The 24 campsites at Andrew Molera State Park require a quarter-mile trek from the parking lot, though it’s worth it to enjoy the property’s sandy beach, a rarity in Big Sur where most ocean views can only be enjoyed from lofty cliffs.

Hike-in sites

For more seclusion, consider going off the grid. Big Sur is home to two wilderness areas, Ventana and Silver Peak, each criss-crossed with backpacking trails and primitive campsites (read: no water, toilets, campfires, or cell service) that are first-come, first-served. You’ll need to pack everything in and out, but you’ll be rewarded with a landscape of meadows, fresh-water streams, and gobsmacking views as you climb high above Highway 1. With a trailhead situated at Big Sur Station, the Pine Ridge Trail has a dedicated parking lot and ranger station with knowledgeable staff and heaps of trail info. The route also allows campers to customize their journey. If you’re not up for the nearly ten-mile hike to Sykes Camp, bed down at Ventana Camp which is located along the Big Sur River at the 4.3 mile mark. Experienced backpackers up for a climb will appreciate the Salmon Creek Trail which starts at an impressive double waterfall before steeply ascending toward Estrella Camp and Lion Den Camp with commanding ocean vistas along the way. Check Ventana Wilderness Alliance and BigSurTrailMap.net for current trail conditions and tips from fellow hikers.

Rent a car camping site or canvas tent at Ventana Campground, and you'll have the option to add-on perks at sister property Alila Ventana Big Sur—including spa and pool access. 

Terra Heemsbergen/Alila Ventana Big Sur

Luxury sites

When you yearn for the comforts of a hotel stay, there are a few campgrounds willing to meet you halfway. Set in a redwood canyon bisected by a year-round stream, Ventana Campground (starting at $80) features both traditional car camping sites and canvas glamping tents kitted out with hardwood floors, plush mattresses, and heated blankets. Guests can enjoy al fresco cocktails from a gleaming, repurposed trailer dubbed the SurStream and add-on perks at adjacent sister property, Alila Ventana Big Sur, including exclusive reservations at The Sur House and a day spa with garden swimming pools. Some 38 miles south of The Village, Treebones Resort (starting at $130) lends respite from the thrumming crowds and a few unique ways to camp along the coast. It’s known for glamping style yurts, but campers shouldn’t overlook two remarkable twig structures—think treehouses on The Shire—and five tent sites which all promise panoramic coastal views and soaks in the property’s hot tub. There are no fire rings for roasting weenies, but you can treat yourself to local abalone and silky tuna belly at Wild Fish, the onsite sushi restaurant, and a complimentary breakfast of quiche, granola, yogurt, and juices.