Why Camp in Big Sur
Camping is the best way to experience Big Sur, because lodging here is famously expensive and books out months ahead. A campsite lets you wake up under the redwoods or on an ocean bluff, beat the day-trip crowds to the trailheads, and stay close to the highlights instead of driving in from Monterey or Carmel each day. The catch is that good Big Sur camping sites are limited and fiercely competitive, so planning matters as much as packing.
Best Campgrounds in Big Sur
Big Sur campgrounds split into two flavors: redwood canyon sites inland and a couple of dramatic bluff-top sites on the water. Here are the standouts.
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park: the classic choice, with roughly 180 sites tucked among redwoods along the Big Sur River. Central to trailheads like Buzzards Roost and Pfeiffer Falls. Reservable and very popular.
- Kirk Creek Campground: the iconic ocean-bluff campground, perched on a grassy headland above the Pacific south of Lucia. Every site has a sea view; there is no water, so bring your own.
- Plaskett Creek Campground: a shaded Forest Service site across Highway 1 from Sand Dollar Beach, near the southern end of Big Sur.
- Limekiln State Park: small and scenic, with sites near the beach and the Limekiln Falls trail.
- Ventana Campground and Riverside Campground: private redwood campgrounds near the village with extra amenities.
How and When to Book
State park sites at Pfeiffer Big Sur and Limekiln are booked through ReserveCalifornia and open on a rolling window up to six months out. Forest Service sites like Kirk Creek and Plaskett Creek are booked through Recreation.gov. Summer weekends and holidays sell out the moment the window opens, so set a reminder for exactly six months before your target date and book at the top of the hour. Midweek and shoulder-season nights are far easier to grab.
What to Expect at the Sites
Most Big Sur campgrounds offer picnic tables, fire rings, and vault or flush toilets, but amenities vary a lot. Inland redwood sites can be cool and damp even in summer, while bluff sites like Kirk Creek are sunny, windy, and exposed. Key things to plan around:
- No hookups at the state and Forest Service campgrounds, and RV length limits apply.
- Bring water to Kirk Creek and verify availability elsewhere before you go.
- Fire restrictions are common in late summer and fall; check current rules before lighting anything.
- Store food properly, since raccoons and the occasional bear visit campgrounds.
- Cell service is spotty, so download maps and reservations offline.
Dispersed and Backcountry Options
For a wilder experience, the Ventana Wilderness in the Los Padres National Forest offers backpacking and dispersed camping, with permits and a California Campfire Permit required for any stove or fire. Sykes Hot Springs along the Pine Ridge Trail was a longtime favorite, though access has been affected by past fire closures, so always confirm current trail status with the Forest Service before planning a backcountry trip.
Build Camping Into a Hiking Trip
The smartest way to use a campsite is as a basecamp for the trails. From Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park you are minutes from the best loops on the coast, and a single reservation lets you hit several hikes without long drives. To map out which trails to pair with each campground and how to sequence them, follow our Big Sur hiking itinerary, which lays out a three-day plan covering McWay Falls, the Ewoldsen Trail, and the Pfeiffer loops.
Reserve early, pack for both fog and sun, and you will have the most affordable and immersive way to experience Big Sur.
