Map showing campground location near Avilla Beach, California

Camper submitted image from Avila Hot Springs

Avila Hot Springs

Avila Hot Springs, near San Luis Obispo, California, is a unique campground that combines the charm of natural mineral springs with a rustic camping experience. The main draw here is the inviting hot spring pool, which can accommodate around 30 people, making it a popular spot for a relaxing soak after a day of exploring.

The camping area is compact, with sites that are close together, so you’ll likely get to know your neighbors pretty well. Each site comes with a picnic table and fire ring, perfect for evening gatherings, but keep in mind that privacy is limited. Some visitors have mentioned that the campground can feel a bit cramped, especially with the nearby road noise.

For those looking to venture out, there’s a scenic bike path that leads to the beach, offering a lovely ride through trees and along a creek. The nearby town of Avila Beach has a few restaurants and convenience stores, while larger grocery options can be found in Pismo Beach. If you’re just passing through or want a quick soak, many campers recommend visiting for a day rather than an extended stay.

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Location

Private Campground

Avila Hot Springs is located in California

Address

250 Avila Beach Dr
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405

Coordinates

35.18033262 N
120.70302718 W

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Connectivity

T-Mobile5G
Excellent Coverage
Verified by 16 users
Last on 2/26/26
VerizonLTE
Good Coverage
Verified by 14 users
Last on 2/26/26
AT&T5G
Excellent Coverage
Verified by 6 users
Last on 2/26/26

Connectivity

T-Mobile5G
Excellent Coverage
Verified by 16 users
Last on 2/26/26
VerizonLTE
Good Coverage
Verified by 14 users
Last on 2/26/26
AT&T5G
Excellent Coverage
Verified by 6 users
Last on 2/26/26

Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group
Cabins

Features

For Campers

Market
Trash
Picnic Table
Firewood Available
Phone Service
Reservable
WiFi
Showers
Drinking Water
Toilets
Alcohol
Fires

For Vehicles

30 Amp Hookups

Contact

General Info

Drive Time

5 min from San Luis Obispo, CA
21 min from Santa Maria, CA
1 hr 57 min from Hanford, CA
2 hrs 9 min from Bakersfield, CA

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5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

3.0

out of 5

7 Reviews

Visitors often highlighted the excellent heated pools and hot springs as the main draw. However, many mentioned cramped, dusty sites with poor conditions and road noise issues that detract from the camping experience.

Brooke H.

Traveler

Reviewed May. 25, 2024

Small hot spring pool and loud and cramped camping area

Only one small shallow hot spring pool, usually crowded at peak hours. At the pool there is outdoor showers, lap pool, indoor bathrooms, changing rooms.

Camping area is small and it’s basically a dirt parking lot. Loud road noise all night and day from the freeway. Lots of pincher bugs infested my gear. Not peaceful. Better to just visit for a soak, they have cheaper rates for a morning or evening visit.

SiteA4

Month of VisitMay

Shari G.

Legend

Reviewed Oct. 20, 2023

Good for 1 Night & Quick Soak

This small hot springs resort has a unique charm about it. With not a lot of acreage, they maximize the space for sure. The main attraction is the warm pool, 25 yards with swimming lanes, and the hot pool which can accommodate 30 people. We found this rustic resort a good place to spend the night and get in a quick soak, but not exactly someplace we’d like to spend a weekend.

The RV lot is a large parking lot with spaces allocated on the outside of the gravel road. The tent camping section was a narrow patch of grass, with sites slotted in together along a tight corner of the property. Get to know your neighbors, because you’ll be close! Our little camper and truck rig was just small enough to fit into one of the grass camping sites at 32 feet combined, but it was a tight fit. We were easily able to run on solar instead of paying for an electrical site.

There's a picnic table and fire ring at each site, but the sites are so small, you are practically on top of your neighbors with zero privacy. There are pit toilets in the campground as well as flush toilets and showers available near the bath house. They also offer cabins for rent.

The town of Avila Beach has restaurants and a few convenience stores, but the larger grocery stores are available in nearby Pismo Beach. Morro Bay is definitely worth a visit as well!

Month of VisitApril

(4) View All

Scott O.

Guide

Reviewed Sep. 4, 2023

All day soak $28

In addition to natural mineral springs and heated pool, Facilities have water, toilets, showers, electricity for stealth travelers. Picnic tables outside.

Sitemineral springs

Month of VisitSeptember

Elisa C.

Traveler

Reviewed May. 27, 2023

Good for one night

Good and quiet campground for one night. Staff was really friendly. One night was a little over $50.

Month of VisitMay

Maria

Scout

Reviewed Sep. 8, 2022

Nice Pool, ugly sites

From outside it looks really nice. The pool is very nice too and even heated. But the sites are really ugly and dusty

SiteX

Month of VisitSeptember

Raf A.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 23, 2020

Dry Camping

Last minute booking for us as all of the surrounding parks were fully booked. We got site “W.” Stayed for one night. This spot seems to mostly cater to tent and cabin campers... had to use 4 blocks to level our tailer, the site was full of trash and dog poop too.

One thing that is awesome is that there is a bike path (5 miles ish round trip) that leads to the beach. The path is along a creek, surrounded by trees, and goes through a golf course. It is relatively flat and our 7yr old had a blast.

(6) View All

Deanna P.

Scout

Reviewed Jul. 11, 2020

Nothing Special

We arrived later in the day. No hookups, dusty little spot for our truck camper in the back that came with a fire pit and picnic bench. Due to COVID, the hot springs were not available. It was a place to spend the night, but not worth the $.

SiteV

Month of VisitJuly

Frequently Asked Questions

What do visitor reviews say about Avila Hot Springs Campground?

Avila Hot Springs Campground offers a mixed experience for visitors. Many appreciate the warm pool with swimming lanes and the hot mineral springs pool as the main attractions. The staff is noted as being friendly and helpful. However, the camping area itself is described as basic, dusty, and resembling a dirt parking lot. Some visitors mention issues with cleanliness and road noise from the nearby freeway. Overnight stays typically cost around $50, making it a functional but not luxurious option for those wanting to enjoy the hot springs facilities.

What amenities are available at Avila Hot Springs Campground?

Avila Hot Springs offers a 25-yard heated swimming pool with lanes, a natural mineral hot springs pool, water access, toilets, showers, and electricity for campers. Each site comes with a picnic table and fire pit. The facility includes outdoor showers near the pool area, indoor bathrooms, and changing rooms. While the amenities focus primarily on the pools and basic camping necessities, the overall facilities are designed to maximize the small space available.

How does Avila Hot Springs compare to other hot springs in San Luis Obispo County?

Avila Hot Springs has a distinct small-resort charm that sets it apart in San Luis Obispo County. Its primary features include one small mineral hot springs pool and a heated 25-yard swimming pool with lanes. Unlike some larger hot springs destinations, Avila is more compact and can get crowded during peak hours. The facility has a rustic, modest character compared to more developed springs in the region. Its unique combination of camping options and hot springs access makes it convenient for overnight visitors, though the hot springs experience is more limited in scale than some alternatives in the county.

Are there cabins available at Avila Hot Springs Campground?

Yes, Avila Hot Springs does offer cabin accommodations. The resort appears to cater to a mix of camping styles, with cabins being one of the accommodation options alongside tent and RV camping sites. Cabins provide an alternative for visitors who prefer not to tent camp but still want to enjoy the hot springs and pool facilities. For specific cabin details, availability, and current rates, it's best to contact the resort directly.

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