Lopez Lake Recreation Area

We had reservations for 2 nights on an Augugst Friday / Saturday at Lopez Lake in a full-hook-up site in Bandtail (Site 38). The reviews of this place were great, and the photos were beautiful. We arrived to find a HUGE park (yes, I should have noted how many campsites there are). Check-in involved parking our van and standing in line like Disneyland. The park employees were nice though. There were big signs all around "NO FIRES" (more on this later) and I was also told at check in that there were no fires. We found our site easily enough, only to realize how closely packed the sites were in Bandtail. Some nice folks to our right had three sites - 11 kids and 21 people between them. The kids rode their bikes all over, and even onto our site (while also running around our van chasing a chipmunk). We had our daughter's dog, so tried sitting outside in the shade, only to find that in addition to the heat (it was mid 80s), there were biting flies. :( Poor puppy got bit or stung more than once. So we went in our van and turned on the AC (it could run on low with the 20A service there). Then, after dark, a dad and his young son arrive on our other side and had to back in their boat in the dark. We got out of our rig and helped them (twice) with our portable lights and guidance. In the morning, they spoke in very loud voices and we were right next door. We did take one of the trails in the heat, but they are not at all well maintained - basically trampled grass that could easily hold a snake. While the area is pretty, it is just way too crowded for our taste. Oh, and the bathrooms were dimily lit, had a couple of non-functioning toilets, and were dirty. We were ready to get out of there and will not be back. Lastly, though the fire danger was marked as extremely high and "NO FIRES" signs at check-in, along with verbal warnings of no fires, I saw two campsites had open fires in the fire pits. This blatant lack of regard for rules and safety didn't sit well with me. And no one was enforcing the fire ban. Sad.

Large sites with plenty of room for tents and all the other camping necessities. This site backs up into the hills and there are black bears that roam the area so be sure to prepare for that. The lake is full and lots of areas to fish.

Called to see if they had spots and they did. Super helpful staff to help get us a spot. The lake level is at 100% and is amazing to see. With all the rain some of the sights still have water running through them.

Very popular but everyone stayed home! Hilly area, lots of trails, lots of rain…

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We’ve camped here many times over the last 15 years. We’ve tent camped on primitive sites and camped with a pop-up with electricity & water. None of the full hookup sites have a view but some of the tent sites do. There isn’t much fishing now, because the water is so low, but there are still pretty hikes to be had and water slides if it’s hot. We’ve been to the ropes course too, which is really fun.

Had a great time here. Cool hiking trails where you’ll see lots of deer.

Been camping at Lopes Lake since 2016 with my friends and it’s never a disappointment to go for fun and good relaxation from the city.

We recently stayed at Lopez Lake with our three children (all under age 9). The sites are easy to navigate, the wildlife flourishes throughout the area for some fun viewings, the rangers and staff were super helpful and there was plenty of room for the kids to run around. The Lake was low, but this is California so, ya know. Water was chilly but the kids were soldiers and it was a good time and extra relaxing for us parents. For $30 a night, it’s worth every penny!

First time camping in the back of our truck..really fun, rented a little motor boat and watched the kite surfers for 2 hrs then went and had a drink at the bar and played pool, saw two little harmless bears come through our campsite around 3-4am. our 2nd night… wild turkeys, squirrels… just wish there was a spot to hang up a hammock…NO FIRES were allowed-don’t forget a lantern like we did. Also bring some bug/gnat repellent!

It's a nice area, multiple camp grounds throughout the lake, some having hookups and other areas undeveloped and better for tent camping. Bathrooms and showers are typically clean but do get dirty during peak seasons. Showers cost money so bring quarters and it's hit or miss whether they have decent hot water. Roughly 15 miles from the beach entrance in Grover Beach so you get lucky with a marine influence during the evening. Can be windy and low lake levels. Also fires have been prohibited during fire season these past few years. This includes fires for cooking. Only electric or propane for cooking. It's super dry. Zip line and the water slides are cool and the marina rents all sorts of things. Fishing is decent. The marina has decent food and boose! Turkey, deer, and bear cruise through as well. Cool place for groups and families.

Long time campers in California are probably familiar with the feeling that the prep work required simply to get a reservation at the most popular national and state parks is more than prepping for the trip itself. This is true not just for the most famous parks, like Yosemite, but for many others as well. Wanna camp between late May and early October in a well known state park? Better book that reservation months in advance. This is especially true for RV sites, as there are even fewer of those.

But sometimes you want to just get away on shorter notice. This is where the CA county park system comes to the rescue. County parks are numerous and much easier to get reservations at. And Lopez Lake, part of San Luis Obispo county doesn’t disappoint. The lake itself is a man made reservoir, and the campground sits right behind it. It’s got a mixture of tent sites and RV sites, some will full hookup - although some may only have 15/20A power. There’s lots to do on the lake, and Pismo Beach is a short drive away. Is a weekend at Lopez going to be like that epic 4 day trip you took to King’s Canyon or Zion or Yellowstone that you planned years in advance? No. But if you decide to take a long weekend in the late summer, there’s a good chance Lopez Lake will have spots available, especially during the week. Highly recommended.

I grew up camping at Lopez Lake as well as other campsites. Lopez Lake offers a lot. Fishing hiking camping horse back riding etc. I highly recommend camping here.

Growing up we always came camping at Lopez Lake, for many reason, being that there were lots of kids, my parents kid friendly atmosphere. LOPEZ LAKE, had just that. Threw out the years they've added, a few things. I give Lopez Lake 6⭐'s

This was an amazing campground. We were in Hawk and unfortunately we were leaning the entire trip because Hawk is on a slope. It was our fault we were leaning. The wildlife is beautiful, the park has tons of trails and hiking paths. Nice lake the fish. This place was awesome. We will be going back.

From the water sports to the hiking trails, there is so much to see and do. We often see Bald Eagles, Osprey, and those great Pelicans. 

As far as the camping goes there are a variety of places to set up. Full hookup, partial and primitive sites are available. It can get busy in the full hookup areas so we prefer the primitive sites.

It's a great local lake to go play and camp.

My family used to visit this campground for its easy accessibility for younger children. Deciduous trees and leafy ground cover make for a comfortable experience. Canoeing and kayak rentals available, beware of spiders!

This is one of our favorite campgrounds. There's lots of trails and quite a bit wildlife: squirrels, deer, turkey, and even some mountain lions and bears. The lake is wonderful and usually very mellow. Kayaking and fishing are both nice at Lopez as well. No cell reception, not for us on Verizon anyways, but you can drive about 1/2 mile down the road for it.

I grew up going to Lopez since we lived in Santa Maria so maybe I’m biased. Unlike many other campgrounds on the central coast which are a little pricy and have you feeling a little packed like sardines- not so here. There are many types of sites to pick from; tent, rv, group, cabin. Of course we have our favorite “loops” and site within those. The full hookup sites are priced reasonably and you have a good amount of space between you and your neighbor (some are better than others). You are about 15 mins from the beach or 20-30 mins from SLO. The lake has good fishing. The marina store is well stocked with food and tackle. If you go during the summer there are water slides available for an extra charge. There is also an obstacle course and zip line- also an extra charge. I would recommend checking this place out.

Lopez lake campground is a pretty area surrounding a nice lake. There is an abundance of wildlife. I came here back in May and the bountiful rain this year led to an abundance of green vegetation. It’s a really nice, clean , and large campground. It wasn’t too crowded but with a water park, bar, and restaurant all on site, I am sure that it must be very crowded during busy season. It’s a great place fishing and for families but I personally prefer a little more solitude in my camping experiences. Staff was very friendly as well.

Campsites are close to each other but was a great place to take the boat and fish all day. Weather stays relatively warm out by Lopez so it’s nice all year round. If we get more rain lake would be really nice

Lopez Lake Recreation Area is 15 minutes behind the “Village” of Arroyo Grande, CA.

Lopez is a frequently visited spot for us - We generally camp in a primitive site the back of the Squirrel Loop of the park. The Squirrel Loop is not a lakeside loop (you cannot see the lake at all from here), but we have found it to be one of the quieter, less trafficked campground in the park. The Squirrel Loop is nestled inside a canyon, surrounded by big, beautiful live oak trees.

Lopez Lake is a very large campground with many different loops, so many of which are nearby the lake. If you haven’t been to the campground before and are not worried about reserving a site ahead of time, take some time to drive around the park when you arrive to see what area you would most like to camp in - there are a lot of great spots here there and everywhere!

Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. There are clean plumbed bathrooms, and coin-operated showers. Lopez has full hook-ups for RVs, and a marina to launch boats. There is a small but well-stocked convenience store in the marina with food, ice, firewood, beer, fishing gear, etc. There is also a small cafe located in the marina store, with limited hours.

Lopez Lake is the home of the Mustang Waterpark, a small, but super fun water park. I believe the park is closed during the fall and winter months, but is open during the spring and summer. Swimming is allowed in the lake, and there are some “beach” areas that have been cleared of lake plants and rocks for safe swimming.

Hiking to Big Falls is a fun adventure if you want to leave the campground. There are certain times when the falls are not accessible without 4WD, however, we have been in severe drought conditions in Central California for the last few years, so you don’t have to worry about crossing any deep creeks, if any. A super low clearance vehicle may have a challenging time crossing the creek beds, even when dry. The drive to Big Falls trailhead from Lopez is short, but probably takes 15-20 minutes as you are driving through a curvy, narrow canyon road. The hike is through live oak trees most of the way, so most of the hike is nice and shaded. Keep and eye out for salamanders when crossing the creek beds! While it is unlikely, black bears mountain lions have been spotted on the Big Falls trail, so be aware of your surroundings. Here are directions to the Big Falls trailhead: http://www.hikeslo.com/big-falls/

WARNING : While the possibility of a black bear sighting is fairly uncommon, black bears are seen every year at Lopez Lake. You are in black bear county, and there are no bear boxes/ food lockers at Lopez Lake. I would suggest locking your food and coolers up in the car at night to avoid attracting wild animals to your campsite.

CAMPSITE SPECS

Fees: $35/night (primitive site)

Plumbed Toilets: Yes

Drinking Water: Yes

Showers: Yes (coin-operated)

Picnic Table: Yes

Firepit: Yes

Cooking Grate: Yes

Shade: Yes

Cell Service: No

Animal Bins/Food lockers: No

Trash: Yes

I camped in Mustang during the last weekend of September. It was located right next to the water park but they had already closed for the season. The campsites were pretty close to each other and unfortunately we were stuck between two different groups that did not obey the quiet hours. Not a huge deal at night since they were quiet by midnight or so but one of the groups was also loud with kids early in the morning as well. This didn't make the best camping experience but we tried to make the best of it.

The lake was within walking distance but since the water level is so low, you had to walk quite a way out. There are some decent hiking trails you can go on right from the campground. We took the Escondido trail from camp that took us to the top of a ridge and had numerous switchbacks. Great views from the top.

Campsites are fairly segregated from each other, at least where I was at. Nice and shady especially compared to socal campsites. There is a lot of wildlife in the area, and apparently very used to people. The deer came right into camp and ate food from our hands.

The campsite is obviously right there for the lake, whether you go on the lake or not, the campground has its own merits.

Lopez lake is a great lake, larger and fairly calm, and surrounded by trees. Great for waterskiing and wakeboarding.

Not too spectacular except for its access to a lake. And there is plenty to lake to enjoy if you are into water sports. Minor water park also nearby.

so many campsites tucked in small corners. Lots of trees, a ropes course and great water activities.

Lopez is my family’s favorite local campground. It’s close enough for an overnight or weekend trip, but rural enough to feel the “getting away” affect that comes with camping. Campground itself is beautifully maintained and offers plenty of wildlife sightings (bears, deer, turkey, and many different birds.) Tons of hiking trails and the mustang water slides are a plus!

I spent the weekend at the bandtail campground at the Lopez Lake Recreation Area.

The lake is about 10 miles East of Arroyo Grande. The campground is well maintained and patrolled by rangers often. 

The views that can been seen from the campsites are incredible. Take a look at the photos. 

THINGS TO KNOW

You can make reservations online and you can reserve a spcific site. They have sites ranging from primitive to full hookups. 

Check-in is at 2 pm, but they normally will let people in earlier, checkout is at 11 am. 

The cost is $20.00 a night. This includes one vehicle per site, you can pay an extra $10 a night for an additional vehicle.

Dogs are allowed in the campground, but they must be on a leash at all times. Dogs cost $3.50 a day.

There a launch ramp and marina store in the campground .

There are multiple trails throughout the park that range in their level of difficulty.

You can reserve spot online line up to 2 days ahead.

3.50 a day charge for animals

They have a multitude of trails.

It's Nice and Quiet, Beautiful and Clean and Rangers are friendly, helpful and kind.