Creek Tent Campground at Hearst San Simeon State Park is near Cambria, CA, and features coastal terrain with nearby creeks. Temperatures range from 50°F to 70°F, with cooler conditions in winter months. Campers can explore Hearst Castle and the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, both accessible within an hour.

Creek Campground Upper Section (sites 1-35)

Creek Tent Campground — Hearst San Simeon State Park

Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, San Simeon, CA has a lot to offer. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that California camping has to offer. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near San Simeon and user-submitted reviews.

San Simeon

The Best Camping Near San Simeon, California

San Simeon Creek Campground is one of two campgrounds at Hearst San Simeon State Park, the other being the primitive Washburn Campground. The only difference between the two besides the $15 / night price difference is that San Simeon Creek has flush toilets and showers available, and Washburn has pit toilets.  Neither have hookups and both have access to the dump and water fill which is located between the two campgrounds near the host.

  

We stayed in site #9 for one night, which I would recommend you avoid. This spot is used as a cut through to the bathroom, not only by campground guests but by people parked on the road behind the campground who hop the fence to come into the campground and use the restroom.  We had people traipsing through all day and all night.

  

Showers are clean and reasonably priced, at $1 for 12 min. Pressure was decent and temperature was good (warm enough).  

  

Campground was busy with families and kids and large groups.  It was very active, but we stayed there on a Saturday night so that might be why.

  

Staff was really friendly.  When we arrived there was a sign indicating both campgrounds were full but we asked if there were any cancellations or anything available and they said one spot had just opened up which they allowed us to pay for and take without making the reservation online.

  

The campground is close to the cute town of Cambria, as well as some restaurants in San Simeon.

  

Firewood is sold by the host only during certain hours, currently 330-630pm only.

  

There was good ATT and ok TMobile service, but Verizon was very weak/unusable.

Nice campground but Washburn is better!

Quick overnight stop on our way south. Disappointed to see that dogs aren’t allowed in the beach. This coastline is an environment  sanctuary. Giving this four stars because spot was really nose down even with blocks on the front tires. Camp ranger was nice. Strict with the dog rules but nice… 

Nothing fancy, just right

Was a nice stay.  Clean bathrooms.  Campsites on top of the hill are very windy in the evening.  The lower sites are more protected.

Nice but windy in the high campsites

We stayed in the upper San Simeon creek campground area - site C25. It had the best view of the ocean but was surrounded by power lines and looked down on camp hosts site/buildings.
I felt like it was a little bit of a fishbowl with no privacy and we stared at the RVs in front of us. Which all RV/trailer sites are mostly parallel parking.
We drove through the bottom site and it provided much more privacy due to trees and seemed to be more level as well. No view,  but you get that “true camping” in the Forrest feeling. The walking trails were fun and the beach was close enough. There are camp kitties that will visit you if you are lucky enough (I think they belong to the host). 

Nice getaway 

This campground is fairly open and trees are sparse, but the sites are spaced sufficiently apart that they afford privacy. No hookups, but there’s water at each site and conveniently located flush toilets, sinks and showers. 

Right off Highway 1 for a bike ride and walking distance to a beautiful rugged beach. We nerded out on birds and wildflowers.

The campground was full during our stay, but we found the campground quiet at night.

Directly behind the campground is a large, unattractive human-made pond. Lots of fencing, plastic sheeting and a herd of sheep who may have been put there to graze down the grass and weeds. A little jarring in the context of the natural beauty, but nbd. The sheep were actually kind of entertaining. 

Rangers and camp host were super friendly. Host sells firewood. Cambria is the best bet for groceries and other necessities. San Simeon is more limited and fancy.

Extremely limited Verizon service here: 1 bar flitting on and off. 

Photos of Creek Tent Campground — Hearst San Simeon State Park

Real photos from real campers