The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App
Map showing campgrounds near Carrizo Plain National Monument, CaliforniaExplore the Map

Best Pet-Friendly Camping near Carrizo Plain National Monument

763 Reviews

The Little Brave House cabin offers pet-friendly accommodations for campers traveling with dogs near Carrizo Plain National Monument. This site includes a picnic table, showers, and toilets alongside electric hookups that appeal to pet owners wanting creature comforts while camping with their animals. The host has thought of everything from lawn games to a movie projector, creating a comfortable experience in this cute and cozy cabin. Several additional pet-friendly campgrounds exist throughout the region, including Secluded Carrizo Plains Campsite for RV campers with pets, Cuyama Oaks Ranch which accepts pets at its tent, RV, glamping and yurt accommodations, and Miranda Pine Campground offering more primitive pet-friendly tent sites. Most campgrounds in the area maintain basic pet policies requiring leashed animals and proper waste disposal.

Dogs enjoy varying terrain throughout the Carrizo Plain area campgrounds, from the elevated views at Miranda Pine to the secluded spots at Old Sierra Madre. The Miranda Pine location sits atop a mountain with sweeping views extending all the way to the ocean, providing excellent sunrise and sunset panoramas that pet owners appreciate while camping with their dogs. Many sites are quite remote with limited facilities, so campers should bring all necessary pet supplies including extra water for dogs. The 2.5-acre Secluded Carrizo Plains Campsite provides ample space for dogs to explore while remaining on private property. Cell service varies significantly between campgrounds, with some locations like Old Sierra Madre offering good connectivity for those needing to research veterinary services, while more remote locations have no service. Several campgrounds experience significant wind, particularly at higher elevations.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Carrizo Plain National Monument (92)

    1. The Little Brave House

    1 Review
    Carrizo Plain National Monument, CA
    4 miles
    +1 (831) 278-0579

    $125 - $145 / night

    2. Miranda Pine Campground

    4 Reviews
    Carrizo Plain National Monument, CA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 968-6640

    "Brought my dogs and they loved it. No real services up here so its especially important to pack out all your trash and follow Leave No Trace ethics."

    "We arrived on Saturday 4th of July and all the sites were taken so we decided to drive another 15 miles up the road to a nice shaded location just right off the road."

    3. Old Sierra Madre

    4 Reviews
    Carrizo Plain National Monument, CA
    14 miles

    "Had great cell service and was a lovely drive to get there. Probably wouldn’t recommend if you have a tent or RV as the spots were a little small and rocky."

    "Bit of highway noise."

    4. Bates Canyon Campground

    4 Reviews
    New Cuyama, CA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 925-9538

    "Don’t know why people are saying it’s remote when there’s a main highway only a few miles away and ranch houses near by and cell Service."

    5. Secluded Carrizo Plains Campsite

    1 Review
    Carrizo Plain National Monument, CA
    12 miles
    Website

    $27 / night

    "However, better than that, there was no one around as far as the eye could see- which was amazing. Great views."

    6. Cuyama Oaks Ranch

    1 Review
    New Cuyama, CA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 258-8561

    $55 - $200 / night

    7. Cachuma Lake Recreation Area

    61 Reviews
    Santa Ynez, CA
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 686-5055

    "Fire pit at 409 put in a strange location so that we is located on the back side of our trailer. Really no other way we could have configured it."

    "There are tent sites overlooking Lake Cachuma, and tent sites in the shady grass, and almost everything in between."

    8. Mt. Figueroa Campground

    20 Reviews
    Los Olivos, CA
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 434-1996

    $30 - $34 / night

    "While visiting Los Padres National forest on a Valentines Weekend, we unfortunately couldn’t do much camping near the higher altitudes due to high wind gusts so we headed toward the other camps, Davy Brown"

    "Figueroa Campground is a 33-35 site campground behind Los Olivos, CA. It is surrounded by live oaks and gorgeous manzanita trees, so there is a lot of shade available."

    9. Sycamore Campground

    7 Reviews
    New Cuyama, CA
    22 miles
    +1 (818) 424-8256

    "Dogs allowed. Easy to access."

    "Great hikes nearby and the beach is just a short walk away! We saw lots of cute animals during our stay. The campsite pass also gets you free parking at pretty much any beach along the PCH."

    10. Aliso Park Campground

    1 Review
    New Cuyama, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 925-9538

    "Great hiking around campground. No cell service."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 92 campgrounds

2026 Explorer Giveaway

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Carrizo Plain National Monument Contest

Enter to Win

Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Carrizo Plain National Monument

78 Photos of 92 Carrizo Plain National Monument Campgrounds

Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Carrizo Plain National Monument

763 Reviews of 92 Carrizo Plain National Monument Campgrounds

  • Chanel C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2018

    KCL Campground

    Beautiful, remote grassland

    Carrizo Plains National Monument is the largest single native grassland remaining in California in SE San Luis Obispo, and my husband and I have been wanting to visit. We found Kern Cattle & Land Ranch which has now been turned into a campground for people to enjoy.

    [ PROS ]

    • FREE camping is the best camping! It’s first come first serve, but there was only one other camper there the weekend we visited.
    • There are about 12 dispersed sites and all of them are under or near eucalyptus trees that offer really lovely shade from the harsh sun.
    • Each sites comes with a picnic table, fire ring + grill, 1 parking spot, and gear pole with hook (for hanging lanterns/trash bags/food/etc.)
    • There are 2 gender neutral vault toilets that are clean. The restroom is stocked with toilet paper and there is hand sanitizer available. No sink.
    • So much nature to see around! We saw kangaroo rats, bats, hawks, rabbits, ground squirrels (that are going extinct), and lots of fun insects. In the evening we heard lots of coyotes in the distance.
    • The evenings here are spectacular -- very little light pollution so you get a clear view of the night sky and all of the stars. The Milky Way was so vivid and we saw shooting stars the entire evening.
    • I’ve been wanting to see an owl in nature for so long, and I was able to see one in broad daylight. It was so insane and magical. We heard the owls all night (they are very loud) but I love falling asleep to the sound of nature. The owl sighting was the highlight of my trip!
    • There are tons of trails and places to explore. We even got to explore the last standing structure of the original ranch. You can visit the San Andreas Fault Line, Soda Lake, and Painted Rock which are all driving distance.

    [ CONS ]

    • The drive to and from KCL campground is a little rough. At some point you get on a dirt road that is quite bumpy and has potholes.
    • It’s super hot in this part of California during the summer so make sure you pack LOTS of water. There is no water available on the campgrounds or for miles.
    • No showers, obviously since there isn’t any water available.
    • TONS. OF. FLIES. EVERYWHERE. It’s a little unbearable during the day having to spend the majority of your energy swatting flies. It is so arid out there that flies are constantly landing on every part of your body to lick the sweat off of you. The toilets are clean, but TONS OF FLIES. Not little house flies, but super juicy big fat flies. Luckily they go away when the sun sets.
    • No fires allowed! They have fire pits, but you’re not allowed to burn wood. I believe you can use the fire pit with coals since there is a grill provided.
    • No gas stations, stores, shops around for miles. Make sure you come prepared with everything you need unless you’re prepared for a long drive on the dirt roads.

    Note: Pack in. Pack out. Please folks, remember to take your trash with you and leave the place better than you found it. It was sad seeing beer bottles and bullet shells littering the area. We did our  best to pick up what we could and take it with us, but LNT!!

  • S
    Apr. 1, 2019

    Avila-Pismo Beach KOA

    Good base camp

    We stopped here for a few nights so we could hook up to shore power for a bit, do laundry, dump etc. The campground itself is small and old so the sites can be a little small for the larger rigs. Bathrooms and showers were clean. People who run it were extremely accommodating - it was difficult for us to access the dump hookup in our first assigned site (we have a macerater with a very short hose) so they moved us to a better site. Easy walking/biking access to Avila beach (4.8miles round trip), and quick drive from Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo. They allow leashes pets and have a small dog park and pet “walk,” and while these are great, I also like to walk my dog around the whole campground when we can’t take her walks elsewhere, and this campground is very limiting. They have several signs up where dogs aren’t allowed.

    Overall, this is a great location if you want access to the beach and nearby towns with nice basic amenities.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 15, 2022

    Bear Mountain RV Park

    Office closed.

    Negative - One unisex bathroom/shower for the entire park. No code provided. Positive - Nice landscape. Fenced dog park.

  • Alejandro L.
    Feb. 19, 2021

    Mt. Figueroa Campground

    Make your own camp

    While visiting Los Padres National forest on a Valentines Weekend, we unfortunately couldn’t do much camping near the higher altitudes due to high wind gusts so we headed toward the other camps, Davy Brown and Nina. Only problem was these were all reserved!! Why I hate most camping in California Bc nothing is ever available. Either way I hate these type of campgrounds where there are fire pits, and bathrooms, and typically more humans nearby. So we ditched that and settled on a campsite off the road since the sun was setting. It was off one of the many horse/hike trails and was at least flat and somewhat further from the road and hidden by brush and trees. It was a nice night and enjoyed a quiet night alone on the forest. We only needed to do an overnight since we were doing the wineries and we’re staying at an bed and breakfast the next night. Overall it was nice but rather stay in 2 other spots we found that could make for future camping trips. ☺️⛺️

  • S
    Dec. 27, 2025

    Love’s travel stop Bakersfield

    Good spot

    Good spot to stop. They have dedicated RV hook up sites. I didn’t need hook ups since I was only there for a night stop therefore I don’t know the rates. Dog park is always a great thing to see at loves locations!

  • K
    May. 8, 2023

    Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara

    Would stay here again!

    Lovely place and lovely staff! It’s a bit pricey but you get what you pay for. They also have heated pool and jacuzzi, clean showers, and bathrooms. Trail and dog park available. Just kinda sucks you hear the cars passing at the 101. But I’d still come back.

  • Kim G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 20, 2026

    Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara

    Nice RV Park not too far from Santa Barbara

    We stayed here while visiting Santa Barbara. It is about 15 minutes north of town right across from the (closed) El Capitan State Beach. The sites are typical for an RV park but not right on top of one another. We chose a premium site to be in a tad more secluded area. The pool and hot tub are nice. Our pup enjoyed the dog park. The bathrooms were clean with spacious showers with hot water. Easy access to the Bill Wallace trail up into the hills. We’d stay again as we liked this better than a downtown RV park we stayed in last time. While the sites don’t have ocean views you can view sunrise and sunset from the Bill Wallace trail or even catch peep ocean views walking around the RV Park. Staff is friendly. They do close the bathrooms too early for cleaning. Around 8:30 or 9 am, but you can go to one of the single room showers or toilets behind the laundry.

  • Rick L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 20, 2025

    Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara

    Better than the typical RV park

    Everything‘s clean and orderly. Pool area is nice with a nice hot tub. Friendly staff and the grounds are well kept. Nice dog park. Not much road noise from the 101. Has all the modern conveniences. And all this comes with a price. It is pricey, but there’s a lot of amenities.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 30, 2025

    Bear Mountain RV Park

    Bakersfield, CA

    My first complaint is there is absolutely no signage into this campground. If not for GPS’s insistence we would have definitely missed. The sites are average for our 43’ motorhome. It’s all sand, no grass. Small grassy dog park which was nice. Soon as we got parked and went outside the smell of sewer greeted us. While it was a beautiful day to have the door open it was just way too unpleasant. There are no picnic tables and it’s pretty basic. The girl in the office was very pleasant. I guess it was ok for a 1 night stay even tho it is a ways off of the 5 fwy.

Guide to Carrizo Plain National Monument

Carrizo Plain National Monument sits within an arid region of California's Central Valley, characterized by 3,000-foot elevation changes between valley floor and surrounding mountains. The area receives less than 12 inches of rainfall annually, creating seasonal camping conditions with extreme temperature variations from below freezing in winter to over 100°F in summer. Campgrounds near the monument provide access to this unique landscape where wildlife observation opportunities include pronghorn antelope and kit foxes.

What to Do

Dark sky viewing: Miranda Pine Campground offers excellent astronomy conditions due to minimal light pollution. "Set atop a mountain, Miranda Pine campground gives sweeping views all the way to the ocean... Sunset and Sunrise views are incredible," notes reviewer Dani P.

Wildlife photography: The Little Brave House provides a comfortable base for photographers with its central location. "This little house is just that, little and so sweet! This host has really thought of it all. Fun lawn games, a projector to watch a movie, and a little bathroom," according to reviewer Ashley F.

Hiking trails: Multiple routes vary in difficulty throughout Los Padres National Forest adjacent to campgrounds. "There are TONS of awesome trails around to walk, hike, or bike," reports Bailey A. about Figueroa Mountain Campground, who adds "we brought our dog with us and she had a great time."

What Campers Like

Weather variability: Higher elevation sites experience significant weather changes. "It did get very windy that night," notes Antonio C. about Miranda Pine Campground's conditions, while another camper mentions "we could've sailed down the mountain with how hard the wind was blowing!"

Primitive amenities: Many sites maintain basic services with pit toilets. At Aliso Park Campground, a visitor notes, "We drove through dry cattle grazing area and arrived to a beautiful oak shaded campground... Pit toilets were clean. Creek was dry."

Isolation: Low visitation creates peaceful camping experiences. "We spent a weekend here and there were only a few other campers," reports a visitor to Aliso Park Campground, while Old Sierra Madre provides "a lovely drive to get there. Probably wouldn't recommend if you have a tent or RV as the spots were a little small and rocky," according to Elyse B.

What You Should Know

Road conditions: Access to remote sites requires appropriate vehicles. "The dirt road to get to camp is about 10 miles. The road is bumpy but in good condition overall, we made it on a stock height 2wd truck," reports Antonio C. about Miranda Pine, while Hunter H. warns about Bates Canyon: "Wayy off the main road on a non-maintained dirt road, only 4x4 accessible."

Cell service: Connectivity varies significantly between locations. "We had good cell service and was a lovely drive to get there," notes Elyse B. about Old Sierra Madre, contrasting with Aliso Park where "No cell service" is reported.

Seasonal considerations: Summer brings specific challenges to the area. At Figueroa Mountain Campground, Robert T. warns about "lots of flies" during warmer months, explaining that the campground "fills up fast on weekends during spring, summer and fall."

Tips for Camping with Families

Activity planning: Bring entertainment options for children during hot afternoons. At Cachuma Lake Recreation Area, "There's lots of open areas and swimming pool, dog runs, laundry, facilities, etc. there is also a marina and a campground store," reports Randy D.

Supply preparation: Pack extra water and food as services are limited. "The camp shop also carry bait and other fishing gear. Only downside is no swimming or SUP boarding," notes Chanel C. about Cachuma Lake's facilities.

First-timer friendly options: Choose developed campgrounds for initial family trips. "Great camping for beginners... Great amenities— large restrooms with multiple stalls, hand soap, plenty of toilet paper, and clean showers," writes Chanel C. about Cachuma Lake.

Tips from RVers

Site selection: Check site dimensions before booking. At Sycamore Campground, Tommy B. cautions that "The campsites are too close together," while "Neat and clean campsite. They have pay showers which are decent," according to Richard W.

Alternative accommodations: Consider pet-friendly glamping options during extreme weather. Cuyama Oaks Ranch accepts pets at its tent, RV, glamping and yurt accommodations for travelers who need more comfort while maintaining pet-friendly camping near Carrizo Plain National Monument.

Campground amenities: Verify hookup availability as services vary widely. "Secluded Carrizo Plains Campsite" provides "the entire area- 2 1/2 acres!- to ourselves!" reports Heritage A., who appreciates that "a picnic table was provided as well."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Carrizo Plain National Monument?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Carrizo Plain National Monument is The Little Brave House with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Carrizo Plain National Monument?

TheDyrt.com has all 92 dog-friendly camping locations near Carrizo Plain National Monument, with real photos and reviews from campers.

Keep Exploring