Lake San Antonio - North Shore features horse corrals that accommodate equestrians camping with their horses near Los Osos. This established campground provides several accommodation options including tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and glamping facilities alongside dedicated space for horses. The campground offers drinking water, picnic tables, toilets, and trash disposal services essential for multiday stays. Campers can enjoy fires in designated rings with firewood available on site. Raccoons frequently visit campsites at night in the coastal campgrounds of the region, requiring proper food storage. The campground provides access to both boat-in and drive-in sites, with multiple access types including walking and hiking routes.
Located approximately 52 miles north of Los Osos, Lake San Antonio offers equestrians direct access to riding trails and recreation areas. The horse-friendly campground features thirty-amp electric hookups and water hookups suitable for RV campers traveling with horses. Trailer parking accommodates various sizes with big-rig friendly sites available. The market on premises provides basic supplies for campers and their animals. Shower facilities and sewer hookups offer conveniences not found at more primitive equestrian camping locations. Pets are permitted at the facility, allowing families to bring dogs alongside their horses. Trail access varies seasonally, with optimal riding conditions during spring when wildflowers bloom throughout the surrounding landscape. Reservations are not required but recommended during peak summer months when the campground experiences higher occupancy rates.
$25 - $150 / night
"Small campground in a beautiful area surrounded by hills right next to the beach. Hidden gem & a MUST see. Local firewood in Los osos on the corner of 9th street & pismo street for cheap."
"Ignore CAMPGROUND FULL sign at north end near Los Osos as you drive into park about 5 miles north of campground. People cancel and sign is not updated on regular basis."
$60 - $70 / night
"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."
"It was located right next to the water park but they had already closed for the season."
"Right next to some beautiful dunes. Rv / pull in sites. Have tables restrooms and fire pit relatively close to Oceano/ piano"
"There are two levels of this campground, I stayed at the upper level just steps from the sand dunes which will lead you to the Pacific Ocean about 1/2 mile away."
$40 / night
"There is frisbee golf and horse shoes. They even have an Emu that is friendly and your kids can pet. The place is very clean and the staff is friendly."
"Staff helpful..friendly..restrms clean..quiet at night..fun things for kids..lake nearby also. Only 1 pitfall...we tent camped in space #63..next to a dirt road which looped around the campground."
"Close to the beach."
"Santa Margarita Lake is a lovely, quiet medium size lake used for drinking water in San Luis Obispo County, Los Padres National Forest."
"We thoroughly enjoyed our drive-in tent site, the scenery, and the abundant bird life."
"This lake has a no body contact rule which makes it a great quiet fishing lake with no jet skiing, swimming etc... there is a seasonal swimming pool that is right across from the rv spots."
$30 - $34 / night
"Turkey Flat is a great place for groups to camp and drink beer around a fire. Wake up and fire up those off - road vehicles and maybe take a gun out to where they hunt turkeys or wild boar."
"We stayed at a cottage at Lake San Antonio. We were fortunate to have a local show us around."
"The temperature at the lake often exceeds 100 in the summer. There is ample space for camping . You’ll need reservations if you want a hookup . Boat ramps are available."
LegendSmall campground in a beautiful area surrounded by hills right next to the beach. Hidden gem & a MUST see. Local firewood in Los osos on the corner of 9th street & pismo street for cheap. Try local restaurant beerwood or the Alehouse on Los osos valley road on the way to the campground. Beautiful year round. All sites equally spaced and good-you’ll love anyone you get!
RangerIgnore CAMPGROUND FULL sign at north end near Los Osos as you drive into park about 5 miles north of campground. People cancel and sign is not updated on regular basis. Spooner Ranch House open daily 10am-4pm provides good historical background before taking scenic coastal walk along the Bluff Trail. Other more adventurous inland hike/bike trails also available. Front loop offers camping spaces slightly further apart. Pit toilets in center of loops generally clean. Asphalt paved parking slots a little sloped but can level with blocks. Very dry and brown in campground in August. Foggy and cool most of day... only saw sun a few minutes. Nice paved almost level parking lot with views of Morro Bay about half-way between entrance and campground. Beautiful beach with non-RV parking right below Ranch House.
GuideIt's worth dragging your stuff up a small path to get away from the crowds. You can surf and mountain bike here. Our tent was even visited by some people on horse back!
LegendThis is a great spot if proximity to water is important to you. Sites are well maintained but hard to come by—make reservations in advance! Hop away from water and another highlight are the nearby monarch groves where the butterflies migrate to the trees and you can walk through on paths.
GuideSanta Margarita Lake is a lovely, quiet medium size lake used for drinking water in San Luis Obispo County, Los Padres National Forest. There are 60 campsites; 54 tent/RV, 2 Boat-in and 4 horse camps. There is a playground and a pool available in summer as swimming in the lake is not allowed. Canoe/boat rentals are available as well as a launch ramp and marina store. This lake is popular with smaller fishing and recreational boats. Amenities include flush toilets in main camp, picnic table, fire pits but no hook ups. Reservations are online except for horse camps which require a phone call to County Parks 805-788-2387, fees run 38$-36$ per night.
LegendMy favorite thing about this campground are the 4 primitive sites scattered throughout the park—#4 being particularly incredible. Quiet, peaceful and surrounded by skies perched out atop a hill. It is close to the hiking trail so there’s typically foot traffic throughout the day, but you really couldn’t ask for a more quintessential coastal camping experience. Non-strenuous, short distance, easy access hike/gentle walk to the site from where you park. You can request it with the host in the main camp during check in—you won’t regret it. So many stars, beautiful skies and trails accessible to all hiking levels
TravelerI 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.
TravelerI 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.
LegendYou can camp just steps from Spooners Cove (great place for swimming!) in Islay Creek Campground. It’s in the Montana De Oro State Park. There are about 50 campsites on either side of a in and out kind of lollipop road up on a flat hill above Spooner’s Cove. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring with grill, and there are a couple of clean vault toilets scattered in the campground. There are some nice trees, but most sites are not suited to hammocking. Many sites will be in full sun most of the day, and there is not much privacy. There is a trail that cuts through the campground, and there are many trailheads nearby. I would not suggest bringing your dog with you because while pets are allowed in the campground, they are not allowed on the trails or on the beach. Also, if you want a fire plan on bringing your own wood or buying it from the camp host as you are not allowed to forage for downed wood. The camp host didn’t seem to have a problem with me collecting some of the wild nasturtiums to add to my dinner (so fun to have edible flowers on my salad, wish I took a picture!).
Supposedly there is a horse camp not too far away, but I can neither confirm or deny as I did not go looking for it.
Los Osos sits on the central California coast where oak woodlands meet maritime climate zones. Located at 175 feet elevation, this area receives moderate rainfall of 16-20 inches annually, creating a milder climate than inland horse camping areas. Summer fog commonly rolls in during mornings along this stretch of coast, while inland campgrounds can experience temperature swings of 40+ degrees between day and night.
Trail riding opportunities: Horse campgrounds near Los Osos, California offer access to diverse terrain for equestrians. At Lake San Antonio - North Shore, riders can explore trails with seasonal variations. One visitor noted, "During the drought the water level has dropped significantly as well as the quality of the water. Some years the lake is almost dry."
Fishing from shore: Many campgrounds permit fishing close to camping areas. A camper at Lake San Antonio shared, "Fishing was great from shore in morning and dusk. They had clean bathrooms and showers." Fishing licenses required for ages 16+.
Hiking with views: Trails from Montana de Oro State Park offer coastal vantage points. A recent visitor wrote, "The sunset from the cliff is a must." Most trails are moderate difficulty and range from 1-8 miles roundtrip.
Clean facilities: Several equestrian camping areas maintain well-kept amenities. A recent visitor to Lopez Lake Recreation Area shared, "The site is clean and fairly level. Very little wind and lots of shade made for a perfect weekend."
Wildlife viewing: Multiple campgrounds near Los Osos provide opportunities to observe local fauna. At Montana de Oro State Park, one camper reported, "Hello more birds, more deer, more meddling raccoons than expected." Dawn and dusk offer best wildlife viewing opportunities.
Beach proximity: Some horse-friendly sites provide ocean access. A visitor to Pacific Dunes Ranch explained, "You can walk off the property and directly into the sand dunes." Beach access typically requires 20-45 minute walks from most campgrounds.
Seasonal considerations: Weather patterns affect campground conditions substantially. A visitor to Santa Margarita Lake Regional Park advised, "Was a bit of escape from heat - nice breezes. And no internet!! YAY I spent almost two weeks there -- camping at different spots."
Reservation timing: Popular equestrian sites fill quickly during summer months. "Weekends must for Roadrunner and Coyote," noted one Santa Margarita Lake camper about reservations.
Wildlife precautions: Food storage matters at coastal campgrounds. A Montana de Oro visitor warned, "Raccoons will 100% rush your site as soon as you go to sleep to see if there are any fun goodies laying about. Put stuff away."
Pest awareness: Some areas have seasonal tick issues. A camper cautioned, "Although the location is very scenic and a 10 min walk to the beach, I wouldn't return because there are ALOT of ticks at the campground."
Recreation options: Horse camps offer varied activities for children. At Santa Margarita KOA, a camper reported, "Fun bounce pad. There is frisbee golf and horse shoes. They even have an Emu that is friendly and your kids can pet."
Pool access: Some facilities provide swimming options when temperatures rise. "There is a seasonal swimming pool that is right across from the rv spots," mentioned a camper at Santa Margarita Lake Recreation Area.
Playgrounds and equipment: Several campgrounds include play areas. Lopez Lake visitor noted, "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."
Site selection: Choose locations based on specific needs. At Pacific Dunes Ranch, a camper advised, "Upper area closer to the dunes is preferred for breezes. Lots of permanent residents, but the park is well kept."
Hookup availability: Infrastructure varies between equestrian campgrounds. Lopez Lake camper shared, "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."
Road conditions: Access routes may challenge larger vehicles. "I would not try to bring any type of RV or trailer here, as the road is very rugged," cautioned a visitor about certain remote horse camping areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Los Osos, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Los Osos, CA is Islay Creek Campground — Montaña de Oro State Park with a 4.3-star rating from 30 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Los Osos, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 15 equestrian camping locations near Los Osos, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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