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Doug O.
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TravelerMarina Dunes RV Park
Our favorite place. We have stayed here 14 times. Always clean.
Cabin Camping near Lucia, CA
1 campground with availability this weekend
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Saddle Mountain Ranch and Big Sur Campground & Cabins provide fully furnished cabin rentals for visitors seeking comfort while exploring the Big Sur coastline. Cabin campgrounds near Lucia range from rustic tent cabins to fully equipped units with private bathrooms, kitchenettes, and river views. "The cabins are tight but nice and clean. Our kitchen had all the necessary utensils and dishes to cook for a couple nights," noted one visitor who stayed at Saddle Mountain Ranch. Fernwood Campground & Resort also offers cabin accommodations with varying levels of amenities, from basic sleeping quarters to units with private bathrooms and kitchenettes. Most cabins include heat for the cooler coastal evenings common in this region.
Rustic and deluxe cabins are both available, depending on the location. Pinnacles Campground offers tent cabins for a more rustic experience, while Ventana Campground provides more upscale options. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially during summer months when cabins book quickly. Many locations accept pets in cabin accommodations for an additional fee, though policies vary by campground. A camper wrote about Fernwood: "Fernwood is a unique campground because it has tent sites, RV spaces, canvas tents, cabins, a motel and even a restaurant. It's situated on the river in Big Sur, and is surrounded by the majestic Redwood trees."
Most cabins include beds with mattresses but require visitors to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. Kitchen facilities vary widely between properties - some cabins feature full kitchens with cooking utensils while others offer only minimal equipment. On-site camp stores at Fernwood and Big Sur Campground & Cabins stock basic provisions, firewood, and common camping supplies. Saddle Mountain Ranch provides gas fire pits near their office, creating a social space for cabin guests. For those staying multiple nights, the nearby town of Big Sur offers additional food options, though bringing most supplies is recommended due to limited shopping options and higher prices in this remote coastal area.
Best Cabin Campgrounds near Lucia (19)
1. Plaskett Creek Campground - Los Padres National Forest
"Campsites aren’t too close together but don’t expect too much privacy. Each spot has a picnic table, fire pit, and charcoal grill. Water spouts disbursed around."
"Very nice campground with good privacy and shade for sites on the loop that surrounds the facility."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $45 - $204 / night
2. Julia Pfeiffer Burns Environmental Camping — Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
"The redwoods gave tons of cover and space to set up hammocks. You can walk over and see McWay Falls on the path. You are also within walking distance to the beach as well."
"The sites are booked 6-8 months in advance. The best part is being so secluded and Sunrises and sunsets are breathtaking, at night it is a Navy color dark with bright stars over the ocean."
3. Ventana Campground
"We were incredibly fortunate when we camped as all of the National Parks had been closed due to the Dolan fires, and Highway 1 was closed just after the campground turnoff, so there literally was no traffic"
"The redwood forest provides incredible shade, keeping the campsite cool even on warm days, and the atmosphere feels peaceful and magical."
Check Availabilityfrom $85 - $105 / night
4. Big Sur Campground & Cabins
"It's on the north end of Big Sur which is great since you can come from the north or drive through Big Sur to get there (which is beautiful)."
"Big Sur Campground and Cabins, while on the pricier side for camping, definitely delivers on cleanliness, service, and quality of experience."
Check Availabilityfrom $80 - $699 / night
5. Fernwood Campground & Resort
"It was equipped with a picnic table and fire ring with grate. Power and water were also at the site. Close to the bathrooms but not too close that it was loud."
"Fernwood is a unique campground because it has tent sites, RV spaces, canvas tents, cabins, a motel and even a restaurant."
Check Availabilityfrom $60 - $100 / night
6. Ponderosa Campground
"Sites 1 & 2 share a parking pad which is almost level. Site 1 is completely exposed and quite spacious and full of ground squirrel disruption."
"Upon checkin we found nice quiet spot and walked to the river to skip rocks. It was really clean in the restrooms and plenty of places to grab food nearby."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $35 - $39 / night
7. A Place to Stay in Big Sur
"If you're trying to find a great spot in Big Sur, you found it, this is a great spot to pitch a tent and enjoy being near the ocean and the redwoods forests! "
8. Pinnacles Campground — Pinnacles National Park
"The sites were semi private as the brush and trees have grown around most sites offering a little privacy. Other campers were friendly and considerate."
"This is the best (and only) option for camping near the national park. Beware, there is very limited cell/wifi service here. Reserve before coming or it’s a long slow drive out to services."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $44 - $164 / night
9. Riverside Campground & Cabins
"It is right near Pfeiffer state park and you will be staying in the redwoods."
"We stayed one night here, pulled up right before they closed the store. She helped us out and because it wasn’t super booked up, we got to chose where we wanted to camp."
Check Availabilityfrom $75 - $250 / night
10. Saddle Mountain
"This place is nestled in the Carmel Valley and decently secluded. We booked a luxury gazebo situation which came with a queen bed (heated mattress) a fire pit and your own propane grill."
"Great location with nice views of the valley. Easy drive in with parking spots next to most sites. Camp sites and cabins are a little close together but nice, clean grounds make it comfortable."
8 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $53 - $435 / night
Drive Time
- 1 hr 33 min from San Luis Obispo, CA
- 2 hrs 49 min from Salinas, CA
- 3 hrs 27 min from Santa Cruz, CA
- 3 hrs 35 min from San Jose, CA
Recent Cabin Photos near Lucia, CA
13 Photos of 19 Lucia Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Cabin Reviews near Lucia, CA
308 Reviews of 19 Lucia Campgrounds
- CColeen B.
GuideMonterey Pines RV Park - Military
Nice small military RV park
RVs only. No tent camping. Some sites have partial hookups and some have full hookups. This is at the edge of the Monterey Pines Golf Course. In fact you check in at the golf course office. Sites 1-14 have a view of the course. Mature shade trees, picnic tables and bbq’s in each site. No fire rings.
The bathrooms are nice and clean and have heaters! Laundry is free! Four washers and eight dryers.
As of Sept 2026 they’re actively building a new dog park.
It’s right next to a private airport and there are 2-3 planes (jets and smaller planes) taking off each hour. It stopped at 10pm and started up again at 5am. Suggest earplugs at nighttime.
Verizon service is pretty poor. They have free Wi-Fi but it didn’t reach to site 1.
Rubén D.GuidePinnacles Campground — Pinnacles National Park
Great summer getaway
The campsite was great. Ground pretty hard, so a mallet or big rock will be helpful. There’s a tree, but no shade for the picnic table. I setup a tarp and it worked great. There are no flush toilets near the campsite. The loop has portable toilets and handwashing stations.
- JasonGuide
Monterey Pines RV Park - Military
Amenities are great, Navy wives not so much.
Great park. Monthly rates are the most expensive in the country, for a military camp, but still about 2/3 of what it is off base. Watch out for golf balls, stay in spots 7-10. Whatever you do, do not let the door open and let your dog run out by accident...the Navy Knives, err Wives club is always watching. Anyway, close to all Monterey, Big Sur, Salinas, Carmel Valley. Really nice, clean Park. Bathhouses are very clean. Laundry requires quarters, but they work well. Shaded spots, so if you need Starlink stay on the east side row to point north.
Chia-Chia W.GuideVentana Campground
3.8/5 – Beautiful Redwood Camping Experience with a Few Important Caveats
We camped at Ventana Campground(Alila/Hyatt) in Big Sur and overall had a great experience. The redwood forest provides incredible shade, keeping the campsite cool even on warm days, and the atmosphere feels peaceful and magical. The entrance is beautifully designed, and there's even an Airstream serving pizza, drinks, and gelato. Our biggest surprise was that some sites are limited by tent size, not guest count, so double-check before booking. Be prepared for a steep walk to certain sites and bring a wagon only if your site allows it. Mosquitoes were intense before the campfire, so insect repellent is essential. Restrooms were decent but not spotless, and showers require paid tokens. Overall, it's a beautiful, well-managed campground that's perfect for a relaxing redwood camping experience.
Izzy M.
ScoutFernwood Campground & Resort
Thankful!!
Large sites, plenty to do and explore. The creek runs right through the campground. The hubby and I decided to take a last minute road trip up north from the long beach area... No reservations just a tent and some personal necessities. All of the campsites in big sur were sold out and we came across Fernwood. To our surprise they had one spot available for us. The girl in the office, along with the maintenance folks were super friendly and helpful. Very family friendly ambiance. We will be returning but with reservation this time 🤭 and a larger group.
Chris C.GuideVentana Campground
Nice, but Overpriced and Crowded
This is a resort campground. Nice bathrooms w/ showers, well kept campsites, a store in the campground, beautiful redwoods and staff rolling around in golf carts. For $80 you basically share a campsite with 2-3 other groups and park your car in tiny parking spaces. For spending that kind of money I was expecting to have some more space. The only place I’ve been so close to other people was upper pines in Yosemite.
I recommend this as a backup option for your camping in Big Sur. The price for what you get is not worth it and there is cheaper and much better camping around the area - just book far in advance!
- GGabriel A.Traveler
Big Sur Campground & Cabins
Raucous in the Redwoods
Beautiful campground located amongst the Redwoods and along the Big Sur River. Sounds quiet and tranquil. Nope! We came in July, park is incredibly alive with the sounds of children screaming and just having an amazing time. Don't come here for the quiet. If you have kids, this is the place. They will remember this place for the rest of their lives. We camped at Big Sur Campground& Cabins in a Travel Trailer.
- RRandy K.Scout
Marina Dunes RV Park
Beautiful Marina Dunes
This is a peaceful serene place to get away to rejuvenate
Guide to Lucia
Cabin camping near Lucia, California offers secluded coastal accommodations within the rugged Santa Lucia mountain range. This region sits at elevations between 0-5,800 feet, creating diverse microclimates from foggy coastal areas to sunny inland valleys. Winter cabin stays often feature temperatures between 45-65°F with periodic coastal fog, while summer brings warmer temperatures with evening marine layer cooling.
What to do
Explore McWay Falls: Visit Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park where you can find coastal cabin accommodations near one of Big Sur's most iconic waterfalls. "This place just has the most insane light during the sunrise," notes a visitor at Julia Pfeiffer Burns Environmental Camping.
Day trip to Pinnacles National Park: About 90 minutes from most Lucia cabin rentals, this volcanic formation offers unique hiking. "There are bat caves to explore, lakes and slot canyons. We really enjoyed hiking thru caves and tight places. Super fun for adventurous kids," shares a camper at Pinnacles Campground.
River activities for kids: Cabins near the Big Sur River provide water access. "The campground has a river running right thru the middle, our campsite was just 10 ft from the river with tubing available for rent and rope swings into the water!" explains a visitor at Big Sur Campground & Cabins.
What campers like
Oceanside location: Many cabins feature proximity to coastal attractions. "Sand Dollar Beach is right across the street and is one of the most pretty ones in all of Big Sur," explains a visitor to Plaskett Creek Campground, which offers cabin accommodations.
Heated facilities: Winter cabin campers appreciate climate control. "All cabins include heat for the cooler coastal evenings," notes a visitor at Lake San Antonio, where "We stayed at a cottage at Lake San Antonio. We were fortunate to have a local show us around."
Limited connectivity: Lucia cabin rentals typically provide a digital detox. "We had zero cell service here," reports a visitor at Ventana Campground, while another notes at Big Sur Campground & Cabins that "There's no cell service, which honestly is the best part!"
What you should know
Limited shopping options: Pack essentials before arrival. "Be sure to pack in what you need, the stores along the route 1 are expensive. Plan ahead and you can enjoy everything this location has to offer," advises a visitor at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.
Variable water sources: Some cabin areas have limited water availability. "Most of the water taps were not operable but the one by the toilet near the entrance did work and was labeled 'non-potable, not for drinking or cooking'," explains a camper at Ponderosa Campground.
Shower facilities: Shower options vary between properties. "The showers were COLD but it woke me up!" notes a visitor at Big Sur Campground & Cabins, while some locations charge for hot water: "They have showers and bathrooms, but... showers are ran by token system purchased at lodge."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Several properties cater specifically to families. "Lots of activities for younger kids. Convenient location, lots of amenities," reports a guest at Saddle Mountain Ranch about their cabin experience.
Swimming options: Look for cabins with pool access during summer months. "You can spend the day driving the 17 mile drive and seeing Pismo Beach or shop the quaint shops in Carmel by the sea," notes a visitor at Saddle Mountain Ranch about activities accessible from their cabin location.
Avoid holiday weekends: Family cabins book quickly during peak periods. "Don't drive on holidays or weekends if you can avoid it, in or out, since the traffic is incredibly thick during these times," advises a visitor to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.
Tips from RVers
Tight turns and steep roads: Large vehicles may struggle accessing some cabin areas. "First off the road coming to the campground is very steep, could be challenging for some rigs," warns a visitor to Saddle Mountain Ranch, where cabins provide an alternative to RV camping.
Utility limitations: Even cabin sites with hookups may have restrictions. "A lot of the RV sites had electric. And there is water stations throughout. Also a dump station on the way out," notes a visitor at Fernwood Campground & Resort, which offers both cabin and RV accommodations.
Noise considerations: Proximity to Highway 1 affects some locations. "You can vaguely hear the cars on the 1 but not too much. From our spot we could see the ocean though a space in the trees," mentions a Plaskett Creek visitor regarding the cabin and camping area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin
campsite near Lucia, CA?
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Lucia, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Lucia, CA is Plaskett Creek Campground - Los Padres National Forest with a 4.3-star rating from 28 reviews.
What is the best site to find
cabin camping near
Lucia, CA?
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Lucia, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 19 cabin camping locations near Lucia, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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