The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Pinnacles. Pinnacles is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.
$43 - $164 / night
"Per my rating system, this is very close to being 5 stars, meaning it's worth planning a trip from out of state just to visit this park and surrounding national/state forest for 3 days or more The only"
"The Pinnacles Campground offers a variety of sections to fit the need of most every type of camper."
"Typical TT resort park off the beaten path, far out but nice place, we enjoyed our stay. At the time we were there a lot of the riverfront sports were out of order."
"Right near Pinnacles National Park! We had Condors above our cabin, deer around us, wild pigs crossing the roads. Its amazing!!!! My favorite part of our California trip was staying here!"
"This would be a perfect place to explore Pinnacle National or Hearst Castle. There is nothing near buy, except a Shell station with the lowest diesel prices I’ve seen in California."
"Planted fields surround the RV park, Located right off highway 101, it is easy on easy off. This would be a good location for passing through or going to the Pinnacles. You get what you pay for here."
"It is difficult to find BLM camping in California and this is a gem!
The road is in prone to mudslides and looked like is was recently cleared of mud in multiple spots."
"For anyone visiting Pinnacles, this is a great place to stay nearby. We were there on a weekend and all the spots were taken so we walked in with our tents and set up off the hiking road."
"We wanted to stay in Pinnacles National Park, but the campground was full. We ended up staying there the next day, but ironically, I liked Sweetwater much more."
"Fresh Air (despite being surrounded by bad air on all sides) + Nature (deer, quails, turkeys, coyotes in one night) + Dark New Moon Skies means Bright Stars with Clear View of the Milky Way + Safe (Popular"
$10 / night
"You pay your fee at the kiosk at the entrance, and once you enter you have your choice of several camp areas. You are free to drive around and choose a spot in any of the campgrounds."
"For an organized trail run I would give it a 5 star as it was very respectful and actually not loud at all including day light hours."
$75 / night
"No other sites behind us. It felt secluded and private. Close to the bathrooms. And the bathrooms were clean. We didn’t have a river site but the river was right across from us."
"I think it's a California State Park and Covid thing right now. There is some construction going on but it didn't effect our stay at all. We had a river site."
$50 / night
"A nice walking path, circles the campground and is well used in the mornings and evenings by locals running or walking dogs and babies."
"Bike/walking trail. Nice trees. Level spots with water and electric. Just off 101 but no highway noise."
$34 - $154 / night
"Campground was nice and views were pretty good, very hilly part of California."
"recid=10906 is located about 60 minutes south of Salinas in the Los Padres National Forest."
$25 / night
"The peak is where the first American flag was raised in the state of California. There are few trails that take you through mixed madrone/ pine chapparal but the real attraction here is the view."
"Fun twisty drive up the mountain. There were about 12 sites with vault toilets and non potable water and trash cans available everywhere. Saw quite a few turkeys."
Guide7 mile dirt road at times a bit steep and rough. But we made it up here slowly and safely. A few other campers here. Some flies but a slight breeze that will hopefully keep them at bay. Nice spot just not a fan of taking a 27 foot 1996 RV up that road.
ScoutThere might be one or two sites that work for trailers but we gave up when trying to level 8 inches. Road up is nominally two lanes- (more like 1-1.5) combined with the limited sight distance it means you should drive slower than the speed limit.
If you are car camping or on a small RV this is a great place, once you make it up the last 11 miles!
TravelerUSFS in California has contracted with a company called Parks Management Company for camp hosts, etc. We had a miserable experience with this company: Although we had a confirmed 2-day reservation through Recreation.gov and numerous emails to prove it, the host made us break down our camp site and leave our space after one night to move to a far inferior site because his management had double-booked the site on our second night with someone else. No apologies, no explanations, nothing from the camp host, just blaming the booking system. Moral of the story: Don’t count on a reservation with recreation.gov at this campground. Contact the contractor to confirm. 805-434-1196; email customer service@pmcparks.com.
GuidePulled up to this campground at like 5:00PM over memorial day weekend and it was full to the brim. The trail/road was closed to vehicles, and we found a spot about 500 yds up just off the trail. There were probably 9-12 groups total, 4 of which were on the trail.
Otherwise pretty chill and would come back here if there aren't any other options
TravelerFrom afar it looked pretty basic. But the wildlife and lake make this place. I saw the sunrise over the lake, but didn’t snap a picture because I was too comfy!
GuideUpper sites asphalt paved gently sloped for runoff. Two sites share one electrical box... bring 50A / 30A adapters just in case. Upper rest-room bldg has one shower with good pressure and hot water. Also has one outside washer/dryer. Be sure to note arrival and paperwork deadlines. Lower mostly unpaved level parking lot was only partially available due to food Faire w/ music taking place. Music stopped around 10pm. Fairly quiet after that but airplane liftoffs began 6am. I found commercial and private jet noise tolerable. You might want foam earplugs. You are paying for basic parking space with hook-ups that is close to Monterey. Limited options in this area.
ScoutStayed twice here one week apart from each other and it was very peaceful and quiet both times. Great place to relax to break up a long journey
RangerMany sites all nestled with the trees and foliage creating a private feel. Many things to see and do along Hwy 1 here in Big Sur. Do your homework if you have a larger rig, roads are winding and trees can obstruct with larger and smaller sites. Hwy 1 can be challenging but big rigs take it every day, the route to the South has very tight turns
GuideAs a solo camper didn’t look safe with the people that were there hanging around, it didn’t even look like there was that many places to camp. Look dirty too and people shooting in the area leaving trash. I didn’t even stay I ended up in walmart parking lot for night cause it was the only closest thing around. Maybe looks pretty when things are green but everything was dead
Camping near Pinnacles, California, offers a unique blend of stunning landscapes and outdoor adventures. Whether you're looking to hike, stargaze, or just relax in nature, there’s something for everyone.
Camping near Pinnacles, California, is a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors. With a little planning and these tips, you can have a memorable experience in this beautiful area.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, Pinnacles, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 99 campgrounds and RV parks near Pinnacles, CA and 9 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Pinnacles, CA is Pinnacles Campground — Pinnacles National Park with a 4-star rating from 88 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 free dispersed camping spots near Pinnacles, CA.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 20 parks near Pinnacles, CA that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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