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Camping near Pinnacles National Park

933 Reviews

Pinnacles National Park in central California features a single established campground on its eastern side, with additional camping options scattered throughout the surrounding rural landscape. The Pinnacles Campground, located at the east entrance, provides tent and RV sites with amenities including bear boxes, picnic tables, and fire rings. Beyond the park boundaries, campers find alternatives ranging from developed RV resorts like Yanks RV Resort in Greenfield to more rustic options such as Upper Sweetwater Laguna Mountain Campground. Thousand Trails San Benito in Paicines offers year-round accommodations including cabins and tent sites within driving distance of the park's unique volcanic formations and hiking trails.

Advance reservations are essential for the Pinnacles Campground, which fills quickly during weekends and peak seasons. As one camper noted, "This campground can only be accessed from the East entrance to Pinnacles National Park, and fills up fast on weekends." The region experiences extreme temperature variations, with summer highs frequently exceeding 100°F, making winter and spring the preferred camping seasons. Cell service is limited or nonexistent throughout much of the area, particularly at more remote sites like Laguna Mountain Campground where visitors report "absolutely NO cell reception at the campground or the road in, NO AT&T, NO Verizon, and NO T-Mobile." Road conditions vary significantly, with some access routes to outlying campgrounds featuring narrow, potholed surfaces that may challenge larger vehicles.

Wildlife viewing ranks among the top experiences for campers in the Pinnacles region. The park hosts California condors, with many visitors reporting sightings of these endangered birds soaring above campsites. According to one visitor at Thousand Trails San Benito, "We had Condors above our cabin, deer around us, wild pigs crossing the roads." Night skies offer exceptional stargazing opportunities due to minimal light pollution. Campground amenities vary widely, from the swimming pool and camp store at Pinnacles Campground to the primitive facilities at free BLM sites. Water availability is inconsistent across locations, with some campgrounds requiring visitors to bring their own supply. Hiking trails connecting directly to some campgrounds provide convenient access to the park's distinctive rock formations, caves, and reservoir.

Best Camping Sites Near Pinnacles National Park (98)

    1. Pinnacles Campground — Pinnacles National Park

    99 Reviews
    Pinnacles, CA
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (831) 200-1722

    $48 - $174 / night

    "If planning a trip longer than just a day hike to the beautiful Pinnacles National Park, and since backpacking in not allowed in Pinnacles, the Pinnacles campground on the east entrance is a nice quiet"

    "This is a large campground (and the ONLY campground) in Pinnacles National Park. It is on the East side of the park, and you can only access it from the East side."

    2. Yanks RV Resort

    12 Reviews
    Soledad, CA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (855) 926-5778

    "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."

    3. Thousand Trails San Benito

    12 Reviews
    Paicines, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "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 location is a fairly convenient distance to Pinnacles National Park if you prefer not to stay at the national park campground."

    4. Laguna Mountain Campground

    14 Reviews
    Pinnacles National Park, CA
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (831) 630-5000

    "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."

    "Laguna mountain road trail is very strenuous The last leg of the trail(primitive trail) is not easy to follow. Someone has marked the trail with stacked rocks."

    5. Upper Sweetwater Laguna Mountain Campground

    10 Reviews
    San Lucas, CA
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (831) 630-5000

    "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"

    6. San Lorenzo Park

    9 Reviews
    King City, CA
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (831) 755-4899

    $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."

    7. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Campground

    71 Reviews
    Big Sur, CA
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (831) 667-2315

    $50 - $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."

    8. Arroyo Seco

    14 Reviews
    Lucia, CA
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 434-1996

    $35 - $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."

    9. Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area

    8 Reviews
    Salinas, CA
    24 miles
    Website

    $10 / night

    "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."

    "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."

    10. Kirk Creek Campground

    46 Reviews
    Lucia, CA
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 434-1996

    $45 - $49 / night

    "While we used to just head up & find a site- its become nearly impossible to "walk-in" during high season."

    "We happened to drive in at the right time, had one walk- in site available. Campsites, large, away from other campers and clean."

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316 Photos of 98 Pinnacles National Park Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Pinnacles National Park

933 Reviews of 98 Pinnacles National Park Campgrounds

  • K
    Mar. 24, 2026

    Moss Landing KOA Express

    Beware of false accusations and charges

    They falsely accused us of spilling sewage when we didn’t. The KOA personnel even agreed that we didn’t have a spill when a neighboring site falsely accused us, and when we were leaving the KOA personnel accused us of doing it another time(!) and charged us a$75 cleaning fee. The tiny bits of paper they claim were from us(we didn’t dump black water while we were there so impossible) were very old and dry and clearly there when we got there. They claimed a“gray water smell” which if it were true(I went back right after we were told they were going to charge us and smelled nothing and took pictures) wouldn’t have caused bits of paper. Cute campground- extremely tight spots- but we didn’t feel welcome, especially after being watched and accused of something we didn’t do within hours of arriving. The highway is right near the campground and there were very loud motorcycles going by for a couple of hours. No grocery stores close by- a few fruits stands- just be prepared, and barely anyplace to eat out. There’s a nice beach nearby.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 24, 2026

    Williams Hill Recreation Area

    Great Spot

    Wonderful spot, great easy dirt road up, vault toilets, beautiful campsite set amongst bull pines and manzanita. Lots of flies during the day but the wind at night drives them off. Hot during the day and cold at night so be prepared for that. Gorgeous views of the central coast vineyards on the drive in.

  • A S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 23, 2026

    Fernwood Campground & Resort

    Gorgeous Views

    This campground is amazing in terms of the location, privacy, and comfort of having all the utilities at your disposal. You can go as minimal as you want or rely on the restaurant and grocery store nearby and the river is just gorgeous. What a gem!

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 23, 2026

    Veteran's Memorial Park Campground

    Pretty nice

    Nice campground over Monterey, a little pricey but there were spots available last minute. Showers and toilets available.

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 12, 2026

    Plaskett Creek Campground - Los Padres National Forest

    Both forest and beach feel

    It’s a great campground. The campground feels like you are in a forest with big pine trees. However right across the street is the Pacific Ocean with a short trail down to the beach. Campsites are ideal for tent campers or van campers. It’s a little challenging for trailers up to 30 feet since the driveways are narrow and not very level.

  • Frank The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 4, 2026

    Laguna Seca Recreation Area

    Beautiful location with great view over the valley.

    Not many races here any more due to strict sound laws. Beautiful old  coastal oak trees, clean fascility, A little bit of pinging from the rifle range below.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 3, 2026

    Mount Madonna County Park

    Perfect redwood retreat between San Jose and Monterey

    Spent a weekend at Mt Madonna and really enjoyed it. Great spot if you're looking for a quick escape from the Bay Area with that classic California redwood experience.

    Location & Safety: Conveniently located between San Jose and Monterey - easy access off Highway 152. Felt completely safe throughout the stay. Ranger was friendly and helpful during check-in.

    Site Selection Tips: Pay attention to which loop you're in. Some sites are more isolated than others - the ones on the outside of the loops give you more privacy, while sites on the inside of loops are back-to-back, meaning you'll have neighbors directly behind you. I had a spot nestled among the redwoods which was perfect.

    Amenities: Clean restrooms and showers available. Each site had a picnic table and fire ring.

    Cell Service: Very limited AT&T service - text messages would come through occasionally but that's about it. I had to rely on satellite service for reliable communication. Plan accordingly if you need to stay connected.

    Activities: Didn't get a chance to hike the trails but the park has plenty of them. Looked like great options for a morning hike if that's your thing.

    Setup: Vehicle camped in my Jeep Wrangler - worked perfectly.

    Overall: Solid weekend getaway spot with beautiful redwoods. Pick your site based on how much privacy you want. Would definitely return.

Guide to Pinnacles National Park

Pinnacles National Park camping ranges across several distinct climate zones, with most sites situated between 1,000-1,400 feet in elevation. Temperatures regularly swing 30-40 degrees between day and night, particularly during spring and fall camping seasons. Campgrounds in this region often require advanced planning due to the limited number of sites within the park itself and the remote nature of surrounding options.

What to do

Hiking at Laguna Mountain: 10-mile summit trail offers challenging terrain for experienced hikers. At Laguna Mountain Campground, "Laguna mountain road trail is very strenuous. The last leg of the trail (primitive trail) is not easy to follow. Someone has marked the trail with stacked rocks. To the summit is about 4.5 miles from the campground," according to camper Manny R.

Wildlife watching opportunities: The region hosts diverse wildlife viewing beyond the condors mentioned in other guides. "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!" reports Samantha N. from her stay at Thousand Trails San Benito.

Swimming to beat the heat: When temperatures climb, head to Arroyo Seco where "the area was nice but we loved the river hike the most. That was so much fun and adventurous. It kept us occupied for a good 3-4 hours," according to Lay Hooi V. The river provides cooling relief during hot summer months when campground temperatures can exceed 90°F.

What campers like

Night sky viewing: The area's minimal light pollution creates exceptional stargazing conditions. At Kirk Creek Campground, campers appreciate "drifting off the sleep on the edge of the earth while gazing up at the milky-way, cut off from the rest of the world," as Jessica described in her review.

Digital disconnection: Limited connectivity forces a technology break. "You will be quite literally cut off from the world here. You won't find any cell service so turn that phone off when u hit the main road in & enjoy the feeling that comes with uninterrupted connection with nature," notes Jessica from Kirk Creek Campground.

Early morning wildlife encounters: Dawn hours provide prime wildlife viewing. "Deer wandered through camp at all times of the day. You can see wild boar passing along the hillsides. We also saw a couple of foxes one evening on the perimeter," reports Butch C. from San Benito RV and Camping Resort.

What you should know

Water availability varies significantly: Many campgrounds have limited or no water sources. At Upper Sweetwater Laguna Mountain Campground, "Be aware there is no water available," notes Lauren M. Plan accordingly by bringing 1-2 gallons per person per day.

Road conditions can be challenging: Access routes to more remote sites feature difficult driving conditions. "[Laguna Mountain] road is in prone to mudslides and looked like is was recently cleared of mud in multiple spots. Warning though this is the kind of mud that is like clay and has to be scraped off of wheel wells and undercarriage," warns Laura M.

Reservation requirements differ by location: While Pinnacles Campground requires advance booking, some BLM sites operate on first-come systems. "There are 5 campsites with fire rings and covered picnic tables. You can pull right up to your site and there are bathrooms," reports Amy B. about Laguna Mountain Campground, a free BLM option.

Tips for camping with families

Pool access during hot weather: When temperatures climb, having water recreation matters. At Yanks RV Resort, "Awesome new facilities - swimming pool, laundry, restrooms... get this, the WiFi works and is relatively fast (60mbps according to speednet)," according to Raf A., making it suitable for families needing modern comforts.

Wildlife education opportunities: The region provides natural learning experiences for children. "We had multiple deers wondering the grounds so be sure to put your food away," advises Alberto C. from San Benito RV and Camping Resort, highlighting the importance of teaching proper food storage.

Raccoon awareness: Families should understand local wildlife behaviors. At Pinnacles Campground, "raccoons….everywhere…. seriously leave your car locked, these little buggers were not afraid of humans," warns Theresa N., emphasizing the need for vigilant food storage with children.

Tips from RVers

Limited hookup availability: Most campgrounds offer partial or no hookups, requiring self-sufficiency. "There are 5 drive-in campsites. You can pull right up to your site and there are bathrooms. The sunrise and sunset were beautiful!" reports Amy B. about Laguna Mountain Campground.

Size restrictions at many sites: Larger RVs face access challenges at several locations. "[Hollister Hills] is a very large park and the space between spots wasn't bad. Cell service here wasn't good either," notes Jennifer D., highlighting the balance between spaciousness and connectivity.

Dump station locations: Plan waste management carefully as facilities are limited. "They have RV (mostly) and tent sites available. Most tent sites have their own water and some also have electric hookups. There are a large selection of 50 and 30 amp sites for the rv crowd," says Butch C. about Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What alternative campgrounds are available near Pinnacles National Park?

Several great alternatives exist near Pinnacles National Park. Thousand Trails San Benito offers a convenient option with amenities including a pool, laundromat, small store, and showers. It's particularly well-situated for wildlife viewing with reports of condors, deer, and wild pigs in the area. Upper Sweetwater Laguna Mountain Campground provides a more secluded experience with fewer sites and decent solitude, though it requires a somewhat longer drive. Other options include Arroyo Seco near Greenfield, San Lorenzo Park near King City, and Laguna Seca Recreation Area, which offers both RV hookups and dry camping options. Each alternative provides different amenities and experiences depending on your camping preferences.

Can you bring RVs to Pinnacles National Park for camping?

Yes, RVs are welcome at Pinnacles National Park. The park's campground on the east side accommodates recreational vehicles with designated RV sites. However, if you prefer more amenities, Yanks RV Resort is a clean alternative near the park, though visitor experiences vary. For a full-service option, Laguna Seca Recreation Area offers both hookup sites and dry camping ranging from $40-50. Remember that access to Pinnacles Campground is only possible from the east entrance - there's no road connecting the east and west sides of the park. Large RVs should be cautious about road conditions when planning their approach to the park.

How do I make reservations for camping at Pinnacles National Park?

Reservations for Pinnacles Campground are strongly recommended as it's the only campground in the park and fills quickly, especially on weekends. Make reservations through Recreation.gov up to six months in advance. The campground is only accessible from the east entrance of the park, so plan your arrival accordingly. The registration counter/camp store is open from 9:30am-5pm daily, where you can check in upon arrival. If planning a last-minute trip and Pinnacles is full, consider Laguna Mountain Campground on BLM land as a backup option. For the best chances of securing your preferred dates, book as far in advance as possible, particularly for spring and fall peak seasons.

Where are the best camping spots within Pinnacles National Park?

Pinnacles Campground is the only campground within the park and is located on the east side. The campground is large and centrally located for exploring the park's attractions. It fills up quickly on weekends, so planning ahead is essential. For the best experience, choose sites that offer shade during hot months. The campground features clean facilities with bathrooms, though amenities aren't the newest. The camp store/visitor center provides gear, supplies, and snacks. This location offers excellent accessibility to hiking trails and the opportunity to learn about California Condors, geological formations, and the San Andreas fault. Early morning starts are possible for longer hikes, making overnight stays particularly valuable for serious hikers.

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