J
Jim D.
Scout
ScoutYanks RV Resort
Quiet
Reserved a site July 3/4 to get away from big city fireworks. The well maintained park was a very refreshing get away. I will return.
Camping near San Lucas, CA
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Dispersed camping opportunities exist alongside established campgrounds in the San Lucas region of California, with Williams Hill Recreation Area serving as a notable free Bureau of Land Management (BLM) site about 15 miles from town. The area features a mix of public and private camping facilities, including San Lorenzo Park in King City and Yanks RV Resort in Greenfield. Camping styles range from primitive dispersed sites at Williams Hill to full-service RV parks with hookups. Several campgrounds in the area feature picnic tables, fire rings, and toilet facilities, while others provide additional amenities like showers and electrical connections for both tent and RV campers.
Road conditions can present challenges for accessing some campgrounds, particularly Williams Hill Recreation Area which requires navigating several miles of gravel roads with occasional washboard sections. Most developed campgrounds remain open year-round with mild temperatures, though summer heat can be intense at lower elevations. The region has a mix of reservation and first-come, first-served sites, with San Lorenzo Park and Pinnacles Campground typically requiring advance booking. Cell service varies significantly with Verizon offering strong coverage at Williams Hill. According to one visitor, "The road in was fine for 4x4 but there was one stretch with some ruts that could prove hairy if you aren't good at driving on dirt."
Campers frequently mention the panoramic views from Williams Hill as a significant highlight, with its ridge-top location providing expansive vistas of the Salinas Valley and Coastal Range. The seven designated sites at this free BLM property include covered picnic tables and fire rings, though they fill quickly on weekends. Reviews indicate mixed experiences regarding solitude, with some visitors noting quiet conditions while others mention disruptions from target shooting in nearby areas. Developed campgrounds like San Lorenzo Park receive positive feedback for their amenities and proximity to attractions. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, "San Lorenzo Park is a nice green park with water and electric hookups, clean bathrooms and showers. The agricultural museum provides an interesting diversion, and the location is convenient for accessing Pinnacles National Park."
Best Campgrounds near San Lucas (79)
1. Williams Hill Recreation Area
"Lots of area to explore, but this is mainly an off road vehicle area."
"covered structure, picnic table and fire pit A few additional overflow areas to park and camp •Pit toilet - BYO toilet paper •No trash receptacles •Great Verizon reception / Decent Sprint reception •Drive"
2. Pinnacles Campground — Pinnacles National Park
"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"
"It’s a beautiful park and has the largest population of California Condors in the world. The campground is situated about 2.3 miles from the main trailheads. There's tent and RV campsites."
from $44 - $164 / night
Check Availability3. San Lorenzo Park
"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."
from $50 / night
Check Availability4. Kirk Creek Campground
"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."
from $45 - $49 / night
Check Availability5. Yanks RV Resort
"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."
6. Laguna Mountain Campground
"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."
7. Upper Sweetwater Laguna Mountain Campground
"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"
"The winding road to get here is definitely out of the way, and the bumpy drive left one of our passengers feeling pretty carsick. That said, it was absolutely worth it."
8. Limekiln State Park Campground
"Lower sites are more exposed, but get the benefit of the ocean sounds and rocky beach proximity. Upper sites are tucked back into redwoods, with a little stream nearby. Hike to the kilns!"
"The entire campground isn't like this, but our site was directly beneath the highway and next to the beach. There are fun hikes that leave right from camp that go to a waterfall."
from $50 / night
Check Availability9. Road's End, Bradley Lockwood
"The hilltop is 180 degree surrounded by olive trees and vines with the owners residences on the other sides of the fences. We felt super safe in spite of our seclusion."
"Enjoyed the tranquil and well equipped location. The fire pit, water, 30A outlet, and party lights allowed for a nice visit."
from $29 - $59 / night
Check Availability10. Lake San Antonio - North Shore
"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."
Drive Time
- 46 min from Salinas, CA
- 59 min from San Luis Obispo, CA
- 1 hr 22 min from Santa Cruz, CA
- 1 hr 37 min from Hanford, CA
Recent Camping Photos near San Lucas, CA
262 Photos of 79 San Lucas Campgrounds
Toni K.
Williams Hill Recreation Area
Jeffery H.
Road's End, Bradley Lockwood
Carter B.
Upper Sweetwater Laguna Mountain Campground
Jessica P.
Laguna Mountain Campground
Chelsea B.
Lake San Antonio - South Shore
Annie C.
Ponderosa Campground
Chris
Condon Peak Campground
Sickparty
Jade Mill Campground
Jillean G.
Nacimiento Campground
Chanel C.
Memorial Campground - Los Padres National Forest
Kate O.
Pinnacles Campground — Pinnacles National Park
Recent Reviews near San Lucas, CA
782 Reviews of 79 San Lucas Campgrounds
Chia-Chia W.
GuideVentana Campground
Overall 4.4 star.
It's a good thing this campsite has a gate to keep out unauthorized people. With campsite thefts being so common lately, it definitely makes me feel a bit safer. We stopped to get firewoods at ice which are surprisingly not too expensive.
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.
Lee D.
LegendSan Simeon Creek Campground — Hearst San Simeon State Park
Close to the ocean
General: Two campgrounds– San Simeon Creek, which is the developed campground, and Washburn, the primitive one (258 sites total). The main discernible difference between the two is that Washburn has vault toilets and San Simeon Creek has flush toilets. There is also a hiker/biker section of San Simeon, but it is very close to the highway. No utility hookups at all. This review is for San Simeon Creek. The maximum length of RV permitted is 35 feet.
Site Quality: Camper drives are paved and level. Some are VERY short; our friends made reservations, so I am not sure if you can tell when reserving the length of each pad. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring.
Bath/Shower: As is typical with California state parks, the bathrooms in San Simeon Creek are individual units, with most having a toilet and sink and one with just a toilet. No hot water, soap, paper towels, or air dryers, but they do have toilet seat covers. Token-operated showers.
Activities/Amenities: Firewood is available for $11/bundle from the host between 3 and 7 pm. I saw a somewhat overgrown horseshoe pit, and there is a nice-looking amphitheater (although I don’t know if there are still programs). There is a boardwalk that takes you to the beach, and the San Simeon trail winds around the Washburn campground and was prolific with wildflowers at the end of April. However, the trail was narrow, and there was a lot of poison oak. There is a (double) dump station. Very limited to no cell service (on Verizon).
This campground is typical of what we have come to expect from California state parks– it is less expensive than some, but still short in amenities. While the Washburn campground is further inland, note you will hear road noise from many of the sites in San Simeon Creek (but you do have direct access to the beach). At night when the road noise subsides, you can hear owls and/or frogs if your site backs up to the creek.
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.
TravelerBig 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.
- BBrett B.Traveler
Williams Hill Recreation Area
Solid 4
Great views to the West. Looks to be under utilized probably because the maintained road is a bit narrow in places and some may consider too rough. Soften suspension and/or air down and it’s smoove.
- CCassandra C.Scout
Pinnacles Campground — Pinnacles National Park
Quiet, basic, wild
Perfect for what it is- basic grounds with tons of wildlife! Lock up your food but other than that, it’s so cute and quiet.
- EErika E.Scout
Prewitt Ridge Campground
Beautiful Views but High Clearance Vehicle Required
This was such a gem of a campground, there was a bunch of sites open and incredible views. The road to the top is about 20minutes and very pot hole heavy so a high clearance vehicle would be required. Campfires are NOT allowed and there is no trash or restrooms so please be sure to clean up after yourself!
Guide to San Lucas
Camping spots near San Lucas, California offer a mix of elevations from valley floors at 300 feet to ridge-top sites exceeding 2,000 feet in elevation. The region experiences mild winters with occasional frost at higher elevations, while summer temperatures often exceed 90°F from June through September. Dust can become problematic during the dry months, with several campers reporting significant dust accumulation on gear at dispersed sites.
What to do
Hiking to waterfalls: Access Limekiln State Park where hiking trails lead to impressive waterfalls. "There's a great hike up to see the Limekilns with a beautiful waterfall. There's also beach camping and we watched a beautiful sunset," shares a visitor to Limekiln State Park Campground.
Visit agricultural museum: Explore the farming heritage of the Salinas Valley at San Lorenzo Park. "They have an agricultural museum there. Which would have been cool to actually spend some time and check out but we just saw the 100+ tractors and agricultural equipment on the way in and out of there," mentions a camper at San Lorenzo Park.
Stargazing: Take advantage of minimal light pollution at higher elevation sites. A camper at Upper Sweetwater notes, "Dark New Moon Skies means Bright Stars with Clear View of the Milky Way + Safe (Popular with Campers but well distanced from one another)."
What campers like
Ridge-top camping: Upper Sweetwater Recreation Area provides elevated camping experiences. "Clean and well kept. Level ground all be it hard and difficult to get stakes in. I would return if ever in the area. Sites are well spaced and dead quiet at night," reports a camper at Upper Sweetwater Recreation Area.
Wildlife sightings: Several campgrounds offer opportunities to observe local fauna. At Pinnacles Campground, "Many here will tell you about the raccoons! The campground is split by a creek which has a lot of critters, rabbits, chipmunks(?), quail, mice, and raccoon."
Private camping nooks: Road's End provides secluded camping options. "There are two campsites (both RV accessible) about 300' apart, you can barely see the other. We stayed in January and since the other site was unoccupied we had the whole hilltop to ourselves," notes a visitor to Road's End.
What you should know
Access challenges: Several campgrounds require navigating unpaved roads. At Upper Sweetwater, "Road to get there is paved but many large pot holes. Pit toilet could use attention," according to one visitor.
Reservation requirements: Many established campgrounds book rapidly. For Kirk Creek, a camper advises: "BOOKING - The great sites book out VERY quickly. If you want to score you'll need to plan: 1) Use the website, not the call center. 2) Booking windows open 6 months in advance."
Weather extremes: Prepare for significant temperature variations. At Pinnacles Campground, a camper warns: "Between the long walks, the heat, and the surprisingly bold raccoons and birds, I'd recommend this spot only for a one-night stay—especially if you're planning to hike during the day."
Tips for camping with families
Wildlife education: Turn animal encounters into learning experiences. "This place is great. If you love hiking this place has awesome views and lots of wildlife. Be careful while hiking we came across a rattle snake. Specially during hot summers they are definitely out more," notes a visitor to Upper Sweetwater.
Swimming options: Some campgrounds offer cooling opportunities during hot months. At Pinnacles Campground, "There is a pool, but it looks like it's been closed down for years... We usually do a early morning hike and then spend the afternoon cooling off at the pool."
Safety precautions: Take measures to protect food from wildlife. At Kirk Creek Campground, a camper advises: "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."
Tips from RVers
Road condition awareness: Several access roads present challenges for larger vehicles. "We towed our 30' travel trailer up to this dispersed campground that is located along a ridge line on the west side of the 101. We didn't need 4x4 getting up there or even a high clearance vehicle. Our transmission did start heating up as the road was filled with washboard and it was steep and we had to go pretty slow."
Hookup limitations: Understand service availability before arrival. A visitor to Yanks RV Resort highlights, "Large level spots FHU some shade. Helpful staff clean and well kept." This contrasts with more primitive options in the region.
Dusty conditions: Prepare for dust management at unpaved sites. "7 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."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near San Lucas, CA?
What camping is available near San Lucas, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, San Lucas, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 79 campgrounds and RV parks near San Lucas, CA and 10 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near San Lucas, CA?
Which is the most popular campground near San Lucas, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near San Lucas, CA is Williams Hill Recreation Area with a 4.4-star rating from 37 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near San Lucas, CA?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near San Lucas, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 free dispersed camping spots near San Lucas, CA.
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