Best Tent Camping near Santa Margarita, CA

Tent camping options near Santa Margarita, California range from established campgrounds to more remote primitive sites in the surrounding Los Padres National Forest. KOA Campground Santa Margarita offers tent sites with amenities including showers, toilets, and picnic tables, while Miranda Pine Campground provides a more rustic experience atop a mountain with sweeping views extending to the ocean on clear days.

Most primitive tent camping areas require high-clearance vehicles to access. The road to Miranda Pine is unpaved and approximately 10 miles long, manageable in a stock-height 2WD truck but not recommended for passenger cars. Colson Canyon Campground, located about 30-45 minutes from Santa Maria, features basic amenities with a few tables and fire rings but no running water or toilets. One camper noted, "Colson is basic, fun, old school camping. This place has been here forever. Beautiful area to get away but close enough, you don't have to go far." Campers must filter water from nearby creeks or pack in their own supplies.

Tent sites throughout the region offer varying levels of seclusion and natural features. Miranda Pine Campground sits at a higher elevation with 360-degree views but can experience extreme winds. "It did get very windy that night," reported one visitor about Miranda Pine. Bates Canyon Campground provides a more sheltered setting but requires navigating a 2-mile dirt road that may become impassable during wet weather. Most tent-only areas have pit toilets but lack amenities like running water or shower facilities. Campgrounds typically include fire rings and picnic tables, though fire restrictions may apply during dry seasons. Cell phone service is unreliable throughout most primitive tent camping areas, making these locations ideal for those seeking a true disconnect from technology while tent camping in natural surroundings.

Best Tent Sites Near Santa Margarita, California (12)

    1. KOA Campground Santa Margarita

    2 Reviews
    Santa Margarita, CA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 438-5618

    "The lake is 1/2 mile away, so very convenient. The park is loaded with really nice hiking trails. We are enjoying our weekend stay."

    2. Friis Campground

    Be the first to review!
    Santa Margarita, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 925-9538

    3. Lake San Antonio - North Shore

    5 Reviews
    Bradley, CA
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 472-2311

    "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."

    "The lake is everything. A few years ago it was dried up. Thank you rain! Now it’s back and better than ever."

    4. Colson Canyon Campground

    6 Reviews
    Santa Maria, CA
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 968-6640

    "Few fire pits and tables a couple flat spots for camping, 30-45 minute drive from Santa Maria. Drive slow down the dirt road as to not upset the residents of Colson Canyon."

    "Bring water. But 100% recommend."

    5. Miranda Pine Campground

    4 Reviews
    Carrizo Plain National Monument, CA
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 968-6640

    "Picnic tables at each site. Named for the larged Pine tree at the top of the mountain. Sunset and Sunrise views are incredible. Brought my dogs and they loved it."

    "not stay at this site but I did stop on my way back into town it's well taken care of and has a 360° view literally at the top of a mountain so that's the good and that also makes it the bad too if winds"

    6. Brookshire Campground

    2 Reviews
    Carrizo Plain National Monument, CA
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 925-9538

    "private road that would be a great way to get to this campground if the gate was not locked talking to the US Forrest firemen across the street they said if that road was open it's about a 15 minute drive"

    7. Barrel Springs Campground

    2 Reviews
    Los Alamos, CA
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 925-9538

    "There's plenty of tree and shade coverage, nice spread out spots to set up camp, and good nearby hikes. We stayed here during our PCT thru hike after crossing mile 100."

    8. Wagon Flat Campground

    1 Review
    Los Padres National Forest, CA
    41 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 925-9538

    9. Bates Canyon Campground

    4 Reviews
    New Cuyama, CA
    50 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 925-9538

    "Don’t know why people are saying it’s remote when there’s a main highway only a few miles away and ranch houses near by and cell Service."

    10. Baja Campground

    Be the first to review!
    Carrizo Plain National Monument, CA
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 925-9538
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Tent Camping Reviews near Santa Margarita, CA

563 Reviews of 12 Santa Margarita Campgrounds


  • Chanel C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2017

    Morro Bay State Park Campground

    More RV campers than tent campers

    [ LOCATION -5 Stars ]

    • Walking distance to the Morro Bay Natural History Museum -- great for kids and very educational for all ages. Admission is only $3 and they have a fun Nature Shop to pick up souvenirs and gifts.
    • Bayside Cafe is adjacent to the Campgrounds. If you don't feel like going through the hassle of cooking an elaborate meal at camp, you can take it easy and eat at the cafe. It has a great view of the marina and Morro Bay Rock.
    • Campgrounds is a stone's throw from the marina. This is especially great if you enjoy being by the water. A lot of campers bring their own kayaks, canoes, SUP boards, etc.
    • Less than 2 miles from the Embarcadero where there are shops, restaurants, bars, cafes, boat tours, and water equipment rentals. It's a beautiful walk, an easy bike ride, and a quick drive into town. Best part, FREE PARKING everywhere! Also, plenty of public restrooms that are relatively clean.
    • The campgrounds is right by a large and well-manicured golf course. So that's cool…if you're into golf!

    [ AMENITIES -4.5 Stars ]

    • Plenty of showers and restrooms throughout the campgrounds. Some are not all operational but it's not that far of a walk to get to the next available one. PRO TIP: Exchange your shower tokens at the check-in Kiosk. A lot of the token machines were out of order. 2 tokens for $1. Each token buys you 2 minutes time.
    • Firewood & fire starters can be purchased at Camp Host sites. $7 for a bundle and $1 for firestarters. The profits go back to CA state parks :)
    • Sites are very close together and not very spacious or private. Each campsite comes with parking for 1 car, a charcoal BBQ grill, a firepit, bear box, and picnic table.
    • There are plenty of shared water spigots for potable water by every site. Make sure you turn it gently because the water pressure is super strong and you'll get a ton of splash back.

    [ CLEANLINESS -5 Stars]

    • Restrooms & showers are SO CLEAN! Most of the campers here are RV campers, so they aren't really using the public restrooms. Less foot traffic = cleaner!
    • The majority of campers here are older, retired RV campers so the campgrounds are kept-up meticulously well. Everyone is very considerate and clean up after themselves. There aren't too many pests or ants either.
  • E
    May. 24, 2019

    Islay Creek Campground — Montaña de Oro State Park

    Beautiful cove

    The best part of this campground is access to the beach. We were there in early July and the water was like ice but absolutely beautiful. The campground itself was ok, it was a bit more primitive than I’m used to, but the sites themselves were nice. Each had a picnic table and fire ring. Most of the sites were nice sized as far as I could tell. There are no showers and only vault toilets so I wouldn’t stay here for more than 2 nights. Another perk is how it feels so far removed from civilization, but it’s really not.

  • Dani P.
    Jul. 12, 2019

    Miranda Pine Campground

    Secluded but difficult to get to campground

    Set atop a mountain, Miranda Pine campground gives sweeping views all the way to the ocean. Beware the road is long and unpaved, not suitable for a compact car. I did it with a high clearance 4WD and made it to the top. Only a couple sites at the top, but they are free. Picnic tables at each site. Named for the larged Pine tree at the top of the mountain. Sunset and Sunrise views are incredible. Brought my dogs and they loved it. No real services up here so its especially important to pack out all your trash and follow Leave No Trace ethics.

  • Margo A.
    Oct. 27, 2020

    Santa Margarita Lake Regional Park

    Camping, Fishing, Boating, and Riding Horses at Santa Margarita Lake

    Santa 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.

  • Kari T.
    Apr. 5, 2020

    Navajo Flat Campground

    Great place to get away from reality

    If you want to escape, this is the place. No signal, hardly ever see any other people and tons of open space and trails for motorcycles and quads. Dry camping only. No water available but there is a vault toilet and picnic tables.

  • John  Y.
    Oct. 8, 2019

    Coastal Dunes RV Park & Campground

    Great location but no privacy

    I was attending a weekend Jeep event at Pismo Dunes and had booked a space in the OHV area on the beach.  When I got there the wind was so bad it was impossible to put up a tent.  So I looked up this place, which is probably 1/2 mile from the entrance to the beach.

    The campground has mixture of tent and pull-through sites.  All sites have full hookups, and include a fire ring and picnic table.  The bathrooms were clean and had showers, but everything was very old.  There was also a pool and laundry rooms on the property.

    The sites were flat, but there was no barrier between you and your neighbors.  The RV sites looked very cramped but the tent sites seemed adequately spaced for the most part.  I stayed in site 252 which appeared to be some kind of double site, because there were two sets of hookups in the space (one of which required a large pole in the middle of the site).

    In spite of the convenience of the location, there were drawbacks.  The campground is narrow and situated directly between PCH and the railroad tracks on either side.  So traffic noise was significant, and as an added bonus, every now and then Amtrack would roll past.

    Over all, it met all the basic needs, was well maintained, and was close to the beach.  And the noise was probably less than I would get sleeping in the OHV camping area.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 22, 2021

    Navajo Flat Campground

    Pozo La Panza OHV staging campground

    We didn't stay at this campground, but we walked over and checked it out while disperse-camping up the road.  

    This campground has 6 sites, and is $20/night and $10 additional for each extra vehicle.  There is a $10/day fee for day use.

    5 campsites are reservable through recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777, and 1 site is first come first served.

    There is zero ATT, Verizon, or T-Mobile signal at this campground, but the Los Padres forest area as a whole is very spotty - you can go from zero to good reception for all 3 carriers as you move from area to area.

    No water or any amenities here other than vault toilets. Fire is allowed in the fire rings at each site, no fire permit required here (but fire permits are required elsewhere in the National Forest).  There were a couple of garbage cans by the toilets.   Sites have 2 picnic tables, a shade structure, fire ring, and a grill.

    There is no signage directing you to the campground, so download the map ahead of time if you need directions.  From 58 you take Red Hill Rd/Forest Rte 29S15 and turn left at the dead end at Fernandez Rd. Keep going straight until you see the campground on your right. There is a road turning right at the cattle guard, but keep going straight.

    Campground is fairly large with wide open spaces to turn around, so bigger rigs should be fine.  The roads coming in from Hwy 58 -- Red Hill Rd and Fernandez Rd -- are ok, they are compacted dirt / DG with some washboarding and a few ruts.  There are people who live in this area and travel these roads in regular sedans, so it's definitely doable for most vehicles, but I'd imagine large class A's would have a tough time.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 22, 2023

    Washburn Primitive Campground — Hearst San Simeon State Park

    Hill top big sky view

    Nice family oriented campground. Many tents, trailers, few rv’s. Spots are fairly far apart 50-70 feet. Just fire ring, table, and parking spot. Vault toilets. Few trees. In mid June mostly dry grass with little shade, but fine tent pitching area. Most spots are mostly level for rv parking. Few bugs. Hawks,crows, towhee, quail. Should be good star gazing. Quiet. No road noise. Somewhat windy.

  • Amanda M.
    Oct. 27, 2018

    Lopez Lake Recreation Area

    Lopez Lake

    Lopez Lake Recreation Area is 15 minutes behind the “Village” of Arroyo Grande, CA.

    Lopez is a frequently visited spot for us - We generally camp in a primitive site the back of the Squirrel Loop of the park. The Squirrel Loop is not a lakeside loop (you cannot see the lake at all from here), but we have found it to be one of the quieter, less trafficked campground in the park. The Squirrel Loop is nestled inside a canyon, surrounded by big, beautiful live oak trees.

    Lopez Lake is a very large campground with many different loops, so many of which are nearby the lake. If you haven’t been to the campground before and are not worried about reserving a site ahead of time, take some time to drive around the park when you arrive to see what area you would most like to camp in - there are a lot of great spots here there and everywhere!

    Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. There are clean plumbed bathrooms, and coin-operated showers. Lopez has full hook-ups for RVs, and a marina to launch boats. There is a small but well-stocked convenience store in the marina with food, ice, firewood, beer, fishing gear, etc. There is also a small cafe located in the marina store, with limited hours.

    Lopez Lake is the home of the Mustang Waterpark, a small, but super fun water park. I believe the park is closed during the fall and winter months, but is open during the spring and summer. Swimming is allowed in the lake, and there are some “beach” areas that have been cleared of lake plants and rocks for safe swimming.

    Hiking to Big Falls is a fun adventure if you want to leave the campground. There are certain times when the falls are not accessible without 4WD, however, we have been in severe drought conditions in Central California for the last few years, so you don’t have to worry about crossing any deep creeks, if any. A super low clearance vehicle may have a challenging time crossing the creek beds, even when dry. The drive to Big Falls trailhead from Lopez is short, but probably takes 15-20 minutes as you are driving through a curvy, narrow canyon road. The hike is through live oak trees most of the way, so most of the hike is nice and shaded. Keep and eye out for salamanders when crossing the creek beds! While it is unlikely, black bears mountain lions have been spotted on the Big Falls trail, so be aware of your surroundings. Here are directions to the Big Falls trailhead: http://www.hikeslo.com/big-falls/

    WARNING : While the possibility of a black bear sighting is fairly uncommon, black bears are seen every year at Lopez Lake. You are in black bear county, and there are no bear boxes/ food lockers at Lopez Lake. I would suggest locking your food and coolers up in the car at night to avoid attracting wild animals to your campsite.

    CAMPSITE SPECS

    Fees: $35/night (primitive site)

    Plumbed Toilets: Yes

    Drinking Water: Yes

    Showers: Yes (coin-operated)

    Picnic Table: Yes

    Firepit: Yes

    Cooking Grate: Yes

    Shade: Yes

    Cell Service: No

    Animal Bins/Food lockers: No

    Trash: Yes


Guide to Santa Margarita

Tent camping near Santa Margarita, California ranges from basic wilderness sites to established campgrounds across diverse elevations spanning 1,000 to 3,500 feet. The area experiences significant seasonal temperature variations, with summer daytime temperatures often exceeding 95°F while dropping below 45°F at night in higher elevation sites. Water availability becomes limited during dry months, particularly at remote campgrounds that lack permanent water sources.

What to do

Stargazing at night: Lake San Antonio North Shore offers exceptional dark sky viewing with minimal light pollution. One visitor noted, "We had some great views, great trails for hiking and I enjoyed the fact that they had an astronomer one of the evenings to star gaze."

Hiking nearby trails: Miranda Pine Campground provides access to multiple hiking trails with panoramic views. A camper mentioned, "Went on a Saturday night in the spring, and it was incredibly windy all day/night. Like... too windy to cook, hang out, relax. Probably picked the worst time of year for wind but the green hillsides were beautiful."

Water recreation: When water levels permit, Lake San Antonio - North Shore offers fishing and boating opportunities. "Launched the boat and anchored it to shore. Literally had the place to ourselves. Fishing was great from shore in morning and dusk," reports one camper who visited recently.

What campers like

Mountain top views: The elevated position of Miranda Pine Campground provides exceptional visibility. "Set atop a mountain, Miranda Pine campground gives sweeping views all the way to the ocean," writes one camper, adding practical advice about access: "Beware the road is long and unpaved, not suitable for a compact car."

Peaceful seclusion: Remote sites offer escape from crowds. At Bates Canyon Campground, one visitor experienced complete solitude: "We spent a nice peaceful quiet night here on super bowl weekend. Don't know why people are saying it's remote when there's a main highway only a few miles away."

Wildlife encounters: Wagon Flat Campground provides opportunities for wildlife observation. A camper reports, "You can hunt fish hike horse back riding and wake up to the sound of birds. I have seen bears and mountain lions so be prepared for that. Never been attacked by them."

What you should know

Road conditions matter: Many campgrounds require navigating unpaved roads. For Bates Canyon, a visitor warned, "Wayy off the main road on a non-maintained dirt road, only 4x4 accessible," while another disagreed, noting "The dirt road is in great condition and don't need a 4x4 at all. It's only 2 miles of dirt road to the campground and the rest is paved."

Water access varies: Bring sufficient water supplies for primitive sites. At Brookshire Campground, a camper advised, "bring your own TP and water bathroom was clean and sites well taken care of."

Weather preparedness essential: Wind conditions can be extreme at elevated sites. At Miranda Pine, a camper experienced challenges: "The campground consist of three sites and does have a pit toilet. All sites are great and offer great views. Cell phone service was on and off so don't rely on it."

Tips for camping with families

Consider established campgrounds: KOA Campground Santa Margarita offers amenities suited for families with young children. "Great for young families. There is a pool, jumping pillow, playground, etc. RV spots are on flat, dusty parking areas and are easy to navigate," notes one visitor.

Plan for bathroom limitations: Most primitive tent camping areas near Santa Margarita lack reliable bathroom facilities. One camper at KOA noted facility issues: "something went wrong with the bathrooms and we could not shower or use restroom for the last day and a half, no one ever came by to tell us or give us any updates."

Expect limited connectivity: Cell service is sporadic throughout the region. A KOA visitor advised, "There is no reception at all, you have to drive outside of the campsite about 7-10 miles to get reception. The good thing about it was that we all spent time off technology but in case of an emergency it was a bit unnerving."

Tips from RVers

Lake access for RVs: Lake San Antonio accommodates RVs with hookups near water recreation. "We stayed at a cottage at Lake San Antonio. We were fortunate to have a local show us around," said one visitor, while another noted, "It was a warm weekend at San Antonio. 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."

Limited primitive options: Most tent camping sites near Santa Margarita cannot accommodate larger RVs. Bates Canyon Campground technically allows RVs but access is difficult, with a visitor reporting the sites are "not flat, some are so slanted that I can't believe someone made a campsite there."

Seasonal considerations: Water levels affect RV camping quality at lakes. "During the drought the water level has dropped significantly as well as the quality of the water. Some years the lake is almost dry. Camping spaces are spread out finding shade can be a challenge," reports a Lake San Antonio visitor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Santa Margarita, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Santa Margarita, CA is KOA Campground Santa Margarita with a 3.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Santa Margarita, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Santa Margarita, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.