Searching for a dispersed camping spot near Templeton? Dispersed camping is an excellent way to get away from it all and to disconnect. Find dispersed campsites you've visited before, or discover new spots from other campers.
Contact the Santa Lucia Ranger District for information about dispersed camping.
Contact the ranger station for disperse camping information: (805) 925-9538 Mon-Fri, 8:00-4:30pm.
Traveler
Easy spots to turn around and park. Beautiful views, slight road noise if you’re not in the van but quiet inside. Wouldn’t recommend anything bigger than a extended sprinter or transit
Scout
Dirt road to get there but safe, clean place. Stunning view
Scout
Attempted to camp on 12/01/2024 and the road was closed. Beautiful views on the way, but unfortunately the gate was locked :(
Guide
Easy enough to find for a night’s stop.
Scoutpretty easy to find, road is also easy to drive. found a pretty good level spot, definitely camping right off the side of the road. pretty nice and low key tho
LegendWe stayed here for 3 nights in the summer, arriving on a Sunday, and it was great. I was worried about the heat, but it really wasn’t too bad, even on the hot days (low 90s) it cools down in the evening and didn’t get hot until early afternoon. Just be sure to get one of the shady spots! We set up in site #1 when we first arrived because it was private and had nice views, but it was way too much direct sun. We moved to #4 and it was much better- shady and even better views.
There were other people here when we stayed here but everyone was very quiet and respectful, and we didn’t hear any shooting like other reviews have mentioned— this may be due to the ban on shooting (and camp fires) at this time because of fire danger, but I was still impressed and surprised that people respected the ban. There is one pit toilet that we didn’t check out, but man you can smell it if you camp in one of the sites near to it.
We saw one volunteer/employee come and clean things up while we were here. We were pleasantly surprised that the trash wasn’t too bad here. No trash service so please pack out your waste. Cell service is good up at the campground, though you do lose it in parts on the drive up. We made it up in our 26ft class c no problem, though the road is narrow at times and we were glad we didn’t come across any oncoming traffic. Sites are relatively flat/ fixable with levels. Two of the sites are huge/ pull throughs so would be good for bigger rigs or big groups. If you get up here and all the sites are taken, there are several spots outside of the campground where you can disperse camp.
This is an OHV area but we didn’t see any while we were here. We hiked along the OHV trails and there was nothing- but I could see it getting busy on the weekends.
There's a 14 day stay limit. No water provided up here.
My only complaint was the BEES! They were everywhere and aggressive, and all in our face, but didn’t sting us. One of the campers said that this was unusual though. Really nice campground, amazing that it’s free! Thanks BLM!
GuidePicked the first nook from the GPS pin but hiked up road and there are quite a few others, some shaded, some exposed. Bit of highway noise.
GuideDidn't have to go as far as GPS pin led me to believe, spot on right shortly after pavement ends. A bit trashed, wish I had a bag to clean up, some bigger stuff like a kids bike, to etc
TravelerPretty solid! Had great cell service and was a lovely drive to get there. Probably wouldn’t recommend if you have a tent or RV as the spots were a little small and rocky. But I only went a little past where the directions take you, so not sure what else is up there.
Arrived just at sunset and loved the views! It was very peaceful and far enough from the highway. It seemed like the same truck was driving up and down a couple times which was the only downfall.
Overall a good experience.
GuideAlong the road, there are lots of exposed options and a few camping options in the trees. I drove the entire road and would not recommend doing that without four wheel drive. Was pleased with all the options though. Stay in the trees to avoid the wind.
GuideMid July - road was closed
ScoutClean camp. Restroom was clean. View was beautiful. There was a 6 mile dirt road to the camp. Easy signage. Saw wild boar and dear along the way. Drove a Hyundai Accent.
ScoutWhen I saw the TV tower road sign, that marked the last paved road until the actual TV tower hill. I rode all the way to the end with some medium difficulty off roading there are some steep bits with uneven terrain. Taking the road up to TV tower are some of the best views you can get from the surrounding area. John R.'s review accurately sums up the camping experience. The wind was shaking my tent all night until the morning. But thankfully I had bugspray the insect problem was solved. Nightsky was amazing! I saw a shooting star and many satellites. Would for sure camp again if in the San Luis Obispo area.
ScoutThe drive up has around five miles of very well maintained dirt road, but very much worth it. Some dispersed camping areas and a campground with 5 spots with a shelter and a picnic table at each one. Bathroom was very clean.
Views are magnificent.
GuideThe road was a bit sketchy, any 4WD would be fine I think. I took my mini van and camped at a turn out along the road because I was a bit hesitant, but again, others would probably be fine. There were lots of people going up the road until very late at night, then turning around and coming back down (I assume because there were no spots?) The stars are beautiful and it's very quiet and cool. Got cold at night but nothing unbearable, lovely sunrise too! I'd recommend bringing a warm sleeping bag and any essentials for dispersed camping. Honestly such a beautiful place, next time I'd like to find a space to set up my tent. Loved it!
ScoutIt is a long 5 miles up a long dirt road which is actually pretty nice compared to others we have traveled. There are some steep hairpinish turns that we had to disconnect our toad but wow when you get there it is perfect. So peaceful and very clean. We are in a 36’ class a with jeep toad
TravelerThe road to come to the BLM was not bad, we came with a van and had no problems. The campground is nice and clean, vault toilet with TP &clean. Camp spots with table & shade & the view on the hills is incredible
Scout
Manageable with fwd vehicle, i’ve taken my car on worse. Got there around 2pm and was the only car in sight until 4 ish when a car pulled up and parked for the night 5 feet away from me 🙄 RUDE!! Remember to be respectful of others space especially if there’s 15+ other spots available. lots of sunset watchers but none stayed the night
Scoutvery sketchy getting up there in a van as its a narrow one lane road with a vertical drop, as a solo female traveller felt pretty unsafe around the guys at the top there that i ended up leaving. its beautiful up there but wouldn't feel safe at all staying overnight.
ScoutVery nice and quiet and clean campground. Arrived late Friday afternoon and left Sunday evening. Camp had a fire ring, shaded concrete patio and a picnic table. The single vault toilet was clean and sufficiently stocked with TP. No other amenities other than what the forest provides. Lots of area to explore, but this is mainly an off road vehicle area.
ScoutDrove up here at night and the road is windy and bumpy and narrow and youre on the side of a cliff. Was a bit scary but the view was beautiful in the morning. The wind is loud and powerful and will push your car a bit thru the night. No restrooms but lots of shrubbery. Got there at 11 pm and the stars were amazing due to no light pollution.
ScoutLots of spots
TravelerAwesome spot on the ridge, lots of sites up past the mountain bike staging area and the best spots are a little past the TV tower its self. Best with a decent clearance 4wd - definitely not an RV spot. Windy at night for sure, and can be a bit busy with people going past on the road. Takes a while to go up - winding road, so give plenty of time. But cool spot off the 101 and right near SLO
ScoutThe road up the hill was small and rough, but the view is worth it! Only a few other campers were there.
ScoutWhen we got here, the sun was setting and we had an incredible view. There is no toilet, but there are bushes everywhere so if you don’t mind that should be no problem. For one night it is perfect, make sure you come here before the sun sets and you have a car that can handle rough terrain.
ScoutThe view is amazing!! I would recommend driving up the mountain through Lockwood, the drive is much easier and less scary. We arrived around 5:30pm (end of march) and there was only 1 spot left
TravelerDrive up was a little nerve wracking, but found a pull out for 2 vans and it was perfect. Love this spot.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Templeton, California, where nature lovers can find serene spots to unwind and connect with the great outdoors. With a variety of locations offering unique experiences, campers can enjoy stunning views, diverse landscapes, and the freedom of camping without the constraints of traditional campgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Templeton, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Templeton, CA is TV Tower Road Dispersed Camping with a 4.1-star rating from 28 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Templeton, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 dispersed camping locations near Templeton, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
