Washburn Primitive Campground, near Cambria, California, is a laid-back spot that offers a peaceful escape in Hearst San Simeon State Park. With its primitive sites, you can expect a more rustic experience, complete with picnic tables and fire rings for those cozy campfire nights.

The campground is known for its spacious sites, which are set apart from each other, giving you a bit of privacy while enjoying the great outdoors. Visitors have mentioned the quiet atmosphere, making it a great place for stargazing and soaking in the sounds of nature, like the distant ocean waves. As one camper noted, “It’s lovely, quiet, and dark. You can hear the ocean.”

Amenities include pit toilets and trash disposal, and while there’s no cell service for some, that might just be the perfect excuse to disconnect and enjoy your surroundings. Plus, there’s a convenient path leading to the beach, so you can easily take a stroll along the coast or check out the nearby elephant seals.

If you’re up for some exploration, you’re just a short drive from the charming town of Cambria and the iconic Hearst Castle. Whether you’re pitching a tent or parking your RV, Washburn offers a simple yet satisfying camping experience that keeps you close to nature.

This primitive campground is approximately 1 mile inland from the beach on a plateau overlooking the Santa Lucia mountains as well as the Pacific Ocean. Washburn campground can be accessed from the San Simeon Creek Campground entrance station. Facilities here include a fire ring and picnic table at each campsite. In addition, shower facilities are available to registered campers. This campground has an additional 68 sites.

Washburn Primitive Campground — Hearst San Simeon State Park

Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, San Simeon, CA has a lot to offer. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that California camping has to offer. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near San Simeon and user-submitted reviews.

San Simeon

The Best Camping Near San Simeon, California

Washburn Campground is one of two campgrounds in Hearst San Simeon State Park, the other being San Simeon Creek Campground.  We stayed in both campgrounds. The two campgrounds have different amenities and features, with the Washburn one being more "primitive" even though neither have hookups.  

  

Coin operated showers are technically available to San Simeon Creek guests only, though I'm not sure how anyone would know or care if a Washburn camper went over to shower at San Simeon Creek. 

  

There are pit toilets available in Washburn, as well as trash and mixed recycling dumpsters.

  

Washburn is $20/night, with an $8 reservation fee when making reservations online.

  

There is practically zero verizon service, very weak AT&amp;T service, but decent T-Mobile service on our hotspot.

  

There is a path over to the beach, very convenient (goes under Hwy 1).

  

Elephant seal viewing is nearby, as well as being close to the cute town of Cambria and San Simeon.

  

Warning: the map is wrong!  We picked site #226 based on the map showing that it wasn't next to the toilet.  The toilets ended up being directly next to 226, which was fine but not our favorite thing.

  

There is a dump and water fill for RVs located in between the campgrounds, and they are available to guests of both (or $5 to use for people not staying at the campgrounds).  Firewood also available for sale from the host, but check out the hours before heading over to buy wood.

  

We stayed here in mid-March, and the campground was beautiful and green and peaceful.   The landscape may turn brown later in the year.  

  

The sites are nicely spaced out for the most part.  Each site has a picnic table and steel fire pit.  Some sites have some trees for shade, but most do not.

  

We really liked it here.  The $20/night compared to the $35 at the busier and more active San Simeon Creek makes it a no-brainer that Washburn is where we'd choose to come.

Low Key, and Low Cost

We stayed in the more primitive campground, Washburn. It’s lovely, quiet, and dark. You can hear the ocean. Cell reception isn’t the best. 

Great little spot

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. 

Hill top big sky view

Only $20 for a primitive site. The Washburn area is a short drive from the main camping entrance. There are pit toilets and most sites are quite level. Hearst castle was fun to visit.

Good price

Primitive campground ocean beach 1/2 mile walk, wave sounds all day, scenic view, sites spaced out OK, some trees but bright and airy. Nice go to site for chilling but weekends and summers can be busy. Water spickets in campground, dump station below on another campground. 

Nice quiet campground

We love this campground and stay here whenever we're going through the area. It's got a mellow, chill vibe, and other campers we meet here have all been nice and friendly.

Dump station is no longer free for campers, it's now $10, which is the case for all California State Parks now. 

Att and Verizon have weak but usable service, and the WeBoost does help here. 

It's a nice walk to the beach, though dogs are not allowed. There are coin op showers here, but last time we were here we tried to use them and the water was freezing cold. 

Still $20/night plus $8 online reservation fee. 

Still Great 

The upper grounds: Washburn campgrounds are primitive but nicely kept and do have pit toilets and some water spigots as well as fire rings and picnic tables. This area is a little less ($20) vs the lower grounds ($35). But the lower grounds do have showers. 
We did find Washburn quieter with less freeway traffic

Basic campground

Compacted gravel roads and mostly level pads in good condition. Most sites nicely spaced apart.  Modern pit toilets inside buildings in good condition. Most sites have views of mountain range. A few sites with shade next to trees. Only 20% occupied late October. Close to Hearst Castle, elephant seals, State Beach w/ pier, nice coastal overlooks. $20 without typical discounts. Showers and dump station bottom of hill (1/2 mile) in adjacent state park campground.

Photos of Washburn Primitive Campground — Hearst San Simeon State Park

Real photos from real campers