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Ordinary Traveler / Blog / California / Best Places To Camp in Big Sur – Big Sur Camping Guide

Best Places To Camp in Big Sur – Big Sur Camping Guide

By Christy Woodrow, Last Modified: November 17, 2019

Big Sur Camping: The Best Places to Camp in Big Sur

 

Big Sur Camping: The Best Places to Camp in Big Sur

We have been camping in Big Sur a handful of times and it’s one of our all-time favorite places to camp. This stretch of coastline is truly magical and this area is home to some of the most gorgeous campgrounds.

We usually visit in either spring or fall as we like to avoid the summer crowds. Visiting during this time of year can mean gorgeous sunsets, uncrowded hikes, mild weather during the day and slightly lower temperatures at night. However, Big Sur is a great place to camp year round.

These are the best places to camp in Big Sur, must-know packing tips from locals and tips on how to plan your trip!

The Best Places to Camp in Big Sur (And Must-Know Travel Tips!)

 

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is not to be confused with Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, which only has two campsites, but sits on the bluff right above McWay Falls. There are plenty of hikes available in and around Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park including Pheiffer Falls, a hike through giant redwoods to a 60-foot waterfall.

Camping fees at Pfeiffer Big Sur are $35-$50 per night.

I didn’t include Julia Pfeiffer Burns merely because it’s extremely tough to get a reservation at one of the two sites, so your best bet is to stay at Pfeiffer Big Sur if you want to be near McWay Falls. This waterfall is just a 15-20 minute drive from the campground.

 

Kirk Creek Campground

Kirk Creek will always be one of our favorite campgrounds in Big Sur. It sits right on the bluff, overlooking the ocean. We lucked out and arrived just as another camper was packing up and snagged their site right along the cliff’s edge. Half of the sites are available for reservation and the other half are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Camping fees are $35 per night.

Kirk Creek Campground Camping Big Sur Sunset

 

Fernwood Resort

Our group camped at Fernwood Resort among the redwood trees. My only complaint about Fernwood (and other campgrounds in the redwoods) during the winter is that it is about ten degrees colder than a campground that gets full sun. The bonus to Fernwood is the restaurant and general store for those times when you don’t feel like cooking or if you forgot a few supplies.

Tent sites at Fernwood Resort start at $65 per night.

Fernwood Resort Camping Big Sur California

 

Andrew Molera State Park

At Andrew Molera, all of the 24 campsites are hike in only, so this is not the ideal spot for car campers. That being said, if you have the gear, it’s well worth the short hike to the campsites. They do provide a picnic table, fire pit with grill, and food storage bin at each campsite. There are also restrooms and garbage bins near the campsites, so you are not completely roughing it.

To find the park, look for mile marker 51.2 on Highway 1, about 21 miles south of Carmel. All sites are first-come, first-served.

Big Sur Camping - The Best Places to Camp

 

Limekiln State Park

Limekiln State Park is situated in the redwoods, about 56 miles south of Carmel, and it offers 29 campsites located creekside, on the beachfront, and in the forest. This park was once the site of a limekiln operation and just a short walk from your campsite, you can explore the limekiln ruins, in addition to hikes to the beach and Limekiln Falls.

Each campsite has a fire ring and a picnic table. All campsites can be reserved up to 6 months in advance and the cost is$35 per night.

 

Packing List for Camping in Big Sur

We are big fans of packing light when camping and have put together a great kit, which is what we used when camping in Big Sur. Andrew Molera State Park is hike-in only, so you’ll definitely want to limit what you bring to this campground.

Camping Stove: We have done extensive research on the best and lightest backpacking gear. This backpacking stove is tiny and weighs next to nothing.

Cookware: We love this tiny cookware set because it’s extremely compact.

Sleeping Bags: This sleeping bag is extremely warm and it gets excellent reviews.

Tent: We love this lightweight Marmot 2-person tent.

Sleeping Pads: These ones are amazing!

Backpacks: If you are looking for a durable, light, and inexpensive backpack, we recommend the Teton Scout.

Portable Charger: We carry this portable charger to charge our phones.

For more packing tips, read our Ultimate Packing Checklist for Campers

 

If you find yourself in Big Sur, we highly recommend taking a drive to Point Lobos State Reserve in Carmel. It’s one of the most beautiful places to travel in Central California. For more great places to camp in the United States, see our Havasu Falls travel tips, Yellowstone camping tips, and the best places to camp in California.

 

Read More:

The Ultimate Guide to California’s Pacific Coast Hwy

How to Choose the Best Travel Camera

15 Best Weekend Getaways in California

Northern California Packing Guide for Women

10 Best Free Campgrounds in Northern California

The Best Photography Locations in California

The Ultimate Guide to California’s Channel Islands

15 Best Things to Do in San Diego, California

About Christy Woodrow

Christy Woodrow is a travel photographer and professional blogger based in San Diego. She has been traveling around the world with her partner, Scott, since 2006. Join them in their quest to find off-the-beaten-path destinations by signing up for weekly emails. You can read more about her on our about page.

Filed Under: California, Camping and Backpacking

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rusty Hunt says

    Great info! Planning a cross-country trip on my motorcycle. I noticed Kirk Creek Campground doesn’t have showers, how about restroom or port-a-john?

    Reply
  2. PinTours & Travel says

    Great post, but I would disagree with taking a phone…this is where you want to disconnect from the world.

    Reply
    • Ordinary Traveler says

      We use our phones for more than just surfing the web and it’s always good to have a phone in case of emergency. You likely won’t have much service in this area so it’s usually set to airplane mode anyway. 🙂

      Reply
      • PinTours & Travel says

        Most of your Garmin utilities are equipped with Emergency Beacons and tracking these days….but I hear you, take the phone for emergency only

        Reply
  3. India Tour by Cabs says

    This images are great, have to taken it all by yourself?

    Reply
  4. trailers brisbane says

    Until now Ican still remember the scenic look of the place.As if that was yesterday but that was a year ago.

    Reply
  5. Emily Clark says

    Is there a certain campsite you recommend in kirk creek or andrew molar? Friends and I are looking to go in the spring and we’d love to get the best campsite we can!

    Reply
    • Ordinary Traveler says

      I honestly don’t even remember which site we stayed in. I think there were only two left when we got there. You can call and ask them which ones are the best. Have fun!

      Reply
  6. Steve says

    one day i will go to big sur, and i will bring this list 🙂

    Reply
    • Ordinary Traveler says

      It’s one of our favorite places to visit! I hope you make it there.

      Reply
  7. Jaryd Krause says

    This place is magical. Exceptional shots, well done

    Reply
  8. Nomad Travel says

    It looks like you found some good places to stop and enjoy nature. Keep sharing!

    Reply
  9. Guest says

    I am not much of a camper, but I lived in CA for a while and I hate I never went to these locations. Great pictures. Wow, this is a very peaceful scene.

    Reply
  10. Jenna Smith says

    Thanks for the great info, I just booked a reservation at Kirk Creek for the end of April due to your writeup. We are coming out from Colorado and taking a big road trip down the Pacific Coast Highway for the first time. Any insider info is much appreciated.

    Thanks again!

    Reply
    • Ordinary Traveler says

      Hi Jenna. That’s great! You will love Kirk Creek. For more information about Big Sur and the Central Coast, see these articles:

      http://ordinarytraveler.com/articles/the-big-south

      http://ordinarytraveler.com/articles/forgotten-coast-central-california

      If you make it to Southern California, we highly recommend the Channel Islands and Oxnard:

      http://ordinarytraveler.com/articles/oxnard-california-travel

      Let us know if you have any more questions!

      Reply
  11. CMTravelAnd - Calogero Mira says

    Camping and hiking in Big Sur? I like these photos.

    Reply
  12. Luizze Oliveira says

    From above places Kirk Creek Campground is very beautiful and best place for camping. Best and cool weather around this Kirk Creek Campground is very impressive. Thank you for sharing such a impressive information.

    Reply
  13. Sherry Viray says

    I’ve always wanted to go to Big Sur, but never got the chance or at least, I’ve held myself back for one reason or another. I’m more motivated now by you guys. You two are such inspiration to get out and camp.

    Reply
    • Mailisha Chesney says

      I agree! Thanks for the ideas. I, too, have yet to try out Big Sur (which is so nuts, since it’s clearly GORGEOUS and friends have talked it up for years!). Now that we have two little kids (that are finally big enough to take camping- yeay!) we’re even more motivated to get back to our previous camping lifestyle. I love the ideas you show-cased! Now, just to wait until the spring…

      Reply
      • Ordinary Traveler says

        I’m glad to hear the post has inspired you to visit, @mailishachesney:disqus!

        Reply
  14. Susan Mcguire says

    Images are so amazing to watch. Are they photoshopped or just few photo effects ?

    Reply
    • Ordinary Traveler says

      Thanks, Susan. I did HDR on a couple of these photos. That’s probably the effect you are noticing. Thanks for the comment and happy holidays!

      Reply
  15. Gregory Berg says

    My favorite campsite, view-wise, of all-time is located about 30 miles south of Big Sur: the Treebones Resorts. They’re known for their awesome yurts, but they have several spots available (5 I think) for tent camping, each with AMAZING views out towards the ocean. And their lodge/restaurant/deck bar is a great bonus! http://treebonesresort.com/

    Reply
    • Ordinary Traveler says

      I have heard of this place, but never stayed there. Thanks for the suggestion!

      Reply
    • Brandy Bell says

      I’ll second the Treebones Resort Recommendation– loved checking out the photos of home though, makes me a bit homesick!

      Reply
    • Mailisha Chesney says

      I saw an article on this place last month. Thanks for the rec!

      Reply
  16. Suzzane Lobo says

    One would love to just sit down whole day and watch the sea shores waves moving to and fro. Thanks Awesome pics

    Reply
    • Mailisha Chesney says

      I know! Talk about “living in the moment,” eh? Easier to do when the moment is breath-taking! 8^)

      Reply
  17. feonicamartinez says

    the images are great! the seashore image is so stunning!

    Reply
    • Ordinary Traveler says

      Thanks, Nica!

      Reply
  18. Lane says

    The seashore images are beautiful. Big Sur is the loveliest seaside drive in North America.

    Reply
    • Ordinary Traveler says

      I agree. Although, I do love the view further north as well.

      -Christy

      Reply
  19. Ruth Rieckehoff says

    Thanks for the tips. I camped in Morro Bay during the summer and was thinking about doing the same in Big Sur. Now, I have a better idea of where to go.

    Reply
    • Ordinary Traveler says

      No problem! I’m sure you will love any of these campgrounds.

      Reply

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Welcome to our adventure travel blog! We are Christy and Scott and we've been traveling the world together since 2006. Our goal is to inspire others to live an adventurous life, as well as provide trip ideas and helpful travel tips for people with limited vacation time.
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