![]() You’ll have to lug your gear a half-mile to the diminutive campground at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, but the payoff is one of two coveted sites perched on cypress-shaded cliffs just above the churning Pacific. ![]() ![]() ![]() In addition to spiffy tent sites-request one along the Big Sur River-they outfit guests with complimentary firewood, ice, camp mugs, and inner tubes to plunk into the property’s two swimming holes.Īlila Ventana Big Sur Alila Ventana Big Sur Walk-in sitesĪ handful of parks offer special settings and facilities comparable to car campgrounds, yet lack the convenience of parking at your site. When the state and federal parks are booked? Try a private camp such as Big Sur Campground & Cabins. A short trail leads to a rocky shore where you can comb for polished sea glass and jade. At nearby Kirk Creek Campground, you’ll have to bring your own water and settle for non-flushing toilets, but you’ll enjoy sweeping ocean views and sunsets from each of the 33 spacious sites that sit atop a grassy blufftop. The park is named for the massive, historic kilns that processed the site’s limestone, a critical ingredient of the cement that helped build a booming, 19th century San Francisco (note: check for status updates on the Limekiln Falls Trail which leads to the kilns and a 100-foot waterfall it is currently closed due to damage from the 2020 Dolan Fire). Located toward Big Sur’s southern end, Limekiln State Park offers one campground set along an ambling creek within a lush, fern-lined redwood forest, and another fronting a rugged beach cove. Activities include seasonal campfire programs, a scenic one-mile hike to Pfeiffer Falls, and, in warm weather months, leaping into the crystalline pools of the Big Sur River Gorge. If you’re lucky enough to score one of the 189 spots at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, you’ll be treated to a gorgeous old-growth redwood grove enlivened by the Big Sur River and set against a backdrop of the Santa Lucia Mountains. Drive-in sitesįor a Big Sur camping experience that’s well-suited for families and first-timers-we’re talking roomy sites, running water, well-stocked general stores-look to the area’s car campgrounds. The best Big Sur campsites to bookīig Sur campsites run the gamut, from rustic hike-in spots to glampsites jam-packed with amenities-and the price points vary accordingly. A campfire ban could squash those plans for s’mores. Before you load up the trunk, check road conditions for Highway 1, the primary route in and out of Big Sur, in addition to fire restrictions. In recent years, Big Sur has weathered devastating wildfires and landslides that have shut down roads, hiking trails, and campsites. Just resist the urge to camp along the side of the road, or risk a $1,000 fine.Īlways check the weather before your visit If you miss your window of opportunity, try Campflare which alerts users of last-minute cancellations. Most sites book up six months in advance, even during the winter. ![]() Outside of a rainy Tuesday in February, you’re not likely to nab a campsite by showing up on the day of your visit-it's very hard to camp in Big Sur without a reservation. If you can brave cooler temps, November through February offers primo whale watching, as much of the coast is dotted with the misty plumes of migrating humpbacks. While there’s little chance of avoiding crowds altogether-mild weather makes Big Sur popular year-round-you’ll better appreciate the area’s charms during the shoulder seasons of spring, when wildflowers abound, and in fall, when the region enjoys its very best weather. Yet summer also brings swarms of tourists and a morning marine layer that can obscure those glorious vistas. When to goĬamping and summer go hand-in-hand, and in Big Sur, it’s no exception with balmy days and cooling dips in the Big Sur River this time of year. While many think of Big Sur as the compact stretch of Highway 1 that’s clustered with restaurants, inns, and destination parks-what locals refer to as The Village-it’s actually a roughly 70-mile expanse that extends from the Carmel Highlands to just shy of San Simeon. The campground at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is a short stroll from McWay Falls Braxton Stuntz/Unsplash What to know before you go ![]()
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