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Camping the Central Coast
1) Choose a campground.
Not every campground is right for every camper. If you're new to camping, pick a campground that offers some
amenities, such as running water, toilets and showers. Do a little research on available facilities before you reserve
your campsite. We provide camping links on our Big Sur page and throughout this site. If you are tent camping, avoid
parks with RV hookups. Believe me, most tent campers don't like camping next to RVs, which can be noisy with their
A/C and generators running all night.
2) Reservations.
The Central Coast is a popular destination, with millions traveling our Coast Highway 1 every year. Don't count on
pulling into a Big Sur campground and easily finding a campsite. Make reservations as far ahead of time as possible.
When you make reservations, be sure to get a confirmation over the phone or in an email, and get all necessary
information while on the phone. Ask about their cancellation and refund policy, check-in times, and visitor rules before
you get to the campground. For local reservations, check availibility at ReserveAmerica or Recreation.gov.
3) Try out your gear in advance.
When you acquire new camping gear, take the time to try it out before you get to the campground. Set the tent up in
your back yard so that you can become familiar with how it goes up, and just as important, how it comes down and
packs. Use your sleeping bags in the family room for a night to see how comfortable it is and how well you sleep.
Cook a meal on your campstove to see how well it performs. Try your lanterns outside at night so that you can see just
how much light they give off.
4) Choosing a campsite.
Never choose your campsite hastily. When choosing your campsite, look at its proximity to things like bathrooms,
showers, streams, and garbage disposal areas. Some places are nice to have nearby while others are better off
further away.
Pick a high level spot to pitch your tent. You'll sleep better, and should it rain during the night water will drain away from
your tent. Erect your tent far enough from any grill or campfire so that sparks won't fly into it. Never set your tent up on
low ground. Aim your tent door away from the direction of the morning sun. That way you won't wake up and exit your
tent into the blinding sun.
6) Food and Cooking.
Cook food outdoors in designated areas, usually around the grill or campfire. Never cook in your tent. A small flame or
spark can quickly put holes in a tent. Visit our safe cooking section. Eat wherever you like at your campsite, but never
eat in your tent. Racoons will not hesitate to eat holes in your tent to get to food crumbs. Store all food in tight
containers, preferably in the trunk of your car. If you leave your cooler out, put a rock or something heavy on top to keep
wild animals out. You can also secure it to your picnic table with bungee cords. Never leave food sitting out. Scrub
jays, Stellar's jays and crows are the least of your worries, and they can clear a picnic table in minutes. Remember,
we share the Central Coast with raccoons, coyotes, foxes, black bear and mountain lions. It is not wise to attract them.
Keep a clean camp. Douse all campfires with water when you are done, and leave firepits free of cans and trash. Buy
your firewood from the campground host, don't raid the forest.
7) Camping Etiquette and Responsibility.
Do not walk through other campsites. It is obtrusive and most people find it objectional.
Keep your pets on a leash, and please pick up after them. Don't leave your dog tied up and alone at your campsite,
they want to have fun too. Their barking will disturb your neighbors.
Leave nothing but your footprints. If you carry it in, carry it out. I live here and every year I am shocked and appalled at
the amount of trash and garbage left on our beaches and in our campgrounds. Please respect the wild beauty of our
area and treat it with kindness.
Take nothing but your memories. Many plants and animals on the Central Coast are endemic to our area, they are
found nowhere else on the planet. They struggle for survival in this changing world. Do not harm them or take them as
souveniers, take a picture instead. Every summer it breaks my heart to see discarded dead starfish rotting on San
Simeon Pier.
Keep it quiet. Leave the TV and CD blaster at home. You not only disturb your fellow campers, but frighten wildlife.
8) Checkout Time.
Leave a clean camp. Pick up all trash, level and clean your firepit. Pay the kids a dime for each piece of trash they pick
up. A nice gesture is to leave a few pieces of firewood to welcome the next camper. Also, you can leave a welcome
note with hiking tips or anything you found of unusual interest.
Thank you and enjoy. For good information about camping at Kirk Creek and Limekiln, see our friend site,
Big Sur Camping.
1) Choose a campground.
Not every campground is right for every camper. If you're new to camping, pick a campground that offers some
amenities, such as running water, toilets and showers. Do a little research on available facilities before you reserve
your campsite. We provide camping links on our Big Sur page and throughout this site. If you are tent camping, avoid
parks with RV hookups. Believe me, most tent campers don't like camping next to RVs, which can be noisy with their
A/C and generators running all night.
2) Reservations.
The Central Coast is a popular destination, with millions traveling our Coast Highway 1 every year. Don't count on
pulling into a Big Sur campground and easily finding a campsite. Make reservations as far ahead of time as possible.
When you make reservations, be sure to get a confirmation over the phone or in an email, and get all necessary
information while on the phone. Ask about their cancellation and refund policy, check-in times, and visitor rules before
you get to the campground. For local reservations, check availibility at ReserveAmerica or Recreation.gov.
3) Try out your gear in advance.
When you acquire new camping gear, take the time to try it out before you get to the campground. Set the tent up in
your back yard so that you can become familiar with how it goes up, and just as important, how it comes down and
packs. Use your sleeping bags in the family room for a night to see how comfortable it is and how well you sleep.
Cook a meal on your campstove to see how well it performs. Try your lanterns outside at night so that you can see just
how much light they give off.
4) Choosing a campsite.
Never choose your campsite hastily. When choosing your campsite, look at its proximity to things like bathrooms,
showers, streams, and garbage disposal areas. Some places are nice to have nearby while others are better off
further away.
Pick a high level spot to pitch your tent. You'll sleep better, and should it rain during the night water will drain away from
your tent. Erect your tent far enough from any grill or campfire so that sparks won't fly into it. Never set your tent up on
low ground. Aim your tent door away from the direction of the morning sun. That way you won't wake up and exit your
tent into the blinding sun.
6) Food and Cooking.
Cook food outdoors in designated areas, usually around the grill or campfire. Never cook in your tent. A small flame or
spark can quickly put holes in a tent. Visit our safe cooking section. Eat wherever you like at your campsite, but never
eat in your tent. Racoons will not hesitate to eat holes in your tent to get to food crumbs. Store all food in tight
containers, preferably in the trunk of your car. If you leave your cooler out, put a rock or something heavy on top to keep
wild animals out. You can also secure it to your picnic table with bungee cords. Never leave food sitting out. Scrub
jays, Stellar's jays and crows are the least of your worries, and they can clear a picnic table in minutes. Remember,
we share the Central Coast with raccoons, coyotes, foxes, black bear and mountain lions. It is not wise to attract them.
Keep a clean camp. Douse all campfires with water when you are done, and leave firepits free of cans and trash. Buy
your firewood from the campground host, don't raid the forest.
7) Camping Etiquette and Responsibility.
Do not walk through other campsites. It is obtrusive and most people find it objectional.
Keep your pets on a leash, and please pick up after them. Don't leave your dog tied up and alone at your campsite,
they want to have fun too. Their barking will disturb your neighbors.
Leave nothing but your footprints. If you carry it in, carry it out. I live here and every year I am shocked and appalled at
the amount of trash and garbage left on our beaches and in our campgrounds. Please respect the wild beauty of our
area and treat it with kindness.
Take nothing but your memories. Many plants and animals on the Central Coast are endemic to our area, they are
found nowhere else on the planet. They struggle for survival in this changing world. Do not harm them or take them as
souveniers, take a picture instead. Every summer it breaks my heart to see discarded dead starfish rotting on San
Simeon Pier.
Keep it quiet. Leave the TV and CD blaster at home. You not only disturb your fellow campers, but frighten wildlife.
8) Checkout Time.
Leave a clean camp. Pick up all trash, level and clean your firepit. Pay the kids a dime for each piece of trash they pick
up. A nice gesture is to leave a few pieces of firewood to welcome the next camper. Also, you can leave a welcome
note with hiking tips or anything you found of unusual interest.
Thank you and enjoy. For good information about camping at Kirk Creek and Limekiln, see our friend site,
Big Sur Camping.
Basic Equipment:
* Tent (Don't skimp on this, get the best you can afford.)
* Ground sheet
* Sleeping bags and pillows (We also recommend an air mattress or campbed.)
* Folding chairs (Not essential, but we sure wished we'd brought them on our last trip.)
* Camping stove and kettle
* Maps and guides of the area.
* Matches
* First aid kit (At least a few band-aids, antibiotic cream, aspirin and tweezers.)
* Portable lamp and a flashlight (Make sure each person has a flashlight, especially children,
they love to play with them.)
* Pots, pans and cutlery (Don't forget a can opener!)
* Large plastic bins with locking lids. ( We find these invaluable for storing cookware and
non-perishable foods.)
* Trash bags and ziploc bags.
* Insect spray and sunscreen
* Water jug (Freeze your drinking water before you go, and use it as ice in your cooler.)
* Towels, soap & toothbrush
* Hammer, hatchet or ax, good pocketknife
* Firewood (For sale at most public campgrounds, gathering is usually frowned upon.)
* Tent (Don't skimp on this, get the best you can afford.)
* Ground sheet
* Sleeping bags and pillows (We also recommend an air mattress or campbed.)
* Folding chairs (Not essential, but we sure wished we'd brought them on our last trip.)
* Camping stove and kettle
* Maps and guides of the area.
* Matches
* First aid kit (At least a few band-aids, antibiotic cream, aspirin and tweezers.)
* Portable lamp and a flashlight (Make sure each person has a flashlight, especially children,
they love to play with them.)
* Pots, pans and cutlery (Don't forget a can opener!)
* Large plastic bins with locking lids. ( We find these invaluable for storing cookware and
non-perishable foods.)
* Trash bags and ziploc bags.
* Insect spray and sunscreen
* Water jug (Freeze your drinking water before you go, and use it as ice in your cooler.)
* Towels, soap & toothbrush
* Hammer, hatchet or ax, good pocketknife
* Firewood (For sale at most public campgrounds, gathering is usually frowned upon.)
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