4.35204 reviews
Select a month, then check for open campsites
Price
$20 - $35/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
68 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Select a month, then check for open campsites
Price
$20 - $35/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
68 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
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500 San Simeon Creek Road, Cambria, CA 93428
Winter or spring coastal trips where the draw is the elephant seal boardwalk, monarch viewing, and sunset walks to the beach. Site 234 gets a partial ocean view and more breathing room than the tightly packed interior sites. At $20/night, it's one of the cheaper coastal Californi
Quiet sleepers will struggle here. Reviewers consistently flag noise from groups and generators, and the campground host does little enforcing after 10 PM. No flush toilets, no electrical hookups, no cell signal inside the grounds, and dogs can't go on the beach or trails.
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Winter delivers the best combination of wildlife viewing and coastal scenery. Mid-winter (December through February) is peak season for monarch butterfly clustering, and low tides reveal abundant shorebirds and intertidal life. Expect highs in the upper 50s to low 60s°F, lows in the mid-40s to 50s. Storms bring wet, windy days but also clear post-storm vistas. Trails stay quieter than summer. Year-round temperatures hover between 59°F and 62°F, though ocean winds add bite to mornings and cool summer afternoons. Pack layers.
Winter best for wildlife viewing (monarch clusters) and quieter coastal scenery per description.
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The Washburn Campground, part of Hearst San Simeon State Park, offers a primitive camping experience located approximately one mile inland on a plateau overlooking the Santa Lucia Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Amenities include chemical toilets, picnic tables, fire rings at each campsite, and water spigots nearby. Registered campers can access token-operated showers, an RV sanitation station, and water-fill station located at the San Simeon Creek Campground, a short drive away. Firewood is available for purchase from the campground host at San Simeon Creek. The campground has no electrical hookups. User reviews provide varied insights, with some praising the views and cleanliness of the site, while others criticize the lack of patrolling to enforce quiet hours.
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