4.35204 reviewsPrice
$20 - $35/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
68 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Price
$20 - $35/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
68 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.
Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans
263,000+ sites monitored · Email alerts to start; SMS and in-app with an account
Learn more about alerts →Washburn Campground
500 San Simeon Creek Road, Cambria, CA 93428
We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.
Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans
263,000+ sites monitored · Email alerts to start; SMS and in-app with an account
Learn more about alerts →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.
Camper Report Card
Rated higher than 29% of graded campgrounds
Graded on what 95 campers actually wrote - graded on 14 things that make or break a trip. Each topic is graded against every other campground on it - A is among the best, C about average. No star ratings.
Strengths
Watch-outs
Each topic is graded against every other campground on it; a topic campers liked never grades below C−. ± shows the 95% confidence range from the sample size.
Washburn Campground appears in our curated guides. Explore more top-rated campgrounds for the same activities and regions.
Availability, what to pack, similar spots — ask anything and get an instant answer.
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 is best for wildlife viewing and monarch clusters; quieter and scenic according to seasonal notes.
Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.
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.
Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.
Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.
Rate Washburn Campground
Been here? Tap a star to start. Takes about a minute.
Sign-in required only if you want your name on it.
Be the first to review this campground
Every adventure creates another. Share what you learned so the next camper feels a little more prepared heading out.
