April 18, 2025 The…read morelocation of this state park can't be beat. Located on the coast, it is near many "must-see" attractions, such as Hearst Castle and the Elephant Seal viewpoints. This State Park has a day-use area and two campgrounds: Washburn Day Use Area, San Simeon Creek Campground and the more primitive Washburn Campground. San Simeon Creek Campground is closer to the ocean; Washburn Campground is about a mile or two inland, overlooking the Santa Lucia mountains. The day-use area is open from 8AM to sunset, and is easily accessed from Highway 1, has picnic sites, parking, restrooms, water faucets, barbecue grills, and easy beach access (unless you are a dog...) One star down from an excellent rating for two reasons: The beach, sadly, is NDA (no dogs allowed), and the day use picnic tables are located next to the highway.

campground is reasonably priced because it is a "primitive" campground, meaning no hookups, no hot…read morespot access or wifi, no cell service and no tv. they have the weirdest generator hours (10 am to 4 pm only?) which means primitive coffee and a cold dinner! I don't get it! a trail leading from the upper campsites to the midsection is overgrown and needs to be cleaned up. it looked like the lawnmower they were using didn't have a sharp blade or no blade. as a californian, this place needs help! we were here years ago and it wasn't this bad. hearst castle and the elephant seal viewpoint are close. we stayed 8 days but recommend a weekend or shorter week.

Hidden gem! In the dry and hot weather that I associate with everything north east of the 46 there…read moreis a beautiful farm that sells delicious jams and doubles as and even doubles as an event venue! It's the perfect setting for weddings. I can only imagine how amazing the photos come out here. The amount of work that has gone into creating this place really does impress me. I'm still dreaming of that chocolate port jam and will definitely come back for more

This venue popped onto my feed during wedding planning and I'm so glad it did! My now husband and I…read morewere sold after seeing the old oak tree and the silo bar! This place is beautiful, with many spots for pictures, you really wouldn't think all this lush greenery would be inside the venue when driving past it. I love that it's a family owned farm and everyone took part in making our day the best - and that we got to memorialize our wedding by making a stepping stone!! Barbara was great to work with, and her jams were yummy! Not only is this place a wedding venue, you can go camping or even stay at the bed & toast/jam!

Site 29! Had a great stay here. Stayed April 7th and 8th. First day and night were clear and we…read morewere able to see so many stars at night. As far as the campsite it self, i was a little scared that it would be too sloped, but it wasnt bad at all. We used a tent and set it up on the left side and kept the table/bench in the middle. We still had awesome views of the water. Everything was so green it looked like it was a filtered photograph. You could see the vault bathroom from our site but we couldn't smell it. The smell was very prominent though around the area where the host was staying. Bring a bucket, diapers (to soak up the pee), and thick plastic bags if you dont want to use their vault bathrooms. We didnt encounter any raccoons personally, but did see their prints all over our cooler (locked) and table in the mornings. We saw a groundhog and it spent an hour digging up a hole. Firewood was $15 a bundle. we have verizon for our cell service and had no signal at all. It actually went out about 20 miles before arriving to the campground. We were able to use the satellite option on our phones to send out a couple of text messages. Wish we lived closer cause the drive from Orange County was long. Enjoy the photos

Kirk Creek Campground offers one of the most breathtaking coastal views you'll find anywhere in…read moreCalifornia. Waking up right on the cliffs above the ocean is incredible and truly makes the trip worth it. There's no cell service, though newer iPhones with satellite messaging can still send and receive texts if needed. Just be prepared: the campground is very rustic. There's no water, no power, and only basic latrines. At $45 per night, it feels a bit steep considering the lack of amenities, but that's the Recreation.gov rate- and the scenery does soften the sting. If you're driving in, know that Nacimiento-Fergusson Road is not recommended for large vehicles, trailers, or anything that struggles with braking downhill. For larger rigs, Highway 1 is definitely the safer and better option. The surrounding area is amazing, with tons of hikes, beaches, and spots to explore. You can even find local jade along the beaches and in riverbeds, which is a fun bonus. The campground hosts are enthusiastic, friendly, and genuinely helpful- one of the highlights of staying here. The only major downside is the raccoon situation. They go absolutely wild at night- climbing on tables, chairs, coolers, even cars and trailers. They will try to open anything they can, so make sure everything is secured or locked up. It would be great to see the park system address this, because they're definitely a persistent (and bold) nuisance. Overall, Kirk Creek is stunning, quiet, and unforgettable- as long as you're ready for a rustic experience and some energetic nighttime visitors.

Morro Bay is home...we'll at least where my heart is. I lived here for a number of years before…read moremoving to Tennessee. Still one of my most favorite places/beaches in the world! I absolutely love it when the fog rolls into the bay. Not so good for tanning, but peaceful for sure. I got to sit on the beach and listen to the waves my last day here with the moisture of the fog on my face, my last day here

It's a big NO from me! Super small campsites, no enforcement at all; one side of me at a tent site…read morewas a huge family with their big RV's and the other side had noisy loud people talking loud until midnight. Only plus is that it's next to the ocean but the entire city is next to the ocean so if you want a nice comfy stay, this isn't it. Then I drove to the other campground, Morro Bay campground , and had the same situation over there campsites on top of each other, so I just went back to the Strand and packed up my stuff and left.. one of the worst campgrounds I have ever encountered. 2 stars because the park aide was nice.

Wow!!! Loved this campsite and the camp hosts here! Came up and it was my first camping by the…read morebeach and wow, it was beautiful. The campsites were clean and access to sand dollar beach was amazing. Make sure you go during low tide though so you can actually walk down to the beach! My partner and I talked to the camp hosts and they were so sweet and accommodating. They made sure the campsites were clean and checked in with us. We will 100% be back here this year since we had such a great experience. Thank you Katie and James!!

This is a dry Campsite with water faucets in between two campsites. Large restrooms with toilet &…read moresink the sink not in use, it has a bag covering it. No lighting inside be sure to have a flashlight of some kind for nighttime use. The camp host's were very friendly and informative. It is pet friendly our Corgi came home with quite a few ticks on him (6) we had never experienced that before. I suggest your pet be given some flea & tick meds prior to visiting campsite. We had a visit to the Vet and Archie is fine... We enjoyed our 3 nt. stay. It was March and the weather was perfect for hiking & walks on the beach. It rained one of the afternoon into evening while we were there, I would recommend staying here.

After my mom passed away, I needed a quiet getaway before her memorial. My friend and I decided to…read morego to Avila Beach, and we ended up staying at Flying Flags. We had actually discovered the campground the week before while driving up the coast, and we liked the area so much that we came back the following week. Before going, I had read some negative reviews, especially about the bathrooms, so I was a little hesitant. However, we had already booked our stay, so we decided to go--and I am so glad we did. Our experience was simply amazing. The campground was clean, quiet, and relaxing. We each stayed in our own Jupe, and both of them were very clean, comfortable, and nicely set up inside. The bedding was provided, and we already knew towels were not included, so we brought our own. We requested our own fire pit right in front of each Jupe which made the experience feel private, peaceful, and special. The views from our Jupes were beautiful, and the atmosphere was exactly what I needed. During the day, we would go into town to get food, visit stores, or explore the area. We felt comfortable leaving our belongings behind because the campground felt safe and secure. The staff was also friendly, and the whole place had a calm, welcoming feel. One thing I really appreciated was the quiet environment. They have a noise policy, and it made the campground feel peaceful instead of chaotic. It was a wonderful place to relax, clear my mind, and work on things for my mom's memorial while still having space to breathe. The prices were very reasonable, the weather was nice, and the overall experience was better than I expected. It truly felt like a mental and emotional reset during a difficult time. I almost do not want to recommend it because it feels like such a hidden gem, and I would love for it to stay peaceful and uncrowded so I can go back. But honestly, it was a beautiful getaway, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a quiet, clean, relaxing camping experience near Avila Beach.

Highly recommend this friendly, luxury camping venue! The jupe tents were amazing. Quiet, cozy,…read morewarm, comfortable and incredible views. You cannot build a fire but they will provide you with a propane "fire pit" for $35 and it runs for quite a while. It is often very windy in this area from 2-5 pm give or take so bring a windbreaker and a hat . We loved watching the otters from our tent in the most comfortable wooden deck chairs. The sea lions were doing their mating calls day and night which was hilarious and added to the fun culture of the place. Pack a sound machine if this would bother you in the night. The staff were very kind and communicated well. We got awesome $5 shirts at the welcome store and the lady working let our toddler use her binoculars to look out at the sea life which really made his day. She was very sweet and deserves a raise! There was bocce ball and cornhole towards the entrance. Very nice and clean bathrooms, center of the campground. A private beach located down the hill. Everything was dog friendly! Free coffee and cocoa at the welcome shop during store open hours. Tons of informative information given to us about the history of the land and its people, upon check in. Really the whole experience was great and we have no complaints, only praises. Thank you!

I fell I love with this beach many years ago. The drive here is INCREDIBLE! I literally have dreams…read moreabout driving under the bridge! You go under to get to this secluded beach off of Hwy 1. I had no idea that you could choose between 3 different campsites until I decided I HAD to be under the moonlight at the beach on 2.22.22 at 2:22 pm. And the views are BREATH TAKING from the beach campsite. They were also freezing, windy, and WET in February! And all of the trails were closed when we visited due to the fire, but it was like a little slice of Heaven to disconnect and spend 2 nights off the grid with great folks. The rangers who serve this place are BEYOND friendly, and they do an awesome job of keeping the bathrooms clean. I believe they were cleaned 3 times a day. And the campsites were so self contained, you really had no idea there were up to 29 sites there. Camping on the beach meant you heard the crash of waves all night long. It was so very peaceful! And while the view looked almost warm, there was NOTHING warm about being there in February. But if you had a camper, and the right gear, the rain and wind would be worth it just to burn that image eternally into your mind! I hope I can snag this location during the warmer months. I'm just in love with everything about LimeKiln.

Heads up a number of trails are still closed from the fire so it's not possible to access the falls…read moreand other trails as in the past. We had site #6 near the beach. The sites are very close to each other. Our first night before our immediate neighbors arrived was amazing - incredible views of the beach/ocean from the campsite and very peaceful. Restrooms including shower were nearby and cleaned every morning. Next night, we were surrounded by big groups on both sides and it felt like a parking lot tent city and it did not seem like car parking restrictions were enforced. The sites are so close we could hear intense snoring on both sides. Neighboring kids would come and smack/kick at our dogs - they were young but still not cool and I was annoyed their parents stood by and watched. We will try Kirk Creek instead next time to get more space. Pros - we loved the incredible access to the beach. Amenities seemed to work well (until inconsiderate folks started to ignore basic human decency like flushing!). Cons - no access to internet (despite it being available but it is locked), some beach sites are very close together, trails closed.

Beautiful place. You can definitely find some special spots to have an adventure in. A ton of…read morehermit crabs. You can see the otters swimming with the surfers.

A nice spot a few minutes drive from the rock and the town. Spaces are nice and clean. A little too…read morecozy to adjacent neighborhoods for my liking. It was the week after Memorial Day weekend and the place was sparsely occupied. The app showed the park as full though it was at least half empty. The restrictions were clean and it was a short walk to the beautiful trail. There was a restaurant very close by that we'd like to try next visit. The staff were super friendly. We had a knock on the door from park police. Apparently the staff at entry didn't have our tags marked for the appropriate days. A quick drive up front and all was resolved. Certainly a park worth repeating if our other preferred spots are full.

This was our first time camping, and overall it was a great experience. The campground entrance is…read moresmall and narrow, only allowing one vehicle at a time to pass in either direction, but it was manageable. We reserved campsite #13, and the drive leading up to it was very pleasant. We checked in with the campground host at the end of the road, he was very friendly and gave us helpful tips about nearby trails. One thing we didn't realize beforehand is that you have to walk from the parking spot up to the campsite. It's not a long walk, and it wasn't difficult for us since we packed light, but it's something to keep in mind if you're bringing large or heavy gear. The area is well shaded and isn't connected with other campsites. The restroom was conveniently located near the parking area and was clean. There was also a food storage box nearby, which we used at night. We didn't notice other campers using it, but since it was our first time camping, we followed general safety advice we found online. The campsite itself was spacious enough for two tents, ours was about 11x7 feet, and still had plenty of room. Firewood bundles were available for purchase from the camp host for $10 each, or you can bring your own. This site is conveniently located near two of the three trailheads, which made exploring easy. We didn't see much wildlife during our stay, but we did spot some birds, a coyote, and a few lizards. Insects weren't much of an issue, though there were quite a few caterpillars dropping from the trees. We did not experience any bears or mountain lions at night. The campground is also a short drive from Morro Bay, where we went fishing and grabbed lunch. Overall, it was a wonderful campground and a perfect place for our first camping trip.

Beautiful views. Morro rock in the background. Very challenging hike. Up to 1700 elevation.read more