Pinnacles Campground
Pinnacles Campground is located in the unique Pinnacles National Park, 32 miles south of Hollister, California. The park encompasses 26,000 acres of spectacular rock formations and remnants of an extinct 23 million-year old volcano. Hiking and rock climbing are very popular activities in Pinnacles, as is watching for the majestic California condor overhead. Pinnacles National Park is a nesting place for the endangered soaring bird, the largest in North America.
More like this: electric hookups in California · reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California · group sites in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 74 |
| RV with electric | 30 |
| Group sites | 13 |
| Tent-only | 7 |
| Cabins | 6 |
| Cabins with electric | 4 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 75 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
134 sites in 5 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Shade | Power | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | Standard | 27 | Full | No | 6 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 2 | A | Standard | Pull-through | 38 | Partial | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 3 | A | Standard | 38 | Partial | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 4 | A | Standard | 40 | Partial | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 5 | A | Standard | 40 | Partial | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 6 | A | Standard | 36 | Partial | No | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 7 | A | Standard | 24 | Partial | No | 6 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 8 | A | Standard | 36 | Partial | No | 6 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 9 | A | Standard | 29 | Partial | No | 6 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 10 | A | Standard | 29 | Partial | No | 6 / 1 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric |
| Max vehicle length | 75 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
Pinnacles Campground is located on the eastern side of the park and is open year-round. It offers family and group tent sites, as well as RV sites with electric hookups. Roads and parking spurs are gravel. Flush toilets and drinking water are provided. Showers are available. A general store with basic foods and camping supplies is located on-site. A swimming pool is located within the campground and is open from April through September.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Pinnacles National Park is located 32 miles south of Hollister, CA on Hwy 25 and 29 miles northeast of King City, CA on Hwy 25. Campground is located on the east side of Pinnacles National Park off Hwy 25.
| Nearest town | Paicines, California |
| Coordinates | 36.4664° N, 121.1761° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireTimber
35 mi from the campground · 25,350 acres · 97% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 2.5 mi |
| Outdoor gear | REI ↗ | 37.8 mi |
| RV sales & service | Toscano RV Outlet ↗ | 44.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
A guide to Pinnacles National Park, Pinnacles Campground Review
Worth a stop
- 1.1 miBear Gulch Nature Center ↗Visitor center
- 2.9 miWest Pinnacles Visitor Contact Station ↗Visitor center
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Hain Wilderness.
- inHain Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 15,985 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Bear Valley SchoolBuilding · Paicines · 4.9 mi
- Los Coches RanchoSite · Soledad · 9 mi
Natural features
The campground is situated in a rolling landscape dotted with shady Valley Oak, Blue Oak and Coast Live Oak trees. A gentle, seasonal creek runs through the grounds. Springtime finds Pinnacles bursting with a wide variety of vivid wildflowers that line every trail and fill entire meadows with color. Deer and wild turkeys roam the area, and condors can be viewed from within the campground. The park ranges in elevation from 824 feet along South Chalone Creek to 3,304 feet atop North Chalone Peak.
Recreation
Pinnacles National Park has more than 30 miles of trails, ranging from easy to strenuous. Many trails intersect, allowing for a short loop or a longer all-day hike. Popular destinations include Bear Gulch Reservoir, High Peaks and the Balconies area. The Bench Trail provides direct access to the park from the campground. Visitors enjoy exploring Balconies Cave and Bear Gulch Cave, which houses a large colony of Townsend's big-eared bats. Bring a flashlight! Rock climbers flock to Pinnacles for the variety of climbing routes that range from easy top-ropes to the multi-pitch climbs along Machete Ridge.
Guidebooks for Pinnacles National Park and California
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Best Easy Day Hikes Pinnacles National ParkLinda Mullally and David Mullally, 2016Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Pinnacles Campground?
Sites at Pinnacles Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Pinnacles Campground?
Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Pinnacles Campground have?
134 sites, including 74 standard sites without power, 30 RV sites with electric, 13 group sites, and 7 tent-only sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Pinnacles Campground?
The longest site here provides 75 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Pinnacles Campground have hookups?
Yes, electric hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Pinnacles Campground?
Flush toilets and drinking water are provided.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Pinnacles Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Pinnacles Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Pinnacles Campground?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Pinnacles Campground?
Pinnacles National Park has more than 30 miles of trails, ranging from easy to strenuous. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Pinnacles Campground?
Paicines, California.
Source: Getting there
What if Pinnacles Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Arroyo Seco (23 mi), Arroyo Seco Group Campground (23.6 mi, first-come), and White Oaks Campground (24.1 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby
Which national park is Pinnacles Campground in?
Pinnacles Campground is a Pinnacles National Park campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.
Source: Pinnacles National Park