Escondido Campground
Escondido Campground is one of the best kept secrets in the Santa Lucia Mountains. This family-friendly campground boasts scenic vistas that will take your breath away. Surrounded by spectacular rock formations and sprawling oaks this campground rests in a beautiful grassy meadow. The outdoor activities are endless. Hiking, biking, wildlife viewing, picnicking, and bird watching are just a few of the activities you can do while visiting this Los Padres National Forest gem.
More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Tent-only | 9 |
Site guide
9 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Back-in | 42 | Gravel | None | No / – | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 02 | Back-in | 42 | Gravel | None | No / – | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 03 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | None | No / – | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 04 | Back-in | 50 | Gravel | None | No / – | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 05 | Back-in | 32 | Gravel | None | No / – | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 06 | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | None | No / – | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 07 | Back-in | 42 | Gravel | None | No / – | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 08 | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | None | No / – | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 09 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | None | No / – | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
9 campsite locations mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The site numbers are theirs and may not match the posts at the campground. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Amenities & rules
| Max vehicle length | 50 ft |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Open daily and year-round, there are nine campsites and each include a picnic table and fire ring. Two vault toilets are located near the campsites. You should plan to be completely self-sustainable for the duration of your trip. There is no potable water (drinking water) onsite. There is no dump station.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Forest | Los Padres National Forest |
| Booking | Reservations: www.recreation.gov or you can call 1-877-444-6777. Reservations need to be made 8 or more days in advance. |
| Fees | $30/per night. Extra vehicles are $10 per vehicle per night. Interagency Senior Pass or Access Pass entitles pass holder to 50% discount on camping fee only. Not valid for extra vehicles or day use within campground. |
| Rules | 14 day maximum stay. No more than 8 people per site |
Weather by month
Getting there
Take Highway 101 to Jolon Road, turn onto Mission Road, to Del Venture Road. Travel 12 miles to the campground. Last 3 miles is unsurfaced.
| Coordinates | 36.1413° N, 121.4931° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireTimber
14 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 ↗ | 19.5 mi |
| Outdoor gear | The Treadmill ↗ | 35.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
Hiking trails, biking, fishing, horseback riding are within minutes of this campground. The San Antonio Mission, one of the oldest of the California Missions, is within a 15-minute drive.
- 6.4 miArroyo Seco Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miLost Valley ↗18.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2.1 miArroyo Seco ↗4.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.2 miRodeo Flat2.6 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2.4 miSanta Lucia ↗14.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.2 miLost Valley Connector1.6 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 3.3 miSanta Lucia Peak2.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Ventana Wilderness.
- inVentana Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 236,726 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
Natural features
Escondido Campground has a diverse and thriving environment that contains ponderosa pine, oak madrone and sycamore trees, just to name a few. The Arroyo Seco River runs through this canyon terrain and only a short distance from the campground. A variety of wildlife viewing and backpacking opportunities await at this hidden treasure.
Recreation
Escondido Campground has trailheads located near the campground and is only a short drive to multiple other trails with access to backpacking, hiking, biking and horseback riding. Hitching posts for your horses are available at the campground trailhead. Sandstone landscapes, wildflowers and wildlife are part of the experience in this pristine part of the forest.
Guidebooks for California
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Escondido Campground?
Sites at Escondido Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations: www.recreation.gov or you can call 1-877-444-6777. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Escondido Campground?
$30/per night. Extra vehicles are $10 per vehicle per night. Interagency Senior Pass or Access Pass entitles pass holder to 50% discount on camping fee only.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Escondido Campground?
Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Escondido Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Escondido Campground have?
9 sites, including 9 tent-only sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Escondido Campground?
The longest site here provides 50 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
Are there showers or a dump station at Escondido Campground?
There is no dump station.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Escondido Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Escondido Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Escondido Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. 14 day maximum stay.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Escondido Campground?
Escondido Campground has trailheads located near the campground and is only a short drive to multiple other trails with access to backpacking, hiking, biking and horseback riding. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Escondido Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Memorial Campground (2.4 mi), Arroyo Seco Group Campground (6.3 mi, first-come), and Arroyo Seco (6.8 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby