Ballinger Campground
Tucked away in the high desert, surrounded by scenic views of the badlands in the Los Padres National Forest, Ballinger Campground and day use area offers the perfect getaway for those looking to access off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails. Explore 11 four-wheel drive roads, 12 all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trails, and 14 motorcycle trails, which include loose dirt, hard pack, sand, steep hills, and a few jumps and berms.
More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 13 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 70 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
13 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Pull-through | 70 | Gravel | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 02 | Pull-through | 70 | Gravel | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 03 | Pull-through | 70 | Gravel | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 04 | Pull-through | 70 | Gravel | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 05 | Pull-through | 70 | Gravel | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 06 | Pull-through | 70 | Gravel | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 07 | Pull-through | 70 | Gravel | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 08 | Pull-through | 70 | Gravel | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 09 | Pull-through | 70 | Gravel | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 10 | Pull-through | 70 | Gravel | 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.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 70 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Open daily and year-round, the campground includes 13 campsites each with 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 onsite. To the left of the fee/information boards is a "staging area" to offload gear. There is no dump station. The campsites have no barriers or boulders, so all sizes of toy haulers, trailers and campers do well here.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | Open year-round |
| Forest | Los Padres National Forest |
| Fees | Day use parking is $10/day. Concession-managed area. Campground is $20/night by reservation: www.recreation.gov or first-come, first-served. Reservations on weekends year-round are strongly recommended. |
| Rules | For current fire restrictions and campfire permit information, contact the Mt. Pinos Ranger District at (661) 245-3731 ext. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Los Angeles: Take I-5 north to 126 west to Santa Paula Hwy 150 exit. Go north on Hwy 150 for 20 miles to the intersection of highway 33. Go north over the mountain, 55 miles to Ballinger Cyn rd. Turn right and proceed 2 miles to the entrance.
| Coordinates | 34.8839° N, 119.4452° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Thousand Trails ↗ | 30.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Ojai Valley Surplus ↗ | 32.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | Harder RV Storage ↗ | 35.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
BALLINGER CAMPGROUND REVIEW walkthrough; campsites, ohv, amenities; Los Padres National Fo
Worth a stop
Hiking trails, biking and fishing are easily accessed within 30 minutes from Ballinger Campground. Day trips to the higher elevation mountains for snow play in the winter.
- 14.3 miWest Tumamait Trailhead - 21W03 ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- under 0.1 miBallinger OHV #24 ↗6.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, 4WD
- 0.1 miBallinger OHV #62.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 0.1 miBallinger OHV #101.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 0.8 miBallinger OHV #110.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 0.9 miBallinger OHV #121.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 1.3 miBallinger OHV #143.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
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
Los Padres National Forest begins about 2.1 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 2.1 miLos Padres National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,970,265 acres
- 2.1 miBitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge ↗National Wildlife Refuge · Fish and Wildlife Service · 14,872 acres
- 8.3 miDick Smith Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 71,275 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
- Madulce Guard Station and SiteBuilding · Santa Barbara · 14.6 mi
Natural features
Junipers, lupine and tall scrub and brush surround Ballinger Canyon, just inland of California's Central Coast and regionally bound by the Sierra Madre and Caliente Mountain Ranges.
Recreation
The Ballinger Campground and day use areas are best appreciated by OHV enthusiasts. ATVs/Quad Runners/Dual Sports/Single track, will find access to 68 miles of marked and rated trails that range from novice-friendly hard packed trails, twisty sand washes, open play areas to steep and rugged black diamond, all accessed from your scenic high desert camping spot.
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 Ballinger Campground?
Sites at Ballinger Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Ballinger Campground?
Day use parking is $10/day. Concession-managed area. Campground is $20/night by reservation: www.recreation.gov or first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Ballinger Campground?
Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Ballinger Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Open year-round.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Ballinger Campground have?
13 sites, including 13 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Ballinger Campground?
The longest site here provides 70 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 Ballinger Campground?
There is no dump station.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Ballinger Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Ballinger Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Ballinger Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. For current fire restrictions and campfire permit information, contact the Mt.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Ballinger Campground?
The Ballinger Campground and day use areas are best appreciated by OHV enthusiasts. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Ballinger Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Marian Campground (13 mi, first-come), Rancho Nuevo Campground (13.3 mi, first-come), and Campo Alto Campground (14.1 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby