Reservations possible?
Yes
RV Hookups
No
Potable water
Yes
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

If Big Sur redwoods, riverside camping, and nearby hiking trails leading into the Santa Lucia mountains sound enticing, look no further than Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Campground. Located in the heart of northern Big Sur, this large and well-maintained campground offers guests an ideal base camp for exploring the Big Sur coast or for simply staying local within the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park itself.

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park sits in the Big Sur River Valley and covers over 1,000 acres. The Big Sur River runs through the campground and provides swimming holes on hot days, and you'll get hiking access to the Big Sur River Gorge and the clear refreshing pools further upstream. Valley View, Pfeiffer Falls, and Pine Ridge trails are all easily reachable from the campground on foot, and Pfeiffer Beach is a 5-mile drive down Highway 1 and Sycamore Canyon Road.

The campground has over 170 sites split between river sites, meadow sites, and forest sites that are tucked into the redwood groves. A store that sells camp provisions is open for business spring through fall and has Wi-Fi available.

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Campground is immensely popular on fair-weather weekends and holidays. Make sure to book a reservation in advance for anytime other than mid-week stays to ensure you have site. Dogs are permitted on leash within the campground only.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Great central Big Sur base camp. Big Sur River access. Hiking trails.

Cons

Can get crowded on holidays and weekends.

Pets allowed

Allowed

Managed by

California State Parks.

Reservation phone number

1 (800) 444-7275

Features

ADA accessible
Flushing toilets
Showers
Swimming holes
Potable water
Picnic tables
Amphitheater

Location

Nearby Lodging + Camping

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