Plaskett Creek Campground has green lawns, flush toilets & across from Sand Dollar Beach, on Hwy 1 / Ponderosa Campground, on the other hand, has oaks and easy access from Hwy 101
Central Coast Camping
Monterey Ranger District of Los Padres National Forest manages several Campgrounds along the Central Coast. Most are first come, first serve.
- Bottchers Gap Campground (inland on Rd #18S05)
- Kirk Creek Campground (on coastal cliffs)
- Nacimiento Campground (inland on Nacimiento Rd #22S01)
- Plaskett Creek Campground ( w/ reservations, on Hwy 1)
- Ponderosa Campground (inland on Nacimiento Rd #22S01)
Free camping in Big Sur can be found on the numerous dirt back roads:
No charge camp sites means dirt road access, no camp fires & no facilities (table, bathrooms, fire pits). Plus these hard to find spots usually require that you have a National Forest map to scout them out. If you want no crowds, excellent views of the coast & the night sky, plus avoiding fees then you will want to take one of these dirt roads off the highway & start exploring (preferably before dark)
- Los Padres Forest Rd #23S01 Willow Creek Road (aka Los Burros)
- Los Padres Forest Rd #20S05 Prewitt Ridge Road
Big Sur State Park Campgrounds include -
