Escondido Campground
Currently closed for seasonal closure. Reopens May 16, 2026 on a first-come, first-served basis. Periodic closures may occur during wet weather. Access road has 3 miles of unsurfaced road.
National Forest System Roads
Follow California Vehicle Code on National Forest System Roads
Fireworks and Explosives are always Prohibited
Fireworks and explosives (including explosive targets) are always prohibited on national forest lands. The prohibition of fireworks and exploding targets on national forest system lands is part of a set of permanent fire safety regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), listed below.…
Los Padres Fire Use and Firearm Restrictions
Prohibits building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, on the Los Padres National Forest System lands, except in the Designated Campfire Use Sites. Reference the sites listed in Exhibit A.NOTE: Only persons with a valid CA Campfire Permit are exempt from this Order…
About
Escondido Campground is one of the best kept secrets in the Santa Lucia Mountains within Los Padres National Forest. This family-friendly campground boasts scenic vistas that will take your breath away. Surrounded by spectacular rock formations and sprawling oaks, the campground rests in a beautiful grassy meadow at 2,175 feet elevation. The diverse environment contains ponderosa pine, oak madrone, and sycamore trees. The campground offers nine tent-only sites, eight of which are reservable through Recreation.gov while one remains first-come, first-served. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring, with a maximum occupancy of 8 people per site. Two vault toilets serve the campground, but there is no potable water on-site, so campers must bring their own drinking water. Recreational opportunities are endless. Trailheads located near the campground provide access to hiking, biking, backpacking, and horseback riding, with hitching posts available. The Arroyo Seco River runs through the canyon terrain just a short distance away. Wildlife viewing and bird watching are popular activities. The historic San Antonio Mission, one of the oldest California Missions, is within a 15-minute drive.
Directions
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.
Location
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $30 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (831) 385-5434 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Availability
Photos
Community Posts
No posts yet. Be the first to share your experience!