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.
Heat Advisory issued October 8 at 9:57AM PDT until October 8 at 10:00PM PDT by NWS San Francisco CA
* WHAT...Hot conditions with maximum temperatures in the mid-90s to near 105. * WHERE...The East Bay and San Francisco Bay Shoreline, North Bay Interior Mountains and Valleys, The Santa Clara Valley and Eastern Hills, The Santa Cruz Mountains, Interior Monterey County and the Santa Lucia Range, Most of San Benito County and the Cholame Hills in Southeast Monterey County, and Southern Salinas Valley/Arroyo Seco and Lake San Antonio. * WHEN...Until 10 PM PDT this evening. * IMPACTS...This level of heat affects anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration. Impacts likely in some health systems, heat-sensitive industries and infrastructure.
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.…
Monterey Ranger District Emergency Closure Order with Exceptions
To provide for public safety, the Timber and Plaskett Fire Area are closed, including roads and trails described in Exhibit A and shown on the Exhibit B Map.This Forest Order No. 05-07-51-26-11 supersedes Forest Order No. 05-07-51-26-10.
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!