San Simeon Campground | Established Campground

March 25th, 2024 by tlrkys

One extra note to add to the others: there are a lot of tics in this area. The campgrounds themselves are fine, but beware when walking on, and especially off, any of the trails. We walked from Washburn down to the beach and I found 4 or 5 tics on my shirt later that night. And one of them got me. Same for some people camping next to us.

January 6th, 2024 by fondsidestream60

It’s still $20 per night at Washburn. Table, fire ring, water spigots, decent pit toilets. I stayed two nights, nice place to relax but don’t expect frills.

October 5th, 2023 by 100gs

Campground with hiker&biker site (10$/person), showers with coins, but there was water without any coins as well. With or without coins, the water is cold.

July 4th, 2023 by plasticargument13

Stayed in Washburn Campsite 7/4-7/6, $27 a night, little expensive for a primitive site, but good overall. Dumpsters and pit toilets available. Water spigots available at most sites and at the bathrooms. No showers available in Washburn but walked over to the developed site and no one bothered me. Multiple trails connect campsite to the beach. Very little service at sites but good connection on trails along hilltops. Very beautiful marsh, trails, and pine forests. Pretty crowded when I visited, would recommend reserving a site ahead of time online. **I did not do this but upon leaving, noticed several cars boondocking along the road just BEFORE the campground entrance. Would be suspicious of a ranger approaching your car but might work in a pinch.

April 27th, 2023 by The Lost Leopards

BEWARE OF THEFT. Never staying here again. Unlevel sites. Sometimes the showers work and sometimes they only take your money. Rude, noisy neighbors. Speeders through the park. Someone stole our two camp chairs. We've been camping for 40+ years and never had anything stolen. We left our chairs to mark that our campsite was occupied while we went to tour Hearst Castle and when we returned they were gone. We found one in a nearby campsite. Apparently the thieves didn't like that the attached table was broken even though the chair was still fine.

April 10th, 2023 by marcvilleneuve2000

I selected a site at the Washburn Primitive Campground and was very happy whit it even though the showers are not available in this section.

March 12th, 2023 by travelandtravails.com

As described below. We stayed at the upper more primitive Washburn Campground. Flat, sites close to each other but I’ve seen worse, clean pit toilets. Only 2 bars of Verizon but stable enough for a zoom call. Views of beautiful green rolling hills.

December 17th, 2022 by florian.deuretzbacher

The dry site is still 20$. The rules say you can use the showers and restrooms of the more expensive hook up area but we didn’t try it. Nothing special but nice and the cheapest option for this area as boondocking is forbidden everywhere.

September 14th, 2022 by philipp.sube

Just got a place spontaneous by walk/drive in, everything else at Big Sur was full. Like described before, 20$ for dry site, 35$ for full hookup.

August 19th, 2022 by hans.die.gans

Found a place here when everything else was full in Big Sur. 20$ for primitive dry site with good clean pit toilets

10$ dumping fee, also if you already paid for the campground. stupid, but drinking water is free

April 9th, 2022 by sc-surfer

As of 4/9/2022 showers are working again.

April 9th, 2022 by sc-surfer

Hot showers and pretty clean bathrooms. Some freeway noise but minimal overnight. Heavily used CG but still a nice stay.

January 18th, 2022 by lucy

$35 plus $7.99 booking fee. Lots of spots and right off highway 1. Useful for a night when stealth is out the window! Water currently off so porta toilets in use and no showers. Unsure when it'll be back on.

January 5th, 2022 by intisolsticio

Slept in the Washburn, cheaper one.
Both are connected and managed together.
Indeed no showers or water whatsoever (though we found a spigot with a tiny flow to wash dishes).
Plenty of pit toilets.
This campground is like 2 miles from the entrance and up the hill, sites are smallish but the ground is large. Lots of sites.
Few trees but great star gazing. Fire pits in all sites.
It was nice for the price and the area.
Strange note: ALL site had a Reserved sign in the posts, even though there were only like 5% of the sites used.
We asked the neighbors and they told us that management said not to bother about it, just grab a site… Guess they just do not remove the signs and are useless?

October 25th, 2021 by liewera

We stayed in the more primitive campground, Washburn. It’s lovely, quiet, and dark. You can hear the ocean. Cell reception isn’t the best.

September 21st, 2021 by thedragonwagon.me

We stayed at the cheaper Washburn Campground for $20/night. Self pay if you arrive after hours. Nice views and you can sometimes hear waves. Prompt check out at noon and you will be reminded at 11:58 a.m. No wifi at the cheaper apots and spotty Verizon signal. Dog-friendly on leash. There are two pay hot showers near the wifi tower. One was closed. I think they may also work without paying because it seemed to keep going after my time ran out. Fire ring and picnic table. Six pit toilets and several garbage dumpsters within eye sight of my spot. Semi-level spot.

July 22nd, 2020 by jen

Called and they said closed til mid-August

May 5th, 2019 by croodstrotters.wordpress.com

Hello
In this place you haven't the choice.., it's forbiden to sleep everywhere so or you have a ticket or you pay for sleep...
This place was ok for one night on this road.
Quiet night and good dump station.
For 35$.
I see other place nicer for sleep on this road but all was full....
Enjoy this road.

April 11th, 2019 by bicitours.blogspot.com

There are two campgrounds behind the entrance station. The more expensive one costs 35 dollar and has flush toilets and showers. The other one is about a mile away and costs 20 dollars. With clean pit toilets and water spigots. No showers there and you are officially not allowed to take a shower at the other campground. There is a dump station.
T-mobile gives a signal at most sites.
Two dollars discount if you are 62+.
Great campground. We stayed at the cheaper one. Can be windy.

November 25th, 2018 by fiorellarabelino

Nice place. $35 per night. No hookups avaliables in this campground. Has an underbridge pass to go to the beach. $1 dólar for 12 minutes hot shower.

August 2nd, 2018 by info

it seems to be a nice place. we were a little bit to late. it's a "first come, first serve" camp. people are waiting there from 8am to get a site. the guy at the entrance was friendly and he gave us some tips for overnight slots.

May 19th, 2018 by Les Nomades

Great option compared to other more expensive campsites in the area. $20,- per night, but no showers unfortunately.

June 15th, 2017 by Stoic Adventures

Nice campground near Hearst Castle in Cambria, CA.