Pinnacles National Park Camping – If you’re visiting Pinnacles National Park, you should consider camping – even for just one night. This national park is east of the Salinas Valley in central California. It’s a quick drive from Big Sur, less than a two-hour drive from San Jose, and about a two-hour drive from San Francisco.
While it’s possible to stay in one of these larger cities and drive into the park, the best way to experience the hiking trails and some of the most breathtaking sites in North America is to stay in a Pinnacles campground.
Camping at Pinnacles National Park is available for both tent and RV campers. Plus, the mild climate of Pinnacles National Park makes it a comfortable option for tent campers. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about when and where to camp at Pinnacles National Park.
Camping at Pinnacles National Park
Camping at Pinnacles National Park means you can get a head start on your day in the park. Whether you’re hiking up to one of the peaks or taking a trail down to one of the caves, camping allows you to pack the most into your day at the park.
There are two entrances into Pinnacles National Park, and the two entrances do not connect. There is an east entrance and a west entrance, and there is no road that runs through the park to connect these two entrances. This is important because there is only one Pinnacles campground, and it is only accessible from the east entrance of the park. The east Pinnacles entrance is on California State Route 25.
Pinnacles National Park campground has 149 total campsites: 99 tent-only campsites, 36 RV campsites, and 14 group campsites. Each has a picnic table and a fire ring.
The campground at Pinnacles NP camp features flushable toilets, coin-operated showers, a swimming pool, a dump station, and an amphitheater.
Tent Camping in Pinnacles National Park
There are many loops to choose from when tent camping in Pinnacles National Park. To be close to the visitor center and the campground store, where you can purchase books, souvenirs, and necessities during your stay, choose Loop A. If you prefer to be more secluded and away from the hustle and bustle of the store and visitor center, choose Loop C.
Campsite check-in for tent camping is 1:00 PM, and check-out is 11:00 AM. It is not required to check into the campsite in person. It is recommended that guests check in online to avoid visiting the busy campground store upon arrival. The quiet hours of all campsites, including tent campsites, are from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM.
A tent campsite costs $23 per day with a maximum allowance of six people and two vehicles. Tent campsites are for tent camping only, and RVs and campers are not allowed. You can reserve a tent campsite up to six months in advance.
RV Camping at Pinnacles National Park
There are 36 RV campsites with electrical hookups at 120 volts with 30-amp service. All of the RV campsites are at the entrance of the campground near the visitors center and campground store. There are two drinking water stations throughout the RV campsites and an area for condor viewing.
Campsite check-in for RV camping is 1:00 PM, and check-out is 11:00 AM. Like tent camping, you do not need to check into the campsite in person. You can check in online to avoid visiting the campground store upon arrival. The quiet hours of the RV campsites are from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM.
An RV campsite costs $36 per day and has a maximum allowance of six people with one camper and one vehicle, or one RV and one vehicle. The National Park Service deems any self-contained vehicle designed for sleeping an RV or camper. You can reserve an RV campsite up to six months in advance.
Group Camping at Pinnacles National Park
There is a designated area for group camping at the Pinnacles National Park Campground. There are 14 group campsites, and they are located just past the RV campsites near the middle of the campground.
Group campsites can accommodate groups between 10 and 20 total people. There should be no more than 20 people at a group campsite. If you plan to have more than 20 people in your group, you should try to choose two group campsites side by side.
Each group campsite will have one, two, or three picnic tables and a fire ring at the campsite. Purchase campfire wood at the campground store. It is not permitted to gather and burn wood found at your campsite.
Group campsites have a maximum allowance of five vehicles. If you have more vehicles than is allowed at your campsite, guests can park at the day-use parking area.
Group campsite check-in is at 1:00 PM, and check-out is at 11:00 AM. Each campsite for up to 10 people costs $75 per day, and groups from 11 to 20 cost $110 per day.
Additional Important Information to Know about Camping at Pinnacles National Park
- The campground store is open daily from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM
- Always walk on the designated walking trails to avoid walking through other campers’ campsites
- Try to use as little artificial light as possible at night so that campers can enjoy the night sky
- Do not wash dishes, clothes, or brush your teeth at the designated drinking water stations
- Vehicles and bicycles both must stay on the paved roads
- Carry all wastewater to the dump station for disposal
- Wi-Fi is available at and near the campground store
- Always check the fire danger conditions to make sure that you can safely burn in your fire ring at your campsite
Camping at Pinnacles National Park
Hiking the many trails in Pinnacles NP, like the Condor Gulch Trail, Old Pinnacles Trail, Juniper Canyon Trail, and the High Peaks Trail, is one of the many reasons you should visit, not to mention other attractions, like Bear Gulch Cave, Balconies Cave, the Talus Cave, and the chance to see a California condor at the Condor Gulch overlook.
We recommend camping at Pinnacles National Park the night before a long day on the hiking trails or at the end of the day after you have hiked all day. With many campsites to choose from for both tent campers and RV campers, you shouldn’t have a problem finding the perfect campsite for you and your family.
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