In some places, you can get away with car or van camping in Big Sur, but it is never a 100% guarantee that police or national park service officers won’t come knocking on your car window in the middle of the night. In fact, most if not all lay-bys, turn-offs, and small nooks found just off Highway 1 are off-limits for tent, car, and RV camping. With so many people visiting Big Sur each year, the associated abuses involved with high numbers of people have made it quite difficult to find free camping spots along Highway 1. To be specific, it is technically considered free camping in Big Sur when the camping takes place next to Highway 1, which isn’t really tolerated anymore. Free Big Sur Camping: What You Need to Knowįree camping in Big Sur is a contentious issue. The majority of the interior region of Big Sur is part of the Los Padres National Forest, Ventana Wilderness, Silver Peak Wilderness and/or Fort Hunter Liggett- all of which are prime candidates for badass places to camp in Big Sur. Certainly 99.9% of people drive to Big Sur. It is possible to hike into Big Sur via crossing the Santa Lucia mountain, but it isn’t common. This route, however, is one of the best road trips in California.Ī Big Sur camping map with my suggested scenic road trip. The only access is via the Pacific Coast Highway (known from here on as Highway 1). There is no shortcut to get into and out of Big Sur by car. Big Sur, by contrast, has a fraction of the permanent residents occupying other parts of the California coast.īig Sur is not and cannot be densely populated due to the rugged nature and isolation of its topography. That is if you don’t hit any traffic.īig Sur has no definitive borders, though the general consensus is that the above-mentioned stretch of highway and the surrounding mountains from south of Carmel to the north of San Simeon makes up greater Big Sur area.Ĭalifornia is the most populated state in the US. The Pacific Coast Highway 1 runs along the Big Sur coast, sandwiched between by the dramatic Santa Lucia Mountains rising abruptly from the Pacific Ocean.įrom San Francisco, northern Big Sur is roughly a 2 1/2 hour drive. The 70-mile+ of coastline that makes up the Big Sur region runs between Carmel Highlands in the north and San Simeon in the south. Our insider guide shows you everything you need to know to camp Big Sur Who the hell is Big Sur? Join me as I break down the best time of year to go camping in Big Sur, the best free campsites, top paid campsites, the best car camping spots, and maybe even a glamping spot or two.īy the end of this guide, you’ll be ready to hit the road (or the trail) in search of your perfect Big Sur camping spot. This epic Big Sur camping guide will show you the best places to camp in Big Sur. This ultimate guide to camping Big Sur is the result of my experiences getting to know this beautiful and wild stretch of coast. In recent years, I have spend a lot of time exploring Big Sur’s beaches, mountains, canyons, and rivers hunting for the best Big Sur camping spots. Artists, hippies, surfers, hikers, beach bums, burnouts, and every shade of tourist ventures to this land… that land is called Big Sur. On the Central California coast, a magical, sparsely populated land of waterfalls, rugged mountains, redwood trees, stunning beaches, and blazing sunsets has been attracting people of all walks for decades.
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