Connectivity
No community carrier report is currently published for this campground.
Community-reported service can change with terrain, weather, congestion, and carrier coverage.
Campground
Escondido Campground
Los Padres National Forest, California
About this campground
Escondido Campground has trailheads located near the campground and is only a short drive to multiple other trails with access to backpacking, hiking, biking and horseback riding.
The Arroyo Seco River runs through this canyon terrain and only a short distance from the campground.
Escondido Campground has a diverse and thriving environment that contains ponderosa pine, oak madrone and sycamore trees, just to name a few.
Map
Loading map
- Latitude
- 36.141300° N
- Longitude
- 121.493100° W
Know before you arrive
Access, sites & campground features
Official facility and campsite inventory, supplemented by clearly marked community reports when the official listing does not publish the detail.
Access
- Drive-in
Site types
- Tent sites
- RV / trailer sitesCommunity report
- Standard campsitesCommunity report
Features
For campers
- Toilets
- Showers
- Picnic table
- FiresUse only when the current order allows flame
- Alcohol allowedCommunity report
- Trash serviceCommunity report
- Pets allowedDogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
- Reservable
For vehicles
- Sanitary dump
- Big rig friendlyPublished vehicle length up to 50 ft
- Back-in sitesCommunity report
- Water hookupsCommunity report
Official campground guide
Plan with the full campground details
Facility information, site rules, booking windows, and published rates. Source snapshot checked Oct 18, 2026.
Overview
Escondido Campground is one of the best kept secrets in the Santa Lucia Mountains. This family-friendly campground boasts scenic vistas that will take your breath away. Surrounded by spectacular rock formations and sprawling oaks this campground rests in a beautiful grassy meadow. The outdoor activities are endless. Hiking, biking, wildlife viewing, picnicking, and bird watching are just a few of the activities you can do while visiting this Los Padres National Forest gem.
Facilities
Open daily and year-round, there are nine campsites and each include a picnic table and fire ring. Two vault toilets are located near the campsites. You should plan to be completely self-sustainable for the duration of your trip. There is no potable water (drinking water) onsite. There is no dump station.
Recreation
Escondido Campground has trailheads located near the campground and is only a short drive to multiple other trails with access to backpacking, hiking, biking and horseback riding. Hitching posts for your horses are available at the campground trailhead. Sandstone landscapes, wildflowers and wildlife are part of the experience in this pristine part of the forest.
Natural Features
Escondido Campground has a diverse and thriving environment that contains ponderosa pine, oak madrone and sycamore trees, just to name a few. The Arroyo Seco River runs through this canyon terrain and only a short distance from the campground. A variety of wildlife viewing and backpacking opportunities await at this hidden treasure.
Nearby Attractions
Hiking trails, biking, fishing, horseback riding are within minutes of this campground. The San Antonio Mission, one of the oldest of the California Missions, is within a 15-minute drive.
Activities & amenities
What Recreation.gov or the campground’s official source specifically lists.
Available activities
- Hiking
- Camping
- Biking
Amenities and facility features
- Vault or pit toilets
- Showers
- No potable waterThe official facility record directs campers to carry water
- Picnic tables
- Site fire ring or grillUse only when the current order allows flame
- Dump station
Recreation sites
Published inventory grouped by site type. Individual sites can have stricter limits.
Tent Only Non-Electric
9 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Maximum people
- 6
- Maximum vehicles
- 1
- Maximum vehicle length
- 50 ft
- Check-in
- 3:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Site rules, inventory & rates
Facility rules, inventory procedures, and price seasons published by the official source.
Site rules
- Holiday-weekend minimum
- 3 nights
- Weekend minimum
- 2 nights
- Reservation cutoff
- 8 days before arrival
- Maximum published occupancy
- 6 people per site
- Maximum published vehicles
- 1 vehicles per site
- Check-in
- 3:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Food storage
- Escondido Campground's official facility record checked 2026-10-16 does not publish a food-storage method; confirm the posted rule with Los Padres National Forest.
- Fire and stove use
- Escondido Campground's official facility record states: Open daily and year-round, there are nine campsites and each include a picnic table and fire ring.
- Pets
- Dogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
Inventory window
Recreation.gov publishes a rolling booking window. The dates below are the official snapshot captured for this catalog build.
- Currently bookable through
- Apr 18, 2027
- Next release
- Oct 19, 2026, 7:00 AM PDT
- Next book-through date
- Apr 19, 2027
- Group sites bookable through
- Oct 18, 2027
Published seasons & rates
| Season | Site type | Nightly rate | Additional person | Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PeakJan 1, 2026 – Nov 1, 2026 | Standard Non-Electric | $30 | — | — |
| PeakJan 1, 2027 – Nov 1, 2027 | Standard Non-Electric | $30 | — | — |
| PeakJan 1, 2028 – Nov 1, 2028 | Standard Non-Electric | $30 | — | — |
Important facility notices
Read these with current closure and fire notices before departure.
- In order to contact our offices, please use the email: customerservice@pmcparks.com or view our website: CampOne.Com for answers to frequently asked questions.
- Camping fee includes 1 vehicle and 1 tent, trailer or RV.
- $10 fee for each extra vehicle.
- No drinking water is available.
- Pets are allowed.
- No public showers in the region.
- Quiet hours are 10 p.m. - 8 a.m.
- Fireworks are prohibited at all times.
- If hiking alone, tell someone where you plan to go and then stick to your plans.
- Don't take unnecessary chances - help for emergencies is miles away.
- Bring your gnat/mosquito repellent in Spring/Summer/Fall
- Fires are allowed only in designated fire rings.
- Click here for more information on Los Padres National Forest
- Don't Move Firewood: Protect California's forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. For more information visit firewood.ca.gov .
Getting there & contact
Official 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.
Facility contact
805 434 1996