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Escondido Campground in California
Hard to BookNational Forest

Escondido Campground

Los Padres National Forest, California

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As of September 2026, Escondido Campground is a campground in Los Padres National Forest, California with 8 campsites. Escondido Campground is booked through Recreation.gov.

  • PermitSnag checks Escondido Campground for availability and tells alert holders when a site opens up.
  • Escondido Campground is located at 36.1413ยฐ N, 121.4931ยฐ W.
people allowed on each site
6

Escondido Campground reservations and next available dates

September 2026

open, tap to book on Recreation.govsold outin your alert

Campsites at Escondido Campground

  • Tent 8

Amenities

  • restrooms
  • potable water
  • dump station

At a glance: Setting: Mountain.

Things to do: fishing, hiking, wildlife, photography, horse riding.

All sites at Escondido Campground, as listed by Recreation.gov

Every site is in the ESCONDIDO CAMPGROUND loop.

SiteTypeSleeps
01Tent6
03Tent6
04Tent6
05Tent6
06Tent6
07Tent6
08Tent6
09Tent6

About Escondido Campground

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.

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.

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.

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.

Rules and notices at Escondido Campground

Recreation.gov does not date these notices. We last read them on September 29, 2026. Check Escondido Campground on Recreation.gov

Notices from Recreation.gov

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 .

Escondido Campground FAQ

How hard is it to get a campsite at Escondido Campground?

Escondido Campground is rated "Hard to Book" based on historical demand. This campground is popular and often books out weeks in advance. Your best strategy is to monitor cancellations.

How do I find last-minute availability at Escondido Campground?

Cancellations happen frequently at Escondido Campground, especially 1-2 weeks before check-in dates. PermitSnag monitors availability 24/7 and sends instant alerts when sites open up due to cancellations. This is often the best way to snag popular campsites.

How many campsites does Escondido Campground have?

Escondido Campground has 8 campsites.

More campgrounds in Los Padres National Forest

Same forest, same drive. Set an alert on any of them alongside this one.

All 31 Los Padres National Forest campgrounds

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