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Arroyo Seco Campground permit area in Los Padres National Forest - backcountry hiking destination
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Arroyo Seco Campground Permit

Los Padres National Forest · California

Campground with hot springs access.

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When it opens

3 days
Reserve at least three days before your start date

Source: recreation.gov

70% of the openings our scanner caught on Arroyo Seco were gone within 10 minutes.

Arroyo Seco reservation dates

max group size
8people

How to get an Arroyo Seco permit

As of September 2026, Arroyo Seco in Los Padres National Forest, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Arroyo Seco is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Arroyo Seco permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens.

Type
Overnight
Location
Santa Lucia Range, Los Padres National Forest, California, CA

  1. Step 1: Create a Recreation.gov account

    Sign up at Recreation.gov if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.

  2. Step 2: Know the release schedule

    Permits release on a rolling basis. Check the release time for your dates.

  3. Step 3: Be ready when permits drop

    Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.

  4. Step 4: Monitor for cancellations

    If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.

Book at Recreation.gov
Learn more:
Best booking timesCancellation huntingRecreation.gov tips

Arroyo Seco pro tips

  1. Reservations close three days before arrival
  2. Weekends need a two-night booking and holiday weekends need three
  3. Bring insect repellent: the operator asks for it by name in spring, summer and autumn
  4. Treat the river with respect in spring; the operator warns the water can be swift and dangerous
  5. This is the Highway 101 approach to the Santa Lucias. Getting from here to Big Sur is about 70 miles of curvy road and two hours

More on Arroyo Seco: Live availability activityWhen Arroyo Seco permits open upDo I need a Arroyo Seco Campground permit?

How much an Arroyo Seco permit costs

Arroyo Seco permit fee: Single-site reservations cover 6 people and 1 vehicle, and single sites include one vehicle in the use fee. The maximum is 8 people per site ($10 per person per night above 6), and extra vehicles are $10 per night at the campground.

The Arroyo Seco hike

Route Type
Varies
Duration
Weekend bookings require 2 nights; holiday weekends 3

Arroyo Seco landmarks

  1. 1Arroyo Seco Campground

    At 47600 Arroyo Seco Road, Greenfield, California, where the road dead-ends. Drinking water, pit toilets, dumpster and trash collection are listed among the amenities.

The inland side of the Santa Lucias: a river campground you reach from Highway 101 instead of fighting Highway 1 for it.

About this permit

Arroyo Seco is a Los Padres National Forest campground in the Santa Lucia Range, reached from Highway 101 near Greenfield rather than from the coast. Recreation.gov records a minimum weekend stay of 2 nights, a minimum holiday-weekend stay of 3, and a reservation cut-off 3 days before arrival.

Site rules are the same shape as the other Los Padres campgrounds: single campsite reservations are good for 6 people and 1 vehicle, the maximum is 8 people per site with a $10 per person per night charge above 6, and the maximum is 2 vehicles per site. Single sites include one vehicle in the use fee and double sites include two; extra vehicles are charged $10 per night at the campground.

Amenities listed include drinking water, pit toilets, showers, a dumpster and trash collection. The operator warns to use caution in the river because water can be swift and dangerous in the spring, and to bring insect provisions.

The route

This is a drive-in campground at the end of Arroyo Seco Road. Coming from the south on Highway 101 you take the first Greenfield exit, turn left on Elm Street, go west to Arroyo Seco Road and turn left; the road dead-ends at the campground. From the north, just past Soledad, turn west onto Arroyo Seco Road and continue.

The river is both the attraction and the hazard. The operator warns to use caution in the river because the water can be swift and dangerous in the spring, and separately that weather conditions can change rapidly.

Why it matters

Arroyo Seco is the back door to the same mountains everyone approaches from Big Sur, and it does not depend on the coast highway being open. The operator puts the distance between the two plainly: about 70 miles of very curvy road and roughly a two-hour drive.

The feeling

A river running through a rocky gorge with oaks and sycamores over the campsites, and the sort of summer heat the coast never gets.

Arroyo Seco hike highlights

  1. Access from Highway 101, not Highway 1. The operator puts the coast at about 70 miles and two hours of curvy road away
  2. Two-night minimum on weekends, three on holiday weekends, and a three-day reservation cut-off
  3. Six people and one vehicle in the base reservation, eight people and two vehicles maximum
  4. A river that the operator warns can be swift and dangerous in spring
  5. Insects: the operator says to bring appropriate repellent

How hard the Arroyo Seco hike is

  • Physical DemandFitness and endurance required1/5
  • Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills1/5
  • Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential2/5
  • NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity1/5
  • CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route1/5

Best for: Families and groups who want a river campground without a coast-highway gamble.

Recommended experience: None.

Not recommended for: Anyone booking inside three days, or hoping for a single weekend night.

Trailhead information

Arroyo Seco Campground

Primary

47600 Arroyo Seco Road, Greenfield, California, where Arroyo Seco Road dead-ends.

  • Restrooms
  • Water on site

Before you rely on this water

Recreation.gov lists drinking water among the amenities. Confirm it is on with the concessionaire (customerservice@pmcparks.com / CampOne.com / 805-434-1996) before relying on it, and carry a reserve.

Parking

Maximum 2 vehicles per site. Single sites include one vehicle in the use fee, double sites include two, and extras are $10 per night.

Getting There

From the south on Highway 101 to Greenfield, take the first Arroyo Seco exit, left on Elm Street, west to Arroyo Seco Road and turn left; it dead-ends at the campground. From the north, just past Soledad, turn west onto Arroyo Seco Road.

Nearest Services

Greenfield, California. The operator notes it is about 70 miles and roughly two hours of curvy road from here to Big Sur.

When to hike Arroyo Seco

Best time to visit

Spring is when the river runs best and also when the operator warns it is most dangerous. Autumn gives you warm days without the peak summer heat and easier bookings. Whatever you choose, the reservation closes three days out.

Peak
Summer
Shoulder
Spring and autumn

  • Spring

    The river is at its highest, and the operator flags it as swift and dangerous.

    Crowd level · high

    • Advantage: Green hills
    • Advantage: River running full
    • Advantage: Mild temperatures
    • Challenge: Dangerous water
    • Challenge: Rapidly changing weather
    • Challenge: Insects

  • Summer

    Hot inland weather with the river as the reason to be there.

    Crowd level · extreme

    • Advantage: Swimming
    • Advantage: Warm nights
    • Advantage: Long days
    • Challenge: Heat
    • Challenge: Crowds
    • Challenge: Fire restrictions possible

  • Fall

    Warm days, cool nights, and the easiest bookings of the busy half of the year.

    Crowd level · moderate

    • Advantage: Comfortable temperatures
    • Advantage: Quieter
    • Advantage: Clear weather
    • Challenge: Low river
    • Challenge: Short days by November
    • Challenge: Fire risk before the first rain

  • Winter

    Cool and wet, with storm systems moving through.

    Crowd level · low

    • Advantage: Easiest availability of the year
    • Advantage: Green hills after the first rains
    • Challenge: Rain
    • Challenge: Cold nights
    • Challenge: River rising fast in a storm

Weather Forecast

Trailhead (5,000 ft)

⚠️

Backcountry Tips

  • Tomorrow: Extreme heat (95°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
  • Day 3: Extreme heat (95°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
  • Day 4: Extreme heat (99°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.

Today

🌫️

91°

64°

Wed

☀️

95°

68°

Thu

☁️

95°

64°

Fri

☁️

99°

69°

Sat

☁️

99°

70°

Sun

☀️

98°

71°

Mon

☀️

101°

72°

View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.

Arroyo Seco photography guide

Golden Hour

Late light in the gorge, which holds warm colour on the rock after the flat is already in shade.

Best Light

Spring mornings when the river is up and the hills are still green.

Beat the Crowds

Midweek and outside summer. Winter is quiet here.

Classic Shots

  1. The Arroyo Seco gorge from the trail above the campground
  2. Oaks and sycamores over the campsites
  3. Green Salinas Valley hills on the drive in
  4. The river in spring flow

Arroyo Seco rules, gear and safety

Gear checklist

Required
  • Insect repellent, which the operator specifically asks visitors to bring
  • Shoes you can get wet if the river is part of the plan
  • Shade and sun protection for inland summer heat

Recommended gear

  • A stove, since firewood has to be bought locally
  • Offline maps
  • A river-worthy dry bag if you are swimming

Rules & regulations

  1. 01Single campsite reservations are good for 6 people and 1 vehicle
  2. 02Maximum 8 people per site, with a $10 additional charge per person per night above 6
  3. 03Maximum 2 vehicles per site. Single sites include one vehicle in the use fee, double sites include two, and extra vehicles are $10 per night
  4. 04Minimum weekend stay is 2 nights; minimum holiday-weekend stay is 3 nights
  5. 05Reservations close 3 days before the arrival date
  6. 06Buy firewood locally and burn it on site. California asks visitors not to move firewood, to keep tree-killing pests out of the forest

Hazards & considerations

  • The river. The operator warns that water can be swift and dangerous in the spring
  • Weather that the operator says can change rapidly
  • Inland summer heat, which is a different climate from the coast 70 miles away
  • A long, curvy drive if you are combining this with Big Sur

Safety & planning

Emergency Info

Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Arroyo Seco.

Food Storage

Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.

Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Arroyo Seco · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides

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Arroyo Seco FAQ

How many people can stay at an Arroyo Seco campsite?

A single campsite reservation is good for 6 people and 1 vehicle. The maximum is 8 people per site, with a $10 additional charge per person per night above 6, and a maximum of 2 vehicles per site. Single sites include one vehicle in the use fee and double sites include two; extra vehicles are $10 per night, charged at the campground.

Is there a minimum stay at Arroyo Seco Campground?

On weekends, yes: 2 nights minimum, and 3 nights on holiday weekends. Recreation.gov also records a reservation cut-off 3 days before arrival, so last-minute bookings are not possible.

How far is Arroyo Seco Campground from Big Sur?

The operator puts it at around 70 miles on a very curvy road, about a two-hour drive. Arroyo Seco is reached from Highway 101 near Greenfield, which is why it stays accessible when Highway 1 does not.

Is the river at Arroyo Seco safe to swim in?

It depends entirely on the season. The operator warns to use caution in the river because water can be swift and dangerous in the spring, and separately notes that weather conditions can change rapidly, so check before arrival.

Arroyo Seco trail conditions and trip reports

Trail Conditions

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Alternatives to an Arroyo Seco permit

  • Same AreaPermit required

    Escondido Campground

    A smaller Los Padres campground reached from Highway 101 via Jolon Road and Del Venturi Road, with the last three miles unsurfaced.

    Tradeoffs

    No drinking water at all, and a rougher approach. Quieter for it.

  • Same AreaPermit required

    Memorial Campground

    Further into the same drainage, reachable only from Highway 101 because the Highway 1 side is closed.

    Tradeoffs

    No drinking water, no cell service, and paved road turning to dirt three quarters of the way in.

  • Similar ExperiencePermit required

    Plaskett Creek Campground

    The coastal Los Padres campground on Highway 1 across from Sand Dollar Beach.

    Tradeoffs

    Ocean instead of river, and a dependence on Highway 1 being open that Arroyo Seco does not have.

Where to stay near Arroyo Seco

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