Skip to content
Memorial Park Campground permit area in Los Padres National Forest - backcountry hiking destination
One date at a time

Memorial Park Campground Permit

Los Padres National Forest · California

Big Sur backdoor access via Carmel Valley.

Get an alert when Memorial Park opens on your dates.

Get alerts for your Memorial Park dates

One Memorial Park reservation is one date. Tell us every date you'd take and we'll ping you the second one of them opens up.

Leave the second date blank if only one day works. A wider window catches more openings.

Party

70% of the openings our scanner caught on Memorial Park were gone within 10 minutes.

Memorial Park reservation dates

max group size
6people

How to get a Memorial Park permit

As of September 2026, Memorial Park in Los Padres National Forest, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Memorial Park rates 6/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Memorial Park 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

Memorial Park pro tips

  1. Carry all your water. The operator states there is none at this campground
  2. There is no cell service in the campground. Leave your plan with someone before you lose signal
  3. Access is from Highway 101 only; the operator notes the Highway 1 side is closed
  4. Paved road turns to dirt three quarters of the way there
  5. Reservations close eight days before arrival

More on Memorial Park: Live availability activityWhen Memorial Park permits open up

How much a Memorial Park permit costs

Memorial Park permit fee: The camping fee includes 1 vehicle and 1 tent, trailer or RV. Each extra vehicle is $10.

The Memorial Park hike

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

Memorial Park landmarks

  1. 1Memorial Campground

    On the Nacimiento-Fergusson Road system in the Santa Lucia Range. No drinking water, no cell service, paved road turns to dirt three quarters of the way in.

The Highway 101 back door into the Santa Lucias: a campground with no water, no cell service, and a road that turns to dirt three quarters of the way there.

About this permit

Memorial is a Los Padres National Forest campground deep in the Santa Lucia Range, reachable only from Highway 101. The operator's directions state that the Highway 1 side is closed. The paved road turns to dirt three quarters of the way there.

The camping fee includes 1 vehicle and 1 tent, trailer or RV, with $10 for each extra vehicle. Recreation.gov records a 2-night minimum on weekends, 3 nights on holiday weekends, and a reservation cut-off 8 days before arrival.

No drinking water is available and there is no cell service in the campground. Pets are allowed, fires are allowed only in designated fire rings, quiet hours run 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., and fireworks are prohibited at all times. The operator asks visitors not to hike alone and to tell someone their plans.

The route

From Highway 101, Nacimiento-Fergusson Road can be reached from the King City area at Jolon Road (county road G-14), from the Bradley area at Jolon Road (G-18), or from Paso Robles along G-14. Travel to the town of Jolon, continue west along Mission Road about 5 miles, then north on Del Venturi Road for about 12 and 15 miles. The paved road turns to dirt three quarters of the way there.

There is no drinking water and no cell service in the campground. The operator asks visitors not to hike alone, to tell someone their plans and stick to them, and warns against taking unnecessary chances because help for emergencies is miles away.

Why it matters

Memorial sits on Nacimiento-Fergusson Road, the one road that crosses the Santa Lucias between Highway 101 and the Big Sur coast. The operator's directions note that it is accessible only from Highway 101 because the Highway 1 side is closed, and that shapes every trip to this side of the forest.

The feeling

Deep in the range with no signal, no tap and no neighbours, and a sky that shows it.

Memorial Park hike highlights

  1. No drinking water and no cell service
  2. Access only from Highway 101: the operator states the Highway 1 side is closed
  3. Paved road turning to dirt three quarters of the way in
  4. An eight-day reservation cut-off
  5. Quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., which are earlier and longer than at Escondido

How hard the Memorial Park 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 clarity2/5
  • CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route3/5

Best for: People who want to be out of contact for a couple of nights and can carry their own water to do it.

Recommended experience: None, but a real plan and a real water supply.

Not recommended for: Anyone who needs a phone signal, a tap, or a paved road all the way to the site.

Trailhead information

Memorial Campground

Primary

On the Nacimiento-Fergusson Road system in the Santa Lucia Range, accessible only from Highway 101.

  • No restrooms
  • No water
  • No Service

Before you rely on this water

The operator states that no drinking water is available at this campground. Bring all of it.

Getting There

Accessible only from Highway 101: the operator notes the Highway 1 side is closed. Nacimiento-Fergusson Road is reached from King City at Jolon Road (G-14), from Bradley at Jolon Road (G-18), or from Paso Robles along G-14. Travel to Jolon, west along Mission Road about 5 miles, then north on Del Venturi Road. Paved road turns to dirt three quarters of the way there.

Nearest Services

Jolon or King City, California. No public showers in the region.

When to hike Memorial Park

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn, when the inland Santa Lucias are comfortable and the dirt road is dry. Summer is hot with no water source on site, and winter turns the last stretch of road into a gamble. Reservations close eight days out in every season.

Peak
Autumn
Shoulder
Spring

  • Spring

    Green, mild, and buggy. The dirt section can still be soft.

    Crowd level · moderate

    • Advantage: Green hills
    • Advantage: Comfortable temperatures
    • Challenge: Insects
    • Challenge: Soft road
    • Challenge: No water on site

  • Summer

    Hot, dry and remote, with no water available.

    Crowd level · moderate

    • Advantage: Dry road
    • Advantage: Long days
    • Advantage: Warm nights
    • Challenge: Heat with no water source
    • Challenge: Fire restrictions likely
    • Challenge: Insects

  • Fall

    The best window here.

    Crowd level · moderate

    • Advantage: Warm days and cool nights
    • Advantage: Dry road
    • Advantage: Very quiet
    • Challenge: Fire risk before the rains
    • Challenge: Short days late on
    • Challenge: Still no water

  • Winter

    Wet and cold, and the dirt approach is at its worst.

    Crowd level · low

    • Advantage: Easiest availability of the year
    • Advantage: Green after the first rain
    • Challenge: Muddy road
    • Challenge: Cold
    • Challenge: Storms

Weather Forecast

Trailhead (5,000 ft)

Today

☀️

80°

52°

Wed

☀️

84°

60°

Thu

☀️

88°

63°

Fri

☁️

91°

65°

Sat

☀️

91°

66°

Sun

☀️

90°

69°

Mon

☀️

90°

67°

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

Memorial Park photography guide

Golden Hour

Late light down the drainage, with nothing man-made in the frame.

Best Light

Clear autumn evenings, and the night sky afterwards. There is no light pollution here.

Beat the Crowds

The road and the eight-day cut-off do most of it. Midweek in autumn you may have the loop to yourself.

Classic Shots

  1. The Milky Way over camp
  2. Oak and chaparral ridgelines in late light
  3. The Nacimiento-Fergusson road system winding through the range
  4. Green Santa Lucia hills after winter rain

Memorial Park rules, gear and safety

Gear checklist

Required
  • All your water. The operator states there is none here
  • Gnat and mosquito repellent for spring, summer and autumn
  • A written trip plan left with someone at home, because there is no signal to change it from

Recommended gear

  • A vehicle with reasonable clearance for the dirt section
  • A stove; buy firewood locally
  • A satellite messenger if you plan to hike from here

Rules & regulations

  1. 01The camping fee includes 1 vehicle and 1 tent, trailer or RV; each extra vehicle is $10
  2. 02Minimum weekend stay is 2 nights; minimum holiday-weekend stay is 3 nights
  3. 03Reservations close 8 days before the arrival date
  4. 04Fires are allowed only in designated fire rings
  5. 05Quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
  6. 06Fireworks are prohibited at all times
  7. 07Pets are allowed
  8. 08Buy 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

  • No drinking water at all
  • No cell service in the campground
  • A dirt final approach that gets worse in wet weather
  • Remoteness: the operator warns not to take unnecessary chances because help for emergencies is miles away

Safety & planning

Emergency Info

Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Memorial Park.

Food Storage

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

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

Some links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.

Memorial Park FAQ

Is there drinking water at Memorial Campground in Los Padres National Forest?

No. The operator states that no drinking water is available. Bring everything you need for drinking, cooking and washing.

How do you get to Memorial Campground?

From Highway 101 only: the operator notes the Highway 1 side is closed. Nacimiento-Fergusson Road can be reached from King City at Jolon Road (G-14), from Bradley at Jolon Road (G-18), or from Paso Robles along G-14. Travel to Jolon, continue west along Mission Road about 5 miles, then north on Del Venturi Road. The paved road turns to dirt three quarters of the way there.

Is there cell service at Memorial Campground?

No. The operator states that no cell service can be found in the campground, advises against hiking alone, and asks visitors to tell someone their plans and stick to them because help for emergencies is miles away.

How far in advance do I need to book Memorial Campground?

At least eight days. Recreation.gov records an 8-day reservation cut-off, with a 2-night minimum on weekends and 3 nights on holiday weekends.

Memorial Park trail conditions and trip reports

Trail Conditions

No active conditions reported

Sign in to report trail conditions.

Questions

No questions yet

Be the first to ask about Memorial Park.

Trip Reports

Write Report

No trip reports yet

Be the first to share your experience at Memorial Park.

Write the First Report

Alternatives to a Memorial Park permit

  • Same AreaPermit required

    Escondido Campground

    The neighbouring Los Padres campground on the same road system, also with no drinking water.

    Tradeoffs

    A slightly shorter drive in, with the last three miles unsurfaced instead of a quarter of the route.

  • Easier AlternativePermit required

    Arroyo Seco Campground

    The larger river campground reached from Greenfield, with drinking water and showers among the listed amenities.

    Tradeoffs

    Much busier, and much less remote.

  • Similar ExperiencePermit required

    Plaskett Creek Campground

    The coastal Los Padres campground on Highway 1, with water spigots throughout.

    Tradeoffs

    Ocean instead of backcountry, and entirely dependent on the coast highway being open.

Where to stay near Memorial Park

Plan the full trip, not just the permit

Build your full itinerary start to finish

Add your dates and get a day-by-day plan: what needs a permit, what gear to bring, and one link to share with your whole group to coordinate every step.

Plan a trip here

No permit needed to start

One tick helps us more than you’d think

Google lets you pick the sites it highlights for you. Add PermitSnag and our permit pages get marked as one of yours in AI Overviews and AI Mode.

Add PermitSnag in Google

Takes less than a minute.