Can you reserve a site at Escondido Campground?

Yes, Escondido Campground is reservable through Recreation.gov.

What is the maximum RV length at Escondido Campground?

50 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.

Are pets allowed at Escondido Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Escondido Campground.

Are campfires allowed at Escondido Campground?

Campfires are allowed at Escondido Campground. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Escondido Campground — 9 sites, fees and cancellation alerts

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.

The facts

9 bookable sites
Vehicles up to 50 ft
Up to 6 people per site
Loops: ESCONDIDO CAMPGROUND

Site types

9 Tent Only Nonelectric

Amenities

Campfires allowed
Fire pits
Picnic tables
Grills
Pets allowed
Water hookups — not available
Shade — not available

Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, sewer hookups.

Book on Recreation.gov

9 campsites at Escondido Campground

Check-in 3:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Grade	Max rig	People
01	ESCONDIDO CAMPGROUND	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	42 ft	6	🐾
02	ESCONDIDO CAMPGROUND	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	42 ft	6	🐾
03	ESCONDIDO CAMPGROUND	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Severe	40 ft	6	🐾
04	ESCONDIDO CAMPGROUND	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Severe	50 ft	6	🐾
05	ESCONDIDO CAMPGROUND	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Moderate	32 ft	6	🐾
06	ESCONDIDO CAMPGROUND	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Moderate	25 ft	6	🐾
07	ESCONDIDO CAMPGROUND	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Severe	42 ft	6	🐾
08	ESCONDIDO CAMPGROUND	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Moderate	30 ft	6	🐾
09	ESCONDIDO CAMPGROUND	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Severe	40 ft	6	🐾

Getting there

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.

36.14130, -121.49310 · 36°8'28.7"N 121°29'35.2"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Low °F	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Precip in	6.9	6.5	4.7	1.9	1.0	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.1	0.9	2.6	5.0

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 15.4 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Common questions about Escondido Campground

Can you reserve a site at Escondido Campground?: Yes, Escondido Campground is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Escondido Campground have?: 9 sites.
What is the maximum RV length at Escondido Campground?: 50 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Escondido Campground?: Yes, pets are allowed at Escondido Campground.
Does Escondido Campground have hookups?: No hookups are recorded here.
Are campfires allowed at Escondido Campground?: Campfires are allowed at Escondido Campground. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Also listed by

Escondido Campground also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Escondido Campground's operator.

USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026

$30/per night. Extra vehicles are $10 per vehicle per night. Interagency Senior Pass or Access Pass entitles pass holder to 50% discount on camping fee only. Not valid for extra vehicles or day use within campground.

Restrictions:

14 day maximum stay. No more than 8 people per site

USDA Forest Service's own page

Camping near Escondido Campground

Memorial Campground 2.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
Arroyo Seco 6.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
Kirk Creek Campground 10.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
China Camp Campground 11.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
Ponderosa Campground 11.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
White Oaks Campground 13.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
Plaskett Creek Campground 15.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
Arroyo Seco Group Campground 6.3 mi · Campground
Arroyo Seco Trailhead 6.4 mi · Facility
Nacimiento Campground 10.6 mi · Campground
Ponderosa Campground 11.6 mi · Campground
Ventana Wilderness 17.6 mi · Facility

Contact

Phone 805 434 1996
Book Recreation.gov

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Escondido Campground