$35
Arroyo Seco
Total sites: 39
Available Today: 21 FF*
Available this Weekend: 6 FF*
Booking Window: 6 months
Available Today: 21 FF*
Available this Weekend: 6 FF*
Booking Window: 6 months
956 ft
84°F
53°F
53°F
no signal
Los Padres National Forest › Monterey Ranger District › California
› Monterey County
› Greenfield
› Arroyo Seco Campground
Arroyo Seco Campground, CA - Latest Reviews, Photos & Campground Map
Arroyo Seco Campground is located in the Monterey Ranger District, Los Padres National Forest (59 min south of Salinas, CA) with an elevation of 956 feet. There are a total of 39 campsites including 17 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 22 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 50 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $35.00 to $150.00. Some amenities include shower. Activities include biking, fishing, hiking trails.
Campground Capacity (Next 30 Days)
Campsite Reviews (112)
4.2 out of 5
| 5 star | 54% | |
| 4 star | 26% | |
| 3 star | 9% | |
| 2 star | 7% | |
| 1 star | 3% |
@LorraineC10116 · Camped on Jun 6, 2025 at Campsite #20
Lots of FUN!!
@NiranjanP2DB94 · Camped on May 29, 2025 at Campsite #GS1
Saw great reviews. Reserved Group campsite. But unfortunately, there were too many mosquitos at group camp site. Also, it was too hot. I would not recommend group site. Pit toilet at group site was not in good condition and ladies in the group refused to use it. They ended up walking uphill 4 to 5 minutes to first loop every time they wanted to use restrooms.
@ParkerL2799068 · Camped on May 16, 2025 at Campsite #38
Stayed at primitive site 38 - had about 8 sites with 4 ppl each sharing one vault toilet bc the other one was locked for some reason, and the potable water spigot didnt work. Definitely needs some work
@LiciaL898EBB09 · Camped on May 2, 2025 at Campsite #44
Wonderful spring camping. Wild flowers, tons of birds, toads, a tarantula! No phone service. Primitive camp is dry camping and tent/camper van only, so come prepared.
@AndrewJ9357777 · Camped on Apr 25, 2025 at Campsite #3
I like camping here, it is a nice place. It can be very hot in late spring and summer.
@RobynC3208494 · Camped on Mar 28, 2025 at Campsite #36
The campground was nice. Sites were large and clean.
@ZeeS7E4A1C2E98 · Camped on Mar 28, 2025 at Campsite #44
The water was out in the primitive campgrounds, but otherwise gorgeous!
@FrankM717DFC6B · Camped on Mar 7, 2025 at Campsite #36
Very quiet in the upper primitive area. Loves hearing the frogs and birds at night. Bathroom were good. An relaxing time.
@williamT449040 · Camped on Feb 14, 2025 at Campsite #44
A great campsite in a very nice spot
@MarcieC3546247 · Camped on Jan 20, 2025 at Campsite #20
Beautiful and quiet in winter. Good hiking trails.
@EmilyP4531880 · Camped on Dec 6, 2024 at Campsite #14
Its not Yosemite, its a little campground near a river access area. If you know that going in, youll have a good time. The river is lovely and this is a nice place to go to beat the heat. Mostly all local families around. Everyone, including camp hosts, are very friendly. Campsite had decent shade and was mostly level. A very quiet and relaxing place in late fall/early winter.
@CorrinaU04B6CE · Camped on Nov 8, 2024 at Campsite #7
Love Love Love it
@BaoDuyV664CC7A · Camped on Oct 18, 2024 at Campsite #27
I really thought this was somewhat Big Sur. Dont be fooled, it really is not.
@PrivaT7136E1D5 · Camped on Sep 8, 2024 at Campsite #18
Although the campground was well kept the hiking trails were grown over and unusable. We had to pay $10 dollars to park at river just outside the campground for each car even though we paid that for cars at the campground. The rivers beach was covered with glass and a lot of in eaten foods and not enough picnic tables for families.
@PamelaG4847475 · Camped on Jan 6, 2023 at Campsite #20
We were there on a very rainy weekend in January and we had the entire campground to ourselves. We loved it! We hiked a few miles on the Indians-Milpitas Road and that was very pretty. The campground hosts were super friendly and all around great. The toilets were kept perfectly clean and there's hot showers (and also hot water in the bathroom sinks). When the campground is full I imagine the experience would be very different - the sites are pretty close together and there's no low shrubbery or anything to provide any privacy from the rest of the campers.
@LauraK9305494 · Camped on Dec 8, 2022 at Campsite #23
What a great campground! The cleanest campground we have ever seen. The camp hosts, Keith and his wife Missy(?), were the best. The campground was so quiet and was in a beautiful tree-filled setting. Lots of wildlife, deer, and raccoons at night, so lock up your garbage and plenty of birds. There is great hiking out of the campground, which is a bonus. Oh, and the river is a great place to play with the dogs.
@NORMAM8228971 · Camped on Nov 23, 2022 at Campsite #23
Great site, excellent hosts. Bathrooms were cleaned daily, and showers were camp showers; they were not my home shower, but they were fine. The campsites were well-maintained and spacious. I saw the hosts clean every site vacated very thoroughly daily. We loved this site, I hope you do too.
@PaulM6940902 · Camped on Nov 23, 2022 at Campsite #14
Camp was super clean and well maintained. Camp hosts were superb. They were friendly, competent, available, and very switched on. A great experience!
@Christoph37654 · Camped on Nov 10, 2022 at Campsite #36
Overall area and stay was good. Only downside was the noise and lack of adherence to the posted quiet time. Host also seemed to have a problem with us having a camper van in the primitive campsite area. This was the first time I ever had someone say anything about my van. Nothing posted anywhere about this. Hist seemed to just create this rule out of the blue.
@DanielB4603573 · Camped on Nov 10, 2022 at Campsite #1
Fantastic campground with great facilities.
- can buy bundles of firewood for 10$ from the campground hosts.
- clean and well functioning toilets (single cubicles). No soap but plenty of tp.
- site 1 (developed) was large and we fit about 6 tents, with room for another 6 comfortably. Could fit 4-6 cars in the parking space - but note only the first 2 are free. Not sure if you are allowed more than 4.
- One shower we tried was nice and hot. 6 quarters for 5 mins - each extra quarter was an extra minute. Another was cold. Water pressure resembled what riot police might use - very exfoliating.
- cards taken as payment for everything but showers.
- can buy bundles of firewood for 10$ from the campground hosts.
- clean and well functioning toilets (single cubicles). No soap but plenty of tp.
- site 1 (developed) was large and we fit about 6 tents, with room for another 6 comfortably. Could fit 4-6 cars in the parking space - but note only the first 2 are free. Not sure if you are allowed more than 4.
- One shower we tried was nice and hot. 6 quarters for 5 mins - each extra quarter was an extra minute. Another was cold. Water pressure resembled what riot police might use - very exfoliating.
- cards taken as payment for everything but showers.
@AdiZ2288761 · Camped on Nov 5, 2022 at Campsite #28
Clean, great staff.
@JaneL3877914 · Camped on Oct 19, 2022 at Campsite #11
I reserved a site that did not have a good photo but wanted something close to the restroom. Upon arrival found the site was really meant as a parking spot for an RV. There was no flat area for a tent! Since this was a weekday there were not many other reservations until Friday. The campground host suggested I could switch to a site next to the second restroom. Many of the sites are considered a double and cost more which is a shame because they look like nice open shady spots. Some of the single spots are not as nice with a lot of sun not many trees around. There is a sink for washing dishes which is very nice. There are pesky flies so be sure to bring citronella candles or something to discourage them in your area. We heard and saw a lot of wildlife,screech owl,grey fox,possum,wood peckers,jays and a lot of grey squirrels. At night it was so dark and even at only 900 feet saw 4 shooting stars! We did not drive the road up to what they call "the gorge" where one can bike or hike on forest service road. We did not tip our toes in the creek by the day use area but will probably be back as this is a clean,well maintained campground. The campground host sells wood and if you forgot quarters for the shower they sold us a roll only! Be careful where you walk as the ground squirrels dig HUGE holes,even in the blacktop road! I filled one in by our tent despite being told it would be dug out in a day,it wasn't. We explored the undeveloped sites which have pit toilets and a real rustic campground feel.
@PeterC9618469 · Camped on Oct 16, 2022 at Campsite #14
I understand that the camp was expecting a large crowd for the weekend, but- the workers, (there were 6 by our count), were running leaf blowers all around camp and on the roads all day. The sound of the ATV and leaf blowers made us feel like we were camped next to an airport!
And- we have been camping at Arroyo Seco since the late 1970's, before the "new" bathroom and showers. You pay for the shower, about $1.50 or more. Why is it not possible to have the shower water at a tolerable temperature? Is that impossible? Even 5 degrees warmer would have made the shower tolerable. Instead you had to take your shower while gasping for air to fight the cold.
And- we have been camping at Arroyo Seco since the late 1970's, before the "new" bathroom and showers. You pay for the shower, about $1.50 or more. Why is it not possible to have the shower water at a tolerable temperature? Is that impossible? Even 5 degrees warmer would have made the shower tolerable. Instead you had to take your shower while gasping for air to fight the cold.
@LoriM2853870 · Camped on Oct 14, 2022 at Campsite #7
Had a wonderful fall day. Knowing how hot it is here in the summer, unless you don't mind, Choose the Fall Great weather!
@HillaryJ724 · Camped on Jan 21, 2022 at Campsite #26
Beautiful clean campground. Only 5-6 other campers. Great hiking. Great place to be off-grid if ok with that for a few days...
Other Campgrounds Nearby
We track all the sites so you don't have to.
Reservation Systems
Campsites Tracking
Campsite Reviews
Available Tonight
Available this Weekend
Cancellations Today
PRO $2.50/month
You're in Control. We never save credit card information or auto-renew subscriptions.
- Availability Map Search
- 3000+ Interactive Campground Maps
- Campground Virtual Tours
- Save Your Favorite Campsites
- Favorite Campsites Availability
- Campground Mobile Speed Test Maps
- National Parks, Forests & Ranger District Layers
- Wildfires & Air Quality Map Layer
- Satellite View Map Layer
- Campsite SMS Cancellation Alerts
- Rent your Property & Cabins
- Love's & Super Walmart Map Layers
- Cracker Barrel & Bass Pro Shop Map Layers
- Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) Layer
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Map Layer
- RV Propane, Parking, Dump, Water Map Layer
Pro is FREE for 7 days. (No credit card information required!)
Thanks to all our Supporting Members
@BranJen - Santa Clara, CA
I wanted to thank you for this site and especially for the notifications feature. Thanks to your site and my subscription I was able to book a campsite I've been annoyingly trying to book for 5 years unsuccessfully. So thank you.
@Wondering - Oregon
Wow! Woke up this morning to a notification that a favorite had opened at Paulina, and when I went to check, it was there. This membership just paid for itself in the first 24 hours I owned it. Couldn't take the site it conflicted with a trip already set, but it truly was there. Thanks Tons.
map icon in the lower right corner.
Map Settings
Reset
 Satellite |
 Wildfires |
 National Forests |
 National Parks |
 Air Quality |
 BLM |
 OHV MVUM |
 Love's |
|
Dump Stations
|
Water
|
Propane
|
RV Parking
|
 Super Walmart |
 Cracker Barrel |
 Bass Pro Shops |
| Price*: |
| Length: |
| Amps: |
| Elev: | feet |
| Temp: | °F |
| Down: |
| Up: |
*Earn our Leave No Trace badge to see our free camping sites.
🎉 Earn +5 marshmallows for adding your first favorite.
Use your earned marshmallows to enter our monthly giveaways or to get a Pro Subscription.
Show your commitment in keeping our forests healthy and protecting our public lands by earning the Leave No Trace badge.