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Escondido Campground
FSU.S. Forest Service — California · Los Padres National Forest
| Agency | FSU.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Area | Los Padres National Forest |
| Location | California · Los Padres National Forest · 36.14130, -121.49310 · Map |
| Sites | 9 public sites counted from the federal listing — 9 tent only nonelectric |
| Getting a site | Reservable — the federal listing marks this campground as taking reservations. Some sites or seasons may still be first-come; the listing’s own words are below. |
| Hookups | Electric at 0 of 9 sites Water hookups at 0 of 9 sites Sewer hookups at 0 of 9 sites Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 9 sites Counted site by site from affirmative reports in the federal record. A site with no report is not counted either way. |
| Max RV length | Longest reported site fits 50 ft Sites that fit at least — 25 ft: 9 sites · 30 ft: 8 sites · 35 ft: 6 sites · 40 ft: 6 sites |
| Months open | Not in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Not reported — the federal listing carries no fee description for this campground. |
| Check-in / out | In 3:00 PM · Out 12:00 PM (most common in the listing) |
| Pets | Allowed at 9 sites, as reported |
| Accessibility | N |
| Phone | 805 434 1996 |
Check availability & book on Recreation.gov →
This site takes no reservations and shows no live availability. Source: Recreation.gov (RIDB export pulled November 5, 2026); this listing was last updated in the federal record on 2026-11-04.
From the official listing
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.
Directions, from the listing
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.
Nearest federal campgrounds
2 mi straight-line · CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceArroyo Seco Group Campground
6 mi straight-line · CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceArroyo Seco
7 mi straight-line · GREENFIELD CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceKirk Creek Campground
10 mi straight-line · CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceChina Camp Campground
11 mi straight-line · California
Trip Card — Escondido Campground
California · Los Padres National Forest
| Agency | FS · U.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Location | California · Los Padres National Forest |
| Fees | Not reported in the federal data |
| Getting a site | Reservable |
| Hookups | None reported |
| Max RV | Up to 50 ft |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | 9 sites |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/273869 · Source: Recreation.gov, pulled November 5, 2026. Facility details come from federal recreation data and may be out of date — this site takes no reservations and shows no live availability; confirm details and book through Recreation.gov or the managing agency.