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La Panza Campground

FSU.S. Forest Service — California · Los Padres National Forest

AgencyFSU.S. Forest Service
AreaLos Padres National Forest
LocationCalifornia · Los Padres National Forest · 35.35330, -120.26000 · Map
Sites7 public sites counted from the federal listing — 7 standard nonelectric
Getting a siteReservable — 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.
HookupsElectric at 0 of 7 sites
Water hookups at 0 of 7 sites
Sewer hookups at 0 of 7 sites
Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 7 sites
Counted site by site from affirmative reports in the federal record. A site with no report is not counted either way.
Max RV lengthNot reported in the federal data
Months openNot in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov.
FeesNot reported — the federal listing carries no fee description for this campground.
Check-in / outIn 3:00 PM · Out 12:00 PM (most common in the listing)
PetsAllowed at 7 sites, as reported
AccessibilityN
Phone805 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 2026-02-25.

From the official listing

Overview La Panza Campground is full of opportunities to relax or explore the forest. Nearby is Machesna Mountain Wilderness where hiking, hunting and horseback riding are popular. Off-high vehicle (OHV) recreation is also plentiful in the area. Recreation La Panza Campground is best enjoyed by campers who prefer a rugged outdoor experience. The Pozo La Panza 18,867-acre area has approximately 44 miles of routes that vary from sandy washes to a ridgeline route including a section known to expert OHV riders as the Stair Steps. With proximity to OHV trails, this spot will keep the adrenaline junkies enthused as well as the avid hiker. Bring your bikes, motorcycles, ATVs and four-wheel drive vehicles to enjoy the amazing trail experience! Facilities This campground is open daily and year-round. There are 15 single and spaciously situated campsites ideal for tenting, and moderate RVs under 16 ft. Campfires are allowed only in designated fire rings. You should plan to be completely self-sustainable for the duration of your trip. There is no potable water (drinking water) or electricity onsite. There is no dump station. This is a "dry" campground with five vault toilets. The road into the campground ends cul-de-sac style, but with adequate turn around. Natural Features La Panza Campground is situated in a canyon setting, encompassed by a gathering of established oak trees, and accented by a seasonal creek. Fox, coyote, road runner, deer, wild pig, jack rabbit, quail, and very rare black bear, all visit this area. Nearby Attractions Lakes, trails, beautiful views, biking, hiking and off-road vehicle riding are all within minutes of the campground. The nearest shopping is 29 miles in Santa Margarita.

Directions, from the listing

Directions from Santa Margarita, CA: Travel Highway 58, 3 miles east, Pozo Road approximately 26 miles east, Forest Road 29S18, 1.5 miles east. Alternate route: Highway 58, 26 miles east, Navajo Road 3 miles south, Pozo Road half a mile east.

Nearest federal campgrounds

FSU.S. Forest ServiceNavajo Flats Campground
3 mi straight-line · California
FSU.S. Forest ServiceTurkey Flat Ohv Staging Area
5 mi straight-line · California
FSU.S. Forest ServiceAmerican Canyon Campground
6 mi straight-line · Santa Maria California
FSU.S. Forest ServiceHorseshoe Springs Campground
24 mi straight-line · California
FSU.S. Forest ServiceCerro Alto Campground
27 mi straight-line · California

Trip Card — La Panza Campground

California · Los Padres National Forest

AgencyFS · U.S. Forest Service
LocationCalifornia · Los Padres National Forest
FeesNot reported in the federal data
Getting a siteReservable
HookupsNone reported
Max RVNot reported
Months openNot in federal data
Sites7 sites

Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/273870 · 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.