Ponderosa Campground
Ponderosa Campground is a national forest campground in California. Hookups: no hookups.
- Type
- National forest campground
- Location
- California
- Coordinates
- 36.00500, -121.37639
- Hookups
- No hookups
- Activities
- Biking, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Historic & Cultural Site, Hunting, Swimming Site, Wildlife Viewing
- Map
- Open in OpenStreetMap
- Phone
- 805-434-1996
Amenities
- Reservable sites
Only amenities a source confirms are listed; an amenity missing here is unknown, not absent.
About Ponderosa Campground
Overview Ponderosa Campground offers visitors a beautiful location to relax and enjoy nature. It runs along the Nacimiento River, which provides a variety of recreational opportunities. Swimming, fishing and wading are all enjoyed by visitors, as well as hiking and backpacking on any of the surrounding mountain trails. Recreation The Nacimiento River provides opportunities for trout fishing and wading, as well as swimming in any of the swimming holes along its course. A variety of hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking trails can be accessed within a short drive from the campground. The trails offer scenic views of waterfalls, massive redwood groves, meadows and mountain streams. Facilities The campground offers single-family sites for tent and RV camping. Utility hookups are not available and the parking surfaces are paved. A maximum of two vehicles is allowed for each site. Additional vehicles are not allowed in the campground. Each site is equipped with a table and campfire ring with grill. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Trash collection bins are available throughout the campground. Natural Features The campground is situated next to the river and has a scattered canopy of ponderosa pine, oak, madrone and sycamore trees, which provide ample shade in most campsites. It is located in the Los Padres National Forest in the mountains of Big Sur at an elevation of 1,500 feet. A variety of wildlife makes its home in the area. Nearby Attractions Missio
Cell coverage
No coverage data for this location yet.
Nearby RV services
- Dump station
- None mapped within 50 mi
- Water fill
- None mapped within 50 mi
- Propane
- Propane · 48 mi
- Low clearances
- None mapped within 10 mi
- Off-road routes
- 25 designated routes (41 mi) within 10 mi
Other places to stay nearby
| Name | Type | Distance | Fee | Hookups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ponderosa | National forest campground | 0.6 mi | — | — |
| Ponderosa Campground | Private campground | 0.7 mi | — | — |
| Nacimiento | National forest campground | 2.1 mi | — | — |
| Nacimiento Campground | Private campground | 2.1 mi | — | — |
| Chalk Peak Camp | Private campground | 3.2 mi | — | — |
| ABC Camp | Free campsite | 3.2 mi | Free | — |
Open Ponderosa Campground in DryRig
Save it offline, check your rig's clearance on the drive in, and see what's nearby on the map.
Sources. Recreation.gov (RIDB). Updated June 2026. Facility facts only; DryRig does not publish ratings or reviews on this page.