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Limekiln Campground

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This coastal campground has two main hiking trails: one that winds along the redwoods along Limekiln Creek, and one that perches on cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Both trails are day use only.

There are 29 campsites (4 are walk-in), and RVs and trailers aren’t allowed on the redwoods side (only at campsites 5 through 16). The two loops have very different atmospheres, and, in general, you will find families on the Redwood side and surfers and ocean-lovers on the other.

Some of the sites on the ocean view are in the shadow of the Highway 1 overpass, so keep that in mind as you are selecting your site. Word on the street is that the best sites are 1, 2, and 3, but they are first-come, first serve and you can’t reserve specific sites online, so getting there early is always a good idea.

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107 ratings · 29 reviews

Erin O.recommends

May 15, 2019

One of my favorite places! You get the ocean and the mountain trees! Love love love this place!

Savannah R.recommends

May 1, 2019

Nothing short of magic. We got very lucky and last-minute booked a beachside campsite, which was nestled in between the ocean and stream that runs through the campground. The white noise was so peaceful and waking up next to the beach in Big Sur is an otherworldly experience. The amenities were clean + up to date and the camp hosts were awesome!

Bea L.recommends

January 21, 2019

Magic. This is FernGully. I highly recommend staying a night here to break up a Big Sur destination if you’re headed from SoCal. The tucked away lush hikes are fun and playful. Little waterfalls and fun tree bridges crossing small streams make it feel like a fairy tale. We stayed closest to the ocean which lulled me to sleep both nights we stayed. This ground offers some of the best nature has to offer. The ocean side is a little more “parking lot” although 1-3 sites are great. But the ocean steps away is worth it. The sites further inland are really beautiful. It’s like Lord of the Rings back there. Shoot for site 29.

Jackie G.

August 31, 2018

I book Ocean site #4 for an early Sept weekend. Mainly because it was the only site available through a cancellation so I was lucky to even get it for a more or less last minute anniversary camping trip. I'm worried it might be too windy/ exposed. Anyone stay on the ocean side camp sites have any feedback on that? I mainly ask since we have a 1 year old! Though I actually think the proximity to the ocean will be helpful for her to sleep - she has an ocean sound white noise machine anyway - wa la! The whole area seems great for a quick family trip though....

Peg A.

July 31, 2018

Yes, and more than once...a pure slice of heaven on earth~ My favorite place to camp~

Harold M.

June 14, 2018

My wife and I was the manager of limekiln in the late 90s when it was private owned. It still looks close to the same. We did not have the the bridges, you either crossed the Creek on logs jumped or got your get wet. We ran it for 3 years. Wish we were still there.

Emily D.recommends

March 6, 2018

We stayed at a site near the creek in the forested area. There's lots of wildlife to see in the forest and it's an easy walk to the beach for sunset! We saw many deer at our site and even a whale during sunset! This campground really is a all-in-one for Big Sur. The hike trail was clearly marked. You could wade through crystal clear creeks, which I always enjoy doing in my chacos. The trail was adventurous without being difficult and cleverly made-super enjoyable hike. Of course, the waterfall at the end was wonderfully rewarding as well.

Patrick H.recommends

January 21, 2018

There are two options for this site: wooded camp sites and beach front campsites. The beach front is nestled right in between the beach and a small river, which was lovely to fall asleep to!

Craig T.recommends

November 15, 2017

I loved this campsite. There's a variety on camping spots throughout the park. If you like the beach you can camp closer to the beach, and if you like to be tucked away under soaring Redwoods you have that option, too. There's a beautiful stream that runs through the campsite, and meets at the roaring waves of the Pacific Coast. This is definitely one to check off your list!

Stephanie A.

September 17, 2017

We stayed at the Ocean beach front site. We initially had site #5 but we traded with a huge family who had #4 because they had 6,7, and 8 lol. We didn't mind because we actually thought the view was better. We totally lucked out because the weather was nice and most of the "to do" things around big sur wasn't as crowded as it usually would be since the road's are still closed. It was awesome just driving with no one on the road/at super popular spots which made it much more enjoyable ya know?! hehehe. On the way out we saw the other side of the sit which was a little more woody- would love to try that out. Enjoyed our time here

Pepper R.recommends

August 7, 2017

Site one the brook are quiet and private and offer spectacular calm among the redwoods.

Renee W.recommends

June 2, 2017

Make sure to check out the waterfalls and feel free to explore the path less traveled. With beach access as well, this is a great spot. It's a big campground and the campsites are pretty close together.

Lorena A.recommends

May 26, 2017

The weather and temperature can be very different from the campsites inland to the beach.

Kathleen D.recommends

April 26, 2017

Great place to go for walk in winter camping!

Amber H.

April 23, 2017

I grew up in a small town just south of Limekiln, and camped here frequently as a young person. I went back with my husband on a recent trip and while it was as beautiful as I remember, it was also very cramped. Being people who like to have privacy and often find out-of-the-way spots, this campground does not offer that. We got the last site and it was on the beach. It's not private at all, but you are right next to the ocean, so it was ok. The vibe was very friendly and the walk through the redwoods is worth the expensive night (40-ish bucks) for camping. Site 29 is by far the best spot in the whole place. Because I camped here as a kid, it will always be magical to me!

Mark B.recommends

April 5, 2017

Do all the hikes at the site, absolutely gorgeous. There's one hike where you can eventually find a natural pool

Mark B.recommends

April 5, 2017

Do all the hikes at the site, absolutely gorgeous. There's one hike where you can eventually find a natural pool

Dana Y.recommends

March 15, 2017

My favorite place to camp. Waterfall, beach, ruins, redwoods, absolute perfection. Securing a weekend campsite in the summer is nearly impossible though.

Briana K.

February 15, 2017

What an incredible place. Friendly staff, clean restrooms and showers, and no reception. We stayed in the little section of four sites along the river (site 15 to be specific) at the end of January and loved it. Nice and secluded, compared to the sites up in the Redwoods; sites above seemed rather exposed and close to neighbors. Definitely book far, far in advance as this place books up quick! We felt lucky to have the campground to ourselves (mudslides caused the HWY 1 to close down from both directions; a camp host text us letting us know and gave us an alternate route). The walkable beach access was amazing, and the contrast of the woods and the beach was magical. We will be back!

Nathan H.recommends

February 3, 2017

Hike the the kilns, Try to get campground #1! Its very private and you have an ocean view.

Sofia I.recommends

February 2, 2017

Need to book well in advance! We had a site up the back near the redwoods, which was great

Andrew P.

January 30, 2017

Highly recommend this camp ground for both small and large groups. If you're in a large group be sure to pay the extra and get two camp spots for the car parking. Sites #24 and #25 are the ones we had. #24 is the largest we had and next to trail head. Others seemed very small but good for two people / small tents. Site #29 has a really cool three-tiered element to it that allows you to park at the bottom, cook on a 2nd flat section, and put your tents on a 3rd flat area. I'll probably try to book that one next time. Awesome trails nearby that are short and beginner friendly but also have access to the CA Coastal Trail from the camp ground. Had to take Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd due to closures on HWY 1. Good alternate route though.

David D.

February 12, 2016

The area is beautiful. My review is specific to the camping context. Looking at the photos, the sites look amazing, but they're actually quite cramped. While our site (#27) looked private on the reservation site, it was not. This was true of several other sites nearby as well. No one in the vicinity had any privacy. The map on the reservation site is *very* deceptive. The yellow is not a road: it's the boundary of the campsite, with most of the area inside the boundary being a road. I've camped many places, and I doubt I'll return to this campground. Also, be aware that a 2nd car requires a $10 extra per night charge, which we didn't learn until we arrived, despite having registered two vehicles for our site during the reservation.

Kim S.

December 12, 2015

Camp host is amazing and very friendly. Showers/bathrooms are great and close by. Campsites are very close together so you will hear if anyone is having a party at night. Overall, it's a beautiful campsite and great alternative if you cannot get a spot in Big Sur. You can drive and hike Pfeiffer during the day, there was even a family next to us who would surf during the days. We booked 1 week prior and got a spot no problem.

Sydney W.

September 24, 2015

If you're looking for beach + secluded forest + great (short) trails in one place, Limekiln has it all. From the top of the redwoods loop (near sites 23/24) down to the beach is maybe a 5 minute walk, but feels like two totally different worlds. The creek behind the campsites is crystal clear (and cold) water, which is wildly refreshing after spending some time on the beach, even in late September. When we visited earlier this week, the creek was flowing nicely and gave the perfect soundtrack for the best night's sleep on our trip. Plenty of wildlife - we saw deer, Steller's Jays, and sea lions bobbing in the ocean at sunset. Absolutely beautiful park. We'll definitely be back!

Tiana N.

June 11, 2015

As of September 2015, reservations are site specific.

Matthew O.

April 23, 2015

Also keep a eye on your little ones and pets, there were two mountain lions stalking a family while we stayed there. This shouldn't keep you from staying here though, its super rare for that to happen. This is one of my favorite spots in Big Sur for sure.

Matthew O.

April 23, 2015

Limekiln was a last resort for finding a campsite in Big Sur, Didn't make reservations and it was summertime (stupid I know) the camp hosts were super chill and gave us what they said was the best site in the campground. Site 16: Redwoods/secluded/creekside

Josef B.

February 5, 2015

Haven't been to confirm, but it looks like all the sites are non-specific meaning you will be assigned a site on arrival and might not get the spot you had originally reserved.

Your guide to camping in Limekiln Campground

Overview

Fishing

Rough surf conditions can discourage fishing from the beach, however we hear there is some good stream fishing in the park. You can catch lingcods, reds, and brown rockfish. Just remember, fishing is prohibited during some parts of the year, so check with the park before making plans. Anglers over the age of 16 must have valid California fishing licenses.________________

Hiking

The trails here are on the mellow side, but boast beautiful redwood lined canyons as well as magnificent ocean views. If hiking is your thing, then you are in a great spot (and it’s less crowded)!A few of the standouts are the Hare Creek Trail, which is an easy walk through the redwoods and sorrel. Another great one is the Limekiln Trail--An easy half-mile walk leads you across three scenic bridges to the enormous furnaces that once supplied lime used for mortar in San Francisco's earliest brick buildings. We recommend combining the two (don’t worry, it’s only 2.4 miles).If waterfalls are your thing, then check out the Falls Trail. Just hike along Limekiln Creek to the beautiful 100-foot waterfall.

Wildlife watching

With the varying environments present in Limekiln, it’s no surprise that many different species call the park home. Don’t be surprised to find wildlife such as mountain lions, bobcats, birds, gray whales and otters during your Limekiln adventures.