Camping on the Central Coast is getting more expensive.
Prices for campsites in San Simeon start at $35 a night, and moving farther north into the Los Padres National Forest they can range to upwards of $50 a night.
San Carpoforo Beach, a sweeping estuary off Highway 1, was a popular dispersed campsite south of Ragged Point until the U.S. Forest Service and California Coastal Commission banned overnight camping on the beach in 2024.
Improper stewardship of the natural landscape and failure to adhere to fire prohibitions contributed to this decision. On April 3 the ban will be lifted.
San Carpoforo exists within the Los Padres National Forest, a swathe of federal land managed by the U.S. Forest Service that spans the coast between San Simeon and Carmel. The Los Padres National Forest contains many other campsites, such as Plaskett Creek and Salmon Creek.
Since 2016 there has been one request to raise prices by the campground’s manager, which the Forest Service agreed to in 2023, according to Andrew Madsen, the Public Affairs Officer for the Los Padres National Forest. As stated by Madsen, they “strive to maintain balance with fees charged by state and county parks that offer overnight camping and what Los Padres charges.”
He also cited the minimum wage increase in California as a contributing factor to the change in prices.
This request resulted in the price of Plaskett Creek Campground increasing from $10 a night to $45 a night. For comparison, campgrounds farther north in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park that are managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation cost $50-$60 a night.
Mechanical engineering junior Maddy Racicot said that camping in SLO County is “too expensive” and “it makes it kind of inaccessible for just a quick weekend trip,” when factoring in food and gas.
When asked what her favorite local camping spots are, Racicot said: “I really like camping anywhere in Big Sur.”
She said she prefers dispersed camping, an easy way to get outdoors without paying fees for traditional campsites that include amenities, such as bathrooms and running water.
“It would be awesome if it was more accessible and if there were more options for dispersed camping that were well publicized so people could find them in a safe way and not get themselves into dangerous situations trying to find random ones,” she said.
There are a few access points for dispersed camping within the Los Padres National Forest, such as Plaskett Ridge, but it is illegal to camp directly off Highway 1 or light fires without proper permitting. Increased prices alongside limited accessibility can make it difficult to find cost-effective ways to camp in this region.
Racicot said Montaña de Oro is an alternative favorite spot, which features Islay Creek Campground. Campsites cost $25 a night and feature primitive amenities, such as fire rings and potable water spigots.
Madeline Wendt, a third year computer science major, is a Trip Lead for Field Studies Club and explained how the club seeks to make the outdoors more accessible to students.
“We try to arrange the trips and everything and make it so people don’t have to worry about permits for certain campsites,” Wendt said.
The club began in the fall of 2022 and has blossomed since then, with over 700 members this year.
She said their goal is to simplify the process so “people can just show up and be able to experience the outdoors.”