National Park Service · California
Pinnacles Campground
National Park Service · California, United States · in Pinnacles National Park
- Sites
- 134
- Hookups
- 34 electric, 100 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Max RV length
- 90 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Dump station
- Yes
- Laundry
- No
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,962 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Pinnacles National Park
- Nearest town
- Paicines
- Address
- 2400 HWY 146, Paicines, CA, 95043
- Phone
- 831-200-1722 OR GO TO WWW.VISITPINNACLES.COM
- Activities
- Amphitheater, Camping, Concessions, Educational Programs, Hiking, Ranger Station, Rock Climbing, Wildlife Viewing
134 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Pinnacles Campground is located in the unique Pinnacles National Park, 32 miles south of Hollister, California.
The park encompasses 26,000 acres of spectacular rock formations and remnants of an extinct 23 million-year old volcano.
Hiking and rock climbing are very popular activities in Pinnacles, as is watching for the majestic California condor overhead. Pinnacles National Park is a nesting place for the endangered soaring bird, the largest in North America.
Recreation
Pinnacles National Park has more than 30 miles of trails, ranging from easy to strenuous. Many trails intersect, allowing for a short loop or a longer all-day hike. Popular destinations include Bear Gulch Reservoir, High Peaks and the Balconies area. The Bench Trail provides direct access to the park from the campground.
Visitors enjoy exploring Balconies Cave and Bear Gulch Cave, which houses a large colony of Townsend's big-eared bats. Bring a flashlight!
Rock climbers flock to Pinnacles for the variety of climbing routes that range from easy top-ropes to the multi-pitch climbs along Machete Ridge.
Facilities
Pinnacles Campground is located on the eastern side of the park and is open year-round. It offers family and group tent sites, as well as RV sites with electric hookups. Roads and parking spurs are gravel. Flush toilets and drinking water are provided. Showers are available. A general store with basic foods and camping supplies is located on-site. A swimming pool is located within the campground and is open from April through September.
Natural Features
The campground is situated in a rolling landscape dotted with shady Valley Oak, Blue Oak and Coast Live Oak trees. A gentle, seasonal creek runs through the grounds.
Springtime finds Pinnacles bursting with a wide variety of vivid wildflowers that line every trail and fill entire meadows with color.
Deer and wild turkeys roam the area, and condors can be viewed from within the campground. The park ranges in elevation from 824 feet along South Chalone Creek to 3,304 feet atop North Chalone Peak.
Fees
Tent Site: $43. A site specifically designed for tents. The site can accommodate up to 6 people and two vehicles.
Recreational Vehicle (RV): $59. RV sites have 60A, 30A (240v) and 7.5A (110v) outlets.
Group Site: $110. This site will accommodate a maximum of 10 people properly. And it can be reserved 6 to 12 months in advance.
Tent Cabin Electric: $139. Tent Cabin Electric
Tent Cabin Nonelectric: $129. Tent Cabin Nonelectric
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 58° | 40° | 28° | 75° | 4 of 11 |
| February | 57° | 39° | 28° | 78° | 3 of 11 |
| March | 60° | 41° | 31° | 89° | 2 of 11 |
| April | 64° | 43° | 31° | 81° | 1 of 11 |
| May | 74° | 47° | 38° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 82° | 51° | 44° | 99° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 90° | 60° | 47° | 101° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 90° | 60° | 50° | 101° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 83° | 57° | 45° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 77° | 53° | 40° | 91° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 64° | 44° | 34° | 79° | 0 of 10 |
| December | 58° | 40° | 29° | 72° | 1 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- San Lorenzo Park Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 18 mi · 99 sites
- Arroyo Seco · USDA Forest Service · 23 mi · 40 sites
- Arroyo Seco Group Campground · USDA Forest Service · 24 mi
- White Oaks Campground · USDA Forest Service · 24 mi · 8 sites
- Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area · California State Parks · 24 mi
All public campgrounds in California · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-08-11. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.