USDA Forest Service · California
La Panza Campground
USDA Forest Service · California, United States
- Sites
- 7
- Hookups
- 7 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 2,211 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
- Los Padres National Forest
- Phone
- 805 434 1996
- Activities
- Biking, Camping
About
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.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 59° | 40° | 29° | 76° | 3 of 11 |
| February | 59° | 39° | 26° | 79° | 3 of 11 |
| March | 61° | 41° | 31° | 90° | 1 of 11 |
| April | 67° | 44° | 35° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| May | 75° | 50° | 41° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 85° | 57° | 45° | 99° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 91° | 63° | 53° | 102° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 89° | 62° | 53° | 104° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 84° | 57° | 49° | 100° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 78° | 52° | 41° | 93° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 66° | 45° | 33° | 81° | 0 of 10 |
| December | 60° | 39° | 28° | 74° | 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
- Navajo Flat/Ohv Staging Area · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi
- Navajo Flats Campground · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 6 sites
- American Canyon · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi
- Turkey Flat Ohv Staging Area · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi · 4 sites
- American Canyon Campground · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi · 12 sites
All public campgrounds in California · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.