USDA Forest Service · California
China Camp Campground
USDA Forest Service · California, United States
- Sites
- 10
- Hookups
- 10 no hookups
- Season
- January 1 to September 30
- Max RV length
- 20 ft
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- No
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 4,298 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)
- Access road
- CHINA CG. (NFSR 19S03A) · native material · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Los Padres National Forest
- Nearest town
- Soledad
- Phone
- 805 434 1996
- Activities
- Camping, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Wildlife Viewing
About
Overview
Pleasantly nestled under a large canopy of pine trees, China Camp is a campground where peace and quiet is commonplace. The spacious campsites allow you to set up camp with more than enough space between you and your neighbors. As you drive into the campground you are overtaken by the sweet smell of pine and the natural beauty surrounding the campground.
Recreation
China Camp offers trails along the hillside and a trailhead which begins in the campground. The Pine Ridge trailhead begins across from the campground bulletin board. This 23-mile trail offers stunning views of the Santa Lucia mountain range which are covered in towering oaks trees.
Facilities
The campground offers 10 campsites, with campsites 1 - 5 open year-round and campsites 6 - 10 open only in the summer season. The campground is suitable for tent and car camping, but is not recommended for RVs over 20 feet. Fires are allowed only in designated fire rings, however, always check local fire restrictions prior to your arrival. Two vault toilets are located near the campground bulletin board. You should plan to be completely self-sustainable for the duration of your trip. There is no potable water (drinking water) onsite. There is no dump station.
Natural Features
China Camp is surrounded by oak and pine trees, providing ample shade for visitors. Bobcats, coyotes and black tailed deer roam the rolling, lush hills. Red tailed hawks and turkey vultures can be seen soaring above the trees, so bring along some binoculars and make sure to keep an eye out. The melody of chirping of birds during the day time complimented by the sounds of crickets at night provide the textbook balance of unspoiled nature.
Nearby Attractions
Hiking and biking trails are within 10 - 15 minutes from the campground. Backpacking and mountain biking the trails nearby is a popular activity in the area.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 51° | 38° | 25° | 66° | 5 of 11 |
| February | 49° | 36° | 25° | 69° | 4 of 11 |
| March | 51° | 36° | 25° | 75° | 5 of 11 |
| April | 53° | 38° | 30° | 73° | 2 of 11 |
| May | 59° | 42° | 36° | 71° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 65° | 46° | 39° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 72° | 49° | 44° | 82° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 71° | 50° | 46° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 67° | 49° | 42° | 81° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 64° | 46° | 36° | 82° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 56° | 42° | 30° | 70° | 1 of 10 |
| December | 51° | 38° | 27° | 66° | 3 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
- White Oaks Campground · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 8 sites
- Arroyo Seco · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi · 40 sites
- Arroyo Seco Group Campground · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park · California State Parks · 11 mi
- Escondido Campground · USDA Forest Service · 11 mi · 9 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.