Limekiln State Park - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

I love this campground. There aren't very many sites but you're right off the water. It gets super windy so be prepared.

Was driving down the 1 and the dog needed a run. Happened upon it day after the 4th of July. They accept a few last min walk ins!! At 2pm. Saw otters in the ocean out front and camped next to a river with our very own little path to it. Hosts were all very welcoming and extremely friendly/helpful. Only wish we could’ve stayed longer. Unfortunately this place books up.

This spectacular campground has it all. Beach access and beach camping. Bluff camping overlooking the Pacific. I choose a spot higher up the creek in the tall pines a short hike away from Limekiln falls. Check out the ruins that give the park its name.

Good camp site



A great campground with camping in the redwoods and near the beach. Showers available with flushable toilet and water next to almost every campsite.

Camping made easier with this app thanks!

Loved camping here as a stop on a road trip along Oregon coast hwy 101. The entire campground isn't like this, but our site was directly beneath the highway and next to the beach. There are fun hikes that leave right from camp that go to a waterfall. Check out the actual decommissioned lime kilns nearby.

It's just on the edge of Big Sur. Not much oversight to the park, but that was OK. It allowed us let some traveling kids without a reservation share our site.

The restrooms were clean, the grounds were clean and the environment was incredible. Definitely planning on coming back.

This campground is divided into 2 sections- a redwood forest side and a beach side. The forest side is for smaller vehicles only- we were in our van and had to camp on the beach side, which had an RV park feel as sites were crammed close together on gravel and under the highway bridge, unless you can get one of 3 sites on the hill with more privacy but no shade. The redwood side is lovely though, with a creek running through it, so if you’re in a lighter vehicle I’d go for that side.

I’ve camped in many beautiful places since my only stay at Limekiln State Park in January 2013. Generally I travel via motorcycle and have had the opportunity to backpack Glacier National Park on several occasions. So rating Limekiln as my favorite spot makes it a special place. Camping under the giant redwoods next to a running stream in January was simply perfect. I think I was one of only two campsites occupied enjoying the tranquility of the rushing water and the crashing Pacific Ocean just a short walk down stream.

We came without a reservation and got an overflow site right on the beach. You can’t bring your car to the spit but the walk from parking is less than 100 yards. Amazing sunset and comfortable distance from others.

Amazing location. Campers have options for “beachside” camping, or camping among the trees. FYI the “beach” really doesn’t have any sand and is very rocky, and those sites are really exposed and close together, almost like a parking lot. Once among the trees, really short and picturesque hikes to a lovely waterfall and nearby lime kilns can be accessed via a trailhead right in the campground.

We have camped here the last 6 years after a friend told us about it. The camp sights are smaller than other places we camp at, but no matter if you site is a beach site or Redwoods site, they are worth the price. We love getting off the grid, no cell or WiFi, for a few days .... just peaceful relaxation. Both camp sights have flushing toilets and pay showers. The camp host clean the about 2x a day it seems. Each site has a fire circle and picnic bench, even the walk In sites. There are really no services close by, some items like at ice can be bought at Lucia, so everything has to be brought in...

Camped in December (woods). Couldn’t be more happy with the view and the creek running behind us. Lovely to fall asleep with its sound at night! The ground was a bit rocky but nothing compared to the beach camp sites - Woods has more privacy also. There’s no cell reception, nor electricity in the bathrooms. Bathroom was clean ok. We couldn’t get to the waterfall but the walk was pleasant (and very short). We saw a couple of whales on the beach. I would definitely recommend camping in the woods if looking for somewhere peaceful!

You are deep within the magic of Big Sur. Come here to relax and recharge.  This camp is close to nothing - in a good way! Escape your phone.

We enjoyed short hikes to see waterfall and like kilns with no one else on the trail.

The camp sites near the ocean seemed a bit windy in November, but we were cozy in the trees.

I have to disagree with the vast majority of reviews on this site for this campground. After reading all of these reviews, I was very excited to camp here! We even splurged and got one of the "ocean" campsites. However, we were very very very disappointed. Their ocean campsites are mostly located on a large dirt lot directly under highway 1. There is no separation between you and the next campsite other than a log or some rocks so expect zero privacy. The highway itself is very loud throughout the day and into the night. The bathrooms were very dirty all the time with mud, dirt, and large trashcans that were constantly full. The showers also were out of order. The squirrels are pretty vicious here and it is sadly due to the improper trash policy this campground has. The trashcans are simply metal trashcans without any type of lock on them. Throughout the day and the night, squirrels and birds would get the lid off the trashcan and rummage through the trash. Unfortunately, it does not appear that the rangers of the campground do much educating on proper interactions with wildlife either as the vast majority of other visitors were also seen feeding the squirrels. It may seem harmless, but it is very unhealthy for these animals! 

The hike to the waterfall and the limekilns was pleasant and definitely pretty. It was a short hike and we completed both in about an hour and a half. The beach is also nice overall.

There are 12 ocean sites, three of them are up a rocky slope. There are other sites in the redwoods. We were lucky to get an ocean site without a reservation on a Monday and Tuesday at the end of October but the best spots are best reserved. I believe some are set aside for walk-ins. There is also day use but the beach access is reserved for campers. Two toilets, one sink and one shower for the 12 ocean sites but one of the toilets was out of order while we were there. Although there was a light in the other, it was not working but I would assume campers would have flashlights. Camp hosts are very friendly and we had great conversations with other campers. Sites are kinda close together but while we were there not all were occupied so it felt fine. Four short moderate trails were easily doable in one day. One along a creek, one to a viewpoint, one to a great waterfall (caution; there are four stream crossings) and one to the remains of four lime kilns. No hookups and the size of vehicle (no big RVs) is restricted. Fantastic sunsets and while we loved this campground, it was pricey ($35 vs $20 for Oregon state parks for a non hookup site)

Beaches, mountains, rivers, waterfalls, redwoods, must I say more? It’s BREATHTAKING.

Beautiful campgrounds right by ocean. Can get a little cold with ocean breeze but so beautiful and worth it. Redwoods and hiking in campground too.

We came out with a bachelorette group and the rangers were so incredible and helpful that they switched us to a bigger site when they found out there were 7 of us in a site that was stated as being big enough but due to the water flow. It was vacated after the mudslides so they had the "penthouse" available for us to move to. We were sleeping under the Redwoods but we were only a 2-3 min walk to the beach for sunset.

The creek was flowing at full capacity so it seemed like we were the only people in the campground because all noise was drowned out by the lovely flow of the river.

Limekiln State Park is one of the many campgrounds located off of Highway 1 in gorgeous Big Sur, CA. Limekiln is one of my very favorite places to camp EVER. There are three different areas to camp in; the beach, by the creek, and in the redwoods. All three areas are gorgeous and magical. I have camped in both the redwoods area, and down by the creek.

We have camped in site 16 in the Lower Creek area the last couple times we have camped at Limekiln, as it is the most secluded area to camp in. There are only 3 sites down in the Lower Creek area, and they are fairly small sites, so large parties cannot camp there, which leaves it pretty quiet. You are still surrounded by redwoods down in the creek sites, and listening to the creek is so relaxing and peaceful.

Each site has a firepit and picnic table. The campground has plumbed toilets, coin operated showers, and drinking water.

We like to cook in the campground, plate our food, then walk over to the beach to eat in front of the ocean. The beach is essential a private beach, as the surrounding cliffs block it from other areas of Big Sur.

The trails through the redwoods are easy hikes, and absolutely beautiful. There is a small waterfall down one fork in the trial, and the old, decaying lime kilns are down the other fork - they are a must see! The history of the lime kilns is very interesting, and worth reading about.

One time the camp hosts told us about the bats that come down the creek at dusk - they told us to go stand on the bridge that connects the beach sites with the rest of the campground, and ait for the bats at dusk. I’m sure bats are not everyone’s cup of tea, but we enjoyed seeing them fly around the bridge and down the creek.

Limekiln, in my opinion, is one of the prettiest places in Big Sur, and is a must see!

CAMPSITE SPECS

Fees: $35/night

Plumbed Toilets: Yes

Drinking Water: Yes

Showers: Yes (coin-operated)

Picnic Table: Yes

Firepit: Yes

Cooking Grate: Yes

Shade: Yes

Cell Service: No

Animal Bins/Food Lockers: No

Trash: Yes

there you have your pick; camp on the beach or camp in the redwoods. you cant go wrong with either one. located on higway 1 between monterey and Cambria this place is any miss. So keep an eye our for the turn out. but totally worth it. beautiful trail to the abandone limekilns and falls

This was a lst minute trip planned and thankfully die to a cancellation we were able to get one of the best camp sites with a view with only two days notice! Our front view was a beautiful beach barely used and our back view were mountains and trees and withing those trees were beautiful hikes with waterfalls, wood bridges, streams and historic lime kilns. It was our perfect campsite! Showers and restrooms close by, the staff was super nice and they are dog friendly! We stayed three nights and four days and absolutely loved every minute of it!

Gorgeous state campground , Alongside a stream, nestled in redwoods, and 4 sites on the beach! It doesn’t get much better than this. couple hikes starting from the campground, but plenty of exploring to be had. i stayed here in April , May and most recently, in January. ( winter makes stream crossings , much more of a challenge !) one of my favorite campgrounds ever.

LOVE this campground. You get the best of both worlds, forest and beach. Not many campsites but if you can get a reservation it's worth it. There's. waterfall in the park and a beautiful creek that runs through.

Great camp sites. They're small so only tents and vehicles can camp there. Running water nearby most camp sites and trails to explore to waterfalls and lime depository locations. Darkest night I have ever slept through.

We camped up the hill in the Redwood Forrest. There's a great hike up to see the Limekilns with a beautiful waterfall.

There's also beach camping and we watched a beautiful sunset.

The camping spots are a little sparse down by the beach, but the ones up in the redwoods are beautiful.

This was my first ever camping trip and we didn't have any reservations. We were lucky to pull in and here the news that they had vacancies due to cancellations. So we had our choice of the redwoods or beach. We picked redwoods. It was beautiful! The creek running behind our site made for a relaxing night of sleep. The only downside was that the sites are right next to each over. But our neighbors were super nice, warm and welcoming.

there is a short walk to get to a waterfall after passing through the limekilns

hard to get, but can hike into awesome waterfalls; have been there several times both in June & September

You are camping in the woods and big trees you can either hike up to the waterfall or down to the Ocean. It is unequaled in this respect. Campsites are big and well tended to.