How to Get a Limekiln Camp Permit
Big Sur camping that spent over a year closed, reopened on 1 April 2026, and still depends entirely on whether Highway 1 is open.
Check Limekiln Camp permit availabilityVehicle day use is $10. Camping rates are set in ReserveCalifornia at booking. All transactions at Limekiln are currently cash only.
Permit Cost
1-15 nights
Duration
easy
Difficulty
About Limekiln Camp
Limekiln State Park packs a beach, a redwood canyon, a nearly 100-foot waterfall and a set of historic lime kilns into a very small piece of the Big Sur coast, 56 miles south of Carmel at Highway 1 mile marker 20.95. Camping here restarted on 1 April 2026. California State Parks had limited the park to day-use visitation for over a year because multiple landslides along Highway 1 restricted safe public access and limited the ability of park staff to fully operate the campground. After Highway 1 reopened at Regent's Slide in February 2026, Monterey District staff restored operations and reopened the campground. Anyone planning a trip should check Caltrans road conditions before setting out - this is the campground where the road is the deciding factor. Bookings go through ReserveCalifornia at reservecalifornia.com or 800-444-7275, on the standard six-month rolling window. ReserveCalifornia splits the campground into Ocean Camp, sites 1 to 12, and Redwood Camp, sites 13 to 29, with a maximum stay of 15 nights. Two practical constraints catch people out. Vehicle limits are small: maximum trailer 15 feet, maximum camper or motorhome 24 feet. And all transactions at Limekiln are currently cash only, with the entrance kiosk open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and day use 8:00 a.m. to sunset. Dogs are not allowed at this park.
Limekiln is the most access-fragile campground on the Big Sur coast. California State Parks limited it to day-use visitation for over a year because multiple landslides along Highway 1 restricted safe public access and limited the ability of park staff to operate the campground. Camping reopened on 1 April 2026, after Highway 1 reopened at Regent's Slide in February 2026. That history is the single most important planning fact about this campground: a reservation here is contingent on a road.
The Experience
A steep redwood canyon that runs straight out onto the Pacific, with the surf audible from sites in the trees. The park packs four different things into a very small area - a beach, a redwood creek canyon, a nearly 100-foot waterfall that splashes down a rock face, and the stone lime kilns the place is named for.
The park is 56 miles south of Carmel at Highway 1 mile marker 20.95, two miles south of Lucia, and the entrance road is at the south end of the bridge over Limekiln Creek. Camping is split into two areas in ReserveCalifornia: Ocean Camp holds sites 1 to 12 and Redwood Camp holds sites 13 to 29, with a maximum stay of 15 nights. Trails run up the canyon to the kilns and the waterfall, and the Limekiln Trail to the Pitkins Curve Trail and ocean view overlook is open. Vehicle size is tightly limited: maximum trailer 15 feet, maximum camper or motorhome 24 feet.
What to Expect
A campground reopened on 1 April 2026 after more than a year of day-use-only operation
Two areas in ReserveCalifornia: Ocean Camp (sites 1-12) and Redwood Camp (sites 13-29), including a hike/bike site
A maximum stay of 15 nights
Cash only for every transaction at the park right now
Small vehicle limits: 15-foot trailer, 24-foot camper or motorhome maximum
No dogs anywhere in the park
Kiosk hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., day use 8:00 a.m. to sunset
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Permit Requirements
Reservations go through ReserveCalifornia - reservecalifornia.com or 800-444-7275 - on the six-month rolling window that opens at 8:00 a.m. Pacific
Dogs are not allowed at Limekiln State Park
Maximum trailer length is 15 feet and maximum camper or motorhome length is 24 feet
All transactions at the park are currently cash only
Vehicle day use is $10; the entrance kiosk is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
ReserveCalifornia sets a maximum stay of 15 nights
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •Cash. Every transaction at the park is cash only right now, including day use if you are not already booked
- •Warm layers - a redwood canyon on the Big Sur coast is cold and damp after dark even in summer
- •A rain fly that works. Coastal fog drips off redwoods all night
- •A camp stove, plus firewood only if the park is not under fire restrictions
- •A small vehicle, or a plan that does not involve a trailer over 15 feet
Hazards & Safety
Highway 1 itself. Multiple landslides closed access to this park for over a year - check Caltrans road conditions before you drive
Steep canyon walls and slide-prone terrain either side of the creek
Cold, damp nights in the redwoods regardless of the inland forecast
Very limited services: the nearest town is small and the drive either direction along Highway 1 is long
Creek crossings on the trail to the falls after rain
Best Time to Visit
Late spring through autumn, when Highway 1 is most reliably open and the canyon dries out. Winter storms are what close this road, and this park has already lost more than a year to them. Book six months ahead through ReserveCalifornia, then re-check the Caltrans road conditions map in the week before you travel.
Pro Tips
Check the Caltrans road conditions map in the week before you travel. This park lost over a year of camping to Highway 1 slides.
Bring cash. Every transaction at the park is cash only right now.
Measure your rig before booking - 15 feet for a trailer and 24 feet for a motorhome are hard limits.
Ocean Camp is sites 1 to 12 and Redwood Camp is 13 to 29, so pick your side of the park deliberately when the map loads.
The kiosk closes at 4:00 p.m. even though day use runs to sunset, so arrive before then if you have anything to sort out.
Leave the dog at home. Limekiln does not allow them anywhere.
Book six months out at 8:00 a.m. Pacific through ReserveCalifornia, then set a cancellation watch - this campground turns over when road news changes.
100+ wilderness permits, extensive backcountry experience
This guide is based on personal experience obtaining wilderness permits and is regularly updated to reflect current policies and strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a Limekiln Camp permit?
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Limekiln Camp permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.
When is the best time to visit Limekiln Camp?
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Late spring through autumn, when Highway 1 is most reliably open and the canyon dries out. Winter storms are what close this road, and this park has already lost more than a year to them. Book six months ahead through ReserveCalifornia, then re-check the Caltrans road conditions map in the week before you travel.
How difficult is Limekiln Camp?
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Anyone who wants Big Sur camping with a waterfall and a beach in the same small park, and who is flexible if a road closes.
What gear do I need for Limekiln Camp?
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Essential gear includes: Cash. Every transaction at the park is cash only right now, including day use if you are not already booked, Warm layers - a redwood canyon on the Big Sur coast is cold and damp after dark even in summer, A rain fly that works. Coastal fog drips off redwoods all night, A camp stove, plus firewood only if the park is not under fire restrictions, A small vehicle, or a plan that does not involve a trailer over 15 feet.
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