Pfeiffer Campground Gear Checklist
Pfeiffer Big Sur campground is a drive-in redwood and river campground with 189 sites, no hookups and a shower system that runs on tokens. Campers pack for rain and fog, buy firewood instead of gathering it, bring cash for showers, and plan food storage around the park's metal bins. The trip reports we found are short, so the page leans on the park's own camping rules and says where campers disagree with them.
What shapes your gear on Pfeiffer Big Sur campground
- Sites and fees
- The campground has 189 tent and RV sites along the Big Sur River. A standard site costs $50 a night and a riverfront site $60. A second vehicle is $10 a night, and the park lists no hookups at any site.
- Booking
- Reservations fill six months ahead, even in winter. Inside a 48-hour arrival window you cannot book online or by phone. A walk-up site means standing at the entrance kiosk.
- What each site has
- Every site has a fire pit, a picnic table and room to park one car or more, and water, showers and toilets are a short walk off. The park wants food and scented items kept in its metal bins.
- Showers
- Showers run on tokens. The park says one token is $1 and buys 5 minutes. Two write-ups report only 3 to 3.5 minutes per dollar, one group found a vending machine that took bills only, and one camper says the tokens were gone early on two of three nights.
From California State Parks, The Weekly Camper, The Outbound and The Dyrt
- Wet weather
- A November camper saw heavy rain overnight and big puddles on sites without paved parking. A guide says it rains often and to pack everything away at night.
From Weekend Campervanning and The Outbound
- Shade and wind
- Redwood canopy shades most of the campground. One June group had little midday shade at sites 72 and 73 and wind at sites 73 and 74, with the river less than 200 feet away.
From The Dyrt and The Weekly Camper
- Supplies and signal
- Camp stores sell firewood, ice and basic supplies. Cell service is spotty across the park, and a guide advises filling the tank and stocking up before driving into Big Sur.
From The Dyrt and The Outbound
What the agency requires on Pfeiffer Big Sur campground
Metal storage bins for food and scented items
Put all food and scented items in the park metal bins, so no animal is fed by accident.
Purchased firewood
Wood collecting is not allowed. Fires are allowed only in the metal fire rings the park provides.
Camp gear that does not hang from trees
Hammocks, clotheslines and slacklines may not be attached to trees or plants in any way. Nails in trees are also banned.
A leash for your dog
Dogs must be leashed at all times and are not allowed on trails.
What hikers carry on Pfeiffer Big Sur campground
Cash or bills for shower tokens
Tokens are $1 each at the kiosk and select bathrooms. A guide tells campers to bring cash, one group found a vending machine outside the bathroom that took only bills, and another camper found tokens gone early.
From California State Parks, The Outbound, The Weekly Camper and The Dyrt
Firewood bought at the camp store or from the host
Gathering is banned. A November family bought wood from the camp host and got about half an hour of fire before rain. One guide says to bring your own because town prices are high, while another lists two camp stores that sell it.
From California State Parks, Weekend Campervanning, The Outbound and The Dyrt
An awning or tarp for rain
In November rain the family ran for their awning when the downpour started. A guide adds that everything should be packed away each night because rain is frequent.
From Weekend Campervanning and The Outbound
Camp chairs for the river bank
River sites sit close to the water, and one camper loved carrying chairs down to sit along the bank. Another group's sites were under 200 feet from the river.
From The Dyrt and The Weekly Camper
Bikes for the campground loops
A June group saw many people walking and cycling and wished they had brought bikes to ride around the campground.
From The Weekly Camper
A food storage plan for your exact site
The park provides metal storage bins, but a June camper's three sites had a fire ring and table with no food vault or pantry. Check your site and keep food out of the tent either way.
From California State Parks and The Weekly Camper
A full tank, groceries and offline maps
A guide warns that forgetting something or refueling in Big Sur costs extra. Cell service is spotty, so directions saved before you arrive help, and Highway 1 closures can change the route.
From The Outbound, The Dyrt and Campendium
6 people can go on one permit. Split this list between them so nobody carries two stoves.
Plan a trip hereWhat hikers regret or leave behind on Pfeiffer Big Sur campground
A site with dirt parking in wet weather
After heavy rain in November one camper saw many sites with large puddles and says a site with paved parking is much less muddy.
Showering late in the day
A camper advises buying tokens early because they ran out on two of three nights.
From The Dyrt
Buying fuel, firewood or forgotten items in Big Sur
One guide calls Big Sur a tourist trap where a forgotten item or a tank fill-up costs extra, and says town firewood is overpriced.
From The Outbound
Leaving the bikes at home
A June group wrote that cycling around the campground would have been fun, and they did not have bikes.
From The Weekly Camper
Gear questions for Pfeiffer Big Sur campground
Can I collect firewood at Pfeiffer Big Sur campground?
No. The park bans wood collecting. Buy firewood from the camp stores or the camp host, and burn it only in the provided metal fire ring.
From California State Parks, The Dyrt and Weekend Campervanning
How do showers work at Pfeiffer Big Sur campground?
Showers are token-operated. The park says one $1 token buys 5 minutes, sold at the entrance kiosk and select bathrooms. One camper found tokens gone early on two of three nights.
From California State Parks and The Dyrt
Does Pfeiffer Big Sur campground have hookups?
No. Sites have no hookups. The park offers drinking water, hot showers and toilets nearby, plus a dump station.
From California State Parks and Campendium
Can I hang a hammock at Pfeiffer Big Sur campground?
Not from a tree. The park says hammocks, clotheslines and slacklines may not be attached to trees or plants in any way.
Sources
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park: Camping · California State Parks · Agency
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park · Weekend Campervanning · Trip report
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (camp review) · The Weekly Camper, Dexter · Trip report
- Camp at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park · The Outbound, Lucas Pols · Blog
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Campground · The Dyrt · Forum thread
- Big Sur Camping Guide · Campendium · Blog