Reservation9/10
Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground permit
Main family campground along the Big Sur River....
Pfeiffer Big Sur Group Campground Permit
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park · California
One date at a time
Group camping area for larger parties.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Group Camp were gone within 10 minutes.
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Group Camp Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelHigh7/10
Group Camp Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Group Camp in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Group Camp is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The Group Camp route covers 0.25 miles, rated easy.
- Cancelled Group Camp permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Permit Details
TypeOvernight
Booking MethodReservation
Demand Level7/10
LocationBig Sur Coast, CA
What to Expect
Route Details
Distance
0.25 miles
Route Type
Out & Back
Duration
1-7 nights
Difficulty
EasyHighlights
- •Currently closed until further notice — check the park's camping page before planning
- •Two walk-in, tents-only group sites for 9 to 35 people
- •A quarter-mile carry across a seasonal wooden footbridge over the Big Sur River
- •Fire ring, potable water, picnic tables and flush toilets; no showers on site
- •A small amphitheater seating 50
- •A seasonal window of mid-June through mid-October when open
Best Time to Visit
Mid-June through mid-October is the published season, which is also when the footbridge is in place. Since the camp is currently closed until further notice, the practical answer is to watch the park's camping page for a reopening notice.
Hazards & Considerations
- !The camp is closed until further notice — confirm status before making any group plans.
- !The footbridge over the Big Sur River is seasonal.
- !Poison oak throughout the Big Sur parks.
- !Ticks and mountain lions are present; the agency names dawn and dusk for lions.
- !Raccoons are aggressive nocturnal scavengers around groups and food.
- !Highway 1 slides and one-way controls can strand a group's vehicles.
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
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78°
56°
Sun
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66°
50°
Mon
⛅
75°
52°
Tue
☁️
77°
52°
Wed
☁️
80°
54°
Thu
☁️
82°
57°
Fri
☀️
85°
60°
View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
How to Get This Permit
1
Create an account before permits drop
Find this permit on the managing agency's booking system and set up an account with your payment info ready.
2
Know the release schedule
Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.
3
Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
4
Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
Learn More
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand2/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill1/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk1/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation1/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment2/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Groups of 9 to 35 who want a tents-only Big Sur base with potable water and flush toilets, and who do not mind carrying gear across a footbridge — when the camp reopens.
Recommended Experience
Group logistics. The quarter-mile carry with no vehicle access is the whole planning problem, and a wedding or reception needs a Special Event Permit.
Not Recommended For
Groups under 9 or over 35, anyone with a trailer or motorhome, and anyone planning now — the camp is closed until further notice.
About This Permit
Pfeiffer Big Sur's Group Camp is posted as closed until further notice. What follows is what the park publishes about it, so a group can judge whether to wait for it to reopen.
Two group campsites are available from mid-June through mid-October by reservation. They are walk-in sites for larger groups with tents only, featuring a large camping area, fire ring, potable water, picnic tables, flush toilets and access to one small amphitheater seating 50 people. There are no showers, though campers may use the pay showers in the main campground. The minimum number of people is 9 and the maximum is 35, at $150 per night.
The access is the defining feature. There is no vehicle access to the group campsites — campers park on the west side of Highway 1 and walk in approximately a quarter mile across the Big Sur River on a seasonal wooden footbridge. No trailers or motorhomes can be used at this site. Each reservation includes parking passes for 10 vehicles.
The Experience
Why It Matters
Group Camp takes 9 to 35 people in a tents-only setting reached on foot across the river. The park has it posted as closed until further notice, which makes its reopening the thing to watch rather than its availability.
The Route
Two group campsites are available from mid-June through mid-October by reservation. These walk-in sites are for larger groups with tents only, featuring a large camping area, fire ring, potable water, picnic tables, flush toilets, and access to one small amphitheater seating 50 people. There are no showers; campers may use the pay showers in the main campground.
There is no vehicle access to the group campsites. Campers park on the west side of Highway 1 and walk in to the campground, approximately a quarter mile, across the Big Sur River on a seasonal wooden footbridge. No trailers or motorhomes can be used at this site. Check in is at the Pfeiffer Big Sur entrance kiosk; both group camps are a quarter mile north of the park entrance, west of Highway 1 and southwest of the Big Sur River. Each reservation includes parking passes for 10 vehicles.
The minimum number of people is 9 and the maximum is 35. The fee is $150 per night. All weddings, receptions and welcome dinners at Group Camp must have a Special Event Permit.
The Feeling
You park on the shoulder of Highway 1 and walk your gear a quarter mile over a wooden footbridge. The river separates the group camp from everything else in the park.
Trailhead Information
Highway 1 shoulder parking, group camp access
Parking on the west side of Highway 1, a quarter mile north of the park entrance, with a walk-in across the seasonal footbridge.
Restrooms
Water on site
Parking
Parking is on the side of Highway 1. Each reservation includes parking passes for 10 vehicles; additional vehicles are charged per night at the park. No trailers or motorhomes.
Getting There
Check in first at the Pfeiffer Big Sur entrance kiosk. Both group camps are a quarter mile north of the park entrance, west of Highway 1 and southwest of the Big Sur River.
Nearest Services
Big Sur village. Pay showers are in the main campground.
Rules & Regulations
- •Minimum number of people is 9, maximum is 35.
- •Tents only. No trailers or motorhomes can be used at this site.
- •There is no vehicle access to the group campsites.
- •Each reservation includes parking passes for 10 vehicles; additional vehicles are charged per night at the park.
- •All weddings, receptions, welcome dinners and similar events at Group Camp must have a Special Event Permit.
- •Check in is at the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park entrance kiosk.
- •Quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- •Fires are allowed only in the provided metal fire rings; do not gather firewood in the park.
- •Dogs must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed on park trails other than the Warden's Path and River Path.
Gear Checklist
Required
- Group cooking kit sized for up to 35
- A way to carry everything a quarter mile across a footbridge
- Firewood bought at the entrance kiosk
- Warm layers for a river canyon
- Shower tokens for the pay showers in the main campground
Recommended
- Wagons or handcarts for the walk-in
- Rain shelter for a group, outside high summer
- Long sleeves and long pants for poison oak
- A Special Event Permit if the gathering is a wedding or reception
- A Caltrans check before the group travels
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Group Camp
🚐
Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
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Key Landmarks
Pfeiffer Big Sur entrance kiosk
Check-in for the group camps, a quarter mile south of them.
Seasonal wooden footbridge
The Big Sur River crossing between Highway 1 parking and the group camp.
Group Sites A & B
Two walk-in tents-only sites with a fire ring, potable water, picnic tables and flush toilets.
Amphitheater
One small amphitheater seating 50 people, accessible from the group camps.
Group Camp FAQ
How do I get a Group Camp permit?
Group Camp permits use a reservation system. PermitSnag sends lottery open, deadline, and results reminders; you can also enable cancellation alerts if spots open later.
When is the best time to visit Group Camp?
Check with the managing agency for current season dates. Weekdays generally have better availability than weekends.
How competitive is the Group Camp permit?
This permit has a demand score of 7/10, making it highly competitive. We recommend having backup dates and using PermitSnag's cancellation alerts.
What if I can't get a Group Camp permit?
Cancellations happen daily. Set up alerts with PermitSnag to get notified the moment a spot opens up. Pro and $19 single-permit alerts are checked about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
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Questions
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Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Evening light across the Big Sur River on the group camp side.
Best Light
Mid-morning across the footbridge, with the river below and canopy above.
Beat the Crowds
The river does the work — nothing from the main campground reaches this side, and there is no vehicle access at all.
Classic Shots
- 📍The seasonal wooden footbridge over the Big Sur River
- 📍The large group camping area
- 📍The small amphitheater in use
- 📍Redwoods along the far bank of the river
- 📍Highway 1 shoulder parking with gear being carried across
Can't Get a Group Camp Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground
Same Area189 individual sites along the Big Sur River, with showers, a dump station and a maximum of six people per site.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Bookable as individual sites, but a group of 35 would need many separate sites and the park fills six months out even in winter.
Manzanita Point Hike-In Group Camp
Similar ExperienceHike-in group camps at Henry W. Coe State Park, east of Morgan Hill.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Also a walk-in group camp, and it is reservable on ReserveCalifornia. But it is a long way from Big Sur.
🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Group Camp trip
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