Do I need a permit to backpack Arroyo Seco Campground?
Yes. You need a permit to backpack Arroyo Seco Campground in Los Padres National Forest, and it is booked in advance through a reservation system rather than won in a lottery.
Permit required
What the Arroyo Seco Campground permit costs and covers
- Fee
- Single-site reservations cover 6 people and 1 vehicle, and single sites include one vehicle in the use fee. The maximum is 8 people per site ($10 per person per night above 6), and extra vehicles are $10 per night at the campground
- Group size limit
- 8 people
What the rules require
- Single campsite reservations are good for 6 people and 1 vehicle
- Maximum 8 people per site, with a $10 additional charge per person per night above 6
- Maximum 2 vehicles per site. Single sites include one vehicle in the use fee, double sites include two, and extra vehicles are $10 per night
- Minimum weekend stay is 2 nights; minimum holiday-weekend stay is 3 nights
- Reservations close 3 days before the arrival date
- Buy firewood locally and burn it on site — California asks visitors not to move firewood, to keep tree-killing pests out of the forest
Published rules for the Arroyo Seco Campground, quoted as written.
Getting one
Dates for Arroyo Seco Campground sell out and then come back as people cancel. PermitSnag watches Arroyo Seco Campground and sends you an alert the moment one reappears.
Common questions about the Arroyo Seco Campground permit
Do I need a permit to backpack Arroyo Seco Campground?
Yes. You need a permit to backpack Arroyo Seco Campground in Los Padres National Forest, and it is booked in advance through a reservation system rather than won in a lottery.
How much does a Arroyo Seco Campground permit cost?
Single-site reservations cover 6 people and 1 vehicle, and single sites include one vehicle in the use fee. The maximum is 8 people per site ($10 per person per night above 6), and extra vehicles are $10 per night at the campground.
How many people can be on one Arroyo Seco Campground permit?
8 people.