Do I need a permit to backpack Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground?

What the Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground permit costs and covers

Fee

$50 per night standard site, $60 premium riverfront, $10 second vehicle; $10 per vehicle day use

Group size limit

6 people

Season starts

Year-round

Season ends

Year-round

What the rules require

• Maximum 6 people and 2 vehicles per campsite
• Quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.; generator hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Fires are allowed only in the provided metal fire rings, and firewood must be purchased rather than collected
• Peak-season stay limit is 7 consecutive nights, with a 30-day limit per calendar year
• Campsites cannot be reserved inside the 48 hours before arrival
• Except for service animals, pets may not use trails, the river or other natural areas, and all animals must be on a six-foot leash
• Diving head or feet first into the Big Sur River is not permitted, and moving rocks or building dams is prohibited to protect steelhead habitat

Published rules for the Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground, quoted as written.

Getting one

Dates for Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground sell out and then come back as people cancel. PermitSnag watches Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground and sends you an alert the moment one reappears.

Common questions about the Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground permit