Reservation6/10
Los Padres Memorial Park Campground permit
Big Sur backdoor access via Carmel Valley....
Arroyo Seco Campground Permit
Los Padres National Forest · California
One date at a time
Campground with hot springs access.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Arroyo Seco were gone within 10 minutes.
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Arroyo Seco Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelHigh7/10
CostSingle-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
Max Group Size8 people
Arroyo Seco Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Arroyo Seco in Los Padres National Forest, California requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Arroyo Seco is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- Cancelled Arroyo Seco 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
LocationSanta Lucia Range, Los Padres National Forest, California, CA
Pro Tips
- •Reservations close three days before arrival
- •Weekends need a two-night booking and holiday weekends need three
- •Bring insect repellent — the operator asks for it by name in spring, summer and autumn
- •Treat the river with respect in spring; the operator warns the water can be swift and dangerous
- •This is the Highway 101 approach to the Santa Lucias. Getting from here to Big Sur is about 70 miles of curvy road and two hours
What to Expect
Route Details
Route Type
Varies
Duration
Weekend bookings require 2 nights; holiday weekends 3
Highlights
- •Access from Highway 101, not Highway 1 — the operator puts the coast at about 70 miles and two hours of curvy road away
- •Two-night minimum on weekends, three on holiday weekends, and a three-day reservation cut-off
- •Six people and one vehicle in the base reservation, eight people and two vehicles maximum
- •A river that the operator warns can be swift and dangerous in spring
- •Insects — the operator says to bring appropriate repellent
Best Time to Visit
Spring is when the river runs best and also when the operator warns it is most dangerous. Autumn gives you warm days without the peak summer heat and easier bookings. Whatever you choose, the reservation closes three days out.
Hazards & Considerations
- !The river. The operator warns that water can be swift and dangerous in the spring
- !Weather that the operator says can change rapidly — check before arrival
- !Inland summer heat, which is a different climate from the coast 70 miles away
- !A long, curvy drive if you are combining this with Big Sur
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
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Backcountry Tips
- Day 6: Extreme heat (95°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
- Day 7: Extreme heat (98°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
Today
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89°
59°
Sun
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78°
56°
Mon
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90°
58°
Tue
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92°
62°
Wed
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92°
61°
Thu
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95°
63°
Fri
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98°
66°
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 a Recreation.gov account
Sign up at Recreation.gov if you don't have an account. Have 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.
When to Go
Peak: SummerShoulder: Spring and autumn
Conditions
The river is at its highest, and the operator flags it as swift and dangerous.
Crowd Level
HighAdvantages
- +Green hills
- +River running full
- +Mild temperatures
Challenges
- !Dangerous water
- !Rapidly changing weather
- !Insects
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand1/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill1/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk2/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation1/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment1/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Families and groups who want a river campground without a coast-highway gamble.
Recommended Experience
None.
Not Recommended For
Anyone booking inside three days, or hoping for a single weekend night.
About This Permit
Arroyo Seco is a Los Padres National Forest campground in the Santa Lucia Range, reached from Highway 101 near Greenfield rather than from the coast. Recreation.gov records a minimum weekend stay of 2 nights, a minimum holiday-weekend stay of 3, and a reservation cut-off 3 days before arrival.
Site rules are the same shape as the other Los Padres campgrounds: single campsite reservations are good for 6 people and 1 vehicle, the maximum is 8 people per site with a $10 per person per night charge above 6, and the maximum is 2 vehicles per site. Single sites include one vehicle in the use fee and double sites include two; extra vehicles are charged $10 per night at the campground.
Amenities listed include drinking water, pit toilets, showers, a dumpster and trash collection. The operator warns to use caution in the river because water can be swift and dangerous in the spring, and to bring insect provisions.
The Experience
Why It Matters
Arroyo Seco is the back door to the same mountains everyone approaches from Big Sur, and it does not depend on the coast highway being open. The operator puts the distance between the two plainly: about 70 miles of very curvy road and roughly a two-hour drive.
The Route
This is a drive-in campground at the end of Arroyo Seco Road. Coming from the south on Highway 101 you take the first Greenfield exit, turn left on Elm Street, go west to Arroyo Seco Road and turn left; the road dead-ends at the campground. From the north, just past Soledad, turn west onto Arroyo Seco Road and continue.
The river is both the attraction and the hazard. The operator warns to use caution in the river because the water can be swift and dangerous in the spring, and separately that weather conditions can change rapidly.
The Feeling
A river running through a rocky gorge with oaks and sycamores over the campsites, and the sort of summer heat the coast never gets.
Trailhead Information
Arroyo Seco Campground
47600 Arroyo Seco Road, Greenfield, California, where Arroyo Seco Road dead-ends.
Restrooms
Water on site
Before you rely on this water
Recreation.gov lists drinking water among the amenities. Confirm it is on with the concessionaire (customerservice@pmcparks.com / CampOne.com / 805-434-1996) before relying on it, and carry a reserve.
Parking
Maximum 2 vehicles per site. Single sites include one vehicle in the use fee, double sites include two, and extras are $10 per night.
Getting There
From the south on Highway 101 to Greenfield, take the first Arroyo Seco exit, left on Elm Street, west to Arroyo Seco Road and turn left; it dead-ends at the campground. From the north, just past Soledad, turn west onto Arroyo Seco Road.
Nearest Services
Greenfield, California. The operator notes it is about 70 miles and roughly two hours of curvy road from here to Big Sur.
Rules & Regulations
- •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
Gear Checklist
Required
- Insect repellent, which the operator specifically asks visitors to bring
- Shoes you can get wet if the river is part of the plan
- Shade and sun protection for inland summer heat
Recommended
- A stove, since firewood has to be bought locally
- Offline maps
- A river-worthy dry bag if you are swimming
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Arroyo Seco
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Shuttle Services
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Key Landmarks
Arroyo Seco Campground
At 47600 Arroyo Seco Road, Greenfield, California, where the road dead-ends. Drinking water, pit toilets, dumpster and trash collection are listed among the amenities.
Arroyo Seco FAQ
How many people can stay at an Arroyo Seco campsite?
A single campsite reservation is good for 6 people and 1 vehicle. The maximum is 8 people per site, with a $10 additional charge per person per night above 6, and a maximum of 2 vehicles per site. Single sites include one vehicle in the use fee and double sites include two; extra vehicles are $10 per night, charged at the campground.
Is there a minimum stay at Arroyo Seco Campground?
On weekends, yes — 2 nights minimum, and 3 nights on holiday weekends. Recreation.gov also records a reservation cut-off 3 days before arrival, so last-minute bookings are not possible.
How far is Arroyo Seco Campground from Big Sur?
The operator puts it at around 70 miles on a very curvy road, approximately a two-hour drive. Arroyo Seco is reached from Highway 101 near Greenfield, which is why it stays accessible when Highway 1 does not.
Is the river at Arroyo Seco safe to swim in?
It depends entirely on the season. The operator warns to use caution in the river because water can be swift and dangerous in the spring, and separately notes that weather conditions can change rapidly, so check before arrival.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
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Questions
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Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Late light in the gorge, which holds warm colour on the rock after the flat is already in shade.
Best Light
Spring mornings when the river is up and the hills are still green.
Beat the Crowds
Midweek and outside summer. Winter is genuinely quiet here.
Classic Shots
- 📍The Arroyo Seco gorge from the trail above the campground
- 📍Oaks and sycamores over the campsites
- 📍Green Salinas Valley hills on the drive in
- 📍The river in spring flow
Can't Get a Arroyo Seco Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Escondido Campground
Same AreaA smaller Los Padres campground reached from Highway 101 via Jolon Road and Del Venturi Road, with the last three miles unsurfaced.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
No drinking water at all, and a rougher approach. Quieter for it.
Memorial Campground
Same AreaFurther into the same drainage, reachable only from Highway 101 because the Highway 1 side is closed.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
No drinking water, no cell service, and paved road turning to dirt three quarters of the way in.
Plaskett Creek Campground
Similar ExperienceThe coastal Los Padres campground on Highway 1 across from Sand Dollar Beach.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Ocean instead of river, and a dependence on Highway 1 being open that Arroyo Seco does not have.
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Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Arroyo Seco trip
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