Reservation8/10
Plaskett Creek Campground cancellations
Campground near Sand Dollar Beach....
Kirk Creek Campground Permit
Los Padres National Forest · California
One date at a time
Coastal bluff campground on Highway 1. High demand.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Kirk Creek were gone within 10 minutes.
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Kirk Creek Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelExtremely High9/10
CostBase fee covers 6 people and 1 vehicle; +$10 per extra person per night, +$10 for a second vehicle per night
Max Group Size8 people
Kirk Creek Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Kirk Creek in Los Padres National Forest, California requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Kirk Creek is one of the most competitive permits in the United States, rating 9/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- Cancelled Kirk Creek 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 Level9/10
LocationBig Sur coast, Los Padres National Forest, CA
Pro Tips
- •Check the Highway 1 status before you drive - the route from Monterey has been closed and the approach is from San Luis Obispo
- •Bring every drop of water you will need; there is none at the campground
- •Book with the two-night minimum in mind, or three over a holiday weekend
- •Come between November and February if you want to watch whales from your site
- •The base fee covers 6 people and 1 vehicle - budget $10 a night for each extra person and for a second vehicle
- •Poison oak is abundant here, so cover your legs on the Vicente Flats trail
- •Summer fog sits on the coast while Nacimiento Road, right across the highway, climbs above it into the sun
What to Expect
Highlights
- •Spacious, open, grassy single-family sites about 100 feet above the Pacific
- •An ocean view from every site, with outstanding sunrises and sunsets
- •Vault toilets, a table and a campfire ring with grill at each site
- •No utility hookups, no water, no public showers and no cell service
- •Whale migration visible from the campground November through February
- •The Vicente Flats Trailhead into the Ventana Wilderness directly across the highway
Best Time to Visit
The Big Sur coast is a year-round campground, but the seasons differ sharply. November through February brings the whale migration and the quietest sites, at the cost of storms and a higher chance of highway closures. Spring and autumn give the clearest weather. Summer is the busiest and the foggiest - the coast often sits under marine layer while it is sunny inland.
Hazards & Considerations
- !Highway 1 closures, which regularly cut this stretch of coast off from the north
- !Poison oak, which is abundant in the area
- !No cell service for emergencies
- !Exposed bluff sites with constant coastal wind
- !Mountain lions and bears are occasionally seen in the area, though the Forest Service notes they have never entered the campground
- !Steep, unstable bluff edges
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
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65°
56°
Sun
⛅
71°
55°
Mon
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82°
58°
Tue
☀️
74°
56°
Wed
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75°
56°
Thu
☀️
77°
60°
Fri
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84°
62°
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: June through SeptemberShoulder: April, May and October, when the fog lifts and the crowds thin
Conditions
Clear, green and breezy, with less fog than summer and fewer storms than winter.
Crowd Level
ModerateAdvantages
- +Best all-round weather of the year
- +Green hillsides and wildflowers
- +Clearer coastal views than summer
Challenges
- !Wind on the exposed bluff
- !Highway 1 repairs often run in spring
- !Cold nights on the coast
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand1/5
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
Commitment1/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Anyone who wants an ocean-view campsite they can drive to, including families and first-time campers.
Recommended Experience
None. This is drive-up car camping - the only planning that matters is checking the Highway 1 status and bringing your own water.
Not Recommended For
Anyone needing hookups, showers, drinking water on site, or cell service.
About This Permit
Kirk Creek is a Forest Service campground on a bluff about 100 feet above the Pacific on the Big Sur coast, in the Los Padres National Forest. Every site has an ocean view.
It is a simple place: single-family sites for tents and RVs, gravel and grass parking, a table and a campfire ring with grill at each site, and vault toilets throughout. There are no utility hookups, no water, and no public showers.
The practical constraint is the highway. Recreation.gov currently carries a notice that Highway 1 is temporarily closed from the Monterey area, which means the approach is from the south: Highway 1 north from San Luis Obispo for approximately 60 miles. Check the road status before you commit to the drive.
The Experience
Why It Matters
Kirk Creek is the rare Forest Service campground where the view is the whole point - the Forest Service's own description calls it "an oceanside paradise, with each site overlooking the Pacific Ocean." It is also one of the few places on the Big Sur coast where you can book a spot in advance rather than hoping.
The Route
The campground sits on a bluff on the seaward side of Highway 1, about 100 feet above the water. Sites are single-family, for tents or RVs, on gravel and grass, with a table and a campfire ring with grill at each one, and vault toilets throughout.
There is a short walk down to a rocky beach from the campground itself. Directly across the highway is the Vicente Flats Trailhead, which climbs into the Ventana Wilderness. Also across the road is the Nacimiento Road, a paved scenic drive that climbs to a peak 2,500 feet above sea level with an ocean overlook and picnic area.
Sand Dollar Beach, the largest sandy beach in the Big Sur area, is 5 miles south - the nearest real swimming, surfing and fishing. Anyone over 16 needs a fishing permit.
The Feeling
Grassy, open sites with nothing between you and the water but air. The sun goes down straight into the ocean, and between November and February whales pass close enough to watch from your site with coffee in hand. There are no hookups and no showers, and it does not matter.
Trailhead Information
Kirk Creek Campground
100 ft elevationOceanside campground on a bluff on Highway 1, with the Vicente Flats Trailhead directly across the road.
Restrooms
No water
No Service
Parking
Sites take a maximum of 8 people and 2 vehicles. The base fee covers 6 people and 1 vehicle; extra people and a second vehicle cost $10 each per night.
Getting There
Highway 1 has been temporarily closed from the Monterey area - check before you go. From San Luis Obispo, take Highway 1 north for approximately 60 miles to the campground.
Nearest Services
Very limited on this stretch of Highway 1. Stock up in San Luis Obispo or Cambria to the south.
Rules & Regulations
- •Maximum stay is 14 consecutive nights
- •Minimum stay is 2 consecutive nights, and 3 nights over holiday weekends
- •Maximum 8 people and 2 vehicles per site
- •The base fee covers 6 people and 1 vehicle; each additional person is $10 per night and a second vehicle is $10 per night
- •Fishing permits are required for anyone over age 16
- •Dogs are allowed on Sand Dollar Beach as long as they are leashed and waste is picked up
Gear Checklist
Required
- All your drinking water - there is no water at the campground
- Layers and a windbreak; the bluff is exposed and coastal wind is constant
- Firewood if you intend to use the campfire ring
- Offline maps and directions, since there is no cell service
Recommended
- Binoculars for the November to February whale migration
- Sturdy tent stakes for open, grassy, wind-exposed sites
- Long trousers for the trails - poison oak is abundant in the area
- A cooler stocked before you leave San Luis Obispo or Cambria
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Kirk Creek
🚐
Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
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Key Landmarks
Kirk Creek bluff sites
Spacious, open, grassy sites about 100 feet above the Pacific, each with an ocean view.
Vicente Flats Trailhead
Directly across the highway from the campground, leading into the Ventana Wilderness.
Nacimiento Road overlook
A paved scenic drive accessed across the road from the campground, climbing to a peak 2,500 feet above sea level with an ocean overlook and picnic area.
Sand Dollar Beach
Five miles south, and the largest sandy beach in the Big Sur area. Popular for surfing, fishing and swimming.
Kirk Creek FAQ
Do all Kirk Creek Campground sites have an ocean view?
Yes. The Forest Service describes it as "an oceanside paradise, with each site overlooking the Pacific Ocean," on a bluff at an elevation of about 100 feet.
Is there water at Kirk Creek Campground?
No. There is no water, no utility hookups and no public showers. Vault toilets are provided throughout the campground, and each site has a table and a campfire ring with grill.
How do you get to Kirk Creek Campground?
Recreation.gov currently notes that Highway 1 is temporarily closed from the Monterey area, so the approach is from the south: from San Luis Obispo, take Highway 1 north for approximately 60 miles. Check the road status before you travel.
How many people can stay at a Kirk Creek campsite?
A maximum of 8 people and 2 vehicles per site. The base fee covers 6 people and 1 vehicle; each extra person is $10 per night and a second vehicle is $10 per night.
Is there a minimum stay at Kirk Creek Campground?
Yes - 2 consecutive nights, and 3 nights over holiday weekends. The maximum stay is 14 consecutive nights.
Can you see whales from Kirk Creek Campground?
Yes. From November to February each year whales migrate along the coast and can frequently be viewed from the campground.
What is there to hike near Kirk Creek Campground?
The Vicente Flats Trailhead is directly across the highway and leads into the Ventana Wilderness. There is also a short walk from the campground down to a rocky beach, and Sand Dollar Beach is 5 miles south.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
Sign in to report trail conditions.
Photography Guide
Golden Hour
Sunset straight off the bluff is the shot, and you do not have to move to get it. The Forest Service notes that sunrises and sunsets from the sites are outstanding.
Best Light
Coastal fog burns off through the morning and often returns by late afternoon, so the clearest light is usually late morning to mid-afternoon.
Beat the Crowds
The two-night minimum keeps single-night traffic out, and the three-night holiday weekend minimum thins those out too. Midweek stays outside summer are the quietest.
Classic Shots
- 📍A tent on the bluff with the Pacific filling the background
- 📍Sunset dropping into the ocean from a campsite
- 📍Whales offshore between November and February
- 📍The Big Sur coastline stretching north and south from the bluff edge
- 📍The rocky beach below the campground at low tide
- 📍The view from Nacimiento Road, 2,500 feet up and directly across the highway
Can't Get a Kirk Creek Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Plaskett Creek Campground
Similar ExperienceThe nearest alternative on the same stretch of Highway 1, a short drive south and close to Sand Dollar Beach.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Set back from the bluff so the ocean views are not the same, but it is the obvious fallback when Kirk Creek is full.
Ventana Wilderness - Vicente Flat
Same AreaBackpack into the Ventana Wilderness from the Vicente Flats Trailhead, directly across the highway from the campground.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Trades the ocean-view car camping for real backcountry, starting from the same parking area.
Nacimiento Campground
Easier AlternativeInland on the Nacimiento Road, the paved scenic route that starts across from Kirk Creek and climbs to 2,500 feet.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
No ocean view, but it sits above the marine layer, which in summer can mean sun instead of fog.
🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Kirk Creek trip
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