Cerro Alto Campground
Los Padres National Forest — ocean access, fishing, hiking
Location: Atascadero, CA, CA
Price: From $35 per night
Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (289 reviews)
Season: May through October
Cerro Alto Campground is a well-known hiking and mountain biking paradise. It is located a short distance from the sandy beaches of Morro Bay, where visitors enjoy surfing, fishing, kayaking, sailing, scuba diving and more. While the campground offers a serene, relaxed environment, both Morro Bay and the nearby town of Atascadero offer numerous dining opportunities, shopping, museums and other activities.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Electric Hookups, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/cerro-alto-campground to be notified when sites open up.
Cerro Alto Campground is a well-known hiking and mountain biking paradise located a short distance from the sandy beaches of Morro Bay. The campground offers a serene, relaxed environment with access to numerous activities including surfing, fishing, kayaking, and wine tasting in nearby Paso Robles.
Wildlife alert: Black-tailed Jackrabbit, Long-tailed Weasel, Wild Boar, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Western Screech-Owl, Southern Alligator Lizard, California King Snake, and Sharp-tailed Snake have been documented within 8km of the campground.
Insider tips for Cerro Alto Campground: Book early as this is a federal campground with high demand Bring a self-contained RV or plan to tent camp, as most sites have no hookups Located about 8 miles southwest of Atascadero via Highway 41
Skip Cerro Alto Campground if: You need electrical hookups at your site. You plan to visit outside May through October when the campground is closed. You prefer a campground that operates year-round.
Best time to visit Cerro Alto Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally from May through October only.
Nearby campgrounds: Turkey Flat Ohv Staging Area (Santa Margarita, CA), Navajo Flats Campground (Santa Margarita, CA), American Canyon Campground (Santa Maria , CA), La Panza Campground (Santa Margarita, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Cerro Alto Campground
Cell signal at Cerro Alto Campground (Atascadero, CA): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Cerro Alto Campground is a well-known hiking and mountain biking paradise. It is located a short distance from the sandy beaches of Morro Bay, where visitors enjoy surfing, fishing, kayaking, sailing, scuba diving and more. While the campground offers a serene, relaxed environment, both Morro Bay and the nearby town of Atascadero offer numerous dining opportunities, shopping, museums and other activities.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early as this is a federal campground with high demand
Bring a self-contained RV or plan to tent camp, as most sites have no hookups
Located about 8 miles southwest of Atascadero via Highway 41
Campground operates seasonally from May through October only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Atascadero, travel southwest on Highway 41 for about 8 miles. Campground entrance is on the left; turn and continue south for about 1 mile to the campground. From Morro Bay, travel east on Highway 41 for about 8 miles. Campground entrance is on the right; turn and continue south for about a mile to the campground.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Los Padres National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Los Padres National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Cerro Alto Campground cost per night?+
What season is Cerro Alto Campground open?+
Does Cerro Alto Campground have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Cerro Alto Campground?+
How do I make reservations at Cerro Alto Campground?+
What is the cell service like at Cerro Alto Campground?+
What season is Cerro Alto Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
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