China Camp Campground
Los Padres National Forest — hiking
Location: Carmel Valley, CA, CA
Price: From $30 per night
Rating: 3.4 out of 5 (13 reviews)
Season: Year-round
Pleasantly nestled under a large canopy of pine trees, China Camp is a campground where peace and quiet is commonplace. The spacious campsites allow you to set up camp with more than enough space between you and your neighbors. As you drive into the campground you are overtaken by the sweet smell of pine and the natural beauty surrounding the campground.The campground offers 10 campsites, with campsites 1 - 5 open year-round and campsites 6 - 10 open only in the summer season.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Dump Station
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/china-camp-campground to be notified when sites open up.
China Camp offers peaceful camping under a large canopy of pine trees with spacious campsites and natural beauty in Carmel Valley. The campground provides access to trails including the Pine Ridge trailhead for hiking and wildlife viewing.
Wildlife alert: Mountain Lions present in area. Also California Condors, Mule Deer, and various lizard species (Blainville's Horned Lizard, Southern Alligator Lizard, California Whiptail).
Insider tips for China Camp Campground: Book early — this is a federal campground with high demand. Road turns to dirt — drive slow and carefully on approach. RVs must be self-contained as there are no hookups available.
Skip China Camp Campground if: You need RV hookups — none available at most sites.. You prefer developed facilities — amenities limited to fire rings, picnic tables, vault toilets, and drinking water..
Best time to visit China Camp Campground: Year-round — Campground operates year-round, though operations may be seasonal at some sites..
Nearby campgrounds: White Oaks Campground (Carmel Valley, CA), Arroyo Seco (GREENFIELD, CA), Escondido Campground (Big Sur, CA), Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (Big Sur, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at China Camp Campground
Cell signal at China Camp Campground (Carmel Valley, CA): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.
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.
Pleasantly nestled under a large canopy of pine trees, China Camp is a campground where peace and quiet is commonplace. The spacious campsites allow you to set up camp with more than enough space between you and your neighbors. As you drive into the campground you are overtaken by the sweet smell of pine and the natural beauty surrounding the campground.The campground offers 10 campsites, with campsites 1 - 5 open year-round and campsites 6 - 10 open only in the summer season.
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
this is a federal campground with high demand.
Road turns to dirt
drive slow and carefully on approach.
RVs must be self-contained as there are no hookups available.
Campground operates year-round, though operations may be seasonal at some sites.
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
Latitude: 36.29554 Longitude: -121.567507 The road eventually turns into dirt, please drive slow and carefully. From Highway 101 North, take exit for Arroyo Seco Rd before the city of Greenfield. Continue down the road for 16.2 miles to the junction of Arroyo Seco Road and Carmel Valley Road then follow to the right. Take Carmel Valley Road 17.2 miles to the junction with Tassajara Road and turn left. Continue for 11 miles until you see the entrance to China Camp on the right-hand side. From Hig
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 China Camp Campground cost per night?+
What season is China Camp Campground open?+
Does China Camp Campground have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at China Camp Campground?+
How do I make reservations at China Camp Campground?+
What is the cell service like at China Camp Campground?+
What season is China Camp Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
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