Monte Cristo Campground
Federal campground in Angeles National Forest
Location: CA, CA
Price: From $20 per night
Price range: $20–$40 per night
Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)
Season: Year-round
Monte Cristo Campground is a small, developed campground located off the Angeles Forest Highway (County Road N3) in the Angeles National Forest and is part of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. Positioned at about 3,600 feet elevation, it’s one of the closer forest camping options to the Los Angeles area, offering scenic mountain and high-desert views. The campground includes 19 first-come, first-serve campsites suitable for tents, trailers, and RVs up to approximately 30 feet, with a
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/monte-cristo-campground to be notified when sites open up.
Monte Cristo Campground is one of the closest forest camping options to Los Angeles (approximately 25-minute drive from the city) at 3,600 feet elevation in the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, offering scenic mountain and high-desert views with basic amenities.
Wildlife alert: Mountain lions, American black bears, southern California ringtails, and multiple snake species (coast mountain kingsnake, California striped racer, two-striped garter snake) documented in the area.
Insider tips for Monte Cristo Campground: Book early—this is a federal campground with only 19 first-come, first-serve sites and high demand Bring cash for self check-in Plan water needs carefully as creek can dry seasonally
Skip Monte Cristo Campground if: You need hookups—no hookups available at most sites. You are sensitive to road noise—campground is directly off Angeles Forest Highway with regular vehicle and motorcycle traffic. You require modern restroom facilities—vault toilets may need maintenance.
Best time to visit Monte Cristo Campground: Year-round — Campground operates year-round; however, water availability may vary seasonally (creek reported dry in October)..
Nearby campgrounds: Lightning Point Group Campground (SAN FERNANDO, CA), Meadow Group Campground (Acton, CA), Bandido Group Campground (Acton, CA), Deer Group Camp (Big Bear Lake, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Monte Cristo Campground
Cell signal at Monte Cristo Campground (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.
Monte Cristo Campground is a small, developed campground located off the Angeles Forest Highway (County Road N3) in the Angeles National Forest and is part of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. Positioned at about 3,600 feet elevation, it’s one of the closer forest camping options to the Los Angeles area, offering scenic mountain and high-desert views. The campground includes 19 first-come, first-serve campsites suitable for tents, trailers, and RVs up to approximately 30 feet, with a few larger double sites available.
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 only 19 first-come, first-serve sites and high demand
Bring cash for self check-in
Plan water needs carefully as creek can dry seasonally
Campground operates year-round; however, water availability may vary seasonally (creek reported dry in October).
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
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 — Angeles National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Angeles National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Monte Cristo Campground cost per night?+
What season is Monte Cristo Campground open?+
Does Monte Cristo Campground have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Monte Cristo Campground?+
How do I make reservations at Monte Cristo Campground?+
What is the cell service like at Monte Cristo Campground?+
What season is Monte Cristo Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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