What to expect

1. Shady redwood campsites with restrooms, hot showers, laundry, and complimentary morning coffee

2. Cold river fun – brave a quick polar plunge or just dip your feet while the kids splash and explore

3. Scenic excursions – McWay Falls lookout, local beaches, and other nearby natural landmarks

4. One splurge meal out – Friday or Saturday lunch at Big Sur River Inn (bougie burgers, pricey but fun, with big Adirondack chairs in the river)

5. DIY camping, shared experience – This is the most expensive campground we’ve ever stayed at, unfortunately it’s not designed for group camping—no big gathering area or communal kitchen. Each family books their own site and brings their own setup. But it works: we hang out at the playground, the river, coordinate meals if we want, and help each other out. This setup is why we haven’t done a big formal “church campout” here—it's perfect for camping near each other, not necessarily as one big group.

6. Fires & firewood – Each campsite includes one bundle of firewood, but we always go through more. You can’t bring outside wood into Big Sur, and onsite wood is—you guessed it—also expensive. So we usually pitch in a few families and keep one or two shared fires going in the evenings

7. A relaxed, unplugged pace – We typically stay close to camp, soaking in the redwoods and letting the kids roam. There’s not a ton of driving around town—this trip is more about slowing down than seeing it all. That said, with more families this year, we may split into small groups for excursions based on interest

8. Getting there – Highway 1 is still closed from the south due to landslides, so you’ll drive in via Monterey and head south along the coast

Sample Flow / Loose Schedule

This isn’t a strict itinerary, just a rough idea of how things usually play out based on past trips. Feel free to join in or do your own thing—there’s room for both!

• Thursday: Most families arrive in the afternoon.

  • Check-in: Tent campsites are available starting at 12:00 PM, and cabins at 3:00 PM

  • Tip: Try to arrive before sunset (~6:00 PM) so you can set up camp in the daylight—it’s much easier!

  • Food tip: If you're arriving around dinner time, grab food in Monterey or Carmel—those are your last reliable options. Once you head south into Big Sur, there aren’t many choices.

• Friday: A mellow day of relaxing at camp—playground time, river dips, and soaking in the redwoods

• Saturday: Usually our day for a splurge lunch at Big Sur River Inn and a scenic afternoon outing (for those up for it)

• Sunday: A slower morning—kids playing at the playground while parents break down camp

Travel Advisory: Access from the North Only

Due to ongoing rock slides and closures along Highway 1, all access to Big Sur Campground must be from the north. You’ll need to drive through Monterey and Carmel, then head south along Highway 1. There is no access from the south (e.g., via San Simeon, Cambria, or San Luis Obispo), so be sure your directions reflect this when planning your route.