Washburn Primitive Campground: Great Central California Coast Camping Spots; Pacific Coast Highway 1 Vacation Drive Tour Mile-94

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Pretty Campsite Picture: California camping trip vacation photograph taken at Washburn Primitive Campground with ocean view campsites, part of Hearst San Simeon California State Park north of Cambria near Hearst Castle. Click to enlarge this campsite with a view, picnic table, and fire ring and the tent all set up picture.

Campsite picture: California camping trip vacation photograph taken at Washburn Primitive Campground with ocean view campsites, part of Hearst San Simeon California State Park north of Cambria near Hearst Castle. Click to enlarge this campsite number 229 picture showing the camp set up with a tent, picnic table, fire ring pit and water spigot right at the campsite.

Ocean View from the campsite picture: California camping trip vacation photograph taken at Washburn Primitive Campground with ocean view campsites, part of Hearst San Simeon California State Park north of Cambria near Hearst Castle. Click to enlarge this ocean view from the Washburn Primitive campsite picture.

Santa Lucia Mountains viewed from the campsite picture: California camping trip vacation photograph taken at Washburn Primitive Campground with ocean view campsites, part of Hearst San Simeon California State Park north of Cambria near Hearst Castle. Click to enlarge this view of the Santa Lucia Mountains from the campsite at Washburn campground picture.

Ocean View from the campground picture: California camping trip vacation photograph taken at Washburn Primitive Campground with ocean view campsites, part of Hearst San Simeon California State Park north of Cambria closest campground to Hearst Castle California State Historical Monument. Click to enlarge this beautiful Pacific Ocean view from the Washburn Primitive campground photo.

Beautiful California Coast Sunset picture: California camping trip vacation photograph taken at Washburn Primitive Campground with ocean view campsites, part of Hearst San Simeon California State Park north of Cambria closest camping to Hearst Castle. Click to enlarge this beautiful California Coastal Sunset picture.

Printable Map of Washburn Primitive Campground: map shows locations and numbers of all campsites and location of camping support facilities at Washburn Primitive Campground with ocean view campsites, part of Hearst San Simeon California State Park north of Cambria closest camping to Hearst Castle San Simeon. Click to enlarge this printable Washburn Primitive Campground Map to view or print campground map.

Vacation Books

An Aerial Photograph of Washburn Primitive Campground as Hearst California State Park; Click to enlarge this Washburn Primitive Campground on the hill top and the road up to it at Hearst San Simeon California State Park aerial photo.

Click to enlarge this Washburn Primitive Campground on the hill top and
the road up to it at Hearst San Simeon California State Park aerial photo.

Description: Washburn Primitive Campground uses the same entrance and kiosk as San Simeon Creek Campground; Washburn Campground is about a mile further inland so it is about 3 miles from Cambria and 6 miles south from the Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument Visitor Center. These primitive campsites are 1 mile inland from the beach on a plateau with views of the Santa Lucia Mountains as well as the Pacific Ocean and California Coast. Washburn campground facilities include a fire ring and picnic table at each campsite; communal drinking water spigots, chemical toilets and an RV sewer dump station and water fill-up. Campsites $20.00 per night peak season. Fees include entry for 1 vehicle and 1 legally towed vehicle or trailer, additional vehicles will be charged $10.00 per day.
Location: Washburn campground is a little less than a mile past the San Simeon Creek Campground which is approximately 100 miles south of Carmel or 5 miles south of Hearst Castle State Historic Monument or 35 miles north of San Luis Obispo or 2 miles from Cambria just off the Pacific Coast Highway 1. This campground is approximately 1 mile inland from the beach on a plateau overlooking the Santa Lucia Mountains as well as the Pacific Ocean; 35.594721,-121.113628.
Directions: Since they share the same entrance directions for the entrance to Washburn Campground are the same as for San Simeon Creek Campground is just west of Van Gordon Creek Road off San Simeon Creek Road, just 1,000 yards off the Pacific Coast Highway 1. So you get to the campground following the Pacific Coast Highway 1 either 3 miles south of San Simeon Acres (the group of motels south of Hearst Castle) or 2 miles north of Cambria and turn east (inland) on San Simeon Creek Road for 1,000 yards; the campground entrance is well marked on the right (just west of Van Gordon Creek Road). Stay to the left after the kiosk and just follow the signs past the RV dump station the Washburn Campground is on the hilltop about ¾ mile further down the road.
Camping Facilities: Washburn Primitive Campground has about 70 ocean bluff top campsite each with a pull in pad, campfire ring and picnic table; water spigots and chemical toilets are reasonably close; campers are also allowed use of the RV dump station and fill up water hookup. Overnight fee is $20.00.

Click for a large file of this colorful fiery sunset photograph taken at Washburn Primitive Campground.
Activities: Outdoor recreational opportunities abound at Hearst San Simeon State Park. Camping is paramount the campground environment is long established native trees and shrubs providing some privacy and the large campfire pits bring the camping groups together and there is all the necessary for camping support either on site or nearby. When you leave the campground there is wildlife and other nature related study to be enjoyed everywhere, there is a nice beach and self guided interpretative nature trails photo opportunities around every corner. Besides the self guided nature trails there are sometimes ranger guided hikes or for groups they can be arranged; for the younger set there is a Junior Ranger Program with regular talks and activities. The ocean and beach areas are expansive, inviting and for most, accessible for exploration and enjoyment; beachcombing, picture taking, surf fishing, bird and whale watching just to mention a few of the possible outdoor recreational opportunities. the include camping, picnicking, hiking, fishing, surfing, beachcombing, bird watching and whale watching. The Junior Ranger Program is a regularly scheduled interpretive program for children. Interpretive walks of the San Simeon Trail may also be available.

Hearst Castle Wide Telephoto Shot: Panorama photograph the enchanted hill and sorounding hills of Hearst Castle one vititor point of interest near the San Simeon Creek Campground; Click to enlarge this Hearst Castle photograph.
Click to enlarge this Hearst Castle photograph, visitor point of interest near San Simeon Creek Campground.
Close by Points of Interest: There are too many places and opportunities to include here but just to begin very close by to the north is Hearst Castle, San Simeon, William Randolph Hearst State Beach, the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse and Elephant Seal Rookery, to the south is the tourist friendly village of Cambria and just inland is a completely different climate and great wine country.
Pets & Misc. Regulations: Pets are banned from the beach to protect the snowy plovers. All pets must be in a tent or vehicle during the night and in the immediate control of the owner at all times. During the day pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet. They are not permitted on trails or on the beach in San Simeon State Park.
Helpful Hints: Watch for poison oak and ticks. This coastal climate on the cool, moist and breezy side requires layering of clothing for comfort.

Aerial photo of Washburn Primitive Campground part of the Hearst San Simeon California State Park on the central California coast on a bluff top a mile from the Pacific Ocean, click to view the most current aerial phototgraphs of Washburn Primitive Campground and the Hearst San Simeon State Park area including the Pacific Coast Highway and more at the California Coastline Records Project Website.

Click for larger California coastal photos and information at California Coastline Records Project Website.

Washburn Primitive Campground at Hearst San Simeon State Park (San Simeon State Park)
Phone: 805-927-2035 or
805-927-2020
500 San Simeon Creek Rd
Cambria CA, 93428
Van Gordon Creek Road at San Simeon Creek Road;
Reservations: Campground Reservations can be made from March 15 to September 30 by calling 1-800-444-PARK (7275). Make camping reservations online or check campsite availability at San Simeon Creek Campground part of Hearst San Simeon California State Park.
www.reserveamerica.com/...
Recreational Activities: camping, picnicking, hiking, fishing, beachcombing, jogging, kite flying, bird watching and whale watching, horseshoe pitching; Junior Ranger Program; interpretive walks of the San Simeon Trail may also be available.

Official Website for San Simeon Creek & Washburn Campgrounds

Activities Points of Interest

Camp, Picnic, Hike Map

Printable Online pdf Brochure

Hearst San Simeon State Park

Beautiful California Coast Sunrise picture: California camping trip vacation photograph taken at Washburn Primitive Campground with ocean view campsites, part of Hearst San Simeon California State Park north of Cambria closest camping to Hearst Castle. Click to enlarge this beautiful California Coastal Sunrise through the pine tree campground photo.

Poison Oak Picture: one thing to avoid on your California camping trip vacation poison oak photograph taken at Washburn Primitive Campground with ocean view campsites; look out for poison oak because there is a lot on the trails in the area of Hearst San Simeon California State Park north of Cambria near Hearst Castle. Click to enlarge this posion oak with the three leafs green and redish areas, poison oak identification picture.

Wheelchair Accessible Nature Trail Photo: Self guided interpretative nature trail, partially wheelchair accessible on our California camping trip vacation photograph taken at Washburn Primitive Campground with ocean view campsites, part of Hearst San Simeon California State Park north of Cambria near Hearst Castle. Click to enlarge this Wheelchair Accessible Self guided interpretative nature trail photograph.

Self Guided Intrepretive Nature Trail to the beach picture: the self intrepretive nature trail passes under Pacific Coast Highway One see the beach in the packgound of this photo taken on our California camping trip vacation near the camp at Washburn Primitive Campground with ocean view campsites, part of Hearst San Simeon California State Park north of Cambria near Hearst Castle. Click to enlarge this self guided intrepretive nature trail to the beach picture.

Photograph of the Beach at the mouth of San Simeon Creek: California camping trip vacation photograph taken at Washburn Primitive Campground with ocean view campsites, part of Hearst San Simeon California State Park north of Cambria near Hearst Castle. Click to enlarge this beautiful California beach near the campground picture.

Photograph of a blue heron taking flight near the Beach at the mouth of San Simeon Creek: California camping trip vacation photograph taken near our camp at Washburn Primitive Campground with ocean view campsites, part of Hearst San Simeon California State Park north of Cambria near Hearst Castle. Click to enlarge this beautiful blue heron taking flight near the nature trail picture.

Photograph of a blue heron near the nature trail at the mouth of San Simeon Creek: bird watching on our California camping trip vacation photograph taken near our camp near our camp at Washburn Primitive Campground with ocean view campsites, part of Hearst San Simeon California State Park north of Cambria closest campground to Hearst Castle. Click to enlarge this beautiful blue heron near the nature trail picture.

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