Limekiln State Park

Limekiln State Park Campground in Big Sur, California, offers an unparalleled camping experience blending dramatic coastal scenery with serene redwood groves. With just 29 campsites divided between a beachfront Ocean Loop and the shaded Redwood Loop along Limekiln Creek, this campground delivers a distinctive combination of rugged Pacific beauty and tranquil forest ambiance. Its unique setting provides campers access to both lush hiking trails and a scenic cove where the creek meets the ocean, defying the expectation of choosing between coastal or forest camping.

The campground features essentials like picnic tables, fire rings, drinking water, and hot pay showers, while avoiding the overly developed feel of some camping destinations. Tent campers will find solace in the Redwood Loop’s secluded sites under towering trees, while RVs (up to 24 feet) can settle close to the beach in the Ocean Loop, some with partial ocean views. Trails radiate from the campground, leading to the historic lime kilns, 100-foot Limekiln Falls, and serene creekside vistas. Noise levels are generally moderate, with quieter sites further from day-use areas.

Located approximately two miles south of Lucia along Highway 1, Limekiln State Park is within easy reach of iconic Big Sur attractions like Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, while maintaining a more intimate and less crowded atmosphere. The park’s compact footprint ensures convenience but limits privacy and space, making it best suited for shorter trips or as part of a broader coastal road trip.