State Park

Hearst San Simeon State Park

San Luis Obispo County, CaliforniaAbout 1,935 acresEstablished 1932

Also known as Hearst San Simeon SP

Status
Open (per official listing)Daily 8 a.m. – sunset
Entrance fee
Statewide rule — see below
Day-use reservations
None mentioned
Dogs
Dogs allowed, with restrictions
Camping
Yes
Official site
parks.ca.gov(805) 772-6101

Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current

Overview

Hearst San Simeon State Park is a 1,935-acre park in San Luis Obispo County, about 22 miles northwest of Morro Bay.

Things to do include snorkeling and diving, surfing, boating, swimming, and fishing. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach and a boat ramp. Camping is available: campsites, including RV sites, tent sites, and showers.

Hours

Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.

FacilityDaysHoursSeason
ParkDaily8 a.m. – sunset—
Official wording

Parking Lots Open 8am-Sunset

Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).

Fees and passes

Per vehicle at most parks (vehicles of 9 people or less, walk/bike-in free); per person at State Historic Parks and museums; amounts vary by park and are listed on each park page.

Statewide fee rule from California's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.

California park passes

  • California Explorer Annual Pass — $195. Vehicle day-use entry to 134 state parks incl. high-demand Southern California beaches Details
  • Golden Poppy Annual Pass — $125. Vehicle day-use entry to 112 state parks Details
  • Historian Passport — $50. Admission for up to four people at per-person-fee State Historic Parks Details
  • Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Annual Pass — $50. Entry to State Vehicular Recreation Areas that collect day-use fees Details
  • SNO-Park Pass — $40 season / $15 day. 18 SNO-PARK winter recreation areas Details

From the California state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.

Reservations

Day use
No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
Booking system
ReserveCalifornia
Phone
(800) 444-7275

Check availability and book

We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.

Pets

Dogs allowed, with restrictions

Not allowed in or on: the following locations: the boucher trail; the beach and trails adjacent to the campgrounds.

Are dogs allowed? Yes: Dogs are permitted only on leash at the following locations: William Randolph Hearst Memorial Beach, Junge Ranch Trail off of Lone Palm Drive, Moonstone Beach Boardwalk, and all campgrounds and parking lots. Note: Dogs are prohibited at the following locations: The Boucher Trail, San Simeon Pier, San Simeon Creek Trail, San Simeon Creek Beach leading directly from the campgrounds, Washburn Day Use Beach, Leffingwell Landing, Santa Rosa Creek Beach, and wherever posted. • Dogs must be monitored and leashed within the campgrounds. Dogs are prohibited on the beach and trails adjacent to the campgrounds.

Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.

Camping

San Simeon Creek Campground

The San Simeon Creek Campground offers 134 campsites for tent camping or recreational vehicles. The maximum length for an RV is 35 feet. Each campsite has a fire ring and picnic table. There are currently flush toilets (or chemical toilets) and TOKEN-operated shower facilities in place. An RV sanitation station and water-fill station are also available. Firewood is for sale from the campground host and proceeds go to help the Central Coast State Parks Association.

Recreational activities 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 Creek Trail may also be available.

Read more from the park

Note: RV electrical hookups are not available at the San Simeon Creek Campground. Please check with Morro Bay or Morro Strand Campgrounds for nearby RV electrical hookup equipped campsites.

Washburn Campground

The Washburn Campground offers an additional 68 sites. This primitive campground is approximately 1 mile inland from the beach on a plateau overlooking the Santa Lucia Mountains as well as the Pacific Ocean. The Washburn Campground can be accessed from the San Simeon Creek Campground entrance station. Facilities here include chemical toilets, and at each campsite a fire ring and picnic table with water spigots nearby. There are no shower facilities available in the Washburn Campground.

In addition, the RV sanitation station and water-fill station are available at the San Simeon Creek Campground. Firewood is also for sale from the campground host located at the San Simeon Creek Campground. Shower facilities are available only for those registered in the San Simeon Creek Campground.

Note: RV electrical hookups are not available at the Washburn Campground. Please check with Morro Bay or Morro Strand Campgrounds for nearby RV electrical hookup equipped campsites.

Overnight facilities: Tent Camping, Hike-and-Bike Campsites, Remote Camping, RV Dump Station, RV Access

Max trailer: 35 feet

Max camper/motorhome: 35 feet

From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.

Things to do

BoatingPicnickingFishingSnorkeling and scubaSwimmingWildlife viewing and birdingSurfingHikingCamping

Amenities

Facilities

  • Restrooms
  • Showers
  • Drinking water
  • Picnic areas
  • Nature center or museum
  • Parking

Water

  • Swimming beach
  • Boat ramp

Camping

  • RV dump station
  • Tent camping
  • RV camping

✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.

Accessibility

Overview

The coastal bluffs and promontories of this scenic park offer unobstructed views of the ocean and rocky shore. The park includes the Santa Rosa Creek Natural Preserve, the San Simeon Natural Preserve and the Pa-nu Cultural Preserve. The park is located just north of Cambria on Highway One. Phone (805) 927-2020 for more information.

Camping

San Simeon Creek Campground: Three campsites with accessibly designed tables on small firm pads are usable (#41, #45, and #73). Toilet facilities and showers are generally accessible. All routes to the four restroom/shower buildings are accessible.

Washburn Primitive Campground: Three campsites are generally accessible. All have firm surfaces and accessible fire rings. Assistance may be needed with water access. Toilets are usable. Routes of travel from designated accessible sites are paved and generally accessible.

Read more from the park

Trails

The Moonstone Boardwalk is an ‘out-and-back’ accessible trail that is 0.96 miles each way. The accessible section is between the boat ramp near Leffingwell Landing and the entrance road to the Santa Rosa day use area. The surface is wood. The trail is generally flat at less than 5% slopes with intermittent sections between 5% to 10%. There are several benches with companion space adjacent and interpretive signage along the boardwalk with a few spurs to steps to the beach below.

The San Simeon Trail is an ‘out-and-back’ accessible trail that is 0.57 miles each way. The accessible section is between the Washburn Day-Use area and the southeast side of the seasonal wetland. The surface is compacted aggregate & wood. The trail is generally flat at less than 5% slopes with intermittent sections between 5% to 8%. There are several benches with companion space adjacent and interpretive signage along the trail.

The Elephant Seal Boardwalk/Trail is an ‘out-and-back generally accessible boardwalk/trail that is 0.4 miles each way. The boardwalk/trail provides viewing of the elephant seals on the beach below..

Trail Name Running Slope Cross Slope Trail Width Trail Surface

Moonstone Boardwalk 2% Average 0.5% Average 5 FT Average Wood

10% Maximum 2% Maximum 5 FT Minimum

San Simeon Trail 2% Average 1.5% Average 5.5 FT Average Wood/Aggregate

8% Maximum 5% Maximum 4 FT Minimum

Exhibits/Programs

Virtual Photo Walk is a non-profit organization that harnesses the power of the internet and mobile communications to enable the disabled infirm and those isolated and hospitalized – young and old – to visit distant places. More information is available by visiting Virtual Photo Walks.

Archived Virtual Photo Walks that took place at Hearst San Simeon SP include the exploration of the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery and San Simeon Bay.

Official accessibility information

Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.

Getting there

Address
Hwy 1 & San Simeon Creek Rd
Cambria, CA 93428
Nearest town
Morro Bay — about 22 mi northwest (straight line)
Coordinates
35.5994, -121.1254
Phone
(805) 772-6101

Entrances

  • Directions point

Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)

Directions from the park

Hearst San Simeon State Park & Campgrounds are located 5 miles south of the Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument Visitor Center on Highway 1, 29 miles west of the Paso Robles wine country on Highway 46, or 35 miles north of San Luis Obispo on Highway 1. For those seeking an adventure, an even more scenic route may be taken south from Monterey through Big Sur on a 100-mile journey winding along Highway 1 (When road conditions permit). The charming community of Cambria is located 2 miles to the south of the campgrounds and offers gas stations, grocery stores, dining and more. The coastal town of San Simeon is located 1.5 miles to the north of the campgrounds and offers more dining options. For more California visitor information, please Request Free California Official Visitor's Guide Service Details | www.ca.gov.

Nearby state parks

Cambria State Marine Park
0.2 mi southeast (straight line)
Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument
4.9 mi northwest (straight line)
Harmony Headlands State Park
11.3 mi southeast (straight line)
Estero Bluffs State Park
13.2 mi southeast (straight line)
Cayucos State Beach
16.1 mi southeast (straight line)
Morro Strand State Beach
19.9 mi southeast (straight line)
Morro Bay State Park
23.7 mi southeast (straight line)
Montaña de Oro State Park
25.4 mi southeast (straight line)

Sources and freshness

“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology

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