How long can I stay at California state parks in SLO County? Learn the rules
Want to watch sunset from a scenic Central Coast spot? Camp under the stars?
San Luis Obispo County has a number of parks operated by California State Parks.
During day use hours, visitors can hike, explore and enjoy the views. If you’re looking to stay past open hours, some have camping hours for a price.
Before you head out, learn which hours you can visit state parks in SLO County and ways to stay overnight:
What state parks are in SLO County?
From secluded beaches to rolling hills and volcanic peaks, SLO County state parks have plenty of scenic views.
Activities include birdwatching, boating, horseback riding, kayaking and exploring tide pools.
SLO County has four state parks:
- Estero Bluffs State Park, Cayucos
- Montaña de Oro State Park, Los Osos
- Morro Bay State Park, Morro Bay
- Hearst San Simeon State Park, San Simeon
In addition, California State Parks operates Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve.
The reserve west of San Luis Obispo was “created to protect stands of 700-year-old oaks” with the help of the Friends of El Moro Elfin Forest, California State Parks said.
State beaches in the area are Cayucos State Beach and William Randolph Hearst Memorial State Beach near San Simeon.
In addition to a fishing pier and historical buildings, the beach in Cayucos features centuries-old coast oak trees.
Hearst Memorial Beach, across Highway 1 from Hearst Castle, offers “coastal bluffs and promontories that offer unobstructed views of the ocean and rocky shore,” State Parks said.
Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Area in southern San Luis Obispo County offers off-road riding, fishing, kite surfing and more on coastal dunes and beaches.
When are state parks open in SLO County?
State-protected areas in SLO County have differing daytime hours of operation.
- Cayucos State Beach: Day use only
- Estero Bluffs State Park: 6 a.m. to sunset
- Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Montaña de Oro State Park: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Morro Bay State Park: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Hearst San Simeon State Park: 8 a.m. to sunset
- W. R. Hearst Memorial Beach: Dawn to dusk
- Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Can I camp in Morro Bay? San Simeon?
Some California State Parks sites in SLO County offer camping, although you’ll need to book a reservation in advance.
You can reserve a campsite online via ReserveCalifornia.com.
State Parks also offers an easier way to make reservations at its “most popular and iconic camping sites.”
You can enter a lottery-style drawing for a chance to stay at high-demand campgrounds and cabins.
The Reservation Drawing program currently allows would-be campers to apply for a future reservation at one of four parks — Malibu Creek State Park, Morro Bay State Park, McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park and Mount Tamalpais State Park — up to eight months in advance.
At state parks across SLO County, each campsite can fit eight people and two vehicles.
How much does camping cost at Montana de Oro? Oceano Dunes?
Montaña de Oro State Park has three campgrounds. In addition to tent and remote camping options, there’s a designated campground for visitors with horses.
Reservations for the Hazard Canyon Horse Camp start at $50 a night, while Environmental Camping and Islay Creek Campground start at $25 per night.
Morro Bay State Park has 140 campsites, including tent, group and RV camping. Most start at $35 per night.
Group sites cost $100 a night and can fit up to 35 people and 15 vehicles.
At Heart San Simeon State Park, camping reservations cover bike-in tent and recreational vehicles. Tent camping starts at $10 per night and RV camping starts at $35 per night.
Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area has beach and dune camping with no designated campsites. Reservations start at $10 a night, with a stay limit of 15 consecutive nights.
Other state park campgrounds in SLO County limit the number of nights you can stay in a row to 10.
There’s also a limit on the number of days you can stay at a campground.
The yearly camping limit for Montaña de Oro State Park and Morro Bay State Park is 20 days. Stays at Hearst San Simeon State Park and Oceano Dunes are 30 days per year.
Cayucos State Beach, Estero Bluffs State Park, Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve, and Hearst Memorial Beach do not offer overnight camping.
