# Condors, mission bells and a salt lake – by camper through California's backcountry from Pinnacles to the Carrizo Plain

> From San Juan Bautista via the rock spires of Pinnacles, the Salinas Valley and the vineyards of Paso Robles to the wide grasslands along the San Andreas…

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/rf-468-california-pinnacles-paso-robles-carrizo/

**At a glance:** 7-day road trip of about 442 km (275 mi) with 14 stops, from San Juan Bautista to Santa Margarita. About 4 h 54 min of driving in total. Best time to go: April–June and September–October. No toll roads expected for a car. From San Juan Bautista via the rock spires of Pinnacles, the Salinas Valley and the vineyards of Paso Robles to the wide grasslands along the San Andreas Fault: some 700 kilometres of Central Coast without the coast.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | approx. 442 km (275 mi) |
| Driving | 4 h 54 min |
| Suggested days | 7 |
| Stops | 14 |
| Route | San Juan Bautista → Santa Margarita |
| States | CA |
| Best time to go | April–June and September–October |
| Tolls and vignettes | None expected |
| Updated | October 1, 2026 |

[Download GPX file](https://camping-spirit.com/gpx/rf-468-california-pinnacles-paso-robles-carrizo.gpx)

Practical guides for this route: [Driving in the US: The Rules European Visitors Most Often Get Wrong at the Wheel](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/us-driving-rules-visitors/), [Fuel, Tolls and Distances: Practical US Driving Math for Motorhome and Camper Travelers](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/us-fuel-tolls-distances/), [US national parks: entry fees, passes and reservations in plain terms](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/us-national-park-passes/)

*From San Juan Bautista via the rock spires of Pinnacles, the Salinas Valley and the vineyards of Paso Robles to the wide grasslands along the San Andreas Fault: some 700 kilometres of Central Coast without the coast.*

## The spirit of the route

When you think of California's Central Coast, you picture surf and fog. This route deliberately stays behind the mountains: where the coastal fog burns off by late morning and the hills turn golden from June. From the sliding door you look out on gnarled oaks, on lettuce fields stretching to the horizon, on rows of vines running across limestone hills. Spanish missions built of adobe sit like beads on an old string once called El Camino Real. In Pinnacles, condors circle above reddish volcanic rock, and at night raccoons rustle beneath your pitch. At the end the Carrizo Plain opens up: an empty valley with no water and no petrol station, a white salt lake at its centre and the San Andreas Fault as a visible scar on the hillside. It is quiet, dusty and scorching hot in summer – and that is exactly its appeal.

## Stage-by-stage plan

### Stage 1: San Juan Bautista to Pinnacles National Park (east side) (approx. 70 km)

- **The drive:** From San Juan Bautista take CA-156 to Hollister, then CA-25 south through the San Benito River valley: orchards and pastures at first, then from Paicines a two-lane country road through oak-covered hills and cattle country, well surfaced but with blind crests and no hard shoulder. At the end CA-146 turns west to the park's east entrance. Driving time just over an hour. The last reliable petrol station and the last large supermarkets are in Hollister.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Mission San Juan Bautista: founded in 1797, its three-aisled church is the largest of the California mission churches. In front of it lies the plaza of San Juan Bautista State Historic Park with the Plaza Hotel, stables and adobe houses. At the edge of the mission garden the ground drops away steeply – this is the scarp of the San Andreas Fault. You will look in vain for the bell tower from Hitchcock's “Vertigo”: it was added in the studio.
  - Hollister: quiet farm town with a brick downtown along San Benito Street. The Calaveras Fault runs through town and slowly “creeps” here – on residential streets west of the centre you can see offset kerbs and leaning walls.
  - Pinnacles National Park, Bear Gulch: from the east entrance the Moses Spring Trail and the route through Bear Gulch Cave, a talus cave beneath wedged boulders, lead to the small Bear Gulch Reservoir. The cave is home to a colony of Townsend's big-eared bats and is therefore at times fully or partly closed; ask about the current status at the visitor centre by the campground. A head torch is mandatory.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Pinnacles Campground at the east entrance: the only campground in the park, pitches under oaks and sycamores, a separate RV section with 30-amp electric hookups, plus drinking water, toilets, showers, a dump station at the entrance, a small shop and a pool open in the warmer half of the year. Reservations via recreation.gov, up to six months ahead. The sites are gravel pads, some tight for manoeuvring – take the length stated on the booking page seriously. Alternatives: Fremont Peak State Park above San Juan Bautista (small, steep access road, unsuitable for long vehicles) and Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area south of Hollister, an off-road area with basic campgrounds.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In the national park, overnight stays are only allowed at the campground, and trailhead car parks are patrolled. The surrounding land is almost entirely private grazing and ranch land; free camping along CA-25 is not an option.
- **Insider tip for campers:** The Bear Gulch car park is small and often full early in the morning at weekends; a shuttle runs only seasonally, if at all – check the current status with the park. With a large vehicle, leave the camper at the campground and walk to Bear Gulch via the Bench Trail. Fill up with fuel and fresh water in Hollister – in hot weather, water supply is the first thing to run short in the park. Mobile coverage at the campground is weak or non-existent depending on your provider.

### Stage 2: Pinnacles National Park (east side) to King City via Soledad (approx. 140 km)

- **The drive:** No road links the park's east and west sides – only hiking trails cross the ridge. With the camper, take CA-25 south to Bitterwater and the winding Bitterwater Road through hills and pastures down to King City in the Salinas Valley. From there, US-101 north for about 40 kilometres to Soledad and back. US-101 is a four-lane road here, speed limit 65 mph, with lots of agricultural trucks. Driving time about 2.5 hours. In the afternoon a strong north-westerly wind regularly blows through the Salinas Valley – high-sided vehicles will feel it.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Balconies Cave and High Peaks: before setting off, go early in the morning from the Old Pinnacles Trailhead through Balconies Cave (a talus cave, partly flooded after rain) or take the High Peaks Trail with its steep steps cut into the rock. California condors are often seen on the ridge; since 2003 Pinnacles has been one of the release sites of the recovery programme. The condors carry numbered wing tags.
  - Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad: founded in 1791 and long left to decay; today a restored chapel stands next to the ruins of the adobe walls, surrounded by vegetable fields south-west of Soledad. A peaceful spot, with enough parking for standard motorhomes.
  - Pinnacles West (Chaparral): CA-146 from Soledad takes you to the west side of the park, with views of the rock spires and access to the Balconies from the west. The access road is narrow, steep and winding and unsuitable for large motorhomes and vehicles with trailers; the gate is closed at night. With a small camper it is a worthwhile addition, otherwise better skipped.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** San Lorenzo Park in King City (Monterey County): campground on the Salinas River with hookup sites, a shower and toilet block and a dump station; on the grounds is the Monterey County Agricultural and Rural Life Museum with an old schoolhouse and railway station. The county's parks partly work on self-payment; keep cash on hand and check opening times on the county website. Alternative in the mountains: Arroyo Seco Campground in Los Padres National Forest west of Greenfield, a basic site by the river.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Almost all of the Salinas Valley is private farmland. In Los Padres National Forest (Monterey Ranger District), dispersed camping is generally possible but regularly heavily restricted by fire orders: campfires only at designated spots, and outside campgrounds a California Campfire Permit is needed for gas and petrol stoves. Check current rules with the Forest Service.
- **Insider tip for campers:** In King City, petrol stations and supermarkets are right by the US-101 exits – the last good supply point before the detour to Mission San Antonio and the lakes. If you do the Pinnacles hike in the morning, you are better off in an air-conditioned vehicle than on the trail during the midday heat anyway.

### Stage 3: King City to Lake San Antonio (approx. 85 km)

- **The drive:** Take Jolon Road south-west over a low pass into the Jolon valley, then through the grounds of Fort Hunter Liggett to Mission San Antonio. Back to Jolon and along Interlake Road through oak savannah and pastures via Lockwood to Lake San Antonio. Two-lane country roads with hardly any traffic, partly narrow and without a hard shoulder; cattle and wildlife on the road. Driving time just under two hours. Between King City and Paso Robles there are hardly any reliable petrol stations.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Mission San Antonio de Padua: founded in 1771 by Junípero Serra, the third of the 21 California missions and the most remote. Because the surrounding area has been military land for decades, it stands almost free of modern development in the “Valley of the Oaks” – closer to the mission era than almost any other. Church, arcades, remains of a mill and a small museum.
  - Fort Hunter Liggett and the Hacienda: the mission lies within the military training area, accessible only through a checkpoint. Adults need valid ID (REAL ID or passport), vehicle documents and, if applicable, the rental agreement; visitors without a military ID are checked at the gate (including a background check), vehicles and occupants may be searched, and stricter rules sometimes apply to visitors with foreign passports. Ask the mission or the post in advance. Near the mission stands the Hacienda, which Julia Morgan designed as a ranch house for William Randolph Hearst.
  - Lake San Antonio: a long reservoir between oak-covered hills, a wintering area for bald eagles; in some winters eagle-watching boat tours are offered – check availability in advance. The water level fluctuates strongly depending on rainfall.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Lake San Antonio (Monterey County): the South Shore has several camping areas (including Harris Creek, Lynch and Redonda Vista) with sites with and without hookups, shower and toilet blocks and a dump station; the North Shore also has a camping area. The two shores are not always open on the same days of the week, and self-payment accepts only cash or cheque, with cards accepted only at the staffed entrance gate. The lake has at times been closed to recreational use – check opening days, water sports, water supply and conditions on the county website.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Overnight stays on Fort Hunter Liggett grounds are not permitted outside the designated facilities. In Los Padres National Forest west of the fort, small Forest Service sites such as Ponderosa and Nacimiento lie along Nacimiento-Fergusson Road; the road over the Santa Lucia Range to the coast is narrow, steep, often closed and unsuitable for motorhomes. Big Sur is better reached via the coastal highway, described in the CampingSpirit travel guide to the Pacific Coast Highway.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Only approach the checkpoint at the fort with complete documents, and avoid taking photos of the military grounds. During manoeuvres, access may be restricted at short notice. At the lake in summer, secure shade early: some pitches are fully exposed to the sun, and in high summer temperatures exceed 38 °C.

### Stage 4: Lake San Antonio to Paso Robles (approx. 55 km)

- **The drive:** Take Interlake Road south past Lake Nacimiento, then Nacimiento Lake Drive through hills with oaks, cattle pastures and the first vineyards to Paso Robles. Winding but easy to drive, speed limit mostly 45–55 mph. Driving time about an hour. In Paso Robles you have full supplies again: supermarkets, petrol stations, repair shops.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Lake Nacimiento: a branching reservoir with many coves, popular with boaters in summer; Nacimiento Lake Resort on the south shore has viewpoints over the water.
  - Paso Robles wine country: west of US-101, in the limestone hills of the Adelaida and Willow Creek areas, lie wineries with Rhône and Zinfandel vines; to the east is the flatter, hotter hinterland. Many wineries have car parks where motorhomes can turn – check beforehand, and only taste if someone else is driving.
  - Sensorio: a light installation on a hill east of town, including the “Field of Light” by artist Bruce Munro with tens of thousands of glowing spheres. Open evenings only; book timed tickets in advance and check the season and programme on the website.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Nacimiento Lake Resort with several camping areas on the lake's south shore, some with hookups; check conditions and opening in advance. In and around Paso Robles there are numerous private RV parks with full hookups; book early for weekends with wine events.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In Paso Robles and neighbouring towns, sleeping in your vehicle on public streets and car parks is generally not allowed. A legal alternative is membership programmes such as Harvest Hosts, through which some wineries offer a night without hookups; follow each host's rules.
- **Insider tip for campers:** In summer Paso Robles is one of the hottest places on the Central Coast; temperature swings of 25 degrees between day and night are normal. Visit wineries in the morning and retreat to the shady Downtown City Park in the afternoon. Top up your water before moving on.

### Stage 5: Paso Robles to San Luis Obispo (approx. 55 km)

- **The drive:** Take US-101 south via Templeton and Atascadero, then over the Cuesta Grade down to San Luis Obispo: the pass is four-lane, and the southbound descent is long and steep (around 7 per cent), with a truck lane and brake warnings. Use a low gear rather than braking continuously. If you have time, drive the parallel El Camino Real between Templeton and Atascadero. Driving time without stops under an hour.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Templeton: small town with Western false fronts on Main Street, a feed store and wine bars; towards the edge of town, vineyards along Vineyard Drive.
  - Atascadero: founded in 1913 as a planned town; the city hall with its rotunda and the Sunken Gardens in front of it define the centre. Atascadero Lake Park offers shade and a path around the lake.
  - San Luis Obispo: Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa (1772) with Mission Plaza by the creek, and next to it Bubblegum Alley, a narrow lane whose walls have been covered in chewing gum for decades. On Thursday evenings Higuera Street is closed for the Farmers Market.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** El Chorro Regional Park (San Luis Obispo County) on CA-1 between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay: campground with hookup sites, toilets and showers and a dump station, plus a botanical garden next door. Alternatively, east of Santa Margarita at Santa Margarita Lake: basic sites in the county park (check type and access in advance) or the private Santa Margarita KOA with electric hookups. For the coast around Morro Bay and Montaña de Oro, see the CampingSpirit travel guide to the Pacific Coast Highway.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** San Luis Obispo prohibits sleeping in vehicles on public streets, and the city centre is patrolled. In Los Padres National Forest north of town lies the small Cerro Alto Campground on CA-41 – tight for large vehicles; dispersed camping in the hills usually makes little sense because of fire orders.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Downtown San Luis Obispo has height-restricted car parks and narrow streets; park motorhomes on the edge and go in on foot or by city bus. Don't let your brakes overheat on the Cuesta Grade – in the opposite direction the climb is slow in hot weather, so keep an eye on the engine temperature.

### Stage 6: San Luis Obispo to Carrizo Plain National Monument (approx. 140 km)

- **The drive:** Back over the Cuesta Grade to Santa Margarita. If you want to see Pozo, take a detour east on Pozo Road: paved but two-lane, narrow and very winding, through oak-covered hills and past the turn-off to Santa Margarita Lake to Pozo, and back the same way. East of Pozo only an unpaved forest road leads over Pozo Summit through Los Padres National Forest towards CA-58 – not an option with a camper. So to reach the monument, take CA-58 east from Santa Margarita, across the Carrisa Plains to Soda Lake Road and south into the monument. Soda Lake Road is paved only in sections; the rest is a dirt road of clay and gravel. Driving time three to four hours. Fill up in Santa Margarita: there is no water, fuel or food in the monument.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Pozo: hamlet with the Pozo Saloon, a 19th-century stagecoach stop, now a saloon and open-air stage. There is not much else here – and that is exactly the charm.
  - Soda Lake: an endorheic salt lake in the middle of the plain, a white crust in summer and, after wet winters, a shallow sheet of water with wading birds. A boardwalk leads to its edge, and from the overlook hill opposite you can see the whole basin.
  - Wildflowers and wildlife: after enough winter rain, goldfields, phacelia and lupins colour the valley floor and the Temblor Range yellow and purple – in dry years the bloom fails to appear, and there are no fixed dates. Year-round residents include pronghorn, tule elk, kit foxes and giant kangaroo rats.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Two basic BLM campgrounds in the monument: Selby Campground at the foot of the Caliente Range west of Soda Lake and KCL Campground further south on Soda Lake Road, each with a good dozen sites with tables, fire rings and pit toilets, plus horse corrals; most sites at Selby have shade shelters. No reliable drinking water, no electricity, no rubbish collection, no dump station. Free of charge, no reservations, first come, first served; check the current status with the BLM (Bakersfield Field Office). The access roads are dirt roads, around 7 kilometres from Soda Lake Road to Selby.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Dispersed camping in the monument is only allowed in certain areas, not on the valley floor; check the map and current rules with the BLM. Campfires are prohibited under fire orders, and always within the Painted Rock area. In Los Padres National Forest east of Pozo there are basic Forest Service sites such as La Panza and Friis; they can only be reached via unpaved forest roads and are hardly suitable for motorhomes.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Do not drive Soda Lake Road after rain: the clay soil turns as slippery as soft soap, even four-wheel-drive vehicles get stuck, and the ruts damage the habitat. Check the weather forecast for several days – after rainfall the road can be impassable for days. There is hardly any mobile coverage in the monument; save your route and maps offline and let someone know your plans.

### Stage 7: Carrizo Plain National Monument to Santa Margarita (approx. 130 km)

- **The drive:** In the morning head south within the monument to Painted Rock and to Elkhorn Road at the foot of the Temblor Range, where the San Andreas Fault runs; then back north on Soda Lake Road and west on CA-58 to Santa Margarita. CA-58 is winding with many blind crests, partly narrow, through grazing and grain land, with hardly any traffic. Driving time without detours just over two hours; Elkhorn Road is a rougher dirt road, for standard motorhomes only in dry weather and with care.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Painted Rock: a horseshoe-shaped sandstone outcrop with rock art by the Chumash, Yokuts and Salinan. From 1 March to 15 July the area around the rock is accessible only on guided BLM tours; for the rest of the year with a permit for a self-guided visit via recreation.gov. Dogs, bicycles away from the car park and fires are prohibited in the protected zone.
  - Wallace Creek: on Elkhorn Road a short path shows how the San Andreas Fault has offset a stream channel sideways – one of the most striking examples of plate movement in the world.
  - Goodwin Education Center: the monument's visitor centre with maps and an exhibition, open only on a few days a week in the winter and spring half of the year; the toilets are accessible year-round, and leaflets are available even when the door is closed.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Santa Margarita Lake Regional Park (San Luis Obispo County): basic camping by the lake, water sports with restrictions (drinking water reservoir, no swimming); check site type and access with the county in advance. Alternatively El Chorro Regional Park near San Luis Obispo with hookups and a dump station. Near the lake, about 12 kilometres east of town, is also the private Santa Margarita KOA with electric hookups.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In Santa Margarita and along CA-58 the land is largely private; the lay-bys are not overnight spots. If you want to stay another night in the monument, use Selby or KCL.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Only empty your grey and black water tanks in Santa Margarita or San Luis Obispo – there is no dump station in the monument. After the Carrizo Plain, dust settles in vent grilles and fridge grilles; a quick check of air filters and tyres after the gravel drive is worthwhile. For onward travel to the coast and Big Sur, the CampingSpirit travel guide to the Pacific Coast Highway is a good fit, and for Monterey the travel guide to Big Basin, Santa Cruz and Monterey.

## Camping practice & local rules

### Wild camping & overnight parking

- There is no statewide ban in California, but many cities and counties, including San Luis Obispo, explicitly prohibit sleeping in vehicles on streets; the only reliably legal place to stay overnight is a campground. At Caltrans rest areas the length of stay is limited (usually eight hours), and camping is not allowed there.
- Dispersed camping on federal land: in Los Padres National Forest and on BLM land, free camping is generally possible for up to 14 days unless a closure applies. Fire orders restrict it heavily in the dry season; outside designated sites a California Campfire Permit is needed for stoves. In the Carrizo Plain National Monument only in the areas approved by the BLM.
- National park: since 2026 the annual pass is more expensive for visitors without US residency, and some of the most heavily visited national parks add a surcharge; check current amounts on nps.gov. The America the Beautiful Pass is valid at Pinnacles; no entrance fee is charged at the Carrizo Plain National Monument.
- Reservations: Pinnacles Campground via recreation.gov (up to six months ahead), Painted Rock tours and permits also via recreation.gov. County parks in Monterey and San Luis Obispo have their own systems, some with self-payment on site.
- Military land: Fort Hunter Liggett is accessible only with an ID check; do not stop outside the public destinations, do not stay overnight and do not fly drones.
- Apps: iOverlander, Campendium, The Dyrt and Recreation.gov; Park4Night is not widely used here. Save maps offline for Carrizo and Pinnacles – there is often no signal.

### Waste disposal & supplies

- Dump stations: Pinnacles Campground, San Lorenzo Park, Lake San Antonio, El Chorro Regional Park and private RV parks in Hollister, King City, Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo. There are none in the Carrizo Plain.
- Drinking water: at the campgrounds listed; not in the Carrizo Plain. For the monument, plan on at least four extra litres per person per day, considerably more in summer.
- Empty grey water and chemical toilets only at dump stations; discharging on dirt and forest roads is prohibited.
- Propane: petrol stations, DIY stores and RV parks in Hollister, King City, Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo fill US cylinders; European cylinders are generally not filled.
- Electricity: 30 A at Pinnacles and at county sites with hookups, private RV parks often 30/50 A. Selby and KCL have no electricity – bring solar or fully charged batteries.
- Fuel and shopping: Hollister, Soledad, King City, Paso Robles, Atascadero, San Luis Obispo and Santa Margarita. Between King City and Paso Robles via the lakes, and throughout the Carrizo Plain, there is no reliable petrol station.

### Vehicle size & traffic rules

- Speed limits: US-101 mostly 65 mph (105 km/h), country roads 55 mph. In California, vehicles towing a trailer may drive no faster than 55 mph (88 km/h) on any road and must use the right-hand lane or the signed truck lanes on multi-lane roads.
- On two-lane roads, slow vehicles must pull over at the next turnout as soon as five or more vehicles are backed up behind them – relevant on CA-25, Jolon Road and CA-58.
- Dimensions: single vehicles up to 40 ft (12.2 m) are permitted on all roads, longer motorhomes only on certain routes; combinations up to 65 ft (19.8 m) overall length. The access roads to the west side of Pinnacles, Pozo Road east of Pozo (dirt road) and Nacimiento-Fergusson Road are unsuitable for large vehicles.
- There are no tolls on this route, and no low-emission zones either. Phones may only be used hands-free while driving.
- Heat: in summer, Pinnacles, Paso Robles and the Carrizo Plain regularly exceed 38 °C. Schedule hikes for early morning and keep an eye on the fridge and vehicle battery; never leave dogs in the vehicle.
- Fire risk: from early summer until the first rain, the whole area is at high wildfire risk. During Red Flag Warnings, campfires and in some cases stoves are prohibited outside campgrounds. Do not park on dry grass – hot exhaust systems can start fires. Check the current situation via Cal Fire and the Forest Service websites.
- Dirt roads: do not drive Soda Lake Road, Elkhorn Road or forest roads when wet; tyres with adequate tread and a full-size spare wheel are a must. Emergency: 911.

## CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist

- Extra water containers holding 40 litres or more: there is no drinking water in the Carrizo Plain, and water runs short at Pinnacles in hot weather too.
- A head torch per person: your own light source is required in Bear Gulch Cave and Balconies Cave.
- Compressor, tyre pressure gauge and tyre repair kit: for the gravel and clay roads of the Carrizo Plain, where the nearest tyre service is hours away.
- Reflective windscreen cover and 12 V fan: at 38 °C and above on exposed pitches such as at Lake San Antonio or Selby, this keeps the interior bearable.
- Binoculars or spotting scope: for condors above the High Peaks, bald eagles at Lake San Antonio and pronghorn in the Carrizo Plain.
- Satellite communicator or emergency beacon: in Carrizo, on Pozo Road and around Fort Hunter Liggett there is no mobile coverage over long stretches.

_As of 2026-10. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go._

## Sources

- [Bureau of Land Management – Selby Campground (Carrizo Plain National Monument)](https://www.blm.gov/visit/search-details/14805/1)
- [Bureau of Land Management – Carrizo Plain National Monument, Karte](https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/documents/files/CA_CarrizoPlain_NM.pdf)
- [Bureau of Land Management – KCL Campground](https://www.blm.gov/visit/kcl-campground)
- [U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hunter Liggett – Visitor Information](https://home.army.mil/liggett/about/visitor-information)
- [County of Monterey – Public Works, Facilities & Parks: Announcements](https://www.countyofmonterey.gov/government/departments-i-z/public-works-facilities-parks/announcements)
- [National Park Service – Pinnacles: Camping](https://www.nps.gov/pinn/planyourvisit/camp.htm)
- [Recreation.gov – Pinnacles Campground](https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234015/campsites)
- [County of San Luis Obispo – Parks & Recreation: Camping](https://slocounty.ca.gov/departments/parks-recreation/services/camping)
- [Pashnit – California Highway 58 (Pozo, Pozo Summit, La Panza)](https://www.pashnit.com/ca-highway-58)
- [KOA – Santa Margarita KOA](https://koa.com/campgrounds/santa-margarita/)
- [Wikipedia – Lake San Antonio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_San_Antonio)

## Which stops are on the route from San Juan Bautista to Santa Margarita?

1. **San Juan Bautista** (CA)
2. **Hollister** (CA)
3. **Pinnacles National Park** (CA)
4. **Soledad** (CA)
5. **King City** (CA)
6. **Mission San Antonio de Padua** (CA)
7. **Lake San Antonio** (CA)
8. **Paso Robles** (CA)
9. **Templeton** (CA)
10. **Atascadero** (CA)
11. **San Luis Obispo** (CA)
12. **Pozo** (CA)
13. **Carrizo Plain National Monument** (CA)
14. **Santa Margarita** (CA)

## When is the best time for the route from San Juan Bautista to Santa Margarita?

The most pleasant months are usually April–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, July–August and November. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

## FAQs

**How long is Condors, mission bells and a salt lake – by camper through California's backcountry from Pinnacles to the Carrizo Plain?**
7-day road trip of about 442 km (275 mi) with 14 stops, from San Juan Bautista to Santa Margarita. About 4 h 54 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Condors, mission bells and a salt lake – by camper through California's backcountry from Pinnacles to the Carrizo Plain?**
We suggest 7 days: about 4 h 54 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Condors, mission bells and a salt lake – by camper through California's backcountry from Pinnacles to the Carrizo Plain start and end?**
It starts in San Juan Bautista and ends in Santa Margarita.

**Which states does Condors, mission bells and a salt lake – by camper through California's backcountry from Pinnacles to the Carrizo Plain pass through?**
California.

**Where can you camp along Condors, mission bells and a salt lake – by camper through California's backcountry from Pinnacles to the Carrizo Plain?**
OpenStreetMap lists 230 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Santa Cruz / Monterey Bay KOA Holiday, Uvas Pines RV Park and Pinnacles Campground.