Everyone kept telling us how great Big Sur camping is, but every time we tried to book, it was full. For Pfeiffer Campground, you need to book 6 months in advance as it is super popular. We booked in May for our last trip of the season in October. The coastal weather is usually good in October and it did not disappoint. The days were warm and sunny!
The campground is BEAUTIFUL….with a creek running throughout and big campsites that allow for some privacy set among huge redwoods. It’s hard to get a “bad” spot here but the sites along the creek are our favorites. If you can’t get into the state park, there are several other private campgrounds with tent and RV camping and also cute rustic wood cabins. Check out Riverside Campground or Fernwood Campground as they are great alternatives to Pfeiffer.
After setting up camp we went across the highway to Glen Oaks Big Sur Roadhouse where we ate outside on the sofa with Sato in tow. Then we drove down to McWay Falls for some photos. This waterfall is so peaceful, calming and majestic, it should not be missed. It’s a 20 min drive from camp but worth it.
We usually cook one or two meals at camp. This trip we decided to try a fun egg and grilled cheese recipe we liked from the Camp Cookbook. It didn’t look exactly like the picture, but it was delicious.
When we aren’t cooking at camp, we like to find special places to eat and no trip is complete without a visit to Nepenthe for a delicious dinner, oh and the martinis are great here too! It’s perched up on the Big Sur cliffs with amazing ocean views. This is a must for a sunset cocktail. They have a large patio with a cozy outdoor fireplace. Note: dogs are not allowed, even on the patio.
The following morning we had a long walk through the park. Dogs are only allowed on the paved trails so we stuck to those but it’s such a beautiful park that worked just fine for us. Afterwards we drove up to Ventana, this is a beautiful resort, which is dog friendly! We checked out their camping and glamping area. It’s a nice setting with the bonus of being so close to the resort, however those sites were much smaller than Pfeiffer. The canvas tent cabins are a great option for those that want a step up from camping. The restaurant has a huge outdoor patio with stunning views, amazing food and tasty drinks. We spent a few hours there just relaxing and taking it in.
What a great place to round out our very first camping season. We will be back Big Sur!
