Carrizo Plain National Monument
RV Guide
Introduction
Carrizo Plain National Monument offers exceptional BLM camping with 25 sites across KCL and Selby campgrounds, featuring California's largest remaining native grassland and spectacular spring wildflower superblooms. This remote 246,812-acre "Serengeti of California" provides first-come, first-served primitive camping for small RVs up to 30 feet, with vault toilets but no hookups, electricity, or water. Strategic access via San Luis Obispo RV rentals positions adventurers perfectly for exploring this unique high-desert plain that showcases the San Andreas Fault, alkali wetlands, and ancient Native American pictographs at Painted Rock.
What Makes Carrizo Plain National Monument the Ultimate RV Destination?
Carrizo Plain National Monument stands as California's last great grassland, earning its nickname as the "Serengeti of California" for its sweeping vistas and abundant wildlife. This extraordinary 246,812-acre BLM monument preserves America's largest remaining native grassland, creating an otherworldly landscape that feels untouched by time.
The monument's crown jewel is Soda Lake, the largest natural alkali wetland in Southern California, which transforms seasonally from a shimmering white salt flat to a vital stopover for thousands of migratory birds. During wet winters, this ancient lakebed fills with water, creating spectacular reflections against the backdrop of the Temblor Range and Caliente Mountains.
Your RV adventure here revolves around one of nature's most magnificent displays: the spring wildflower superbloom. When conditions align with adequate winter rainfall, the entire plain erupts in a carpet of vibrant colors—brilliant yellow coreopsis, purple lupine, orange California poppies, and delicate baby blue eyes painting the landscape as far as the eye can see. These legendary superblooms draw photographers and nature lovers from around the world.
Beyond wildflowers, Carrizo Plain offers unique geological wonders. The San Andreas Fault cuts directly through the monument, creating visible landscape features that tell the story of California's dramatic tectonic activity. Wallace Creek demonstrates how earthquake activity has shifted the land over millennia, offering a rare glimpse into Earth's powerful forces.
The monument also preserves significant cultural heritage at Painted Rock, where Chumash and Yokuts peoples created some of California's most important Native American pictographs. These ancient rock art sites provide a window into thousands of years of human history on this vast plain.
Wildlife viewing opportunities abound throughout the year. Tule elk roam the grasslands, pronghorn antelope bound across the open spaces, and kit foxes emerge at dusk. Birdwatchers can spot over 200 species, from sandhill cranes and great blue herons at Soda Lake to burrowing owls and ferruginous hawks in the grasslands.
The monument's remote location, 100 airline miles from Los Angeles, ensures an authentic wilderness experience away from crowds and light pollution. Star-filled night skies offer some of California's best stargazing opportunities, while the profound silence broken only by coyote calls and meadowlark songs creates a truly restorative outdoor escape.
RV Rentals in Carrizo Plain National Monument
Transportation
Driving
Carrizo Plain National Monument is accessed via two main entrances along Soda Lake Road, the monument's 45-mile backbone route. From the north, take California State Route 58 west to Soda Lake Road near the ghost town of Simmler. From the south, follow State Route 166/33 north to Soda Lake Road near Maricopa.
Note: Do not rely on GPS navigation for this remote destination. Many mapping programs provide incorrect routes or lead travelers onto impassable ranch roads. Download the official BLM Carrizo Plain Recreation Map before departure.
Soda Lake Road features approximately 20 miles of unpaved sections with maintained gravel surfaces suitable for most vehicles in dry conditions. However, recent rain can make dirt roads muddy, slippery, or impassable. High-clearance vehicles are recommended, especially for side roads leading to campgrounds and dispersed camping areas.
Where Are the Best Gateway Cities for RV Rentals?
San Luis Obispo Access: San Luis Obispo RV rentals provide the closest major city access, approximately 90 minutes from Carrizo Plain's northern entrance. This coastal city offers excellent pre-trip supply shopping, diverse RV rental options from campervans to large motorhomes, and serves as a convenient flight-in location for out-of-state visitors.
Central Coast Corridor: The scenic route through San Luis Obispo also provides access to Pismo Beach RV rentals and Morro Bay camping options, allowing visitors to combine wildflower viewing with coastal experiences along California's stunning Central Coast.
Essential Pre-Trip Preparations
Fuel and Supplies: The nearest services are in Santa Margarita (45 minutes north) or Maricopa (60 minutes south). Fill all fuel tanks, water reservoirs, and stock essential supplies before entering the monument. No services exist within 50 miles in any direction.
Road Conditions: Check current conditions by calling the Goodwin Education Center at (805) 475-2131. Spring storms can temporarily close roads, while summer heat makes midday travel uncomfortable.
Parking
Public Transportation
Campgrounds and parking in Carrizo Plain National Monument
Campsites in Carrizo Plain National Monument
First-come first-served
KCL Campground
KCL Campground accommodates small RVs and trailers with 12 sites available on a first-come, first-served basis, including two ADA-compliant sites designed for accessibility. Located near the monument's center along Soda Lake Road, this semi-primitive campground provides the most convenient access to major attractions while maintaining the authentic high-desert experience.
Each site features a picnic table and fire ring, with vault toilets and an informational kiosk serving all campers. Horse corrals accommodate equestrian visitors exploring the monument's extensive backcountry trails. The campground offers some shade trees, though most sites remain open to expansive grassland views.
No hookups, water, or electricity are available—this is true boondocking that requires complete self-sufficiency. RV water tanks should be filled before arrival, and solar panels or generators (used responsibly) provide the only power options. The dump station closest to KCL is located outside the monument boundaries.
Peak visitation occurs during wildflower season (March-May) and comfortable fall months, when sites fill quickly. Arriving early in the day or camping during weekdays increases availability chances. Summer visits are possible but challenging due to extreme heat exceeding 100°F.
Selby Campground
Selby Campground offers the most secluded camping experience within the monument, featuring 13 sites for tents and small RVs accessed via gravel roads that require careful navigation. This primitive campground sits at the end of a two-mile dirt road, providing maximum solitude for visitors seeking complete immersion in the high-desert wilderness.
Like KCL, Selby provides only the most basic amenities: picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets. Horse corrals accommodate riders accessing the adjacent Wilderness Study Area, where unlimited hiking opportunities await just steps from camp. The campground's remote location offers exceptional stargazing with minimal light pollution.
Road Access Caution: The access road to Selby can become impassable during wet conditions. RV drivers should assess road conditions carefully and avoid the campground during or immediately after rain events. High-clearance vehicles are strongly recommended.
Dispersed Camping
BLM Dispersed Sites: Throughout the monument, designated dispersed camping areas accommodate self-contained RVs seeking even more solitude. These undeveloped sites require visitors to be completely self-sufficient, following strict Leave No Trace principles. Popular dispersed areas include sections along Elkhorn Road and various spur roads throughout the grasslands.
Central Coast Alternative Bases: When monument campgrounds reach capacity, Santa Margarita KOA and Avila/Pismo Beach KOA provide full-service camping within 90 minutes of Carrizo Plain. These established campgrounds offer hot showers, hookups, and supply stores while serving as comfortable base camps for daily monument visits.
Coastal Combination Options: Coastal Dunes RV Park near Pismo Beach allows visitors to combine wildflower expeditions with beach camping, while Morro Bay State Park provides scenic coastal camping just two hours from Carrizo Plain.
Explore more RV parks and campgrounds throughout California's diverse landscapes for extended adventures.
Seasonal activities in Carrizo Plain National Monument
In-Season
Hiking
There are a few hiking trails at the monument. The seven-mile Caliente Ridge Trail is considered to be moderate. Hikers will be rewarded with beautiful views of the Carrizo Plain and the surrounding landscape. The trailhead can be accessed at Caliente Ridge.
Caliente Mountain is another trail that is often used by hunters heading to the public land. The trail is rugged and considered to be strenuous. During the spring months, wildflowers blossom along the trail. The trailhead for Caliente Mountain is located on Highway 166.
Guided Tours
During a visit to Carrizo Plain National Monument, take a guided or self-tour to see wildlife and other monument attractions. The Painted Rock Guided Tour takes participants on a three-mile hike to Painted Rock Alcove, where they’ll find Native American Pictographs, rock formations, and other beautiful scenery. Visitors may opt to take the self-guided tour to Painted Rock Alcove instead. Those that wish to take a self-guided tour must make a reservation.
Saucito Ranch Tour is another guided tour that monument visitors may opt to take. Saucito Ranch has the oldest historic house remaining intact at the monument.
Interpretive Trails
During a visit to the monument, visitors should plan to explore one of the many interpretive trails. The Wallace Creek Trail leads visitors along a section of the San Andreas Fault. The Soda Lake Boardwalk Trail borders the famed Soda Lake.
The Overlook Hill Trail rewards visitors who make the steep climb with views of Soda Lake and Carrizo Plain. Travers Ranch Trail teaches visitors about the area’s farming history as they pass by farming equipment at Travers Ranch Homestead.
Off-Season
Historical Sites
History buffs visiting the monument will want to take in the monument’s historical and cultural sites. Native Americans resided on the land as long as 10,000 years, and settlers moved into the area during the 19th century.
Artifacts and remains of buildings, homesteads, and pictographs remain intact today. During your visit, take part in a guided or self-tour to see pictographs, old farming equipment, and learn the history of Carrizo Plain National Monument.
Wildlife
Carrizo Plain National Monument is home to many different types of wildlife, including rare and threatened species. The giant kangaroo rat, blunt-nosed lizard, and San Joaquin kit fox are a few endangered species at Carrizo Plain.
The monument is an excellent destination for birdwatching. Owls, sparrows, quails, prairie falcons, and many other species are seen throughout the year at the monument. Many different types of birds are seen only during specific seasons or rarely seen at all, like hawks and waterfowl.
Hunting
Hunting is permitted in some areas of the monument, as well as the adjacent public land. The Caliente Mountain Trailhead is often used by hunters to access the public land from the monument. Common game to hunt includes deer and quail. Hunting is prohibited in designated campgrounds and campsites in addition to other developed areas at the monument. Visitors planning to hunt should check with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for hunting rules and regulations in the area.
Did you enjoy reading this guide? For more Central California adventures, explore our Los Padres National Forest guide and discover Montana de Oro State Park for coastal camping experiences.
