Looking for a peaceful escape near San Luis Obispo? If so, look no further than Santa Margarita Lake. Located around 18 miles west of San Luis Obispo and maintained by San Luis Obispo County Parks, Santa Margarita Lake (also known as Salinas Reservoir) was built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (COA) in 1941 to provide water for those at Camp San Luis Obispo. The lake is relatively small with a capacity of around 23,843 acre feet and it provides the city of San Luis Obispo with a portion of its drinking water. Because of this, no human contact is allowed at the lake, including swimming.
Despite this, the lake is a beloved part of the local community due to the various recreational and nature exploration opportunities that are on offer. You are allowed to go on the lake in boats and fish in it, and its flat waters makes it a popular place to go rowing. Around the lake there are thousands of acres of designated open space that include scattered forested areas containing oak trees and grey pines. This nature lovers retreat is also welcome to hikers, bicyclists and equestrians to explore all year round. While you are in the area we also recommend you check out what else there is to do in the beautiful San Louis Obispo area.
Despite its relatively small size you have a few different options for RV camping at Santa Margarita Lake. There is a primitive campground at the lake that has 60 sites available to reserve up to one year in advance. If you are looking for something a little more fancy there is also the Santa Margarita KOA located only a short distance from the lake. Here you will be able to camp in a little luxury with full hookups available. Want to go camping but don't have an RV? There are many available in and around San Luis Obispo for you to enjoy.
Santa Margarita Lake is located in a very easy to reach area of California thanks to its close location to the city of San Luis Obispo. The lake is accessible multiple different ways, most commonly from either San Luis Obispo or north around Atascadero.
If you are coming from San Luis Obispo you will take the 101 North until you reach the town of Santa Margarita where you will turn off W Ponzo Road. This will then lead you to the turnoff to the park entrance. From Atascadero simply take the 101 South and until you reach the town of Santa Margarita where you will turn off W Ponzo Road. This will then lead you to the turnoff to the park entrance.
Since the lake is a relatively short drive from these areas you will have no trouble finding any supplies or amenities that you would need to enjoy your visit to the lake. If you are looking for bigger cities you are around 116 miles from Santa Barbara and 130 miles from Bakersfield.
The roads inside the park are mostly of the dirt variety and are known to not be in the best condition. Because of this we recommend that you drive slowly and pay attention to any potholes as they may be deeper than they appear. Also be wary of dust that can be kicked up from oncoming vehicles.
There is plenty of parking at Santa Margarita Lake.
Another option for those looking for RV camping near Santa Margarita Lake is the Santa Margarita KOA Campground. Located on the road into the lake, Santa Margarita KOA is a great campground to choose if you are looking for a few more luxuries. There are 25 RV friendly sites for you to choose from that include the options of full hookup sites that offer either 30 or 50 amp electrical connections.
Along with having full hookup sites the campground also has some great amenities, including a group fire pit, dumpster, restrooms, laundry facilities, disc golf, basketball hoop, pool, jumping pillow, horseshoe pit and a dump station. Pets are also allowed but must be kept on a leash.
Reservations for the Santa Margarita KOA Campground are available online with check in being at 1PM and check out at 3PM. For more information, head to their website.
Osprey Campground is the smaller of the two RV friendly campgrounds within the Santa Margarita Lake area. The campground is located right on the edge of the lake so you will have some awesome lakeside views if you choose to stay here.
Within Osprey Campground, you will find 10 RV sites that are all primitive with no connections available. Other amenities at Santa Margarita Lake include coin-operated shower facilities, toilets, picnic tables, BBQs and fire pits. Pets are also allowed but they must be leashed and attended to at all times. You should be able to get cell phone reception on all of the major networks but there is no WiFi available.
Reservations at Osprey Campground can be made up to a year in advance and can be done so here. We recommend that you do grab a reservation so that you are guaranteed to have a spot to stay when you arrive.
Grey Pine Campground is the largest of the two RV friendly campgrounds within the Santa Margarita Lake area. The campground is located on a hillside near the entrance to the park and is only a short distance from the lake. This is a massive plus as it means you can walk to the lake easily without having to drive or move your RV.
Within Grey Pine Campground you will find 24 RV sites that are all primitive with no connections available. Other amenities at Santa Margarita Lake include coin-operated shower facilities, toilets, picnic tables, BBQs and fire pits. Pets are also allowed but they must be leashed and attended to at all times. You should be able to get cell phone reception on all of the major networks but there is no WiFi available.
Reservations at Grey Pine Campground can be made up to a year in advance and can be done so here. We recommend that you do grab a reservation so that you are guaranteed to have a spot to stay when you arrive.
If you are looking for more adventuring opportunities near Santa Margarita Lake be sure to check out Montaña de Oro State Park. The park is located right on the beach to the west of San Luis Obispo and is the perfect place to soak in some salt air. There are many activities to do at Montaña de Oro State Park, including fishing, surfing, geocaching and taking guided tours of the park. It can also be a great spot to spend the night if you are after a beachside camping experience.
The spring time is a fantastic time of year for going for a picnic at Santa Margarita Lake. There are plenty of individual picnic sites available that have shade and ample seating. Throughout the park there are other great amenities that will make your picnic even better, including large barbecues, water collection points and restrooms. If you have a large group you can reserve the White Oak Group Day Use Area up to a year in advance to ensure that you will have a place for you friends or family.
Once the harsh Californian sun starts to back off there are plenty of great hiking trails that you can check out. The trails are a great way to further explore the nature area surrounding the lake and some even feature breath-taking views of the lake and surrounding mountains. If you do decide to go hiking remember to bring enough water with you to last your trip and hike with a buddy so that if anything goes wrong you can look after each other.
There are no public transport options that will take you to Santa Margarita Lake.
While you can't swim in the lake you will be pleased to know that there is a a public swimming pool that's open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day Monday that you are welcome to enjoy. The pool is a great place to relax and and can even be rented out for private events if you want to hold a large gathering at the lake. The pool is available to use free of charge but if you aren't camping you will have to pay the vehicle park entrance fee when you arrive.
Along with boating the other most popular activity at the lake is to throw out a line and try catch a big one. The freshwater lake is a great fishing spot and you have the option to fish from the shoreline or from a boat. There are many different species of fish that reside in the lake, including striped bass, largemouth bass, rainbow trout, bluegill and crappie. Make sure you bring your own fishing gear or rent some before you get to the lake as there are no rentals available once you arrive.
One of the most popular activities for visitors and locals alike is to go boating on the lake. The peaceful waters of the lake are perfect for beginner boaters or those who are just looking to chill out and relax on the water. There are no motorboats allowed on the lake due to it being part of the drinking water supply to the city of San Luis Obispo. Please note that there are no boat rentals available so if you don't have one we recommend renting one in the city before you reach the lake.
