Montaña de Oro State Park

A comfy campout with 2 to 5 mile hikes
Driving to and sleeping at a campground
Ideal for first-timers

Tidepooling and climbing Valencia Peak in Montaña de Oro State Park

Tidepooling and climbing Valencia Peak in Montaña de Oro State Park

Tidepooling and climbing Valencia Peak in Montaña de Oro State Park

Tidepooling and climbing Valencia Peak in Montaña de Oro State Park

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Last updated
July 31, 2024

Trip · 3-day camping trip

For · Families and new campers

Vibe · Relaxing and chill

Reservations · Reserve a site at Islay Creek Campground

Drive · 3.5 hours from LA

Ideal dates · April to June (for wildflowers!)

Pets · Welcome at camp and Spooner’s Cove beach, but not on other beaches and trails

Montaña de Oro State Park is a stunning 8,000+ acre escape along the Pacific Ocean. It boasts seven miles of coastline, which is mostly covered by an ancient rock called Miguelito Shale. For real: these rock formations are about 5 to 6 million years old. Find cool stones and a sliver of serenity at Montaña de Oro.

Official State Park Website

Directions to Campground

Main image credit: Sean Crane Photography

Stuff to know

  • Montaña de Oro State Park is only 12 miles south of Morro Bay State Park. Both parks are known for their spectacular views and unique tectonic landscapes
  • Pack layers! The weather can shift from warm to cold quickly and the park has a more moderate climate, it can be up to 30 degrees cooler than inland in the summers.
  • The park is only 12 miles southwest of Morro Bay
  • The park is the largest state park in California with 8,000 acres and 7 miles of beach
  • Wildlife in the park includes black-tailed deer, bobcats, raccoons, California quail, black oystercatchers, and much more!

Resources

Check the weather
Montaña de Oro State Park

Where to camp

Islay Creek Campground

Each campsite comes with a:

  • Picnic table
  • Fire pit
  • Space for up to 8 people
  • Two parking spots
  • Food storage locker
  • Restrooms (on-site)
  • Drinking water (on-site)

Islay Creek Campground has 50 reservable campsites in the summer and 25 spots during the winter (the rest are first-come, first-served). The campsites are well spaced out so you can have your own nook near the coast. You're only a short walk away from the ocean so reserve a spot as early as you can.

Check-in: After 2 PM · Check-out: Noon

Nightly Rate: $25

Image credit: Trey Duffy

Islay Creek Campground
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Itinerary

Day One

Credit: Sea Pines Golf Resort

Leave LA by 8 AM and grab lunch at Cool Cat Cafe in San Luis Obispo

  • This 50’s themed diner has a kid’s menu and food that’ll please the pickiest of eaters.
  • Located at 3165 Broad St in San Luis Obispo
  • Open Everyday but Sundays · 11 AM to 8:30 PM
  • Last pit stop · Shell - 995 Los Osos Valley Road in Los Osos
  • Nearest grocery store · Grocery Outlet - 1130 Los Osos Valley Road in Baywood-Los Osos

Check in and settle in at Islay Creek Campground

  • Set up camp, wander around the campground, and relax

Walk to Spooner's Cove

  • It only takes a few minutes to walk to Spooner's Cove beach from camp
  • Change into a swimsuit, shorts, and sandals
  • Make sure you’ve got your beach gear, sunscreen, snacks, and plenty of water to keep everyone happy
  • Check the tide schedule to see the tide pools and explore the caves in low tides
  • Soak up the views and explore the tidepools near Islay Creek
  • Watch the sunset

Cook up dinner and s'mores

  • Prep dinner, desert, and enjoy an evening relaxing and stargazing around the campfire
  • For a break from traditional s’mores, we recommend trying campfire brown bears!
  • For enjoying a night around the fire, we recommend these camp chairs and camp blankets
Montaña de Oro translates to "Mountains of Gold" in Spanish, inspired by the golden wildflowers that bloom in the spring.

Day Two

Montaña de Oro State Park. Credit: Imgur

Make brekkie and make your way to Hazard Reef Trail to explore some tide pools

  • This easy 0.7 mile out and back trail takes you down to Hazard Reef where you’ll find tidepools to explore
  • Pack a daypack with snacks, a towel, sunscreen, sunhat, swimsuit, bug spray, and drinking water. You’ll want to make sure you’re prepared to get wet while you explore the tide pools.

Enjoy lunch back at the camp

Spend the afternoon hiking the Reservoir Flats Loop

  • This easy 2.7-mile loop trail goes through the Inlay Creek Campground
  • Its name can be misleading as there is no longer a reservoir on the trail, but you can see the historic remnants of one
  • You can see wildflowers blooming along the trail depending on the time of year
  • Be sure to bring plenty of water to keep everyone hydrated and happy! We recommend 1L per adult and 0.5L per kiddo.

Return to camp and chill

  • Clean up, prep a delicious meal, and warm up with your favorite hot chocolate
  • If you’re looking for an easy meal, try this one pot taco skillet!
  • Cozy up next to the campfire, roast up s'mores and soak up your last night in Montaña de Oro State Park
For at least nine thousand years, the Chumash and Salinan people inhabited the San Luis Obispo county coastline, which includes the state park. These people were the original inhabitants of the land, and had a special connection to it, living in harmony with nature and respecting its resources. We can learn a lot from this way of life and respect for nature.

Day Three

Credit: Explore More Nature

Pack up and check out before noon

  • Cook up brekkie, clean up around camp, and throw away any random pieces of litter

Head home!

Montaña de Oro State Park has at least a dozen marine terraces, which are formed by waves eroding the coastline over time, eventually creating a marine platform at the base of a sea cliff.
June 1, 2024

Bewilder at LAist Super-Fun Saturday

Make wildflower seed bombs with Bezzi the Yeti at LAist's Super Fun Saturday

Event in 2 days

Bewilder Basecamp: Spooky Wonders

Join Bezzi the Yeti on her first spooky camping adventure!

Shop curated gear

Everything your family needs for a fun and easy campout

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Bezzi's Pick
$399.95

NEMO 4-person Aurora Highrise Tent

This colorful tent can fit 4 to 6 people, and is easy to set up and pack out!

Bezzi's Pick
$249.95

NEMO Stargaze Reclining Camp Chair

Lean back, and we mean all the way back, in this luxurious camp chair. You'll never want to sit up.

Bezzi's Pick
$249.95

NEMO Roamer Self-Inflating Mattress

These are the cushiest sleeping pads we've tried! They come in Extra Wide and Double (for extra cuddles).

Bezzi's Pick
$99.95

Big Mo Toddler Sleeping Bag

A sleeping bag that's designed for toddlers from ages 18-36 months.

Bezzi's Pick
$139.95

Big Mo 20° Down Kids Sleeping Bag

A sleeping bag designed for kiddos age 2-4 years old

Bezzi's Pick
$42

First Peak All-Season Sweatshirt

A cozy sweatshirt for ages 6 months to 4T designed for outdoor exploration.

Bezzi's Pick
$38

First Peak Flannel

A durable and soft flannel shirt that's kid-sized from 6 months to 4T

Bezzi's Pick
$59.95

NEMO Fillo Luxury Camping Pillow

Bring your own or splurge on this pillow that's designed for outdoor fun.

Bezzi's Pick
$100

GCI Outdoor Slim Fold Cook Station

Picnic tables don't always cut it for cooking outside. This one is easy to use and has plenty of counter space.

Bezzi's Pick
$89.99

Coleman Pack-Away Cot

Elevate your sleep system (literally) with this heavy-ish but easy to set up cot.

Bezzi's Pick
$69.95

Kelty Lowdown Chair

It's sturdy, reliable, well-designed, and a tad pricier than most camp chairs, but it'll last for awhile.

Bezzi's Pick
$189.99

Camp Chef Everest 2 Burner Stove

A popular and reliable dual-burner camp stove that stays hot in windy conditions.

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Meal & snack ideas

It turns out everything tastes better when we're outside

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Dinner

Ham and cheese campfire sandwiches

Bezzi's Pick
Dinner

Moroccan apple beef stew

Bezzi's Pick
Breakfast

Apple sweet potato hash

Bezzi's Pick
Breakfast

Banana coconut french toast

Vegan

Bezzi's Pick
Lunch

Chicken soba noodle salad

Bezzi's Pick
Breakfast

Apple maple sausage sandwiches

Bezzi's Pick
Dinner

Chicken pad thai

Bezzi's Pick
Breakfast

Frittata

Gluten Free · Vegetarian

Bezzi's Pick
Dinner

Baked sweet potatoes and chili

Vegetarian

Bezzi's Pick
Breakfast

Huevos rancheros verdes

Vegetarian

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Dessert

Banana boats

Gluten Free · Vegetarian

Bezzi's Pick
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Scrambled eggs n' bacon

Gluten Free

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