Ballinger Campground

in Los Padres National Forest

The numbers that decide it

Longest rig
70 ft
Sites
13
Electric hookups
Not published
Pull-through sites
Yes
Paved access
No
Accessible sites
Not published
Driveway grade
Moderate
Bear boxes
Not published
Campfires
Yes
Shade
Not published
Group sites
Not published

Site-level detail from Recreation.gov, checked 2026-08-05. Where a field says “not published”, the agency has not published it — it does not mean zero. See it on Recreation.gov

Ballinger Campground

Badlands terrain - All Terrain Vehicle and motorcycle use area. There are 13 campsites. 9 sites are available on the reservation system. 3 campsites are on a first-come, first- serve basis. In campgrounds and picnic areas, dogs mst be kept on a leash. Dogs must wear a collar with current tags at all times, as state and county laws apply on National Forest System lands.

Before you go

Season

January – December

Reservations

Reservations accepted

Fees

This site is managed by the Parks Management Company (PMC) for the Forest Service. $30/night for camping, $10 per extra vehicle per night. Day use fee (within the campground) is $10 per vehicle.

Hours

Check-in time: 3:00pm, check-out time: 12:00 noon, Quiet Hours: 10:00pm – 6:00am

Restrictions

Spark arrestors and Off-highway vehicle registration required (green sticker or red sticker required). Red sticker open riding dates October 1 - April 30 .

Make it a night on a better road

Byway plans the drive in — real stops, real weather, nothing invented.