Ventana Campground

I spent New Year’s at Ventana Campground, and it was an incredible experience! The campground is absolutely beautiful, surrounded by nature with a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. The entire area was super clean, and the bathrooms were well-maintained with warm showers—a huge plus for any camping trip! I loved how secluded it felt while still being conveniently close to nearby stores in case you need to grab any extra camping gear or supplies. Everything about the stay was smooth and enjoyable. I highly recommend Ventana Campground for anyone looking for a perfect escape into nature with all the comforts you need. Can’t wait to come back!

Here's the corrected and improved version of the review: I enjoyed a one-night camping trip here with my family, including my 6-year-old son. Overall, our experience was satisfactory, and everything went smoothly. The neighboring campers were quiet throughout the night, allowing us to sleep comfortably. The restroom facilities were clean and well-maintained. However, the shower situation was a bit challenging. One of the two shower booths had a broken shower head, while the other lacked hooks for hanging clothes while showering. As many reviews have mentioned, the campsites were somewhat close together. This may actually be beneficial for beginner campers, as having nearby neighbors provided a sense of security. The gated campsite also contributed to this feeling of safety. Access to water and trash bins was convenient. A small stream flowing through a side of the campsite was an excellent attraction for young children. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it still had water during the fall season. Despite the minor shower issues, I would consider returning to this campsite in the future. The overall experience was positive, making it a good option for family camping trips.

We had spot 49 & it was a little tricky to get to, but well worth the privacy up on a little hill. Clean bathrooms, hot showers, friendly staff - ice & firewood for sale. I had service the whole time, but my partner did not. Hit or miss, I guess. We will definitely be back!

We loved the camping experience here, and we were located on top of a creek and you can go in the water to wet your feet if you want. The sound of the creek at night was very relaxing. Although the site did say it was a hike in site(#1), it didn’t disclose it was a hike up and on the edge of a hill site where you had to sleep and walk on an incline constantly. We made it work but I fell and twisted my ankle on the last day while packing up. The restrooms were cleaned and disinfected daily and everyone was good about maintaining them clean. I loved that the showers were located within the restroom area and had hot water only you have to buy coins to use them ($2 each coin and 1 coin buys 5 minutes of water). For the high price of the site, the showers should be free but I get it. This helps with people not wasting water. All in all we loved our stay and will be back, although NOT to site 1 that’s up on a hill. We liked our neighbor’s site 2 instead :)

Campsite 6 is squeezed between sites 5, 7, and a parking lot. With four people, the space barely fit our two tents, and I ended up sleeping right next to the parking lot—easily my worst camping experience. That said, the customer service was excellent, and the bathrooms were clean.

We stayed in camp #48 for 2 nights in early July. Ventana was the only campground in the area with sites available same day. We drove to the South side of Big Sur early to attempt grabbing a spot at Kirk Creek but to no avail. We got cell service and found site #48 at Ventana seemed like a good location in terms of proximity to bathrooms and such. We booked online and checked in easily after making the drive up to the north side of Big Sur past the land slide. The price is steep for camping but the bathrooms are clean and the grounds are gated. You are provided with a gate code for reentry. Site #48 is on a hill and you will have walk through your neighbor's camp if those spots are taken unless you walk around on a steep narrow path directly up to your site. Unfortunately there was trash left in fire pits and in the campsites below us. Workers drove past the trash both days we were there which was disappointing, though it would be nice if people just cleaned up after themselves. For the convenience and location, we would stay again but it would be nice not to see any trash at all considering the nightly rate.

Terribly mismanaged and unhelpful. Stayed at the “glamping” tent spots at the top, woke up and the power was out across the all the tents. No power, not hot water, no showers, etc. We packed up to leave and MGE was blocking the road on the property and doing SCHEDULED PREVENTATIVE maintenance. We were trapped on the camp ground for over an hour and a half which ended up ruining our plans for the day. Ventana KNEW about the scheduled maintenance but never notified any of their guests about it. They wouldn’t even grant us a day pass at the resort spa so we could shower before leaving. The person I spoke with on the phone for the site was also useless and even said there weren’t any showers in the spa. Avoid this place.

This place is expensive and overhyped for what it is, but because we planned to camp during a holiday weekend, it was our only option. We were in site 50 which is a hike-in site up a steep path. If you’re even slightly out of shape, it will be a tough time. Also site 49 can opt to put their tent super close to 50, if they choose. Even though we only had one neighbor, we were practically on top of each other (see first pic). So Ventana Campground in general: -Pros: 1. only 2 hrs from SJ 2. decently clean bathrooms 3. verizon has service -Cons: 1. many campsites are too close together 2. someone played obnoxiously loud music (for hours!) that bothered most of the campers, but apparently it’s fine until 10 pm 3. aggressive squirrels (lock your food) 4. tight parking spots

Apart from I didn't sleep at all for 2 night straight, Ventana glamping is a once in a lifetime experience that one should try. But you might ask why 5 stars when you didn't sleep for 2 nights straight? Because it's my fault for watching too much horror movies & crime shows. Friday the 13th & glamping turn out do not mix well. For 2 night straight, we heard loud creaking and walking sound on our deck in the middle of the night, I was dead sure it was Nightstalker reincarnated to murder me in my sleep, but thankfully it was a giant skunk. Other than that, the glamping site is equipped with all the necessities to make us city folks still feel civilized while adventurous at the same time. Dog friendly Electricity (with power and usb outlets) Bathroom (clean) Shower (clean, with hair dryers) Sink with hot & cold water right outside of the tent Table lamps x2 Handheld lantern x2 (battery operated) Space heater and a fan Gas fireplace Wood fireplace (wood not include but you can buy it at the kiosk) Ice (available for purchase at the kiosk) Wi-Fi (very spotty) On location trails Next to Creek I think for me the only downside is the Airstream snack bar was not opened at all during our 3 days stay as I was quite looking forward to that. But there are plenty of option around Big Sur to grab a bite, or 2. Also make sure to book really ahead for glamping or check the website daily for cancellation. Enjoy Ventana Glamping and have fun exploring the magical Big Sur!

This review is for the Campground... Be prepared to have a CC for incidentals. Bring bills for showers or they will charge your CC. No quarters. Bring firewood also. They sell small bundle $14. If you have a chance to come in advance and scope out the site. I highly suggest! Some sites are hella small. Some sites have a pathway to another site. Some are hike in sites that go up. But something's I just don't understand. They were very adamant about only 1 car per campsite. Even though our campsite had 2 spots for our 1 campsite. We were going to follow the rules but the campsite next to us got there and they started to park their cars everywhere. We were told per website you can only have 2 tents per site. Another site had 6 tents. Also, only 5 people per site but people had 25 people deep. Tent campers could not use Glamping bathhouse. But we had no choice because "somebody" clogged the toilets & used all the TP to clog the toilets. Nobody made rounds to check on bathrooms. Sunday morning, we went to toss our garbage and they only had small cans. So, everybody started to pile their garbage around the outside. We had a great site. But for This being a HYATT property it was poorly run. Not to say I will be back. But maybe during the week when it's not so busy.

Had site 29. It was so small, the firepit was right next to the table. The ground wasn't even. The parking was on a steep hill and it was hard to bring your equipments. Ventana campground has been bought by Hyatt and made more campsites. It is way too expensive to camp here and it is too cramped. The parking spots were small and the campsites were small. Some sites were seriously right next to each other and you can hear your neighbor farting. It has skunks all over the place. The showers were $2 for 5min. We're never coming back here. The redwoods were nice but literally this campground is not worth going to. The map is not even accurate because it's just so small. Do yourself a favor and book elsewhere.

Review for camping (not glamping) Probably not worth the premium you pay to stay here. They have decent bathrooms, but no consistent hot water. Bathrooms have power outlets, which is great for charging phones or other devices. Camp site has good cell reception but no wifi. Camp sites are hit or miss. Some are very large with decent privacy, others are small and almost on top of each other. The redwoods provide a lot of shade, but on nice days the temperature at the camp sites is about 10 degrees cooler because no sun really gets through. The firewood bundles are not really worth it. For the same price ($14) you can get larger bundles from the surrounding businesses. Shower tokens are $2 a piece (good for 5 min) and you can add them to your credit card at the entrance kiosk or purchase at the bathroom machine, but the machine only accepts $10 or $1 bills. The airstream/drink kiosk was closed during our entire stay - the website states its open only during summer so maybe its not quite that time of year - but regardless, it was disappointing. Overall not worth the premium unless you cannot find space at any of the other nearby campgrounds.

Camped here on our way through exploring Big Sur. I felt the campsites are fairly close together for the cost. There are secluded sites available; they are all walk in. Though we would have to bring a smaller tent because they looked a lot smaller than others when we checked them out. We were at campsite 45 which was kind of centrally located so lots of people around on all sides and cars driving by through all day. Looking back, we should have gone with the secluded spot for the ambiance of being in nature. We were right down the hill from the bathrooms so that was a plus. The bathrooms were cleaned once a day and they were kept very clean. I appreciated the coin operated showers but hot water wasn't always guaranteed to arrive or stay on during your five minutes and we had some issues with tokens. We did have a headless rat fall out of a tree while we were eating breakfast. You can't rate nature poorly but geez I was worried one may land on the table next! It also appeared to get dark early due to the tree cover. Not a negative, just a note. The location in proximity to nearby hikes, businesses, and the Tesla charging station at the fancy place up the hill was great. The staff working at Ventana was very nice and helpful with knowledge of good eateries and whatnot in the area. There was phone service which was uncommon in the area! I would definitely return and stay here again to do some more hiking and exploring of the area but we will more carefully choose our location so we can relax.

This was our first experience at Ventana Campground in their glamping tents and it lived up to the expectations. We found a last minute booking and were able to get one night and unfortunately we were too slow to extend another night when a slot opened up. However, our experience that night lived up to expectations. Ventana is divided up between the resort up on the hill and the campgrounds down in the valley. The campground is then divided up between tent sites and glamping sites...which are further back in the campgrounds. Prior to Covid and prior to Ventana becoming an all-inclusive resort, glamping customers had access to the resort facilities, but post Covid they separated the two distinctive areas and limited access to just resort guests. That aside, the glamping sites are impressive. Each tent comes with a queen size bed with resort quality linens, down comforter and heater blanket with individual controls for each guest. The nightstands have outlets, a clock and lamp. Each tent is equipped with both a space heater and a fan. Outside on the deck, there are two adirondack chairs along with a sink that has both hot and cold water, along with a gas fire pit. In front of the tent is a traditional wood fire pit along with a picnic table. The glamping section of the campgrounds also have access to a bath house, which you can only access with your keycard. If you check in after hours, your keycard will be located at your site, otherwise you can check in at the airstream trailer which also has coffee and snacks. The bath house has showers that are equipped with the same amenities as the resort so that's a nice bonus. We got in after the airstream closed so went straight to the tent. It is hard to see where your spaces are, including where to park but once you got that settled, it's a pretty seamless experience. Overall, the glamping experience was fantastic. It met the high expectations that everyone has for this resort and I would definitely go again if the opportunity arises.

We were in the very last hike in campsite (T10) where you could not drive your car to the campsite. It was at least 200 - 300 ft up a steep incline to get to the site and you had to haul all your stuff up. We were aware of the distance not the steepest of the hill. But there was a bathroom halfway now the hill so that was good. Positives: - the campsite itself and the complete privacy was so so pretty, there was a little creek nearby - it was nice to have water, especially hot water right there at the site - the tent was very nice, clean, the outlets were a great treat - check in was easy Negatives: - the bed frame was not connected to the headboard correctly, therefore, the bed made a loud creaking sound every time you move - one side of the electric blanket didn't work - no Airstream snack/bar, was told "no bartender" - no BBQ restaurant was "under renovation" - when texting the staff, they were not very helpful - no Wi-Fi for the whole time, told staff, nothing done - the trash cans should be the ones that have a tight lid, not a swing lid, we had a visitor, a skunk (who was there a while) - if you want firewood, you have to go to the kiosk (all the way in the front), why can't they drive it to you in their golf carts (you are paying $250 a night) We made the best of it. But for $500 for two nights and the reputation of Ventana Big Sur, it was a HUGE disappointment!!

We booked our stay 6months prior and ended up during the rainstorms and it really impacted our stay as the electricity for the glamping tents were out for a majority of our stay. Check-in was easy. You receive a text on instructions for the gate code and there is a list at the entrance of the assigned the glamping tents. The glamping tent was clean, but without electricity it was cold and condensation built up during the night so we slept with damp blankets. The beds are also so soft that I woke up with debilitating back pain for the first time in my life that lasted for a fee days. The little snack/coffee trailer was closed the entire time so we went to Bug Sur bakery instead. The restroom trailer was located a few yards away and was mostly clean. Also, without electricity we'd use the restroom with minimal light from the lanterns provided. Overall, it was an experience. Nice for checking off the list but will either to do tent camping during the dry season or stay at a resort. For the nightly rate, the glamp sites are not worth it. Luckily, we were reimbursed for a portion due to the inconveniences we had to endure. The staff was nice and tried to be accommodating as possible.

The campgrounds are right on top of one another. No one polices their policies at night. People were partying until 1am and shining lights everywhere making it impossible to sleep. If you want a relaxing camping experience I wouldn't recommend this campground.

this campgroung is a scam!! be careful!! they charge couple hundred $ fines when you leave the campground!! i did nothing wrong and when i check my credit card they charged extra without letting me know for anything ! never ever stay here. there are tons of campgrounds much better than here.

Woke up to jackhammering at 9 am. They couldn't wait until checkout at 11? Closest shower had one jammed and not working cause of the tokens and the other locked from the inside. The locks need to be changed so they don't Stay locked all night when someone locks from the inside or you need to have someone on site to unlock and unjam the showers. Definitely not staying here again. Overpriced and the closest shower require a Lot of walking.

The campground was beautiful, conveniently located close to town, had cell phone reception, and had clean bathrooms and showers! The check-in process was easy and the ice and foreword being sold at the front was convenient. The reason I took off one star is because many of the campsites were "hike-in", which I didn't fully realize until I got there. My campsite (site 1) was up some stairs/hill, so I had to trek up and down to set up camp and get anything from my car. It made taking my ice chest to my site too complicated so I left it in my car. Overall it was fine, but I feel like they could have communicated a little better about the hiking/hailing situation before-hand. I would definitely come back, just a little more prepared to haul stuff into the campground.

Our second glamping experience and we aure enjoyed it ! The glamping site are spreaded out far enough so you can ensure privacy with accessible bathroom even a bathhouse! Our glampking site was gorgeous within the redwoods and a small rubbing stream just love the stream water flowing and it's not too loud! Heated mattress , hot running water and lattern you can use! On down side was the bathhouse water stream for the shower toke awhile to get warm and so slow Otherwise for the price in big sur so worth a visit

We booked our last camping trip of 2021 here at Ventana Campgrounds and it was amazing. Yes, $80 for tent camping is a bit much, but Ventana and the location itself offers a gated entrance with a front check-in (campers get a code to enter in case no one there), well-kept bathhouses with coin operated showers, nearby local shops, and a quiet oasis surrounded by beautiful redwood trees. Our camp site was #18. It's smaller than most, but it was perfect for just two people. It's a few minutes away from the bathhouse and the air stream (closed for the season?). If you decide to go with #18, be advised that your car will be parked next to the camp site (not in front like others), and you're gonna see lots of headlights at night when people are driving by. Want a more secluded camping experience? Try to pick out some camp sites that you can hike into! I've seen some that are located on top of a hill that overlook the others down below. We spent most of the day hiking around Big Sur, but I assume there's little sunlight peeking through the trees throughout the day. It gets super chilly at night, so make sure to bring a huge jacket or well-insulated sleeping bag! Also, shout out to the campers having a blast karaoking to pop hits such as Adele, Taylor Swift, and One Direction! Overall, Ventana is a very nice campground and staff was more than helpful during our stay. Only downside was that the camp sites are pretty close to each other. Definitely recommend it, though!

We camped at Ventana years ago and loved it, then it suddenly shutdown after Sean Parkers ridiculously extravagant movie-set wedding at the campground (later fined 2.5M by the Coastal Commission). It reopened years later with much of the campground converted to an overpriced glamping experience (it seems much of that was done without permits). The campsites they do have are overpriced, cramped and do not allow campervans, tents only, no thanks. Go to the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Parkd just $35 a night, not $80!

simply an amazing experience glamping at Ventana. All of the creature comforts you would need while camping...and you're still camping! Idyllic location and close to everything in Big Sur.

This was a wonderful spot! The campsite in general isn't a far drive from any of the parks or stores. There's also reception here so that's a nice perk for when you have some downtime. I stayed at site 5 and it's nice and tucked away, you walk down a little hill from where your car is parked and it's nice and separated. This site is right by the river and it's very serene. It was a short walk to the bath house and the walk to the airstream is not bad either. The airstream set up is super cute and is a cute addition. The only reason this doesn't have a full 5 stars is bc the bathroom doors for the showers would lock and idk if there was no maintenance person the weekend I went but then there were no available showers. And it took an hour to get someone to come and unlock the doors for us -oof. The machine for shower tokens only takes $1s and $10s and there's no change on site so be prepared for that! But other than that I was super satisfied with my stay and I would definitely go back.

I've been to Big Sur several times but never actually camped since I lived close enough in Monterey. Took a two day trip recently and stayed at this site- It is expensive for tent camping, but you get a quiet and clean oasis. The grounds were very well kept as were the restrooms. Check-in was easy. I was provided an access code that opened the gates. The little airstream selling snacks and goods was a cute touch.No fires currently given its fire season in Ca. We stayed in a "walk in" site which I would highly recommend. We had more privacy and were away from the road. Enjoyed the easy access to many of the local eateries and trails- although some were still closed, the campsite is very well situated.

I had such a GREAT experience doing glamping at this location. I usually rough it out and do regular camping but this was such a great experience now that I have an adult job and can afford it. I do not think I will ever camp any other way. The check in and out was extremely seamless. The bed was extremely comfortable and I do not regret one moment! It was nice to have hot water, be able to shower and have a communal toilet. This camp site will also have people who are doing regular camping also which is nice. I appreciate how there was a hammock, picnic table and a fire place! The booking was hard to book, I must've gotten lucky because someone must've cancelled. So I do recommend booking at least 6 months ahead of time especially for the glamping section.

Beautiful clean sites, clean restrooms, friendly customer service and showers. We stayed at the hike in sites 28, 27. They were clustered with 26. All three are great for a group. Now on the map it showed were were close to a shower house and the airstream/ mobile bathrooms and we were. But they were not open. The bathhouse closest to us is only for "glampers" (canvas tents). The airstream was closed and so are the mobile bathrooms. When I called Ventana from the site they said "the airstream/ mobile bathrooms has been closed for a while and they don't know when it will be open". I feel that is a HUGE DISCLAIMER that was not disclosed and solely for that I take the one star away but all in all beautiful site and great experience here. Very quiet all day. Best campgrounds to get away and relax.

We scheduled a week long camping trip to this campground; our first return trip since the big '08 fire closed it. The sites are not as spacious as they used to be and more traditional in their layout. James at The SurStream was VERY HELPFUL going above and beyond dealing with some yahoos making noise late at night.

This is a great go-to camping location within Big Sur. Usually has great availability, and easy for camping newbies (those who like the idea of flush toilets and showers). Beware that the showers don't have consistent hot water. Sites are spaced closely, so all the campfires create quite a smoky environment especially since the campground is covered with a canopy of trees. I usually have headaches when I stay here.

PLEASE READ BEFORE STAYING Horrible customer service Some if not all Camping spots are far and you have to carry all your camping gear. This is not specified on the site. Bathrooms were not clean or sanitized A Ventana worker knocked on window at 1:30 in the morning to ask whose car that is. Woke my baby up. NO PRIVACY Reserved for 4 days but only stayed for 2 because of this. DO NOT RECOMMEND

Campsites are very tight, on a slope, without much room to have your tent in a flat or non sloped area. It is Dry camping which we were aware of, however, water is far from most campsites and you better be prepared with extra batteries and chargers. You should also be prepared to bring firewood from elsewhere. There, firewood costs $10 and but it's the size of a lunch box. You can purchase 4x the size at Safeway before driving there for $20. Showers... it's a joke, first day it didn't work, we spent lots on money in the shower hoping for water, and nothing. We complained they credited our account for that cost. Next morning same thing, no water in the showers again... one positive thing to say, The place is beautiful!

Overpriced. Most of the spots are right on top of each other. Plus there's trash everywhere. Parking is a nightmare, everyone seemed to have 2 cars but there is only 1 parking spot per campsite so people will just park wherever. Site 10 is basically at the end of a cul de sac of camps. You walk your stuff in and there's campers all around you. Bathroom was dirty and smelly. This is the first campsite I've been to where people litter. The positive is that there's cell service, overpriced ice and wood at the check in station and cafes, restaurants and a gas station within a 5 minute drive. The check in guy was nice but everywhere we went everyone was pretty rude. Overall, overpriced and you're better off getting a site at a state park but those fill up fast. You basically pay to be able to find a spot

My family and I love camping but since I'm pregnant I'm not able to rough it out like I usually do. So my husband thought glamping would do for now. Love this resort! It's so relaxing and peaceful. Bathrooms and showers are really nice and clean. We were able to have campfires using the wood fire ring as well the propane fire pit on the deck during this fire season. I highly recommend this resort if you're looking to just relax and decompress. We are definitely thinking about coming back to spend my birthday weekend here since we really enjoyed our stay.

This place is gorgeous, right away you can tell from the nice water fountain at the entrance to the lush trees overhead throughout the grounds. You can still see the stars above at night and get protection from the hot sun in the morning. I felt there was plenty of privacy even with all the surrounding camp sights being full. Staff was very friendly, and wood + ice was convenient to buy on site. Didn't get try out the seasonal snack bar but it's a perk! Showers don't have consistent hot water though, just throwing it out there. On that note shoutout to cleaning staff, they made the bathroom spotless when they're finished with it. Best of all it's nearby some creeks and Pfeiffer Beach. 10/10!! I'd definitely go back here.

This place was really nice. Camps were a little too close. Camp 15 was were we stayed and camp 4 behind it fire ring was about 10-12 feet away. The path to camp 14 was through camp 15 and less than 3 feet from the back of our tent. The shower house and restrooms were great. Always clean and always extremely hot. Firewood is a bit pricey so I suggest checking off sight. Very close to lots and lots of nothing but that's why you go there. Lots of hiking and amazing views.

We had an incredible time at Ventana Campgrounds! We booked # 55 & #53 and brought our family of 3 plus our dog and another family of 5. We had kids (2, 6, 10, 14). I highly recommend these two sites. The area 53/55 the map is very family friendly. You are 2 minutes from the restroom & steps away from the water station. We arrived at 3pm to check if we're able to check in early and we're really happy they let us in an hour early. I do think checking in at 4 is too late. The sun sets at 5! Setting up camp took about 1 hour and by that time it was dark and dinner got started. Each site had a picnic table with a round fire pit & cooking grate. I do recommend bringing a couple trash bags to clean up after yourself. We set up camp surrounded by redwoods it was peaceful and quiet. If you have slack line style hammocks there is plenty of trees to set them up on. We were please with how close the river was to us we loved the sound of the flowing water at night. After dinner we did a walk of the campground and I truly believe the first couple sites are the best. Everything up the grove was crowded and felt less secluded. 16, 17, 18 were the other sites we would consider. We walked up to the yurts and they were cute if we didn't have kids with us we would do a night in the yurt! Once it was night time we did notice a lot of people arrived late so we were happy to be settled and unpacked. Someone's car alarm did go off at 2 pm and when we woke up at 7 we did breakfast and packed up! We wish we had enough time to hike because they have hikes within the campground. We're already planning coming back and doing a full weekend. We had a great time!

Unfortunately we only stayed for one night at the Ventana . Camping spot #26 was amazing . The camp host Ana checked us in at the gate and was so nice . The guy at the Airstream cafe was great as well ( I didn't catch his name ) . The facilities are clean . I only wish we stayed longer ! What a beautiful quiet spot, totally worth the fee. The glamping spots looked amazing as well .

3.5 Stars. I think the Yelp consensus hit the nail on the head with this place. I haven't been camping since I was a kid but those experiences were way different. Here, you are not secluded and have access to toilets and showers. You are under Redwoods and the night stars are beautiful. There is a great deal of convenience here and access to local stores and even burgers. There is a nice firepit that makes making S'mores super easy. There are no bears and you are relatively safe. The area is beautiful. You are also in sight of other campers and cars in every direction which takes away from what camping was when I was a kid. There is a street in eye sight with people walking by and kids playing. On three sides of us I could see other campers (probably about 50ft to 100ft away). It was quiet at night. That is good but also there were no forest sounds either. The best part for me was the redwoods. The worst was the constant fire pit/smoke smell from all the other campers including at night. Overall, I am almost a fan.

They advertise cancellation with no penalty so long as you do so within 72 hours prior to arrival, but they make it impossible for you to contact them in order to cancel. The number on their website leads to a recorded message with no opportunity to speak to a representative or leave a message for them. I called the number listed on Yelp multiple times and at various times of the day, but it rings with no answer and leads to a message telling you not to leave a voicemail because they don't listen or respond to them. One of the numbers listed on their email receipt is disconnected. The emergency number on their email receipt is actually the number for Ventana Big Sur Hotel, and multiple representatives there let me know that Ventana Campground is not affiliated with the hotel so they could not process my cancellation. I also got no reply when I tried contacting them via the email they listed on their receipt. This business seems very sketchy.

An absolutely stunning campground! The amenities are clean, the campsites are pretty private and quiet. I loved that there was a propane powered fire pit as well as a standard camping fire pit included with the luxury tent. As a fire novice myself, it was so nice to just flip on the propane fire and sit back. The only issue that we had was the bathroom trailer across from our campsite started overflowing on our last night and the entire area smelled of sewage... they sent someone to fix the bathroom but it wasn't fully resolved by the time we left the next morning.

The area is beautiful but the showers were "out of "tokens" for 3 days.... So no one could shower......... be prepared to possibly pay $80 a night for a plot of dirt with no shower service

Beautiful private campground in the Redwoods featuring dog-friendly tent cabins. The ultimate Big Sur "glamping" experience! The tent is made of a heavy canvas and was surprisingly spacious inside with all the amenities of a hotel room; comfortable mattress and plush towels, plugs for charging your electronics, and a rustic copper sink complete with vanity mirror on the deck. It's truly unbelievable and oh so photogenic! I have to be honest-- it wasn't exactly spider-proof, but that's the nature of well... nature. There are plenty of wooded walking paths to explore throughout the property. Firewood bundles, bottled cocktails, and snacks were available for purchase at the Airstream trailer on site -- a little pricey, but for the convenience and friendly service it was worthwhile. Loved our stay -- So happy my French Bulldog was able to maintain his usual luxurious lifestyle while connecting with nature!

Ah, the great outdoors! Some of us don't get enough r&r in nature and it shows. The therapeutic values of sleeping outside under a blanket of stars, a creek whispering in your ear as the moon glows through a net of branches can take a bad month and make life great again. Since I'm new to camping, I needed to go in slow. High on the priority list was a bathroom. Some girls are fine stripping down in the woods, but I needed the ease of a toilet. Ventana campground definitely provided that, along with a shower and a bar with picnic table and food if you didn't bring your own. I assume that was more for the glamping tents available. But if you and your camping posse are newbies like me, it's nice that there is food and drink readily available fo purchase. Ventana just remodeled their campsite, so you get the luxury of a bathroom, shower, and bar, but you sacrifice any sense of privacy. The sites are practically sitting on top of each other so if you're with your family for some wholesome fun and your neighbors are rowdy kids you're probably not going to have the greatest experience. Lucky for us, our camping neighbors were a couple our age and we had a nice time together along with our dog who was welcome to roam into their designated space. The site itself is gorgeous. The trees loom overhead providing shade to the grounds, yet have pockets of light for warmth. Some areas sit on small hills surrounding the grounds. A creek runs through the bulk of Ventana, along with deer who peek their cute heads out once some people pack up and leave. We were perfectly cozy in the cool temperature. Our Kodiak Canvas tent fit a queen size frame, dog bed, and space to stand up and move around. It also has pockets to store your belongings off the ground. Although it never rained, the canvas material is all weather which means it will keep you dry despite weather conditions. This is great for us, since I love camping now and don't want to wait for summer just to spend some quality time with mother nature. Another must-have for camping comfort is the Exped Megamat. The mat is like the tempurpedic mattress of camping pads. Don't be fooled by its thin appearance. It was so easy to fall asleep on I'd suggest using it at home for guests if you don't have an extra bedroom. It's ten times cozier than a couch and offers much more support than an air mattress. Plus, it rolls up nice and compact and is stored right in its bag with carry strap. Super easy. Now some of you are just fine slapping your bed on the floor of the tent, but me, I'm bougie. The less bugs or dirt I see in my sleeping space, the happier I'll be. The KingCamp Camping cot acted as a bed frame for Exped Megamat, and also provided extra space in the tent for our duffle bags which conveniently slid underneath the bed. You do get a little dipping action in the middle, but I much preferred this over sleeping on the floor and thinking about bugs crawling on me Last, but certainly not least, came the two person sleeping bag. The TETON Sports Queen Size Sleeping bag is perfect for two people to stay warm and cozy. The poly-flannel lining felt like hot cocoa on a snow day. Its convenient construction enables you to unzip both sides and use it as a blanket or keep the sides closed to wrap yourself into a tortilla. The added padding keeps out cold drafts so you sleep comfortable all night. The bed itself was so inviting it was hard to believe camping could be so comfortable. All in all, camping in Ventana was an excellent experience for a first timer like me. Despite the lack of privacy, I was super comfortable knowing there were bathrooms, showers, and a snack bar close by. Our gear is so incredible I'm looking forward to exploring more adventurous camping areas where we can be alone and howl at the moon as loud as we want. Thanks to this wonderful experience, I have quickly become the girl who will drop trou in the woods!

Lots of modern day conveniences at this campground if you're planning a visit to Big Sur. This one was a whopping $40 per night! However, it was convenient since we were still able to book only 1.5 months in advance, having planned a last minute get away. You're paying for the convenience of being near restaurants and eateries, having AT&T cell phone reception, showers, and security guards who make frequent rounds in a golf cart. Showers utilize the token system and I believe it was like $2 for 5 minutes. We had exchanged our cash with a machine in front of the bath house. Sites are very small ; we could fit one 5 person tent for the 3 of us and it probably would have been a challenge to fit others. They are also not very secluded and most are located right near the road where the annoying guy in the golf carts makes his frequent rounds. I did like how the campground was amongst a dense clustering of Redwood trees. Pfeiffer Beach was nearby and the campground itself was very centrally located. Maybe 20 minutes north of Julia Pfeiffer Burns (Mcway Falls and Ewoldsen Trail), 40 minutes north of Limekiln (best to hit up on the way back South of that's where you're heading), and ~1 hour South of the Bixby Creek Bridge.

We spent a night Glamping at Ventana to celebrate my birthday. This is amazing and worth it!! Well thought out with real bed, warming blanket, campfire and s'mores. Toilets are located in a trailer which really flush. Bathhouses have hairdryers! A welcome basket included real s'mores. There is food for sale in the airstream and coffee in the welcome. Staff are oriented to putting each guests needs as a priority. We had noisy glampers nearby and when we reported noise, security came by right away. Thanks for a wonderful birthday, Bentana

Beautiful spot to camp. However there are only two showers in the entire place. (Which they charge to turn on the shower) To make things worse, the water stop working with no ranger on site nor away to call maintenance. Go elsewhere.

The campground setting is beautiful and nestled in the redwoods. The sites are a little close together, but I think that is to be expected for a front country campground in a popular area. I would have given 4 stars since I did enjoy my stay, but a few things knocked it down to three. For $85 a night I expect to arrive at a clean campsite...especially when they have a 5 hour gap between check out and check in. When we got to our site it was littered with orange peels, bits of plastic, wrappers and poop (dog I hope). Also, for that price it is annoying to pay for showers. I get that you want to limit water use, but there has to be a better way to do it. Lack of a dishwashing station at the bathrooms makes it difficult to clean up after dinner and it means that the area around the campground taps are littered with bits of soggy rotting food. The bathroom tending also left a bit to be desired and a hook in, or outside the showers would be great. Overall we had a good time at ventana. It's peaceful and pretty and I would stay there again if there wasn't anything else available in the area.

Family and I just camped this past weekend and it was amazing! So beautiful and close to many trails with cute restaurants around Big Sur. It being March, it does get really cold at night so bring a really good sleeping bag and something to get you off the ground. It even rained the first night and it wasn't muddy or anything the next day. You will be under all the trees so expect a lot of shade and barely any sunlight (perfect for summer heat). They have a cute airstream with beer, wine, firewood, ice, etc. but those bathrooms close around 8:30. There are two bathhouses, it's just a longer walk at night which was okay for us! We stayed at site 35 & 36 which is right by the creek which was super nice. We brought 4 tents (two 2-person, one 4-person, and one 8-person) and we still had so much room on both sites! Fire pits have grates over them so you can grill easily and there are showers for $2 every 5 minutes. Get there early to set up because all the trees block the sky from daylight coming in, it's dark by 5:30/6:00. We also brought our 5 month old puppy and she loved it, just watch out for ticks and make sure your pup has its proper vaccines & preventatives. Amazing spot, definitely coming back again later this year!

Far above average for drive up tent camping facilities in California. Of course it will cost you more we paid $80/ night for a campsite in peak season. That said the bathrooms were cleaner and better equipped than state parks. They had some phone charging stations in picnic areas throughout the site. And we were surrounded by beautiful redwoods. I would be careful about some campsites on the side of the hill that have a really steep approach such as 19/20. We had 20 reserved but my 2 and 4 year girls could not make it up the hill on their own. Fortunately ended up sharing another site with some friends nearby.

This was my first time ever glamping/camping as an adult. It was a wonderful experience. The tent and bed was very comfortable. The bathroom and bathhouse was also very clean and meets the requirements of a 5 star luxury campsite. But this review is mainly for Whitney and Kathy?(I don't remember her name, but remember she's from Claremont!) they were both very welcoming and warm and was able to make the experience much more pleasant.

We stayed at Site 1 at the Ventana campground. It's a hike-in site and the furthest in, so be prepared to haul your gear, but the spot we had was one of the most beautiful campsites we've ever stayed at (and we go camping a lot). Sites 2-5 are closer to the drop off area and looked pretty nice as well. From what we saw, the rest of the sites on the campground are very close together so I wouldn't recommend those. Definitely book a hike-in site, it's well worth the extra effort! The staff is really friendly and the bathrooms are really clean. You have to pay for the showers but it was $2-3 for 5 minutes. Firewood is outrageously expensive - $11 a bundle, so bring your own if you can. The only reason I'm docking a star for this site is because the campground's water tank is next to Site 1. At first it was barely noticeable, but it started to kick up during the night. Apparently the local firefighters were pulling water from the campground to battle the forest fires nearby, so I'd assume this isn't a regularly occurrence, but after a while the sound became soothing, like white noise. Right behind this water tank is a narrow and beautiful hike deep into the mountains. Definitely check it out. All in all, I would recommend this campground, especially site #1.

stayed here last weekend and have no complaints. Hike in site #51 was perfect for 2 people and it sits on a ledge above the campground. it's only 50 steps to the site and you park right below. most of other sites are positioned right next to your neighbors so if you want privacy with no neighbors then these are perfect. it's also close to the exit gate and bathroom so you don't have to drive thru the entire park. I saw another site #41 that looks good too. not too close to neighbors and sits right on the creek. bathrooms are very clean and private (lock door after entering)

Nice campground by the creek. Not all campground r awesome. But I would jus say i love that there is wifi and restroom n shower is always clean. Shower is 2 dollars for 2 min n it only takes dollar bills. I would highly say we camp right next to site #6 n that was smallest campsite ever!!! Campsite #6 and 7 are shared campsite. Its sooo small they might as well jus make it one campsite. My recommendation is dont book #6 campsite or youll regret it lol

Honestly, this is probably a 3 star to 4 star as it pertains to just camping in tents; which is what I did. I arrive later and there is no staff for check in. Again, I camp frequently so this is not necessarily an outlier but I've read some of the reviews and can see how this can be problematic. The main lodge is closed (Covid I'm assuming) and there is a kiosk in the middle of the campground where you can buy food and amenities. I ask what time they would close so I can come back and get wood and ice for tonight. She was a bit rude but the guy in front of me was causing some problems so I assumed it was that. Fast forward to later that day, I return to get some wood and ice. The kiosk is closed (I arrived in time) and there was no one to be found. At the same time I had a "restroom emergency" to attend to and so I parked my car on the side of the road and ran to the restroom. Parking spots are reserved and I didn't want to take anyone's spot just in case. I get out and this same lady is waiting in front of my car. Now note: the younger man was VERY professional and VERY personable. The owner, however, was Satan incarnate. She begins yelling at me and berating me. She first exclaims that I'm in front of someone's campsite (no one was there, I literally parked next to the garbage bin) and I'm ruining her patrons experience. I again repeat I had an emergency and she interrupts me. Then she starts talking to me like I'm a child. Now, I know you can't see my face, but I'm black. Talking to black adults like they're children is historically racist. And if you're one of those people "why did you bring race into it?": it's because I have multiple degrees and worked very hard to get rid of the stereotypes racism has depicted of my people and I'm angered when those stereotypes are still applied after all my hard work. Now maybe she isn't racist, but that just means she treats everyone like s#*t. Then she asks me where I'm staying. I tell her where I'm staying and she points at my face and tells me "I'll check". Like I'm lying now? Then she begins to walk away as I ask her about the wood and ice and she yells, "you can get it somewhere else". Then points to the bathroom and again yells, "everyone drives up there, there is a trail". Then drives off. The trail is small and there are people walking on it to the bathroom (at night). Because of the heightened risk of injury I thought it best to just make the dash to the restroom on foot. I'm a guest here and I didn't know all the rules and how would I know the rules and regulations when you haven't posted them anywhere nor was there anyone who checked us in?

Quiet and you'll be lulled to sleep with the sound of the stream. It is close to all the attractions in Big Sur!

Such a pretty property! I loved all the trees around! One of the things I was a bit disappointed was that the airstream was closed the days we stayed there. And I got a lot of different answers when I called and inquired on it. Also the smoke house was closed! Boo hoo we stayed on campground #2 and the lot in on a small hill, so the bench was slanted. Just so you know if you get this campground. Made it hard to cook. The restrooms were clean. So that's a big plus.