0
Pull-thru
NPSSanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area · California
Circle X Ranch Group Campground
Overview Circle X Ranch Group Campground is closed until further notice.
Sites1first-come
Elev.1,703ft
Comf.Jan-Dec12 months
Max rigtents
Electricnonesites
From Los Angeles1h09real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27
At 1,703 ft, Circle X Ranch Group Campground has a 12-month comfortable window (Jan-Dec). Winter nights average around 45°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. All 1 sites are first-come, first-served. No reservations, so arrive early. Within about 4 miles: 2 named hiking routes, 12 peaks, lake or river access.
The campground at a glance
01 · CHARACTER
Reads strongest on shade and quiet. Softest on reservability.
Six axes, each scored relative to every other federal campground in the region: quiet (miles to a major road), cool (elevation), roomy (average site spacing), shade, RV-fit (longest rig), and how reservable it is. All six come from data, nothing hand-tuned.
When to go
02 · CLIMATE
avg highavg lowfrost-freedriest · Jun
Jan-Dec
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
99%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
Feb 24
Last spring frost; first fall frost .
59°F
Average July low.
Getting there
03 · ACCESS
01
Los Angeles
52 mi
1h09
02
San Diego
183 mi
4h04
03
Fresno
244 mi
5h25
04
San Francisco
415 mi
9h13
05
Sacramento
442 mi
9h49
By drive time
Routed road time (OSRM). Nearest major highway 4.1 mi away.
Picking your site
04 · 1 SITES
0
Walk-in
0
50-amp
0
Accessible
0
Prime
1
Sites
What's within four miles
05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER
Trails & Peaks
Named hiking routes
2
Trail segments
308
Peaks
12
Viewpoints
4
Water & Access
Lake / river access
yes
To nearest major road
4.1 mi
Method
We synthesize public data layers: RIDB and Recreation.gov facility and site records, Open-Meteo climate normals, OpenStreetMap roads, trails, and water, OSRM drive times, and USGS elevation. We take no bookings, no ads, and no paid placements. Independence is the entire point.