8
Pull-thru
USFSLos Padres National Forest · California
Wheeler Gorge
Overview Wheeler Gorge Campground is a great place for families to explore the Los Padres National Forest all year long.
Sites8963 reservable
Elev.1,827ft
Comf.Jan-Dec12 months
Max rig45 ft8 pull-thru
Electricnonesites
From Los Angeles1h56real 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 1,827 ft, Wheeler Gorge has a 12-month comfortable window (Jan-Dec). Winter nights average around 38°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. 89 sites total: 63 reservable and 26 first-come, first-served. Of the sites, 8 pull-through, and the longest takes a 45-ft rig. Within about 4 miles: 3 peaks, lake or river access.
The campground at a glance
01 · CHARACTER
Reads strongest on reservability and shade. Softest on quiet.
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 · Jul
Jan-Dec
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
99%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
Mar 21
Last spring frost; first fall frost Nov 25.
63°F
Average July low.
Getting there
03 · ACCESS
01
Los Angeles
87 mi
1h56
02
Fresno
203 mi
4h31
03
San Diego
226 mi
5h01
04
San Francisco
371 mi
8h15
05
Sacramento
399 mi
8h52
By drive time
Routed road time (OSRM). Nearest major highway 0 mi away.
Picking your site
04 · 89 SITES
Color byShow only
67 mapped sites · dot color = seclusion · click a dot for details. Basemap © OpenStreetMap.
0
Walk-in
0
50-amp
4
Accessible
0
Prime
89
Sites
★ The standout
Site 035
WHEE · shaded.
To neighbor
143 ft
Max rig
20 ft
Type
Standard
What's within four miles
05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER
Trails & Peaks
Trail segments
46
Peaks
3
Viewpoints
8
Water & Access
Lake / river access
yes
To nearest major road
0 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.