Mattole Campground | California
The Mattole Campground sits at the mouth of the Mattole River within the King Range National Conservation Area, offering one of the only low-cost coastal camping opportunities on California's north coast. The campground provides direct access to the Mattole River estuary and a short 600-foot trail through sand dunes leads to the beach. Wildlife viewing opportunities are excellent — elephant seals are commonly seen along the shore.
The campground serves as the northern trailhead of the renowned Lost Coast Trail, one of California's most spectacular coastal hiking routes. A 3.2-mile one-way hike from the campground leads to the historic Punta Gorda Lighthouse. Note that ocean swimming or wading is strongly discouraged — rip currents, sneaker waves, sudden drop-offs, and powerful surf make these waters extremely dangerous.
Hours and Seasons
Open year-round. All sites are first come, first served.
Features and Services
- Access and Parking:750 Lighthouse Road, Petrolia, CA 95558. Partially unpaved dirt road. Maximum trailer length is 24 feet. Two vehicles maximum per site. Day-use and trailhead parking available on site, with overflow parking also provided.
- Amenities: Each site includes a fire ring and picnic table. Bear-proof trash cans on site.
- Cell Service: Limited to none in the area.
- Toilets: Vault toilets on site.
- Drinking Water: No potable water available. Bring all water needed for your stay.
- Pets: Dogs allowed on leash only. Maintain a minimum of 100 feet from elephant seals at all times and keep dogs leashed near wildlife.
- Camping: 23 tent/trailer campsites, including two wheelchair-accessible sites and two equestrian sites. Maximum of eight people and two vehicles per site. Fee is $15 per site per night. Mattole features an onsite ROK (remote off grid) payment system that takes debit or credit cards.
- Nearby Amenities: The nearest services are in Petrolia, approximately 6 miles away. The town of Petrolia has a general store, open 9am -4:30pm with gasoline and diesel available CASH ONLY (atm onsite). They have bear cans available for rent. More complete services are available in Redway (approximately 1 hr 45 min via Wilder Ridge Road) and Eureka (approximately 2 hrs 20 min via South Fork/Honeydew exit).
Respect and Protect
The King Range coast is home to sensitive wildlife, including elephant seals that haul out along the beach. These animals are unpredictable and can become aggressive — always maintain at least 100 feet of distance and keep pets leashed. Stay out of the ocean; dangerous surf conditions make swimming unsafe. Please practice responsible outdoor ethics to ensure that future visitors can appreciate this remarkable site.
Accessibility Description (ABA/ADA)
View images of accessibility features in a new window.
This site has no cell phone reception.
There are 2 partly covered information kiosks with site maps and iron ranger fee-boxes, one near the entrance to the site and another farther west, toward the beach. The western kiosk sits on flatter, more even terrain and would likely be easier for wheelchair users to access. Rain can cause flooding near the kiosk closer to the entrance and in other areas within the campground.
A gravel road connects the entrance kiosk to 2 single-vault toilets. Due to erosion, there may be a lip between the road and the concrete pad the toilets sit on.
The campground is relatively flat but sand from the nearby dunes can blow onto the gravel loop and other parts of the site, posing a challenge to visitors using mobility devices. Campsites are on grass and dirt, with very uneven terrain in spots.
Of the 23 campsites, which can be used either for tent or trailer camping, campsites 21 and 22 are designated as accessible. These sites have picnic tables with extended ends to accommodate wheelchair users as well as standard fire rings with grill attachments. Because these sites are on natural surface with uneven ground and vegetation, they may present challenges to visitors using wheelchairs or other mobility devices.
Angled interpretive signs in the campground can be viewed from a sitting position.
Descriptions and photos uploaded October 2026. Please note that actual on-the-ground conditions may vary due to natural events (e.g., weather, wildfires, erosion), normal wear and tear, or site improvements.
Contact Us
Activities
Addresses
Geographic Coordinates
Directions
Location: North end of King Range at the beach. U.S. 101 at Garberville, South Fork/Honeydew, or Ferndale exits. Follow signs toward Petrolia, turn on Lighthouse Road toward ocean.
Fees
Use Fee: Camping - $15.00