Backpacking with Kids: Montana de Oro State Park
The perfect starter backpacking trip for families: short hike in, ocean views and a trail shaded by beautiful eucalyptus trees.
March 18th, 2026
The perfect starter backpacking trip for families: short hike in, ocean views and a trail shaded by beautiful eucalyptus trees.
March 18th, 2026
If you've been thinking about getting into backpacking with your family but aren't sure where to start, Montana de Oro State Park near San Luis Obispo, CA might be the perfect place to take that first step.
This is a short, low-stakes trip that gives families a real backpacking experience without the pressure of a long or difficult hike in. It's the perfect practice trip: you can practice carrying packs and hiking in to camp, practice setting up and using gear, knowing that the car is a a quick hike away if you forget anything.
Montana de Oro has four environmental campsites, each a short walk (less than a mile) from their designated parking spots. You can book them online at reservecalifornia.com. Each site has a picnic table, a porta potty, and plenty of room to set up a tent.
We stayed at environmental campsite 1, but we'd actually recommend campsite 2 to anyone planning a trip. It has more shade and stunning views of Morro Rock. We were pretty jealous of the plentiful shade provided by eucalyptus trees at site 2 as we were backpacking on a sunny and unseasonably warm day and would definitely book that particular site for a return trip. Environmental campsites 3 and 4 are located deeper within the park and we have not personally hiked to those.
Our campsite was peaceful and beautiful. We watched lizards dart through the brush, spotted juncos, sparrows, woodpeckers and scrub jays, and ended each evening watching the sun set over the ocean.
Since the hike in is under a mile, this is a great trip to bring a few comfort items without stressing too much about pack weight — which makes it ideal for beginners.
The adults carried:
The kids carried their own packs too:
In the fall we found packs for the kids: one on marketplace and one in a thrift store in Grover Beach, and found that they fit the kids perfectly and have plenty of space for them to carry their own stuff. This short trip was great for ensuring that we had all the right gear and that the kids can easily carry their own essentials.
The short distance to camp means even young kids can handle the hike in without it feeling like a slog. The campsites are comfortable enough for first-timers but wild enough to feel like a real adventure. And the coastal setting — with ocean views, wildlife, and those magical sunsets — makes it genuinely memorable.
We'll definitely be back. If your family has been on the fence about backpacking, this is the trip to start with.