RV Rentals: Discover Pinnacles National Park

Pinnacles National park can be the closest thing to heaven for rock climbers, hikers, and nature lovers. The Pinnacles is one of the youngest national parks in the USA, having achieved its National Park Status only on January 10, 2013. Located in the Gabilan range in west-central, the park is a geological feast for the eyes with its jutting volcanic spires, cliffs, and peaks. Pinnacles National Park offers over 300 rock climbs and 32 miles of jumbled rocks and caves trails.

There are many ways to explore the park, but RVing is one of the best ways to enjoy the park because you can explore the park and return to your RV’s comforts at the end of an exciting day. We’ll explore Pinnacles National Park, the exciting things you can do there, and recommended camping sites in and around the park. Let’s go explore!

This article will give you all the information you need to plan the perfect RV trip to Pinnacles National Park.

How do you get to Pinnacles National Park?

The park has a west and east entrance. Please note these entrances never meet, so make sure you choose which entry you want to go in before you go. 

 For the east entrance, go South on 1010 to Highway 25 to Hollister. Go south of Hollister and travel several miles until you see the sign for the turn to Pinnacle Park. You’ll see the campgrounds and the entrance station where you’ll pay the entrance fee.

Take Highway 101 South to the town of Soledad for the west entrance. Then, take Highway 146 East. The highway turns into a one-lane road, so take note of this and drive carefully. Follow Highway 146 until you reach Pinnacles National Park. 

When is the best time to visit Pinnacles National Park?

The park is open all year round, but the best time to visit Pinnacles National Park is February to early June. At this time, temperatures are mild, and the park is full of colorful and showy wildflowers. If you visit in the summer, bring a lot of water as the temperatures can go above 100 degrees. Park officials suggest you get a liter of water an hour if you go hiking. 

Things to know before you go

Make sure you know these things before you arrive at Pinnacles National Park.

• Entrance Fee

You need to pay an entrance fee depending on your vehicle:

• $30 per vehicle ( cars, trucks, RV)
• $25 per motorcycle
• $15 bicycle and walk-in fee

These passes are valid seven days after purchase and include everybody in the vehicle and motorcycle.

If you plan to visit the National Park often, you can get an annual pass for $55. Or, if you want to explore a few national parks, you can purchase an America the Beautiful Recreational Parks Pass for $80, which gives you access to over 2000 Federal government-managed parks.

• Pack insect repellent and sunscreen

Wear a hat, sunglasses and long sleeve shirts to protect against sunburn, especially when you go during the summer, and a bug repellent spray as mosquitos can be plentiful around Redwood trees. 

• Dogs

Dogs are allowed in the paved areas of the park, but they are not permitted on any hiking trail. The paved areas include parking, picnic, and camping grounds. The park also prohibits leaving your dog inside the vehicle alone, so make sure you have somebody with your dog when you do your activities.

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Things to do in Pinnacles National Park

If you love getting close to nature, Pinnacles National Park is paradise. Here are some activities you might be interested in.

Hike Bear Gulch Cave Trail and Bear Gulf Reservoir

The Bear Gulch cave trail is one of the most popular attractions in the Pinnacle national park. The path is 1.5 miles round trip and takes about two to three hours to hike. The cave is a great place to see bats. The Townsend’s big-eared bats call this cave home and 16 other bat species. The trail takes you on an immersive cave experience, and when you exit the cave, you hike up the scenic view of the Bear Gulch Reservoir that greets you.

The entire cave is open during the last weeks of March and October, and the lower section of the cave is available from April to May, July to September, and November to February. The cave is closed between Mid May and Mid July when the maternal bats raise their pups. You can click here to check the status of the cave before you go.  

Hike Condor Gulch and marvel at the park’s scenic peaks

If you want sweeping views of the park’s scenic peaks and a chance to catch a glimpse of the endangered California Condor, then a Hike to Condor Gulch should be on top of your list. The entire two-mile (return) hike takes about one to two hours. The Condor Gulch trail starts north of the Bear Gulch parking area.

Get the adrenaline rush by rock climbing

Pinnacle national park is a rock climber’s dream with over 300 climbs, most of them sport quality. The park’s moderate weather during the winter makes it a popular destination for people in the Bay Area. But the area is also infamous for its “less than granite quality rock.” 

There is seasonal closure for rock climbing because of raptor nesting. This closure usually runs from the day after Martin Luther King Day in mid-January to early summer. Be sure to check the Pinnacle National Park website for more information before you go climbing.

Experience being a park ranger through the park’s ranger programs

Be a ranger through the Park’s Ranger program. Ranger programs are usually on weekends and go until mid-December. All the park’s ranger programs are FREE. All you need to do is ask a park ranger or look at one of the Ranger Activity Boards outside the Pinnacles Visitor Center, Bear Gulch Nature Center, or the West Pinnacles Visitor Contact Station for the schedule. 

See the California Condors up close

If you want to see the endangered California condors in their natural habitat, Pinnacles National Park is the place to be. These majestic birds can weigh more than 20 pounds and have over 9 feet of wingspan. The best place to see a condor is in the High Peaks early morning or evening. High Peaks is accessible from either of the park’s entrances. Another spot for these birds is the ridge just southeast of the campground. The park has two spotting scopes in the campgrounds to help you get a closer look at these birds. 

RV Parks in and around the Pinnacles National Park

The best way to enjoy everything Pinnacles National Park offers is to visit it with your RV and come home to the comforts of home after a day of adventure. Here are some of the top RV parks in and around Pinnacles National Park you might want to try.

• Pinnacles Campground. The Pinnacles campground, located at the park’s East entrance, has 134 campgrounds with electric hookups (120 V and 20 amps) and dump stations. They even have a swimming pool, a rarity in National Parks. You needto make a reservation if you want to park your RV here in advance because they don’t allow a first come, first serve basis.

 

• Yanks RV Resort. If you want to go glamping while enjoying the natural beauty of Pinnacles National Park, park your RV at Yanks RV This upscale RV resort can accommodate all RV sizes, from motorhomes to tent trailers. They have full hookups, free wifi, and cable T.V. They even have a pool, spa, and fitness center. If you travel with your dogs, they have a pet wash and a fenced pet exercise park!

 

• San Benito RV Resort. This RV park is in the rolling hills south of Hollister, California. The San Benito RV Resorthas over 500 campgrounds with complete hookups. The entire campground has wifi, a children’s playground, and a mini-golf, and they even have planned activities, arts and crafts, and even Bingo. The campground is open all year round. You can call the toll-free number – 1-888-481.6348 for reservations. 

P.S. Rent an RV and commune with nature at Pinnacles National Park

Renting an RV is the best way to visit, explore and enjoy Pinnacles National Park. It’s convenient because it allows you to move around when you want, and it’s economical –– all while providing you with all the comforts of home. 

Rent an RV with RVnGO, be assured of the best prices, and be safe with 24/7 Roadside Assistance by coach net. You’ll also get up to $1 million in liability damage protection and $200,000 in damage protection to your rented RV

If this is your first time renting an RV, read How Much Does It Cost To Rent An RV In 2022? If you’re looking to rent an RV, you might find this article on How to Choose Between a Class A or Class RV helpful. Before you go, you might find this article on the Top 10 RV Safety Tips for Newbies a great read. Happy camping!

Be sure to read our Road Trip Packing Check List and Great Meals For Road Trips.

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