Camp Roberts

It’s almost majestic how run down this place is.

Dramatic improvements in living conditions and quality of life over the last couple of years — still quite a ways to go. It’s an austere place if you are looking to pogue out in the barracks.
What it is, is a great place for true military training. The ranges, air space, and maneuver areas are unequaled between Ft Irwin and Ft Lewis. Airspace management has been upgraded to 21^st century standards. A new high-​tech, instrumented urban training center is open for business. The links with Ft Hunter-​Liggett are better than ever, creating opportunities for large-​scale unit training.

In July of 2012 while my unit was getting ready to deploy to Afghanistan, SSG Finley who’d just returned from Afghanistan remarked «this place is worse than anything in Afghanistan». I’ve served in the national guard in 3 different states and this place by far is the worst of all.
Outside of the museum for civilians there’s not much positive about the place.
The MWR building isn’t bad, a small theater inside, a large screen t.v. for sports, some popcorn, a xbox and pool table plus a reading room and a place to barbeque outside.
The staff at the dining facility are courteous and do their best but the food varies from bad to slightly edible.
The weather is miserable, the ranges are in poor condition.
Plenty of coffee trucks in the morning.
The gym is okay but cramped, especially on busy weekends or when units are using it.
The barber shop is rarely open.
On the plus side there’s 2 computer rooms compared to none at Camp Blanding, FL (they have 1 in the RTI section that has no PM hours of operation) but several of the computers break down and you’ll be hard pressed to find one available if a unit marches over there and dominates the computers or holds a class.
The buildings are beginning to be renovated but it will be 2 years before they’re modernized. Scroll down below my review to see another review with photos for some examples of the condition of the buildings now.
Not including the WW2 buildings by hwy 101 that are prohibited from usage.
The PX is tiny and you won’t find much although they have some creature comforts (I never buy) and okay selection on boots and things like items to line your helmet which makes like more bearable training on Camp Roberts but as for non-​standard issue military items like stereos, you won’t find much other than liquor. The staff are friendly and there’s a spot by the register to leave mail if you send postcards and letters.
There is hunting allowed on the post during Turkey season and there’s some vinyards way out towards the southern dirt roads for civilians or veterans.
It’s amazing there’s so much history (General Patton, Navy Seals train here a lot and William Randolph Hearst to name a few) for such a crappy place, dead center between Los Angeles and San Francisco, 60 miles from the California coast.

You have to stop at Camp Roberts if you’re going by on Hwy. 101 on a Thursday or Saturday. They have the biggest Army-​theme museum in the western U.S. It’s not an «open post» but they let visitors come in as the museum is open to the public on those two days. The camp is the main training site for all of the Army National Guard soldiers in the entire state, and it was originally the Army’s largest replacement training center during World War II. A lot of stars were among the ¹⁄₁ million trained there during WWII, like Red Skelton (who spent all his Army time there), Robert Mitchum (drafted just as he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for «The Story of G.I. Joe»), Steve Allen (the originator of the Tonight Show had his first marriage in one of the chapels as a recruit), and many more. They have two big historic buildings full of exhibits, a video viewing room, a shady picnic area, and a whole lot of tanks and other other vehicles. Admission is free!

If you like to step back in time to WWII and see what the world was like when our brave men and women were called to defend the United States, you will not be disappointed. Do not be intimated by the guards at the gate. Simply tell them you are there to visit the Camp Roberts Museum and they will direct you to it. They have many wonderful displays, equipment and vehicles from all eras.

The post has a terrific museum! Camp Roberts was a mobilization site during WWII. The museum has tons of interesting artifacts. An amazing number of famous people from Hollywood visited to entertain the troops. Many of the photos will surprise you.

Never even heard of Camp Roberts until I came here for WAREX. It’s got some WWII barracks-​no exaggeration. Back in WWII they kept German and Italian POWs.
So the camp itself isn’t in the greatest shape. There are some condemned buildings and the post doesn’t get enough money to destroy those buildings. But the scenery is pretty nice. There are some really nice run routes here. Some hills, not too bad. The DFAC is run by contractors and the head cook is pretty serious about the food. I actually had mash potatoes with rosemary in it! It was pretty good for Army mash potatoes.
So what is really cool here. The museum. It’s only open on Tuesdays and Saturdays but you should really try to check it out. I was amazed at the history of Camp Roberts. There’s a lot of history here. And I mean a lot. This is how I knew about the German and Italian soldiers. Oh and all the vineyards in the area? It’s because enough of those Italian POWs loved it enough to stay here in the States.

How can you guys say its the best place ever and to make matters worse when it rains here be sure to have 4×4 on your vehicle or else your getting stuck in the mud. The buildings are old and im surprised they still have hot water in the showers. They have a px store for military service men and things are pricy which I don’t understand why. Shooting ranges are old and not a lot to look at. The only thing I enjoyed was if you are in the military you get to shoot for free.

Best place ever!!! Almost like Disneyland!

Secret backroad… to hwy 1 — what a fun journey

Its camp roberts the california army national guard equivalant of Auswictsh