Camp Three Campground, near Kernville, California, is a solid choice for those looking to immerse themselves in nature while enjoying the comforts of designated camping sites. With a mix of tent, RV, and glamping options, it caters to various camping styles, making it a versatile spot for families and friends alike.

The campground is known for its proximity to the Kern River, where visitors can take a quick stroll to enjoy swimming and relaxing by the water. Many campers rave about the beautiful mountain views and the chance to unwind under the stars, with one reviewer noting, “Every site has a beautiful view of the mountainside and the stars.” 

Facilities include picnic tables and fire pits, perfect for evening gatherings. While there are no showers and limited trash disposal, the well-maintained pit toilets and drinking water access help keep things manageable. Some campers appreciate the seclusion, as there’s no cell reception or WiFi, allowing for a true escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

For those seeking adventure, the surrounding Sequoia National Forest offers trails and climbing routes nearby. Just be mindful of the wildlife; a few campers have spotted rattlesnakes during the summer months. Whether you're looking to chill by the river or explore the great outdoors, Camp Three Campground has a little something for everyone.

## Overview

 Camp Three Campground is set amidst oak and locust trees at an elevation of 2,800 feet on the Upper Kern River, offering countless recreational opportunities for visitors.
## Recreation

 Hiking, fishing, kayaking and rafting are popular activities in the Upper Kern River area. 
## Natural Features

 The Sequoia National Forest, located at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada in central California, takes its name from the giant sequoia, the world's largest tree, which grows in more than 30 groves on the Forest's lower slopes. The Forest comprises about 1.1 million acres, and elevations range from about 1,000 to 12,000 feet, creating precipitous canyons and mountain streams with spectacular waterfalls, such as Salmon Creek Falls near Fairview and Grizzly Falls on the Kings River. Gray pines, scrub oaks, grass and dry climate shrubs cling to steep, canyon walls while cottonwoods and willows line the river's edge. 
## Nearby Attractions

 The Cannell Meadow National Recreation Trailhead is just north of Kernville. Day trips include the Sequoia National Park, Trail of a Hundred Giants, and numerous sequoia groves in the Sequoia National Monument. The Giant Sequoia Mercantile offers a wide variety of books, maps, gifts, local art, camping supplies and other merchandise. 
## Contact Info

 For facility specific information, please call (760) 376-1269.

Camp Three Campground

Kernville, CA is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Kernville is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. Find the best campgrounds near Kernville, CA. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.

Kernville

The Best Camping Near Kernville, California

I’ll definitely return later in the season.

Great campsite by tributary and main rivers.  We were in site 27 and the layout was very nice with the natural layout, fire pit, and picnic area.  The unfortunate part was were in a family of Skunk’s back yard.  It’s Skunk season when they teach their young.  No one was sprayed but they were clear that we were not welcome

Camp 3 is a good location if you can book it quickly outside of the Summer months. We usually always camp here in May and since that is right before Memorial day when the campgrounds all open for the season it is usually pretty nice to be able to be in a quiet spot to hit the river and far enough away from town to be barely out of cell service but still close enough to hit up the brewery when you want. 

  

There are pit toilets that are well maintained, the camp hosts work really hard to accommodate all people. This is one of the more covered campgrounds going up the river so if you want shade then this is the site for you. 

  

The River next to the campground is also easily accessed and great for all levels of play. 

  

There is group camping as well here. It is a bit more open and not as well shaded. There is also easy access to climbing routes on rock formations nearby and access to trails nearby.

Party Time

This was a first family camping trip, and we were happy with our site. It had plenty of shade, was large enough to fit our huge cabin tent and still have extra space, and was a 2 minute walk to the stream where there was a nice little walled off spot safe for children to swim in. We did not have anyone in the neighboring sites, but if we did we would have hardly noticed them. The only downside was the very poor air quality that is typical of Sequoia and Kings during the summer. The pollution was visible and had an unpleasant smell to it that lingered throughout the day. The worst part of that was it blocked any view of the stars we might have had at night, one of the main reasons we were looking forward to while camping. We may not return until it somehow improves, which is unfortunate because the site had just about everything we were looking for.

Excellent site, bad air quality.

This is a great primitive campground if you truly want to disconnect for a few days. No cell reception, no WiFi, there are restrooms but no showers. Take a 3 minute walk through the woods to get to Kern River and you have a little oasis away from it all. Bring everything you need with you. Currently no fires permitted. Great place to unplug and decompress.

Great Seclusion

Best sites are right next to the river. Spacious with a good amount of privacy depending on the site you get. Easy to float to if you go up river. Keep an eye out for rattlesnakes during the summer months Mx

Great campground.

While our first impressions were terrible (we did not love our originally reserved site - #33), once we moved to another available spot and started exploring, we ended up having the time of our lives. 

The campground itself left a lot to be desired (lots of trash, half the sites are extremely rocky / sandy with little shade, some sites have rotting or broken picnic benches and very little privacy, and there is only one place for trash upon exit), but every site has a beautiful view of the mountainside and the stars, and if you get one of the good sites along the river, you're a few steps from the best part during the summer: swimming in the Kern River. 

We stayed at site #29, where (like sites #25, #27, #28 &amp; #30), there were nice, flat, soft surfaces to pitch your tent under the trees just beyond where you park your vehicles for privacy and shade. From these gems, the river is just a short, 1 or 2 minute walk to the River. Though nice to be near the water spouts and bathrooms, we would not recommend sites (#3-19, #22, #24, #26) Further down the river, we noticed that sites opened up a bit more and had much more space and shade, AND that the river was a lot closer - all great for larger groups and especially those with children. If we were to come back, we'd probably choose site #47 which had two shaded, flat places right near the site and was only a few steps from the river - which had a nice shaded space for chairs along it. Only downside for being on the end is that you're next to the Day Use entry point from the road.

Photos of Camp Three Campground

Real photos from real campers