Accessible via paved road, Paradise Cove provides lakeside camping on Lake Isabella with sites accommodating RVs up to 40 feet. The Forest Service campground operates year-round at $36-$38 per night, with reservations available through the standard booking system. Water and sewer hookups serve RV campers, while tent sites spread across the relatively flat terrain sloping toward the water.
Sites sit directly on the lakeshore, allowing campers to drive up and set up within steps of the water. The open layout offers little shade, with some sites receiving full sun by afternoon. Wind frequently picks up across the lake, requiring secure guy lines and tent stakes. Mandi R. found "clean bathrooms and clean shower house here" during an off-season visit when campground hosts provided area maps.
The campground fills during peak season, reducing privacy between sites. A hotel and saloon operate across the road, providing dining options but also potential noise. Morning brings bird calls, while road traffic remains audible given the easy access location. Campers can explore campgrounds near Sequoia National Forest throughout the broader region.
For those preferring more secluded settings, South Fork Recreation Site sits less than a mile northwest with a different atmosphere.
Description
Overview
Paradise Cove Campground sits near Lake Isabella in the beautiful Sequoia National Forest. The 11,000-acre lake marks the division between the Upper and Lower Kern Rivers.
Recreation
This year-round campground is near Lake Isabella, one of California's largest reservoirs. Water activities such as swimming, water skiing and wind surfing are popular. The lake is known for trout fishing during the colder months. Other species include black and white crappie, bluegill, catfish and largemouth bass.
Facilities
The campground has 46 sites that are divided into two sections. The upper section has back-in camp sites, and the lower section has side-by-side parking. All camp sites have a view of the lake.
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 and Grizzly Falls.
Nearby Attractions
The campground provides a great base for day trips to the Trail of a Hundred Giants and numerous Sequoia groves in the Giant Sequoia National Monument. You cannot access Sequoia National Park with a day trip. 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.
RV Road Trip Guides
Location
Public CampgroundParadise Cove is located in California
Directions
From Bakersfield, California, take Highway 178 east to the town of Lake Isabella. Staying on 178 east, travel approximately 3 miles to Paradise Cove Campground.
Coordinates
35.649569 N
118.42702 W
Connectivity
T-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoors
T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 21 usersLast on 4/27/26
VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 6 usersLast on 4/27/26- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 11/14/25
Connectivity
T-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoors- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 21 usersLast on 4/27/26
- VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 6 usersLast on 4/27/26
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 11/14/25
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Sewer Hookups
- Water Hookups
- Big Rig Friendly
Drive Time
- 53 min from Bakersfield, CA
- 1 hr 51 min from Visalia, CA
- 1 hr 59 min from Hanford, CA
- 2 hrs 21 min from Fresno, CA
