Serrano, near Fawnskin, California, is a fantastic spot for those looking to immerse themselves in nature while enjoying some modern comforts. The campground boasts spacious sites that provide a good amount of privacy, making it a great choice for families and groups wanting to relax without feeling cramped.

You'll find clean restrooms and well-maintained facilities, which visitors have praised for their upkeep. Many campers have noted the friendly staff who are always ready to help, whether it’s sharing tips about local wildlife or ensuring you’re cozy during chilly nights. As one camper mentioned, “The staff were friendly and helpful,” which really adds to the welcoming vibe here.

Serrano is just a stone's throw from Big Bear Lake, offering plenty of opportunities for hiking, biking, and exploring the stunning scenery. The campground features bike trails that wind through the area, perfect for those looking to pedal around and soak in the views. Plus, with the lake nearby, you can easily spend your days fishing or just enjoying the water.

While some campers have mentioned that weekends can get busy, the overall atmosphere remains relaxed and enjoyable. Whether you’re roasting marshmallows by the campfire or taking a stroll to the lake, Serrano is a solid choice for a memorable camping experience.

## Overview

 Serrano Campground is a beautiful place for campers to come to enjoy beautiful Big Bear Lake. It is a scenic and fairly modern campground that provides access to a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities.
## Recreation

 Visitors enjoy access to a number of hiking and mountain biking trails found within a short distance of the campground. The Alpine Pedal Path and the Cougar Crest Trail are nearby and provide access to the Pacific Crest Trail. The Big Bear Ranger Station is within a mile of the campground. Rangers can provide maps of the area and answer any questions about trails. Fishing and boating at Big Bear Lake are popular activities. The campground does not provide direct access to the lake, but a boat ramp is available about a mile away. Anglers can look forward to a possible catch of trout, bass, catfish, carp, bluegill and crappie, among others.
## Facilities

 The campground offers more than a hundred sites for tent and RV camping. A couple dozen sites provide full utility hookups for RVs and a dump station, with a $10 fee, is located within the campground. Each site is equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills. Firewood is available for purchase. Accessible flush toilets, showers and drinking water are provided. There is street parking available outside of the campground. 
## Natural Features

 The campground is located in the San Bernardino Mountains, within walking distance of the lake. Accessed by the Rim of the World Scenic Byway, the campground is situated in a mountainous, pine forest setting. Sagebrush grows alongside the paved roads. 
## Nearby Attractions

 The Big Bear Discovery Center is located across the street from the entrance of the campground. A visitor center, interpretive trails and educational programs are available, as well as accessible flush restroom facilities. 
## Contact Info

 For facility specific information, please call (909) 866-8550.
## Charges & Cancellations

 Rules & Reservation Policies As you make travel plans that include reservations on Recreation.gov, there are standard policies that apply to most locations of which you should be aware. Do keep in mind, however, that there are many exceptions, so it is best to review reservation information listed on individual facility pages for those policies and procedures that pertain to your specific locations. Any location or activity requiring a permit or lottery will have unique requirements and policies. Please check individual facility pages for pertinent information for those sites. Booking Window For most locations, you can reserve six months in advance of your stay for individual sites and 12 months in advance for group sites. There are some exceptions, so it is best to check with each facility. Change and Cancellation Policies and Fees Overnight and Day Use Facilities: To ensure fairness, reservation arrival or departure dates may not be changed beyond the booking window until 18 days after booking the reservation. Camping / Day Use: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation (including campsites, cabins, lookouts, group facilities, etc.). The $10.00 service fee will be deducted from the refund amount. You can cancel or change reservations through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Tours & Tickets: You may request changes to tour dates at no cost before the arrival date. If you cancel before your tour date, you may be eligible for a refund. Cancellation fees apply. Please check the tour facility description details page for cancellation policies. Permits: Varies by location. Please check the permit details for the permit location. Late Cancellations Overnight and Day Use Facilities: Late cancellations are those cancelled between 12:01 a.m. (Eastern) on the day before arrival and check out time on the day after arrival. Individual Campsites: If a customer cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival they will be charged a $10.00 service fee and will also forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a single night's reservation will forfeit the entire use fee but no cancellation fee will apply. Cabins / Lookouts: Customers will be charged a $10.00 cancellation fee and forfeit the first night's use fee if a cabin or lookout reservation is cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee. Group Facility: If a customer cancels a group overnight facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date they will be charged the $10.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's use fee. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee. Group Day Use Area: If a customer cancels a group day use facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date, they will forfeit the total day use fee with no service fee charge. No-Shows Camping / Day Use: A camping no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Reserved campsites and group overnight facilities will be held until check-out time on the day following your scheduled arrival. Group day-use facilities will be held until check-in time on your scheduled arrival date. If a customer does not arrive at the campground or group facility by check-out time the day after arrival or does not cancel the reservation by the times listed under \"Late Cancellations\" above, the customer may be assessed a $20.00 service fee and forfeit use fees. Tours: A tour or ticket no-show is one who does not cancel a ticket before arrival and does not arrive for the tour. Tour no-shows are not entitled to a refund. Refunds Customers must request refunds no later than 14 days after the scheduled departure date. Recreation.gov will not grant refund requests after 14 days of departure. Reservation Fee: For some facilities, tours or permits an additional reservation fee is charged. For some overnight and day-use facilities, an additional non-refundable reservation fee may apply. The non-refundable reservation fee for tours and tickets is $1.00. The non-refundable reservation fee for permits varies by location. Refunds for Bankcard Purchases: Refunds for bank card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank card. Refunds for Check or Cash Purchases: Refunds for Recreation.gov payments made by check or money order, and cash payments at selected campgrounds will be issued a check refund. A refund will be processed within 30 days of receipt and approval. Please Note: Refund requests made during or after departure can only be processed when approved by the facility management staff based upon local policy. Refunds for Emergency Closures: In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team will attempt to notify users and offer alternate dates (as appropriate). If this is not possible, reservations will be cancelled and all fees paid will be refunded. Reservation fees for free tickets are non-refundable in the event of an emergency closure. Recreation.gov Billing Information Reservation transaction will appear on customer's credit card statements as \"Recreation.gov 877-444-6777.\" Changes to Policies and Procedures Recreation.gov reserves the right, when necessary, to modify reservation policies. These policies were last updated July

Serrano

Big Bear Lake, CA is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Big Bear Lake camping trip.

Big Bear Lake

The Best Camping Near Big Bear Lake, California

The grounds are very pretty, and it's conveniently located a short walk from the lake by paved trail, plus near everything else Big Bear has to offer. These perks come at a price, though, and it was very busy and as a result, noisy. All the usual annoyances of car camping may rear their heads, and there's little separation from your neighbors so if you are unlucky you might suffer a little. This would be a stellar place in the off-season, but at any popular times the crowds pull it down to merely okay.

Good location, but busy

I love this campground! It's right across from  the Discovery Center in Big Bear, which is where a couple fun hiking trails begin. The campground itself is very clean. We were right by the restrooms, which was nice. Clean flush toilets and showers. Fire pit and picnic tables are at each site. We had a primitive site. I would definitely recommend this campground to others when staying in the Big Bear area. Great overall location and experience.

Very Clean, Great Location, The Best of Big Bear

 Very large campground with hook ups for RVs and primitive camping  only a short walk to the discovery Center or the lake.  Campsites are well-maintained and bathrooms are clean. We camped at the end of winter in our toy holler.   The inverter went out and I had no power unless the generator was running. Everyone around us was very understanding.   Wonderful place highly recommend !

Wonderful site! 

A great campground that is very close to the amenities of small town Big Bear Lake village / town.  The discovery center is very close which does tend to get busy during the summer months and on long weekends.  I had in my mind that the campsites would be closer to the water however it was not terrible.  I did not like my specific campsite however saw quite a few sites that I marked off in my mapbooks as locations to request (if available / applicable) A lot of sites in Ca are First-Come and are not reservable however you can save a space (or you could a couple years ago)  Very scenic- great hiking and trails.  Bring your bike.  Great for tenting. RV accessible as well.  Discovery Center is awesome and has a Jr Ranger Program as well. 

Sites are not the cleanest however its up to the campers to keep things clean.  While a site host is usually there it is quiet for the most part. Very enjoyable and would go again. NOT my favorite but it isnt bad.  Especially if you live in the Riverside area or Southern California and want to have a quick getaway to the local mountains for some outdoor reset time. 

Big Bear Lake Camping and Discovery

Great camp site.  Nice "big" spots so you don't feel like you’re on top of one another.  Only thing I wish is that the bathrooms were closer to the hookup spots.  I know most RVs have bathrooms but most pop ups don't and from space 58 to the nearest bathroom is a 1/4 mile walk.  Not horrible but at night when it's PITCH black it can be a bit scary!  Already marked on my calendar to look in July of next summer!  Clean facilities and great staff! We will be back for sure!  Oh and HUGE plus is that it’s totally dog friendly!  I got a camper so I could take my puppies with me on vacation so if dogs aren’t allowed I pass the campground up.  This one is so accepting and OMG there are dogs everywhere.  It’s awesome.  My 3 LOVED it!  Only thing they don't have is soap in the bathrooms so make sure you bring a container to take with you!!

Great campsite and Dog Friendly to boot!!

Love this campground and visit often - we usually stay in the summer wind loop - sites are very spacious but close proximity.  Bathrooms and showers are clean ... each site has a picnic table and fire ring ... great winter camping spot - hardly anyone there .. reservations are easy to come by

Great anytime of year camping spot

One of the best campgrounds I've ever been to. Well maintained, clean, and just beautiful! We had a double spot and it was very spacious which is what we were looking for because we had 5 kids, 4 dogs, and 7 adults.

Beautiful

The wife and I visited here in November and we still talk about it.  Mostly because of how cold it was at night, and how sick we got.  We weren't as prepared to deal with the lower temperatures as we are now.  With that being said, this was my only complaint for the 3 day trip.  Take note we stayed here in 2008.

First off, the showers on site were great.  I don't remember having to pay much of anything to use them.  The site itself was a dirt base with little grass.  The big plus was the pine needles laying around became very useful for building a fire.  There are also nearby water spigots for your water needs.  For the summertime there are plenty of trees in this campground.

As for the overall housekeeping of the campground, I don't think they can do much better.  This campsite is fairly well known and gets its fair share of people traffic year round.  The grounds aren't far from Big Bear or Fawnskin so you have options to go shopping or for a nice dinner at least once or twice.  In my opinion I think Subway will always be my favorite because it fills you up for quite a while. On the other hand, the sizzler in town isn't all that bad either.

The area offers some great hiking and views, but I think the lake tour was probably my favorite because of how many movie stars and celebrities have houses along the lake shore.

I believe anyone wanting to stay at Serrano will have a nice relaxing time, even if the fishing doesn't measure up when you want it to.  I never had any luck shore fishing FYI.

A slice of heaven

Loved staying here at serrano, it was our first visit. Stayed for two nights and had a great time. Lots of trees everywhere and each site has a huge picnic table and a fire ring. Bathrooms/showers are legit for a campground, but you have to bring your own soap to wash your hands. Our site was right by the bathrooms which was super convenient. There are bike trails, hiking trails and of course the lake is right there across from the campground. A cute little shop is 500 yards away where you can buy firewood, etc. The only negative part was the fact that some sites (like ours) were closer to the road so you could hear traffic during the day, but hardly any at night. Will definitely come back again and try another part of the grounds. Yay for camping.

Serrano has everything:)

Great clean campground. Flush toilets, clean restrooms, well stocked. Didn't use the showers. Good location. Close to Big Bear Lake. Not much road noise for being located between two roads. Access to Cougar Crest Trail is super easy and safely cross under the road via tunnel. Pokemon stops for the kids.

Trial run using the bed tent!

Another easy escape from LA. Boards on the roof and gear ready to rock. Serrano campground is my favorite at Big Bear with plenty of lake access. While not really walkable from at least our site, a two minute drive and youre at water's edge with paddle boards or lawn chairs. Town is also 10 minutes away so convinient to just stock up before you get to camp.

Can't Go Wrong With Big Bear

This is a state run campground. Plenty of loops. All under trees ( as far as we could see)

we managed to find a spot but they do take reservations and that’s your best bet. We chose the loop closest to the lake, just about a minute walk for a nice view.

Very shady.

Big campground 

I'd heard great things about Serrano, but had never camped there before. We were really looking forward to our quick escape to the mountains, especially as the weather in the suburbs had been really hot. It was a relatively easy drive. The sites don't really have much privacy, and you can easily see your neighbors, but it's still spacious. Some of the sites seem larger than others. We liked ours, but there were some shrubs. The shrubs helped with the privacy, but it also meant a LOT of squirrels. People must feed the squirrels because as soon as we sat down to have a snack or eat they were everywhere. Oh well, camping life. Aside from that, the site comes with a bear locker and fairly large picnic table. The bathrooms are kept pretty clean and there was easy access to water. I would definitely come back! It's nice to feel far away from home, but you're really not as it's just a two hour drive. You're also walking distance to the lake. You can always drive to pick-up forgotten items, food, ice, etc. if needed.

Quick escape close to home

This campsite is great. Me and my wife stay here a couple times a year and we also bring our grown kids and with our little grandkids.

Great place

Reasonably priced, clean beyond belief, spacious campsites, full amenities. This hands down a great place to stay!

One of the best we have stayed in

This is a very well run campground.  Cleanest bathrooms I've ever seen at a campsite.  The camp host was constantly cleaning and was very friendly.  Scenery is nice and you can walk to the lake in minutes.  They have firewood for sale so no need to bring any.  The only negative thing about this site is is next to a highway it kinda kills the peace and quit during the day but wasn't anything to let ruin your trip.

Cleanest Campground EVER!

I loved my stay at Serrano campground. The facilities were very clean and well supplied. My campsite #22 was very clean upon arrival with plenty of space. The picnic table was one of the nicest I have seen and there was even a bear storage locker.
Con: the back of the campsite was up against a fairly busy road so I could consistently hear cars passing by. It is rather pricey in terms of campgrounds. Yes clean facilities and great hosts, but for the price I figured showers would be included but $3 a pop.
Other that it was great!

Great campsite

We always stay in the Strawberry loop. Full hookups. Spaces are large with room for most class A's. Close to the lake. It is close to the road so you will get some road noise.

Good campground in Big Best

It was quite clean and fun. Took my son and his girlfriend with us a great place for families 

Great site that is dog friendly. It’s quiet considering how close the road was we were at spot #22 which was awkwardly close to the bathroom so if your sensitive to light I would skip that site. You get flashes from people walking to the bathroom all night. 

Super nice

We enjoyed this campground. It is a very big campground. We had site 101, which you can view on the map that I took a picture of. We really liked this spot. It was a very large site that had two relatively flat areas to pitch a tent. I would recommend not paying extra for the "lake view" sites as when we were walking around the campground and checking out the campsites, we personally did not think these lake view sites had any lakeview at all (as there is a path trail, a road, and a bunch of trees between the campsites and the lake). The bathrooms were clean and with flush toilets, but there is no soap so be prepared to pack your own. Showers are free to campers and do their job of getting you clean! Overall it was a good play to stay.

Overall Nice

This is quite the drive down a bumpy road on the far side of Big Bear Lake but worth it if you want to get away from people. We came for a long weekend(Sat, Sun, Mon) and come Sun afternoon it cleared out completely with the exception of a group of older men who got drunk and spent the day trying to get a drone out of a tall tree(unsuccessfully). There's some hiking around but even my apps had a hard time finding a true trail. In the end we just wandered. We went into"town" and went to the local thrift store and each picked up a book to bring back to the site and read since there was little else to do but lay in the hammock and relax. Nice and quite(with the exception of the drunk men)

OK but there are better campgrounds

This camp site is located walking distance to the lake. There are bike paths and walking trails located near the camp ground. The bathrooms are very well kept, everything is clean and the showers have warm water. Each camp site has more than enough room to set up tents and chairs and not feel cramped. My only ding about this campground would be the fire pits, which are 8 inches off the ground and the cooling grate is welding off to the side making inefficient to utilize for cooking. If you go during summer time there is a kayak rental shop walking distance from the camp grounds. 

Words can describe this awesome time

Located in Big Bear, CA.  50+ full hook-up RV sites among large forested area.  Take the main road up, easy drive.  Among my favorites.  Bring your dogs.

Peaceful and Beautiful

We loved camping here. Beautiful, pristine campground with bike trails/walking paths around the lake. The town is bike friendly.  Some road noise but quiet over night. Weather is perfect in August. 

Bring your bikes

Big government campground.  Big spots but it can be difficult to get reservations.  Lots of tent sites that cram way too many people in.  Close to the lake 

Standard 

Serrano has always been one of my favorite campgrounds, the facility is maintained very well, and the park host/staff are lovely. The sites are spacious and it’s always a good time when we visit. 

One of my fav campground

We stayed 3 nights in early May and just loved it. Weekends it looks pretty packed but we were lucky to start mid week. Staff is extremely friendly and facilities were the cleanest I’ve ever seen! Campsite was fairly large but we had a spot that wasn’t so private. Site 28. Must bring your bikes as there is an awesome bike trail through the campsite that reaches around the lake. 
Overall we loved it and will be back. Caution for other newbies to high elevation camping we had some
Issues with starting propane lighters and our heater. Nights are chilly in May still. We also had a strange helicopter our first night hovering over us at an odd hour but didn’t experience that the following 2 nights. 


Beautiful Campgrounds

Stayed here in August, a beautiful spot shaded by lots of trees, just a short walk or bike ride to the lake and observatory. Friendly staff.

Excellent spot

I really like this campground. It is well kept and clean. Away from town. But, an easy drive or bike ride to get there.

Really big campground

We just spent last weekend here at Serrano Campground. The staff were friendly and helpful. The place is well maintained and clean. Campsites have ample spaces in between there are a lot of flat places to pitch our tents. There are a mix of tent only, converted vans and trailers in loop but it doesn’t feel packed with visitors. The Lake was a 5-10 min walk from out site and we can see the lighthouse from the lake. Restrooms were clean although the showers were cold and does not heat up well. Will surely visit this site again. Its just 2 hours from home and that is one consideration we always look at when planning for a quick weekend with nature.

Cozy and close to home

We went camping right before the snow storm and it was pretty cold but still so amazing. The staff are very friendly and let us know about the coyote lurking about and the big freeze warning and made sure we were gonna be warm enough. We camped just a few steps away from the lake, there were other campers there but the campgrounds are far enough away from each other. They have very clean restrooms and I didn’t even know they had free showers there as well. We were super close to all the awesome hiking spots and off-roading exploring. If your into rock climbing there are a bunch of cool places there in Holcomb valley. 

Amazing spot 

Beautiful campground.  Clean restrooms and showers.  Nice spacious scenic sites.  Full hook ups.  Big Bear Lake near by, lake level appears to be receding.  Bears and coyotes in the area, recommended not to let small dogs or cats roam unattended.

Serrano  National Forest Campground 

We camped here the last weekend before they closed for the winter, after Thanksgiving. The campground was clean, quiet, and had a decent amount of space between sites.  There is a biking trail that goes through the campground that was well used.  Our sewer outlet was frozen in the morning, so we had to dump when we got out of the mountains.  100% would stay here again. 

Excellent camping near Big Bear Lake

We were in Serrano for 2 night past Memorial Day and it was wonderful. The campsites are clean, have clean bathrooms/shower access, and they sell firewood for $10. Town is only 10 minutes away for groceries and other necessities. There isn’t a lot of privacy and noise travels but past 10pm everyone quiets down. Would go again!

Photos of Serrano

Real photos from real campers