Tillie Creek sits at 3,000 feet elevation along Lake Isabella's shoreline in Sequoia National Forest, managed by the US Forest Service year-round. The campground accommodates RVs up to 40 feet with water and sewer hookups at sites, plus provides vault toilets, picnic tables, and allows campfires when fire restrictions permit. Recent campers note inconsistent site assignment practices and maintenance issues on the secondary loop beyond site 75, where road conditions can challenge vehicle access.
The creek runs through the area during certain seasons, offering cooling opportunities when lake temperatures climb. A fish cleaning station operates near the water access point. For campers wanting more developed facilities, Live Oak North Campground provides an alternative just 0.1 miles northwest.
Description
Overview
Tillie Creek campground is nestled in oak trees on the shores of Lake Isabella, a popular destination for water activities, especially windsurfing and fishing. The 11,000-acre lake is actually a reservoir, one of California's largest, and it marks the division between the Upper Kern and Lower Kern Rivers.
Recreation
Lake activities are the focal point of this campground. Options include swimming, water skiing and windsurfing. The lake is known for trout fishing during the colder months. Lake Isabella offers anglers a variety of species, including black and White crappie, bluegill, catfish and largemouth bass.
Facilities
This campground can accommodate family reunions and other large parties, from 60 up to 150 guests. The campground is located 6 miles from the town of Lake Isabella. One group area is wheelchair accessible. A marina and boat ramps are available just to the south. Other facilities include a fish cleaning station and a playground.
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 good base for day trips to the Sequoia National Park, Trail of a Hundred Giants, and numerous Sequoia groves in the Giant Sequoia National Monument.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (760) 376-1269.
Warning 2 Alerts are In Effect
There are 2 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!
Warning 2 Alerts are In Effect
There are 2 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!
- To protect natural resources and provide for public safety, the following acts are prohibited below 5,000 feet in elevation within the Sequoia National Forest.1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, except in the designated Campfire Areas listed in Exhibits A, B or C. C.F.R. 261.52(a).2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building or within the areas listed in Exhibits A, B or C. 36 C.F.R. 261.52(d).3. Operating an internal combustion engine, except on a designated National Forest System road, trail, or within the areas listed in Exhibits A, B or C. 36 C.F.R. 261.52(g).4. Welding, or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame, except within the areas listed in Exhibits A, B or C. Alert Start Date: June 10, 2026 Alert End Date: November 30, 2026
Fire Restrictions**Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 551 and 36 C.F.R. 261.50(a), and to protect natural resources and provide for public safety, the following acts are prohibited within the Sequoia National Forest. This Order is effective from August 11, 2026, through November 30, 2026.**1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, except in the designated Campfire Areas listed in Exhibits A or B. 36 C.F.R. 261.52(a).2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building or within the areas listed in Exhibits A or B. 36 C.F.R. 261.52(d).3. Operating an internal combustion engine, except on a designated National Forest System road, trail, or within the areas listed in Exhibits A or B. 36 C.F.R. 261.52(g).4. Welding, or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame, except within the areas listed in Exhibits A or B. 36 C.F.R. 261.52(h).Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:1. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.**2. Persons with a valid California Campfire Permit are not exempt from the prohibitions listed above. However, persons with a valid California Campfire Permit may use a stove or lantern that uses gas, kerosene, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel and has a shut-off valve, or a propane-fueled campfire pit with an on/off switch (wood-burning campfire pits are prohibited) in an area at least five feet from any flammable materials.**3. Persons with a valid 2026 Forest Products Removal Permit (fuelwood permit) from the United States Forest Service are not exempt from the prohibitions listed above, but may operate an internal combustion engine off National Forest System roads and trails only to the extent necessary to cut fuelwood, provided the cutting of fuelwood is done in compliance with the terms of the fuelwood permit.4. Persons with a Forest Service non-special use written authorization to conduct non-recreational activities, such as harvesting timber or forest products, or grazing livestock, are exempt from Prohibition Nos. 3 and 4, to the extent allowed by the written authorization.These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions contained in 36 C.F.R. Part 261, Subpart A.A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both. 16 U.S.C. 551 and 18 U.S.C. 3559, 3571, and 3581. This Forest Order supersedes Forest Order 0513-26-05, signed on June 9, 2026.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsTillie Creek is located in California near Wofford Heights
Directions
From Bakersfield, California, take Highway 178 east to the town of Lake Isabella. From Lake Isabella take Highway 155 north, traveling 6 miles to the entry station of Tillie Creek Campground.
Coordinates
35.701451 N
118.459378 W
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 10 usersLast on 10/29/26
- VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 3 usersLast on 10/29/26
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 4 usersLast on 10/29/26
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 10 usersLast on 10/29/26
- VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 3 usersLast on 10/29/26
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 4 usersLast on 10/29/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Sewer Hookups
- Water Hookups
- Big Rig Friendly
Contact
General Info
Reservations
Drive Time
- 56 min from Bakersfield, CA
- 1 hr 54 min from Visalia, CA
- 2 hrs 2 min from Hanford, CA
- 2 hrs 24 min from Fresno, CA









