River access and group camping define this Sequoia National Forest campground positioned along the Kern River. Halfway Group Campground accommodates RVs up to 20 feet with water and sewer hookups, though the rough access road challenges larger rigs. Multiple group sites feature covered picnic areas and flat tent spaces near the riverbank.
Campers should bring their own drinking water or plan to filter river water, as no potable water is available on-site. Porta-potties serve the campground, with regular trash service maintaining cleanliness. Bears frequent the area, so proper food storage is essential since bear lockers are not provided. The campground's riverside location means constant river sounds throughout the night. For additional options, see campgrounds just outside Kernville, which offers grocery stores and dining just ten minutes south.
Description
Overview
Halfway Group Campground is situated along the Kern River, 4.5 miles north of the town of Kernville. Hiking, fishing, kayaking and rafting are popular activities.
Recreation
Hiking, fishing, kayaking and rafting are popular activities in the Upper Kern River area. Click here to learn more about the area, including safety and permitting requirements and a listing of local outfitters.
Facilities
The campground offers five group sites available for tent camping. Picnic tables and campfire rings are provided, as are portable toilets. There is no drinking water available at this facility.
Natural Features
The campground sits within Sequoia National Forest at an elevation of 3,200 feet in an open area with limited shade, overlooking the Kern Wild and Scenic River. Gray pine, scrub oak, grasses and shrubs cling to steep, canyon walls along the river, and cottonwoods and willows dot the riverbanks. Sequoia National Forest, located at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada in central California, is named for 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. 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 Cannell Meadow National Recreation Trail begins just north of Kernville. The trail stretches 11.5 miles as it climbs through mixed pine and fir forest to Cannell Meadow and a historic Forest Service cabin built between 1904 and 1909. Hikers are awarded beautiful views of the Kern River Valley along the trip.
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!
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.
- 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
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsHalfway Group Campground is located in California near Kernville
Public CampgroundDirections
From Bakersfield, take Highway 178 east to Lake Isabella. From Lake Isabella, take Highway 155 around the west side of the lake to the town of Kernville. From Kernville, go 4.5 miles north on Sierra Way (Mountain 99) to the campground.
Coordinates
35.80294 N
118.451937 W
Connectivity
T-MobileLTESome CoverageVerified by 4 usersLast on 4/15/26
VerizonNo Coverage- AT&TNo CoverageVerified by 9 usersLast on 10/20/26
Connectivity
- T-MobileLTESome CoverageVerified by 4 usersLast on 4/15/26
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo CoverageVerified by 9 usersLast on 10/20/26
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
- Tent Cabin
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Reservable
- Toilets
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sewer Hookups
- Water Hookups
Drive Time
- 1 hr 9 min from Bakersfield, CA
- 2 hrs 7 min from Visalia, CA
- 2 hrs 15 min from Hanford, CA
- 2 hrs 37 min from Fresno, CA
