Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Bakersfield, CA is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that California camping has to offer. Find the best campgrounds near Bakersfield, CA. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.
Every one of our extra-long, pull-thru sites offers the shade of two or more leafy orange trees. With their snowy white trunks and fragrant, flavorful fruits, the trees form a 40-acre oasis of shade and serenity in Bakersfield’s desert climate. And guess what? You can pick all the sweet, delicious oranges you want. Swim, hike, and explore at California’s most unique destination – Orange Grove RV Park.
$43 - $54 / night
$39 - $340 / night
Hammock spots, dipping holes and a fishing stream make Reyes Creek Campground an ideal hideaway. Located near the Sespe Wilderness alongside Reyes Creek you will find renewal and replenishment, Reyes Creek-style.
Trail hiking, fishing, swimming, group camping, mountain biking, hunting, horseback riding, nature viewing, and recreational mining are favored activities. Day trips to higher elevation snow play in the winter is also enjoyed.
Trail hiking, fishing, swimming, group camping, mountain biking, hunting, horseback riding, nature viewing, and recreational mining are favored activities. Day trips to higher elevation snow play in the winter is also enjoyed.
This shaded streamside campground located at 3,500 feet elevation boasts an ample supply of riparian oak and cottonwood trees. The creek area is well shaded and runs year-round. Overhead you may catch a glimpse of red-tailed hawks soaring above the trees. If you are lucky, you may see a California condor!
Located south of Ozena Valley, this campground provides access to the Sespe Wilderness via the Reyes Creek Trail linking to the Piedra Blanc National Recreation Trail. This site is the trailhead for Gene Marshall-Piedra Blanca National Recreation Area ideal for hiking or mountain biking.
$150 - $154 / night
Songdog Ranch is not a dude ranch, nor some ritzy retreat. It is a secluded rustic get away for the 'real' and adventurous. There are no cattle grazing in the pastures, nor fields of fruit along our fence line. The only things ever raised here are small herds of wine glasses in the light of campfires.
$20 - $40 / night
Hungry Gulch Campground sits 3 miles from Lake Isabella in the Sequoia National Forest of California. Visitors enjoy swimming, waterskiing, windsurfing and fishing on the scenic lake.
Visitors enjoy fishing, swimming, water skiiing and windsurfing at Lake Isabella, which covers 11,000+ acres on the Kern River and has over 38 miles of shoreline. Anglers will find black and white crappie, bluegill, blue and channel catfish, largemouth bass and rainbow trout. Trout fishing is also available in area streams. Please click here for safety and permit information. Many hiking opportunities can be found around Lake Isabella and along the Kern River.
Visitors enjoy fishing, swimming, water skiiing and windsurfing at Lake Isabella, which covers 11,000+ acres on the Kern River and has over 38 miles of shoreline. Anglers will find black and white crappie, bluegill, blue and channel catfish, largemouth bass and rainbow trout. Trout fishing is also available in area streams. Please click here for safety and permit information. Many hiking opportunities can be found around Lake Isabella and along the Kern River.
The campground is situated on a pine-covered hillside, 3 miles from Lake Isabella's western shores at an elevation of 2,640 feet. Many sites have views of Lake Isabella off in the distance. 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.
For facility specific information, please call (760) 376-1269.
The Kern River is a short drive from the campground and offers hiking and fishing opportunities.
$34 - $36 / night
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.
Hiking, fishing, kayaking and rafting are popular activities in the Upper Kern River area.
Hiking, fishing, kayaking and rafting are popular activities in the Upper Kern River area.
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.
For facility specific information, please call (760) 376-1269.
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.
$147 / night
My partner and I stayed here after a campground down the road overbooked us for a weekend, and it ended up being a lovely trip. The campsites were clean and spacious, the bathrooms were sanitary and showers were hot. Only downside happen to be the on-site general store was shut down the whole weekend.
Great view of the KernRiver! Clean , quiet, good vibes.
This is the absolutely most horrible experience I have ever had. There was a group of people that were listening to loud music and singing till 6AM and we could not sleep. We tried talking to them, they said they would only listen to the ranger. Ranger stopped by but nothing changed. At 5 AM we went back to the ranger, but he sent us away. We could not sleep a single minute. Group was extremely aggressive and absolutely horribly loud. Most disappointing was that ranger did nothing and ignored us.
We stayed in the heat of the summer so it was unfortunate that our campsites had little to no shade. We were on the outskirts closest to the road, but there were campsites along the river that had more trees. Once you get down to the water, the temperature drops at least 10 degrees.
Our site was VERY close to the main road which made me nervous with our young children. There are large boulders along the campground, but no fence or other kind of barrier. And the cars were hauling a** down that road.
There was a pit toilet a little bit across from our site that we could not smell but I believe the sites directly in front and behind probably got it bad. It was pretty gross. I can do pit toilets usually but these had me gagging at one point.
The water is just a short walk down some rocky trails, so would not be very good for elderly or very small children unless you plan on carrying them down. We found a little rocky beach area to camp for the day but it was just barely big enough for our group. There was not anywhere else that we could see that would have been good for swimming. There was a little rapid area with some waterfalls up river from us which was very pretty.
This river is notorious for sweeping people away so please be cautious and keep an eye on your children. We secured a paracord on each end of the river so we had something to help us float across. The current was strongest in the middle but manageable on either side.
The camp host was friendly enough but did not do rounds of any kind. There are also no fires allowed at this campground (at least not during the time we went).
We were warned of a resident bear that lives across the street but we did not encounter him or any other wildlife.
We probably will not be returning, especially not with the kids. But we still had a good time regardless.
Great campsite (#21) right on rivers' edge. Winter runoff and water is high and fast. Shade during the day. Restrooms are being rebuilt but should be ready by mid to end of June. Porta potties for now but they are very clean. Geese, grebes, egrets, lots of ground squirrels and raccoons.
Reyes Creek was great. The drive was nice, very scenic. The campsite was nice but small. Campsites are very, very close together. Some are smaller than others. Especially closer to the creek are smaller. The bathrooms are very clean for a campsite bathroom. Jade was very helpful and informative. She told us about two trails, we did the lighter one that was very nice. I can see this place being very nice in the summer. The weather on the apps are wrong. You have to google a few things to get the right weather. It was much colder than expected at night, woke up to 29 degrees F and ice on my tent and car windows. Other people with us said they had ice in their tent.
We usually stay at RV parks as a last resort, preferring state parks and the like.
That being said, this is the best RV park style site I have stayed at. Sites were generous size, facilities and grounds clean, staff friendly, and it was quiet.
The pick your own oranges was a fun touch and the security and surrounded by orange groves made it feel further from the city than it is.
If you go South on 99 to the big farm store, try the Okie Pies - good stuff!
And their is a local fruit market just west down Edison and a short turn to the north - just follow the signs.
Juiciest oranges I have ever had!
Campground is nice overall. Sites are close together and site 4 has a small uphill to back into which if you have a RV or heavy camper your going to scrap hard backing in. Overall nice campground.
I love this campground, but reserving a site is a pain since there isn't a site map. Here's the sites in the main loop. Hope you all find this helpful!
I live in the area and still love to camp here. There is also a full 10 x 10 person cabin and mess hall facility that the county rents out at the park.
A little out of the way, but that’s a feature. Spread out spots so you’re not on top of your neighbor. Only 6 full hook ups with only 30 amp, not 50. Other spots have electricity and water only. Our spot has lots of ants. People I’ve dealt with here are very nice. Very beautiful location overlooking a lake. Far from the highway so no traffic noise that I’ve noticed.
Camp James is a clean, spacious park. All sites are well kept, with access to clean bathrooms and coin operated showers. Staff is friendly and available when needed. Prices are a tad high but expected with a clean upscale Campground. Didn't expect a 3 night minimum charge the weekend after Labor Day but couldn't find a Campground with availability in a short time so we rolled with the 3 day requirement . A friendly family of bears made their presence at night as the trash cans were ransacked in the morning and my boyfriend came face to face with a skunk while walking our dog at night. Overall it's a beautiful park right on the Kern River and we would stay again if we could get one of the few riverfront spaces.
Overall nice site with full hookups & wi-fi/cell. Had a nice shade tree but it can be real sunny without one. Laundry right on site! Close to lake Isabella and all of the Kern. Great for last minute reservations too, online booking works
Excellent spots right on the Kern River. So many things to do and the campground resort is ran good, no issues at all. Full hookups, close to everything.
I had a great time. Only complaint was of the previous campers who had left cans and cigarette butts.
Pretty campground with large, secluded spaces, however, seems to be a local hangout on the weekends. Cars loudly speeding through the campgrounds all day and night until 3am, didn't seem to be any rangers to control the noise. We barely slept.
We went tent camping and the spots were huge and close to the river which made for beautiful peaceful mornings.
A fairly good camp ground with restroom and shower access. Was slightly confusing at first on how to get to the site, but looking at a geographical map made the route clear. Any of the covered spots are truly shaded by trees making a mid day snooze very doable.
First time at camp James - it was awesome. Helpful friendly staff, super clean, and amazing camp sites! Will definitely be coming back!
This place is amazing. Clean campground, friendly staff and amazing views. This place is a must visit
Not my favorite campground. Very windy, not able to go in the water which was a disappointment for our dogs. Each campsite had plenty of room. Bathrooms with showers. Not much to do around the campground but was enough to drive to town for a bite to eat. Check in was easy, used a code to enter. Never spoke with a campground host.
Large sites, semi private with orange trees, pool, clubhouse, laundry, dog areas and VERY clean. One of the best RV places we have stayed. I would give it a 5 except for some minor highway noise and the occasional train that blows its horn. So I give it a 4.5
We only spent one night at this Campground but it was amazing. There are orange trees on everyone's site and they even provide you with the tools to pick oranges! The kids loved it :-). The facilities are clean the showers are warm and they even have an exercise room. The sites are spacious and have 50 30 hook up all full hook up all pull through.
Well maintained campground with well-spaced sites, you never feel like you're in your neighbor's lap. Sites along the river feel a little less private simply because everyone walks along the river, but there's really plenty of room. Lots of trees, so it would be cool in the summer. Great birds along the river, lots of ducks and egrets, and a bald eagle perched in a tree right above my site with its breakfish! Great place to stay on the way to Death Valley or up the central valley to Fresno.
We stayed here just for a night on our way to Death Valley. It’s super convenient from Bakersfield and nice and quiet, by the Kern River. Clean and calm with some nice sites by the river. All have picnic tables and fire rings. The host was so lovely and let us stay for free in a site that had already been paid for (the folks had left early). We couldn’t believe it! So generous and kind.
First off, Jade the camp host, has to be one of the nicest people We’ve ever met! Super helpful and informative! We stumbled across this place as our original plan fell apart. Lucked out on a site and enjoyed a quiet, relaxing overnight trip. Sites were clean and kept up, bathrooms were clean and there was a nice little creek, perfect for a stroll.
The host Jade was one of the most friendliest host we’ve ever met. There are raccoons, squirrels and deers around. Nice little creek runs next to campsites and hiking trail. The ghost town was fun, too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Bakersfield, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Bakersfield, CA is Orange Grove RV Park with a 4.4-star rating from 22 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Bakersfield, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 19 glamping camping locations near Bakersfield, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
