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.
"trail to hill top. Equestrian site for sure."
"There is an area for your horse. Walk in sites, rv/car camp/van/tent sites. It’s first come first serve, no reservations and it’s free."
$30 - $154 / night
"It's about a 40 minute drive from the nearest town (and therefore the nearest gas station or market - plan ahead). There is no power, or water."
"There is a bar at the campground entrance if that is your speed, but we took advantage of the winding creek side path behind site 18."
"The hubs, kids and myself have spent a lot of time in Keysville if you're looking for a weekend getaway for mountain biking or trail riding this is the place!"
"Beautiful spot conveniently located only a couple miles outside of town. Dumpsters and put toilets provided on both sides of the Kern River."
"Coming from Frazier, CA I was able to access the camp site with a 2012 Chevy Equinox LS FWD (By no means an off-roading vehicle) and return back home with no issues."
"Beautiful drive down grade valley to get to this awesome site. We were looking for a more remote place to camp and this site satisfied all our needs."
"Nice long drive to a beautiful destination"
$25 - $45 / night
"It’s about an hour and 15 minutes from our home in Bakersfield. That road off of the 65 is pretty decent as we have a 32 foot fifth wheel."
GuideBathrooms, vaulted tent spots, fire pits. Has a water spigot but doesn’t work (maybe off during winter?) trail to hill top. Equestrian site for sure.
TravelerWe heard good things about this campground from family so we decided to give it a shot. It’s about an hour and 15 minutes from our home in Bakersfield. That road off of the 65 is pretty decent as we have a 32 foot fifth wheel. As usual some sites are better than others there are some creek side sites that are very large and if there’s water are very nice. They have tent only sites as well. On our first trip we stayed in a pull through site. There is not a whole lot of space between campsites in this loop but it’s doable. They also have a stocked pond on site. However if you want to keep any of the fish caught, you have to purchase them. There are trails to hike. FYI, there is no cell reception and no provided wifi. Personally I think that’s a good thing 😬.
GuideNice and clean. Vault toilets. There’s water, but not sure if it’s potable, there wasn’t a sign. No trash service, you have to pack it out. There is an area for your horse. Walk in sites, rv/car camp/van/tent sites. It’s first come first serve, no reservations and it’s free.
LegendI love how this campground is secluded, there are about 7 campgrounds available, 2 restrooms and stalls for horses. You can go out for a hike with great scenic views. I would truly recommend. This place has a lot of monumental history.
GuideThis rustic campground offers an arid natural beauty with endless walking. It's a popular place for birdwatchers –the resident owls who roost in the eucalyptus trees above the campsites are very vocal and they inspire daily gazers donning binoculars.
During spring there are poppy runs blooming in a couple places close to the campground. Venturing up on the ridges will yield a spare bit more floral variety if you watch the ground.
It's BLM, so amenities are basic – be prepared to bring your own water, the single spigot isn't potable due to agricultural nitrate impact on the water table. Vault toilets are kept clean, but bring your own tp if you arrive after the weekend. Not smelly, the rooms are airy, fairly large and free of flying bugs.
Surprisingly, my TMobile was fairly consistent 90% of the time and I was able to tether my laptop/kindle to my phone on occasion. This allowed me to extend my stay and upload my artwork.
It's an inspiring place for creativity. And I was so happily surprised to hear a group of really excellent blue grass musicians playing from the campsite across from mine during the first few days when I arrived.
Most sites are back-in. There are a few sites that could accommodate RVs-dry camping only, all sites include a gravel tent pad, concrete table, post for hooking up things, and a fire ring. And there is an adjacent lot for the four walk-in sites behind the barn. No fires permitted in the walk-in area.
The 19mile access road from highway 33 can be grueling in places with heavy washboard.
But for the walks, stargazing, creative inspiration and abundant wildlife, the payoff is well worth the driving effort. And there are more remote opportunities in the nearby hills for folks with good tires, who prefer a quieter boondock place to camp.
LegendCarrizo Plains National Monument is the largest single native grassland remaining in California in SE San Luis Obispo, and my husband and I have been wanting to visit. We found Kern Cattle & Land Ranch which has now been turned into a campground for people to enjoy.
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Note: Pack in. Pack out. Please folks, remember to take your trash with you and leave the place better than you found it. It was sad seeing beer bottles and bullet shells littering the area. We did our best to pick up what we could and take it with us, but LNT!!
TravelerSpare of the moment trip idea lead me to finding this campsite. Coming from Frazier, CA I was able to access the camp site with a 2012 Chevy Equinox LS FWD (By no means an off-roading vehicle) and return back home with no issues. The drive down into the little valley is spectacular. There are few cool rock faces on the drive into camp which I had a great time doing some bouldering. The campground was shared by one other vehicle and it was fantastic. The site was pretty clean! Only found and picked up the usual (glass, caps, twist ties, styrofoam, toilet paper, etc.) There are a lot of trails near by and the scenery is pretty incredible.
LegendThe hubs, kids and myself have spent a lot of time in Keysville if you're looking for a weekend getaway for mountain biking or trail riding this is the place! Some of the best free riding in California! Highly recommend keyesville to everyone! Town is just a few miles away if you should need anything.
TravelerI prefer primitive or dispersed camping because I usually like as much privacy as I can get when I'm camping, but with current fire restrictions I was limited to developed campsites if I wanted a campfire (and what's the point of camping without a campfire?). I was also planning the trip on short notice, so developed, reserveable campsites were in short supply. Then I found Reyes Creek.
The campground is very isolated. It's about a 40 minute drive from the nearest town (and therefore the nearest gas station or market - plan ahead). There is no power, or water. There's no cell service in the camp, but a 5 minute drive up the mountain there's a dirt lot they call the 'phone booth' that gets decent reception. The camp hosts were super friendly and helpful. There are 2 loops for campsites - the center of the main loop seemed pretty flat, but all the sites were visible to your neighbors. Sites on the outside of the main loop offered more privacy, but most appeared to not be very level, and not necessarily well laid out. I stayed in site 11 on the outside of the loop which was large and fairly quiet, but my 6 person tent just barely fit in between some trees which offered some shade and was only on a slight angle. The one downside was the bathrooms - vault toilets that varied in condition, but none that I used were particularly good. If bathroom condition is a major sticking point with you, you may want to look elsewhere.
As an added bonus, as isolated as the place is, right outside the entrance to the campground is a bar & grill called the Camp Scheideck Lodge. They have a full bar and great food (and the customer-only bathroom is a great step up from the campground). It just changed owners last month (second time in a couple years) and the new owner, Devin, is friendly and welcoming.
The temperature varies greatly from day to night (90's to 50's when I was there) and there are bugs a plenty, so bring repellant. Firewood is available at the camp, and ice is available at the lodge.
So if you want a little isolation with privacy, a campfire, and a friendly bar within walking distance, this place is for you. I'll definitely be coming back.
Horse camping in California offers a unique way to explore the great outdoors while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With a variety of campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to saddle up and enjoy nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Bakersfield, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Bakersfield, CA is KCL Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 22 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Bakersfield, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Bakersfield, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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