Best Tent Camping near Banning, CA
San Bernardino National Forest surrounds Banning, California with diverse tent camping options ranging from developed sites to remote backcountry areas. Yucaipa Regional Park offers designated tent camping in group sites with amenities including drinking water, fire rings, and picnic tables. For more primitive tent camping experiences, the Yellow Post sites at Thomas Hunting Grounds and Keller Peak provide secluded tent-only camping with minimal facilities. Backcountry tent campsites at Dry Lake, Halfway Camp, and Limber Pine Bench require permits and are accessible only by hiking trails, offering true wilderness experiences.
Most primitive tent campsites near Banning require campers to bring their own water and supplies. Yellow Post sites feature fire rings but have seasonal fire restrictions that vary based on conditions. High-clearance vehicles are recommended for accessing many of the dispersed tent camping areas, particularly Thomas Hunting Grounds where rough dirt roads lead to the campsites. Backcountry tent sites at higher elevations like Dry Lake and Limber Pine Bench may be inaccessible during winter months due to snow. Walk-in tent sites at Round Valley and Little Round Valley in Mount San Jacinto State Park require permits obtained from ranger stations, with availability limited during peak summer weekends.
Tent campers frequently report exceptional solitude at these sites despite their proximity to urban areas. According to reviews, the Yellow Post sites at Keller Peak offer remarkable privacy with "9 sites stretched across 5 miles so you will have no neighbors." One visitor to Halfway Camp noted wildlife sightings including "a momma deer and two does in the distance" during their overnight stay. Temperature variations can be extreme at higher elevation tent campgrounds. A camper at Dry Lake Backpacking Campground experienced temperatures dropping to 7 degrees in May despite warm weather at lower elevations. Walk-in tent sites typically provide more seclusion than drive-in campgrounds, with established tent pads that require minimal preparation beyond removing a few rocks.