Camping near Black Butte Lake

Searching for the best camping near Black Butte Lake, CA? Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Black Butte Lake. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your California camping adventure.

Best Camping Sites Near Black Butte Lake (125)

    1. The Parkway RV Resort & Campground

    13 Reviews
    Orland, CA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 865-9188

    "Stayed here for a second time driving from Southern California to Oregon. The sites are spacious and there is a pool to cool down during the hot summers. There is wine tasting as well."

    "I have stayed here several times as a waypoint on my travels between California to Washington.  It is a nice safe quiet park that has many pull through spaces for RVs spending the night.  I have used"

    2. Rolling Hills Casino Truck Lot

    11 Reviews
    Corning, CA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 528-3586

    $49 - $69 / night

    "Casino nearby has multiple restaurants and entertainment, including golf.  Cheap gas for California.  Little bit of a hike to clean restrooms.  Quiet.  Convenient location for traveling down I-5."

    "Conveniently located just off I-5, far enough away from the noise. Casino, restaurants, doggy daycare and golf just next door. Sites are level 75 ft pull through sites. We will stay again."

    3. Buckhorn Recreation Area

    8 Reviews
    Paskenta, CA
    0 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 865-4781

    $18 - $200 / night

    "Didn’t really have neighbors too close and had a great view of the lake."

    "A lot of the sites have fabulous views of the lake. The surrounding area is beautiful to see as well. Great trail system for exploring the park. Boat ramp, old bathrooms."

    4. Olive Pit Dispersed Lot

    8 Reviews
    Corning, CA
    12 miles
    Website

    ".

    + Very safe and heavily traffic location. Lots of travelers here spending the evening!"

    "I was worried at 1stvas there was a situation that was happening when arrive. Police were there surveying which made me feel safe. It was quite through the night."

    5. Orland Buttes

    2 Reviews
    Orland, CA
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 865-4781

    $20 - $130 / night

    "This is a nice, basic COE campground with hiking trails, lake access, and a boat ramp. Volunteer host on site."

    6. Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area

    6 Reviews
    Corning, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 538-2200

    $31 / night

    "It would have been a two-hour drive to get to this place from where we were but with all the wildfires in recent years in this part of California, many campgrounds have closed."

    "The only issue we had was there was no trashcans anywhere close to us and also our campground happened to be by the entrance and by the busy street, so instead of waking up to birds and nature it was loud"

    7. Heritage RV Park

    2 Reviews
    Corning, CA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 824-6130

    "Walked to bakery and the Olive Pit store and Restaurant"

    "The park is a little hard to find because it is near buildings.  It is very quiet can't hear the noise of the freeway at all.  There are restaurants near as well as fuel stops. Would stop here again."

    8. Woodson Bridge Mobile Home & RV Park

    5 Reviews
    Corning, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 839-2151

    $40 - $50 / night

    "There's also a fish cleaning station and a seasonal fishing dock and water access to a small beach for dipping your toes in."

    9. Corning RV Park

    1 Review
    Corning, CA
    12 miles
    +1 (530) 824-2200

    "Every spot sits next to an olive tree. It’s very manicured. Very close to the freeway but has a safe feel to it."

    10. Sycamore Grove (red Bluff) Campground

    14 Reviews
    Red Bluff, CA
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 527-2813

    $16 - $30 / night

    "Super easy access to and from the highway."

    "The river close by and all the beautiful trees, flowers and plants. Will definitely stay again."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 125 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Recent Reviews near Black Butte Lake

215 Reviews of 125 Black Butte Lake Campgrounds


  • jThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Sacramento River RV Park

    Nice place, clean and quiet

    The bathrooms are meticulously fussed over, laundry is clean, people are nice. 5 is a bit noisy but you get over that, reasonably priced.

  • P
    Sep. 13, 2025

    JGW RV Park

    On the river!!

    We like this place in Redding. We have a 24’ motorhome and get spots on the river. It’s very nice to sit and look at river. Big grassy area to walk dog and enjoy river under shade. Reasonable price. Nice staff. Water does seem cloudy so be sure to run it before you hook up. I have had to clear out my faucet filter twice.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Oak Flat Campground

    Beautiful and peaceful *on weekdays*

    Quiet and peaceful, watch elk, birds, lizards, toads/frogs on weekdays. All but the hardiest of wildlife and people should avoid the weekends. We finally learned our lesson after every Friday and/or Saturday over the years has been disrupted by people yelling and/or blasting music, running dogs off leash, and then (last trip) racing dirt bikes through the campground until 1 am.

  • Steve M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 4, 2025

    Perry Riffle Trailhead

    Simple but clean and nice level sites with picnic tables

    Just staying one night on my way to Nevada but this is an easy location with decent cell service and a clean bathroom and garbage receptacles in a hiking and equestrian area

  • Bruce E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Post Creek Guard Station

    Labor Day seclusion

    Post creek guard station was awesome. The views were amazing, especially the star gazing. Took Tedoc rd going in. Long, dirt, rocky rd not recommended for passenger vehicles. Our transit connect was fine, but slow going, just enough clearance. The cabin was pretty clean. Someone left their garbage. It's a pack in 0ack out kinda place. Water is gravity feed for a flushing toilet and dish washing water. (Non-potable) nearby spring was great for filtering or the 1/4 mile down to creek and swimming hole. There are 2 new full size mattresses and a 2 burner Coleman stove. Recommend just bringing all your own gear and consider it like a camping trip, w/ bonus flush toilet. The drive out was smooth. Took service rd 30. Dirt for a short bit, then paved all the way to hwy 36. Definitely be going back, and hitting some of the hiking trails.

  • Ibeya A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 26, 2025

    Perry Riffle Trailhead

    Great spot for a short stop over

    This is just a gravel parking lot, but it's quiet, peaceful, and about a 2 min walk from the river. Several horse and hiking trails start from here. There's a pit toilet, garbage, and recycling. We enjoyed our stay for one night, but I wouldn't want to stay here for more than a few days. It was roasting in August; the river was a nice way to cool off.

  • Diana R.
    Aug. 25, 2025

    Red Bluff KOA Journey

    Messed up reservations, staff rude.

    This campground has a lot of live ins: there animals are not well behaved, barked most of the night, stray cats wandering around bothering our animals.  We made reservations and reserved a campsite number, was not told we had to pay $25 more to reserve a site, they put us in the site I requested not to have, the excuse was the computer rearranged the campsite. Asked to speak to management who never appeared and lady at desk was rude.

  • Ann W.
    Jul. 25, 2025

    Butte Meadows Campground

    Great Find

    Nice find while traveling through the area. Very quiet and clean campground. The creek running through the campground was nice for our dog. It is bear country and many other campers weren’t keeping there areas bear proofed throughout the day. Found some bear scat with candy wraps in the scat and that was found in site 1. Definitely will come back again.

  • James W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 23, 2025

    The Parkway RV Resort & Campground

    Great Place to stop on I-5

    We needed a place to camp for the night, and Parkway was in the right location.  We booked through the Dyrt, but the campground's booking site was almost as easy.  We needed to move our reservation to one night earlier, and the camp staff graciously made it happen.  When we arrived, the sites were clean and orderly, and there was actually grass and level parking spots.  The full hookups worked great and it turned out to be just what we needed.  We also found a local panaderia for breakfast pastries that were delicious.  This was exactly what we needed.


Guide to Black Butte Lake

Camping near Black Butte Lake, California, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're in an RV or pitching a tent, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Fishing: Many campers enjoy fishing at Buckhorn Recreation Area. One reviewer mentioned, "The campsite/campground were well maintained... The price wasn’t bad at all for dry camping." This area is great for those looking to catch some fish while enjoying the lake views.
  • Hiking: Explore the trails around Sycamore Grove (Red Bluff) Campground. A visitor noted, "There are several nice walking trails around the recreation area," making it a perfect spot for nature lovers.
  • Swimming: If you’re looking to cool off, Parkway RV Resort & Campground has a refreshing pool. One camper shared, "We really appreciated the pool, the very friendly staff and clean restrooms."

What campers like:

  • Clean facilities: Campers appreciate cleanliness, especially at Red Bluff KOA Journey. A reviewer said, "Wonderful and clean facilities," highlighting the well-kept restrooms and showers.
  • Friendly staff: Many visitors rave about the helpful staff at Rolling Hills Casino Truck Lot. One guest mentioned, "Great front desk staff! They also have routine patrol security," which adds to the overall comfort of the stay.
  • Spacious sites: Campers enjoy the roomy sites at Woodson Bridge Mobile Home & RV Park. A visitor noted, "Huge sites with grass and trees. Big enough for the largest RVs," making it a great choice for larger groups.

What you should know:

  • Limited amenities: Some campgrounds, like California Sycamore Grove, lack certain amenities. A camper mentioned, "The showers were a little nasty," so be prepared for basic facilities.
  • Noise levels: If you're sensitive to noise, consider your campground choice. One reviewer at Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area said, "Instead of waking up to birds and nature it was loud cars and honking," indicating that some sites are near busy roads.
  • Wildlife: Campers at Buckhorn Recreation Area have noted the presence of wildlife. One visitor shared, "Falling asleep to the shrieks of distant coyotes was cool too," so keep your food secured.

Tips for camping with families:

  • Dog-friendly areas: Many campgrounds, like Parkway RV Resort & Campground, allow pets. A reviewer mentioned, "The best grassy, clean dog run," making it a great spot for families traveling with furry friends.
  • Playgrounds: Look for campgrounds with kid-friendly amenities. Woodson Bridge Mobile Home & RV Park has a playground area, which is a hit with families. One camper said, "Lovely and serene!" about the park's atmosphere.
  • Pool access: A pool can be a lifesaver during hot days. Campers at Red Bluff KOA Journey enjoyed the pool, stating, "The pool was refreshing in 95-degree heat."

Tips from RVers:

  • Full hookups: Many RVers appreciate campgrounds with full hookups. Rolling Hills Casino Truck Lot offers this, and one guest noted, "Only $55 for a full hookup that’s a pull through."
  • Easy access: Look for campgrounds that are easy to get to. California Sycamore Grove is conveniently located right off Hwy 5, making it a great stop for RV travelers. A reviewer mentioned, "Easy access right off hwy 5 and surprisingly quiet."
  • Security: Safety is a priority for many RVers. Campers at Rolling Hills Casino Truck Lot appreciated the "routine patrol security," which adds peace of mind during their stay.

Camping near Black Butte Lake, California, has something for everyone, from families to solo travelers. With a variety of campgrounds and activities, you're sure to find the perfect spot for your next adventure.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I reserve a campsite at Buckhorn Campground on Black Butte Lake?

To reserve a campsite at Buckhorn Campground on Black Butte Lake, you'll need to use the Recreation.gov website or app. Reservations can be made up to six months in advance, which is recommended during peak summer months when the campground fills quickly. Sites accommodate various camping setups, including RVs up to 24 feet. If Buckhorn is full, consider nearby alternatives like Pogie Point Campground which offers first-come, first-served sites with fire rings and picnic tables. For last-minute trips when reservations aren't available, Plaskett Meadows Campground in Mendocino National Forest provides both pull-through sites for trailers and back-in spots for tent campers.

Where are the best camping spots at Black Butte Lake?

At Black Butte Lake, Buckhorn Recreation Area offers some of the best camping spots with excellent lake views. Site 6 is particularly recommended for RVs up to 24' and provides easy access to the water with minimal neighboring campsites. For those seeking a more secluded experience, the lake's western shores offer quieter camping opportunities. If you prefer an alternative nearby, Orland Buttes features drive-in sites with water access and toilet facilities. Most campsites around the lake provide shade, fire rings, and picnic tables, making for a comfortable outdoor experience.

What amenities are available at Black Butte Lake campgrounds?

Black Butte Lake campgrounds provide basic but sufficient amenities for an enjoyable outdoor experience. Most sites feature fire rings, picnic tables, and access to clean pit toilets or vault restrooms. Potable water is available at designated areas throughout the campgrounds. For those seeking more extensive facilities, The Parkway RV Resort & Campground in the region offers spacious sites with full hookups, a swimming pool for cooling off during hot summers, and wine tasting opportunities. Alternatively, Mendocino National Forest Lake Red Bluff Recreation Area provides similar basic amenities with the added benefit of being situated near the Sacramento River.