Best Campgrounds near Bryn Mawr, CA

Camping near Bryn Mawr, California sits at the intersection of mountain wilderness and suburban convenience, with options ranging from developed state recreation areas to primitive forest sites. The San Bernardino National Forest provides numerous camping opportunities within a short drive, including the highly-rated Dogwood Campground with its spacious, private sites nestled among tall pines. Lake Perris State Recreation Area offers lakeside camping with swimming, hiking, and boating access just south of town. Yucaipa Regional Park and Rancho Jurupa Park provide family-friendly camping with modern amenities closer to urban areas. As one camper noted, "The campground is away from town enough to feel secluded and quiet, yet accessible for supplies."

Most campgrounds in the region require reservations, particularly during peak summer months and weekends. Fire restrictions are common from late spring through fall due to wildfire concerns, with complete bans possible during extreme conditions. Winter camping is available at many sites, though higher elevation campgrounds like those near Big Bear Lake may close seasonally or have limited access due to snow. Temperatures vary significantly with elevation, with summer highs reaching 90-100°F in lower areas while mountain campgrounds remain 15-20 degrees cooler. Cell service is generally reliable at developed campgrounds but becomes spotty in more remote forest locations.

The camping experience varies considerably across the region. RV campers will find full hookup sites at Lake Perris and Yucaipa Regional Park, while tent campers seeking more solitude might prefer the Yellow Post sites in the San Bernardino National Forest. According to reviews, Serrano Campground near Big Bear Lake offers "clean restrooms, free showers, and sites with enough room to set up tents without feeling cramped." Many campgrounds provide access to recreational activities, with hiking trails, fishing spots, and mountain biking routes often accessible directly from campsites. Bear-resistant food storage is required at higher elevation sites, and wildlife encounters with deer, squirrels, and occasionally coyotes are common throughout the region.

Best Camping Sites Near Bryn Mawr, California (368)

    1. Lake Perris State Recreational Area Campground

    38 Reviews
    Moreno Valley, CA
    12 miles

    $25 - $300 / night

    "It is right next to the lake which has a swimming area, bike path, climbing area, Hiking trails, along with a camp store which has boat rentals and much more!  "

    "Paved full hookup sites right next to each other but quiet neighbors. Campground is just 5minutes from busy town."

    2. Dogwood

    33 Reviews
    Rimforest, CA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (909) 336-6717

    $40 - $81 / night

    "The trees are massive and plenty and make you feel like you are a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of California."

    "The campground overall is really pretty and in a great location in Lake Arrowhead. However, we made the mistake of booking site 005, which is right on a ridge... it was SO windy."

    3. Yucaipa Regional Park

    20 Reviews
    Yucaipa, CA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (909) 790-3127

    "Tons of hiking trails and within 30 min drive of major shopping/grocery stores. Big Bear is about an hour away with and awesome drive up the mountain."

    "Close to the city but far enough away from the lights. There is a ton of stuff to do here. Fishing, kayaking, hiking, water slides, disc golf, bike trails. The RV spots are beyond huge!"

    4. Rancho Jurupa RV Park

    17 Reviews
    Riverside, CA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (951) 684-7032

    $40 - $55 / night

    "The lakeview area has dirt roads, sparse grass and a few spots close to the lake. The Cottonwood campground has concrete pads and well maintained grass throughout."

    "Lakeside is more for tent camping. Nice park for family camping."

    5. Mesa Campground — Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area

    27 Reviews
    Cedarpines Park, CA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 389-2281

    $45 - $350 / night

    "Silverwood Lake was just that. Lush green mountains in the back drop that surrounded every view you turned to take in. "You need to recharge your batteries!""

    "ATV with ice cream and firewood comes around right before dark. Campsites are a bit crowded for my liking. Access to the Silverwood Lake recreation area is a great benefit."

    6. Thomas Hunting Grounds Yellow Post Campites

    13 Reviews
    Angelus Oaks, CA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (909) 382-2882

    "Most of the sites have incredible views looking out over Lake Hemet and of the San Jacinto mountains."

    "Fun off-road adventure to get to the site. Minimal sites so not much crowding."

    7. Skypark Camp RV Resort

    11 Reviews
    Skyforest, CA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (909) 744-9927

    $50 - $100 / night

    "Lake Arrowhead is close for supplies or food.  "

    "Views are worth it and this is so conveniently located next to Santa's Village. Will definitely be coming back again sooner than later!"

    8. North Shore Campground - Lake Almanor

    14 Reviews
    Cedar Glen, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (909) 866-8550

    $29 - $58 / night

    "Spaces are pretty close together and small, but we got lucky and didn’t have anyone around us (likely due to bad air quality). If you kayak this is a great place to camp, it’s right next to the lake."

    "Lake arrowhead isn't a public lake so it's a bit of a drive to do any water activities, but there was a close offroad trail."

    9. Serrano

    35 Reviews
    Big Bear Lake, CA
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (909) 866-8021

    $44 - $91 / night

    "We camped just a few steps away from the lake, there were other campers there but the campgrounds are far enough away from each other."

    "This camp site is located walking distance to the lake. There are bike paths and walking trails located near the camp ground."

    10. Mission RV Park

    5 Reviews
    Bryn Mawr, CA
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (909) 796-7570

    "Although the park doesn't offer much of entertainment and don't remember seeing a pool (can get pretty hot) I was able to enjoy all the shopping stores and restaurants near by."

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Recent Reviews near Bryn Mawr, CA

1725 Reviews of 368 Bryn Mawr Campgrounds


  • Julianne M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 19, 2025

    Sawtooth Canyon Campground

    Beautiful BLM Free Campgound

    This campsite is absolutely breathtaking. We arrived late on a Friday night and all of the designated spots were taken, but there are places you can pull off to the side and camp. The road in is about 1.5mi of washboard, but it's completely doable (our rented front wheel drive campervan had no issues). Wish we would've spent more time here!

  • Emily L.
    Oct. 13, 2025

    Crane Lakeside Mobile Home Park & RV Resort

    Horrible experience!

    Came to this park to relax, and was was kept awake all night by the sound of several cats fighting outside. Why wouldn't management do something about the stray cats? Just to see this many cats makes this park feel urban or ghetto. Great park if you don't need to sleep...

  • Iris V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 10, 2025

    Sawtooth Canyon Campground

    Stunning Free BLM Campground with Epic Scenery

    Spent some time at Sawtooth Canyon Campground near Barstow, California, and wow—this spot is spectacular. The BLM offers 13 free, first-come-first-served sites nestled against dramatic rock formations. 🌵 Sunsets glow across the cliffs 🌅, and the moonrise over the rocks is unforgettable 🌕🔥.

    The access road is washboarded, so take it slow 🚙💨. Once you’re there, it’s peaceful and wide open. Each site has a picnic table 🪑, fire ring 🔥, and vault toilets 🚻. Plenty of space for trailers and rigs 🚐, and the night sky is breathtaking 🌌.

    If you’re passing through Barstow and want a quiet, beautiful free camping spot, Sawtooth Canyon is absolutely worth it.

  • Connie H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 10, 2025

    Pine Knot Campground

    Nice Campground Close to Town

    This campground is located pretty much in town right off Summit Blvd, on a side street right next to Snow Summit. We stayed here a couple nights with our pop-up camper in site #17. Cost was $34 a night. We pulled in a little later than planned, around 7:30, there were about 10 other sites occupied with a few more reserved. There are 48 sites throughout the campground. All primitive sites. Generators are allowed, but must stay on paved areas, and not run during quiet hours, 10:00 PM- 6:00 AM. Sites have a picnic table, fire ring, grill and bear box provided. There are 4 bathroom houses around the campground with flush toilets and sinks, they were pretty clean and well kept. Potable water was available. We did hear the coyotes at night and even had one or two come through our site. Campfires are allowed at this campground as of Oct. 9, 2025. We had great T-Mobile and AT&T cell service. The camp hosts were friendly and helpful.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Bonelli Bluffs

    Wish we could stay longer this trip

    We chose Bonelli for our shakedown trip in our new trailer (first time RVers). SO quiet. Numerous residents, but spots are mostly keep up nicely. Our rental spot has 3 trees, a picnic table, a firepit, level parking(!) and full hookups. We will be back for sure, especially since it's less than an hour from home.

  • Karen C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2025

    San Clemente State Beach Campground

    Ant Infestation !

    If they would simply notify campers upon check in of the SIGNIFICANT SEASONAL ANT INFESTATION, it could have alleviated us waking up with ants crawling on our faces in the morning. They sell diatomaceous earth for $10. And we carry it already, but all we could do was go to WAR with the ants to contain the outbreak in our camper. BTW, we carry NO food inside the camper. Had to go to 2 hardware stores to get supplies and spend significant time eradicating only 95%. SO Disappointed. Our site was near a “coyote corridor”, so maybe why we didn’t have so many squirrels! Ha Ha!

  • Julia G.
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Hare School Park

    Overnight parking ✅

    You can overnight park here with your RV without problems.

  • Elijah C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 24, 2025

    Big Pine Flat Campground

    50/50

    Sites are nice, there is potable water and toilets BUT there is also a OHV staging area directly across from the campsites. The occasional dirt bike is fine right? So I thought. There was a group of 20+ people partying and playing corridos so loud I couldn’t fall asleep. They had a side by side with large speakers facing the campsite :/ I wouldn’t be annoyed if it was free but I paid $30 to camp and the camp host said this is their turf and there is nothing he can do.

  • C
    Sep. 10, 2025

    serrano camp grounds

    Great place

    I stayed for one night Wednesday just to try the showers. The showers were perfect! Hot water even! So clean and beautiful. Recommend!


Guide to Bryn Mawr

Camping near Bryn Mawr, California offers locations across diverse elevations ranging from 1,000 to 7,000 feet, creating significant temperature variations between sites. During summer months, lower elevation campgrounds can reach daytime temperatures of 90-100°F while higher mountain sites remain 15-20 degrees cooler. The area experiences pronounced seasonal changes with oak woodland and chaparral environments at lower elevations and pine forest settings at higher points.

What to do

Mountain biking across from SkyPark Camp RV Resort: Located near Lake Arrowhead, the campground sits directly opposite SkyPark, making it convenient for cycling enthusiasts. "Perfect gateway for your adventures in the area," notes one camper, highlighting the accessibility to mountain biking trails just across the street.

Fishing at Lake Perris State Recreation Area: The lake offers reliable fishing opportunities throughout the year. "This lake has been good to me and my friends, always catch something, maybe not a lunker but fun," reports a visitor at Lake Perris State Recreational Area Campground. The campground provides direct lake access for anglers.

Hiking from Yellow Post sites: The free Thomas Hunting Grounds Yellow Post sites provide access to scenic trails with elevation gains. "Listen to great horned owls while taking in the views," mentions one camper about the Thomas Hunting Grounds Yellow Post Campites. The sites connect to multiple hiking routes with varying difficulty levels.

What campers like

Private, spacious campsites at Dogwood: Campers consistently mention the size and privacy of sites. "Dogwood is gorgeous. Beautiful, large, private campsites... even the bad sites are great," writes a visitor to Dogwood. The campground features well-spaced sites with natural barriers between them.

Clean facilities at Yucaipa Regional Park: The maintained grounds and facilities receive high marks from visitors. "This park is beautifully maintained. I'm so happy!" notes a camper at Yucaipa Regional Park. The park offers full hookup RV sites with concrete pads plus tent camping options.

Views from mountain campgrounds: Higher elevation sites provide panoramic vistas of valleys below. "Beautiful clean new, the view is worth the price of admission," writes a visitor about SkyPark Camp RV Resort. These viewpoints offer sunset watching opportunities with visibility stretching for miles on clear days.

What you should know

Fire restrictions change seasonally: Restrictions may differ between campgrounds, with some allowing fires while others enforce bans. "No wood fires but they do offer gas fire pits in the community area," notes a camper at SkyPark Camp RV Resort. Always check current fire regulations before arrival.

Weekend crowds vs. midweek tranquility: Popular sites fill quickly on weekends while offering more solitude midweek. "We went from Sunday through Wednesday and not only was it not crowded but it was nearly empty. Apparently the weekends are quite full," reports a visitor at Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area.

Wildlife encounters vary by elevation: Higher sites may require bear-resistant food storage, while all areas have small wildlife. "We just had the best weekend even with the 3 bears that decided to come by," mentions a camper at Silverwood Lake, highlighting the importance of proper food storage at mountain sites.

Tips for camping with families

Water recreation options: Several campgrounds offer water features specifically designed for children. "Lake Perris was a fun and clean place to camp at! We did some fishing, bike riding, the water was clear, and my kids loved it," shares a visitor about their Lake Perris experience.

Educational opportunities: Some campgrounds provide learning experiences alongside recreation. "There is a cool museum were the amazing staff provided us with interesting history about the lake and Indian tribes," notes a Lake Perris camper, describing the educational amenities available.

Playgrounds and dedicated activity areas: Family-focused campgrounds offer structured play spaces. "There's a lot to do here, including fishing, playgrounds, and even a waterpark in the summer," explains a camper at Rancho Jurupa RV Park. The park includes mini-golf and a splash pad specifically for younger visitors.

Tips from RVers

Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds have uneven spots requiring preparation. "Large concrete pads that can handle any rig," notes a visitor about Yucaipa Regional Park, while another mentions at Lake Perris that "a lot of spaces are unleveled but it's not a deal breaker for me."

Hookup variations between campgrounds: Facilities differ significantly across the area's campgrounds. "I'd say come here if you're looking to enjoy outside and not be in your rig much. If you're one that needs WI-FI this isn't the spot for you," advises a Lake Perris camper, noting limited connectivity options.

Access road considerations: Mountain campgrounds often require navigating challenging roads. "The dirt road that leads up to the first spots is a doozy, and very long. When arriving at night, we felt like it would never end," warns a visitor to Thomas Hunting Grounds about the access road conditions for larger vehicles.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Bryn Mawr, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, Bryn Mawr, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 368 campgrounds and RV parks near Bryn Mawr, CA and 27 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Bryn Mawr, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Bryn Mawr, CA is Lake Perris State Recreational Area Campground with a 3.8-star rating from 38 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Bryn Mawr, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 27 free dispersed camping spots near Bryn Mawr, CA.

What parks are near Bryn Mawr, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 parks near Bryn Mawr, CA that allow camping, notably San Bernardino National Forest and Mojave River Dam.