Best Campgrounds near California Hot Springs, CA

Searching for the best camping near California Hot Springs, CA? California Hot Springs is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in California Hot Springs, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.

Best Camping Sites Near California Hot Springs, California (167)

    1. Rivernook Campground

    27 Reviews
    Kernville, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 376-2705

    $45 - $75 / night

    "We tent camped and our site was close to the rv hook up sites. The rv sites have two different sizes and hookups. Tent sites had access to running water."

    "We loved this river spot even though we were next to one of the smaller parts rather than the main river. If you can try and get one near the main river as it is more picturesque. "

    2. Leavis Flat Campground

    9 Reviews
    California Hot Springs, CA
    1 mile
    Website

    "This small roadside campground is a lovely spot, tucked between a hillside and Deer Creek running year round right at the edge of the campground."

    "There is a market close by Incase you forgot something, when you go back on the road make a right and at the intersection make another fight and ir should take you to the market."

    3. Sequoia National Park Dispersed campground

    7 Reviews
    Johnsondale, CA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (559) 565-3341

    "Next to stream. Then if you continue on you will hit a 4 mile off road (my Corolla/any sedan OK) and see great views and waterfall! Nice!"

    "The area is secluded and away from kern campgrounds where you will see a lot of people. You will have some people checking out the area or driving in but for us they all left."

    4. Holey Meadow Campground

    7 Reviews
    Johnsondale, CA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (559) 539-5230

    $32 - $34 / night

    "A small, quiet campground that’s good for groups of 2-4 people since the sites are close to each other."

    "The campsites are close to each other and is the only reason I did not mark this as 5 stars. 1, 2, 3 and 4 are in the first section/small loop and are up a slight hill and have a smaller bathroom. 5 and"

    5. Limestone Campground

    10 Reviews
    Johnsondale, CA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 376-1815

    $34 - $36 / night

    "Easily accessed campground located right on the Kern River in the lower Sequoia Forest. No service, running water, or electricity, but there is vault toilets and dogs are allowed."

    "The lsites are not as close to the river as Brush Creek campground, but still closer than Fairview, which is down the road.

    Facilities. There are vault toilets."

    6. Dispersed Camp near Sequoia National Park

    7 Reviews
    Johnsondale, CA
    7 miles

    "Regardless they were gorgeous tucked in spots among the trees. Woke up to cattle walking through the meadow we parked next to."

    "This camping site is a nice free area super close to the Giants Trail entrance (5 minute drive). As you head in you go thru a little dirt road and at the end you see an opening for this site."

    7. Chico Flat Dispersed Camping - Partially Closed, See Description

    10 Reviews
    Kernville, CA
    12 miles
    Website

    "Each site is private-ish and they won’t be walking through your site to drop in, you’ll just see groups of people float by your area, once they drop in close to the first site on the north end."

    "There's great access to the national forest and the little town of Kernville is so cute and friendly."

    8. KRS RV Resort@Camp James

    14 Reviews
    Kernville, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 376-6119

    $39 - $340 / night

    "Our family has been going to Camp James for over 10 years, and it's easily our favorite campground in California. The campsites are clean, shaded by trees, and it's right on the riverfront."

    "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."

    9. Brush Creek Recreation Site

    7 Reviews
    Johnsondale, CA
    11 miles
    Website

    "As long as you are 25 feet away from the river you can camp anywhere you want, so definitely not restricted to the parking lot area."

    "We camped right next to the river. It was such a peaceful place and the sounds of the river right next to our camp was just heaven on earth. We stayed for 2 nights in June 2020"

    10. Redwood Meadow

    5 Reviews
    Johnsondale, CA
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (559) 539-5230

    $34 - $106 / night

    "However, it is located directly across from the trailhead to the Trail of 100 Giants, a 1/2 mile walking tour of some of the biggest trees Sequoia has to offer."

    "We stayed here in October after the yurts had been taken down which was no bother to us when you’re surrounded by the most magnificent trees in the world!"

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Recent Reviews near California Hot Springs, CA

699 Reviews of 167 California Hot Springs Campgrounds


  • Lou F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2025

    Tule - Success Lake

    Cool at night and hot in the day

    I got here at 3pm and it was hot with no shade. By 5 pm it cool of and was very pleasant. Very good showers and restroom to freshen up in.

  • b
    Sep. 11, 2025

    Kern River Campground

    Very chill

    Great serene spot (aside from a few noisy campers) by the river, liked it so much we camped out for 3 days. Great price too! Close enough to civilization but far enough you forget it's nearby. Would recommend!

  • french M.
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Stine Cove Recreation Site

    Stine Cove

    I'm looking for a campsite near water and a nice mountain view, will definitely add Stine Cove to my next trip list.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Sequoia RV Ranch

    Beautiful & Quiet

    Beautiful and well kept campground. Also loved the fact that loud music is not allowed. The sites by the river are amazing. There is also a really nice, large, and clean dog park! Will stay here again!

  • Kenneth P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Balch Park Campground

    Fantastic Family Campground

    This is a historic campground. With 1000 year old trees and history of logging. Good fishing and hiking all around the area. Nice hosts and most people are respectful of the area.

  • Michael H.
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park Campground

    Very nice grounds

    Clean, newer type of space. Free showers for campers, and the price is cheap for a developed site. $20 for regular, $30 for an RV. Bathrooms are clean, water hookups, covered tables, and a dump station. Also seems pretty low usage. Saturday in Aug and we were the only ones. Reasonable cell on mint, T-Mobile and spectrum. If the trains and small freeway weren't close, it would be 5 as a site. It's central valley so hot in the summer with a bit of breeze and flat.

  • K
    Aug. 14, 2025

    Kern River Campground

    Reservations

    You must register and reserve a campsite before 4 PM local. The website directs you to an unsecured website. I pressed on through and got a human on the phone, so far so good. The total was $35.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 8, 2025

    Sequoia National Forest Quaking Aspen Campground

    Awesome campground

    This campground is a great area for yourself to be immersed into the forest. We arrived on a Sunday and there were first come first serve campgrounds available. We stayed one night but there were plenty of spots to choose from. The roads around the campground are drivable for all type of cars. Due keep in mind you will need a to obtain campfire permit online before you arrive depending if there are fire restrictions or not. There is no service within the campground so make sure you have everything available to you. There are 2 hikes nearby but unfortunately one of the hikes, Freeman Creek Trail, was closed due to restoration work being done at the time. Definitely would recommend if you plan a little trip into Sequoia National Forest.


Guide to California Hot Springs

Camping near California Hot Springs, California, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking to relax by the river or explore the nearby trails, there’s something for everyone.

What to do

  • Fishing: Many campers enjoy fishing in the Kern River. One reviewer from Kern River Campground said, "Fishing is always good, sightseeing is good just all around good place."
  • Tubing: If you're up for some fun on the water, tubing is a popular activity. A visitor at the same campground mentioned, "We had a blast here... tubing, fishing... a great time still."
  • Hiking: Explore the trails around the campgrounds. A camper at California Kern River Park noted, "The spots were huge and close to the river which made for beautiful peaceful mornings."

What campers like

  • Scenic views: Campers rave about the beautiful locations. One happy camper at Limestone Campground said, "Campsites are above the river in a pretty narrow canyon... spacious sites."
  • Clean facilities: Many appreciate the well-kept restrooms and showers. A reviewer at KRS RV Resort@Camp James mentioned, "Camp James is a clean, spacious park... bathrooms and coin-operated showers."
  • Friendly staff: Campers often highlight the helpfulness of the staff. A visitor at Kern River Campground shared, "Collin our camp host was fantastic."

What you should know

  • Noise levels: Some campgrounds can get noisy, especially on weekends. A camper at Rivernook Campground expressed disappointment, saying, "No one enforced the 10pm quiet time... it was super loud until about 1am."
  • Limited amenities: Not all campgrounds have full amenities. A reviewer at Kennedy Meadows Campground noted, "The campground has been abandoned for years... no water, no trash, no bathrooms."
  • Wildlife encounters: Be prepared for wildlife, especially bears. A visitor at Campground Guard Station warned, "The non-yurt sites didn’t have bear lockers."

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose spacious sites: Look for campgrounds with larger sites for more room to play. A family at Kern River Campground enjoyed, "The sites are spacious and private."
  • Plan for activities: Bring gear for fishing and tubing to keep everyone entertained. A camper at KRS RV Resort@Camp James said, "We all got to stay together... super beautiful and relaxing."
  • Pack snacks and drinks: Having food on hand can make a big difference. A visitor at California Kern River Park mentioned, "Clean, quiet, good vibes."

Tips from RVers

  • Check site access: Some sites may have tricky access for larger RVs. A reviewer at Camp James noted, "Site 4 has a small uphill to back into which if you have an RV... you're going to scrap hard."
  • Look for full hookups: If you need electricity and water, make sure to choose a campground that offers these. A camper at Rivernook Campground appreciated the "electric hookups."
  • Be mindful of noise: Keep the volume down to respect other campers. A visitor at Success Lake shared, "I was laying awake till 12:30 am when I asked them to please keep the noise down."

Camping near California Hot Springs, California, can be a fantastic experience if you know what to expect and how to prepare. Enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near California Hot Springs, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, California Hot Springs, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 167 campgrounds and RV parks near California Hot Springs, CA and 33 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near California Hot Springs, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near California Hot Springs, CA is Rivernook Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 27 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near California Hot Springs, CA?

What parks are near California Hot Springs, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 20 parks near California Hot Springs, CA that allow camping, notably Sequoia National Forest and Kaweah Lake.