Best Campgrounds near Crestline, CA
The San Bernardino National Forest surrounding Crestline, California contains multiple developed campgrounds and dispersed camping areas at elevations between 4,000-7,000 feet. Dogwood Campground offers shaded sites with fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets, while Skypark Camp RV Resort provides full hookups for recreational vehicles. The region includes both tent-friendly and RV-accessible options, with several campgrounds featuring cabin accommodations. North Shore Campground near Lake Almanor and Bonita Ranch Campground in nearby Lytle Creek provide additional camping areas with varying amenities and terrain types.
Road conditions and campground accessibility vary significantly by season, with many sites operating only from spring through fall due to winter snow at higher elevations. "The campground itself was fairly clean, and all the sites were very large and spaced well away from each other," noted one visitor about Lake Campground. Reservations are strongly recommended during summer months when campgrounds frequently reach capacity, especially on weekends. Several campgrounds like Serrano and Dogwood require advance booking through recreation.gov, while others operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Fire restrictions commonly apply during dry summer and fall months, with complete bans possible during high fire danger periods.
Campers consistently rate the mountain views and forest settings as highlights of the Crestline area camping experience. Sites near Big Bear Lake receive particularly high ratings for their proximity to water recreation. According to reviews, "Dogwood Campground is one of my favorites. The campground itself is rather expansive... campsites are all private and unique with no two the same." Many campgrounds feature clean restrooms and some offer shower facilities, though amenities vary widely between developed and primitive sites. The proximity to hiking trails, including sections of the Pacific Crest Trail, provides additional recreational opportunities. Visitors mention that campgrounds closer to Crestline tend to have more traffic noise, while those deeper in the forest offer greater solitude but require longer drives on unpaved roads.
