Camping opportunities near Daggett, California range from developed sites to secluded desert retreats at elevations between 1,900 and 7,000 feet. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F from June through September, while winter nights often drop below freezing. The area's desert conditions require campers to bring sufficient water supplies, as natural sources are scarce throughout the region.
What to Do
Hiking to hot springs: Deep Creek Hot Springs Campground provides direct access to natural hot springs via a moderately challenging trail. "The hike to the hot springs is pretty rough but also worth it when you get there. No hot showers," notes a visitor at Deep Creek. The springs themselves offer several pools of varying temperatures.
Explore historic sites: Newberry Mountain RV Park sits on historic Route 66 with easy access to desert attractions. "The old caboose, the Hwy 66 hotel mural, and the ducks around the pond were a nice touch," according to a camper who stayed at the park during winter months. Most historic sites are within 30 minutes of camping areas.
Archery practice: Barstow-Calico KOA maintains an archery range for guests seeking outdoor target practice. "A great spot that we can't wait to go back and spend a couple of days at. The amenities at this KOA are great. Pool...playground...horseshoes...archery range...etc.," reports one visitor. The archery range is open seasonally during daylight hours.
Nighttime stargazing: Keller Peak Yellow Post Campsites offers excellent stargazing with minimal light pollution. "Quiet and (mostly) clean sites. Tons of land to hike, on or off trail. Geocaching sites nearby," explains a regular visitor. The high elevation provides clearer viewing conditions than valley locations.
What Campers Like
Private hot spring access: Deep Creek Hot Springs Camp Retreat features private soaking pools at select campsites. "The spring pools at our site were so relaxing to have all to ourselves and well worth it to reserve for our party! The deep creek hot springs were absolutely fabulous, as they were situated next to a cold creek where we could do therapeutic hot cold plunges," reports a group that visited with children.
Family-friendly amenities: Recreation facilities keep children engaged at several campgrounds. "The kids loved the pool and other kids to play with. Great game room with pool, foosball, air hockey etc. Big playground and easy campground to bike around," notes a family that stayed at Barstow-Calico KOA.
Lakeside camping options: Lighthouse Trailer Resort & Marina offers waterfront glamping with direct lake access. "A gravel spot with a concrete pad and picnic table, with a view to die for! The site and grounds are full of families of all ages and their 4-legged friends," explains a camper who stayed in spot 62. The resort remains open from May through October.
Spacious sites: Serrano campground provides larger-than-average spaces between sites. "Very nice patch of land. Quiet. Lake Arrowhead Village is 4 miles away," reports a visitor to the North Shore area. Most sites feature tree cover for shade during hot summer months.
What You Should Know
Road access challenges: Reaching some glamping locations requires navigation on unpaved roads. "Went as it was one of the first into northern CA from Oregon. Lucked out! Just about to book for this June," shares a camper about North Shore Campground at Lake Almanor. Four-wheel drive vehicles may be necessary during wet conditions.
Desert temperature fluctuations: Prepare for significant temperature changes between day and night. "We camped here the last weekend before they closed for the winter, after Thanksgiving. The campground was clean, quiet, and had a decent amount of space between sites," notes a camper at Serrano who experienced frozen utilities in the morning.
Limited water sources: Desert camping requires bringing sufficient water. "Rough ride in but totally worth it. The hike to the springs is pretty rough but also worth it when you get there. No hot showers," reports a visitor to Deep Creek, highlighting the lack of amenities despite the natural beauty.
Highway noise at some sites: Mojave River Forks Regional Park experiences some traffic noise from nearby highways. "The park itself is basically a gravel lot but they have done some nice work with trees and shrubs to make it seem less so. Unfortunately it is extremely close to I-15 and the traffic on 15 never stops," explains a visitor who found sleeping difficult.
Tips for Camping with Families
Bike-friendly options: Look for campgrounds with designated biking areas and trails. "Very close to walking and biking trails. There are bike and kayak rentals if you didn't bring your toys," notes a visitor to Lighthouse Trailer Resort & Marina. The adjacent paved bike path connects to longer routes.
Evening entertainment options: Pack games and activities for after sunset. "Don't let the desert and muted landscape discourage you. The staff was super nice, the store and gift shop well stocked, kids loved the pool, playground, game room with pool, foosball, ping pong and more," advises a family that visited Barstow-Calico KOA.
Spring and fall timing: Schedule family trips during moderate temperature seasons. "This is a fairly nice place to camp. I would avoid camping here during the summer since it does get very hot. It is closed during the winter months, but you can still catch some cooler weather when it first opens during the season," recommends a visitor to Mojave River Forks Regional Park.
Tips from RVers
Full hookup availability: Many glamping spots near Daggett offer complete RV services. "We pulled a 27' Travel Trailer from Livermore, CA and picked out the perfect site #94. It was the furthest RV site north of the campground and we had power, water and sewage. It was a lake front campsite so we had a nice view of the lake right in our 'front yard,'" shares an RVer who stayed at North Shore Campground.
Level site selection: Choose sites carefully for easier setup. "The gravel pads are a bit different than most KOAs and don't create that fine white dust, which is a plus. The full hookups worked well but there is no Wi-Fi and all amenities were closed aside from laundry and bathrooms," explains an RVer about Barstow-Calico KOA.
Electrical requirements: Plan power usage based on available amperage. "The Wi-Fi speed was 3.32 for Download and 2.35 for Upload, which worked okay. We got 3 bars on Verizon. Due to the expected freeze warning, we did not hook up to the water or sewer," reports an RV camper at Newberry Mountain RV Park during winter months.
Guide
