Best Tent Camping near Exeter, CA
Tent camping options abound in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains near Exeter, California, with several established campgrounds providing access to Sequoia National Park and the Giant Sequoia National Monument. Cold Springs Campground and Buckeye Flat Campground offer tent-specific sites within Sequoia National Park, while dispersed tent camping can be found along forest roads south of the park boundary. Most sites require advance planning due to seasonal availability, with Cold Springs typically open May through October.
Most tent campgrounds in the Exeter region feature basic amenities such as picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets. Buckeye Flat provides trash collection and drinking water access, while more primitive tent sites may require campers to pack in their own supplies. Tent sites at Cold Springs Campground are first-come, first-served, set among conifers and aspen trees with easy river access. Bear boxes are mandatory at National Park tent campgrounds, with rangers making daily rounds to check compliance. The winding mountain roads to reach these tent sites can be challenging, particularly the partially unpaved Mineral King Road leading to Cold Springs, which takes approximately an hour to travel just 23 miles.
The secluded nature of tent camping near Exeter provides unique wildlife viewing opportunities and access to less-crowded sections of Sequoia National Park. Tent campers at Atwell Mill enjoy camping among historic Sequoia stumps and nearby living giants, with sites spread out to maintain privacy. For tent campers seeking solitude, the Cold Springs area offers a quieter alternative to the main park corridors. A camper noted, "One of the best campgrounds we've stayed at. Water nearby, no flies or mosquitoes, good distance to other sites and nature all around." The higher elevations provide cooler summer temperatures for tent camping, though early season visitors should prepare for potential snowmelt affecting site conditions. Many tent-only areas serve as excellent basecamps for day hikes or overnight backpacking trips into the surrounding wilderness.
