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The San Bernardino Mountains and surrounding valleys near Fontana, California provide a diverse range of camping experiences within an hour's drive of the city. Established campgrounds like Dogwood in the higher elevations offer forested sites with amenities such as picnic tables, fire rings, and drinking water, while Bonita Ranch Campground in Lytle Creek provides a mix of tent, RV, and cabin accommodations. Closer to town, Prado Regional Park and Rancho Jurupa RV Park offer year-round camping with full hookups for RVs. Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area, approximately 30 miles northeast of Fontana, features lakeside camping with opportunities for water recreation. The region spans from urban-adjacent sites to more remote mountain locations, with elevations ranging from 1,000 to over 7,000 feet.
Seasonal considerations significantly impact camping conditions in the Fontana area. Mountain campgrounds like Manker Campground near Mount Baldy operate seasonally from May to October due to winter snow at higher elevations. Summer temperatures in lower elevation sites can exceed 100°F, while mountain locations remain considerably cooler. Fire restrictions are common during dry summer and fall months, particularly in San Bernardino National Forest campgrounds like Applewhite. As one camper noted about Dogwood Campground, "The trees are massive and plenty and make you feel like you are a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of California." Advance reservations are strongly recommended for weekend camping, especially during summer months when sites fill quickly. Many campgrounds require Adventure Passes for parking in addition to camping fees.
Proximity to recreational activities is a common highlight in camper reviews of the area. Lake-adjacent sites at Silverwood Lake and Bonelli Bluffs provide access to swimming, fishing, and boating. Campers at mountain sites frequently mention hiking and off-road trail access as key amenities. "We were super close to all the awesome hiking spots and off-roading exploring. If you're into rock climbing there are a bunch of cool places there in Holcomb valley," reported one visitor to Serrano Campground. Highway noise affects some lower elevation campgrounds, particularly those near Interstate 15 and other major thoroughfares. Site privacy varies significantly between campgrounds, with mountain locations generally offering more secluded experiences than valley campgrounds. Most established sites provide basic amenities like picnic tables and fire rings, with varying levels of hookups for RVs.
"Silverwood Lake Campground offers a range of site experiences depending on where you stay."
"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!""
from $45 - $350 / night
Check Availability"Nice level grounds to walk around. Lakeside has gravel roads / pads... other side has asphalt roads / concrete pads. Restrooms are clean and acceptable."
"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."
from $40 - $55 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $40 - $81 / night
Check Availability"Our experience at Bonelli Bluffs Campground was mostly positive, but there were a couple of aspects that could be improved."
"The views around the outskirts of B loop are just lovely, the staff has been so friendly and helpful (we’re RV newbies and had a ton of questions) the store was stocked with all of the little things we"
from $76 - $88 / night
Check Availability"Easy access to a pretty trail right behind the campground. Very quiet and interspersed with long time stayers and temporary campers. I stayed in my van and had my cat and dog with me."
"It's definitely not that far away from the city roughly a 7-10 minute drive up the mountain very chill environment awesome staff very home like feel you're literally a box throw away from the creek if"
from $35 - $45 / night
Check Availability"I grew up around in the area so I have been to this park quite a few times for a few different reasons. It is a very expansive and versatile area."
"It's a nice park great for long walks and trail riding on bikes great for the dog 🐕 also a bit windy so you need to keep a eye on your awning, great cell service with at&t ."
from $47 - $120 / night
Check Availability"Already been here twice once in 01/25 and 11/25 great campsite some have access to running water facet if not there are some that are close by, have also close by trash bins, has a little shop near by"
"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! "
from $25 - $300 / night
Check Availability"Close by Hobit trails clear and inviting trails .rivers and in the winter snow....lots of campsites.... seen deer..rabbits and a multitude of squirrels. ..."
"Top of mt Baldy road.. almost as far as you can drive. Not many sites, about 20. One giant loop. No reservations needed."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"In the busy season, you’d be no more than 12-16 feet away from your neighbors. However, my dog and I had a lovely stay. Neighbors were very few, quiet, and the restrooms were more than adequate."
"Also someone is always here cleaning, you will see her around with her dog. She is such a nice lady. The photos below are from the creek."
from $15 - $20 / night
Check Availability"they have several different kinds of cabins Little ones and then really big ones just suit your family size they have full hookups you can also purchase cable TV if you wish you can park right on the lake"
from $150 - $375 / night
Check Availability
ScoutHas a security guard that thought she was God or something like that. Never seen anybody or place so petty on the place and still searching for the championship horseshoe pits and I can't stop talking about the dark green of the fishing lakes and the fish swimming on their sides
TravelerWe reserved and paid for a regular RV site specifically advertised for a 36–40 ft motorhome. We were assigned Site#28, which was so sloped and unsuitable that we could not safely extend either our living-room slide-out or bedroom slide-out. While using our leveling system, two front hydraulic jack rods broke and one rear jack became severely bent and could not retract. Our motorhome was left unsafe to drive or move. The exact mechanical cause still requires professional inspection, but the condition and slope of the assigned site are serious concerns. We immediately notified the campground by email, provided photographs, and went to the office seeking help with an incident report, emergency assistance, and a safe plan for the stranded motorhome. Unfortunately, management refused to take meaningful responsibility or help us resolve the emergency. The most disappointing part was not only the unsuitable site, but the lack of concern and assistance after a guest’s large motorhome became immobilized on the property. We had to return to work on Monday and were left trying to arrange emergency service, towing, transportation, and accommodation on our own. Based on this experience, I cannot recommend Holloway’s RV Park to owners of large Class A motorhomes. If you have a 36–40 ft RV, carefully inspect the assigned site’s slope, space, and leveling conditions before parking or deploying your jacks.
Travelervery pretty sight the mountain air is incredible. the staff is very helpful and friendly. at night the drunks go crazy and the bears steal their food.
ScoutThe scenery is unique and enjoyable, with nice views of either sunrise or sunset, depending on site. I found the lake itself very pretty. However when we arrived 4 vehicles are in our spot, people were nice enough moving but we had to go door to door knocking on camper to ask who's cars they were due to no signal and no rangers nearby. Our site was pretty dirty with lots of trash, copious ants near the drainage attachments, and two of the nearby groups had excessive tents extending into the back of our site making our view look more like a homeless encampment and less like a serene mountain sunset. They also were littering, urinating outside, and excessively drinking and partying like crazy until the wee hours. As a family group we felt really uncomfortable. It seemed like not all spots are like this, however, on my walk around deer loop in the morning. If you do go, the water activities and rentals look fun, the walking trail/biking trail was nicely done, and you could optimize your spot by booking a whole group of spots (instead of booking one, book one on the right and left side to avoid feeling like you have entered homeless refuge). It maybe was a bit worse as we were here over a holiday weekend. But we most likely won't be back, there are other places that are less expensive and with better enforcement and a family atmosphere. If you want to party it is probably a fine spot, and if you love water sports also likely ok. I thin it's a beautiful place with unique scenery and a lot of potential, but needs more enforcement regarding guest code of conduct.
Edited and gave 3 stars instead of 2. Views are really nice now that our poorly behaved neighbors left. Worth considering a visit during less busy times.
TravelerNice campground, clean and well maintained - would pick a different spot a bit further from street. If you want to go to lake, its a bit away so need car.
ScoutEasy to get to. I have an AWD sprinter no problem. Son has an Acura TLX made it up no issue had a few spin outs on steeper parts. Higher sites are nice and spaced.
GuideNo lake view, which was a bit disappointing. Nice wooded area though with tree climbing. A bit loud music from the neighbors, not until very late so was OK. Limited amount of toilets for the amount of spots
TravelerCamp site is in walking distance of Idyllwild. Has has a couple of sites with electric hookups. Bathrooms are clean, showers need a token for $1. Being close to the road makes it noisy during the daytime .
ScoutIt was a nice place and the people were nice. I checked with the staff on day one if their water was potable. They confirmed everything is potable. My dog had explosive diarrhea day 1 and by the time I got home I had fever and diarrhea. It’s been a rough ride ever since. My dog and I did not share food. We only used the tap as a water source. My husband ate all of our food any only drank store bought drinks. No water. He’s fine. Just me and the dog riding it out. Don’t learn my lesson the hard way. Bring your own water and enjoy it.
Camping around Fontana provides access to sites from 1,000 to over 7,000 feet elevation with significant temperature variations across seasons. The San Bernardino Mountains contain multiple campgrounds within 30-45 minutes of city limits, creating easy access for weekend trips. Campsites range from primitive tent spots to full hookup RV sites with varying levels of privacy and amenities.
Hiking trails access: Many campsites at Applewhite Campground connect to nearby trail systems. "My dog and I had a lovely stay... Mountain views are fantastic," notes one camper who appreciated the convenient hiking options directly from the campground.
Water recreation options: The multiple lakes near Fontana offer various activities. "Lake-adjacent sites provide access to swimming, fishing, and boating. "We did some fishing, bike riding, the water was clear, and my kids loved it. There is a cool museum were the amazing staff provided us with interesting history about the lake and Indian tribes," reports a visitor to Lake Perris State Recreational Area.
Creek exploration: Several campgrounds offer access to small creeks. "The creek is small not deep at all but it's nice to take photos and just wet your feet," mentions a visitor to Applewhite Campground regarding Lytle Creek. This makes for perfect warm-weather cooling options when mountain temperatures rise.
Privacy between sites: Campers frequently mention site spacing as important. At Dogwood Campground, "Beautiful, large, private campsites. We were very happy with our site (#5) however after riding around the entire campground on our bikes, we realized we had one of the worst sites!!! Lol Just goes to show even the bad sites are great," observed one reviewer.
Clean facilities: Many campers specifically mention bathroom conditions. "The bathrooms are clean with flush toilets, along with soap and water sinks. There are many areas with water stations to fill up your containers," noted a Dogwood visitor, highlighting the well-maintained infrastructure.
Family amenities: Rancho Jurupa RV Park receives positive feedback for its recreational options. "Splash pad, park, mini golf great amenities. Nice staff! Would of liked to be on grass like the sites across but they were clean!" mentions one camper, emphasizing the diversity of activities available.
Off-season advantages: Visiting during weekdays or non-summer months dramatically changes the camping experience. "I went on a Wednesday afternoon in May and got my pick of sites. There were only 4-6 other campers each night so it was very quiet," reports a visitor to Manker Campground.
Noise considerations: Several campgrounds near Fontana have noise issues during peak times. "This is a good spot to spend the night. It's close to Ice House Canyon trail," mentions one Manker Campground visitor, who saw it primarily as a functional overnight spot rather than a quiet retreat.
Fire restrictions: Fire regulations vary by season and campground. During dry periods, many campgrounds prohibit open flames completely. Sites with designated fire rings typically require campfire permits during allowed seasons, which rangers enforce strictly from May through October.
Water features: Look for campgrounds with built-in water recreation. "Great park. It may not seem nice when you are passing through town to get in, but once you enter the gates it's beautiful," comments a visitor at Rancho Jurupa Park, noting the contrast between surrounding areas and the recreational opportunities inside.
Playground access: Several campgrounds include play structures for children. "Beautiful views all around Sunrise, Sunset and Night sky. Sights of all kinds of birds like hawks and herons. Water park and mini golf for kids," notes a camper at Rancho Jurupa, highlighting attractions beyond just camping spots.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many sites offer chances to observe local animals. At Bonelli Bluffs, "There is camping, horseback riding, fishing, trails, biking, hiking, picnics, you can use your jet skies in designated areas, swimming on the pool areas, kayaking, Park for kids and plenty more," reports a regular visitor, showing the diversity of activities for different age groups.
Site selection strategy: RV campers recommend researching specific site dimensions before booking. "We drive a 19 foot RV van which backed up easily into our campsite, and had plenty of room to spare," mentioned a Dogwood camper, but larger rigs need more careful planning.
Hookup availability: Electricity, water, and sewer connections vary widely among the best places to camp near Fontana. At Bonita Ranch Campground, "This place is awesome full hookups lots to do trails and not to mention right on top of the creek. Friendly staff helpful too restrooms r clean showers clean too," notes an RV camper who appreciated the full-service amenities.
Dump station access: Not all campgrounds with RV sites offer on-site dump stations. "There's a dump station, but a couple spots with dump but they were always booked. I will book ahead next time," advises a camper at Rancho Jurupa Park, highlighting the importance of advance planning for services.
Frequently Asked Questions
What family-friendly camping options are available near Fontana?
Families camping near Fontana have several excellent options. Bonelli Bluffs offers a positive experience for families, though be aware it lacks designated playgrounds for children. O'Neill Regional Park is ideal for active families who enjoy hiking, biking, and running, with clean facilities and free showers. Prado Regional Park near Chino provides drive-in sites with water and toilet facilities that accommodate families comfortably. For those willing to drive a bit further, San Clemente State Beach Campground offers beach access that kids love. Most family-friendly campgrounds in the area feature clean restrooms, picnic tables, and fire rings.
Where are the best camping spots in Fontana, CA?
The Fontana area offers excellent camping options within a short drive. Applewhite Campground in San Bernardino National Forest provides a natural setting just 5-7 miles from Highway 215. For mountain enthusiasts, Heart Bar Campground offers stunning sunset views across rolling mountains and a secluded, quiet atmosphere away from town. Other notable options include Bonita Ranch Campground near Lytle Creek for hikers, and Manker Campground near Mount Baldy. Most campgrounds in the region offer basic amenities like toilets and fire rings, though availability varies seasonally with summer being the busiest period.
Are there any RV parks or campgrounds with full amenities in Fontana?
Pechanga RV Resort offers luxurious amenities including newer facilities, pool access, proximity to restaurants, and is within walking distance to a casino and golf course. It's located in Southern California's wine country, perfect for those seeking upscale camping. Rancho Jurupa RV Park near Riverside provides full amenities including water hookups, toilets, and is big-rig friendly. For beach lovers with RVs, Bolsa Chica State Beach Campground offers concrete/asphalt sites with water, electric hookups, and a dump station just steps from the sand. Most full-service RV parks in the region require reservations, especially during peak summer months.
Can I find camping with lake access near Fontana?
Serrano offers excellent lake camping with sites just steps away from the water. Visitors praise the friendly staff who provide helpful information about local wildlife. The campground features multiple sites with lake views and access. Mesa Campground at Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area provides another great option with reservable sites, water, and toilets. Lake Campground offers large campsites with the lake within walking distance, though be aware of highway noise and flies during certain times. For most lake campgrounds near Fontana, summer and early fall provide the best weather conditions, though reservations are strongly recommended during peak seasons.
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