Best Tent Camping near Frazier Park, CA

Tent campsites surrounding Frazier Park, California offer a mix of high-elevation sites and secluded desert locations within Los Padres National Forest. Chula Vista Campground at Mt. Pinos stands at nearly 9,000 feet elevation, providing free tent camping with shaded sites and picnic tables, while Oak Flat Campground offers primitive tent sites with more rugged conditions roughly 20 miles southwest of town.

Most tent camping areas near Frazier Park require visitors to bring their own water and follow strict fire regulations, particularly during dry summer months. Vault toilets exist at several sites including Chula Vista and Pine Mountain campgrounds, though they may not always be well-maintained or stocked with toilet paper. An Adventure Pass ($5 daily or $30 annual) is required for parking at many tent campsites in the area, available for purchase at local businesses like Mountain View Mini Mart in Frazier Park. Sites typically feature fire rings and picnic tables, though fire bans may be in effect seasonally.

High-elevation tent camping provides excellent stargazing opportunities and cooler summer temperatures compared to nearby desert locations. Chula Vista offers walk-in tent sites accessible via a short quarter-mile trail from the parking area, providing more solitude than drive-in locations. Many primitive tent sites are situated among joshua trees or pine forests depending on elevation and location. Trails connect directly to several tent campgrounds, making them good basecamps for day hiking or backpacking adventures. A visitor commented, "Chula Vista is a short hike from the parking lot, but it is quite a way off of the 5 up more than one windy road. Mt. Pinos stands at almost 9,000 feet, one of the highest in the area, so if you are subject to altitude sickness be aware."

Best Tent Sites Near Frazier Park, California (42)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Frazier Park, CA

640 Reviews of 42 Frazier Park Campgrounds


  • Jeremiah F.
    Jul. 21, 2020

    Chula Vista Campground at Mt. Pinos

    Great Hike-in campground with nice hiking nearby!

    At the top of the Cuddy Valley road is a large parking lot (Adventure Pass required) for the hiking trail to the top of Mt. Pinos. Off to the other side is a dirt trail on the edge of a meadow, after about 200/300 yards is Chula Vista Campground. The camp sites vary greatly in size and flatness, so check around for the good ones.

    First Come First serve camping, with some great spots overlooking the nearby meadow. The sites were clean and decently spread out, with fire rings and picnic benches.

    It can get pretty windy up here so make sure your tent is staked down well. If you don't have an Adventure Pass, Mountain View Mini Mart in Frazier Park is the closest place i know that sells them. $5 a day, or $30 for the year pass. (you can get a second year pass for only $5).

    Met a guy named Bob and helped set up his telescope in the parking lot, he let anyone who wanted check out the amazing night sky!

    Pros: Free camping!

              Great hiking nearby.

              Shady, clean sites.

              Great sky gazing!

    Cons: Lots of flies, very active during the day.

               Bathrooms were pretty messy. below average for vault toilets. Bring extra TP.

  • Dani P.
    Jul. 12, 2019

    Chula Vista Campground at Mt. Pinos

    Hike In Gorgeous Campground with ample space

    Park at the lot up top, then walk about 1/2 mile to campground via dirt path. Plenty of sites. Old rustic bathrooms work well. Picnic tables at each site. Brought my dogs here and they had a blast, plus no ticks found. Plenty of hiking directly around this campground. Stayed here for three nights and found plenty of exploring to do nearby. Highly recommend, especially because there is no fee. Being said, Pack it in and pack it out! Leave No Trace principles are crucial to keep this place beautiful

  • Stephanie F.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 31, 2025

    KCL Campground

    So peaceful, really serene

    It’s a very simple place but I found it so peaceful being surrounded by the golden plains, the breeze through the big shaded eucalyptus trees, and hearing the owls near sundown. Theres also hummingbirds that’ll get up right in your face. I was also the only one at the site so that was nice. The area is clean, vault toilets kinda gross though. Very small campground, a couple drive in sites and a couple walk in sites but each drive in site had a picnic table, fire ring, and a metal pole hook and theres one drinking water spigot for the whole campground. So not bad!! Road was surprisingly smooth majority of way and has some paved parts but there was some washboard parts too. Road to get here was long though about 13 miles from the blm sign. There was paper maps at the sign area. I got 3 bars at the campground with AT&T but was spotty on the drive over.

  • Antonio  C.
    Aug. 30, 2019

    Chula Vista Campground at Mt. Pinos

    Summer Heat Getaway!

    It’s a nice drive to get to the campground. Nice clean area with lots of space. Love it that’s it’s a Walk in campground so no cars or RVs. Lots of Hiking trails nearby. It’s a lot cooler up here so it’s a nice way to get away from the summer heat. Awesome area for stargazing. The bathrooms could use some cleaning but other than that it’s a beautiful area.

  • Mon M.
    Jul. 2, 2018

    KCL Campground

    BLM site for remote camping

    A small remote site on a BLM land, so it is free but it is a first come first serve site. Not many facilities or gas stations nearby so it may be a good idea to bring extra gas if you plan to explore Carrizo Plains. It is right off of Soda Lake Road, about half a mile from the road at a shady little grove. Went on a windy weekend, but campground was nestled under eucalyptus trees so it helped. There are owls in those trees, so they were hooting loud into the night. Some may like it, but it was pretty loud. There are two restrooms (vault toilets - no water), fire pits and picnic tables. Bring your own water. No trash service so pack in and pack out. Views are nice especially if you get sites facing the open plains. Went in June so it was already fire season so no camp fire was allowed. It was a non-busy weekend, but campers arrived late throughout the evening and it was almost full. Weekdays may be pretty deserted out there. Weather can get very hot so make sure to check weather forecast before heading out.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 11, 2022

    Camping @ Quail Run Ostrich Ranch

    Great tour and amenities

    General: This is not an official campground but due to its proximity to the Pacific Crest Trail, the owners make it available for tent and RV campers as well as members of Harvest Host. 

    Site Quality: There are no designated sites so you can park where it best suits you on a large and level gravel lot. Since there was a strong wind advisory to last through the night into the next morning, Jessica recommended we park along the trees, and this made for an effective windbreak. There is also an additional gravel lot where the only other RV camper stayed so we had privacy. 

    Bathhouse: I was hoping for a vault toilet so was pleasantly surprised to find flush toilets with a sink, soap, and paper towels. No showers and no hot water.

    Activities/Other Amenities: Take a tour of the ostrich farm – we learned a lot and it is worth the $10pp. At the end of the tour, you can purchase ostrich oil (many benefits), ostrich eggs (sometimes sold out), local brews, local honey, and a few other items. Other amenities include a propane bbq, fire ring, picnic table, and electric outlets (located by each light pole by the stage/dance floor which is also used for weddings and other gatherings). There is also a peaceful garden and a playground. Other activities include ax throwing and archery, neither of which we tried. (A girl scout troop was doing archery when we were there). Quail Run is a family-owned business and everyone we talked with was very welcoming and communication was thorough. 

    Note: the gates are closed between 5 pm and 8 am (7 pm-7 am during the summer). If you need it, cell coverage via Verizon is available.

  • April C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 14, 2023

    KCL Campground

    Great location

    Nice and clean. Vault toilets. There’s water, but not sure if it’s potable, there wasn’t a sign. No trash service, you have to pack it out. There is an area for your horse. Walk in sites, rv/car camp/van/tent sites. It’s first come first serve, no reservations and it’s free.

  • Chanel C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2018

    KCL Campground

    Beautiful, remote grassland

    Carrizo Plains National Monument is the largest single native grassland remaining in California in SE San Luis Obispo, and my husband and I have been wanting to visit. We found Kern Cattle & Land Ranch which has now been turned into a campground for people to enjoy.

    [ PROS ]

    • FREE camping is the best camping! It’s first come first serve, but there was only one other camper there the weekend we visited.
    • There are about 12 dispersed sites and all of them are under or near eucalyptus trees that offer really lovely shade from the harsh sun.
    • Each sites comes with a picnic table, fire ring + grill, 1 parking spot, and gear pole with hook (for hanging lanterns/trash bags/food/etc.)
    • There are 2 gender neutral vault toilets that are clean. The restroom is stocked with toilet paper and there is hand sanitizer available. No sink.
    • So much nature to see around! We saw kangaroo rats, bats, hawks, rabbits, ground squirrels (that are going extinct), and lots of fun insects. In the evening we heard lots of coyotes in the distance.
    • The evenings here are spectacular -- very little light pollution so you get a clear view of the night sky and all of the stars. The Milky Way was so vivid and we saw shooting stars the entire evening.
    • I’ve been wanting to see an owl in nature for so long, and I was able to see one in broad daylight. It was so insane and magical. We heard the owls all night (they are very loud) but I love falling asleep to the sound of nature. The owl sighting was the highlight of my trip!
    • There are tons of trails and places to explore. We even got to explore the last standing structure of the original ranch. You can visit the San Andreas Fault Line, Soda Lake, and Painted Rock which are all driving distance.

    [ CONS ]

    • The drive to and from KCL campground is a little rough. At some point you get on a dirt road that is quite bumpy and has potholes.
    • It’s super hot in this part of California during the summer so make sure you pack LOTS of water. There is no water available on the campgrounds or for miles.
    • No showers, obviously since there isn’t any water available.
    • TONS. OF. FLIES. EVERYWHERE. It’s a little unbearable during the day having to spend the majority of your energy swatting flies. It is so arid out there that flies are constantly landing on every part of your body to lick the sweat off of you. The toilets are clean, but TONS OF FLIES. Not little house flies, but super juicy big fat flies. Luckily they go away when the sun sets.
    • No fires allowed! They have fire pits, but you’re not allowed to burn wood. I believe you can use the fire pit with coals since there is a grill provided.
    • No gas stations, stores, shops around for miles. Make sure you come prepared with everything you need unless you’re prepared for a long drive on the dirt roads.

    Note: Pack in. Pack out. Please folks, remember to take your trash with you and leave the place better than you found it. It was sad seeing beer bottles and bullet shells littering the area. We did our  best to pick up what we could and take it with us, but LNT!!

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 12, 2025

    Santa Cruz Campground — Carpinteria State Beach

    Beautiful location. Close to town

    Beautiful location. Close to town. Walkable, hike-able, bike-able, rideable via paths. No dogs on beach. There is a dog beach further up the coast. Sites are pretty tight. Lots of families and tent camping. Need token from kiosk for showers. Train comes by every once in a while. I stayed in Santa Cruz in my 25’ motorhome with no hook ups. Had my own picnic table and fire ring. May stay again only because of the nice walkable paths. Watch where you step near the tar pits.


Guide to Frazier Park

Tent camping near Frazier Park, California centers around Los Padres National Forest, which spans over 1.75 million acres across central California. Campsites range from 4,500 feet to nearly 9,000 feet in elevation, creating significant temperature variations even during summer months. Sites at higher elevations can see nighttime temperatures drop below 40°F in summer while daytime temperatures in lower elevation sites regularly exceed 90°F.

What to do

Stargazing opportunities: At Chula Vista Campground at Mt. Pinos, the night sky viewing is exceptional. "Met a guy named Bob and helped set up his telescope in the parking lot, he let anyone who wanted check out the amazing night sky!" reports Jeremiah F. The campground is a recognized dark sky location, attracting amateur astronomers.

Hiking trail access: The best tent camping near Frazier Park includes sites with direct trail connections. "Great hiking nearby thanks to all the cross country skiing trails," notes John B. about Chula Vista. Many trails connect multiple campgrounds, allowing for day hikes between locations or extended backpacking trips.

Wildlife observation: Morning and evening hours offer prime wildlife viewing. The mountains contain deer, coyotes, and occasional bears. "Lots of animals in the night. You will come across some small game animals so be aware of that," warns Jessica P. of Cherry Creek Campground. Bring binoculars for distant wildlife spotting.

What campers like

Free camping options: Several tent camping sites near Frazier Park have no fees. "Free camping! Great hiking nearby. Shady, clean sites," explains Jeremiah F. about Chula Vista. However, parking at most free sites requires an Adventure Pass ($5 daily or $30 annual).

Elevated campsites: Higher elevation campgrounds provide cooler temperatures during summer. "It's a lot cooler up here so it's a nice way to get away from the summer heat," shares Antonio C. about Chula Vista. Temperature differences can exceed 20°F between valley and mountain sites.

Privacy between sites: San Emigdio Campground offers secluded sites. "Super secluded lots of trails," notes Stephanie L. Many campgrounds feature natural barriers between sites, with trees and boulders creating privacy screens not found at more developed campgrounds.

What you should know

Water availability limitations: Most tent campsites require campers to bring their own water. "No water available though, so pack it in and pack it out," cautions Cierra M. about Oak Flat Campground. Plan for 1 gallon per person per day minimum.

Adventure Pass requirements: Forest Service campgrounds require parking permits. "You do need to purchase a $5 Adventure Pass in order to stay here and someone will come around to check in the morning. The fine if you don't have a pass is over $500," warns Sarah S. about Oak Flat Campground.

Fire restriction fluctuations: Fire regulations change frequently based on conditions. "Ranger said he has written 100 tickets this summer for people having campfires when it's posted no campfires. I think he visits the site daily," reports John B. Check current fire status before your trip as total bans are common during dry periods.

Tips for camping with families

High-elevation considerations: Higher sites may affect children differently than adults. "Mt. Pinos stands at almost 9,000 feet, one of the highest in the area, so if you are subject to altitude sickness be aware," advises a visitor to Chula Vista. Plan for potential altitude adjustment periods when camping with children.

Bathroom facilities vary: Toilet access differs significantly between sites. At Cottonwood Campground, vault toilets exist but may not have supplies. "The toilets sometimes don't have TP," reports John B. Always pack extra toilet paper and hand sanitizer.

Wildlife safety measures: Take proper food storage precautions. "Bears were active signs are posted," notes John B. about Chula Vista. Use bear-resistant containers or store food in vehicles when available to prevent attracting wildlife to your campsite.

Tips from RVers

Limited RV accommodations: Most tent camping sites near Frazier Park have restrictions for larger vehicles. "If you have 4WD and a strong stomach, you can squeeze all the way up the mountain to a beautiful campsite at the end of the trail," reports Cas about Cherry Creek, indicating the challenging access for larger vehicles.

Road conditions vary: Access roads to many campgrounds can be problematic. "It can be difficult to get to if the road is rutted but a 2wd vehicle can make it up there without a problem if the road is graded," explains Ryan T. about Dutchman Campground. Check recent road reports before attempting access with larger vehicles.

Temperature preparation: Significant temperature swings affect RV camping comfort. "It is at almost 7,000 feet. It can be difficult to get to if the road is rutted but a 2wd vehicle can make it up there without a problem if the road is graded," notes Ryan T. Pack appropriate clothing for temperatures that can drop below 40°F even in summer months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Frazier Park, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Frazier Park, CA is Chula Vista Campground at Mt. Pinos with a 4.5-star rating from 6 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Frazier Park, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 42 tent camping locations near Frazier Park, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.