Best Campgrounds near Glennville, CA

Sequoia National Forest surrounds Glennville, California, providing diverse camping environments from riverfront sites to mountain settings. The area includes several campground options like Rivernook Campground and KRS RV Resort at Camp James, which offer full hookups for RVs alongside tent camping areas. Dispersed camping opportunities exist at locations such as Keyesville Recreation Area and Evans Road, where primitive sites provide alternatives to developed facilities. Several campgrounds in the region feature access to the Kern River, a popular draw for visitors seeking water recreation opportunities alongside their camping experience.

Access to camping areas varies based on location and season, with many forest roads becoming difficult to navigate during winter months or after heavy rainfall. Rivernook Campground and other developed sites typically remain accessible year-round with paved entrances, while dispersed areas may require high-clearance vehicles. One camper shared that "This camp is pretty hidden. If you're coming from Glennville it's the first camp you will run into... When you finally turn on you will follow the dirt road for 15 minutes and you will be going down in elevation from where you started at highway 155." Fire restrictions are common during summer and fall months, with complete bans possible during high fire danger periods. Cell service is inconsistent throughout the region, with better coverage near developed areas and limited to no service in remote dispersed camping locations.

Campers frequently mention river access as a significant advantage of camping in the Glennville area. The Kern River provides opportunities for swimming, fishing, and rafting at numerous sites. Several visitors noted that riverside campsites fill quickly during summer months, particularly at Camp Three Campground where proximity to swimming spots is highly valued. Shade availability varies significantly by location, with some campers reporting that "this camp gets very dry during the summer so pick your spot wisely because shade is a must." Wildlife sightings, including bears, are reported at some campgrounds, particularly those near forest boundaries. Noise levels tend to be minimal at more remote sites, though campgrounds near OHV areas may experience increased activity, especially during weekends and holidays.

Best Camping Sites Near Glennville, California (164)

    1. Rivernook Campground

    27 Reviews
    Kernville, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 376-2705

    $45 - $75 / night

    "We tent camped and our site was close to the rv hook up sites. The rv sites have two different sizes and hookups. Tent sites had access to running water."

    "We loved this river spot even though we were next to one of the smaller parts rather than the main river. If you can try and get one near the main river as it is more picturesque. "

    2. Leavis Flat Campground

    9 Reviews
    California Hot Springs, CA
    11 miles
    Website

    "This small roadside campground is a lovely spot, tucked between a hillside and Deer Creek running year round right at the edge of the campground."

    "There is a market close by Incase you forgot something, when you go back on the road make a right and at the intersection make another fight and ir should take you to the market."

    3. Keyesville Recreation Area Dispersed

    11 Reviews
    Lake Isabella, CA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (661) 391-6000

    "You can park RVs right next to the water but it gets very busy, there are more secluded spots accessible to even Class A rigs further down."

    "Access to the river is closed as of 26 January, still plenty of dispersed places down the road to camp. Bathrooms and trash dump and lots of trails to ride bikes!"

    4. KRS RV Resort@Camp James

    14 Reviews
    Kernville, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 376-6119

    $39 - $340 / night

    "Our family has been going to Camp James for over 10 years, and it's easily our favorite campground in California. The campsites are clean, shaded by trees, and it's right on the riverfront."

    "All sites are well kept, with access to clean bathrooms and coin operated showers. Staff is friendly and available when needed. Prices are a tad high but expected with a clean upscale Campground."

    5. Sandy Flat

    10 Reviews
    Bodfish, CA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 376-1815

    $34 - $136 / night

    "Again the campground was great and we were pretty close to the river which was awesome. But stay away from site 9. We’ll definitely be back but will be at one of the others."

    "We appreciated the proximity to the hot springs.

    Our site was pretty big, but that was not the case for some of the other sites which looked small or close to other sites. "

    6. Chico Flat Dispersed Camping - Partially Closed, See Description

    11 Reviews
    Kernville, CA
    15 miles
    Website

    "Each site is private-ish and they won’t be walking through your site to drop in, you’ll just see groups of people float by your area, once they drop in close to the first site on the north end."

    "You have access to the river nearby. The generator can be used until 10 p.m. Would recommend."

    7. Kern River Campground

    21 Reviews
    Lebec, CA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (661) 868-7000

    $20 / night

    "This campground was clean, well maintained, and convenient location if you want to explore the Kern River up into the mountains."

    "You can hear jet boat noise from the adjacent lake from time to time. No WiFi but good Verizon LTE (25-30 Mbps) and decent AT&T 4G (10-15Mbps)."

    8. Stine Cove Recreation Site

    15 Reviews
    Weldon, CA
    20 miles
    Website

    "Toilets and trash at entrance. The dam is being rebuilt so the water is real low. Easy to drive along the beach until nobody else is around."

    "I appreciated the rough feel of the lake and how close the road was. There is a restroom and a dump bin at the entrance which locked this spot in for convenience."

    9. Hobo Campground — Sequoia National Forest

    6 Reviews
    Bodfish, CA
    14 miles
    +1 (760) 376-1815

    $28 - $30 / night

    10. Evans Road Dispersed Camping

    1 Review
    Posey, CA
    6 miles

    "The 2 on the south side are attainable with careful driving and 2 wheel drive. One site is visible by the road, the other crests a small hill and has limited visibility from the road."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 164 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Recent Reviews near Glennville, CA

664 Reviews of 164 Glennville Campgrounds


  • D
    Sep. 24, 2025

    Chico Flat Dispersed Camping - Partially Closed, See Description

    Quiet place for undisturbed camping

    Good campground on the way to Sequoia. Plenty of space, we had no problems finding a spot for our 30ft RV. There are restrooms available which seem to be cleaned every second day. You have access to the river nearby. The generator can be used until 10 p.m. Would recommend.

  • Amber R.
    Sep. 20, 2025

    Bear Mountain RV Park

    Clean and friendly staff

    The shower/bathroom was kept very clean. Laundry was clean as well as the dog run. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Will definitely come back. Highly recommend

  • Lou F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2025

    Tule - Success Lake

    Cool at night and hot in the day

    I got here at 3pm and it was hot with no shade. By 5 pm it cool of and was very pleasant. Very good showers and restroom to freshen up in.

  • b
    Sep. 11, 2025

    Kern River Campground

    Very chill

    Great serene spot (aside from a few noisy campers) by the river, liked it so much we camped out for 3 days. Great price too! Close enough to civilization but far enough you forget it's nearby. Would recommend!

  • french M.
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Stine Cove Recreation Site

    Stine Cove

    I'm looking for a campsite near water and a nice mountain view, will definitely add Stine Cove to my next trip list.

  • Kenneth P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Balch Park Campground

    Fantastic Family Campground

    This is a historic campground. With 1000 year old trees and history of logging. Good fishing and hiking all around the area. Nice hosts and most people are respectful of the area.

  • Michael H.
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park Campground

    Very nice grounds

    Clean, newer type of space. Free showers for campers, and the price is cheap for a developed site. $20 for regular, $30 for an RV. Bathrooms are clean, water hookups, covered tables, and a dump station. Also seems pretty low usage. Saturday in Aug and we were the only ones. Reasonable cell on mint, T-Mobile and spectrum. If the trains and small freeway weren't close, it would be 5 as a site. It's central valley so hot in the summer with a bit of breeze and flat.

  • K
    Aug. 14, 2025

    Kern River Campground

    Reservations

    You must register and reserve a campsite before 4 PM local. The website directs you to an unsecured website. I pressed on through and got a human on the phone, so far so good. The total was $35.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 8, 2025

    Sequoia National Forest Quaking Aspen Campground

    Awesome campground

    This campground is a great area for yourself to be immersed into the forest. We arrived on a Sunday and there were first come first serve campgrounds available. We stayed one night but there were plenty of spots to choose from. The roads around the campground are drivable for all type of cars. Due keep in mind you will need a to obtain campfire permit online before you arrive depending if there are fire restrictions or not. There is no service within the campground so make sure you have everything available to you. There are 2 hikes nearby but unfortunately one of the hikes, Freeman Creek Trail, was closed due to restoration work being done at the time. Definitely would recommend if you plan a little trip into Sequoia National Forest.


Guide to Glennville

Sequoia National Forest dispersed camping sites near Glennville provide access to multiple river recreation areas with varied terrain and seasonal conditions. Most campsites along the Kern River require a 14-day maximum stay, with access roads that can become challenging after rainfall. Water levels fluctuate seasonally, affecting both swimming conditions and campsite availability throughout the area.

What to do

Fishing in river spots: Leavis Flat Campground offers multiple fishing opportunities along Deer Creek. One visitor noted, "This place is great for fishing trout. At this time the fish are small but in a couple more months they should be ready to fish." The creek runs year-round, providing consistent access.

Tubing and water activities: Water recreation remains popular at Chico Flat Dispersed Camping. As one camper described, "There are about 6 spots or so along Kern River but this is a place people like to drop in for tubing. Each site is private-ish and they won't be walking through your site to drop in, you'll just see groups of people float by your area."

Exploring hot springs: The area features natural hot springs accessible from several campgrounds. At Leavis Flat, a camper shared: "Walk upstream of the creek maybe 50 yards and there's a small hot spring." These natural features provide year-round recreation options regardless of river water levels.

What campers like

Riverfront campsites: KRS RV Resort@Camp James offers premium river access that campers consistently rate highly. According to one visitor, "Our campsite was right on the river, which was nice. We only stayed one night, but would consider returning." These sites form a cul-de-sac along the water, creating defined camping areas.

Shade availability: Finding shaded sites becomes critical during summer months when temperatures regularly exceed 100°F. At Sandy Flat, a camper reported, "Lots of shade and the creek is right there. There is enough shade at most of the spots. One of them is pretty barren, but it's also closest to the entrance."

Seasonal solitude: Winter camping provides a different experience with significantly fewer crowds. One winter visitor to Leavis Flat shared, "Went here on Veterans Day weekend and only saw a few other campers come and go. Site 3 is right on the creek and is very peaceful."

What you should know

Fire restrictions: Fire regulations vary by season and location, with complete bans common during summer and fall. At Keyesville Recreation Area, fires are generally not permitted regardless of season, leading campers to rely on alternative cooking methods.

Road conditions: Access to many dispersed sites requires careful navigation. At Evans Road Dispersed Camping, a visitor advised, "Walk the roads first to avoid deeply rutted or too steep areas for your vehicle. I stopped my motorcycle to camp before the bad ruts and I'm glad I did."

Reservation requirements: Established campgrounds like KRS RV Resort@Camp James require advance booking, especially for riverfront sites. One camper noted, "Book way in advance though. You can get a site right on the river with no sewage hook ups or get all hook ups off the river."

Variable water levels: The Kern River's flow changes dramatically between seasons, affecting campsite quality. One camper at Sandy Flat observed, "Depending on the level of the river it can be very noisy. Great if you want to be right next to the river."

Tips for camping with families

Best family-friendly facilities: Rivernook Campground offers comprehensive amenities for families including "FREE hot showers between 7am to 8pm. The campground is only 1/2 mile from the grocery store and a few restaurants nearby as well." These features help families manage extended stays.

Swimming safety: Consider water conditions carefully with children. At Rivernook, a long-time visitor noted, "I've been coming here for the last 33 years. My parents took me here every Memorial Day weekend and now we continue this tradition with my kids. Please respect the Kern River, keep safe and you'll have a great time!"

Off-water activities: During high water or cold weather, alternative recreation becomes important. Sandy Flat provides options as a visitor described: "We loved the peaceful environment and the hiking up and down to go swim in the river. Lots of fun little spots and beautiful views."

Tips from RVers

Site selection considerations: At Keyesville Recreation Area dispersed camping, RVers should scout first. A camper advised, "You can park RVs right next to the water but it gets very busy, there are more secluded spots accessible to even Class A rigs further down. My Class C was able to make it through a few of the dirt roads no problem."

Dump station access: For longer stays, knowing facility locations matters. At Rivernook Campground, full hookups include sanitary dump stations, making it suitable for extended visits.

Weather preparation: RVs need seasonal adjustments in this area. A winter camper at Leavis Flat reported, "There's snow as you go up in elevation so dispersed camping would be tough unless you're familiar with the area." Temperature variations can exceed 40 degrees between day and night, particularly in shoulder seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Glennville, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, Glennville, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 164 campgrounds and RV parks near Glennville, CA and 34 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Glennville, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Glennville, CA is Rivernook Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 27 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Glennville, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 34 free dispersed camping spots near Glennville, CA.

What parks are near Glennville, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 20 parks near Glennville, CA that allow camping, notably Sequoia National Forest and Kaweah Lake.