The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Inyokern. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Inyokern. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Inyokern. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
$39 - $295 / night
Camp Three Campground is set amidst oak and locust trees at an elevation of 2,800 feet on the Upper Kern River, offering countless recreational opportunities for visitors.
Hiking, fishing, kayaking and rafting are popular activities in the Upper Kern River area.
The Sequoia National Forest, located at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada in central California, takes its name from the giant sequoia, the world's largest tree, which grows in more than 30 groves on the Forest's lower slopes. The Forest comprises about 1.1 million acres, and elevations range from about 1,000 to 12,000 feet, creating precipitous canyons and mountain streams with spectacular waterfalls, such as Salmon Creek Falls near Fairview and Grizzly Falls on the Kings River. Gray pines, scrub oaks, grass and dry climate shrubs cling to steep, canyon walls while cottonwoods and willows line the river's edge.
For facility specific information, please call (760) 376-1269.
The Cannell Meadow National Recreation Trailhead is just north of Kernville. Day trips include the Sequoia National Park, Trail of a Hundred Giants, and numerous sequoia groves in the Sequoia National Monument. The Giant Sequoia Mercantile offers a wide variety of books, maps, gifts, local art, camping supplies and other merchandise.
$147 / night
7800 feet elevation. 73 campsites. 24' maximum RV length. Connects to OHV trails. This campground offers high elevation forest camping. Including; bear boxes, paved parking spurs, and drinking water during season.
Our private campground is right on the Kern River and has all of your favorite family camping amenities. Looking for something to do? We have activities for the whole family! Whether you are excited about rafting on the world famous Kern River, cruising the trails on a mountain bike, or just joining us for a quiet weekend of camping and relaxing we welcome you to Mountain and River Adventures.
Our camp is privately owned and has 37 camp sites, with plenty of elbow room. MRA’s tent camping sites provide access to deluxe restrooms, hot showers, potable drinking water located conveniently throughout camp, picnic tables, and fire pits. Located along the banks of the Kern River, you can enjoy immediate river access for fishing, our horseshoe pits, shuffleboard court, volleyball, or you can just relax in our shady grove after a great day of adventures on the Kern River.
Our day use area, fondly known as Bud’s Grove is a popular event venue with the Kern River Valley locals. For larger groups, consider renting our group gathering area, Bull Run Pavilion, and granite boulder outdoor amphitheater.
$54 - $250 / night
Hungry Gulch Campground sits 3 miles from Lake Isabella in the Sequoia National Forest of California. Visitors enjoy swimming, waterskiing, windsurfing and fishing on the scenic lake.
Visitors enjoy fishing, swimming, water skiiing and windsurfing at Lake Isabella, which covers 11,000+ acres on the Kern River and has over 38 miles of shoreline. Anglers will find black and white crappie, bluegill, blue and channel catfish, largemouth bass and rainbow trout. Trout fishing is also available in area streams. Please click here for safety and permit information. Many hiking opportunities can be found around Lake Isabella and along the Kern River.
The campground is situated on a pine-covered hillside, 3 miles from Lake Isabella's western shores at an elevation of 2,640 feet. Many sites have views of Lake Isabella off in the distance. Sequoia National Forest, located at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada in central California, is named for the giant sequoia, the world's largest tree, which grows in more than 30 groves on the forest's lower slopes. The forest comprises about 1.1 million acres. Elevations range from about 1,000 to 12,000 feet, creating precipitous canyons and mountain streams with spectacular waterfalls such as Salmon Creek Falls and Grizzly Falls.
For facility specific information, please call (760) 376-1269.
The Kern River is a short drive from the campground and offers hiking and fishing opportunities.
$34 - $36 / night
Headquarters Campground is situated along the Kern River, 6 miles north of the town of Kernville. Hiking, fishing, kayaking and rafting are popular activities.
Hiking, fishing, kayaking and rafting are popular activities in the Upper Kern River area. Click here to learn more about the area, including safety and permitting requirements and a listing of local outfitters.
Hiking, fishing, kayaking and rafting are popular activities in the Upper Kern River area. Click here to learn more about the area, including safety and permitting requirements and a listing of local outfitters.
The campground sits within Sequoia National Forest at an elevation of 2,800 feet in an open area overlooking the Kern Wild and Scenic River. Some sites overlook the river and lie in the shade of oak, juniper and cottonwood trees. Sites sitting further from the river are more open and have little to no shade. Sequoia National Forest, located at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada in central California, is named for the giant sequoia, the world's largest tree, which grows in more than 30 groves on the forest's lower slopes. The forest comprises about 1.1 million acres. Elevations range from about 1,000 to 12,000 feet, creating precipitous canyons and mountain streams with spectacular waterfalls such as Salmon Creek Falls and Grizzly Falls.
The Cannell Meadow National Recreation Trail begins just north of Kernville. The trail stretches 11.5 miles as it climbs through mixed pine and fir forest to Cannell Meadow and a historic Forest Service cabin built between 1904 and 1909. Hikers are awarded beautiful views of the Kern River Valley along the trip. Visitors enjoy making day trips to Sequoia National Park and Giant Sequoia National Monument.
For facility specific information, please call (760) 376-1269.
$32 - $100 / night
Halfway Group Campground is situated along the Kern River, 4.5 miles north of the town of Kernville. Hiking, fishing, kayaking and rafting are popular activities.
Hiking, fishing, kayaking and rafting are popular activities in the Upper Kern River area. Click here to learn more about the area, including safety and permitting requirements and a listing of local outfitters.
The campground sits within Sequoia National Forest at an elevation of 3,200 feet in an open area with limited shade, overlooking the Kern Wild and Scenic River. Gray pine, scrub oak, grasses and shrubs cling to steep, canyon walls along the river, and cottonwoods and willows dot the riverbanks. Sequoia National Forest, located at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada in central California, is named for the giant sequoia, the world's largest tree, which grows in more than 30 groves on the forest's lower slopes. The forest comprises about 1.1 million acres. Elevations range from about 1,000 to 12,000 feet, creating precipitous canyons and mountain streams with spectacular waterfalls such as Salmon Creek Falls and Grizzly Falls.
For facility specific information, please call (760) 376-1269.
The Cannell Meadow National Recreation Trail begins just north of Kernville. The trail stretches 11.5 miles as it climbs through mixed pine and fir forest to Cannell Meadow and a historic Forest Service cabin built between 1904 and 1909. Hikers are awarded beautiful views of the Kern River Valley along the trip.
$232 / night
Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. Learn more: https://www.campendium.com/camping/boondocking-101/
Traveler
Well run site, with easy late check in process. Friendly on site camp hosts who sell ice and firewood. Quite a lot of rules, and it had kind of a kids camp feel to it. Showers are hot, but you need quarters for them. I only gave three stars as it just not my kind of campground. If you're a family with kids I think it'd be great.
TravelerMy partner and I stayed here after a campground down the road overbooked us for a weekend, and it ended up being a lovely trip. The campsites were clean and spacious, the bathrooms were sanitary and showers were hot. Only downside happen to be the on-site general store was shut down the whole weekend.
Legend
Great for a night or two, heading towards or leaving Death Valley between Joshua Tree..
You are literally in the middle of nowhere. No cell phone reception, amenities, nothing, not even shelter, but yet so peaceful and quiet. We saw a couple of RVs but everyone has a TON of space....I would totally camp here again.
I was able to let dog and cat out of camper and they weren't going anywhere....nothing to chase, etc.
Scout
This is the absolutely most horrible experience I have ever had. There was a group of people that were listening to loud music and singing till 6AM and we could not sleep. We tried talking to them, they said they would only listen to the ranger. Ranger stopped by but nothing changed. At 5 AM we went back to the ranger, but he sent us away. We could not sleep a single minute. Group was extremely aggressive and absolutely horribly loud. Most disappointing was that ranger did nothing and ignored us.
Traveler
We arrived very late at night so no one was working but was able to grab a spot by booking at the front drop off pillar - u just fill out the paperwork and add cash in it and drop it in the pillar.
Sadly there werent any only tent sites left so we just took a site with a yurt but only used the tent we had. The host was okay with it the next morning and was very kind explaining and giving us some info on the area.
They had a little gift shop which had medicine which was a life saver. I was coming up with something the day after arrival but the med from gift shop cleared it up in a few hrs. Definitely made the rest of the stay much more enjoyable.
When we were about to leave we found out our car died from using the portable alternator but host was kind enough to help out with a jumpstart and even helped cleaned the battery leak with a bottle of coke he took from the gift shop. He cleans the sites in the morning and does what he can with the restrooms.
Definitely recommend.
Scout
Property manger rude and swearing a lot. Plumbing is pvc pipes and they Break easy, bathroom run down and dirty, Wi-Fi does not work
Guide
We stayed in the heat of the summer so it was unfortunate that our campsites had little to no shade. We were on the outskirts closest to the road, but there were campsites along the river that had more trees. Once you get down to the water, the temperature drops at least 10 degrees.
Our site was VERY close to the main road which made me nervous with our young children. There are large boulders along the campground, but no fence or other kind of barrier. And the cars were hauling a** down that road.
There was a pit toilet a little bit across from our site that we could not smell but I believe the sites directly in front and behind probably got it bad. It was pretty gross. I can do pit toilets usually but these had me gagging at one point.
The water is just a short walk down some rocky trails, so would not be very good for elderly or very small children unless you plan on carrying them down. We found a little rocky beach area to camp for the day but it was just barely big enough for our group. There was not anywhere else that we could see that would have been good for swimming. There was a little rapid area with some waterfalls up river from us which was very pretty.
This river is notorious for sweeping people away so please be cautious and keep an eye on your children. We secured a paracord on each end of the river so we had something to help us float across. The current was strongest in the middle but manageable on either side.
The camp host was friendly enough but did not do rounds of any kind. There are also no fires allowed at this campground (at least not during the time we went).
We were warned of a resident bear that lives across the street but we did not encounter him or any other wildlife.
We probably will not be returning, especially not with the kids. But we still had a good time regardless.
Legend
Campground is nice overall. Sites are close together and site 4 has a small uphill to back into which if you have a RV or heavy camper your going to scrap hard backing in. Overall nice campground.
ScoutCamp James is a clean, spacious park. 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. Didn't expect a 3 night minimum charge the weekend after Labor Day but couldn't find a Campground with availability in a short time so we rolled with the 3 day requirement . A friendly family of bears made their presence at night as the trash cans were ransacked in the morning and my boyfriend came face to face with a skunk while walking our dog at night. Overall it's a beautiful park right on the Kern River and we would stay again if we could get one of the few riverfront spaces.
GuideEasy checking Cheap with Passport America membership: don’t expect much Level sites, electric (30 used ) water and sewer Little shade - over 106 when there late Aug
Guide
Overall nice site with full hookups & wi-fi/cell. Had a nice shade tree but it can be real sunny without one. Laundry right on site! Close to lake Isabella and all of the Kern. Great for last minute reservations too, online booking works
GuideExcellent spots right on the Kern River. So many things to do and the campground resort is ran good, no issues at all. Full hookups, close to everything.
ScoutFirst time at camp James - it was awesome. Helpful friendly staff, super clean, and amazing camp sites! Will definitely be coming back!
ScoutThis place is amazing. Clean campground, friendly staff and amazing views. This place is a must visit
Traveler
A nice secluded campground up the river from kern’s more populated sites, in the heart of the Sequoia National Forest. First come first serve style camp site, showed up at 5 pm on a last minute late night camping trip and arrived to an empty campground.
ScoutWe pulled in after 7pm and had to call the after-hours line. We got in and set up camp. Nice wide driveways no issues for turning the rv around and parking. Very clean and nice park. The staff came to us after 10pm because we had music on and asked to turn it off so I just turned it down very low. No other issues or problems. We like the camp grounds and are planing a trip for April 2022.
ScoutThis is a nice clean campground right on the Kern River. However, the website says several spots are good for a 30-foot RV. I do not recommend anything bigger than 24 feet or so. The road through the campground is very narrow, and lined with large boulders. Some of the turns are very tight. For tent camping, though? Great spot. And the river front spots are nice. Just expect that others will want to get to the river and will be walking in or near your campsite.
GuideExcellent family spot. Beautiful well kept grounds. Clean showers and bathrooms. Polite guests. Respectable to after hour policies. Ground keepers make sure everyone is happy. Full hook up sites make it easy. Shaded tent sites make it comfortable. Camp store make it convenient. Walking distance to town and store. Kern river Brewing company is the family favorite. Pizza Barn delivers to you while riverside.
Guide
While our first impressions were terrible (we did not love our originally reserved site - #33), once we moved to another available spot and started exploring, we ended up having the time of our lives.
The campground itself left a lot to be desired (lots of trash, half the sites are extremely rocky / sandy with little shade, some sites have rotting or broken picnic benches and very little privacy, and there is only one place for trash upon exit), but every site has a beautiful view of the mountainside and the stars, and if you get one of the good sites along the river, you're a few steps from the best part during the summer: swimming in the Kern River.
We stayed at site #29, where (like sites #25, #27, #28 & #30), there were nice, flat, soft surfaces to pitch your tent under the trees just beyond where you park your vehicles for privacy and shade. From these gems, the river is just a short, 1 or 2 minute walk to the River. Though nice to be near the water spouts and bathrooms, we would not recommend sites (#3-19, #22, #24, #26) Further down the river, we noticed that sites opened up a bit more and had much more space and shade, AND that the river was a lot closer - all great for larger groups and especially those with children. If we were to come back, we'd probably choose site #47 which had two shaded, flat places right near the site and was only a few steps from the river - which had a nice shaded space for chairs along it. Only downside for being on the end is that you're next to the Day Use entry point from the road.
GuideAt first we were a bit disappointed but overall it turned out to be a good location for going to the Trail of 100 Giants and the Kern River. The WiFi didn’t work and the bathroom only had two showers. It needs to be updated but it was clean and the people were nice.
ScoutThe campsite is really nice if you looking to get away from big crowds. You have to get there early if you want to get a shaded site. Working toilets were a plus and you have room to work with when setting up your gear. The lake or river you do need to drive too which is the only negative remark I have.
Ranger
We arrived on Sunday afternoon. The weekend crowd was moving out. We had the campground A Loop to ourselves. Really nice to be out of the Valley heat.
ScoutEverything was great about this campground. Showers, phones service, WiFi, showers and locks with passcode on the bathroom doors and a pool just to name a few things. Weather was great and we loved everything about staying here.
Guide
This was a pretty nice campground. We were at group site 3, it has a covered picnic area and flat area for tents closer to the river bank.
We called park services to make sure our camper was allowed (Twice) and it indeed it was. However when using a pop up you are essentially camping in the parking lot. It didn’t end up being a bad spot but I would definitely say this site is more appropriate for tent camping.
Porta-potties were kept clean and trash was emptied from large trash containers regularly.
Bears are common in the area and there are no bear lockers for food. So keep this in mind.
Overall it’s a wonderful area to camp and play in the river.
ScoutNormally do dispersed camping, but figured I would do the campground thing. Very beautiful well kept supposedly it had just opened an hour or two before I arrived after being closed for two years. Great campground
GuideFull hookups, concrete pads, picnic tables. Many full time campers parked with junk around them. The grounds need a ton of cleanup. Not the safest feeling being in this park.
ScoutCamp sights are very close to one another not much privacy. The RV sights with full hooks up are further away from the river about 200 yards. The campground is very clean and well maintained. Kernville is less then a mile away were you can get gas diesel groceries firewood or anything else you might have forgotten.
Camping near Inyokern, California, offers a mix of stunning landscapes and unique experiences. Whether you’re looking for a quiet retreat or an adventurous getaway, there are several campgrounds to explore.
Camping near Inyokern, California, offers a variety of experiences, from serene landscapes to family-friendly activities. Whether you're in a tent or an RV, there's something for everyone to enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Inyokern, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Inyokern, CA is KRS RV Resort@Camp James with a 4.4-star rating from 14 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Inyokern, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 16 glamping camping locations near Inyokern, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
