RV Camping near Inyokern, CA

Inyokern sits at an elevation of 2,434 feet in California's high desert region, where the southern Sierra Nevada mountains meet the northern Mojave Desert. The area experiences extreme temperature variations with summer highs regularly exceeding 100°F and winter nighttime lows dropping below freezing. Campers should prepare for these dramatic daily temperature swings by bringing appropriate layers for both hot days and cool nights.

What to do

Explore historic ghost towns: About 30 miles southwest of Inyokern, Ricardo Campground at Red Rock Canyon State Park offers access to abandoned mining sites. "We found so much to explore in the area we stayed 2 weeks. Ghost towns, abandoned mines, Schmidt Tunnel, movie road, robbers Roost," reports a camper at Bertrand's High Desert Mobile Home & RV Park.

Kayak on nearby lakes: Lake Olancha RV Park provides water recreation opportunities. "The small lake was ideal for a bit of casual kayaking and nature watching - mostly birds and dragonflies," notes one visitor. The park's informal layout makes it easy to access the water.

Float down the Kern River: About an hour from Inyokern, KRS RV Resort@Camp James offers river access for inner tubing. "We stayed in site 81 in our class C RV. Corner site on a creek that ran through the campground. The creek was great to sit in to escape the heat and float down," writes one camper who visited in August.

What campers like

Affordable dump stations: Spaceport RV Park offers economical services for travelers. "Handy stop for water & dump! $2 bucks for water & $5 bucks for the dump," according to a recent visitor. This makes it a good stop for RVers needing to refresh their tanks.

Desert night skies: Ricardo Campground offers excellent stargazing opportunities. "The Milky Way was out at night. The trails are stunning," shares one camper who visited in March. The remote location minimizes light pollution.

Creek access for cooling off: During hot summer months, water features are highly valued. "We were able to float down the river in our inner tubes safely. We were told May to June the river is very high in this area," notes a visitor at KRS RV Resort@Camp James who appreciated the summer water levels.

What you should know

Campground layouts vary significantly: Some parks have separate areas for overnight visitors and permanent residents. "Lots of monthly/permanent residents but mostly those rigs are off in other areas separate from the nightly spots," explains a reviewer at Spaceport RV Park.

Desert wildlife is active in spring: April is an excellent time to witness desert blooms and animal activity. "The desert was alive in April! I got #8 which had a nice view. Not too crowded at 1 pm on a Saturday where I got to choose from a dozen open sites," reports a visitor at Ricardo Campground.

Laundry facilities use app payments: Some campgrounds have modernized their facilities. "We did 9 loads of laundry, can only load them half way and the washing drum is a little small. 3 washers, 3 dryers. All of the units used the Payrange app except 1 dryer is quarters only," notes a camper at Desert Empire Fair RV Park.

Tips for camping with families

Look for river access sites: Sites near water are ideal for kids during hot weather. "We stayed here June 2019 and absolutely loved it. We had site 80 which is back up right on the small Creek that runs right thru the middle of the grounds. The kids loved tubing down it all day," shares a camper at KRS RV Resort@Camp James.

Consider weekday visits: Campgrounds are less crowded during weekdays. "Not too crowded at 1 pm on a Saturday where I got to choose from a dozen open sites. So much better than the Alabama Hills area which was completely packed," notes a visitor to Ricardo Campground.

Plan for shade: The high desert sun can be intense. "Lake Olancha RV Park & Campground has beautiful and spacious, the informality of the site was a refreshing change," writes one visitor who appreciated the natural shade options. Another camper at Red Rock Canyon mentions "nice shady rock overhangs to stay cool during the day."

Tips from RVers

Reserve pull-through sites when available: Many rv campgrounds near Inyokern, California offer convenient pull-through options. "Pull through sites easy in and out. Full hook ups. Great location to lots of fun for outdoor or off-road enthusiasts," notes a visitor at Bertrand's High Desert Mobile Home & RV Park.

Check site leveling requirements: Some Inyokern area RV parks have uneven sites. "Most sights have a little slope... used a few leveling blocks," reports a camper at Ricardo Campground. This preparation ensures comfort during overnight stays.

Plan for potential utility setup differences: Water and electric hookups aren't always positioned standardly. "Power and water are on the right instead of left," notes one camper about Lake Olancha, highlighting the importance of checking utility locations before setting up.