316 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Johnson Valley, California serves as a hub for diverse camping experiences, particularly for off-road enthusiasts seeking access to its extensive OHV trail network. The area features both established campgrounds and dispersed camping options on dry lakebeds like South Soggy Dry Lake, which accommodates various rig sizes along its shoreline. Within an hour's drive, campers can access Joshua Tree National Park's Black Rock Campground or venture northwest to Big Bear Lake area sites like Serrano Campground and Holcomb Valley. The San Bernardino National Forest manages several campgrounds in the region, offering a mix of primitive sites and those with basic amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets.
Access to many Johnson Valley camping areas requires high-clearance vehicles and preparation for rough roads. As one camper noted, "Soggy has a long and very rocky road getting into the lakebed area." Weather conditions significantly impact accessibility, with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 100°F and winter nights dropping below freezing. Cell service remains spotty throughout the region, particularly in canyon areas and remote lakebeds. Many established campgrounds operate seasonally, with sites like Heart Bar Campground open from May to September, while dispersed camping on BLM land remains available year-round with appropriate permits and adherence to fire restrictions.
Campers frequently mention the stark beauty of the desert landscape and exceptional stargazing opportunities as highlights of the Johnson Valley experience. The area draws distinct user groups, with OHV enthusiasts congregating around the lakebeds and rock crawling areas, while those seeking quieter experiences head to the forest campgrounds at higher elevations. "There is plenty of space but lots of dirt bikes, side-by-sides, and other off-road vehicles that might drive by at full speed 5 feet from your camp," reports one visitor to a dry lakebed site. Developed campgrounds like Serrano offer clean facilities and proximity to hiking trails, with one camper noting they were "super close to all the awesome hiking spots and off-roading exploring." Most sites throughout the region provide minimal shade, making canopies essential equipment during warmer months.
"We camped just a few steps away from the lake, there were other campers there but the campgrounds are far enough away from each other."
"This camp site is located walking distance to the lake. There are bike paths and walking trails located near the camp ground."
from $44 - $91 / night
Check Availability"Originally booked this site because it is a good endpoint for the California Riding & Hiking trail though the national park, so if you’re looking to run or complete the traverse, it is a good spot"
"The ranger and host at the store were very helpful with information about the surrounding area.
- Trails run right out of camp...lots of them...of all different difficulty levels."
from $35 / night
Check Availability"The first thing to mention is the location. The back of the campground faces west where the rolling mountains seem to part in a way that showcases the beautiful California sunset."
"second reason; there are many many sites to choose from. this camp ground has several loops that each contain roughly 20 campsites, sometimes more. on any given day you should be able to drive up, though"
from $29 - $58 / night
Check Availability"Lots of great trails and off trail hiking for all levels of experience plus climbing locations for the rockers out there."
"Though this campground doesn’t have spectacular views, it is located in the historic Holcomb Valley and surrounded by tons of hiking and offroad trails to explore. Tall trees with plenty of shade!"
from $27 / night
Check Availability"We were tucked up into the hill side with neighbors far enough sway to make it very private. There were no showers so we brought our travel one and hung it from a branch."
"We arrived at Hanna Flat campground around 11 am on Friday, August 21. First thing about the campground is that the road to get to it is pretty rough."
from $33 - $67 / night
Check Availability"Pineknot is perfectly situated in Big Bear where you're in the woods but only a short walk to Snow Summit. "
"The last few times we have gone we have stayed in 19 because of its location and layout."
from $34 - $36 / night
Check Availability"San Gorgonio, aptly named for the famed crown peak near by, is a nice mix of family friendly and weekend escape."
"If you live in Southern California and haven't climbed the highest peak, you need to get out there and experience nature."
from $34 - $69 / night
Check Availability"A great spot away from the main Joshua Tree strip. We visited for one night during the waning height of COVID and staff was taking all the necessary precautions."
"Away from highway noise a place to recharge."
from $15 - $55 / night
Check Availability"Came here for a weekend, good spot for tent camping, I went on an off trail hike, cool, fun area. Some views. Drove over to the lake but couldn’t find parking. Very quiet and clean as well."
"mountain just a short hike away from our site, #23. "
from $36 - $73 / night
Check Availability"Arriving at the campground, the deposit place, obviously on weekends we were not thrilled by everyone around us, as well as the loud noise until past the curfew."
"Some were quite close to one another."
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.
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 .
TravelerGood campground, quiet, not crowded during the week. Too much trash around some sites, though, on a Monday (doesn’t look like new trash). Bathrooms were clean, but basic. Evening bike ride was fantastic, but the trail is not well kept up (rough or crumbling in many spots) and is steep enough to require an electric bike in several parts unless you are good with an 8-9% grade. Park is quiet during the day, with a lot of amenities.
Tons of ants. Active gnats and mosquitoes at dusk and dawn.
Temperatures were quite warm in mid August. Glad we had an RV with AC.
LegendFeel far away without the long drive. Loved this campground for the serenity! The trees were stunning, campsites were good, bathrooms had toilet paper.
Sites all have a slant due to the location. Everysite seems to offer something different; more or less shade, walk length from the car, space etc. I took photos of all the sites and tried to represent the distance/location of the site vs parking. Sites 1-7 and 19-21 are all around the first restroom. Sites 13 and 16 and kinda 17 are around the second restroom.
If you just like some simple sites that are in a nice loop with some hills and old trees, you will enjoy this campground.
We stayed August 21-23 and the water was off, bathrooms were open. No campfire, stoves/gas only!
Johnson Valley offers diverse camping opportunities in the San Bernardino Mountains, with elevations ranging from 2,500 to 4,500 feet creating distinct camping microclimates. The region experiences temperature swings of up to 40°F between day and night, requiring campers to prepare for both hot days and cold evenings. The area's volcanic history has created unique rock formations that provide natural windbreaks at many camping spots near Johnson Valley, California.
Hiking from campgrounds: Black Rock Campground provides direct access to multiple trails without driving. "There are actually tons of trails that lead directly out of the main camping area, so if you're not in the mood to even leave the campground, you can still experience a lot of nature," notes one camper at Black Rock Campground.
Mountain biking: Pine Knot Campground sits adjacent to Snow Summit bike park. "Pineknot is perfectly situated in Big Bear where you're in the woods but only a short walk to Snow Summit. This allows you a staging area to ride mountain bikes all day at Snow Summit and around the mountain but allows you the convenience to be camped nearby," explains a visitor at Pineknot.
Historical exploration: The Holcomb Valley area has a rich mining history. "If you're into panning for gold you just might find some along Holcomb Creek. There are active claims in the area so be respectful," advises one camper about the region where gold was discovered in the 1800s.
Natural shade: Many campsites in the area offer protection from the desert sun. At Heart Bar Campground, "the campground is littered with tall standing pines and even some massive junipers, providing ample shade. You can't help but feel like your are elsewhere like the Eastern Sierra with the dry desert winds the blow in and chill on the mountains and the smell of the sage brush."
Wildlife viewing: The transition zone between desert and mountains attracts diverse wildlife. At San Gorgonio Campground, campers report regular wildlife sightings: "Quails running around everywhere, cool little spot at JTree, a little different than Jumbo and the other climber sites."
Dark skies: The high desert location provides exceptional stargazing. At Joshua Tree Lake RV & Campground, "we booked and traveled here to show the kids the stars from a desert view, and it did not disappoint! My camera couldn't capture the magnificent view from just our site."
Road conditions: Many camping areas require appropriate vehicles. For Holcomb Valley Climbers Camp, "the road up to the camp area is a bit rough. We were in a Sprinter and definitely nervous for parts. But, it was worth it once we got there!"
Seasonal timing: Campground availability varies significantly by season. "We camped here the last weekend before they closed for the winter, after Thanksgiving. The campground was clean, quiet, and had a decent amount of space between sites... Our sewer outlet was frozen in the morning, so we had to dump when we got out of the mountains."
Fire restrictions: Rules change frequently based on conditions. One camper at Holcomb Valley noted, "It seems like fires aren't allowed during certain periods. Just be aware, we brought our own off the ground stove. And it was perfectly fine."
Look for educational opportunities: Many campgrounds offer ranger programs. "There is actually a small visitor/nature center located in the campground. Again without even leaving the campground you can get a lot of information about the park," reports a visitor about Black Rock Campground.
Choose sites with play space: Some campgrounds offer more room between sites. At San Gorgonio Campground, "I visited San Gorgonio Campground on Sunday 4/29/18, just 2 days after opening. There were 3 total sites being used. The campground hosts were amazing and very helpful. The sites are evenly spaced, good privacy, clean bathrooms."
Plan for temperature management: Prepare for both heat and cold. "We visited in January, and should have been better prepared! I know better, but we didn't check the conditions well enough, and froze our butts the first night!" warns a Black Rock Campground visitor.
Know your site limitations: Research specific site dimensions before booking. At Hanna Flat Campground, "Hanna Flat campgrounds are filled with lots of shade due to the big beautiful trees. The parking spots are a bit small in some campsites. Each site included a table, fire ring and bear safe locker."
Plan for dump station access: Not all campgrounds have onsite facilities. One camper at Serrano mentioned, "The only thing I wish is that the bathrooms were closer to the hookup spots. I know most RVs have bathrooms but most pop ups don't and from space 58 to the nearest bathroom is a 1/4 mile walk."
Consider water availability: Water access varies by season and location. "The campground is very close to the town of Yucca Valley, which some might consider a good thing, but there are neighborhoods literally built right up against the campground, so it doesn't really feel secluded at all here."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Johnson Valley, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Johnson Valley, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 316 campgrounds and RV parks near Johnson Valley, CA and 40 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Johnson Valley, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Johnson Valley, CA is Serrano with a 4.6-star rating from 36 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Johnson Valley, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 40 free dispersed camping spots near Johnson Valley, CA.
What parks are near Johnson Valley, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 parks near Johnson Valley, CA that allow camping, notably San Bernardino National Forest and Mojave River Dam.
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