Searching for the best camping near Johnsondale, CA? Johnsondale is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Johnsondale. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
$34 - $36 / night
"Easily accessed campground located right on the Kern River in the lower Sequoia Forest. No service, running water, or electricity, but there is vault toilets and dogs are allowed."
"The lsites are not as close to the river as Brush Creek campground, but still closer than Fairview, which is down the road.
Facilities. There are vault toilets."
$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. "
"Regardless they were gorgeous tucked in spots among the trees. Woke up to cattle walking through the meadow we parked next to."
"This camping site is a nice free area super close to the Giants Trail entrance (5 minute drive). As you head in you go thru a little dirt road and at the end you see an opening for this site."
"The area is secluded and away from kern campgrounds where you will see a lot of people. You will have some people checking out the area or driving in but for us they all left."
"Next to stream. Then if you continue on you will hit a 4 mile off road (my Corolla/any sedan OK) and see great views and waterfall! Nice!"
"As long as you are 25 feet away from the river you can camp anywhere you want, so definitely not restricted to the parking lot area."
"We camped right next to the river. It was such a peaceful place and the sounds of the river right next to our camp was just heaven on earth. We stayed for 2 nights in June 2020"
$32 - $34 / night
"A small, quiet campground that’s good for groups of 2-4 people since the sites are close to each other."
"The campsites are close to each other and is the only reason I did not mark this as 5 stars. 1, 2, 3 and 4 are in the first section/small loop and are up a slight hill and have a smaller bathroom. 5 and"
$34 - $233 / night
"The campground hosts never came around and it felt like we could have stayed for free. We had some questions about the area and in order to get some answers we had to drive to the nearest people."
"Most of your group will have to park on the side of the road outside the entrance to the campground. Besides those two things the campground is great."
"We found this place during in our way to Johnsondale and glad we did. First of all the campsites are distant and all have great river views. This place is great for fishing trout."
"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."
$34 - $36 / night
"If you can, get a spot that is next to the river. We had a great time lounging by the river, fishing, and just hanging around. The bathrooms were clean, and the camp host was great too."
"It's next to a general store, hamburger stand and restaurant. The sites are spaced out well with some right on the river."
"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."
"There's great access to the national forest and the little town of Kernville is so cute and friendly."
TravelerBears will break into vehicles with food, scraps, wrappers, etc. Even a cardboard box can invite the critters' attentions. So keep a clean car if parking there and use the bear boxes provided by the forest service.
The Whitney Portal store is a stroll away with famously good food, run by the same family since before I was a ranger there back in the 1990s. They have some last minute supplies too, if you discover you forgot anything from rain gear to a stove canister.
I'd camp here to hike Meysan Lakes and the start of the Whitney trail to Lone Pine Lake, neither of which require permits for day hikes. It's a great camp for acclimatization. The National Rec Trail gets overlooked, but showcases the transition from forest at the Portal to desert scrub at the bottom, following the stream, albeit from a neighboring ridge.
I'd also consider other campgrounds in the area, as there's a fair bit to do around Lone Pine for such a small town, and the Whitney Portal's position at the end of the road means you'll need to ascend/descend a mile in elevation over 13 steep and twisting curves every time you leave or return.
The bears and popularity of the Portal limit my enthusiasm for it a bit, but the positives of a store and restaurant, showers, and great hikes make camping here worth the effort for a few days. It's certainly a great way to get used to the thinner air if you're then headed for the back country.
If one had the luxury of time and the luck/good planning of getting reservations for Cottonwood as well as Whitney Portal, I'd check out both for additional hiking and fishing, as well as the Alabama Hills, which offer free boon docking.
The whole Owen's Valley is one great opportunity after another for all sorts of outdoor sports and enjoyment, but Lone Pine has more than its share of nearby attractions and the Whitney Portal is high on that list.
TravelerTim is amazing! He has all the info on nearby trails, maps of the area, answers every question you can think of. Just fantastic.
As of 6/22/25:
This campground is so peaceful, and near several hiking trails. Would 100% come back here again.
RangerI backpacked here and it was amazing. Absolutely beautiful views and scenery, but need to be in way better shape than I was as the hike goes from 8,000 feet to 11,000 feet over 6 miles. Make sure you are in shape for it before starting. Also, we went in November and unexpectedly got snowed on, so the weather is unpredictable! Make sure to come prepared. There was a bathroom.
GuideBeautiful drive up to the spot, unfortunately still closed in late March.
ScoutThis park is a repurposed orange grove with plenty of fruit trees between sites. We had 20/30/50 amp power, water and sewer. There is Avery nice, clean, but sort of small pool. I didn't check out the restrooms or showers but everything around here is very clean. There seem to be quite a few longer-term campers, but all the rigs were nice and the campsites were clean. I would definitely stay here again if I had something going on in Bakersfield or in transit to another location. The park was not crowded and plenty of sites were available.
TravelerIt’s really a beautiful place but man you are packed in like sardines. Your feet away from everyone. Water is beautiful and such a bonus so made the crowds less of a hassle. The bathrooms are a ok and glad they are there because it’s just a dry lot lakeside.
LegendGreat spot to spend the night before your climb, sites fairly level but getting to it is a good climb for your vehicle. Whitney Portal open during Summer months with store and restaurant, sites very close but overall canyon is a bit narrow so real estate limited.
TravelerThere is a lot of room for a campsite if you are camping with a tent or car camping. The price is reasonable. The restrooms are well maintained with super flush. Waking up next to an amazing views of the formation of rocks are a plus! Went around June, so bring lots of water, pet friendly. Potable waters are provided.
ScoutThis park is pretty quiet, definitely feel safe here camping alone. A bit of a tight fit. They also do rafting tours. Best part of the stay is the spot they have on the river my dog can swi in every day.
Camping near Johnsondale, California, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, this area has something for everyone.
Camping near Johnsondale, California, provides a great mix of nature and adventure. With the right preparation, you can enjoy everything this beautiful area has to offer!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, Johnsondale, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 182 campgrounds and RV parks near Johnsondale, CA and 40 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Johnsondale, CA is Limestone Campground with a 4.9-star rating from 10 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 40 free dispersed camping spots near Johnsondale, CA.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 19 parks near Johnsondale, CA that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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