Best Glamping near Kernville, CA

Recent Glamping Reviews near Kernville, California

113 Reviews of 17 Kernville Campgrounds

• 

  Lili R.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 11, 2019

  Redwood Meadow

  Amazing even in the rain!

  We stayed here in October after the yurts had been taken down which was no bother to us when you’re surrounded by the most magnificent trees in the world! This also meant there were no crowds and we had practically the entire campground to ourselves. Highly recommend going later in the year. The trail of 100 Giants is right across the street!

• 

  Jeff G.

  Scout

  

  Jan. 14, 2021

  KRS RV Resort@Camp James

  Clean RV Park

  Camp 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.

• 

  Hayley K.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 26, 2016

  Sequoia National Forest Quaking Aspen Campground

  Beautiful Green Meadows and Big Trees!

  This is a stunning campground. It is just a short (very steep) hike from The Wheel Meadow Grove of Giant Sequoias. It is great for large groups of students and lots of opportunities for wildlife viewing. The trail going from the campground down to the trees is a great Mtn Biking trail. Loads of turns and beautiful views. The bathrooms sometimes have black widows so be careful! But the sites are great and there are even yurts if you are interested in that.

• E

  Emily

  Scout

  

  Sep. 6, 2022

  Sequoia National Forest Quaking Aspen Campground

  Quiet and beautiful

  It was a very peaceful and calm campground on the I stayed in one of the yurts. It was very clean and there is a bunkbed with two full size beds and another separate full size bed. The bathrooms were also kept very clean. I didn’t get a chance to go hiking in the area, but there are trails nearby. There is no service but it is about a 5 minute drive from a cafe/store/lodge that has Wi-Fi. I was in site 28. Sites 6-10 looked amazing for tent camping.

• 

  Stan H.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 4, 2023

  Sequoia National Forest Quaking Aspen Campground

  Solid place but no bear locker

  Relatively small campground. Camp host was nonexistent. Lots of trees in most campsites. The non yurt sites didn’t have bear lockers. Fire ring was in rough shape. Loud neighbors first night. Second had techno from group site until late. Ponderosa general store was going to be my go to for firewood but it had burned down. So foraged for wood and picked up some at the campground at trail of 100 giants. Vault toilets were clean and stocked. Water spigot scattered around campground. No cell service on Verizon or wifi. Would come back here.

• 

  Mister Linh

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 1, 2023

  Redwood Meadow

  Host was exceptional

  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.

• 

  Christopher D.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 16, 2019

  Halfway Group Campground

  Chill and isolated camping along the Kern River

  Camped here a couple times with a college group, once in the fall and once in the fall. The Kern River valley is definitely more of a summer destination, because on both occasions camping here our group was the only group in the campground. There are a few different group sites available, with varying group size limitations. When we camped, only a single porta potty was provided which sort of worked with a smallish group, but if we had more people it would have been an issue. At one point we even ran out of TP and had to drive to the neighboring campground down the road to ask the host there for some more rolls, which she happily provided. Also keep in mind there is no running water at al here. Either bring your own or filter/boil the river water. Camping in the off season was nice because it felt so isolated, and our group had a good time. The campground is right up against the river so you will definitely hear it roaring at night. There are many hikes to do in the valley, especially if you drive north. The town of Kernville is also 10 minutes to the south and has a grocery store, gas station, and even a brewery! Overall this campground was really relaxing, and had some awesome views of the towering peaks above the valley floor. I could definitely recommend this campground for a group trip.

• 

  Ryan W.

  Legend

  

  May. 31, 2017

  Redwood Meadow

  Big Trees. Big Crowds.

  IMPORTANT recreation.gov and reserveamerica.com both list this campground as having water. That is NOT TRUE. There are no water fill up sites. There are also NO BEAR BOXES despite claims otherwise and the requirement that food be kept in them. Bears do frequent the area and are know to be numerous within a mile of camp.

  **

  Do you like shopping at REI’s parking lot sale? You might love Redwood Meadow Campground in Sequoia National Park. At 6500 feet of elevation and 40 miles from the nearest convenience store it should be far enough out there to minimize the crowds. However, it is located directly across from the trailhead to the Trail of 100 Giants, a 1/2 mile walking tour of some of the biggest trees Sequoia has to offer. Let me be clear, this is not a hiking trail. This is a tourist stop. You’ve been warned. And with a name as cool as “Trail of 100 Giants” plenty of people who are outdoorsy just enough will make the trip. I know what you’re thinking, “Why all this trail talk? Isn’t this a campground review?”

  Yes, it is. But the campground and the trail’s proximity have intertwined their destinies. If you are lucky enough to get one of the 13 camp sites, a combination of tent, van or yurt, you’ll be able to step across the road and have your morning coffee on a bench looking up at a maze of overturned sequoia roots shading a gurgling brook, or up at a tree so tall and so wide it is hard to fathom. You’ll also be dealing with the literally, 1000s of tourists who have come to see the trail over a three day weekend (strong recommend for a middle of the week site. Those tourists will have cars that overflow the parking lot, they will use your camp’s vault toilets, and they will continually be stepping out at random into the road or stopping abruptly on the the trail. They will impact your campsite experience. In fact, the camp is currently constructing a yurt general store to provide additional amenities to trail and camp visitors.

  The campground consists of an outer and inner ring. The inner ring sites ate all decent size but lack any semblance of privacy. They are pretty much open to each other, but with plenty of tall ass trees providing some shad and blocking a bit of line of sight. Sorry neighbor trying to see around that tree while we tested our new camp shower. The effects of recent forest fire are evident everywhere. In our site (005) There where large piles of ash and charred stumps remain. A year ago fire ravaged areas nearby and this location was only nicked by blaze but the effects are lasting. It makes for a dusty overall camp. Prep for a good vehicle wash afterwards.

  The outer ring is where it’s at. Particularly, along the West side of the camp where the river runs behind the sites, and the tree cover is a little thicker. The sites here (particularly 004, 006, 008) are far away and down hill from the roadway. They looked pretty idyllic and we were a bit envious that we didn’t have access to the river.

  In the evenings the trail visitors had gone back to where they came from and our small park was left with a smattering of campfires, the sounds of the river and the dark shadows of towering trees between which stars sparkled and parts of constellations teased. Those evening fires were aided by the plentiful amount of dry wood on the ground with a hatchet, like the kick-ass one from CRTK we excited to try out for the first time, you could easily put together enough wood for your visit. We had brought some but took advantage of the dry brush for starter and to keep things going when we were running low. 

  This summer Nick and Katylyn from Jersey are the hosts. They are only a few days on the job but handling the crowds like pros. They have plenty of helpful tips (Nick has been here before) and were more than helpful. Even with the crowds they were on the ball with the pit toilets, site maintaining etc.

  At the Trail of Giants the Sequoia’s all seem to have faces, and histories so long you can feel the a dignified weight settle in the stiller moments of the early morning when the masses have not yet awoken from their slumbers or the evening when their whiskeys are being poured. Those moments make a visit to this camp more than worthwhile. And during the day when they trail is filled past capacity you merely need to head a few miles in any direction and pull off at a forest road or trailhead that is completely free of visitors on even the busiest days to experience the park as a wilder, free place than we can find most of the time in our day to day lives.

  Pro-Tip 1: There are two sets of toilets. The one to the rear of the camp is hidden from the entry and not used by trail visitors. It is also shaded making for a better experience than the one closer to the front of camp.

  Pro-Tip 2: Kern River Brewing Company. Have lunch there, and beer. Then go to the general store across the street for everything from meat and cheese to hiking boots and rifles. Campfire wood is only $5/bundle and includes more than most bundles we’ve seen anywhere.

• 

  Andrea R.

  Legend

  

  Apr. 26, 2019

  Lake Isabella-Kern River KOA

  Very family friendly and unique!

  Kern River is a great place in the hot California Desert. This place has everything to make you feel at home. Several large sites for tents or RV's , bathrooms with full showers, a pool, splashpad and water play area. They have these weird Banana bikes which were fun. I was in complete heaven when I saw the coffee bar! There is a big pavilion with cooking areas for everyone!

  This is close to several nearby attractions. They offer great wifi services. Great places if you have little ones. so much to do and all of the staff was wonderful.

  They have Cabins too! I didnt stay in them but they are pretty cute.

• 

  Veronica H.

  Ranger

  

  Sep. 3, 2021

  KRS RV Resort@Camp James

  Our favorite campground in California

  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. During the high season, it's fun to watch kayakers and whitewater rafters screaming down the rapids. But our favorite time to go is in late July and August, when you can float down the river in an inner tube. There is great trout fishing right off the property, and the bathrooms have always been well kept and clean. I love all the little streams running through the property too, which gives it such a peaceful vibe. They do rent cabins as well. Staff has always been attentive and friendly. There is a small store on the property that sells fishing gear, snacks and other goodies.

  I made a video about the campground here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz3l6VbZz14

• 

  Brady R.

  Scout

  

  Nov. 2, 2021

  KRS RV Resort@Camp James

  1st time…we’ll be back!

  We 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.

• D

  David H.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 15, 2020

  KRS RV Resort@Camp James

  Amazing Time

  First time to the Kern River. Loved it. We were there August 1-6. The River was a little low but it was perfect for us with our 5 year old son. 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. We also fished in the river. Our camp site was great. 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. Lots of kids and dog friendly. The WIFI was good to stream TV and ATT cell service was good too. The sites had power, water and cable TV hook up. There is a dump station in the campground. They clean and rake all camp sites after each use and they enforce the 10:00pm quiet time. It is a short walk/ride to Kern River Brewery. Or it is about a hour drive to Trail of 100 Giants Sequoia Trees. Can’t wait to stay here again.

• t

  tiffany J.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 11, 2022

  KRS RV Resort@Camp James

  Clean upscale camp

  Camp 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.

• 

  Armando C.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 5, 2021

  KRS RV Resort@Camp James

  7 night stay by the River

  Excellent 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.

• 

  Jeffrey P.

  Scout

  

  Apr. 27, 2022

  KRS RV Resort@Camp James

  My Favorite

  This place is amazing. Clean campground, friendly staff and amazing views. This place is a must visit

• 

  Lisa T.

  Scout

  

  May. 1, 2022

  KRS RV Resort@Camp James

  Amazing!

  First time at camp James - it was awesome. Helpful friendly staff, super clean, and amazing camp sites! Will definitely be coming back!

• 

  Johnny P.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 20, 2019

  KRS RV Resort@Camp James

  On the River!

  We love these campground. We go every year during the summer! Nice clean small campground. 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. You can even rent a cabin. Really close to town. Take a ride down the river in your tube and walk back. So much fun!

• B

  Brad E.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 2, 2018

  KRS RV Resort@Camp James

  Nice campground right by the river

  Nice campground that is kept up very well. Depending on the level of the river it can be very noisy. Great if you want to be right next to the river.

• A

  Amber D.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 19, 2019

  KRS RV Resort@Camp James

  Best family campground

  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. In front of us was the river. Gorgeous views. The grounds are very well maintained, they collect trash every morning, there is a small store inside the office in case you forgot anything. The town of Kerrville is a just a couple minutes up the road with little shops and things to do. This campground even offers activities for the whole family, movie night, bingo, even rock painting. This will be our go to campground every year.

• 

  D T.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 9, 2019

  KRS RV Resort@Camp James

  Nice, well kept grounds

  In my opinion, they have the best “On the river sites”, and all those sites make a cul de sac down on the river. So if you have a large group you can all take up those spots and pretty much have your own area. If not, you can just reserve and make some great friends. The river is rushing by literally at your back door. There are little house/cabins also. Even if you don’t camp in those sites, the whole campground is very nice and well kept. Some of the pics were taken right at our site.

• 

  Ricky S.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 31, 2022

  KRS RV Resort@Camp James

  Kern River

  Excellent 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.

• 

  Brett D.

  Legend

  

  Feb. 18, 2023

  KRS RV Resort@Camp James

  Nice campground

  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.

• 

  Carlos C.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 8, 2020

  Kern's River Edge Campground

  Rv/tent camp grounds

  Beautiful nice place Close to the river

• 

  Karen D.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 6, 2024

  Kern's River Edge Campground

  Nice campsite, friendly hosts, family and kid oriented

  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.

• 

  makenna W.

  Traveler

  

  Feb. 29, 2024

  Kern's River Edge Campground

  A lovely, quiet campground.

  My 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.

• 

  Diego R.

  Traveler

  

  Jan. 5, 2022

  Headquarters Campground

  Campground on the river

  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.

• 

  Morgan F.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 27, 2018

  Headquarters Campground

  Best campground at the Kern

  By far the best campground there. The river front campsites are awesome and have a great size. There's plenty of shade (which is rare for the area), and the section of river is so fun.