Andrea D.
Scout
ScoutThe Parkway RV Resort & Campground
Horrible cancelation policy
I had to cancel a 5 day stay 2 weeks in advance and was charged 177.00 Make sure you don't need to cancel. I will not stay there myself.
Camping near Paskenta, CA
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Camping near Paskenta, California sits at the western edge of Mendocino National Forest, providing a mix of established campgrounds and dispersed sites within reach of Interstate 5. The area includes developed facilities like Buckhorn Recreation Area and Plaskett Meadows Campground, along with more primitive options deeper in the forest. Many campgrounds offer lake access, with Buckhorn providing views of Black Butte Lake where campers report spacious sites away from neighbors. The Sacramento River corridor also features several camping options, including Sycamore Grove Campground in Red Bluff, which provides convenient highway access for travelers.
Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F in this region of Northern California, making spring and fall the most comfortable camping seasons. Fire restrictions are common from June through October, with complete bans possible during extreme conditions. Many forest service roads require high-clearance vehicles, particularly after winter storms. Cell service is generally reliable near I-5 corridors but becomes spotty to non-existent in the mountains west of Paskenta. According to campers, insect activity peaks in late May and June, particularly at lakeside campgrounds where "lots of bugs" were noted at Buckhorn Recreation Area.
The camping options range from full-service RV parks to remote forest sites. Interstate 5 corridor campgrounds like Rolling Hills Casino Truck Lot and Olive Pit Dispersed Lot cater primarily to overnight travelers with level pull-through sites. As one visitor noted, these locations offer "convenient access to I-5" with "clean facilities and friendly neighbors." For those seeking more seclusion, Mendocino National Forest campgrounds provide a wilderness experience. Plaskett Meadows Campground exemplifies this contrast, described by campers as feeling "hours away from civilization" despite being only about an hour from I-5. Most forest campgrounds are pet-friendly, though wildlife encounters including bears and elk are possible in the more remote areas.
Best Campgrounds near Paskenta (116)
1. Buckhorn Recreation Area
"Didn’t really have neighbors too close and had a great view of the lake."
"A lot of the sites have fabulous views of the lake. The surrounding area is beautiful to see as well. Great trail system for exploring the park. Boat ramp, old bathrooms."
from $18 - $200 / night
Check Availability2. The Parkway RV Resort & Campground
"Stayed here for a second time driving from Southern California to Oregon. The sites are spacious and there is a pool to cool down during the hot summers. There is wine tasting as well."
"I have stayed here several times as a waypoint on my travels between California to Washington.  It is a nice safe quiet park that has many pull through spaces for RVs spending the night.  I have used"
3. Rolling Hills Casino Truck Lot
"Casino nearby has multiple restaurants and entertainment, including golf. Cheap gas for California. Little bit of a hike to clean restrooms. Quiet. Convenient location for traveling down I-5."
"Conveniently located just off I-5, far enough away from the noise. Casino, restaurants, doggy daycare and golf just next door. Sites are level 75 ft pull through sites. We will stay again."
from $49 - $69 / night
Check Availability4. Whitlock Campground
"First Campground out of Paskenta, Ca. Small spot with a few campsites. Nice restroom we use when we camp nearby every year"
5. Orland Buttes
"This is a nice, basic COE campground with hiking trails, lake access, and a boat ramp. Volunteer host on site."
from $20 - $130 / night
Check Availability6. Sycamore Grove (red Bluff) Campground
"Super easy access to and from the highway."
"The river close by and all the beautiful trees, flowers and plants. Will definitely stay again."
from $16 - $30 / night
Check Availability7. Sugarfoot Campground
8. Red Bluff KOA Journey
"There is a great off leash dog area along a trail next to the river."
"Our site near the fountains was pull- or back-in. We pulled in for a nice view. Staff was welcoming. There is some road noise from highway 5 but since we are running the A/C it is not noticeable."
9. Heritage RV Park
"Walked to bakery and the Olive Pit store and Restaurant"
"The park is a little hard to find because it is near buildings. It is very quiet can't hear the noise of the freeway at all. There are restaurants near as well as fuel stops. Would stop here again."
10. Plaskett Meadows Campground
"It's about an hour away from Willows, CA on I-5 but you feel like you're hours away from civilization. Campsites have pull-through's for trailers and back-in's for tent campers."
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Recent Camping Photos near Paskenta, CA
110 Photos of 116 Paskenta Campgrounds
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The Dyrt
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Recent Reviews near Paskenta, CA
229 Reviews of 116 Paskenta Campgrounds
Grant M.
RangerPerry Riffle Trailhead
Cows, Coyotes, & Cute
We visited in early June, and you could tell the season was starting to pick up. There were several RVs, trailers, cars, and groups of people coming and going throughout our stay. Thankfully, everyone was friendly and respectful, creating a great atmosphere.
At first, I thought the campsite would be too close to Interstate 5, but once you make the drive in, the highway noise becomes minimal. You can barely hear it. The area feels fairly secluded, although the parking lot itself is very open and doesn’t offer much privacy from neighboring campers.
Having bathrooms and trash service was a fantastic amenity and something I’m not always used to finding at spots like this. There is some tree cover, but by early June the daytime sun was already getting quite warm. Fortunately, the evenings cooled off nicely and were very comfortable.
The bugs were a little bad during our stay, but our Thermacell handled them well. Starlink worked great, and there was enough sun exposure for solid solar charging during the day.
Access is easy, with paved roads nearly the entire way.
I’m giving this spot four stars. It’s a comfortable and convenient place to stay, but the immediate views aren’t particularly spectacular. However, a short walk from camp rewards you with some beautiful prairie-style scenery that is well worth exploring.
Jennifer H.ScoutWhitlock Campground
Easy to find
First Campground out of Paskenta, Ca. Small spot with a few campsites. Nice restroom we use when we camp nearby every year
- DDante O.Scout
Mendocino National Forest Lake Red Bluff Recreation Area
Great for RVs
Ample drive thru rv sites that are shaded by huge trees and surrounded by spacious fields of grass. Lots of room between sites. Access to Sacramento River and hiking trails a short distance away. Water spigots scattered thru out the campground. Stayed on a Monday and it was quiet and not very busy.
- Grant M.Ranger
Sacramento River RV Park
Friendly Campground
This has been one of the loveliest RV parks we’ve stayed at. We stayed here for almost 3 months, as many others do. Most of the residents are contract workers staying short- to long-term, but the park is also friendly for weekend and overnight stays with select spots available.
I give this place 5 stars because of the respectfulness of both the residents and the staff, along with how well maintained everything is. It’s more campground-sized, but the amenities are kept up very well. The bathrooms were cleaned regularly, the laundry room was nice, and they also have private shower rooms.
The pool was not operating while we were here, but they were actively working on getting it ready for the summer. Since we have a child, we appreciated the playground area and how family-friendly the park felt. The other kids staying here could safely play together and enjoy the space.
There’s also a central activities room with a small gym area, kitchen, and common hangout space, which was nice to have. The fenced dog park was another huge plus and gave our dog room to run around.
The setting by the river is beautiful, there’s good shade throughout the park, and the lots are laid out nicely for pulling in and parking. You can tell by the type of crowd here that it’s a very safe and respectful place with very little trouble.
The location is also convenient — just one exit off Interstate 5 near Costco.
We previously stayed at another RV park in central Redding near the river that cost nearly the same monthly rate, but we genuinely enjoyed spending time at this park, even during the day.
One significant downside is the noise. Interstate 5 to the east is loud, and the wood mill to the west creates constant background noise as well. The silver lining is that you rarely hear your neighbors because of it.
Lastly, if you’re looking for a longer-term stay, we found the application process here much easier than at most other parks. For healthcare contract workers especially, they seem to expedite the process and limit some of the background check and credit score requirements that many parks require.
- HHeidi J.
GuideGreen Acres RV Park
Nice park bad neighborhoods
This was a very nice park. Had a clean dog park that we enjoyed. Everything in the park seem like it was well kept. All of the other campers we interacted with seem very nice and courteous to each other. However outside of the park is a shady neighborhood. We went to do laundry and saw what appeared to be people doing drugs outside a hotel near by, and there were numerous homeless people wandering around.
Nancy R.GuideRed Bluff RV Park
Always a Great Stop
This was our second visit, last one 6 years ago. Friendly staff, clean facilities, nice laundry, and lots of trees. Mostly seasonal folks staying here, but we stayed in a spot right near restrooms and laundry. Grocery store short walk away and steakhouse at end of street (short walk) . Very quiet and would return!
- MMark A.Scout
Sacramento River RV Park
Nice clean park but
Nice layout and beautiful trees. The older lady that checked us in was not trained to use computer or credit card machine. Very slow process. They also charge $4 a day for WiFi
- rrowdyygirl@yahoo.comScout
Peltier Bridge Primitive Campground — Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area
Amazing, Peaceful campground
This campground was so nice! So peaceful! It was clean, pet/family friendly, the water was amazing.
Guide to Paskenta
Camping spots near Paskenta, California offer ready access to Mendocino National Forest's western regions where summer elevations of 5,000-7,000 feet provide relief from valley heat. Winter road closures frequently affect access to higher elevation campgrounds in the region from November through April. Most campgrounds within a 1-hour drive of Paskenta require high-clearance vehicles for reliable access.
What to do
Fishing at nearby ponds: Plaskett Meadows Campground features two ponds for trout fishing, with the upper pond typically stocked annually. "There are 2 ponds for fishing trout and the upper pond is usually stocked each year," notes Andrea W., who adds that campsite #12 offers "a beautiful meadow behind it with deer that pass through."
Winter canoe adventures: Unlike many seasonal campgrounds, Buckhorn Recreation Area remains open year-round. "Open all year is the draw for Buckhorn. Camp sites were plentiful in November. Took the canoe out every day," reports Tom W., making this a rare winter camping option when most forest campgrounds are closed.
Nature trails exploration: Red Bluff Recreation Area contains many marked plant species along its trail system. "Lot's of nature trails. They have many of the plants and trees recognized by little name tags. So interesting and absolutely gorgeous," writes Jacklyn L D. about the Sycamore Grove Campground area.
What campers like
Spacious sites with privacy: Many campers appreciate the generous site spacing at Buckhorn Recreation Area. "Site 22 was huge and had plenty of space for our two tents and more," shares Stephani H., who enjoyed waking up to "woodpeckers" and falling asleep to "the shrieks of distant coyotes" during her stay.
Feeling of remote wilderness: Despite its relative proximity to Interstate 5, Plaskett Meadows Campground delivers a backcountry experience. "It's about an hour away from Willows, CA on I-5 but you feel like you're hours away from civilization," explains a camper who appreciates this campground for those "looking for quiet in nature."
Clean facilities at RV resorts: For travelers preferring more amenities, The Parkway RV Resort receives consistent praise for maintenance. "This place was a very nice spot for any overnight stay on the way up to Oregon. The woman at the front desk was friendly and helpful," writes Victoria C., who particularly noted "the large dog park" as a welcome feature.
What you should know
Fire restrictions: Complete fire bans are common during peak summer months when temperatures exceed 100°F. "Summer temperatures can be intense with many campgrounds reaching triple digits by midday," reports one camper.
Varying bathroom conditions: Facility quality ranges widely between campgrounds. "Bathrooms are modern and well-maintained," notes one visitor to Red Bluff KOA Journey, while at Orland Buttes Recreation Area, Laura M. found "free showers, but the showers were among the grossest we've seen and we did not use them."
Seasonal closures: Most forest service campgrounds west of Paskenta close during winter months. "Open all year is the draw for Buckhorn," notes one camper, highlighting this as unusual for the region where most sites are available only from June through October.
Tips for camping with families
Look for protected swimming spots: Some lake areas offer better swimming access than others. "The swimming looks good as well. Great day use areas! Nice playground area for kids," mentions Mimi about Buckhorn Recreation Area facilities.
Prepare for wind at lakeside sites: Weather conditions can change quickly, especially at exposed sites. "Wasn't windy when we got there in the morning, but that night the wind started and almost blew everything away. STAKE down, no matter the weather," advises Susan R. from her experience at Buckhorn.
Consider timing for insect activity: Early summer brings peak bug activity at many campgrounds. The Olive Pit Dispersed Lot offers a free overnight option with fewer insects than lakeside sites. "Just a small parking lot with 8 or 9 pull through sites in the middle of a small downtown commercial area," explains Kevin C., making it practical for overnight stays.
Tips from RVers
Mid-week arrival recommended: Forest service campgrounds fill quickly on weekends. "We arrived mid week with no reservations and the place was practically empty. It filled up on the weekend with loud partiers," notes Laura M. about Orland Buttes Recreation Area.
Check for level sites before committing: Campground layouts vary significantly. "The site itself was mostly level side to side but our back stabilizers were nearly fully extended (with blocks) and the front ones we barely had to put out," reports Tanner P. about site 6 at Buckhorn Recreation Area.
Consider service options for longer stays: Full-service RV parks provide laundry and consistent amenities. "Two laundry rooms and two bathrooms with a shower. We will definitely stay here again," notes Bryan C. about the facilities at Red Bluff KOA Journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Paskenta, CA?
What camping is available near Paskenta, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Paskenta, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 116 campgrounds and RV parks near Paskenta, CA and 5 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Paskenta, CA?
Which is the most popular campground near Paskenta, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Paskenta, CA is Buckhorn Recreation Area with a 4.1-star rating from 8 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Paskenta, CA?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Paskenta, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near Paskenta, CA.
What parks are near Paskenta, CA?
What parks are near Paskenta, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 20 parks near Paskenta, CA that allow camping, notably Black Butte Lake and Mendocino National Forest.
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