Best Campgrounds near Wofford Heights, CA

Camping areas near Wofford Heights, California range from established campgrounds to dispersed sites along the Kern River and Lake Isabella shorelines. Rivernook Campground and KRS RV Resort@Camp James provide full hookups for RVs while offering tent sites with amenities like showers, drinking water, and trash service. For those seeking more primitive experiences, Keyesville Recreation Area and Stine Cove Recreation Site offer free dispersed camping with minimal facilities. The region includes several campgrounds with riverside access, making it popular for fishing, swimming, and water recreation.

Road conditions and seasonal considerations significantly impact camping experiences in the Wofford Heights area. Summer temperatures often exceed 90°F, while winter brings cooler conditions and occasional snow at higher elevations. Most developed campgrounds remain open year-round, though dispersed sites may have seasonal fire restrictions. Cell service varies throughout the region, with better coverage near established campgrounds and towns. Visitors should check current fire regulations, as permits are required for campfires in many areas. According to one visitor, "This river is notorious for sweeping people away so please be cautious and keep an eye on your children. The current was strongest in the middle but manageable on either side."

Campers report high satisfaction with sites that provide direct river access. The Kern River serves as a central attraction, with several campgrounds positioned along its banks. Tent and RV sites at Camp Three Campground offer shade and proximity to swimming areas, while dispersed camping at Keyesville provides more seclusion with river views. One camper noted, "Camp 3 is a good location if you can book it quickly outside of the Summer months. We usually always camp here in May since that is right before Memorial day when the campgrounds all open for the season." Visitors appreciate campgrounds with tree cover during hot summer months. Public lands near Lake Isabella provide additional camping options with lake views, though these areas can become crowded during peak season and may have ongoing construction projects that affect noise levels.

Best Camping Sites Near Wofford Heights, California (165)

    1. Rivernook Campground

    27 Reviews
    Kernville, CA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 376-2705

    $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. "

    2. KRS RV Resort@Camp James

    14 Reviews
    Kernville, CA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 376-6119

    $39 - $340 / night

    "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."

    "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."

    3. Stine Cove Recreation Site

    15 Reviews
    Weldon, CA
    8 miles
    Website

    "Toilets and trash at entrance. The dam is being rebuilt so the water is real low. Easy to drive along the beach until nobody else is around."

    "I appreciated the rough feel of the lake and how close the road was. There is a restroom and a dump bin at the entrance which locked this spot in for convenience."

    4. Keyesville Recreation Area Dispersed

    11 Reviews
    Lake Isabella, CA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (661) 391-6000

    "You can park RVs right next to the water but it gets very busy, there are more secluded spots accessible to even Class A rigs further down."

    "Access to the river is closed as of 26 January, still plenty of dispersed places down the road to camp. Bathrooms and trash dump and lots of trails to ride bikes!"

    5. Chico Flat Dispersed Camping - Partially Closed, See Description

    11 Reviews
    Kernville, CA
    8 miles
    Website

    "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."

    "You have access to the river nearby. The generator can be used until 10 p.m. Would recommend."

    6. Sandy Flat

    10 Reviews
    Bodfish, CA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 376-1815

    $34 - $136 / night

    "Again the campground was great and we were pretty close to the river which was awesome. But stay away from site 9. We’ll definitely be back but will be at one of the others."

    "We appreciated the proximity to the hot springs.

    Our site was pretty big, but that was not the case for some of the other sites which looked small or close to other sites. "

    7. Frandy Park Campground

    7 Reviews
    Kernville, CA
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 376-6483

    $50 - $125 / night

    "Has showers and is walking distance to Kernville park and town stores and restaurants.  

    This campground is known for the epic live music weekend parties and events!  "

    "I always camp near the river, there are plenty of walk ways to get down there to relax."

    8. Hanning Flat Dispersed Area

    7 Reviews
    Weldon, CA
    6 miles
    Website

    "I spent two days here and only seen a handful of vehicles drive through, mostly US Forest Service trucks. Pack in, pack out."

    "To swim in the lake this area connects to Stine Cove campground - via a very soft sandy road - which is also free, has a vault toilet, but is shaded by mountains and less private."

    9. Camp Three Campground

    6 Reviews
    Kernville, CA
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 376-1815

    $34 - $147 / night

    "Camp 3 is a good location if you can book it quickly outside of the Summer months."

    "desired (lots of trash, half the sites are extremely rocky / sandy with little shade, some sites have rotting or broken picnic benches and very little privacy, and there is only one place for trash upon exit"

    10. Lake Isabella-Kern River KOA

    7 Reviews
    Weldon, CA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 378-2001

    "Kern River is a great place in the hot California Desert. This place has everything to make you feel at home."

    "Close to lake Isabella and all of the Kern. Great for last minute reservations too, online booking works"

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Recent Reviews near Wofford Heights, CA

629 Reviews of 165 Wofford Heights Campgrounds


  • D
    Sep. 24, 2025

    Chico Flat Dispersed Camping - Partially Closed, See Description

    Quiet place for undisturbed camping

    Good campground on the way to Sequoia. Plenty of space, we had no problems finding a spot for our 30ft RV. There are restrooms available which seem to be cleaned every second day. You have access to the river nearby. The generator can be used until 10 p.m. Would recommend.

  • Amber R.
    Sep. 20, 2025

    Bear Mountain RV Park

    Clean and friendly staff

    The shower/bathroom was kept very clean. Laundry was clean as well as the dog run. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Will definitely come back. Highly recommend

  • Lou F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2025

    Tule - Success Lake

    Cool at night and hot in the day

    I got here at 3pm and it was hot with no shade. By 5 pm it cool of and was very pleasant. Very good showers and restroom to freshen up in.

  • b
    Sep. 11, 2025

    Kern River Campground

    Very chill

    Great serene spot (aside from a few noisy campers) by the river, liked it so much we camped out for 3 days. Great price too! Close enough to civilization but far enough you forget it's nearby. Would recommend!

  • french M.
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Stine Cove Recreation Site

    Stine Cove

    I'm looking for a campsite near water and a nice mountain view, will definitely add Stine Cove to my next trip list.

  • Kenneth P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Balch Park Campground

    Fantastic Family Campground

    This is a historic campground. With 1000 year old trees and history of logging. Good fishing and hiking all around the area. Nice hosts and most people are respectful of the area.

  • HThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 21, 2025

    Spaceport RV Park

    Only used the dump & water

    Handy stop for water & dump! $2 bucks for water & $5 bucks for the dump

  • K
    Aug. 14, 2025

    Kern River Campground

    Reservations

    You must register and reserve a campsite before 4 PM local. The website directs you to an unsecured website. I pressed on through and got a human on the phone, so far so good. The total was $35.


Guide to Wofford Heights

Dispersed camping options dominate the landscape near Wofford Heights, California, with elevations ranging from 2,600 to 4,000 feet throughout the region. The Kern River watershed creates varied camping terrain from sandy riverbanks to forest clearings. Water access points for swimming and floating differ significantly between sites, with current strength varying by location and season.

What to do

River tubing adventures: Kernville offers excellent conditions for tubing down the Kern River. At KRS RV Resort@Camp James, campers access ideal floating conditions. "You can take a ride down the river in your tube and walk back. So much fun!" notes Johnny P., who visits annually.

Rock climbing experiences: Multiple climbing routes exist near Camp Three Campground. The terrain includes large boulders with established routes for various skill levels. According to Hayley K., "There is easy access to climbing routes on rock formations nearby and access to trails nearby."

Sequoia forest excursions: The Trail of 100 Giants sits about an hour from the Wofford Heights area. David H. from Camp James mentions: "It is about an hour drive to Trail of 100 Giants Sequoia Trees. Can't wait to stay here again."

Hot springs relaxation: Sandy Flat Campground provides convenient access to nearby Miracle Hot Springs. Kela K. confirms this benefit: "This campground is also great as it's very close to Miracle Hot Springs."

What campers like

Direct river access: Riverside camping spots rank highest among visitor preferences. Mike N. from Rivernook Campground explains: "The prime reason is they have campsites directly on the Kern River. We stayed on the southern end of the campground site #102 and we walked to the northern end and floated down the river back to our site with a nice cold beer in hand."

Private swimming areas: Some campgrounds feature protected swimming spots ideal for children. At Camp Three Campground, Tyler F. found: "It was a 2 minute walk to the stream where there was a nice little walled off spot safe for children to swim in."

Cell reception variability: Connectivity differs significantly between sites. Mike N. notes about Camp Three: "No cell reception, no WiFi, there are restrooms but no showers. Take a 3 minute walk through the woods to get to Kern River and you have a little oasis away from it all."

Stargazing opportunities: Light pollution levels vary by location. At Stine Cove Recreation Site, Jeffrey T. observed: "The night sky has no light pollution, and is beautiful enough to knock you off your feet because of all the stars."

What you should know

Winter closures affect access: Several campgrounds close seasonally. Jordan M. reports about Sandy Flat: "Went to camp here but it was closed. Ended up going up the street to Remington and camping there as well as hiking to the hot springs."

Wind conditions can be severe: Winter camping requires extra preparation. At Stine Cove Recreation Site, Izzy Y. warns: "Winter winds here almost blew the tent over with my pup and myself inside. Although occasional gusts may seem obvious for location and time of year I would have lost that tent had I not been inside."

Lake water levels fluctuate: Isabella Lake's shoreline changes significantly. Jeffrey T. notes: "Water is low due to them repairing the dam, where I'm camped at should be underwater and it is gorgeous."

Fire restrictions vary seasonally: Current conditions determine fire rules. Pamela A. shares: "At first I was a bit upset because they prohibited campfires because of the high temperatures during the summer but this did not ruin our stay."

Tips for camping with families

Splash pad amenities: Families with young children appreciate water features. Nick B. from Lake Isabella-Kern River KOA confirms: "They have a wonderful pool and splash pad for the kids. The staff was amazing! They have pizza and a small bar to relax in."

Scheduled activities: Some campgrounds organize family events. Amber D. describes Camp James offerings: "This campground even offers activities for the whole family, movie night, bingo, even rock painting."

Riverbank supervision: River safety requires constant attention. Tyler F. values protected swimming areas: "It was a 2 minute walk to the stream where there was a nice little walled off spot safe for children to swim in."

Site selection for shade: Summer heat makes tree cover essential. Kim from Camp Three advises: "This is one of the more covered campgrounds going up the river so if you want shade then this is the site for you."

Tips from RVers

Hookup distribution: Full-hookup sites may not offer the best views. Jeff G. from Camp James notes: "The RV sights with full hooks up are further away from the river about 200 yards."

Dump station locations: RVers can find services at select locations. "therealquaid D." from Hanning Flat Dispersed Area shares: "There's a $12 dump station with potable water at Camp 9 and one at Old Isabella Recreation Site."

Cellular service reliability: Verizon offers better coverage than other carriers in most locations. "therealquaid D." confirms: "T-mobile was very slow but Verizon had a good connection."

Road surface considerations: Some areas require careful driving. "therealquaid D." warns about Hanning Flat: "To swim in the lake this area connects to Stine Cove campground - via a very soft sandy road - which is also free, has a vault toilet, but is shaded by mountains and less private."

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Shirley Meadows campground located near Wofford Heights?

Shirley Meadows campground is located in the mountains near Wofford Heights in the southern Sierra Nevada range. While specific information about Shirley Meadows is limited in reviews, nearby Leavis Flat Campground is situated along Deer Creek in the same general area, providing a reference point. The region is characterized by mountainous terrain with access to various recreational opportunities including hiking trails and scenic views of the Kern River watershed. The campground's elevated position provides cooler temperatures compared to the nearby Lake Isabella area.

When is the best time of year to camp at Shirley Meadows near Wofford Heights?

The best time to camp at Shirley Meadows near Wofford Heights is typically late spring through early fall. Based on patterns at Lake Isabella-Kern River KOA, the area offers pleasant conditions from May through October. Due to its elevation, Shirley Meadows provides cooler temperatures than the valley floor, making it particularly appealing during summer months when lower elevations become extremely hot. The campground may close during winter months due to snow and challenging road conditions. Fall offers beautiful colors while spring features wildflowers, though weather can be more unpredictable during shoulder seasons.

What amenities are available at Shirley Meadows campground in Wofford Heights?

Shirley Meadows campground likely offers basic amenities typical of Forest Service campgrounds in the region. For comparison, nearby Kern River Campground provides standard facilities with restrooms, though visitors note maintenance could be improved. Similarly, Camp Three Campground offers basic amenities with some sites positioned near water access. Expect vault toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables, but likely no hookups or running water. Campers should bring their own water supply and be prepared for a more rustic camping experience in this mountainous setting.