Pine Knot Campground

This campground is located pretty much in town right off Summit Blvd, on a side street right next to Snow Summit. We stayed here a couple nights with our pop-up camper in site #17. Cost was $34 a night. We pulled in a little later than planned, around 7:30, there were about 10 other sites occupied with a few more reserved. There are 48 sites throughout the campground. All primitive sites. Generators are allowed, but must stay on paved areas, and not run during quiet hours, 10:00 PM- 6:00 AM. Sites have a picnic table, fire ring, grill and bear box provided. There are 4 bathroom houses around the campground with flush toilets and sinks, they were pretty clean and well kept. Potable water was available. We did hear the coyotes at night and even had one or two come through our site. Campfires are allowed at this campground as of Oct. 9, 2025. We had great T-Mobile and AT&T cell service. The camp hosts were friendly and helpful.

We booked for a weekend, in spot 37. This campground is basically in town. You enter its access road through the Snow Summit parking lot, and the chair lifts border it. That's a pro if you are looking to access the mountain bike park, but a con if you are trying to get out of town. The campground was packed when we were there, seemed every site had 6 to 8 people. It was a real party scene, again, a pro if that's what you are looking for. Lots of people with string lights up that they kept on all night.

The site itself, 37, was terrible. Most trees had been removed, and it's on the corner of two camp roads with no screening at all. The only flat tent pad was next to the road and dumpsters. We actually didn't stay or second night

Pros: close to town and mountain bike park. You could walk to both, or the free trolley. Cons: crowded, many sites have no privacy. On some weekends loud and lots of lights

I stayed in Pine Knot with my boyfriend & dog, we camped only for a day before moving on, but the area was easy to navigate and there were quite a few spots to choose from. There are lots of mountain bikers around up & down the mountain so you do have to be very careful. Lots of great views & hiking spots nearby and isn’t too far away from nearby stores & gas. I would recommend staying here even as a first time camper. I will be returning!

Landed here on a Thursday night to kick the weekend in Bear off early. Spacious campsite, was on a hill though so not sure how great it would have been sleeping on the ground. Restrooms are clean, and reception was stellar if you’re the remote working type…

Honestly for its proximity to town, you’d never know. We love Big Bear and usually spend several weekends a month up here but this was our first trip to Pine Knot. I camp exclusively with my pup, and we usually default to dispersed since we go to the mountains to get away from people. My original trepidation with the distance to town and houses even was immediately dispelled. We camped on site 003 on a fully booked weekend and had nothing but the sounds of nature to enjoy, it was absolutely lovely. For the amenities at the tip of your fingers it’s insanely well priced and the campsites are very well tended, loved and patrolled. Honestly we’ll definitely stay here again.

This campground is always clean, it is well maintained, the camposter very helpful, you can buy firewood, and there is a 7-Eleven just at the bottom of the street that sells firewood ice and pretty much anything else you would need. I love hearing the coyotes in the camp at night they really come right into the campgrounds and they're very loud. Some sites don't have very good areas to put a tent they're very uneven small and sometimes Rocky but there are quite a few sites that are good but I'd say overall void 20,21,22