Inland Empire Camping

Inland Empire Camping Overview

California has literally thousands of campgrounds. Below, you'll find campgrounds from Arrowhead to Lake Skinner with conveniences like flush toilets and showers, as well as popular and unique campgrounds to help you narrow the choice. These include campgrounds in National Parks, State Parks, National Forests, State Forests, County Parks and privately owned resorts. Camping locations in the Inland Empire include campsites along side lakes, within lush pine forests, at trailheads to towering peaks and at recreational lakes with fishing, waterslides and more. We've included as much detail as possible so you have a better idea of what to expect and whether reservations are required in advance.

PETS: Dogs are allowed at almost all campgrounds but must be kept on a leash, picked up after, and never left unattended. Most beach campgrounds allow dogs in the campground but not on the beach.

BEARS: Metal bear-proof lockers are provided in almost all campsites where bears are a problem. California bears rarely attack people without provocation and should not be feared, but a great deal of space and respect should be given to a bear. Please visit our Tips page for more information on bears and other precautions to consider.

CAMPING CHECKLIST - download our checklist of camping essentials and you won't forget anything at home.

REI - rents camping equipment including tents, sleeping bags, stoves, lanterns and more.

TIP: Looking for some late night campsite entertainment? Check out www.seasky.org for their celestial calendar including meteor showers.

California State Park Closures are expected to begin in 2012 because of California's budget crisis. Check here for an update on park closures.

Inland Empire Campgrounds
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Silverwood Lake SRA Campground is located off Highways 18 and 138 north of San Bernardino. Features include hiking trails, swimming beaches, boating, water skiing and fishing. The lake has trout, large-mouth bass, catfish and bluegill. There is a launching ramp at the marina where they also rent boats and equipment. The campground includes 136 campsites for tent or small RV. Features include picnic table and fire ring with grill. Flush toilets and showers. RV dumpstation nearby.

Silverwood Lake
Highway 138
Hesperia, CA 92345
Reservations: (800) 444-7275
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Lake Arrowhead is located off Highways 18 and 138 north of San Bernardino. Lake Arrowhead is a private lake so lake usage is restricted, but nearby Green Valley Lake offers swimming and fishing activities. Below we've provided information on the most popular campgrounds in Lake Arrowhead.

Lake Arrowhead
Highway 173
Lake Arrowhead, CA 92352
(909) 337-3715
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

• Dogwood Campground is located between Lake Gregory and Lake Arrowhead on Highway 18. Campground offers 94 campsites for tent or RV camping. campsites include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. RV hookups and dump station. Reservations required.
  Reservations

• Green Valley Campground is located halfway between Arrowhead and Big Bear Lakes off Highway 18. Green Valley Lake is close by. Campground offers 38 campsites for tent or RV camping. campsites include a picnic table, fire ring and flush toilets. Reservations required.
  Reservations

• North Shore Campground is located north of Lake Arrowhead off Highway 173. Campground offers 27 campsites for tent or RV camping. campsites include a picnic table, fire ring and flush toilets. Reservations required.
  Reservations

Big Bear Lake is located off Highways 18 and 38 east of Redlands. Nestled in the pine trees at over 6,000 feet above sea level, Big Bear is known for its winter ski resorts, private cabins, large fishing lake and pristine campgrounds. Of which, we've listed a few of the more popular below. Below we've provided information on the most popular campgrounds in Big Bear.

Big Bear Lake
Highway 18 or 38
Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
Reservations: (877) 444-6777
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

• Hanna Flats Campground is located 3-miles north of Highway 38 and Big Bear Lake off Rim of the World Drive. Take Rim of the World Drive north from Fawnskin. Campground offers 88 campsites for tent or small RV. campsites include picnic table and fire ring, flush and pit toilets. Reservations required for half of the campsites leaving the others for First-come first-served.

• Pineknot Campground is located on the south side of Big Bear Lake off Highway 18. Campground offers 48 campsites for tent or RV camping. campsites include a picnic table, barbeque, fire ring and flush toilets. Reservations required.
  Reservations

• Serrano Campground is located on the north shore of Big Bear Lake off Highway 38. This is the only campground along the lake's shore. Campground offers 132 campsites for tent or RV camping. RV hookups and dump station. campsites include picnic table and fire ring. Flush toilets and showers. Reservations required, but any unreserved campsites are First-come first-served. The Alpine Pedal Path follows the northern shore of Big Bear Lake and connects the campground with the Discovery Center and the eastern shore.
  Reservations  |   More Info

San Gorgonio is located off Highway 38 east of Mentone. San Gorgonio is Southern California's highest peak at 11,502 feet above sea level. Hiking trailheads connect the peak to the campgrounds listed below. Both campgrounds are situated at approximately 6500 feet in a pine tree forest. Below we've provided information on the most popular campgrounds in San Gorgonio.

San Gorgonio Ranger Station
34701 Mill Creek Road
Mentone, California 92359
Reservations: (909) 382-2881
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

• Barton Flats Campground is located off Highway 38 near the Jenks Lake turnoff. Campground offers 52 campsites for tent or RV camping. campsites include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. RV dump station. Reservations required. Year-round camp.
  Reservations

• San Gorgonio Campground is located 25-miles south of Big Bear on Highway 38. Campground offers 54 campsites for tent or RV camping. campsites include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. Reservations required.
  Reservations

Mohave Narrows Campground is located off Interstate 15 & Bear Valley Road, east of Victorville. Camp is situated along side the Mohave River. Amenities include a small fishing lake stocked with bass, trout and catfish, pedal boat, row boat and electric boat rentals and horseback riding. The campground includes 85 campsites for tent or RV camping. Features include picnic table, fire ring with grill, flush toilets and showers. RV dumpstation available.

Mohave Narrows
18000 Yates Road
Victorville, CA 92392
(760) 245-2226
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Hesperia Lake Park Campground is located off Interstate 15 east of Hesperia on Main Street. Features include a store, equestrian camping and a small fishing lake stocked with trout, catfish and giant sturgeon weighing up to 200 pounds. The campground includes campsites for tent or RV camping. Features include picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers.

Hesperia Lake Park
7500 Arrowhead Lake Road
Hesperia, CA 92345
(760) 244-5951
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Mohave River Forks Campground is located off Interstate 15 southeast of Hesperia on Highway 173. The campground features hiking and equestrian trails and includes 70 campsites for tent or RV camping. Features include picnic table, fire ring with grill, flush toilets and showers. RV dumpstation available.

Mohave River Forks
18395 Highway 173
Hesperia, CA 92345
(760) 389-2322
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Rancho Jurupa Campground is located near the intersection of the 60 and 91 Freeways off Mission Boulevard. Amenities include a small fishing lake stocked with trout and catfish. The campground includes 67 campsites for tent or RV camping. Features include picnic table, fire ring with grill, flush toilets and showers. RV dumpstation on site.

Rancho Jurupa
4800 Crestmore Road
Riverside, CA 92509
(951) 684-7032
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Bogart Park Campground is located off Interstate 10 north of Beaumont. The campground includes 26 campsites for tent or small RV. Features include picnic table, fire ring with grill and flush toilets.

Bogart Park
9600 Cherry Avenue
Cherry Valley, CA 92223
(951) 845-3818
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Yucaipa Campground is located off Interstate 10 off Oak Glen Road. Voted #1 Picnic Spot in the Inland Empire. Features include a small fishing and boating lake stocked with trout, catfish and bass, bait shop, snack bar, playground and a swim lagoon with 300-foot tall waterslides. The campground includes campsites for tent or RV camping. Features include picnic table, fire ring with grill, flush toilets and showers. RV dumpstation available.

Yucaipa
33900 Oak Glen Road
Yucaipa CA 92399
(909) 790-3127
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Prado Campground is located off Highway 71 at Euclid Avenue (Hwy 83). Features include a small fishing and pedal boating lake stocked with trout, catfish and bass, bait shop, a general store, playing fields, golf course and shooting range. Guided horseback rides is available by the hour from a nearby stable. The campground includes campsites for tent or RV camping. Features include picnic table, fire ring with grill, sun shelters, flush toilets and showers. RV dumpstation available.

Prado
16700 S. Euclid Avenue
Chino, CA 91708
(909) 597-4260
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Idyllwild is located off Highway 243 south of Interstate 10 in the San Jacinto Mountains. This quaint mountain community resides on the second highest peak in Southern California. Rustic cabins and tent camping are plentiful here. Activities include hiking, mountain biking, fishing, shopping and sightseeing. Consider hiking to the peak of San Jacinto and further to the top of the Palm Springs Tram during your stay. Below we've provided information on the most popular campgrounds in Idyllwild.

Mount San Jacinto State Park
25905 Highway 243
Idyllwild, California 92549
(951) 659-2607
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

• Stone Creek Campground is located off Highway 243 south of Interstate 10 and approximately 25-miles north of the town of Idyllwild, in Pine Wood. Campground offers 28 campsites for tent or small RV. campsites include picnic table, fire ring and flush toilets. Reservations recommended or first-come first-served.
  Reservations

• Idyllwild Campground is located off Highway 243 south of Interstate 10 and within stones throw distance to the town of Idyllwild. Idyllwild Campground offers 33 campsites for tent or small RV. Features include a picnic table, fire ring & grill, food locker, Flush toilets and showers. Concerts and movie showings are held during the summer months near the entrance to the park. A short nature trail leads to indian grinding rocks within the park. Walk to shops, restaurants and entertainment in downtown Idyllwild.
  TIP: campsites 12, 26 & 28 have cement pads for small RVs. The rest of the park is has standard tent camping spots. campsites 4 through 7 offer the most shade. The indian grinding rock is located behind camps 6 & 7, which can bring some foot traffic into your camp.
  Reservations

• Idyllwild County Campground is located off Highway 243 south of Interstate 10 and within moderate walking distance to the town of Idyllwild. Campground offers 83 campsites for tent or RV camping. campsites include picnic table and fire ring, flush toilets and showers. Reservations recommended or first-come first-served. A short nature trail leads from the campground to the Idyllwild Nature Center.
  TIP: Our favorite campsites are 2 & 6 for additional elbow room. campsites able to accommodate large motorhomes are situated at the back of the park in a large open area with little shade, 84 through 95. campsites 23 and 39 are among the tent campers and can accommodate a small RV. Tight, one-lane road makes it tricky for a large RV but we saw a 40-footer make it through.
  Reservations

Hurkey Creek Campground is located off Highway 74 just a short distance south of Mountain Center. The campground includes 100 campsites for tent or RV camping. Features include picnic table and fire ring, flush toilets and showers. RV dumpstation and hook-ups. Reservations recommended or first-come first-served.

Hurkey Creek
56375 Highway 74
Mountain Center, California 92561
(951) 659-2050
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Lake Perris SRA Campground is located off Highway 215 near Moreno Valley. Activities include camping, picnicking, hiking, biking, swimming, boating, water-skiing, fishing and more. There is a launching ramp at the marina where they also rent boats and equipment. A bike path navigates around the entire shoreline. The campground includes over 400 campsites for tent or RV camping. Features include picnic table and fire ring. Flush toilets and showers. RV dumpstation and hook-ups. Reservations recommended.

Lake Perris
17801 Lake Perris Drive
Perris, California 92571
(800) 444-7275
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Lake Elsinore Campground is located off Interstate 15 in Lake Elsinore. Activities include camping, picnicking, swimming, boating, water-skiing, fishing and more. There is a launching ramp at the marina where they also rent boats and equipment. The campground includes 140 campsites for tent or RV camping. Features include picnic table, fire ring and flush toilets. RV dumpstation and hook-ups. Reservations recommended.

Lake Elsinore
32040 Riverside Drive
Lake Elsinore, California 92530
Reservations: (800) 416-6992
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Lake Skinner Campground is located northeast of Temecula off Interstate 15 and Rancho California Road. Features include a large fishing & boating lake, swimming pool and shaded day use areas. The campground includes over 400 campsites for tent or RV camping. Features include picnic table and fire ring, flush toilets and showers. RV dumpstation and hook-ups. Reservations recommended or first-come first-served.

Lake Skinner
37701 Warren Road
Winchester, CA 92596
(951) 926-1541
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

ADDITIONAL camping is located throughout the San Bernardino National Forest from San Bernardino in the north, south to San Diego County. Most offer a table, fire ring and vault toilets. Many do not have running water. Reservations required at some campgrounds.

San Bernardino National Forest
602 S. Tippecanoe Avenue
San Bernardino, California 92408
(909) 382-2600
Website  |   Other Ideas

Camping by Region
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