Big Bear Lake Camping Guide
From full-hookup RV resorts on the lake to remote walk-up sites in Holcomb Valley, Big Bear has camping for every style. Most Forest Service campgrounds require an Adventure Pass or reservation — plan ahead for summer weekends.
Serrano Campground
Forest ServiceSerrano is the premier Forest Service campground at Big Bear Lake, sitting directly on the north shore with stunning lake and mountain views. With 109...
Fee: $37/night
Season: Late April – October
Pineknot Campground
Forest ServicePineknot Campground sits in a shaded Jeffrey pine forest on the south shore of Big Bear Lake, a short walk from the popular Pine Knot Trail to Grand V...
Fee: $34/night
Season: Mid-April – Late October
Hanna Flat Campground
Forest ServiceHanna Flat is a large, forested campground perched above Fawnskin on the north side of Big Bear Lake, offering a quieter and more rugged alternative t...
Fee: $33/night
Season: Mid-April – Mid-October
Holcomb Valley Campground
Forest ServiceHolcomb Valley Campground is a remote, high-elevation escape set in a pinyon-juniper and pine forest 5 miles north of Big Bear Lake. At 7,400 feet wit...
Fee: $21/night
Season: Year-round (road conditions permitting)
Horse Springs Campground
Forest ServiceHorse Springs is a small, primitive campground deep in the San Bernardino National Forest north of Big Bear, offering sweeping mountain views in a clu...
Fee: See Recreation.gov
Season: Year-round (road conditions permitting)
Big Bear Shores RV Resort
PrivateBig Bear Shores is a 5-diamond, gated RV resort on the north shore of Big Bear Lake where all 170 lots are privately owned — guests rent from individu...
Fee: $79–$400/night
Season: Year-round
Holloway's Marina & RV Park
PrivateHolloway's Marina & RV Park combines lakefront RV camping with a full-service marina on the south shore of Big Bear Lake, making it uniquely convenien...
Fee: See Recreation.gov
Season: April 1 – November 1
Tanglewood Group Camp
Forest ServiceTanglewood Group Camp is a single large-group site in Holcomb Valley, set in a juniper and pinyon pine forest at 7,542 feet elevation. With capacity f...
Fee: $149/night (group)
Season: Early May – Mid-October
Buttercup Group Camp
Forest ServiceButtercup Group Camp is a single reservable group site on the south side of Big Bear Lake near Pineknot Campground and Snow Summit. Unlike Tanglewood,...
Fee: See Recreation.gov
Season: Mid-April – Early October
Pine Tree RV Park
PrivatePine Tree RV Park is the only full-hookup RV park on the north shore of Big Bear Lake open year-round, making it a standout choice for off-season visi...
Fee: See Recreation.gov
Season: Year-round
Lighthouse Trailer Resort & Marina
PrivateLighthouse Trailer Resort & Marina is a family-run lakeside RV resort that has been welcoming guests since the early 1960s. All sites feature full hoo...
Fee: See Recreation.gov
Season: May 1 – October 31
Big Bear Mobile Estates & RV Resort
PrivateBig Bear Mobile Estates & RV Resort is a year-round, centrally located park in the heart of Big Bear Lake, within easy reach of the Village, ski resor...
Fee: See Recreation.gov
Season: Year-round
Heart Bar Family Campground
Forest ServiceHeart Bar Family Campground is a large USFS campground on Highway 38, about 20 miles east of Big Bear Lake at the gateway to the San Gorgonio Wilderne...
Fee: $29/night
Season: Late Spring – Late October
Bluff Mesa Group Campground
Forest ServiceBluff Mesa Group Campground is a reservable group site perched on a mesa on the south side of Big Bear Lake, offering wooded seclusion with proximity ...
Fee: See Recreation.gov
Season: Mid-April – Early October
Camping Tips for Big Bear
- Book early: Serrano, Pineknot, and Hanna Flat fill up 6 months in advance on summer weekends — reserve on Recreation.gov the day your window opens
- Bear boxes are mandatory at most campgrounds — active black bears are common year-round in Big Bear
- Adventure Pass ($5/day or $30/year) is required for National Forest day-use parking; America the Beautiful pass also accepted
- No water at some sites: Horse Springs and Tanglewood have no on-site water — pack in everything you need
- Chains may be required on mountain roads in winter; always check Caltrans conditions before driving up
- Campfires: Check current fire restrictions at the Big Bear Discovery Center or fs.usda.gov before your trip
Trails Near Your Campsite
Big Bear's best hiking trails are within minutes of most campgrounds. Use our interactive trail map to plan your hikes before you arrive.
Browse All Trails →