Top Camping Spots Near Searles Valley, CA: Explore Nature's Best in the Mojave Desert
Nestled within the breathtaking Mojave Desert, Searles Valley, CA, serves as an ideal gateway for campers looking to immerse themselves in a blend of rugged natural beauty and serene solitude. Just a short drive from the town, Searles Lake offers an enchanting backdrop for both RV camping and tent camping, with several well-maintained campgrounds featuring utilities and stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Adventurers seeking a more intimate experience can explore the dispersed camping options on the vast public lands nearby, where they can pitch a tent under the star-studded desert sky, surrounded by unique rock formations and diverse wildlife. The geography of Searles Valley is marked by fascinating salt flats and ancient lake beds, making it a prime spot for photography and outdoor exploration. With nearby attractions such as the Mojave National Preserve and the historic Mojave Desert, campers can indulge in hiking, birdwatching, and even off-road adventures. Whether you prefer the comforts of RV camping or the simplicity of sleeping under the stars, Searles Valley offers a distinctive desert experience that caters to all types of outdoor enthusiasts.
Owl Canyon Campground in San Bernardino County is located 56 min north of Apple Valley, CA with an elevation of 3,054 feet. There are a total of 31 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 35 feet. All sites are currently first-come first-served. Prices start at $6.00 per night. Some amenities include accessible, playground, restroom. Activities include hiking trails.
Furnace Creek Campground is part of Death Valley National Park in California (2 hrs 3 min west of Las Vegas, NV) with an elevation of -201 feet. There are a total of 130 campsites including 51 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 79 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 22 and 107 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 18 sites have electric and water hookups. Fees range from $22.00 to $60.00. Some amenities include drinking water, dump station, general store, restroom, trash dumpster, amphitheater, gasoline pump, gift shop, flush toilets. Activities include biking, hiking trails.
Paradise Cove Campground is located in the Kern River Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest (1 hr 30 min northeast of Bakersfield, CA) with an elevation of 2,639 feet. There are a total of 51 campsites. The campground is open all year. 1 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 40 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $32.00 per night. Some amenities include dump station, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, floating sports.
Headquarters Campground is located in the Kern River Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest (1 hr 52 min southeast of Porterville, CA) with an elevation of 2,780 feet. There are a total of 42 campsites including 13 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 27 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 30 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $32.00 to $100.00. Activities include boating, fishing, floating sports.
Halfway Group Campground is located in the Kern River Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest (1 hr 53 min southeast of Porterville, CA) with an elevation of 2,816 feet. There are a total of 5 campsites. The campground is open all year. Max equipment length is 20 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Fees range from $48.00 to $200.00.
Camp Three Campground is located in the Kern River Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest (1 hr 53 min southeast of Porterville, CA) with an elevation of 2,830 feet. There are a total of 50 campsites including 1 tent-only site. The campground is normally open from mid May to mid September. 49 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 40 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Fees range from $32.00 to $122.00. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Thunderbird Group Campground is located in the Kern River Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest (1 hr 54 min southeast of Porterville, CA) with an elevation of 2,869 feet. There are a total of 3 campsites which are all tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from mid May to mid September. Max equipment length is 20 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $48.00 to $120.00.
Stovepipe Wells Campground is part of Death Valley National Park in California (2 hrs 17 min west of Las Vegas, NV) with an elevation of -11 feet. There are a total of 190 campsites. The campground is open all year. Prices start at $14.00 per night. Some amenities include drinking water, dump station, general store, picnic table, restroom, gasoline pump, firewood, ice, flush toilets. Activities include hiking trails.
Hospital Flat Campground is located in the Kern River Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest (1 hr 56 min east of Porterville, CA) with an elevation of 2,972 feet. There are a total of 36 campsites including 4 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from mid May to mid September. 32 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 40 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Fees range from $32.00 to $126.00. Some amenities include swimming. Activities include boating, fishing, floating sports.
Goldledge Campground is located in the Kern River Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest (1 hr 53 min east of Porterville, CA) with an elevation of 3,221 feet. There are a total of 36 campsites including 9 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from mid May to mid September. 27 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 30 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Prices start at $32.00 per night. Activities include boating, fishing, floating sports.
Boulder Gulch Campground is located in the Kern River Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest (1 hr 31 min northeast of Bakersfield, CA) with an elevation of 2,601 feet. There are a total of 60 campsites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to the end of September. 2 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 30 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $32.00 per night. Some amenities include flush toilets. Activities include hiking trails.
French Gulch Campground is located in the Kern River Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest (1 hr 30 min northeast of Bakersfield, CA) with an elevation of 2,678 feet. The site is normally open from the end of March to the end of October. Prices start at $405.00 per night.
Hungry Gulch Campground is located in the Kern River Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest (1 hr 31 min northeast of Bakersfield, CA) with an elevation of 2,667 feet. There are a total of 76 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid May to the beginning of September. 2 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 30 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $32.00 per night. Some amenities include flush toilets.
Limestone Campground is located in the Kern River Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest (1 hr 41 min east of Porterville, CA) with an elevation of 3,749 feet. There are a total of 19 campsites which are all tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the end of March to the end of October. Max equipment length is 40 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $32.00 per night.
Fairview Campground is located in the Kern River Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest (1 hr 48 min east of Porterville, CA) with an elevation of 3,542 feet. There are a total of 48 campsites including 14 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of April to mid November. 34 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 40 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $32.00 per night.
Sandy Flat Campground is located in the Kern River Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest (1 hr 28 min northeast of Bakersfield, CA) with an elevation of 2,383 feet. There are a total of 27 campsites including 3 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 24 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 50 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $32.00 to $120.00. Activities include fishing.
Long Meadow Group is located in the Western Divide Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest (1 hr 24 min east of Porterville, CA) with an elevation of 6,101 feet. The site is normally open from mid May to mid October. Prices start at $158.00 per night. Activities include hiking trails.
Redwood Meadow Campground is located in the Western Divide Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest (1 hr 21 min east of Porterville, CA) with an elevation of 6,146 feet. There are a total of 12 campsites including 1 tent-only site. The campground is normally open from the end of May to mid October. 5 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 30 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Fees range from $32.00 to $100.00. Activities include hiking trails.
Quaking Aspen Campground is located in the Western Divide Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest (1 hr 22 min east of Porterville, CA) with an elevation of 6,979 feet. There are a total of 39 campsites including 4 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from mid May to the end of October. 24 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 30 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $32.00 to $220.00. Some amenities include amphitheater. Activities include biking.
Quaking Aspen Cabin is located in the Western Divide Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest (1 hr 19 min east of Porterville, CA) with an elevation of 6,935 feet. The site is normally open from the end of May to the end of October. Prices start at $176.00 per night. Activities include biking, fishing, horseback riding, hiking trails.
Holey Meadow Campground is located in the Western Divide Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest (1 hr 19 min east of Porterville, CA) with an elevation of 6,375 feet. There are a total of 9 campsites which are all tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the end of May to mid October. Max equipment length is 20 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $30.00 per night. Activities include biking, hiking trails.
Poso Guard Station Cabin is located in the Western Divide Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest (1 hr southeast of Porterville, CA) with an elevation of 4,572 feet. The site is open all year. Prices start at $176.00 per night.
Belknap Campground is located in the Western Divide Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest (1 hr 3 min east of Porterville, CA) with an elevation of 4,944 feet. There are a total of 15 campsites including 13 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from mid April to the end of October. Max equipment length is 35 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $32.00 per night. Activities include biking, fishing, hiking trails.
Lone Pine Campground is located in the Mt. Whitney Ranger District, Inyo National Forest (3 hrs 42 min northeast of Porterville, CA) with an elevation of 5,874 feet. There are a total of 28 campsites including 5 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from mid April to mid October. 23 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 16 and 50 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $29.00 to $72.00. Activities include biking, fishing, hiking trails.
Coy Flat Campground is located in the Western Divide Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest (1 hr 2 min east of Porterville, CA) with an elevation of 4,612 feet. There are a total of 19 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid April to the end of October. 18 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 22 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $32.00 to $64.00. Activities include fishing, hiking trails.
Whitney Portal Campground is located in the Mt. Whitney Ranger District, Inyo National Forest (3 hrs 47 min northeast of Porterville, CA) with an elevation of 7,935 feet. There are a total of 29 campsites including 16 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from mid May to the end of October. 13 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 18 and 35 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. Fees range from $32.00 to $93.00. Some amenities include restroom. Activities include hiking trails.
Afton Canyon Campground in San Bernardino County is located 1 hr 9 min northeast of Apple Valley, CA with an elevation of 1,406 feet. There are a total of 22 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 30 feet. All sites are currently first-come first-served. Prices start at $6.00 per night. Some amenities include restroom. Activities include ohv trails nearby.
Wishon Cabin is located in the Western Divide Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest (50 min east of Porterville, CA) with an elevation of 4,095 feet. The site is normally open from the end of April to the end of October. Prices start at $176.00 per night. Activities include biking, fishing, hiking trails.
Wishon Campground is located in the Western Divide Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest (50 min east of Porterville, CA) with an elevation of 4,095 feet. There are a total of 33 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 30 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. Fees range from $34.00 to $68.00. Some amenities include drinking water, restroom. Activities include fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Saddleback Butte Campground is part of Saddleback Butte State Park in California (31 min east of Palmdale, CA) with an elevation of 2,598 feet. There are a total of 37 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 30 feet. All sites are currently first-come first-served. Prices start at $20.00 per night. Some amenities include dump station, accessible, restroom, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include hiking trails.
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