Pineknot Campground, Big Bear Lake, CA

Pineknot Campground is located in the Mountaintop Ranger District, San Bernardino National Forest (1 hr 11 min northeast of Yucaipa, CA) with an elevation of 6,993 feet. There are a total of 47 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid April to the end of October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 26 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. There is a fee of $34.00 per night. Some amenities include flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.

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Campsite Reviews (173)

4.5 out of 5

5 star		68%
4 star		17%
3 star		7%
2 star		2%
1 star		3%

@AmandaVE1FB53A · Camped on Sep 6, 2024 at Campsite #34

This campsite backs up to the bike park so you dont have a ton of quiet and privacy. Also right at the entrance. Bonus is its next to bathrooms. It was a pretty full campground and the bathroom noise was never a problem and we appreciated the convenience. We unfortunately were caught in the San Bernardino line fire so we left a night early.

@EmilyE1529861 · Camped on Aug 5, 2024 at Campsite #4

good for beginners or a weekend of low-intensity. Quiet and clean site, polite and helpful camp hosts

@DanielS7047089 · Camped on Aug 2, 2024 at Campsite #41

Nice & Clean.Planning on returning.

@LizetteG7FDC99 · Camped on Jul 31, 2024 at Campsite #45

Great location!

@GabeG6F49A5982 · Camped on Jul 31, 2024 at Campsite #26

Campsite was neat and hosts were awesome!! They were welcoming, friendly and very helpful. The restrooms were well stocked with paper supplies and despite the unexpected thunder showers, the roadways were clear and the walkways swept. Out of their control were some late night arrivals which were talked to by another staff person to ask them to keep their noise down. I slept like a bear but my wife was more easily disturbed by coyote yips and some louder noises in the otherwise quiet forest night.

@KristenW516199 · Camped on Jul 24, 2024 at Campsite #23

Very clean and quiet. We plan on visiting again.

@AugieCE364057E · Camped on Jul 21, 2024 at Campsite #34

I really like this camp ground because it has lot of shade and it close to the city. The clean of the bathroom however could get more clean that once a week.

@AbdullahAEE3B8 · Camped on Jul 19, 2024 at Campsite #39

Calm and clean bathroom

@ZoeA1676135 · Camped on Jul 19, 2024 at Campsite #40

SPOT 40 BEWAREFirst, Pineknot is a beautiful campground, with ample bathroom and fresh, potable water access. The camp hosts are excellent, with a ton of firewood for sale at a good price. The campground is close enough to town but feels very distant. I suggest sites with higher numbers to get more of that "in the mountains" feel. From driving around the campground, it looks like all the sites have ample shade. The bathrooms are fully plumbed and kept clean. I highly recommend this campground, and will return my next visit to Big Bear.SPOT 40- I do NOT recommend this site. It is very spread out- meaning the table is far from the grill, fire pit, and bear box. Cooking meals is difficult if you are using the grill because there is nowhere to set your stuff unless you bring your own table. The site is very sloped on all sides, making everything at a tilt. The best, most level spot for a tent is on the parking pad. If you use a tabletop camp stove on the picnic table, it's a haul back and forth from the bear box. Nearly every site we drove by, all of the amenities are close to each other.

@ThenaU0C46B7F5 · Camped on Jul 18, 2024 at Campsite #26

Loved this location! It's close to everything, the teens were able to walk to 7-11. We drove to different spots at the lake with ease. The campsite is quiet, and the night sky was beautiful. The sites are on a slight hill, so be prepared to take your time to find the flattest area possible. Bathrooms are single use but do not have soap. Other than that, everything was perfect for my kids first camping trip.

@ZuzanaS1F4BD95 · Camped on Jul 18, 2024 at Campsite #4

Great campsite with tons of trees and enough privacy between each site. We love coming up to Big Bear

@JulieH3977949 · Camped on Jul 14, 2024 at Campsite #47

7/15 AM @ Host site men's restroom out of toilet paper. 7/14-7/17 - Restroom lights flicker; 7/16 - 10AM - No toilet paper women's restroom @ campsite 10. Sites not clean & raked as they were previous few years.

@DaveM7344120 · Camped on Jul 10, 2024 at Campsite #33

Nice spot lots of shade and is walking distance to stores and restaurants. Bathrooms could be cleaner and it would be nice if they had paper towels and hand soap for $34 /nt.

@PaulB8317136 · Camped on Jul 8, 2024 at Campsite #30

staff at pineknot was oustanding and very friendly!

@MatthewC862969 · Camped on Jul 7, 2024 at Campsite #24

My family and I had a wonderful experience at Pineknot campground! From the moment we arrived, we were impressed by how welcoming the place felt. Two camp hosts rode up on their gold cart and greeted us. The guy was pretty funny and joked around with me a few times while still keeping it professional and friendly. Great service!! It was a very warm welcome from the staff. The campsite itself was very spacious and looked like it was maintained well. I loved being surrounded by nature and all the tall pines. The restrooms were decent. Maybe, lol. It probably depends on quite a few factors such as when the last cleaning was and how much of a germiphobe you are. I thought they were okay. Ive seen worse.. haha. But Id recommend bringing your own toilet paper, soap, and cleaning products just in case! There are no showers at this campground, but Serrano is right across the lake only about 10 minutes away and I just went there to shower. Its the sister site to Pineknot and no one seemed to mind. Also, if you like hiking, there are hiking trails that start right from the campground! That was pretty cool. And its some stunning views to see if you make the trek.I absolutely loved this site and would highly recommend it to anybody who appreciates a great camping experience!!

@MustafaT843E2F · Camped on Jul 6, 2024 at Campsite #15

It is safe, clean and very green. We very like it.

@LaurynB42C3221 · Camped on Jul 3, 2024 at Campsite #26

Only downside is that there was limited space for a level area to place a tent. Bathrooms were stocked the whole time. Sites were fairly close with one another but overall it was a great camp ground with a great camp host.

@JoeB9521197 · Camped on Jul 2, 2024 at Campsite #31

Bathroom was clean and no issues.

@YuliaS801D6E00 · Camped on Jul 2, 2024 at Campsite #23

Fairly dusty place, more like vacationing in a park than in the woods. The camping is organized, everything is good on the territory, so 3 points

@SandyPC4025FB5 · Camped on Jul 1, 2024 at Campsite #1

Site 1 doesnt have shade for much if the day. Sites were clean as were bathrooms. A good amount of dust was raised when maintenance was being done on other sites. As in raking the sites and stirring up the very fine dirt. Cute little campground but not what Im generally looking for. One side is almost lined with condos and fencing.

@MaryO8691436 · Camped on Jun 2, 2024 at Campsite #30

Loved this site. Super close to town and easy to get around. Site 30 was nice and flat. Was in the sun for about 2 hours around noon, but overall nice and shady. Bathrooms were clean and nice. Ranger Joe was super nice and helpful! If we went back again I think we would choose site 31, it felt a little bigger and had more shade but site 30 was perfect for my little family of 3.

@EmilioV40CFEED · Camped on May 27, 2024 at Campsite #42

Always a great time. Tons of toads around late spring

@HansalakS056F3 · Camped on May 17, 2024 at Campsite #44

Pineknot Campground in Big Bear Lake offers a serene retreat for nature lovers. Nestled among towering pines, it provides a classic camping experience with stunning scenery. Here's a brief review: Conveniently located near Big Bear Lake, it offers easy access to various outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, and boating. Surrounded by majestic pine trees and beautiful mountain views, the campground is a picturesque setting, especially during sunrise and sunset. The campground has well-maintained amenities, including clean restrooms and showers. Sites have picnic tables, fire rings, and ample space for tents and RVs. Numerous hiking and Biking trails are accessible directly from the campground. The Pineknot Trail is a popular choice, offering moderate difficulty with rewarding views. It's ideal for families with children, with plenty of room for kids to explore and play. Nearby attractions provide additional entertainment options. Expect to see diverse wildlife, from birds to squirrels. It's an excellent spot for nature enthusiasts and photographers. It's advisable to book in advance, especially during peak seasons, as spots fill up quickly. The overall vibe is peaceful, making it perfect for a relaxing getaway.Overall, Pineknot Campground is a charming destination for those looking to immerse themselves in nature and enjoy all that Big Bear Lake offers.

@AlainE967B05FD · Camped on May 10, 2024 at Campsite #10

Great experience, everything was clean and the host was great will come back.

@KathyW3384810 · Camped on Apr 26, 2024 at Campsite #27

Very peaceful. The camp host, Joe, was very welcoming and helpful. Bring your own toilet paper, just in case. The bathroom gets a lot of use and ran out of paper on Saturday. There are no hook-ups.

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