$32
Headquarters
Total sites: 42
Available Today: 6 FF*
Available this Weekend: 6 FF*
Booking Window: 6 months
Available Today: 6 FF*
Available this Weekend: 6 FF*
Booking Window: 6 months
2,780 ft
72°F
52°F
52°F
no signal
Headquarters Campground, CA
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.
Campground Capacity (Next 30 Days)
Campsite Reviews (132)
4.2 out of 5
| 5 star | 57% | |
| 4 star | 23% | |
| 3 star | 9% | |
| 2 star | 8% | |
| 1 star | 3% |
@GregS1457823 · Camped on Mar 21, 2025 at Campsite #17
Close to town. Spacious. We really liked the host, too!
@BradleyM625857 · Camped on Feb 2, 2025 at Campsite #14
Great campground. The host, Randy, was extremely helpful with a mix-up in my campsite number. A peaceful and relaxing environment!
@michaelk687828 · Camped on Dec 27, 2024 at Campsite #31
Good amenities and a nice campground, a lot colder at night than the weather forecast said thought so come prepared. Yurt was dusty and sandy but that's to be expected.
@BarrieP4DCE022 · Camped on Dec 24, 2024 at Campsite #35
This campground was great. The sites along the water with the mountains across the road make for a really cozy camp. Unfortunately, we didn't see or catch any fish, so that was a let down. We camped here late December, and enjoyed ourselves nonetheless. Kernville was a pleasantly surprising community and we got some great hot food from the grocery store. Also, the campground host was great. He made us feel right at home and made a positive impact on our stay.
@WilliamP724185 · Camped on Nov 28, 2024 at Campsite #9
Great site and location. Fishing was a little tough due to super cold and high water levels
@ThomasT2893818 · Camped on Nov 12, 2024 at Campsite #25
Trip was good except that the water out of the campground faucets ha a strange taste to it and was a light color of brown or yellow.
@Christoph94057 · Camped on Oct 11, 2024 at Campsite #14
The campground is not bad at all. However, there was so much trash around our camp. It's a shared responsibility between the campers when they use the spots and the host to clean up after campers who have missed the mark. I would go again but would try to reserve the sites that are shadded by trees in the middle of the Camp ground.
@KiyoshiKF76A9F · Camped on Jul 24, 2024 at Campsite #28
Had a good time.
@IsahakE4C56F24 · Camped on Jul 21, 2024 at Campsite #31
Beautiful place very close to the market and downtown. A very nice swimming area. We highly recommend it.
@JohnL4419148 · Camped on Jul 17, 2024 at Campsite #19
This was the first year in years that Ive gone to headquarters and it was clean, quiet and all or in order the camp was great in years
@KanoknatSC00D1 · Camped on Jul 3, 2024 at Campsite #15
Sadly , our cooler got stolen by someone at first day of camping , no shade, on summer time (heat wave attack) make sure your spot need shade,,, 3 stars for toilets cleanness , 2 stars for clean fire pit cleanness (still have some old stuff left)and the grill got broken without fixing,, 5 stars for location (next to the Kern river ) ..
@Christina7631C · Camped on Jun 29, 2024 at Campsite #38
The location is nice next to the river, the only part didn't like the camping location is next to the street, so if you are looking for a peace and quite 100% you may get awake in the middle of the night people driving next to your campsite. Not enough trees. I was looking for more shade... take your canopies to get shade.
@TomH4673678 · Camped on Jun 19, 2024 at Campsite #25
Camp host was great. Could be easier to call to cancel sites without 45 minute wait then they hung up for bad connection. I had 2 sites I had to leave 3 days early and couldn't cancel. They where left not used for 3 days.
@OmarR6771183 · Camped on Jun 16, 2024 at Campsite #22
Great camping trip campsite well maintained by host Debbie very informative and attentative camp host. The site was perfect for our family.
@JessicaC404794 · Camped on May 24, 2024 at Campsite #29
Great site close to the river. Shops and restaurants are close by but the campsite still feels remote and serene, giving you the best of both worlds. Drop toilets are smellier than most but this is a great option for the price.
@TomH4673678 · Camped on May 13, 2024 at Campsite #23
Why not put all the extra sand in site 22 into site 23 the big gully.
@SherrylH802466 · Camped on May 2, 2024 at Campsite #23
The camp host was so nice and accommodating! The site was beautiful! Were coming back in Septemberonly draw back was parking for our truck, the 5th wheel took up almost the entire spot and its only 24
@IvanO9F72D8471 · Camped on Apr 20, 2024 at Campsite #28
Entire site #28 is completely covered in tall grasses. One corner has a large sinkhole. It should not be available to reserve
@jackya2E9EEC10 · Camped on Apr 19, 2024 at Campsite #11
Beautiful, well-kept campsite by the river. Host was very helpful, she accommodated us to another campsite # by the river since we got there early enough. She checked in on us and my dogs, very nice lady.
@KenS7241932 · Camped on Apr 9, 2024 at Campsite #38
This is a well-maintained, looked after camp. Located just a few miles above Kernville not too close, but close enough that a trip to Kernville to pick up supplies is not a day trip. On a scale of 1 to 10 the camp hostess Deborah rates an unequivocal 10, without question the best host/hostess, I have ever dealt with it one of these camps.
@AllieN55F7D2DD · Camped on Apr 5, 2024 at Campsite #35
Site was clean, bathrooms were clean with no negative odors, and the camp host was very kind and friendly! Will be back for another easy breezy camping trip.
@JamesT8733204 · Camped on Apr 5, 2024 at Campsite #10
Great site, good time.
@Christine26218 · Camped on Apr 2, 2024 at Campsite #2
We had a great time. The yurt was very nice and clean, the hosts were very helpful and friendly, and just an overall great experience!
@LeviG2A6F3CB56 · Camped on Apr 1, 2024 at Campsite #42
Host was very helpful and friendly. Thank you!
@DianaM3571263 · Camped on Mar 22, 2024 at Campsite #20
We had the best hist! She was very informative about everything around us!
Other Campgrounds Nearby
We track all the sites so you don't have to.
Reservation Systems
Campsites Tracking
Campsite Reviews
Available Tonight
Available this Weekend
Cancellations Today
PRO $2.50/month
You're in Control. We never save credit card information or auto-renew subscriptions.
- Availability Map Search
- 3000+ Interactive Campground Maps
- Campground Virtual Tours
- Save Your Favorite Campsites
- Favorite Campsites Availability
- Campground Mobile Speed Test Maps
- National Parks, Forests & Ranger District Layers
- Wildfires & Air Quality Map Layer
- Satellite View Map Layer
- Campsite SMS Cancellation Alerts
- Rent your Property & Cabins
- Love's & Super Walmart Map Layers
- Cracker Barrel & Bass Pro Shop Map Layers
- Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) Layer
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Map Layer
- RV Propane, Parking, Dump, Water Map Layer
Pro is FREE for 7 days. (No credit card information required!)
Thanks to all our Supporting Members
@BranJen - Santa Clara, CA
I wanted to thank you for this site and especially for the notifications feature. Thanks to your site and my subscription I was able to book a campsite I've been annoyingly trying to book for 5 years unsuccessfully. So thank you.
@Wondering - Oregon
Wow! Woke up this morning to a notification that a favorite had opened at Paulina, and when I went to check, it was there. This membership just paid for itself in the first 24 hours I owned it. Couldn't take the site it conflicted with a trip already set, but it truly was there. Thanks Tons.
map icon in the lower right corner.
Map Settings
Reset
 Satellite |
 Wildfires |
 National Forests |
 National Parks |
 Air Quality |
 BLM |
 OHV MVUM |
 Love's |
|
Dump Stations
|
Water
|
Propane
|
RV Parking
|
 Super Walmart |
 Cracker Barrel |
 Bass Pro Shops |
| Price*: |
| Length: |
| Amps: |
| Elev: | feet |
| Temp: | °F |
| Down: |
| Up: |
*Earn our Leave No Trace badge to see our free camping sites.
🎉 Earn +5 marshmallows for adding your first favorite.
Use your earned marshmallows to enter our monthly giveaways or to get a Pro Subscription.
Show your commitment in keeping our forests healthy and protecting our public lands by earning the Leave No Trace badge.