Summary
Discover campgrounds located around Big Bear Lake, California. Big Bear is a popular getaway spot, busy year-round. In summer, it’s cooler than the inland deserts, and in the winter, you can enjoy skiing. It’s about 100 miles from Los Angeles and 150 miles from San Diego.
At 7,000 feet elevation, Big Bear’s mountain location provides a refreshing change from the coast and desert heat. Notably, the biggest event of the year is Oktoberfest, a German-style beer festival that attracts huge crowds.
Plan Ahead
Big Bear Lake is surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest. Many of these campgrounds are managed by the National Forest Service. Some campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis, whereas others accept reservations, which can be made at recreation.gov as early as six months in advance or as late as 24 hours prior. Additionally, some campgrounds have minimum stay requirements during holiday weekends.
Moreover, it’s important to anticipate that Big Bear can be very busy throughout the summer, during Oktoberfest in October, and throughout the winter ski season. However, the campgrounds may not experience much traffic when temperatures drop.
Campgrounds Near the Lake
These campgrounds are located around Big Bear Lake, predominantly on the south side.
- Big Bear Shores RV Resort: This is the most upscale RV spot in the area, offering an outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts, and 24-hour security. All sites feature a cement parking pad, cable television, and full hook-up services, although additional features vary. Some sites have lakefront access.
- Holloway’s Marina RV Park: A large, commercial park featuring spacious, level sites with lake views. Additionally, there’s a marina providing boat rentals, a laundry room, and a convenience store. All sites include full hookups, tables, barbecues, and cable TV.
- Pineknot Campground: Situated in the National Forest at an elevation of 7,000 feet, adjacent to the Snow Summit Ski Area, Pineknot accommodates both tents and camping trailers. Facilities include drinking water and flush toilets.
- Serrano Campground: Located on the north shore of the lake, Serrano offers tent and RV sites with hookups and a dump station. It is the only national forest campground in the area equipped with showers. Moreover, the trailhead for the Cougar Crest Trail is conveniently across the street. However, it has limited drinking water and flush toilets.
Big Bear Area Campgrounds
These campgrounds are located in the Big Bear area but not directly at the lake. They are National Forest campsites with minimal facilities.
- Big Pine Flat: Big Pine Flat features green meadow sites alongside drier, high desert areas. Located on Forest Rd. 3N14, 7 miles NW of Fawnskin at an elevation of 6,800 feet, it offers tent camping only, along with drinking water and vault toilets.
- Hanna Flat: A family campground positioned on Forest Road 3N14, 2 1/2 miles NW of Fawnskin in Big Bear Lake, at an elevation of 7,000 feet. It admits camping trailers and tents, with drinking water and vault toilets available.
- Holcomb Valley Campground: Situated in Holcomb Valley, just north of Big Bear Lake, this campground accommodates tents exclusively and features vault toilets without water supply.
Other Ways to Camp Near Big Bear
In addition to designated campgrounds, “dispersed” or undeveloped camping is also available in the San Bernardino National Forest. These sites offer a more primitive camping experience compared to those listed above, generally lacking amenities such as water, electricity, and toilets. Some sites might permit campfires; however, restrictions are stringent, and permits are typically required.
