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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Activities powered by Viator. Prices and availability come from each provider and are confirmed when you book with them.

  1. Home
  2. California
  3. Kernville
  4. Headquarters

Camping at Headquarters near Kernville

Public campground · Kernville · 40 campsites

A forested campground near fishing, hiking, and mountain biking. Most campsites have no hookups, and RV fit varies by site.

About this campground

The campground places you within immediate reach of what the Upper Kern River is best known for hiking, fishing, kayaking and rafting are popular activities in the area, and local outfitters and permitting requirements are listed on the Sequoia National Forest Upper Kern River visitor pages. 5 miles through mixed pine and fir to a meadow and a historic Forest Service cabin.

4.0 on Recreation.gov · 242 reviewsBook on Recreation.gov
View all 7 photos

At a glance

  • RV sites up to 30 ft

    Length limits vary by campsite.

  • No hookups
  • Pets welcome
  • Vault toilets
OverviewCampsitesAmenities & locationReviewsPlan your stay

30 available sites

30 open of 40 sites
Site 020
Popular
RV · Up to 30 ft · Up to 6 peopleNo hookups
Available all 2 nights
$72 for 2 nights
$36/night · before taxes & fees
Site 024
Popular
Tent · Up to 6 peopleNo hookups
Available all 2 nights
$72 for 2 nights
$36/night · before taxes & fees
Site 022
RV · Up to 30 ft · Up to 6 peopleNo hookups
Available all 2 nights
$72 for 2 nights
$36/night · before taxes & fees
Site 019
Popular
Tent · Up to 6 peopleNo hookups
Available all 2 nights
$72 for 2 nights
$36/night · before taxes & fees
Site 031
Cabin / lodging · Up to 20 ft · Up to 6 people
Available all 2 nights
$222 for 2 nights
$111/night · before taxes & fees
Site 029
RV · Up to 30 ft · Up to 6 peopleNo hookups
Available all 2 nights
$72 for 2 nights
$36/night · before taxes & fees
Site 037
RV · Up to 30 ft · Up to 6 peopleNo hookups
Available all 2 nights
$72 for 2 nights
$36/night · before taxes & fees
Site 018
RV · Up to 30 ft · Up to 6 peopleNo hookups
Available all 2 nights
$72 for 2 nights
$36/night · before taxes & fees

View full availability calendar · night-by-night from Recreation.gov

Availability on Recreation.gov.

SiteFr
13
Sa
14
Price
029
rv nonelectric
✓✓$36
022
rv nonelectric
✓✓$36
021
rv nonelectric
✓✓$36
030
rv nonelectric
✓✓$36
026
rv nonelectric
✓✓$36
024
tent only nonelectric
✓✓$36
033
rv nonelectric
✓✓$36
036
rv nonelectric
✓✓$36
019
tent only nonelectric
✓✓$36
006
tent only nonelectric
From $72 for 2 nights
$36/night · Before taxes & fees
30 sites available for your entire stay

You book directly on Recreation.gov. Rates and availability can change until reserved. Campground page on Recreation.gov ↗

30 openSites from $36/night
Book on Recreation.gov

Amenities & location

  • Vault Toilets
  • Water
Check-in
2:00 PM
Checkout
12:00 PM
Pets
Allowed (per listing)
Maximum stay
14 nights

Hookups (individual campsites): 38 no-hookup individual sites.

Location

Open in Google Maps ↗

Headquarters: questions answered

What is the maximum RV length at Headquarters?
Longest RV site listed: 30 ft (23 of 25 RV sites list a length) (per the listing)
Does Headquarters have RV hookups?
38 no-hookup individual sites (per the listing)
How do I reserve a site at Headquarters?
Reservable on Recreation.gov (per the listing)
Are pets allowed at Headquarters?
Allowed (per the listing)
Sources and details

At a glance

Official facts link to their source; “Listing” facts come from the Recreation.gov listing. Anything we can't source says so.

Max rig length
Listing Longest RV site listed: 30 ft (23 of 25 RV sites list a length)
Hookups & power
Listing 38 no-hookup individual sites
Pull-through / back-in
Listing 0 pull-through, 39 back-in
Road & site access
Listing 39 paved site driveways
Pets
Listing Allowed
Cell signal
Listing Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): AT&T 0 (67 reports), T-Mobile 0 (62 reports), Verizon 1 (60 reports)
Shade
Listing 32 of 34 sites that report shade are listed as shaded
Booking
Listing Reservable on Recreation.gov
Price
Listing Lowest listed rate $36/night (live price once you pick dates)
Stay limits
Listing 14 nights max
Getting there
Listing Kernville, CA (map in Location below)
Generators · Quiet hours · Starlink / satellite · Water
Not listed — check with campground

Reviews

Selected reviews

Verbatim from guest reviews on Recreation.gov ↗ (242 reviews, ★ 4.0). Not written or edited by us.

“Nice campground, great camp site (right on the river). You should know that it is really hot there for months. And there's no fires allowed for months.”

Don N 4 · Oct 2025 · Recreation.gov

“Pretty place. The trees need to be trimmed. Even on the main/only road through the campground they scratches my van. ”

Joy A 4 · Oct 2025 · Recreation.gov

“Beautiful campsite, relatively easy access to the river and not too far from town for any forgotten supplies. Great spot for kids and older adults to camp.”

Bradley C 2 · Oct 2025 · Recreation.gov
Nearby

Campgrounds to compare

Prefer a roof?

Prefer a roof over your head

All glamping →
  • Underworld Farms5.5 mi · Kernville
  • Spirit Walk - Private Retreat6 mi · Wofford Heights
  • Diamond Acres Camp13.2 mi · Weldon
  • Redwood Meadow14.9 mi · California Hot Springs
  • Quaking Aspen23 mi · Ponderosa

Explore nearby

  • Campgrounds near Kernville
  • RV rentals near Kernville
  • Glamping & cabins near Kernville
  • RV rentals in California
  • Glamping in California

Guides for this trip

  • How much does it cost to rent an RV?
  • Camping with dogs
Available Nov 13–15 · 2 nights5 sites open for every night

Kern River Sequoia RV Resort at Camp James

2.8 mi from Headquarters (straight-line)
Sites from $38/night
$77 total for Nov 13–15 · before taxes & fees
Rates & availability from Campspot · you book on their site
View Campsites
Available Nov 13–15 · 2 nights3 sites open for every night

Split Mountain Retreat

5 mi from Headquarters (straight-line)
Sites from $84/night
$167 total for Nov 13–15 · before taxes & fees
Rates & availability from Hipcamp · you book on their site
View Campsites
Available Nov 13–15 · 2 nights9 sites open for every night

Underworld Farms

5.5 mi from Headquarters (straight-line)
Sites from $24/night
$48 total for Nov 13–15 · before taxes & fees
Rates & availability from Hipcamp · you book on their site
View Campsites
✓
✓
$36
020
rv nonelectric
✓✓$36
008
tent only nonelectric
✓✓$36
004
tent only nonelectric
✓✓$36
032
rv nonelectric
✓✓$36
043
rv nonelectric
✓✓$36
010
tent only nonelectric
✓✓$36
009
rv nonelectric
✓✓$36
012
rv nonelectric
✓✓$36
005
rv nonelectric
✓✓$36
018
rv nonelectric
✓✓$36
003
rv nonelectric
✓✓$36
042
tent only nonelectric
✓✓$36
011
tent only nonelectric
✓✓$36
035
tent only nonelectric
✓✓$36
037
rv nonelectric
✓✓$36
007
tent only nonelectric
✓✓$36
044
standard nonelectric
✓✓$36
039
tent only nonelectric
✓✓$108
031
yurt
✓✓$111
002
yurt
✓✓$111
016
rv nonelectric
RR$36
028
rv nonelectric
R✓$36
017
rv nonelectric
RR$36
027
rv nonelectric
RR$36
014
tent only nonelectric
RR$36
023
rv nonelectric
RR$36
038
standard nonelectric
RR$36
015
rv nonelectric
RR$36
013
rv nonelectric
RR$36
025
rv nonelectric
R✓$36

✓ available · R reserved · X not available · C closed · W first come, first served · N not yet released

Ways to stay

Bring a tent or have an RV waiting

  • Tent camping here: 14 sites take tents. See open sites ↑

Need an RV for your stay?

Rentals that may deliver here and whose listed length fits sites up to 30 ft. Delivery may be available — confirm fees and dates with the owner before you book.

Thor Four Winds - Cozy family traveller - Delivery Available
Thor Four Winds - Cozy family traveller - Delivery Available

Class C motorhome · 23 ft · sleeps 5 · 104 mi from campground

$189/night listed · RVshare · Delivery may be available

View rental
2020 Pacifica XL (off road)*Towable with SUV*
2020 Pacifica XL (off road)*Towable with SUV*

Travel trailer · 21 ft · sleeps 5 · 114 mi from campground

$96/night listed · RVshare · Delivery may be available

View rental
Viking Express Popup Teardrop
Viking Express Popup Teardrop

Pop-up camper · 12 ft · sleeps 2 · 115 mi from campground

$61/night listed · Outdoorsy · Delivery may be available

View rental
Best time to go

Seasons, rates and how booked it gets

  • Peak season Jan 1–Dec 31: RV $36, RV & Tent $36, Tent $36–$108 per night
  • Peak season Jan 1–Dec 31: RV $36, RV & Tent $36, Tent $36–$108 per night

stays up to 14 nights (Recreation.gov rules).

Share of site-nights open, booked and closed on Recreation.gov for the next months, checked Nov 7. Months further out may not be released for booking yet.

MonthOpenBookedClosed
Nov 202673%19%0%
Dec 202698%2%0%
Jan 202799%1%0%
Feb 202792%8%0%
Mar 202798%2%0%
Apr 202796%4%0%
May 202797%3%0%
Plan your stay

How far ahead to book Headquarters

For July weekends, book about 169 days ahead. Three in four July Friday and Saturday arrivals were booked later than that, and half were booked 107 days or less before arrival. Past timing is guidance, not a guarantee of what is open now.

See booking patterns
Arrival monthFri/Sat arrivals: half booked at leastA quarter at leastOther days: half booked at leastA quarter at least
January9 days ahead22 days ahead16 days ahead26 days ahead
February17 days ahead36 days ahead48 days ahead181 days ahead
March15 days ahead32 days ahead18 days ahead44 days ahead
April23 days ahead50 days ahead24 days ahead59 days ahead
May57 days ahead125 days ahead48 days ahead117 days ahead
June77 days ahead140 days ahead67 days ahead146 days ahead
July107 days ahead169 days ahead91 days ahead173 days ahead
August84 days ahead164 days ahead132 days ahead181 days ahead
September40 days ahead111 days ahead61 days ahead170 days ahead
October31 days ahead80 days ahead37 days ahead124 days ahead
November19 days ahead38 days ahead28 days ahead62 days ahead
December11 days ahead24 days ahead14 days ahead28 days ahead

Months with fewer than 30 reservations of that kind are left blank. Sites where nearly every booking was made the day of arrival (pay on arrival) are left out. Closed seasons, windows not yet released for booking, and currently unavailable nights are separate from this history.

Based on Recreation.gov reservations, FY2015–2025 (18,003 reservations in the years scored). Counts reservations made, not nights actually camped: cancellations aren't in the data, and nights a site was closed count as not booked. FY2020–21 (COVID) are left out of the scores.

Compare site types

40 individual reservable campsites from Recreation.gov, checked Nov 7. Rates are the listed nightly rates.

Rv nonelectric

24 sites · $36/night

16 open Nov 13–Nov 15

Tent-only sites

Tents only, no power

12 sites · $36, $108/night

11 open Nov 13–Nov 15

Yurt

2 sites · $111/night

2 open Nov 13–Nov 15

Standard sites (tent or RV)

Tent, van or small RV, no power

2 sites · $36/night

1 open Nov 13–Nov 15