Pineknot
Pineknot Campground is located in the mountains of San Bernardino at Big Bear Lake. It is a popular destination for many outdoor enthusiasts looking for respite from the busy cities nearby. While the campground can accommodate RVs, it is best situated for tent camping. It is in a prime location for mountain biking.
More like this: reservable in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 47 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 26 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
47 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | 26 | Paved | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 002 | Back-in | 26 | Paved | Full | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 003 | Back-in | 26 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 004 | Back-in | 26 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 005 | Back-in | 26 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 006 | Back-in | 26 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 007 | Back-in | 26 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 008 | Back-in | 26 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 009 | Back-in | 26 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 010 | Back-in | 26 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 26 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The campground offers dozens of single-family sites for tent or RV camping. Each site is equipped with a table and campfire ring with grill. Firewood is available for purchase. Flush toilets and drinking water are provided. No hookups are available. Trash collection bins are also available and a campground host is on-site. A dump station is available across the lake at Serrano Campground. Additional parking is available just outside of the campground.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Temporarily closed |
| Forest | San Bernardino National Forest |
| Booking | Call 1-877-444-6777 or www.recreation.gov. Reservations can be made as early as 6 months or as late as 24 hours in advance. |
| Fees | Single Site $34 - Holiday $34 - 8 person maximum. Camping fee includes entry for 1 vehicle. Extra vehicle fee $8 per night. Checks under $50 not accepted. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From I-10 in Redlands, take Highway 330 to Highway 18 in Running Springs. Continue east on Highway 18 at Big Bear Lake Dam, go straight at the dam and follow Highway 18. Turn onto Summit Boulevard and continue to a block wall. Turn left into the campground.
| Nearest town | Fawnskin, California |
| Coordinates | 34.2359° N, 116.8861° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
Any location or activity requiring a permit or lottery will have unique requirements and policies. Please check individual facility pages for pertinent information for those sites. Booking Window For most locations, you can reserve six months in advance of your stay for individual sites and 12 months in advance for group sites. There are some exceptions, so it is best to check with each facility. Change and Cancellation Policies and Fees Overnight and Day Use Facilities: To ensure fairness, reservation arrival or departure dates may not be changed beyond the booking window until 18 days after booking the reservation. Camping / Day Use: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation (including campsites, cabins, lookouts, group facilities, etc.).
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 2.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | Mountain Air Mobile Home Sales ↗ | 21.4 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Outdoor gear ↗ | 25.7 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Pineknot Campground In Big Bear, CA Review
Worth a stop
The adjacent town of Big Bear Lake provides opportunities for shopping and dining.
- 2.1 mi
- 2.3 mi
- 2.7 mi
- 4 miGrays Peak Trailhead Day Use ↗Trailhead
- 6.7 miCactus Flat Ohv Staging Area ↗OHV / range
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miTowne Trail ↗1.1 mi trail
- 0.5 miBristlecone Spur ↗0.07 mi trail
- 0.5 miFern ↗1.6 mi trail
- 0.6 miBristlecone ↗0.6 mi trail
- 0.7 miGoing Green ↗2.9 mi trail
- 0.9 miFall Line Connector ↗0.3 mi trail
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside San Bernardino National Forest.
- inSan Bernardino National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 805,483 acres
- 6.4 miSan Gorgonio Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 101,574 acres
- 6.5 miSand to Snow National Monument ↗National Monument · Bureau of Land Management · 174,844 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Henry Washington Survey MarkerObject · Big Bear City · 8.4 mi
Natural features
The campground sits at the base of Snow Summit Ski Resort at an elevation of 6,900 feet. It is nestled in a dense forest of fir, pine and oak trees, which provide ample shade in the campground.
Recreation
Its location at the base of a ski mountain provides visitors with unlimited access to popular lift-served mountain biking trails. Hikers also enjoy the campground's proximity to a number of trails that vary in levels of difficulty. Big Bear Lake offers a variety of water-related recreation opportunities, including boating and fishing. A marina is located about five miles from the campground. The cold waters of the lake aren't too popular for swimming, but canoeing and sailing on the lake are viable options.
Guidebooks for California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Pineknot?
Sites at Pineknot are reservable on Recreation.gov. Call 1-877-444-6777 or www.recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Pineknot?
Single Site $34 - Holiday $34 - 8 person maximum. Camping fee includes entry for 1 vehicle. Extra vehicle fee $8 per night.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Pineknot?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Pineknot?
Camping / Day Use: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation (including campsites, cabins, lookouts, group facilities, etc.).
Source: Charges and cancellations
Is Pineknot open right now?
Temporarily closed as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Pineknot have?
47 sites, including 47 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Pineknot?
The longest site here provides 26 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are there showers or a dump station at Pineknot?
Flush toilets and drinking water are provided.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Pineknot?
Yes, pets are allowed at Pineknot. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Pineknot?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Pineknot?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Pineknot?
Its location at the base of a ski mountain provides visitors with unlimited access to popular lift-served mountain biking trails. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation