Live Oak
Reservations not being accepted. Live Oak Campground is located across the road from Lake Isabella, a popular destination for boating, windsurfing, fishing and swimming. Lake Isabella sits within Sequoia National Forest, just 6 miles from the town of Lake Isabella.
More like this: first-come in California · pets allowed in California · group sites in California
active
Site mix
| Group sites | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 30 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | 30 | Paved | Full | 100 / 25 | No |
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.
The site record lists 100 people. The campground description says up to 150 people.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 30 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
The campground offers one group site that can accomodate up to 150 people and a combination of 30 vehicles and RVs. Flush toilets, showers and drinking water are provided.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Forest | Sequoia National Forest |
| Fees | $24/Night for single unit, $7/Night for extra vehicle $26/Night on holiday weekends |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Bakersfield, take Highway 178 east to the town of Lake Isabella. From Lake Isabella take Highway 155 north approximately 6 miles to the Live Oak campground.
| Nearest town | Kernville, California |
| Coordinates | 35.7022° N, 118.4607° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireCyrus
2 mi from the campground · 543 acres · 95% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 3.6 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Triple Crown Outfitters ↗ | 28.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | Camping World ↗ | 42.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
Live Oak provides a good base for day trips to Sequoia National Park. The Trail of a Hundred Giants and numerous sequoia groves can be found nearby within Giant Sequoia National Monument. The Giant Sequoia Mercantile is just 5 miles away in Kernville, and offers a wide variety of books, maps, gifts and camping equipment.
- 0.6 miTillie Creek Launch Ramp Boating Site ↗Boat launch
- 2.4 miCyrus Canyon Shooting Range ↗OHV / range
- 2.6 miCyrus Canyon Ohv Park ↗OHV / range
- 3.6 miStine Cove Fishing Site ↗Fishing site
- 5 miKissack Cove Day Use ↗Day use
- 5.7 mi
Trails nearby
- 2.5 miIsabella Peak Lookout0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.5 miCoso Mine Loop3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.8 miVista del Lago1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.4 miCook'S Peak 4WD1.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 4.2 miSplit Mountain1.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.8 miBorderline 4WD ↗4.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, 4WD and 1 more
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 Sequoia National Forest.
- inSequoia National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,160,053 acres
- 11.1 miDomeland Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 133,720 acres
- 13.8 miKiavah Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 86,245 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
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
Natural features
The campground is situated in a grove of scenic oak trees at an approximate elevation of 2,500 feet. Lake Isabella sits at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada range. The 11,000-acre lake marks the division between the Upper Kern River and the Lower Kern River. Sequoia National Forest is named for the giant sequoia, the world's largest tree, which grows in more than 30 groves on the forest's lower slopes. The forest comprises about 1.1 million acres. Elevations range from 1,000 to 12,000 feet, creating precipitous canyons and mountain streams with spectacular waterfalls such as Salmon Creek Falls and Grizzly Falls.
Recreation
Water activities at Lake Isabella are popular and include swimming, water skiing, windsurfing and fishing. The lake is known for its trout fishing during the colder months. Other species include black and white crappie, bluegill, catfish and largemouth bass.
Guidebooks for Sequoia National Forest and California
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Live Oak?
No. Live Oak is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Live Oak?
$24/Night for single unit, $7/Night for extra vehicle $26/Night on holiday weekends
Source: Forest Service
What time is check-in at Live Oak?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Forest Service
Is Live Oak open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Live Oak have?
1 site, including 1 group site.
Source: Forest Service
Will my RV fit at Live Oak?
The longest site here provides 30 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 Live Oak?
Flush toilets, showers and drinking water are provided.
Source: Forest Service
Are pets allowed at Live Oak?
Yes, pets are allowed at Live Oak. Leash rules apply.
Source: Forest Service
Is there cell service at Live Oak?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, 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 Live Oak?
Water activities at Lake Isabella are popular and include swimming, water skiing, windsurfing and fishing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Live Oak?
Kernville, California. Live Oak provides a good base for day trips to Sequoia National Park.
Source: Getting there
What if Live Oak is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Live Oak South (under 0.1 mi, first-come), Tillie Creek (0.1 mi), and Camp 9 (1.8 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby