Hospital Flat
Hospital Flat Campground is situated along the Kern River, 6.5 miles north of the town of Kernville. Hiking, fishing, kayaking and rafting are popular activities.
More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California · group sites in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
active
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 32 |
| Walk-in | 3 |
| group walk to | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
36 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 002 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 003 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 004 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 005 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 006 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 007 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Paved | Partial | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 008 | Walk-in | Back-in | Paved | Partial | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 009 | Walk-in | Back-in | Paved | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 010 | Walk-in | Back-in | Paved | No / No | 6 / 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 | 40 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The campground offers several single-family sites on a single loop along the river. Picnic tables and campfire rings are provided, as are vault toilets and drinking water.
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. |
| Season | May to September |
| Forest | Sequoia National Forest |
| Booking | This site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) or on-line at Hospital Flat, Sequoia National Forest - Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Campsite fees range from $34/night for single unit, $8/night for extra vehicle. Group Campsite 30pp - $145.00 Maximum trailer length 30’ |
| Rules | Camping and campfires within 25 feet of the water's edge are prohibited due to Kern River's Wild and Scenic Designation. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Kernville, go 6.5 miles north on Sierra Way (Mountain 99) to the campground.
| Coordinates | 35.8280° N, 118.4581° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireCyrus
9 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 ↗ | 12.3 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Triple Crown Outfitters ↗ | 22.9 mi |
| RV sales & service | Lindustries RV Service ↗ | 44.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Hospital Flat Campground | Sequoia National Forest | Kern River | Site by Site Exploration
Worth a stop
The Cannell Meadow National Recreation Trail begins just north of Kernville. The trail stretches 11.5 miles as it climbs through mixed pine and fir forest to Cannell Meadow and a historic Forest Service cabin built between 1904 and 1909. Hikers are awarded beautiful views of the Kern River Valley along the trip. Visitors enjoy making day trips to Sequoia National Park and Giant Sequoia National Monument.
- 2 miCorral Creek Picnic Site ↗Day use
- 3.1 mi
- 8.8 miCyrus Canyon Ohv Park ↗OHV / range
- 9 miCyrus Canyon Shooting Range ↗OHV / range
- 9.3 miTillie Creek Launch Ramp Boating Site ↗Boat launch
- 10.8 miStine Cove Fishing Site ↗Fishing site
Trails nearby
- 3 miBaker Point1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.7 miWhiskey Flat ↗12.4 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 4.1 miCannell Meadow ↗23.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more · national_recreation_or_other
- 4.5 miRincon ↗19.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 4.7 miPotato Patch ↗11.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 5 miBull Run ↗5.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle 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
- 7.1 miDomeland Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 133,720 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 sits within Sequoia National Forest at an elevation of 3,000 feet in an open area overlooking the Kern Wild and Scenic River. Gray pine, scrub oak, grasses and shrubs cling to steep, canyon walls along the river, and cottonwoods and willows line the riverbanks. Sequoia National Forest, located at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada in central California, 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 about 1,000 to 12,000 feet, creating precipitous canyons and mountain streams with spectacular waterfalls such as Salmon Creek Falls and Grizzly Falls.
Recreation
Hiking, fishing, kayaking and rafting are popular activities in the Upper Kern River area.
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 Hospital Flat?
Sites at Hospital Flat are reservable on Recreation.gov. This site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) or on-line at Hospital Flat, Sequoia National Forest - Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Hospital Flat?
Campsite fees range from $34/night for single unit, $8/night for extra vehicle. Group Campsite 30pp - $145.00 Maximum trailer length 30’
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Hospital Flat?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Hospital Flat open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May to September.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Hospital Flat have?
36 sites, including 32 standard sites without power, 3 walk-in sites, and 1 group walk to.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Hospital Flat?
The longest site here provides 40 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 pets allowed at Hospital Flat?
Yes, pets are allowed at Hospital Flat. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Hospital Flat?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Camping and campfires within 25 feet of the water's edge are prohibited due to Kern River's Wild and Scenic Designation.
Source: Fire nearby
What if Hospital Flat is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Chico Flat Dispersed Camping (0.4 mi, first-come), Thunderbird Group Campground (0.9 mi), and Camp Three Campground (1.3 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby