Fairview Campground
Fairview Campground sits in an area dotted with oak and gray pine along the Upper Kern River, a designated Wild and Scenic River, at an elevation of 3,500 feet.
More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| RV, no hookups | 35 |
| Tent-only | 13 |
| Standard, no hookups | 6 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
54 sites in 3 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 002 | A | RV | Back-in | 30 | Paved | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | |||
| 003 | A | RV | Back-in | 30 | Paved | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | |||
| 004 | A | RV | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 005 | A | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | Yes | |
| 006 | A | Tent only | Back-in | Paved | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | ||||
| 007 | A | Tent only | Back-in | Paved | No / No | Riverfront | 6 / 1 | Yes | |||
| 008 | A | Tent only | Back-in | Paved | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | ||||
| 009 | A | RV | Back-in | 30 | Paved | No / No | Riverfront | 6 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 010 | A | RV | Back-in | 30 | Paved | No / No | Riverfront | 6 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 011 | A | Tent only | 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 |
| Accessibility | Sites 005, 020 are listed accessible |
The campground, located 13 miles north of Kernville, has 54 paved sites configured around three loops. Some sites have views of or direct access to the river. Picnic areas, vault toilets and drinking water are provided. There is a restaurant next to the campground. This facility is operated by Rocky Mountain Recreation Company (RMRC), a division of ExplorUS and comments are welcome; comment forms are available from campground hosts or directly at Rocky Mountain Recreation Company.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | April to November |
| 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 Fairview Campground, Sequoia National Forest - Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Campsite fees $34/night for single unit, $8/night for extra vehicle. Maximum trailer length 45’ |
| Rules | No camping or campfires outside designated campsites. |
Weather by month
Getting there
Off of Highway 99 in Bakersfield, California, take Highway 178 east to Lake Isabella. From Lake Isabella take Highway 155 around the west side of the lake to the town of Kernville. From Kernville go north on Sierra Way/Mountain 99 for 16 miles to the campground.
| Nearest town | Kernville, California |
| Coordinates | 35.9286° N, 118.4908° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireCyrus
16 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 ↗ | 19.3 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Triple Crown Outfitters ↗ | 22.2 mi |
| RV sales & service | Lindustries RV Service ↗ | 48.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
The Kern River Fairview Campground Review
Worth a stop
The campground provides a good base for day trips to the Sequoia National Park, Trail of 100 Giants, and numerous Sequoia groves in the Giant Sequoia National Monument. The Giant Sequoia Mercantile offers a wide variety of books, maps, gifts, local art, camping supplies and other merchandise.
- 5.5 miCorral Creek Picnic Site ↗Day use
- 10.3 mi
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miPacksaddle2.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miWhiskey Flat ↗12.4 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.6 miTobias Creek ↗7.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 0.6 miFlynn Canyon3.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.7 miKern River Upper ↗5.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.1 miRincon ↗19.5 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
- 8.8 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 Sequoia National Forest, located at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada in central California, takes its name from 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, and 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. At various points along the river, gray pines, scrub oaks, grass and dry climate shrubs cling to steep canyon walls, while cottonwoods and willows line the water's edge.
Recreation
Whitewater rafting and kayaking on the Upper Kern River are popular activities. Visitors also enjoy plenty of hiking opportunities. There is direct access from the south end of the campground to several foot and mountain bike trails, including the 13-mile Whiskey Flat, 16-mile Flynn Canyon and 4-mile Tobies Trails.
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 Fairview Campground?
Sites at Fairview Campground 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 Fairview Campground, 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 Fairview Campground?
Campsite fees $34/night for single unit, $8/night for extra vehicle. Maximum trailer length 45’
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Fairview Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Fairview Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season April to November.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Fairview Campground have?
55 sites, including 35 RV sites without hookups, 13 tent-only sites, and 6 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Fairview Campground?
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 Fairview Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Fairview Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Fairview Campground?
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. No camping or campfires outside designated campsites.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Fairview Campground?
Sites 005 and 020 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Fairview Campground?
Whitewater rafting and kayaking on the Upper Kern River are popular activities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Fairview Campground?
Kernville, California. The campground provides a good base for day trips to the Sequoia National Park, Trail of 100 Giants, and numerous Sequoia groves in the Giant Sequoia National Monument.
Source: Getting there
What if Fairview Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Limestone Campground (2.5 mi), Brush Creek Dispersed Camping (2.6 mi, first-come), and Goldledge Campground (4.2 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby