U.S. Forest Service · Stanislaus National Forest · California

Deadman Campground

Deadman Campground is situated along the banks of the Stanislaus River, one mile from Highway 108 on the Kennedy Meadow Road. It is about 29 miles east of the Summit Ranger Station. There are a total of 17 camping sites; two walk-in sites. The main road is paved and parking pads are dirt-surfaced. Restrooms are vault toilets. Water is piped to hydrants serving multiple sites. A fee is charged for extra vehicle parking.

Closed for the seasonFirst-come, first-served

More like this: first-come in California

Deadman Campground
Photo from the area. Wizz4prep (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
1fire
active
Tmu Rx Support (prescribed burn) · 44 mi away
Interagency incident data as of 2026-10-16
Incident details ↓

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
SeasonApril to October
ForestStanislaus National Forest
BookingNo reservations may be made for Deadman Campground.
FeesKennedy Meadows Resort and Pack Station operates Deadman Campground and charge the following fees: $25.00 for a single-family site. $50.00 for a double site. The Interagency Senior and Interagency Access Passes are honored and provide a 50 percent discount on camping fees in the campground.
RulesCamp in designated sites only. The number of people allowed in a single campsite is six. The maximum length of stay in any campground is 14 days. Please leave the area in as good (or better) condition than you found it. Often, locations destroyed by thoughtless campers must be closed to restore the area's natural health. Help ensure your favorite area remains open.

Stanislaus National Forest recreation page ↗

Getting there

29 miles east of Pinecrest off Highway 108 on Kennedy Meadow Road, near Baker Campground and Kennedy Meadow Trailhead.

Coordinates38.3172° N, 119.7487° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Tmu Rx Support

    44 mi from the campground

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearBear Valley Adventure Company ↗18.8 mi
Dump stationDump Station ↗37 mi
RV sales & serviceCustom Truck Accessories ↗56.7 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Lower Deadman & Upper Deadman Campgrounds, CA

Worth a stop

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →

Trailheads within three miles

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

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Stanislaus National Forest.

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.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

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 Deadman Campground?

No. Deadman Campground is first-come, first-served. No reservations may be made for Deadman Campground. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.

Source: Forest Service

How much does it cost to camp at Deadman Campground?

Kennedy Meadows Resort and Pack Station operates Deadman Campground and charge the following fees: $25.00 for a single-family site. $50.00 for a double site. The Interagency Senior and Interagency Access Passes are honored and provide a 50 percent discount on camping fees in the campground.

Source: Forest Service

Is Deadman Campground open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season April to October.

Source: Forest Service status

What if Deadman Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Baker Campground (0.7 mi, first-come), Eureka Valley Campground (2.3 mi, first-come), and Pigeon Flat Campground (3.4 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby