Elam Campground
Developed campground with 15 designated sites; most can accommodate an RV. Maximum of 8 people per site. Grills and tables provided.
More like this: first-come in California
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | April to September |
| Forest | Lassen National Forest |
| Rules | Include: vehicles in designated parking areas only, no overnight stays permitted, no fireworks, all animals must be on a six (6) foot leash. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 40.2491° N, 121.4486° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedCy26 Elrd Underburn Drake Unit 7 & 9 Rx
34 mi from the campground
- PrescribedCy26 Elrd Understory Drake Unit 6 8 &10 Rx
34 mi from the campground
- PrescribedShf Rx
49 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 20.6 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Sportsman's Warehouse ↗ | 39.9 mi |
| RV sales & service | Mike Friend RVs ↗ | 40.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
No site-by-site records, no amenities, no fee schedule, no directions or photos in the Recreation.gov record. What is here comes from the agency's own listing. The rest lives there.
Checked nightly. Modules appear as soon as the record fills in.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 7.6 miBrokenshire Picnic Area ↗Day use
- 13.9 miAlmanor Picnic ↗Day use
- 14.5 miAlmanor Beach ↗Swimming
- 14.5 miAlmanor Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
Trails nearby
- 3.2 miCarter Meadows1.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 3.9 miButt Mountain0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
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 Lassen National Forest.
- inLassen National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,488,712 acres
- 10.7 miLassen Volcanic Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 79,061 acres
- 13 miPlumas National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,431,953 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
On the National Register nearby
- Park Headquarters, Lassen Volcanic National ParkBuilding · Mineral · 10.8 mi
- Warner Valley Ranger StationBuilding · Chester · 13.7 mi
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 Elam Campground?
No. Elam Campground is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
Is Elam Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season April to September.
Source: Forest Service status
What if Elam Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Gurnsey Creek (4.3 mi, partly first-come), Potato Patch Campground (6.1 mi, first-come), and Hole-In-The-Ground Campground (7.3 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby