Arnell

Overall, this is a wonderful campground. The place is easily accessible, clean, located on the Kern River (above Lake Isabella), right next to downtown Kernville, and the people there are incredibly nice and helpful. We stayed in campsite 55, which had partial hook-ups (water, electric, cable). It was not located right on the water, but was an easy walk to it. The spaces are close, but not very close. My site had approximately 15 feet from my trailer door to my neighbors motorhome. This was a good size (substantial) for this area and progressively get smaller in the full-hook-up section and spots next to the river. The site was primarily dirt or really fine dirt when really dry. The campground is covered with mature trees around most of the sites and open to the sky where you can drive.

Access was very easy to the campground, but going through the Kern Canyon on the 178 can be a little hairy for larger rigs, but using commonsense and taking it easy will get you through easily. Once you get into Kernville, the campground is a turn around the corner to the North. There is a slight grade down from the road, but easily negotiated. When leaving and when it is wet, you may experience some slippage.

Rivernook is a great location right on the Kern River right next to Kernville. Driving a few miles up the road along the Kern River is great fishing for trout and many hiking trails. Driving a little further up, you can enjoy the Sequoia National Forest and all the great spots along the way. If you want to have access to amenities (Kernville) and still get lost in the Sierras (Sequoia National Forest), this is a good place to have a home base.

This campground is constantly being cleaned and maintained by the staff. I get up early and notice these guys are out as early as 6 am raking leaves and prepping sites for future visitors. These teams are constantly roaming around ensuring everything is maintained, yet they do it discreetly and are more than happy to help if you need it.

The sites are good, but it is dirt. When it rains, expect to track it everywhere. Fortunately, it's really a very fine sand, so when it dries, nothing really sticks. That being said, when it's dry it's can be dusty. The sites are well maintained, but they are not level. In our site, we had two large surface boulders and a tree stump/roots obstructing our space. Good, but not great.

As for noise, we went in late November, where they're only really busy for the Thanksgiving weekend. It was very quiet and you can hear the river, the coyotes, and the wrestling of the leaves at night. I have not experienced (or would not dare go) the Summer months where I've been told the campground is packed and crowded where the noise was a bit too much.

As for mobile phone signal, AT&T/LTE and Verizon/LTE was good. I consistently had 2 or 3 bars inside my RV and 3-4 bars outside of my RV. I used my Verizon Hotspot to conduct two full days of work with no issues. Be warned, you are still in a rural environment, so if you conduct a lot of conference calls, expect some latency for voice calls.

Overall, I like this campground, but inherently, I do not like to be packed in so tight. I went in the middle of Fall, so it was not as busy and not as hot. In the Summer, I'm being told this place is packed and my past experience camping during the Summer months can easily stay in the 100º's days at a time. If you do not have an issues with crowds or heat, I would recommend this place anytime of the year. If you want to avoid the crowds, come visit during the non-peak times and enjoy the river when it's not so busy and much cooler during the Spring and Fall. If you're expecting to do anything on the river, be mindful of the Spring runoff as it can be dangerous during these high flows. I removed a single star due to the size of the sites and how crowded it can get, but if these are not an issue for you, you can consider this a 5-Star review. Also keep in mind of the time I went for this review (Mid-Fall) as I'm being told that Summer months are a very different atmosphere.

That being said, I would still recommend this campground for it's overall high marks.

Overall, this is a nice park for where it is located. I personally wouldn't want to stay here for an extended stay unless I had business out in this area or using it as a home base for other activities. It's conveniently off the primary freeway and is very well-kept. The spaces, especially the pull-throughs are good size and easy to access. That being said, it is located in the middle of the desert with a railroad yard not too far away. In the mornings especially, it seems the railroad traffic is pretty heavy so the rumble of the trains and the occasional horns will ensure you know it's morning. In context, we used this location as a rest stop for a longer trip, so we didn't really stay to check out what the community or surrounding areas could offer. So, if you're in need of a pitstop, this is a good location to stop for the night if needed. Unfortunately, I would not recommend for a primary stop or end destination.

(Review based on my experience in 2013)

I've been to a few KOA's before and this has to be the biggest and busiest I've been to. If you're into the big huge socialized type of camping this is the place to be. There were so many amenities there, it didn't feel like camping. There are tons of activities including rental bikes/carts, horseback riding, a huge playground, pools, you name it. They even have their own little fishing pond there as well. It's basically a KOA Resort. It's incredibly close to Mount Rushmore, which is the reason we chose this site. The hosts and support staff are very friendly and well coordinated. As mentioned every amenity is available at this location. The sites are decent sized considering how many sites are available.

This is a great place to be if you're into this type of over socialized camping or need a break from dry camping or boondocking. If you're more into being in the secluded woods with minimal population, this is definitely not a place you want to be. Depending on your type of camping, this can be an oasis or a nightmare. That being said, any experienced camper should already know this.

We would love to stay in Yellowstone, but it always seems all the (good/decent) sites are full and overcrowded. We always go early in the season, but it seems they're always full anyway. That being said, we like to visit sites all over the area including the Grand Teton NP and Jackson. Because of this, Colter Bay Village Campground is a good alternative and centralized to these locations.

The sites seem like they're close together due to the way you park within the loops. Basically, you have "loops" of campsites, where you park parallel with the loop. Each site is a pull-through and you face into your campsite from the appropriate side of your RV. Because of this, your sites are not stacked on top of each other, but the loops get full of a cars lined up along the narrow road. I personally like this setup as it does give you more room from surrounding campsites. This makes access to your site very easy as you don't ever have to back into anything.

Access to a decent grocery store, gift shop/clothing/camping supplies store, laundry, showers, marina, gas station, and a place to buy tickets for activities are located right outside of the campground. Expect to pay the premiums at this locations, so load up outside of the park if you're on a budget. There is a full hookup RV park, lodges, and a restaurant in the village, so you have access to quite a few amenities if you choose to use them. To me this is a great convenience since the campground is right outside of this without ruining the camping experience.

As for campsite amenities, this is dry camping campground. There is water and dumping available and flushing toilets at each loop. The bathrooms are clean, but they're also old, so don't have high expectations no matter how much they clean their bathrooms. Since it's a dry camping campground, expect generators to turn on in the mornings and some take advantage of the generator times throughout the day. Fortunately, it's 8 am to 8 pm, so at night it's well before the sun goes down during the late Spring and Summer months.

Overall, the location is good, the cost is good, the location is good, the sites are decent size. I would recommend this location.

There isn't much here. Great vistas at this location, so I wondered why this place is not used much. Bottomline... there isn't much here and a few miles off the freeway. Personally, I love this place, but I can see why people wouldn't find this an ideal site for a destination. This is a dry camping location, but there are vaulted toilets and water available. I didn't see a dump station or water station, just water via spigot by the bathrooms. I recently stayed here late Spring, so I wouldn't know how the weather would be during the warming months.

Note: The cost of the sites are $15 / night, but if you use their reservations, it will cost you a $10 service fee for each reservation per night. Meaning, if you want to reserve any site, it'll be $25. Otherwise, you just show up and take what is available. This is why I'm listing it as $25/night.

Overall, I thought this was a well maintained campground where the sites are far enough apart for privacy and there are amazing views. Note, you will have to travel some steep grades and dark as inside a cow if you're going to arrive at night (not recommended). I would also check their website for any RV size limitations. There was some larger sites, but I don't believe there was many considering there are only like 12 sites. We had a 35 ft Class A and it just fit. Their size recommendations are pretty close with very little latitude.

Review for a September 2016 visit...

Overall, this is a good campground. In the busy months, this place is really busy. You're not totally stacked on top of each other, but for those who want solitude, you may seek other places. We were there during September 2016 as an example and it was pretty busy, but you're far enough from the main road that you're not bothered.

The sites are tucked behind the beach dunes that protect you from the incoming winds, but don't do much on heavy wind days coming from inland. When the winds pick up, make sure you get your awnings in and don't leave them up if you're leaving for any extended amount of time. Weather can change quickly. It's easy access to the beach with a quick/short walk over the dunes. Be mindful to use the appropriate trails and don't create your own path. The campground sites are mostly grass lands, which are relatively level, but be sure you bring your leveling blocks to ensure you have a wider footprint to support your RV. It was windy when we went, but from others that have been there before tell me it's not always this windy, but I can't answer for it. The campground also looks like a little town with different RV vendors spread throughout the main road, which makes it a nice atmosphere (depending if you like such things), but at the same time seems kind of odd that RV's are also there to peddle their wares. The campground is located right off the main town, so there are close resources, including Bodega Bay main town up little up North. As with many well-served campgrounds, noise is conditional to how many visitors are there, so be mindful. Also note, on windy days, you don't hear much other than the wind.

It's also important to note, that most of these areas are grazing areas for cattle at certain times of the year. This means it is not unusual to see cow pies all over the place including your site. When I was there, it seemed like it was relatively clear of such things, but there was still much to be found.

Overall, if you don't mind the heavy traffic or cow mines, this would be a good coastline option. I would definitely recommend this for anyone who doesn't mind the crowds for their location and wonderful people working there.

The campground looks like a big dirt field from Google Maps next to a lake, but don’t let this fool you. They offer quite a few things here. The RV sites are mostly pull-throughs facing West toward Bridgeport Reservoir. There are quite a few tent camping spots, some facing the water and some behind the RV row. I observed some new covered camping areas, where there are large framed tents on wooden decks where they put framed beds into. Of course, it’s right next to the water. For the RV spots they offer 30/50 amp service with water and sewer. The hook-up sites are a bit larger than what I’ve been to, but still inherently close in context. The tent sites are pretty much stacked on top of each other. There is seriously access to potable water all over this park. The staff seems to be nice, but didn't interact with them much. They have a pretty decent store that have quite a few things to offer when you’re in a pinch for something. The bathrooms and showers are decent, but most importantly, available. That being said, I used my trailer's facilities. WiFi is available, but I did not use it. I was told by another visitor that it "worked", but had no real context. The little town of Bridgeport is right on the 395 with a general store, but I have not been in it to see what exactly they stock. If you really need to do some real shopping the nearest major store is a Walmart Super Center 65 miles North on the 395. It looks like they have some amenities there, but I didn't have the time to actually visit. Mobile service is good if you're a Veirzon user, but I received almost no signal on AT&T. AT&T was spotty at best despite what cellular maps say. I was able to get 2-3 bars on my Verizon hotspot and up a bar if boosted.

There are many things to like about this place. Not a very large park, so you don’t have a lot of traffic. The availability of 30 amp as well as 50 amp service is nice. The sites are of good size. Available bathrooms and showers. You’re pretty much on the waterfront with gorgeous views of the mountain range. Nestled off the East side of Sierras and the right off the 395 corridor, this high desert area has a lot of character if big open skies and the Sierra Mountains lining the horizon is your thing. If you're here for the fishing, they offer a boat ramp and boat rentals. Fishing from the shore directly at the campground is tough, because it's too shallow. You will have to go downstream toward outlet for better bank fishing. There are some trees around, but mostly around the RV pull-throughs. I bring this up, as there will be little shade in the Summer months especially for tent campers. The good thing is, you’re right by the reservoir where there may be a breeze. The beach area is sandy, but it’s full of rocks and debris, so I’d be a bit carful walking around the beach barefooted. That being said, it’s a nice beach, but not ideal as a “beach” location. The bottom is rocky, shallow, and a bit muddy from what I observed. Late Spring the winds were still blowing 20+mph winds from the reservoir. It can be blessing or a curse depending on the season. If you’re not here for the fishing, the hiking, or the location, there’s not much else. There’s no playground or beach for smaller kids to play in. The weather can be a bit unpredictable during the Spring months and I’d imagine the Fall may be the same. Pay attention and check the weather before going out.

I visited this site in the middle of May, 2022, prior to the season opening. Weather was mild, but still below freezing on some nights and some snow. When I visited, there was very little snow on the ground and very little water in the lake.

Overall, this is a great campsite. I do not personally like full-hook-up sites simply because the proximity of other campers. My family normally use the dry camping campground, but it was not open at the time of my visit. Since I was alone and didn't have my family and dogs, I did not need all the space. This is a good campground with plenty of amenities when the season is open. This includes gas, convenient store, Colter Bay Store, laundry, and showers. The village itself has so much to offer and can easily be walked to, including walking distance to the lake. Campsite were well maintained, and once visitors left, the crew was out raking things up for the next visitor. Bathrooms were clean and sparse, but average for national park campgrounds this old.

Access is easy for small rigs up to large class A's. I saw an assortment of rigs on my visit and plenty of space to accommodate them. Sites are relatively level, but you will still need to use your leveling method. What suprised me the most was the mobil connectivity, but attributed this to no congestion (read: park was not busy). I imagine this will be much slower when the season is in full-swing. I had full signal and bandwidth with no need to augment the connection with an antenna or booster.

Overall, great campground for a full-hook-up park. I would highly recommend. If you're looking for more space between site, try the dry campground right next to the park.

Note: I did give this 4-stars primarily due to campsite size and spacing between campsites. That being said, if you're a frequent full hook-up user, you will be used to this proximity to your neighbors. For those who like their space and dry/boondock camp more, the 4-stars will make sense. Otherwise, you can consider this a 5-star review.

Located in the rural outskirts of the Sacramento metropolitan area, this is a nice area that offers a nice lake to go fishing. If you need to do a pitstop or want to take advantage of the fishing derby (twice a year), this a nice place to camp. Unfortunately, most of the sites are very close together unless you get one of the handful of outlining RV sites. Because of this, it tends to be noisy throughout the day. If you're willing to deal with this, this location should not be an issue for you.

Personally, I fish this area quite a bit and doing an overnighter to serve this purpose was more out of convenience rather than choice. There are many other places I would prefer to go as a local.

If you're passing through or getting away from the urbanized environments, this could be a good option for you. It's decent enough for a couple of nights with hook-ups (power and water with a dump station available). There is tent camping as well right next to the water, but they're very close to each other. This can be very crowded during the Summer months. Be warned of this.

Note: When making online reservations, there's an $8 fee on top of the $20/night fee. This is reflected in the price paid.

Located North of Crater Lake and at the South end of Diamond Lake, this campground offers spacious sites that provide you great access to the area. This is a good wooded campground with a mix of open spaces for those who depend on solar. Be mindful of the sites you reserve. These are reservable at recreation.gov. This is a dry camping campground. Depending on where you're at, the looped campsites circle the restroom with water access surrounding the loop. I counted at least three water spigots on my loop. Each site has an asphalt (close to level) pad (some wider than others) with a bench and fire pit. There is an available dump station as well that takes donations, but does not cost anything.

In regard to access, we came with a 25 ft trailer, 35 ft class A, and a 40 ft super C and we all had access. You should not have any reason having problems finding a site here. That being said, if you have a large rig with a tow vehicle or a larger trailer/truck, be mindful of the site you choose. You may not be able to fit both on your site.

The nice part of this campground is primarily the space for each campsite. I noticed this primarily on the looped areas. We camped with 3 other families and it worked very well for us. Water is easily accessible throughout the campground as mentioned. Bathrooms are old, but clean as much as it can be at this age and always stocked.

At the time we came, there was one thing that was always noticeable… bugs. From spiders everywhere, gnats, and mosquitos. If you leave anything out, expect it to be covered in webs. If you do not like spiders, I would not advise. Otherwise, they’re just a nuisance. ProTip: Do not leave your car windows open for any reason. We had four incense sticks burning everyday starting at 4 pm otherwise, we would get eaten alive. They would also be out in the mornings. We were told this was normal. I am assuming they were just used to it. I bring this up, because it seemed more than usual, while others told me it was no big deal. You have been warned.

We did have an issues with a camper running their open-frame generator until 12:30 am. They did not answer their door after we knocked. We contacted the camp host and they ended up getting them to turn off their generator. Unfortunately, this happens everywhere with inexperienced or non-courteous campers.

Connectivity was hit/miss. I had 2-bars on AT&T and 2-3-bars on Verizon. You get the bars/connectivity, but throughput can vary. Sometimes you can stream, other times nothing. Read: Connectivity can be unpredictable regardless of your connectivity. On 2-bars, we were able to text, but phone calls can be unpredictable.

Overall, I like this campground, but if insects/bugs are an issue for you, I would not advise.