Serrano Campground

This is a nice campground, hard to get a spot on holiday weekends, the lake is within walking distance and there are 4x4 and hiking trails thru out the area. There is shopping for the ladies on the other side of the lake. They have both RV and tent sites and some sites have electricity, although the sites I stayed at did not. The bathrooms are fairly clean and the camping spots are spread out fairly well and most of them are partly shaded by trees which is nice in the summertime. There is primitive camping a few miles north of here.

I've spent a fair amount of time in Big Bear (and love it!) but always in a cabin. With my recent travel trailer purchase, it was my first camping experience....and it was fantastic! This campground has nice space around each site so you're not right on your neighbor. Good fire pits and lots of trees. Great hiking trails all around and the lake is just a short walk or drive away. I read reviews about it being very crowded and loud but I was there Mon - Thurs and it was SUPER quiet. I spoke with the hosts and as I was leaving Thursday, they had 26 check-ins and the entire campground would be full come Friday. So the lesson, if you want more space and peace, go during the week! Especially before school is out. If you aren't that flexible on timing, then be prepared for a full, busy campground. That doesn't change all the hiking trails, lake visits and time spent wandering around the village. ( I didn't use their bathrooms so can't review them)
I wish it were a little less expensive, but I'll still be back - often.

We haven't been to Big Bear in years, and this was the first time camping (towing a trailer up the mountain as well). We took the long route (hwy 38) and it was fine. Serrano is a nice jump off spot to explore the lake and surrounding areas. We were able to get this site last minute, and did not know what to expect. They have full hook up sites (the loop with hook ups does not have a bathroom within the loop), and then the other loops are dry. Our site had sewer, but our hose was not long enough to use it, and since they had a dumpsite in the campground, we weren't worried, but found out they charge $10 to dump! Sites and campground are clean. The sites vary tremendously....the website and map are good with information regarding the amount of shade. Be aware that there are boulders, trees, posts, etc on the roads and behind the pads for the sites. You need to have "all wheels" on the asphalt, so check the lengths of the sites before you book. There are some nice and large double sites in the dry camping loops, and a couple of them have views of the lake (but you are on a road). Took less than 10 min to walk to the lake. There is a store there, kayak and bike rentals, and the discovery center is just a mile and 1/2 up the road where you can get tons of info on the area. We drove through Big Bear Village (other side of the lake) which had lots of shops and restaurants. You have all of the conveniences of home with Starbucks, grocery stores, drug stores, etc on the other side of the lake as well. We did go to the "zoo", which is really a sanctuary for rescued animals. Really cool to visit and support. We have Verizon and did not have a problem with cell service (but didn't pay attention to what it was using).

Campground was pretty clean and sites had enough useable space but were relatively close together for the type of campground it was. Lots of birds and beautiful trees and fallen logs to climb on. We had a hell of time with backing in because of the strategicly places boulders used to keep people from parking in the wrong spots but other than that we enjoyed our time there. Close to town but far enough away. The park employees were very helpful and made us feel welcome. Even brought us a shovel when we needed to clean our fire pit out. Would come here again.

This campground is extremely busy during summer, but in October the crowds are gone. Spent 2 nights here with no one in sight of my site. 15 minute walk to prime fishing spot near the observatory, caught good size trout there.

My site (#12) is a dry camp site and was $32.50, a bit pricey. I have solar so I do not need full hookups especially for $10 more.

Sites are large, plenty of pine trees and forest scenery. You cannot actually see the lake from the campground. Only down side is highway noise. Not overly bothersome, but you don't get the typical quiet forest (wind blowing through the tree, bird chirping, etc.).

I will camp here again but not in th busy summer season.

So much to see and explore in San Bernardino National Forest and an easy great escape for a few days. Roads on the way up have lots of twists and turns. Be ready for slow going if you are towing a trailer. The campground is nice. Somewhat spacious, but not very private. We stayed in spot 48. Full hookups, nice shade, but lots of road noise through the evening. Nights were quiet. Would stay here again, but so many other places to explore in California and the Sierras so realistically, we probably won’t be back.

Camped here July 2019 to escape the heat from the California Valley. Its a spacious camp site. Clean. Free hot and cold shower. Flush toilet.

Our site in particular is a double site 81/82. It was very close to N shore drive and noisy during the day. The site itself didn’t have much shaded areas but very open. So it might be a good site if its spring or fall.

There are other loops that are more shady and farther from the road and hopefully quieter.

Always loved coming to Serrano, been dry camping here in tents, FHU in a 16' retro and this visit in our current rig a 30' travel trailer. Interagency Lifetime pass discount helped price a lot! Sites are somewhat spacious but you will have neighbors visible at the picnic tables and fire rings. Very family oriented campers, kids having fun all day long but very quiet at sundown until mid-morning, road noise nonexistent at night. There are no restrooms in the Snowberry RV loop, the other loops have very nice facilities when open (coronavirus closed). Hookups are located nicely but be aware some sites have the table and fire ring on your hookup side. Kiosk agents are very nice and camp hosts very busy cleaning sites and checking reservations. Double dump site if needed, RV sites have sewer hookup.
Campground is walking distance to the lake and the Big Bear Solar Observatory which has very limited tours available. There is a 3 mile pedal path that runs right next to the campsites that will take you to the main road that connects to Big Bear Blvd.
Getting up to Big Bear is not fuel efficient, you have to climb to 8,443' when coming up Hwy 38 which in my opinion is the best access - less twisty and not extremely steep climbs, very scenic drive too.
Book well in advance if you want RV spaces, very popular campground, however we got lucky and found 4 nights at same site one week before so a cancellation probably made that happen.
Bummer note; Bugs were out of control this visit. Small flies, gnats, and Moths! Moths were so bad and got into the RV we were fighting them for 3 nights after we left. We lived in Big Bear for 3 years and never had insect problems like this.

Good access to hiking trails and bike paths. Can access the water but not ideal for swimming. No beach and many lost hooks and lures to watch out for.
Don’t you dare park those tires off of any asphalt!! Not even an inch...
$10 dump should be waived for campers on site. There was a loop with hookups but we couldn’t get the number of days we wanted.
Firewood $8 a bundle. Overall, very clean and quiet considering the number of people in and out daily.

Here for the week of Thanksgiving, was chilly but a nice, well staffed campground. You have to have a credit card to dump even if you're camping. Heavily shaded but solar is possible with good placement. In the non-hookup area, water is usually close by. There's a trail that goes from the end of this campground all the way to town which we used at least once a day with bikes and walks/runs. Park didn't feel crowded but the city did.