Bandido Group Campground

Angeles National Forest — hiking

Location: Acton, CA, CA

Price: From $24 per night

Price range: $24–$120 per night

Rating: 3.6 out of 5 (13 reviews)

Season: May through October

Groups of all types will enjoy staying at the Bandido Group Campground, which boasts beautiful scenery in a relaxing, rustic atmosphere. The site accommodates groups of up to 150 campers, but is designed for equestrian campers and provides several horse corrals and hitch racks. Bandido is divided into five campsites, each with varying capacities for smaller groups.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/bandido-group-campground to be notified when sites open up.

Bandido is a rare equestrian-focused group campground in the San Gabriel Mountains with horse corrals and hitch racks, plus scenic mountain terrain suitable for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. At $24/night, it's an affordable option for groups up to 150 campers with flexible site capacities.

Wildlife alert: Mountain lions are documented in the area (iNaturalist research-grade observations). Arroyo toads also present—minimize disturbance to water features.

Insider tips for Bandido Group Campground: Book early—it's a federal campground that fills up during peak season Bring fully self-contained RV setup; there are no hookups at most sites Equestrian campers have dedicated corrals and hitch racks; arrive with a clear plan if bringing horses

Skip Bandido Group Campground if: You need RV hookups (water, electric, sewer)—none available at most sites. You're visiting outside May-October—campground is seasonally closed. Your group exceeds 150 campers—campground maximum capacity.

Best time to visit Bandido Group Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only; this is the official operating window.

Nearby campgrounds: Meadow Group Campground (Acton, CA), Monte Cristo Campground (CA), Deer Group Camp (Big Bear Lake, CA), Lightning Point Group Campground (SAN FERNANDO, CA).

Cell Phone Coverage at Bandido Group Campground

Cell signal at Bandido Group Campground (Acton, CA): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

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Angeles National Forest — hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Bandido Group Campground

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Acton, CA, CA★ 3.6 (13 reviews)From $24/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Groups of all types will enjoy staying at the Bandido Group Campground, which boasts beautiful scenery in a relaxing, rustic atmosphere. The site accommodates groups of up to 150 campers, but is designed for equestrian campers and provides several horse corrals and hitch racks. Bandido is divided into five campsites, each with varying capacities for smaller groups.

Best for:HikersFamiliesSites:TentRV
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
Max RV40 ft
HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
PetsAllowed
CampfiresNot permitted
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire Rings
Recreation
Picnic Tables

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need RV hookups (water, electric, sewer)—none available at most sites✕ You're visiting outside May-October—campground is seasonally closed✕ Your group exceeds 150 campers—campground maximum capacity

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

it's a federal campground that fills up during peak season

Bring fully self-contained RV setup; there are no hookups at most sites

Equestrian campers have dedicated corrals and hitch racks; arrive with a clear plan if bringing horses

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally May through October only; this is the official operating window

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Mountain lions are documented in the area (iNaturalist research-grade observations). Arroyo toads also present—minimize disturbance to water features.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
661-269-2808· Angeles National Forest
Getting there →

From La Canada at the junction of the I-210 and State Route 2 (Angeles Crest Highway), exit I-210 and turn north towards the mountains on State Route 2. Proceed 28.5 miles to Three Points (two miles past Newcomb's Ranch Cafe) and turn left onto Forest Service Road 3N17 (Santa Clara Divide Road). Continue west 2 miles to the entrance; gate is on the left. Use the combination you obtained when confirming your reservation to open the gate.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Angeles National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Angeles National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Bandido Group Campground cost per night?+
Bandido Group Campground costs $24–$120 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Bandido Group Campground open?+
Bandido Group Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Bandido Group Campground have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Bandido Group Campground?+
Bandido Group Campground can accommodate RVs up to 40 feet.
How do I make reservations at Bandido Group Campground?+
Bandido Group Campground is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Bandido Group Campground?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Bandido Group Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Bandido Group Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Bandido Group Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Print Facility Map
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$24 /night★ 3.6 (13)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Bandido Group Campground cost per night?+
What season is Bandido Group Campground open?+
Does Bandido Group Campground have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Meadow Group Campground

Acton, CA

From $36/night

Monte Cristo Campground

CA

From $20/night

Deer Group Camp

Big Bear Lake, CA

From $149/night

Lightning Point Group Campground

SAN FERNANDO, CA

From $20/night

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