Headquarters
Sequoia National Forest — riverside
Location: KERNVILLE, CA, CA
Price: From $36 per night
Price range: $36–$111 per night
Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (265 reviews)
Season: May through October
Headquarters Campground is situated along the Kern River, 6 miles north of the town of Kernville. Hiking, fishing, kayaking and rafting are popular activities.Headquarters Campground offers a mix of standard, RV and tent-only sites. Picnic tables and campfire rings are provided, as are vault toilets and drinking water.The campground sits within Sequoia National Forest at an elevation of 2,800 feet in an open area overlooking the Kern Wild and Scenic River.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/headquarters to be notified when sites open up.
Headquarters Campground sits along the Kern River with spacious sites ideal for hiking, fishing, kayaking, and rafting. Campers praise the quiet atmosphere, clean grounds, and attentive camp hosts.
Wildlife alert: Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, California Mule Deer, Gray Fox, Great Blue Heron, and Western Fence Lizard present in the area.
Insider tips for Headquarters: Book early — this federal campground fills up quickly during peak season. Bring a self-contained RV or plan tent camping; no hookups available at most sites. Arrive with full water tanks and plan for vault toilets; drinking water is available but facilities are basic.
Skip Headquarters if: You require RV hookups (water, electric, sewer not available).. You are sensitive to vault toilet conditions — reviewers noted cleanliness issues.. You prefer year-round camping; seasonal operations May-October only..
Best time to visit Headquarters: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only..
Nearby campgrounds: Halfway Group Campground (Kernville, CA), Camp Three Campground (KERNVILLE, CA), Thunderbird Group Campground (KERNVILLE, CA), Hospital Flat (Kernville, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Headquarters
Cell signal at Headquarters (KERNVILLE, 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.
Headquarters Campground is situated along the Kern River, 6 miles north of the town of Kernville. Hiking, fishing, kayaking and rafting are popular activities.Headquarters Campground offers a mix of standard, RV and tent-only sites. Picnic tables and campfire rings are provided, as are vault toilets and drinking water.The campground sits within Sequoia National Forest at an elevation of 2,800 feet in an open area overlooking the Kern Wild and Scenic River.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this federal campground fills up quickly during peak season.
Bring a self-contained RV or plan tent camping; no hookups available at most sites.
Arrive with full water tanks and plan for vault toilets; drinking water is available but facilities are basic.
Campground operates seasonally during these months only.
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Bakersfield, take Highway 178 East to Lake Isabella. From Lake Isabella, take Highway 155 around the west side of the lake to the town of Kernville. From Kernville, go 4 miles north on Sierra Way (Mountain 99) to the campground.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Sequoia National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Sequoia National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Headquarters cost per night?+
What season is Headquarters open?+
Does Headquarters have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Headquarters?+
How do I make reservations at Headquarters?+
What is the cell service like at Headquarters?+
What season is Headquarters open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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