Hobo Campground
Sequoia National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Kernville, CA, CA
Price: From $28 per night
Rating: 3.6 out of 5 (43 reviews)
Season: May through October
Hobo Campground is tucked on the banks of the Lower Kern River, north of the popular Miracle Hot Springs. It sits at 2290 feet elevation on the Sequoia National Forest in the Lower Kern Canyon. The close proximity to the Lower Kern River and the shade provided by the riparian forest make it an ideal summer escape from the heat.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Camp Host, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/hobo-campground to be notified when sites open up.
Hobo Campground sits on the banks of the Lower Kern River with riparian forest shade, making it an ideal summer escape. Campers consistently praise the helpful camp hosts and comfortable sites with fire pits and tables.
Wildlife alert: Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, Coastal Rosy Boa, and Gopher Snake present in area. Also common: Mule Deer, Great Blue Heron, Cinnamon Teal, California Towhee.
Insider tips for Hobo Campground: Ask camp host for best spots along the river for tubing and rock diving Book early as this is a popular federal campground with limited availability Camp host can provide local recommendations and assistance
Skip Hobo Campground if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available. You require year-round camping — seasonal operations May through October only. You're looking for non-tent sites — all 23 sites are tent-only.
Best time to visit Hobo Campground: May-October — Official seasonal operations period. Summer — Riparian forest provides shade from heat; ideal summer escape.
Nearby campgrounds: Sandy Flat (Lake Isabella, CA), Pioneer Point (Wofford Heights, CA), French Gulch (KERNVILLE, CA), Auxiliary Dam (CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Hobo Campground
Cell signal at Hobo Campground (Kernville, CA): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage
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.
Hobo Campground is tucked on the banks of the Lower Kern River, north of the popular Miracle Hot Springs. It sits at 2290 feet elevation on the Sequoia National Forest in the Lower Kern Canyon. The close proximity to the Lower Kern River and the shade provided by the riparian forest make it an ideal summer escape from the heat.
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 entryAsk camp host for best spots along the river for tubing and rock diving
Book early as this is a popular federal campground with limited availability
Camp host can provide local recommendations and assistance
Official seasonal operations period
Riparian forest provides shade from heat; ideal summer escape
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Bakersfield, California travel approximately 37 miles east on CA 178. Turn right onto Borel Road, and drive about 1/3 of a mile until you reach Kern Canyon Road. Take a right onto Kern Canyon Road and continue for 1.7 miles until you see the sign for Hobo Campground, keep right to stay on the driveway. The driveway that splits to the left is the parking lot for Miracle Hot Springs.
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 Hobo Campground cost per night?+
What season is Hobo Campground open?+
Does Hobo Campground have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Hobo Campground?+
How do I make reservations at Hobo Campground?+
What is the cell service like at Hobo Campground?+
What season is Hobo Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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