Marion Mountain
San Bernardino National Forest — ocean access, fishing, hiking
Location: Idyllwild, CA, CA
Price: From $20 per night
Price range: $20–$33 per night
Rating: 4 out of 5 (61 reviews)
Season: May through October
The Marion Mountain Campground offers a beautiful retreat in the San Bernardino National Forest. It provides access to a number of hiking trails that lead to some of the most spectacular views of Southern California. The San Bernardino National Forest is submitting a proposal to increase fees at various sites across the Forest and is seeking public input.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/marion-mountain to be notified when sites open up.
Marion Mountain Campground offers access to spectacular hiking trails in San Bernardino National Forest with highly-rated reviews (4.6/5 stars). Campers praise the spacious, peaceful sites and proximity to popular peaks like San Jacinto.
Wildlife alert: Southern Pacific Rattlesnake, Coyote, Northern Saw-whet Owl, White-headed Woodpecker, and San Diego Alligator Lizard present in the area.
Insider tips for Marion Mountain: Book early—this is a popular federal campground with only 16 sites. Site 20 is spacious and far from other campers for privacy. Bring self-contained RV setup; no hookups available.
Skip Marion Mountain if: You need RV hookups—none are available.. You're visiting outside May-October seasonal window.. You prefer developed amenities beyond vault toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables..
Best time to visit Marion Mountain: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only..
Nearby campgrounds: Fern Basin (IDYLLWILD, CA), Dark Canyon Campground (Idyllwild, CA), Boulder Basin (Idyllwild, CA), Black Mountain (San Bernardino) (Idyllwild, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Marion Mountain
Cell signal at Marion Mountain (Idyllwild, CA): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- 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.
The Marion Mountain Campground offers a beautiful retreat in the San Bernardino National Forest. It provides access to a number of hiking trails that lead to some of the most spectacular views of Southern California. The San Bernardino National Forest is submitting a proposal to increase fees at various sites across the Forest and is seeking public input.
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 is a popular federal campground with only 16 sites.
Site 20 is spacious and far from other campers for privacy.
Bring self-contained RV setup; no hookups available.
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. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Interstate 10 in Banning, take Highway 243 south for about 20 miles to Alandale. Travel east on Stone Creek Campground Road for about 2 miles to Marion Mountain 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 — San Bernardino National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at San Bernardino National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Marion Mountain cost per night?+
What season is Marion Mountain open?+
Does Marion Mountain have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Marion Mountain?+
How do I make reservations at Marion Mountain?+
What is the cell service like at Marion Mountain?+
What season is Marion Mountain open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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