Masterson Group Campground

Mendocino National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: Stonyford, CA, CA

Price: From $75 per night

Rating: 4 out of 5 (1 reviews)

Season: May through October

Tucked away in the towering pines of the Mendocino National Forest, the Masterson Campground is perfect for your next big get-together. The large grassy meadows of the campground are surrounded by a dense blanket of forest, offering visitors an outdoor experience of tranquility and solitude.Masterson offers traditional primitive camping with the added convenience of toilets and running water. The site can hold up to 75 guests and 25 vehicles comfortably.The Mendocino National Forest, California’

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

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Fishing

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

Masterson Group Campground offers a tranquil experience tucked in Mendocino National Forest with large grassy meadows surrounded by dense forest. Reviewers praise it as a beautiful, quiet, and private location ideal for large groups, with nearby Plaskett Lake for fishing.

Wildlife alert: Mountain lions, American black bears, fishers, and long-tailed weasels present in area. Also aquatic garter snakes and northern alligator lizards.

Insider tips for Masterson Group Campground: Do not use Google Maps for directions; follow official RIDB directions instead Book early as this is a federal campground with high demand Site is near Plaskett Lake for fishing, though not suitable for swimming

Skip Masterson Group Campground if: You need hookups — no hookups available at sites. You plan to visit outside May-October seasonal window. You're traveling solo — campground is designed for group camping.

Best time to visit Masterson Group Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.

Nearby campgrounds: Howard Meadows Campground (CA), Little Doe Campground (CA), Pines Group Site - Stony Gorge Reservoir (Elk Creek, CA), Buckhorn (ORLAND, CA).

Cell Phone Coverage at Masterson Group Campground

Cell signal at Masterson Group Campground (Stonyford, 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.

CamperWatch
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Mendocino National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Masterson Group Campground

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Stonyford, CA, CA★ 4 (1 reviews)From $75/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Tucked away in the towering pines of the Mendocino National Forest, the Masterson Campground is perfect for your next big get-together. The large grassy meadows of the campground are surrounded by a dense blanket of forest, offering visitors an outdoor experience of tranquility and solitude.Masterson offers traditional primitive camping with the added convenience of toilets and running water. The site can hold up to 75 guests and 25 vehicles comfortably.The Mendocino National Forest, California’s only national forest that is not crossed by a paved road, straddles the eastern spur of the Coastal Mountain Range in northwestern California, just a three-hour drive north of San Francisco and Sacramento.

Best for:AnglersHikersWildlife watchersFamiliesSites:Tent
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 RV70 ft
HookupsNo hookups.
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire Rings
Recreation
Picnic Tables
Family & Pets
Fishing

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 hookups — no hookups available at sites✕ You plan to visit outside May-October seasonal window✕ You're traveling solo — campground is designed for group camping

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Do not use Google Maps for directions; follow official RIDB directions instead

Book early as this is a federal campground with high demand

Site is near Plaskett Lake for fishing, though not suitable for swimming

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally May through October only

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, American black bears, fishers, and long-tailed weasels present in area. Also aquatic garter snakes and northern alligator lizards.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
530-963-3128· Mendocino National Forest
Getting there →

From Interstate 5, take the exit for Willows/Oroville Hwy 162 and head west. After about 23 miles turn right at the junction at County Road 306. Travel approximately four miles, then turn left onto 162/Forest Highway 7. After approximately 30 miles turn right at the Masterson Group Campground sign and follow the road for a quarter-mile to the gated entrance.

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 — Mendocino National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Mendocino National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
  • Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Masterson Group Campground cost per night?+
Masterson Group Campground costs $75 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Masterson Group Campground open?+
Masterson Group Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Masterson Group Campground have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Masterson Group Campground?+
Masterson Group Campground can accommodate RVs up to 70 feet.
How do I make reservations at Masterson Group Campground?+
Masterson 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 Masterson Group Campground?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Masterson Group Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Masterson Group Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Masterson Group Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
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.

$75 /night★ 4 (1)
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 Masterson Group Campground cost per night?+
What season is Masterson Group Campground open?+
Does Masterson Group Campground have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Howard Meadows Campground

CA

From $6/night

Little Doe Campground

CA

From $6/night

Pines Group Site - Stony Gorge Reservoir

Elk Creek, CA

From $75/night

Buckhorn

ORLAND, CA

From $18/night

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