Middle Lion Campground

Los Padres National Forest — riverside

Location: Ojai, CA, CA

Price: From $30 per night

Rating: 3.7 out of 5 (40 reviews)

Season: Year-round

Leave the city vibe behind as you meander down a winding, partially paved, narrow road that leads you into wooded Middle Lion Campground and day use area. Relax next to the running creek, take a refreshing dip, or hike the nearby trails. Tucked away in a canyon encased by chaparral and wildflower covered mountains, Middle Lion Campground is particularly beautiful in the spring and fall, but camping is great year-round.Middle Lion Campground is surrounded by chaparral covered mountains, shaded by

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/middle-lion-campground to be notified when sites open up.

Small, scenic campground tucked in a canyon with creek access, hiking trails, and wildflower-covered mountains. Campers praise its beauty and note it's great for families and couples seeking a peaceful retreat.

Wildlife alert: American Black Bear, Bobcat, Ringtail, and California Condor documented in the area within 8km.

Insider tips for Middle Lion Campground: Book early — it's a federal campground with only 8 sites and high demand High-clearance vehicle recommended; road to campground has rough sections Campground is laid out in a circle — site selection matters as some are small, angled, or close together

Skip Middle Lion Campground if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available; only suitable for self-contained RVs. You have a low-clearance vehicle — road conditions require high clearance SUV or car. You want larger tent sites — several spots are small and at angles.

Best time to visit Middle Lion Campground: Spring — Wildflower-covered mountains and canyon setting particularly beautiful in spring according to RIDB description. Fall — Particularly beautiful in fall according to RIDB description.

Nearby campgrounds: Rose Valley Campground (Ojai, CA), Wheeler Gorge (OJAI, CA), Holiday Group Campground (OJAI, CA), Reyes Peak Campground (Maricopa, CA).

Cell Phone Coverage at Middle Lion Campground

Cell signal at Middle Lion Campground (Ojai, 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
CamperWatch›CA›Middle Lion Campground
Middle Lion Campground — photo 1
Middle Lion Campground — photo 2
Middle Lion Campground — photo 3
See all photos
Los Padres National Forest — riversideLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Middle Lion Campground

Share:
Ojai, CA, CA★ 3.7 (40 reviews)From $30/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Leave the city vibe behind as you meander down a winding, partially paved, narrow road that leads you into wooded Middle Lion Campground and day use area. Relax next to the running creek, take a refreshing dip, or hike the nearby trails. Tucked away in a canyon encased by chaparral and wildflower covered mountains, Middle Lion Campground is particularly beautiful in the spring and fall, but camping is great year-round.Middle Lion Campground is surrounded by chaparral covered mountains, shaded by cottonwood trees and is next to a peaceful stream near the Sespe Wilderness area.

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

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonYear-round
Stay limit14 days
Max RV20 ft
HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsDrinking Water
Recreation
Picnic Tables
Family & Pets
Vault Toilets

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 — no hookups available; only suitable for self-contained RVs✕ You have a low-clearance vehicle — road conditions require high clearance SUV or car✕ You want larger tent sites — several spots are small and at angles

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

it's a federal campground with only 8 sites and high demand

High-clearance vehicle recommended; road to campground has rough sections

Campground is laid out in a circle

site selection matters as some are small, angled, or close together

Best: Spring

Wildflower-covered mountains and canyon setting particularly beautiful in spring according to RIDB description

Best: Fall

Particularly beautiful in fall according to RIDB description

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: American Black Bear, Bobcat, Ringtail, and California Condor documented in the area within 8km.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
805 434 1996· Los Padres National Forest
Getting there →

Follow Highway 33 north of Ojai for 14.7 miles to the Rose Valley Road turnoff (6N31) which is at mile marker 25.84. Turn right and follow the paved road 4.8 miles. Turn right and go 0.8 miles to Middle Lion Campground. The elevation is 3250 feet. Watch out for the rough sections of road.

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 — Los Padres National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Los Padres National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Middle Lion Campground cost per night?+
Middle Lion Campground costs $30 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Middle Lion Campground open?+
Middle Lion Campground is open Year-round. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Middle Lion Campground have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Middle Lion Campground?+
Middle Lion Campground can accommodate RVs up to 20 feet.
How do I make reservations at Middle Lion Campground?+
Middle Lion 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 Middle Lion Campground?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Middle Lion Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Middle Lion Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Middle Lion Campground is open Year-round. 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.

$30 /night★ 3.7 (40)
SeasonYear-round
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Middle Lion Campground cost per night?+
What season is Middle Lion Campground open?+
Does Middle Lion Campground have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Rose Valley Campground

Ojai, CA

From $30/night

Wheeler Gorge

OJAI, CA

From $35/night

Holiday Group Campground

OJAI, CA

From $150/night

Reyes Peak Campground

Maricopa, CA

From $30/night

Own a campground nearby?

List free on CamperWatch — we take 5% only on bookings we send. No monthly fee.

List your campground →
$30 /nightNo booking fees
+TRIPCheck availability