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Penny Pines Campground

Federal campground in Mendocino National Forest

Location: Upper Lake , CA, CA

Price: From $6 per night

Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)

Season: May through October

This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you are able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature.

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

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Restrooms

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

Penny Pines offers affordable camping at $6/night with excellent access to off-highway vehicle trails and forest roads. Google reviewers consistently praise it as an awesome spot for dirt biking, ATVing, and family camping, with beautiful surrounding forest and multiple trail options.

Wildlife alert: Fisher, Wild Turkey, Steller's Jay, California Quail, Band-tailed Pigeon, Ringneck Snake, Garter Snakes, and Western Pond Turtle present in the area.

Insider tips for Penny Pines Campground: Download the Recreation.gov mobile app before arrival to use Scan and Pay feature for on-site payment. This is first-come, first-served only — arrive early to secure a site. Forest roads connect to Indian Valley and Stonyford areas for extended riding exploration.

Skip Penny Pines Campground if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available at sites.. You prefer guaranteed reservations — first-come, first-served basis only.. You're visiting outside May-October — seasonal operations only..

Best time to visit Penny Pines Campground: May-June — Early summer features a creek flowing through the campground and beautiful conditions per camper reviews.. May-October — Official operating season for the campground..

Nearby campgrounds: Deer Valley Campground (Upper Lake, CA), Pine Mountain Lookout (UPPER LAKE , CA), Letts Lake Campground (Stonyford, CA), Mill Valley Campground (Stonyford, CA).

Cell Phone Coverage at Penny Pines Campground

Cell signal at Penny Pines Campground (Upper Lake , 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.

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    CamperWatch›CA›Penny Pines Campground
    Penny Pines Campground — photo 1
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    Federal campground in Mendocino National ForestLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

    Penny Pines Campground

    Share: X Facebook
    Upper Lake , CA, CA★ 4 (0 reviews)From $6/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
    On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

    This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you are able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature.

    Best for:FamiliesSites: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
    HookupsNo hookups.
    Pull-throughsAvailable
    PetsAllowed
    CampfiresAllowed
    Max/site6 people

    Amenities

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

    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 at sites.✕ You prefer guaranteed reservations — first-come, first-served basis only.✕ You're visiting outside May-October — seasonal operations only.

    Insider tips & when to go

    CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

    Download the Recreation.gov mobile app before arrival to use Scan and Pay feature for on-site payment.

    This is first-come, first-served only

    arrive early to secure a site.

    Forest roads connect to Indian Valley and Stonyford areas for extended riding exploration.

    Best: May-June

    Early summer features a creek flowing through the campground and beautiful conditions per camper reviews.

    Best: May-October

    Official operating season for the campground.

    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: Fisher, Wild Turkey, Steller's Jay, California Quail, Band-tailed Pigeon, Ringneck Snake, Garter Snakes, and Western Pond Turtle present in the area.

    Location

    Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
    Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
    (707) 275-2361· Mendocino National Forest

    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.

    Frequently asked questions

    RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
    How much does Penny Pines Campground cost per night?+
    Penny Pines Campground costs $6 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
    What season is Penny Pines Campground open?+
    Penny Pines Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
    Does Penny Pines Campground have hookups?+
    No hookups.
    What is the maximum RV length at Penny Pines Campground?+
    Penny Pines Campground is primarily a tent camping facility.
    How do I make reservations at Penny Pines Campground?+
    Penny Pines 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 Penny Pines Campground?+
    According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Penny Pines Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
    What season is Penny Pines Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
    Penny Pines Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

    Official resources

    Penny Pines Campground WebpageMendocino National Forest on Facebook
    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.

    $6 /night★ 4 (0)
    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 Penny Pines Campground cost per night?+
    What season is Penny Pines Campground open?+
    Does Penny Pines Campground have hookups?+
    All 7 questions →

    Nearby Campgrounds

    Deer Valley Campground

    Upper Lake, CA

    From $6/night

    Pine Mountain Lookout

    UPPER LAKE , CA

    From $50/night

    Letts Lake Campground

    Stonyford, CA

    From $6/night

    Mill Valley Campground

    Stonyford, CA

    From $5/night

    Own a campground nearby?

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    $6 /nightNo booking fees
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