RV Parks In San Bernardino, California

The best camping is up in the mountains. At Big Bear Lake, about 45 minutes northeast, Hollows Marina and RV Park offers 115 lakefront full-hookup sites with a marina, Big Bear Shores is an upscale full-hookup resort, and the Forest Services Serrano Campground has full-utility sites on the north shore. Closer in, Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area, 25 minutes north, has 40 full-hookup sites by a reservoir. In the valley, private full-hookup parks offer freeway-convenient bases. Choose a mountain lake park for cool scenery and recreation, or a valley park for convenience and lower cost.

Yes, many do. The valley private parks offer full hookups with water, sewer and 30/50 amp electric on level pads. In the mountains, Silverwood Lake State Recreation Areas New Mesa campground has 40 full-hookup sites with power, water and sewer, the Big Bear private resorts like Hollows Marina and Big Bear Shores offer full hookups, and even the Forest Services Serrano Campground at Big Bear has sites with full utility hookups and a dump station. So whether you want valley convenience or a mountain lake setting, full hookups are available. For the largest rigs, confirm site length and access, especially on the steep mountain roads.

It varies widely. Valley private full-hookup parks generally run $45 to $75 a night for a 30/50 amp site with sewer, with weekly and monthly rates, and are the lower-cost, convenient choice. Mountain and lake options run higher: Silverwood Lake full-hookup sites start around $50 plus fees, and Big Bear ranges from the moderate Forest Service Serrano Campground to premium lakefront resorts like Big Bear Shores. National forest dispersed camping is inexpensive with an adventure pass for self-contained rigs. Overall, expect mid-range valley prices and higher, setting-driven rates up at the lakes, with budget options for dry camping.

For the mountain lakes in summer, book well ahead. Big Bear and Silverwood Lake are hugely popular with Southern Californians escaping the heat, and their sites fill on summer and holiday weekends, so reserve the Forest Service Serrano Campground through Recreation.gov and Silverwood through California State Parks as early as your window allows. The private Big Bear resorts also fill in peak season. Valley parks are more flexible and can often be booked on shorter notice. In general, the cooler the destination and the hotter the lowland weather, the further ahead you should reserve a mountain site.

It depends on elevation. For the valley, spring and fall are ideal, warm and pleasant without the extreme summer heat. For the mountains, summer is prime, when Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead offer a cool, pine-scented escape from the valley furnace, with the lakes at their best. Winter is mild in the valley and a snow-sports season in the mountains, with chains often required on the access roads. The one season to watch carefully is late summer into fall, when Southern California wildfire risk peaks, so monitor conditions and possible closures during those months.

Yes, with attention to where and how. The valley private parks and the larger lake resorts like Hollows Marina at Big Bear offer full-hookup sites suited to big rigs, and the freeways handle large rigs easily. The challenge is the mountain access: CA-18 and CA-330 up to Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear are steep, winding highways, so big rigs must check brakes, use lower gears, and confirm that a chosen mountain campground can accommodate their length. In winter, chains may be required. For the easiest big-rig experience, base in the valley, or choose a larger Big Bear resort and tow up carefully.

Absolutely, it is the premier mountain destination in the area. Big Bear Lake, about 45 minutes northeast and a world away in climate, is a pine-ringed alpine lake at around 6,700 feet, offering boating, fishing, kayaking, hiking and mountain biking in summer and skiing and snowboarding in winter, plus a lively village with dining and shops. Camping options range from the lakefront Hollows Marina and the upscale Big Bear Shores resort to the Forest Services Serrano Campground. The cool mountain air alone justifies the trip on a hot valley day, and the recreation makes it a destination in its own right.

A remarkable range thanks to the valley-and-mountain geography. Up high, Big Bear Lake and Lake Arrowhead offer boating, fishing, hiking and winter skiing, and the Rim of the World Scenic Byway delivers sweeping views. Silverwood Lake adds boating and swimming below the mountains. In the valley and beyond, you are within day-trip range of Los Angeles, the theme parks of Orange County, and the desert resorts of Palm Springs, all via the freeways. This combination of alpine recreation and big-city and desert day trips from one region is hard to match anywhere in the country.

Often, yes. The roads up to Big Bear Lake and Lake Arrowhead, primarily CA-18 (the Rim of the World highway) and CA-330, climb to significant elevations and receive snow in winter, and California frequently imposes chain requirements on these routes during and after storms, even for vehicles that normally would not need them. If you plan winter mountain camping, carry chains that fit your rig, check Caltrans road conditions before you go, use lower gears on the steep descents, and be prepared to turn back if conditions worsen. In the valley itself, snow is not a concern and chains are not needed.

The valley parks generally operate year round, with mild winters making them comfortable, and they serve as a warm-weather base when the mountains are snowed in. The mountain campgrounds are more seasonal: some Big Bear resorts and a few campgrounds stay open in winter for the ski crowd, while many forest and lake sites close or reduce services in the cold months, and access depends on snow and chain conditions. If you want winter mountain camping, confirm a park is open and reachable, and base in the valley if you prefer to avoid snow entirely while day-tripping up for the day.

Generally yes. The valley private parks and most mountain resorts welcome pets, often with areas to walk them, and the national forest around Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead offers excellent leashed-dog hiking on countless trails. Watch for hot valley pavement in summer and carry water, and note that the cool mountains are very comfortable for dogs in the warm months. Keep pets leashed near the lakes and wildlife, and be mindful of fire restrictions in late summer. As always, clean up after your pets and confirm any breed or number limits when you book, especially at the private resorts.

Yes, it is an excellent and often overlooked one. The Inland Empire location at the crossing of I-10 and I-215 puts a huge amount within reach: the cool San Bernardino Mountains and their alpine lakes just up the hill, Los Angeles and its attractions to the west, Orange County and the theme parks to the southwest, and the desert and Palm Springs resorts to the east. RV parks here are typically more affordable and less crowded than those closer to the coast or the theme parks, so many RVers base in the area and day-trip in every direction, getting both mountain recreation and big-city access from one spot.

Quite hot in summer. The valley floor regularly sees highs in the 90s and can push past 100 degrees during summer heat waves, with dry Inland Empire air, which makes lowland camping uncomfortable in July and August without good air conditioning. This is precisely why the local move is to head up into the mountains, where Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead at elevation are dramatically cooler and a popular summer escape. In spring, fall and winter the valley is mild and pleasant. If you visit in the hot months, either run strong air conditioning in the valley or camp up high where the air is cool.

The best camping is up in the mountains. At Big Bear Lake, about 45 minutes northeast, Hollows Marina and RV Park offers 115 lakefront full-hookup sites with a marina, Big Bear Shores is an upscale full-hookup resort, and the Forest Services Serrano Campground has full-utility sites on the north shore. Closer in, Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area, 25 minutes north, has 40 full-hookup sites by a reservoir. In the valley, private full-hookup parks offer freeway-convenient bases. Choose a mountain lake park for cool scenery and recreation, or a valley park for convenience and lower cost.

Yes, many do. The valley private parks offer full hookups with water, sewer and 30/50 amp electric on level pads. In the mountains, Silverwood Lake State Recreation Areas New Mesa campground has 40 full-hookup sites with power, water and sewer, the Big Bear private resorts like Hollows Marina and Big Bear Shores offer full hookups, and even the Forest Services Serrano Campground at Big Bear has sites with full utility hookups and a dump station. So whether you want valley convenience or a mountain lake setting, full hookups are available. For the largest rigs, confirm site length and access, especially on the steep mountain roads.

It varies widely. Valley private full-hookup parks generally run $45 to $75 a night for a 30/50 amp site with sewer, with weekly and monthly rates, and are the lower-cost, convenient choice. Mountain and lake options run higher: Silverwood Lake full-hookup sites start around $50 plus fees, and Big Bear ranges from the moderate Forest Service Serrano Campground to premium lakefront resorts like Big Bear Shores. National forest dispersed camping is inexpensive with an adventure pass for self-contained rigs. Overall, expect mid-range valley prices and higher, setting-driven rates up at the lakes, with budget options for dry camping.

For the mountain lakes in summer, book well ahead. Big Bear and Silverwood Lake are hugely popular with Southern Californians escaping the heat, and their sites fill on summer and holiday weekends, so reserve the Forest Service Serrano Campground through Recreation.gov and Silverwood through California State Parks as early as your window allows. The private Big Bear resorts also fill in peak season. Valley parks are more flexible and can often be booked on shorter notice. In general, the cooler the destination and the hotter the lowland weather, the further ahead you should reserve a mountain site.

It depends on elevation. For the valley, spring and fall are ideal, warm and pleasant without the extreme summer heat. For the mountains, summer is prime, when Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead offer a cool, pine-scented escape from the valley furnace, with the lakes at their best. Winter is mild in the valley and a snow-sports season in the mountains, with chains often required on the access roads. The one season to watch carefully is late summer into fall, when Southern California wildfire risk peaks, so monitor conditions and possible closures during those months.

Yes, with attention to where and how. The valley private parks and the larger lake resorts like Hollows Marina at Big Bear offer full-hookup sites suited to big rigs, and the freeways handle large rigs easily. The challenge is the mountain access: CA-18 and CA-330 up to Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear are steep, winding highways, so big rigs must check brakes, use lower gears, and confirm that a chosen mountain campground can accommodate their length. In winter, chains may be required. For the easiest big-rig experience, base in the valley, or choose a larger Big Bear resort and tow up carefully.

Absolutely, it is the premier mountain destination in the area. Big Bear Lake, about 45 minutes northeast and a world away in climate, is a pine-ringed alpine lake at around 6,700 feet, offering boating, fishing, kayaking, hiking and mountain biking in summer and skiing and snowboarding in winter, plus a lively village with dining and shops. Camping options range from the lakefront Hollows Marina and the upscale Big Bear Shores resort to the Forest Services Serrano Campground. The cool mountain air alone justifies the trip on a hot valley day, and the recreation makes it a destination in its own right.

A remarkable range thanks to the valley-and-mountain geography. Up high, Big Bear Lake and Lake Arrowhead offer boating, fishing, hiking and winter skiing, and the Rim of the World Scenic Byway delivers sweeping views. Silverwood Lake adds boating and swimming below the mountains. In the valley and beyond, you are within day-trip range of Los Angeles, the theme parks of Orange County, and the desert resorts of Palm Springs, all via the freeways. This combination of alpine recreation and big-city and desert day trips from one region is hard to match anywhere in the country.

Often, yes. The roads up to Big Bear Lake and Lake Arrowhead, primarily CA-18 (the Rim of the World highway) and CA-330, climb to significant elevations and receive snow in winter, and California frequently imposes chain requirements on these routes during and after storms, even for vehicles that normally would not need them. If you plan winter mountain camping, carry chains that fit your rig, check Caltrans road conditions before you go, use lower gears on the steep descents, and be prepared to turn back if conditions worsen. In the valley itself, snow is not a concern and chains are not needed.

The valley parks generally operate year round, with mild winters making them comfortable, and they serve as a warm-weather base when the mountains are snowed in. The mountain campgrounds are more seasonal: some Big Bear resorts and a few campgrounds stay open in winter for the ski crowd, while many forest and lake sites close or reduce services in the cold months, and access depends on snow and chain conditions. If you want winter mountain camping, confirm a park is open and reachable, and base in the valley if you prefer to avoid snow entirely while day-tripping up for the day.

Generally yes. The valley private parks and most mountain resorts welcome pets, often with areas to walk them, and the national forest around Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead offers excellent leashed-dog hiking on countless trails. Watch for hot valley pavement in summer and carry water, and note that the cool mountains are very comfortable for dogs in the warm months. Keep pets leashed near the lakes and wildlife, and be mindful of fire restrictions in late summer. As always, clean up after your pets and confirm any breed or number limits when you book, especially at the private resorts.

Yes, it is an excellent and often overlooked one. The Inland Empire location at the crossing of I-10 and I-215 puts a huge amount within reach: the cool San Bernardino Mountains and their alpine lakes just up the hill, Los Angeles and its attractions to the west, Orange County and the theme parks to the southwest, and the desert and Palm Springs resorts to the east. RV parks here are typically more affordable and less crowded than those closer to the coast or the theme parks, so many RVers base in the area and day-trip in every direction, getting both mountain recreation and big-city access from one spot.

Quite hot in summer. The valley floor regularly sees highs in the 90s and can push past 100 degrees during summer heat waves, with dry Inland Empire air, which makes lowland camping uncomfortable in July and August without good air conditioning. This is precisely why the local move is to head up into the mountains, where Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead at elevation are dramatically cooler and a popular summer escape. In spring, fall and winter the valley is mild and pleasant. If you visit in the hot months, either run strong air conditioning in the valley or camp up high where the air is cool.

Yes — there are free RV waste disposal options available near San Bernardino.