Campground
San Bernardino National Forest, California
Fern Basin campground offers about two dozen campsites for both tent and small RV / van camping.
The San Bernardino National Forest is submitting a proposal to increase fees at various sites across the Forest and is seeking public input.
The picturesque Fern Basin Campground is a perfect escape from a busy lifestyle.
Know before you arrive
Official facility and campsite inventory, supplemented by clearly marked community reports when the official listing does not publish the detail.
Community-reported service can change with terrain, weather, congestion, and carrier coverage.
Official campground guide
Facility information, site rules, booking windows, and published rates. Source snapshot checked Oct 18, 2026.
The picturesque Fern Basin Campground is a perfect escape from a busy lifestyle. It provides peace and quiet in the mountains of southern California as well as access to countless recreational opportunities.
The San Bernardino National Forest is submitting a proposal to increase fees at various sites across the Forest and is seeking public input. Please visit the https://www.fs.usda.gov/sbnf for more information and to submit comments regarding this proposal.
Please be aware that potable (safe for drinking) water may or may not be available at this campground. Please bring ample water for drinking, cooking etc. Fern Basin campground offers about two dozen campsites for both tent and small RV / van camping. All campsites are equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills. Vault toilets are available within the campground.
Visitors to the area enjoy hiking on the Marion Mountain Trail, which leads to San Jacinto Peak. Views from the peak extend to the ocean and across the Palm Desert, as well as the San Bernardino and San Gabriel mountains on a clear day. The 11.8-mile Marion Mountain Trail is the shortest route up the mountain, but is also quite strenuous in areas.
The campground is located in a grove of mixed oaks and shrubs. A surrounding mixed conifer forest provides spotty shade for the campground. It is situated at an elevation of about 6,300 feet, in the mountains overlooking California's desert.
The campground is located approximately 50 miles southeast of San Bernardino, California, and about seven miles north of the small town of Idyllwild, which is known for its shops and restaurants.
What Recreation.gov or the campground’s official source specifically lists.
Published inventory grouped by site type. Individual sites can have stricter limits.
Facility rules, inventory procedures, and price seasons published by the official source.
Recreation.gov publishes a rolling booking window. The dates below are the official snapshot captured for this catalog build.
| Season | Site type | Nightly rate | Additional person | Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak SeasonMay 21, 2026 – Nov 8, 2026 | Management | $20 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 21, 2026 – Nov 8, 2026 | Management | $33.97 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 21, 2026 – Nov 8, 2026 | Standard Non-Electric | $20 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2027 – Sep 2, 2027 | Management | $20 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2027 – Sep 2, 2027 | Management | $33.97 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2027 – Sep 2, 2027 | Standard Non-Electric | $20 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2028 – Sep 2, 2028 | Management | $20 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2028 – Sep 2, 2028 | Management | $33.97 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2028 – Sep 2, 2028 | Standard Non-Electric | $20 | — | — |
Read these with current closure and fire notices before departure.
From Idyllwild, travel north on State Route 243 about 4 miles. Turn right at the campground sign and continue to Forest Service Road 4S02. Turn left and proceed less than a mile to an intersection. Continue straight on the Forest Service Road and turn left into the campground.
909-382-2922