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Hard to BookNational Forest

Headquarters Campground

Sequoia National Forest, California

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As of October 2026, Headquarters Campground is a campground in Sequoia National Forest, California with 40 campsites. Headquarters Campground is booked through Recreation.gov.

PermitSnag checks Headquarters Campground for availability and tells alert holders when a site opens up.
Headquarters Campground is located at 35.7963° N, 118.4500° W.

people allowed on 39 of 40 sites: 6
people allowed on the largest site: 10

Headquarters Campground reservations and next available dates

October 2026

November 2026

open, tap to book on Recreation.govsold outin your alert

Next Available Dates

Oct 3 (3 sites)Oct 4 (28 sites)Oct 5 (34 sites)

3 sites open on Oct 3 at Headquarters Campground. Book one now, or pick your dates above and get an alert when a site opens.

As of 30 September 2026, 19:48 UTC.

Campsites at Headquarters Campground

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RV 24
Tent 12
Standard 2
Yurt 2
Accessible 1

What an RV fits

30 ft24 sites

Amenities

restrooms
potable water

At a glance: Setting: Mountain.

Things to do: fishing, boating, hiking, climbing, photography.

All sites at Headquarters Campground, as listed by Recreation.gov

Site	Loop	Type	Sleeps	Max RV	Access
003	A	RV	6	30 ft	-
004	A	Tent	6	-	-
005	A	RV	6	30 ft	-
006	A	Tent	6	-	-
007	A	Tent	6	-	-
008	A	Tent	6	-	-
019	A	Tent	6	-	-
020	A	RV	6	30 ft	-
021	A	RV	6	30 ft	-
022	A	RV	6	30 ft	Accessible
023	A	RV	6	30 ft	-
024	A	Tent	6	-	-
025	A	RV	6	30 ft	-
026	A	RV	6	30 ft	-
027	A	RV	6	30 ft	-
028	A	RV	6	30 ft	-
029	A	RV	6	30 ft	-
030	A	RV	6	30 ft	-
032	A	RV	6	30 ft	-
033	A	RV	6	30 ft	-

Site	Loop	Type	Sleeps	Max RV	Access
035	B	Tent	6	-	-
036	B	RV	6	30 ft	-
037	B	RV	6	30 ft	-
038	B	Standard	6	-	-
039	B	Tent	10	-	-
042	B	Tent	6	-	-
043	B	RV	6	30 ft	-
044	B	Standard	6	-	-
009	C	RV	6	30 ft	-
010	C	Tent	6	-	-
011	C	Tent	6	-	-
012	C	RV	6	30 ft	-
013	C	RV	6	30 ft	-
014	C	Tent	6	-	-
015	C	RV	6	30 ft	-
016	C	RV	6	30 ft	-
017	C	RV	6	30 ft	-
018	C	RV	6	30 ft	-
002	Yurt	Yurt	6	-	-
031	Yurt	Yurt	6	-	-

About Headquarters Campground

Overview

Headquarters Campground is situated along the Kern River, 6 miles north of the town of Kernville. Hiking, fishing, kayaking and rafting are popular activities.

Recreation

Hiking, fishing, kayaking and rafting are popular activities in the Upper Kern River area. Click here to learn more about the area, including safety and permitting requirements and a listing of local outfitters.

Facilities

Headquarters Campground offers a mix of standard, RV and tent-only sites. Picnic tables and campfire rings are provided, as are vault toilets and drinking water.

Natural Features

The campground sits within Sequoia National Forest at an elevation of 2,800 feet in an open area overlooking the Kern Wild and Scenic River. Some sites overlook the river and lie in the shade of oak, juniper and cottonwood trees. Sites sitting further from the river are more open and have little to no shade.

Sequoia National Forest, located at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada in central California, is named for the giant sequoia, the world's largest tree, which grows in more than 30 groves on the forest's lower slopes.

The forest comprises about 1.1 million acres. Elevations range from about 1,000 to 12,000 feet, creating precipitous canyons and mountain streams with spectacular waterfalls such as Salmon Creek Falls and Grizzly Falls.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (760) 376-1269.

Nearby Attractions

The Cannell Meadow National Recreation Trail begins just north of Kernville. The trail stretches 11.5 miles as it climbs through mixed pine and fir forest to Cannell Meadow and a historic Forest Service cabin built between 1904 and 1909. Hikers are awarded beautiful views of the Kern River Valley along the trip.

Visitors enjoy making day trips to Sequoia National Park and Giant Sequoia National Monument.

Rules and notices at Headquarters Campground

Recreation.gov does not date these notices. We last read them on September 29, 2026. Check Headquarters Campground on Recreation.gov

Notices from Recreation.gov

Six people per site including children

No hookups or showers available

Swimming in the river is not recommended due to strong currents

No off-road vehicle use allowed in the campground

Fire restrictions may be imposed at any time due to hot, dry weather conditions, at which time campfires and charcoal fires may not be allowed. For current fire conditions or weather closures contact the Kern River Ranger District (760) 376-3781.

Don't Move Firewood: Protect California's forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. For more information visit firewood.ca.gov.

Site length includes tow vehicle

Extra vehicle fee of $8.00 per night of stay on the second vehicle in each single family campsite and on the third and fourth vehicle in any double family campsite, provided these vehicles are not joined to the first vehicle by a hitch and towed onto the site. Extra vehicle must fit on the site parking spur.

Recreation.gov permit and campground cancellations →

Headquarters Campground FAQ

How hard is it to get a campsite at Headquarters Campground?

Headquarters Campground is rated "Hard to Book" based on historical demand. This campground is popular and often books out weeks in advance. Your best strategy is to monitor cancellations.

How do I find last-minute availability at Headquarters Campground?

Cancellations happen frequently at Headquarters Campground, especially 1-2 weeks before check-in dates. PermitSnag monitors availability 24/7 and sends instant alerts when sites open up due to cancellations. This is often the best way to snag popular campsites.

How many campsites does Headquarters Campground have?

Headquarters Campground has 40 campsites.