campgrounds.fyiIndependent · federal campgrounds · no paid placements
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USFSMendocino National Forest · California

General Campgrounds & Trailheads

The Mendocino National Forest is one of 18 National Forests in California, and is nearly one million square acres in size.
Sites0all reservable
Elev.2,933ft
Comf.Apr-Nov7 months
Max rigtents
Electricnonesites
From Sacramento3h19real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27

At 2,933 ft, General Campgrounds & Trailheads has a 7-month comfortable window (Apr-Nov). Winter nights average around 34°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. Within about 4 miles: lake or river access.

The campground at a glance

01 · CHARACTER
QuietCoolRoomyShadeRV-fitReserv.

Six axes, each scored relative to every other federal campground in the region: quiet (miles to a major road), cool (elevation), roomy (average site spacing), shade, RV-fit (longest rig), and how reservable it is. All six come from data, nothing hand-tuned.

When to go

02 · CLIMATE
JFMAMJJASOND
avg highavg lowfrost-freedriest · Jul
Apr-Nov
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
97%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
May 2
Last spring frost; first fall frost Nov 8.
63°F
Average July low. Bring a fleece.

Getting there

03 · ACCESS
01
Sacramento
149 mi
3h19
02
San Francisco
190 mi
4h13
03
Fresno
354 mi
7h52
04
Los Angeles
618 mi
13h44
05
San Diego
763 mi
16h57
By drive time
Sacramento · 3h19San Francisco · 4h13Fresno · 7h52Los Angeles · 13h44San Diego · 16h57Camp

What's within four miles

05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER

Trails & Peaks

Trail segments
3

Water & Access

Lake / river access
yes
Method

We synthesize public data layers: RIDB and Recreation.gov facility and site records, Open-Meteo climate normals, OpenStreetMap roads, trails, and water, OSRM drive times, and USGS elevation. We take no bookings, no ads, and no paid placements. Independence is the entire point.

Check availability on Recreation.gov →