USFSMendocino National Forest · California
Howard Meadows Campground
Has 6 developed sites and 1 vault toilet.
Sites0all reservable
Elev.3,924ft
Comf.Apr-Nov8 months
Max rigtents
Electricnonesites
From Sacramento3h28real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27
At 3,924 ft, Howard Meadows Campground has a 8-month comfortable window (Apr-Nov). Winter nights average around 30°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. Within about 4 miles: 4 peaks, lake or river access.
The campground at a glance
01 · CHARACTER
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
avg highavg lowfrost-freedriest · Jul
Apr-Nov
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
95%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
May 24
Last spring frost; first fall frost Oct 15.
58°F
Average July low. Bring a fleece.
Getting there
03 · ACCESS
01
Sacramento
156 mi
3h28
02
San Francisco
193 mi
4h17
03
Fresno
361 mi
8h01
04
Los Angeles
624 mi
13h52
05
San Diego
769 mi
17h05
By drive time
What's within four miles
05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER
Trails & Peaks
Trail segments
13
Peaks
4
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.