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

Kirkwood Campground

Recreation Opportunity Guides (ROG) - These guides contains information, maps, and directions to assist you in enjoying your trip to the Eldorado National Forest.
Sites0all reservable
Elev.7,680ft
Comf.Jun-Oct5 months
Max rigtents
Electricnonesites
From Sacramento2h12real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27

At 7,680 ft, Kirkwood Campground has a 5-month comfortable window (Jun-Oct). Winter nights average around 21°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. Within about 4 miles: 2 named hiking routes, 8 peaks, lake or river access.

The campground at a glance

01 · CHARACTER
QuietCoolRoomyShadeRV-fitReserv.

Reads strongest on cool nights and quiet. Softest on quiet.

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
Jun-Oct
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
86%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
Jun 15
Last spring frost; first fall frost Oct 5.
51°F
Average July low. Bring a fleece.

Getting there

03 · ACCESS
01
Sacramento
99 mi
2h12
02
Fresno
178 mi
3h57
03
San Francisco
185 mi
4h07
04
Los Angeles
439 mi
9h45
05
San Diego
579 mi
12h52
By drive time
Sacramento · 2h12Fresno · 3h57San Francisco · 4h07Los Angeles · 9h45San Diego · 12h52Camp

Routed road time (OSRM). Nearest major highway 0.3 mi away.

What's within four miles

05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER

Trails & Peaks

Named hiking routes
2
Trail segments
131
Peaks
8
Viewpoints
3

Water & Access

Lake / river access
yes
To nearest major road
0.3 mi
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 →