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

South Fork Rec Campground

Located off Highway 178 on the southern side of Lake Isabella, this facility offers flush toilets, trash service, drinking water, a visitor information station, and campsites with stoves and picnic ta
Sites0all reservable
Elev.2,608ft
Comf.Jan-Dec10 months
Max rigtents
Electricnonesites
From Fresno3h04real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27

At 2,608 ft, South Fork Rec Campground has a 10-month comfortable window (Jan-Dec). Winter nights average around 40°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. Within about 4 miles: 3 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
Jan-Dec
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
99%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
Feb 23
Last spring frost; first fall frost Nov 26.
71°F
Average July low. Bring a fleece.

Getting there

03 · ACCESS
01
Fresno
138 mi
3h04
02
Los Angeles
145 mi
3h13
03
San Diego
281 mi
6h15
04
Sacramento
342 mi
7h36
05
San Francisco
344 mi
7h39
By drive time
Fresno · 3h04Los Angeles · 3h13San Diego · 6h15Sacramento · 7h36San Francisco · 7h39Camp

Routed road time (OSRM). Nearest major highway 0.1 mi away.

What's within four miles

05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER

Trails & Peaks

Trail segments
39
Peaks
3
Viewpoints
3

Water & Access

Lake / river access
yes
To nearest major road
0.1 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 →