Kennedy Meadows Campground
Located on the Pacific Crest Trail near the South Fork of the Kern River, Kennedy Meadows campground is surrounded by the South Sierra, Golden Trout, and Domeland wildernesses. Some of the 37 sites are shaded by juniper and pinion. Maximum vehicle length is 30ft.
More like this: first-come in California · free in California · tent only in California
Site map
36 campsite locations mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The site numbers are theirs and may not match the posts at the campground. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | No fees. |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Forest | Inyo National Forest |
| Fees | No fees. |
| Rules | Campfires prohibited. Food and refuse should be secured so that animals cannot access. No trash service. Please pack out your garbage. Dogs on leash only. Maximum stay 14 days. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 36.0518° N, 118.1305° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Triple Crown Outfitters ↗ | 4.6 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 33.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | Lindustries RV Service ↗ | 37.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Kennedy meadows camp ground 2021 Aug
Worth a stop
- 8.9 miBlackrock Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.8 miWildrose ↗8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.9 miPCT - Pacific Crest Trail ↗66.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike · national_scenic_or_historic
- 0.9 miPacific Crest ↗3.1 mi trail · hiking, horse · national_scenic_or_historic
- 1.9 miBitter Creek4.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Sequoia National Forest.
- inSequoia National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,160,053 acres
- 1.3 miSouth Sierra Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 60,280 acres
- 4.3 miDomeland Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 133,720 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
Guidebooks for Inyo National Forest and California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to camp at Kennedy Meadows Campground?
Nothing. Kennedy Meadows Campground is listed as free. No fees.
Source: Forest Service
Is Kennedy Meadows Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Kennedy Meadows Campground have?
37 sites.
Source: Forest Service
Can I bring an RV to Kennedy Meadows Campground?
Kennedy Meadows Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Kennedy Meadows Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Fish Creek Campground (5 mi, first-come), Troy Meadow Campground (5.9 mi, first-come), and Long Valley Campground (14.5 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby