USDA Forest Service · California
Kennedy Meadows Campground
USDA Forest Service · California, United States
- Cost
- No fees are required for this site
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 6,148 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Nearest town
- Kennedy Meadows, CA (food and water), Ridgecrest, CA (full services, hospital), Kernville, CA (food, lodging, gas)
About
US Forest Service campground. Located on the Pacific Crest Trail near the South Fork of the Kern River, at 6,200 ft. elevation, Kennedy Meadows campground is surrounded by the South Sierra and Golden Trout wildernesses. Some of the 37 sites are shaded by juniper and pinion. Maximum vehicle length is 30ft. Vault toilets, no water, no trash service, no fee. Pack out what you pack in. Not reservable through Recreation.gov, so plan on first-come, first-served; check with the ranger district for current conditions and fees.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 46° | 28° | 12° | 65° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 46° | 29° | 5° | 62° | 10 of 11 |
| March | 49° | 30° | 12° | 76° | 9 of 11 |
| April | 59° | 36° | 24° | 74° | 7 of 11 |
| May | 70° | 44° | 31° | 82° | 1 of 11 |
| June | 83° | 55° | 35° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 89° | 62° | 53° | 98° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 85° | 60° | 53° | 93° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 77° | 53° | 43° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 68° | 43° | 23° | 81° | 1 of 10 |
| November | 58° | 38° | 18° | 70° | 5 of 10 |
| December | 48° | 32° | 12° | 64° | 9 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Fish Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi
- Troy Meadow Campground · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi
- Long Valley Campground · Bureau of Land Management · 15 mi
- Chimney Creek Campground · Bureau of Land Management · 16 mi
- Horse Meadow Campground · USDA Forest Service · 17 mi
All public campgrounds in California · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-04-30. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.