Headquarters view
HEADQUARTERS
HEADQUARTERS
HEADQUARTERS
HEADQUARTERS

Featured amenities

Picnic Table Picnic Table
Restrooms Restrooms
Fire Pit Fire Pit

Available sites

40 total sites

About Headquarters

Headquarters Campground is situated along the Kern River, 6 mi north of the town of Kernville. Hiking, fishing, kayaking and rafting are popular activities.

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Open year round

This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.

365 Days

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Picnic Table Picnic Table
Restrooms Restrooms
Fire Pit Fire Pit
Site Setup and Access

Site Setup and Access

  • ADA Accessible
Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Potable Water
  • Restrooms
Cooking and Fire

Cooking and Fire

  • Picnic Table
  • BBQ
  • Fire Pit
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

40 Sites Available

Site
Price
✨ 002, Loop: Yurt Yurt
6 guests · Campfire
🚐 003, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
⛺ 004, Loop: A Tent
Paved · Pet Friendly · Campfire
🚐 005, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
⛺ 006, Loop: A Tent
Paved · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 007, Loop: A Tent
Paved · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 008, Loop: A Tent
Paved · Pet Friendly · Campfire
🚐 009, Loop: C RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
⛺ 010, Loop: C Tent
Paved · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 011, Loop: C Tent
Paved · Pet Friendly · Campfire
🚐 012, Loop: C RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 013, Loop: C RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
⛺ 014, Loop: C Tent
Paved · Pet Friendly · Campfire
🚐 015, Loop: C RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 016, Loop: C RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 017, Loop: C RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 018, Loop: C RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
⛺ 019, Loop: A Tent
Paved · Pet Friendly · Campfire
🚐 020, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 021, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 022, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 023, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
⛺ 024, Loop: A Tent
Paved · Pet Friendly · Campfire
🚐 025, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 026, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 027, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 028, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 029, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 030, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
✨ 031, Loop: Yurt Yurt
6 guests · Campfire
🚐 032, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 033, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
⛺ 035, Loop: B Tent
Paved · Pet Friendly · Campfire
🚐 036, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 037, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 038, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
⛺ 039, Loop: B Tent
Paved · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 042, Loop: B Tent
Paved · Pet Friendly · Campfire
🚐 043, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 044, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Back-In

Reviews (576)

What Guests Are Saying

Headquarters Campground offers a charming and family-friendly atmosphere, with clean facilities and attentive hosts, particularly Candace, who enhances the camping experience. Many families cherish their time here, enjoying the beautiful river access and the peaceful surroundings. While there are some concerns about water quality and restroom conditions, overall, visitors appreciate the campground's beauty and are eager to return.

Review Summary

4.2
576 reviews
5
57.6%
332
4
21.7%
125
3
10.8%
62
2
5.6%
32
1
4.3%
25

David B

Verified

March 28, 2021 • Stayed at: 017, Loop: C

5

Host was very nice, sites were clean and restrooms in good shape.

Emil E

Verified

March 28, 2021 • Stayed at: 019, Loop: A

1

Its dirty place, specially the bathrooms awful

Paul H

Verified

April 5, 2021 • Stayed at: 027, Loop: A

4

Nice campground by the Kearn River. Paved road and sites, which is nice, but sites are best for shorter length trailers (24' or less). The Campground Host was the best. He was a very helpful fellow and a positive presence at the campground. Hiking in the area is great. We enjoyed the Riverside Trail and the Packsaddle Trail.

Paul H

Verified

April 5, 2021 • Stayed at: 027, Loop: A

4

Nice campground by the Kearn River. Paved road and sites, which is nice, but sites are best for shorter length trailers (24' or less). The Campground Host was the best. He was a very helpful fellow and a positive presence at the campground. Hiking in the area is great. We enjoyed the Riverside Trail and the Packsaddle Trail.

gregory r

Verified

April 7, 2021 • Stayed at: 011, Loop: C

2

I and my family loved the outdoor experience, but river not as full due to droughts and fires over the years. I had to clean FIRE PIT MYSELF, totally full with dirt, ash, and wire. Ranger station closed. Why have campground open with no Rangers available. I saw no Sheriff patrol at all for my stay. No animals, I guess to fires and droughts over years. Just squirels and birds. Heard frogs at night. Stars aplenty . Seqoula forest roads upper Kern River closed. No access to Big Tree Lanes.

gregory r

Verified

April 7, 2021 • Stayed at: 011, Loop: C

2

I and my family loved the outdoor experience, but river not as full due to droughts and fires over the years. I had to clean FIRE PIT MYSELF, totally full with dirt, ash, and wire. Ranger station closed. Why have campground open with no Rangers available. I saw no Sheriff patrol at all for my stay. No animals, I guess to fires and droughts over years. Just squirels and birds. Heard frogs at night. Stars aplenty . Seqoula forest roads upper Kern River closed. No access to Big Tree Lanes.

Vincent D

Verified

April 9, 2021 • Stayed at: 024, Loop: A

5

The campground has always been great. The host, Mark is awesome and has been there for years. The only gripe I have is that the last few years, the fishing has sucked! We pay license fees to fish and the Govt is supposed to stock it, well. They stocked it but from what I heard around the “grapevine” is it isn’t very much fish. I hope they do a better job or I will be going to the other side of the sierras to fish.

Vincent D

Verified

April 9, 2021 • Stayed at: 024, Loop: A

5

The campground has always been great. The host, Mark is awesome and has been there for years. The only gripe I have is that the last few years, the fishing has sucked! We pay license fees to fish and the Govt is supposed to stock it, well. They stocked it but from what I heard around the “grapevine” is it isn’t very much fish. I hope they do a better job or I will be going to the other side of the sierras to fish.

Kyle K

Verified

April 11, 2021 • Stayed at: 043, Loop: B

4

Good small campground with lots of access points to kern River for specific sites. Would enjoy a specific communal area for river access as all locations feel like they are “owned” by specific sites.

Facilities are good. Wonderful campground hosts.

Kyle K

Verified

April 11, 2021 • Stayed at: 043, Loop: B

4

Good small campground with lots of access points to kern River for specific sites. Would enjoy a specific communal area for river access as all locations feel like they are “owned” by specific sites.

Facilities are good. Wonderful campground hosts.

Location & Directions for Headquarters

Po Box 1640, Kernville, CA 93238 United States

Elevation: 850 ft

Nearest town

Kernville, CA - 3.9 mi

About 8 min to downtown

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: October 20, 2026

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Explore Kernville, CA

Population: 857

Nearby larger city

Porterville, CA

Approx. 37 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 2,661 ft

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Managed by the USDA Forest Service