Campgrounds Nearest to Lake Gregory in San Bernardino, California

Lake Gregory, located in Crestline in Southern California's San Bernardino Mountains, is a man-made, 120-acre recreational lake appreciated by swimmers for its calm waters. Visitors also enjoy boating, fishing, water slides, a fitness trail and workout stations. Rounding out Lake Gregory's appeal, three campgrounds are close to all the action and offer shelter for both tent and recreational vehicle campers, with several primitive campsites also dotted throughout the forest.

Switzerland in California

• Just across the road from the north shore of Lake Gregory is Camp Switzerland, a privately owned and operated campground suitable for tent or recreational vehicle camping. The camp can accommodate RVs up to 27 feet in length and motor homes as large as 30 feet long. Twelve spaces are equipped with full hookups of 30-amp electric service, water and sewer. Of the additional 26 campsites, four are for trailers, five have electricity and water only, and two sites feature spring-fed water. No open fires are allowed in the campground, and strict quiet hours are observed.

Gone to the Dogs

• The family-friendly Dogwood Campground is situated in a dense forest of cedar, oak, pine, fir and dogwood trees about a 15-minute drive from Lake Gregory. Ninety-three reservation-only campsites are available, mostly for tent campers. Some sites are equipped with electric hookups that accommodate recreational vehicles no longer than 22 feet. No off-road ATV or OHV vehicles are allowed in camp. Each campsite features fire rings, barbecues and picnic tables, with easy access to restrooms with flush toilets and showers. A camp host is on-site, along with firewood vendors. The use of fire rings and barbecues may be restricted during hot dry days when the danger of fire is high. Since bears frequent the area, proper storage of food and garbage is required.

An In-Tents Experience

• The North Shore campground is three miles from Lake Arrowhead village and about a 20-minute drive from Lake Gregory. Operated by California Land Management, the campground features 28 tent camping sites, six of which are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Campsites offer picnic tables and fire rings, and restrooms with flush toilets and showers are nearby. Firewood is sold on-site and a camp host is present as well. As with all campsites in the Lake Gregory Recreational Park, the use of fire rings and charcoal barbecues may be restricted when the risk of fire is high.

Primitively Speaking

• For a more primitive camping experience, dispersed and Yellow Post campsites are dotted throughout the forest area surrounding Lake Gregory. Yellow Post sites are spread a considerable distance from each other but can be accessed from a paved road or trail. The sites feature tables and fire rings, but a valid California campfire permit may be required to use them. Keller Peak Yellow Post sites near Running Springs features nine first-come, first-served tent-only campsites. Additionally, the Bench Trail camp accommodates backpackers with two fire rings, and Holcomb Crossing Trail Camp has five. Camping outside developed campsites is also allowed in the San Bernardino National Forest, although permits may be necessary.

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Main Tourist Attractions in San Bernardino, California

San Bernardino, nestled in a scenic valley against the backdrop of the San Bernardino Mountains, welcomes visitors with an eclectic selection of museums and performing arts venues. The city itself, which dates from 1810, bears the signs of the diversity, including American Indian, Mexican and Spanish influences, that has shaped Californian culture. Travelers can take advantage of San Bernardino’s location near some of Southern California’s most grandiose natural attractions.

San Bernardino Museums

• The Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art, on California State University’s San Bernardino campus, features an extensive collection. Its ancient Egyptian holdings include sculptures, jewelry and an elaborate coffin lid, while the contemporary collection features work from Andy Warhol and Leonard Baskin. The San Bernardino History and Railroad Museum, in the historic Sante Fe Depot, contains exhibits on regional history and gives guests the opportunity to ride a 1927 steam locomotive. Visitors to San Bernardino also can visit the site of the world’s first McDonald’s, which now houses a collection of McDonald’s memorabilia.

Performing Arts Venues

• The California Theatre of the Performing Arts has hosted stars from the golden eras of vaudeville and Hollywood and served as the site of Will Rogers’ final stage performance. Constructed in 1928 in downtown San Bernardino, the theater continues to host a full schedule of concerts and musicals. The San Manuel Amphitheater, a seasonal concert venue that benefits from views of the San Bernardino Mountains, is the largest amphitheater in the United States. The downtown Fox Theater, built in 1929 and fully restored under the ownership of American Sports University, hosts independent productions in an authentic, 1930s setting.
• Arrowhead Springs

• San Bernardino’s Arrowhead, a geological formation on a mountainside north of the city, provides a not-to-be-missed photo op and figures prominently in local history. In American Indians believed the formation commemorates an epic cosmic battle and saw significance in the fact that the Arrowhead’s point indicates the location of Arrowhead Springs. These hot springs lured travelers since the early 1800s and hosted a succession of resorts. The most famous of these, the Arrowhead Springs Hotel, welcomed celebrities like Humphrey Bogart and Spencer Tracy. The historic hotel, closed at the time of publication, is included in an ambitious city of plan to renovate the property as a multiuse residential facility and tourist attraction.

San Bernardino County Natural Areas

• San Bernardino County covers more than 20,000 square miles and contains some of Southern California’s most renowned natural areas. The Mojave National Preserve spreads over 1.6 million acres and presents visitors with a wonderland of canyons, volcanic formations and a phenomenon known as singing sand dunes. Joshua Tree National Park, named for the iconic trees native to the area, comprises a wild expanse of epic rock formations and stark scenic grandeur. For outdoor enthusiasts who prefer a little more greenery, the San Bernardino National Forest spans nearly 680,000 acres and contains the epic Rim of the World Scenic Byway.

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State Parks and RV Camping in San Bernardino, California

The Inland Empire city of San Bernardino sits in the shadow of the San Bernardino National Forest. Though California State Park RV campgrounds are scarce in the area, you'll find additional opportunities in the national forest and in one of the county’s prime regional parks. Drive south to neighboring Riverside County for an RV campground at a state park that hosts speedboat races. Camp among the trees and get a ringside seat to watch some of the fastest watercraft around.

Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area

• Park your RV in the Silverwood Lake Recreation Area at Mesa Campground. The year-round campground on Route 138 near the southwest corner of the lake is a 30-mile drive from downtown San Bernardino. RVs up to 30 feet and trailers up to 24 feet are welcome. Sites with full and partial hookups are available. Leashed pets are welcome, but they must be kept in the RV at night and kept away from the swim beaches. The Miller Canyon Trail leads down to the lake and then skirts the shoreline, where you can hike, bike or jog. The campground has a nature center, restrooms, showers and an RV dump station. Reservations are available via the Reserve America online system.

San Gorgonio Camping–San Bernardino National Forest

• San Gorgonio Campground is in the San Bernardino National Forest and is open from mid-May through the end of September. Located roughly 36 miles northeast of downtown San Bernardino, this campground is in a forest setting with sites shaded by pines and oak trees. The Santa Ana River Trail and the Rio Monte Trail are both accessed by the campground and are suitable for hiking and biking. Most sites can handle rigs up to 35 feet, and a few accommodate RVs up to 40 feet. Campsites have no hookups, but drinking water, showers and flush toilets are available. Dogs are welcome but they must be leashed. Bears frequent the campground, so keep your pets inside at night.

Yucaipa Regional Park–San Bernardino County Regional Park

• Yucaipa Regional Park is part of the San Bernardino County Regional Park system and easy to get to via Interstate 10. It’s only 19 miles east of downtown San Bernardino. All 42 campsites have hookups, and you can elect to camp without them for a less expensive rate. The campground lies east of two of the park's lakes, where you can swim, boat and fish. The campground is open year-round; the swimming lagoon and pedal boat rentals are only available during the summer season. Other recreational activities include disc golf, mini-golf, a playground, horseshoe pits and hiking trails. Leashed pets are welcome with payment of a nightly fee.

Lake Perris State Recreation Area, a Boater’s Dream

• The Lake Perris State Recreation Area, in the town of Perris, lies 26 miles southeast of San Bernardino. Lake Perris is a popular venue for ski-boat racing and the campground usually sells out during these events. Advanced reservations are available through Reserve America and are advised during the warm seasons. The campground is open year-round with reduced rates from December through February. Campsites can handle RVs up to 31 feet long, and there's ample parking for boat trailers in adjacent lots. Choose from sites with no hookups or with water, electric and a gray-water drain. A dump station is on site too. Well-behaved leashed pets are welcome in the campground and in picnic areas but not on the beaches.

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