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Fern Basin

San Bernardino National Forest

🏕️ CampgroundIdyllwild / San JacintoCalifornia⭐ 4.2 (95)
Fern Basin
🟢 10 open windows right now — soonest Mon Aug 31–Thu Sep 3
2 of the last 34 openings here were gone within 6 hours. That is shorter than the gap between the scheduled scans free alerts ride.
Availability checked 3h ago · changes fast, verify before you drive
📈 CampSage caught 8 cancellations here in the last 7 days — set an alert below to catch the next one.
Book / check availability →🧭 Directions
💡 In short

Fern Basin in California has 10 open booking windows on Recreation.gov right now, the soonest Mon Aug 31–Thu Sep 3. Reserve directly through the booking link above — cancellations go fast. To catch future openings the instant they appear, set a free CampSage cancellation alert.

📅 Open dates
Mon Aug 31 – Thu Sep 33 nightsbook these dates →👥 7 in a row, FERN #004–FERN #010 next to each othersites #004, #005, #006, #007, #008, #009, #010, #015, #016, #017, #018, #019
Wed Sep 2 – Fri Sep 42 nightsbook these dates →👥 FERN #012 & FERN #013 next to each othersites #012, #013
Fri Sep 11 – Mon Sep 143 nights🗓 weekendbook these dates →👥 FERN #012 & FERN #013 next to each othersites #006, #012, #013, #018, #019
Sun Sep 13 – Wed Sep 163 nightsbook these dates →sites #014
Fri Sep 18 – Mon Sep 213 nights🗓 weekendbook these dates →sites #005
Fri Sep 25 – Mon Sep 283 nights🗓 weekendbook these dates →sites #004, #008, #010, #017
Fri Oct 2 – Mon Oct 53 nights🗓 weekendbook these dates →sites #009
Fri Oct 9 – Mon Oct 123 nights🗓 weekendbook these dates →sites #016

📷 What these sites look like

Photos of sites that are open right now, from recreation.gov. Angles vary by park — usually the site and its parking pad.

Campsite FERN #004 — Picnic area with fire pit.
Site FERN #004 · Picnic area with fire pit.
Campsite FERN #004 — Picnic area with fire pit.
Site FERN #004 · Picnic area with fire pit.
Campsite FERN #005 — Picnic area with fire pit.
Site FERN #005 · Picnic area with fire pit.
Campsite FERN #005 — Picnic area with fire pit.
Site FERN #005 · Picnic area with fire pit.
Campsite FERN #006 — Picnic area with fire pit.
Site FERN #006 · Picnic area with fire pit.
Campsite FERN #006 — Picnic area with fire pit.
Site FERN #006 · Picnic area with fire pit.
Campsite FERN #007 — Picnic area with fire pit.
Site FERN #007 · Picnic area with fire pit.
Campsite FERN #007 — Picnic area with fire pit.
Site FERN #007 · Picnic area with fire pit.
Campsite FERN #008 — Picnic area with fire pit.
Site FERN #008 · Picnic area with fire pit.
Campsite FERN #008 — Picnic area with fire pit.
Site FERN #008 · Picnic area with fire pit.
Campsite FERN #009 — Picnic area with fire pit.
Site FERN #009 · Picnic area with fire pit.
Campsite FERN #009 — Picnic area with fire pit.
Site FERN #009 · Picnic area with fire pit.
⚡ EV charging nearby

Nearest DC fast charging: 10.1 mi away (straight line).

⚡ Tesla Supercharger10.1 midirections →
⚡ Electrify America10.4 midirections →
⚡ EVgo10.4 midirections →

Distances are straight-line, not driving — the road can be much longer where a river, a lake or a canyon sits in between. From OpenStreetMap — community-mapped, so plug types can lag reality. Verify on your charging network’s app before counting on a charger.

🔭 Planning further ahead?

We watch the next 60 days closely — that's where cancellations show up. recreation.gov takes bookings out to about February 2027, so there may be 2+ night stays past our window.

📊 How often sites open up here

CampSage's scans caught 31 openings at Fern Basin over the last 30 days, on 24 separate days, most of them for stays 4–25 days out and the openings typically covered 3 nights.

These are the openings our own scans saw — not a figure the booking system publishes. We re-check availability several times a day, so the real number can be higher.

🏕️ About this campground

📍 ~88 mi from LA💵 $20–$33.97/nightStandard Nonelectric🎒 biking🎒 car camping🎒 fishing🎒 hiking🎒 horseback riding🎥 79K YouTube views · top 12

Ratings

4.2★★★★☆92 ratings
5★48
4★24
3★12
2★4
1★4
Star ratings from recreation.gov (they don't publish written review text). Read & leave reviews on recreation.gov ↗

📶 Cell coverage camper-reported

Verizon2.6/4
AT&T0.8/4
T-Mobile0.3/4
Sprint retired0.5/4

💡 Insider tips from campers

❓ Fern Basin FAQ

How do I reserve a campsite at Fern Basin?

Fern Basin in California takes campsite reservations through Recreation.gov. On this page, use the “Book / check availability” button to open the live booking page, see which dates are free, and reserve your site.

How much does it cost to camp at Fern Basin?

Campsite fees at Fern Basin run about $20–$33.97/night, as listed by Recreation.gov. Exact rates vary by site type, number of campers, and season.

How can I get a spot at Fern Basin when it's fully booked?

Popular campgrounds like Fern Basin often fill months ahead, but campers cancel every day and those sites reopen for booking. CampSage checks availability for you and sends a free email the instant a cancellation opens — set an alert on this page and you can grab the spot before anyone else.

How often do campsites open up at Fern Basin?

CampSage's scans caught 31 openings at Fern Basin over the last 30 days, on 24 separate days, most of them for stays 4–25 days out and the openings typically covered 3 nights. These are the openings our own scans saw — not a figure the booking system publishes. We re-check availability several times a day, so the real number can be higher.

Is Fern Basin a good campground?

Fern Basin holds an average rating of 4.2/5 from 95 camper ratings on Recreation.gov. The full star breakdown is shown above.

Is there cell service at Fern Basin?

Of the carriers campers have reported on at Fern Basin, Verizon rates highest at 2.6 out of 5 from 24 reports. See the carrier-by-carrier breakdown above — service can still vary by campsite, terrain, and weather.

Where is Fern Basin located?

Fern Basin is located in Idyllwild / San Jacinto, California. Tap “Directions” above for driving directions, or see nearby campgrounds lower on this page.

🔔 Get a free opening alert
We'll email you when a site opens at Fern Basin.
🎯 Only these dates (optional): to
🌙 Minimum stay (Pro):
Skip the 1-night midweek openings — only hear about stays worth the drive.
👥 Group size (Pro):
Camping with a group? Only hear about openings with that many sites NEXT TO EACH OTHER on the same dates — consecutive numbers in one loop, not just that many free somewhere in the park.
🚫 Skip site types (Pro):


Works where the booking system publishes per-site types (rec.gov campgrounds).
Free email alerts · instant push in the iOS app · unsubscribe anytime

📡 Follow these cancellations

Subscribe in your calendar or RSS reader to get openings here automatically.

📆 iCal feed  ·  📡 RSS feed

Running a camping/RV blog? Embed this widget free →

A live cancellation widget for Fern Basin that updates itself — free, no account, no API key. The snippet includes a one-line credit under the widget; leaving it in is what keeps this free for everyone, and it tells your readers what they are looking at. Preview it.

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