Big Bear Lake Camping Guide — Because Hotel Prices Are Out of Control

Camping in Big Bear Lake is one of the best ways to escape the chaos of Southern California without having to drive all the way to Montana and pretend you know how to fly fish. Up here in the San Bernardino Mountains, you get pine trees, alpine air, campfires when legally allowed, dog-friendly trails, lake views and just enough wilderness to make you feel outdoorsy without fully abandoning your need for espresso and a decent sleeping pad. Whether you are planning a family camping trip, a dog-friendly weekend in the forest or a more off-grid adventure away from Chad’s Bluetooth speaker, this Big Bear Lake camping gear list will help you pack smarter, sleep better and avoid becoming raccoon entertainment by sundown.

Why inquire with your aging, outdoor-adjacent father about what camping supplies you used in the 90s? He probably still has all of it in the basement, right next to a broken Coleman lantern, four torn mystery tarps and a cooler from 1987 that smells faintly like hot dogs. But if you are building your own Big Bear Lake camping gear list from scratch, this is my outdoor wanderer’s guide to the supplies every dog-loving, snack-obsessed camper needs for a weekend getaway in Big Bear Lake, California.

Remember when camping was for poor people? Now I work fifty hours a week just so I can buy a bougie pop-up tent that lets me set up camp faster than most Californians can pump a tank of our state’s finest six-dollar-a-gallon gas. Somewhere between “roughing it” and “I brought a solar charger for my phone,” camping in Big Bear Lake became my favorite kind of mountain vacation.

And honestly? My camper bed situation is ridiculously civilized. Between my cozy Teton sleeping pads and my TreeFox pop-up tent, I feel like I’m sleeping on my mattress at home, only with more pine needles, fewer mortgage payments and a much better view of the Milky Way. Why stay in a hotel when you can camp out in the wilderness of Big Bear Lake with the best amenities of home and none of the lobby people coughing near the coffee station?

Now, I am not one of those Camping Barbies with a tent bolted to the top of a Subaru. I personally think rooftop tents are ridiculous unless you are camping somewhere with poisonous snakes, scorpions or velociraptors. Every time you want to drive anywhere, you have to break down your entire sleeping situation. No, thank you. I will happily sleep on the hard-packed dirt in my lovely TreeFox pop-up tent, which I am now embarrassingly obsessed with. It is fast, easy and makes me feel like I have achieved peak outdoorswoman without needing a trust fund or an overland Instagram account.

When camping in Big Bear Lake, you do not want your mountain vacation to be one raccoon away from total chaos. Big Bear Lake may not have grizzly bears roaming around anymore, (not since 1915) but we absolutely have raccoons, and they are not the cute cartoon kind. They are tiny masked criminals who know exactly how to open a cooler you left outside all night. Do not be that camper. Store your food properly, lock up your trash and understand that the raccoons in Big Bear have seen things. They know what a Yeti is.

Big Bear Lake Camping Tips for City People Entering Their Survival Era

Ah, Big Bear Lake. Just a few nautical miles uphill from Los Angeles, but somehow it feels like you have escaped to another planet, one with Jeffrey pines, mountain air and stars bright enough to make you wonder why anyone voluntarily returns to the concrete jungle. After a weekend camping in Big Bear Lake, you may find yourself asking hard questions, like, “Do I really need Wi-Fi?” and “Could I live in these comfy overalls forever?” The answer to both is probably no, but let’s not ruin the fantasy.

Just because you are camping in Big Bear Lake without a shower for three nights does not mean you need to look like you were raised by raccoons. Pack the dry shampoo, like this one.  Let’s just say the less feral-looking campers do not leave home without it. Some of us outdoor wanderers still need a shower every night, even when we are sleeping under the stars like rugged wilderness queens. That is where a camp shower becomes a lifesaver. It is easy to use, simple to set up, compact and easy to pack with the rest of your camping gear.

And yes, it may not be available on Amazon, but before any journey into the woods, you simply must pick up lemongrass body oil from Trader Joe’s. Mosquitoes hate the smell of lemongrass almost as much as I hate the smell of dirty, dreaded hippie hair. On my recent camping adventure, the mosquitoes buzzed around me, gave me the once-over and then apparently decided I was not worth the effort. After five days camping in mosquito country, I did not have one bug bite. That is also why I always travel with my bug net when I hike, backpack or camp anywhere in the mountains. Bug net: do not leave home without it unless you enjoy becoming an all-you-can-eat buffet with hiking boots.

Big Bear Lake Camping for Beginners Who Still Want Good Snacks

One of my favorite parts of camping has to be the camp food, and no, I am not talking about s’mores. S’mores are fine if you are eight years old or emotionally attached to marshmallow glue. I am talking about real camp meals, the kind that make nearby campers look over from their sad foil packet dinners and question every choice that brought them to instant oatmeal. And wonder where that amazing curry smell is coming from. Hi. It’s my campsite and yes, that is authentic Goan Lamb Vindaloo.

Having a great camp kitchen setup is key if you want to be the very best Camp Chef around. We may be camping, but that does not mean we have to eat terrible camp food or drink tragic coffee. There is no law that says sleeping in the dirt requires breakfast sadness.

One thing about Big Bear Lake, California: our coffeehouse selection is, shall we say, limited. Do yourself a favor and grind some great Whole Foods espresso at home before you leave. Then purchase a camper’s espresso maker or a drip coffee maker and make your own espresso every morning by the campfire. Enjoy that espresso campside, surrounded by pine trees, instead of standing in line at Starbucks with every other smelly camper who journeyed to Big Bear Lake that weekend and forgot how natural deodorant works.

When you get into the camping lifestyle, there are a few items you absolutely need on hand to be a successful camper. A plug-in ice chest is key. Why purchase ice every single day in town for six dollars a bag when you can have a highly efficient ice chest that keeps your food cold without requiring a daily pilgrimage to the nearest gas station? Ice is now basically a luxury item in California, right behind gasoline, eggs and decent leadership.

Of course, no camp kitchen is complete without a folding camp table. You may be camping, but that does not mean you cannot create a gourmet supper like my Balsamic Chicken with Orange Harissa and Sweet Potatoes. If you are going to make crispy camp chicken, prep veggies or pour yourself a drink like the refined mountain goblin you are, you need extra counter space. A fold-out camp table is just the ticket, especially when paired with a solid camp grill. 

A solar-powered charger is another must-have for camping in Big Bear Lake, especially if you are staying at a more rustic campsite or heading off-grid. Let’s face it, we may be camping, but this is 2026. We still need to charge our phones, cameras, GPS devices and whatever other tiny electronic rectangles now control our entire lives. I love the idea of unplugging from society, but I also love having enough battery to take photos, check trail maps and make sure Taylor Swift has not released another secret album while I was in the forest.

If you are camping with dogs in Big Bear Lake, you also need a good tie-down tether for your vacation pup. I use a Petbobi tie-down tether because I am on vacation and do not want to spend happy hour chasing my dog through the campground while holding a margarita and yelling like a lunatic. My idea of camping happy hour does not include my dog launching herself after squirrels like she is auditioning for a wildlife documentary. Thank the Lord for a 30-foot dog tether.

Dispersed Camping in Big Bear Lake for People Who Like Their Neighbors Far Away

If you are anything like me, then you are looking for a more off-the-grid camping experience. Big Bear has that too. Dispersed camping near Big Bear Lake can be a fantastic way to sleep under the stars, avoid crowded campgrounds and enjoy the San Bernardino National Forest without listening to your neighbor’s Bluetooth speaker play yacht rock at 10 p.m.

Some dispersed campsites near Big Bear are miles down dirt roads, and yes, some of these wilderness campsites are quite primitive. That is part of the charm, assuming you are prepared and not the kind of person who thinks “primitive” means there will still be a bathroom with decent lighting. If you are planning on dispersed camping in Big Bear Lake, you need to bring your own water, your own trash bags, your own camp toilet plan and enough common sense to not become a cautionary tale on Facebook.

Camping away from your neighbors under the stars is absolutely worth it, but wild camping comes with responsibilities. Leave No Trace means exactly that: Leave our epic wilderness as you found it, or even cleaner. Pack out your trash. Store your food properly so bears, coyotes and raccoons cannot get to it. Do not leave food scraps, dog poop bags or random camping debris behind. The forest is not your Airbnb checkout basket.

Most importantly, never, ever have a campfire in our tinder-dry Southern California forest unless you are in an established campground where fires are currently allowed and campfire rings are provided. Always check current local fire restrictions before your trip. The danger of massive wildfires is very real here in Southern California. These days, we all know someone who has been evacuated for weeks or, even worse, lost a home to wildfire. Your cozy little campfire is not worth torching an entire mountain town.

Camping somewhere without a fire pit? Always check local campfire laws ahead of time, but if you are allowed to use a portable fire pit, a smokeless fire pit can be a great option. Just remember: “smokeless” does not mean “rules no longer apply.” It means less smoke in your face while you are trying to enjoy your camp cocktail like a civilized dirt sleeper.

If you are dispersed camping, be prepared to haul in your own water. A sturdy collapsible 2-gallon water jug makes the whole camp water situation so much easier. You will need water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, dogs, coffee and whatever emotional support carb-filled dish you decide to make after a long day hiking in Big Bear.

The Best Campgrounds in Big Bear Lake

Of course, if you may want to stay at an established campground with amenities like bathrooms, showers,fire pits and easier lake access, Big Bear Lake has those too. For family camping in Big Bear Lake, first-time campers or anyone who likes the idea of being outdoors but still wants a picnic table and a place to legally roast marshmallows, these Big Bear campgrounds are some of the best options.

Serrano Campground

Serrano Campground is by far the most popular campground in Big Bear Lake. It is located on the north shore of Big Bear Lake and has great access to the lake, making it a favorite for campers who want to be close to the water. In the summer months, you may even see bald eagles fishing near the shoreline, which is a much better morning activity than watching someone in the next campsite struggle with a propane stove.

Serrano Campground is great if you want lake access, established campsites and a classic Big Bear Lake camping experience. Just know that you will be very close to your neighbors. If you are hoping for peace, privacy and no one named Chad blasting music from a portable speaker, Serrano may test your patience. But if you want convenience, lake views and a family-friendly campground in Big Bear, it is a solid choice.

Pine Knot Campground

Pine Knot Campground is one of the best campgrounds right in the town of Big Bear Lake. It is not quite as chaotic as the always-popular Serrano Campground, and the location is fantastic if you want access to hiking, mountain biking and town amenities without driving all over the mountain.

There are so many great hikes you can do right from Pine Knot Campground, which makes it perfect for active campers who want to roll out of the tent, drink a strong camp espresso and hit the trail before the rest of town wakes up. If you are visiting Big Bear Lake in the summertime for the mountain bike park, you can ride your bike to the park from Pine Knot Campground.

This is also a great campground to pack a hammock. I adore my camping hammock with a mosquito guard. Sometimes I will not even bring the tent and just sleep in this hammock while camping. Because apparently, I have reached the phase of life where sleeping suspended between trees feels like a reasonable adult decision.

One thing to note: There are a lot of tall pines in this area, so if you are counting on perfect Starlink reception, you may have a challenge. Nature remains rude like that.

Hanna Flat Campground

Hanna Flat Campground is my favorite of the U.S. Forest Service-managed campgrounds in Big Bear Lake. I do like to stay in an established forest campground sometimes because I enjoy having a campfire while camping when fires are legally allowed. None of our dispersed camping areas near Big Bear allow campfires, so if that classic campfire-and-s’mores moment matters to you, an established campground like Hanna Flat is the way to go.

As much as I prefer my space while camping, sometimes it just does not feel like camping unless you sit around the campfire in the evening making s’mores, telling stories and pretending you do not hear the family in the next campsite arguing over who forgot the hot dog buns.

Hanna Flat Campground is about five miles down a well-graded dirt road and feels more tucked away than some of the busier Big Bear Lake campgrounds. If you are into mountain biking, this is a fantastic area to stay and recreate. There are also epic hiking opportunities nearby, including the scenic Butler Peak fire lookout, sections of the Pacific Crest Trail and the trails around Delamar Mountain. You can also easily off-road back toward Holcomb Valley from Hanna Flat, which makes it a great basecamp for outdoor adventure in Big Bear.

Camping in Big Bear Lake: Pack the Gear, Skip the Chaos

Camping in Big Bear Lake is one of the best ways to enjoy the San Bernardino Mountains, whether you are staying in an established campground with fire rings and bathrooms or heading off-grid for a more peaceful wilderness experience. With the right camping gear, a solid camp kitchen setup, enough water, a bug net, dry shampoo and a healthy fear of raccoons, you can have an incredible mountain getaway without ever checking into a hotel.

Of course, before planning any wilderness vacation, you must also be prepared with a selfie stick with a tripod. Taylor Swift told me so, and I do not question women with that much real estate and eyeliner precision.