Lassen Volcanic National Park Camping includes a breakdown of each of the 7 campgrounds in Lassen Volcanic NP, site photos, reservation information, and campground maps. Our goal is to help you have the best camping trip possible in Northern California.
Lassen Volcanic National Park Camping
Camping in Lassen Volcanic NP is a great way to experience this gorgeous northern California National Park. The park offers the opportunity to swim, kayak, learn more about volcanic activity, Lassen Peak, and even the chance to hike Bumpass Hell.
The campgrounds within Lassen Volcanic are spread out so you will want to make sure you are planning your trip based on what you plan to see within the park. If you are planning to spend your time on the Lassen Volcanic Scenic Drive you will want to make a reservation at one of the campgrounds along the main road.
Lassen Volcanic is one of the few places in the world where you can see all four types of volcanoes (cinder cone, composite, shield, and plug dome). Check out our top things to do in Lassen Volcanic NP to make sure you are prepared for all the great activities within the park.
The camping season in Lassen Volcanic can be relatively short depending on the winter weather. Typically the campgrounds are open by June and through August/September. The Southwest Walk-In Campground located next to the parking lot for the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center is open year-round and offers winter snow camping. This is the only campground open year-round.
When planning your Lassen Volcanic Camping trip make sure you plan for cold nights and potentially warm days. This northern California park offers everything from hiking, kayaking, scenic drives, picnicking, and the chance to do nothing but relax in a hammock by the lake all afternoon.
You can decide if you want to hike up Lassen Peak or just relax with a great book. Just make sure you are prepared to have a great time.
Below you will find each of the Lassen Volcanic Campgrounds in alphabetical order. Our goal with this Lassen Volcanic National Park Camping Guide is to make sure you have all the information you need to plan an epic camping trip!
- Make sure to check the National Park Service Website for any alerts of wildfires, road closures, and if any campfire bans are in effect before making reservations and before you visit Lassen Volcanic National Park. This park has a high-elevation mountain pass, snowy winter conditions in the winter and the potential for extreme wildfires in the summer.
Check out all of the epic things to do in Lassen Volcanic NP
Lassen Volcanic Campground Map
One thing to know about camping in Lassen Volcanic National Park is many of the campgrounds are not right off of the scenic drive.
Campgrounds along the Lassen Volcanic Scenic Drive include Manzanita Lake, Summit Lake North, Summit Lake South and Southwest Walk-In Campground.
Campgrounds that you will need to leave the park and take side entrances include Warner Valley Campground, Juniper Lake Campground, and Butte Lake Campground.
Butte Lake Campground
Location: Northeast Corner of Lassen Volcanic National Park
Elevation: 6,100 feet
Open: 6/5 – 10/20
Number of sites: 101 individual sites, 6 group sites
Accessible Sites: A6
Cost per night: Individual Sites: $22 ($15 when water is off)
Group sites: $62 ($35 when water is off)
Reservations?: Yes, Sites in loop B are reservable
Campground amenities: Fire rings, picnic tables, easy access to Butte Lake and hiking trails.
RVs allowed?: 35-foot max in A-Loop
45-foot max in B-Loop
For more information and photos check out our post on Butte Lake Campground
Juniper Lake Campground
Location: East shore of Juniper Lake via a 13-mile paved/gravel road.
Elevation: 6,792 feet
Open: 6/26 – 10/6
Number of sites: 18 first-come, first-served campsites and two reservable, group sites.
Accessible Sites: No accessible sites
Cost per night: $12 individual sites/ $32 group sites
Reservations?: first-come, first-served individual campsites, and two reservable, group sites.
Campground amenities: Right next to the lake offering amazing access to lake activities, fire rings, bear boxes, and vault toilets.
RVs allowed?: RVs are not recommended due to the small dirt road you have to drive to reach the campground.
For more information and photos check out our post on Juniper Lake Campground
Manzanita Lake Campground
Location: One mile east of the Manzanita Lake Entrance
Elevation: 5890 feet
Open: Loops A & B: 6/1 – snow closure
Loop C & D : 6/1 – 10/13
Group sites: 6/1 – 6/29, 9/7-10/13
Number of sites: 170
Accessible Sites: Sites B-9, A-32
Cost per night: $26 per night when water is on and $15 per night when off
Reservations?:
Prior to 7/1, only sites in Loop A and C are reservable.
Beginning 7/1, all sites are reservable.
Sites that do not have a reservation placard may be used for first-come, first-served camping for a single night only; a reservation may begin the following day.
Groups sites are reservation only
Camping cabins are reservation only
Reservations must be made at least four days in advance.
Campground amenities: fire ring, flush toilets, easy access to Manzanita Lake, camp store.
RVs allowed?: Yes, RVs and Trailers up to 40 feet
For more information and photos check out our post on Manzanita Lake Campground
Summit Lake -North Campground
Location: 12 miles south of Manzanita Lake, 17.5 miles north of Southwest Entrance.
Elevation: 6,700 ft.
Open: 6/26-9/29
Number of sites: 46
Accessible Sites: Site A1
Cost per night: $24 / $15 (dry)
Reservations?: Yes on Recreation.gov
Campground amenities: Close to lake access and hiking trails, fire rings, bear boxes, flush toilet restrooms.
RVs allowed?: Yes with a max length of 35 feet
For more information and photos check out our post on Summit Lake North Campground
We love how gorgeous the campgrounds in Lassen Volcanic National Park Camping are. So many gorgeous campsites.
Summit Lake - South Campground
Location: 12 miles south of Manzanita Lake, 17.5 miles north of Southwest Entrance.
Elevation: 6695 feet
Open: 6/26-9/29
Number of sites: 48
Accessible Sites: No, ADA site in Summit Lake North
Cost per night: $22 / $15 when the water is turned off
Reservations?: All campsites are reservable after July 1
Summit Lake South reservations (Loops C, D & E)
Reservations must be made at least four days in advance.
Campground amenities: Close to the lake, fire rings, pit toilets, potable water, bear boxes
RVs allowed?: No trailer or RV sites in south (small tent trailers okay)
For more information and photos check out our post on the Summit Lake South Campground
Southwest Walk-In Campground
Location: located off the parking lot from the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center
Elevation: 6,700 feet
Open: Open year-round, snow camping in winter
Number of sites: 21
Accessible Sites: There are no accessible sites within the campground
Cost per night: $16 / $10 when the water is turned off
Reservations?: First-come, first-served only
Campground amenities: Adjacent to the visitor center with gift shop and store, Flush toilets available mid-May until mid-October, Potable water available part of the year in the campground the rest of the year by the visitor center.
RVs allowed?: RVs and trailers may park overnight in the campground
parking area
For more information and photos check out our post on Southwest Walk-In Campground
Warner Valley Campground
Location: one mile north of Warner Valley Ranger Station via a gravel road and 17 miles north of Chester.
Elevation: 5650 feet
Open: 6/6/20 - 10/12/20, weather permitting
Number of sites: 17
Accessible Sites: No accessible sites
Cost per night: $16
Reservations?: Yes, 8 sites reservable online; 9 first-come, first-served only
Campground amenities: Remote location, fire rings, access to the Pacific Crest trail, vault toilets.
RVs allowed?: RVs and trailers not recommended
For more information and photos check out our post on Warner Valley Campground
We really hope this Lassen Volcanic National Park Camping Guide helps you plan an epic camping trip!
Additional Resources
National Parks in California – check out all of the National Park sites you can visit during your trip to California
National Park checklist – Checklist of all of the National Parks sites in the United States.
Camping Games - Check out a ton of fun games that are perfect for camping.
Camping Tips - Camping tips from a park ranger!
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