Byway
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National Forest · California

San Bernardino National Forest

Forest Service805,483 acres · USDA Forest Service
San Bernardino National Forest — landscape
Scottthezombie ( talk ) (Transferred by JaumeBG /Originally uploaded by Scottthezombie ) · CC BY-SA 3.0
Can you sleep here

Dispersed camping is generally allowed

On national forest and grassland, camping outside developed campgrounds is generally permitted unless an area is posted closed or a local order says otherwise. Stay on existing surfaces, camp away from water and trailheads, and check the forest's current orders before you go — fire restrictions change through the season.

Stay limit14 days in most forests — the exact limit is set per forest and district
In an RVDispersed sites are unimproved: no hookups, no water, no dump station, and access roads are often unsurfaced. Designated wilderness inside the unit is closed to all vehicles.
Rule36 CFR 261.58 — occupancy and use, set by forest order

Rules change with fire season and local order. Checked 2026-08-05. Confirm on the managing office’s official page

Area
1,259 sq mi
Managed by
Forest Service
Campgrounds
95
Longest rig
40 ft
The boundary

Where the land is, and what fits

The official Forest Service boundary with every campground we hold inside it. Tell it how long your rig is and the map keeps only what takes it — public land rarely matches the shape people picture, and neither does what you can actually get into.

Map loads as you scroll

Official unit boundary · USDA Forest Service · 95 campgrounds shown

95 of 95 campgrounds
About

San Bernardino National Forest

The San Bernardino National Forest is a United States national forest in Southern California encompassing 823,816 acres (3,333.87 km2) of which 677,982 acres (2,743.70 km2) are federal. The forest is made up of two main divisions, the eastern portion of the San Gabriel Mountains and the San Bernardino Mountains on the easternmost of the Transverse Ranges, and the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains on the northernmost of the Peninsular Ranges. Elevations range from 2,000 to 11,499 feet. The forest includes seven wilderness areas: San Gorgonio, Cucamonga, San Jacinto, South Fork, Santa Rosa, Cahuilla Mountain and Bighorn Mountain. Forest headquarters are located in the city of San Bernardino. There are district offices in Lytle Creek, Idyllwild, and Fawnskin. The Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail runs through part of the San Bernardino National Forest.

Extract from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA. Agency description not published.

Wilderness inside

No vehicles past these lines

Designated wilderness is closed to every wheeled vehicle, including bicycles. You can walk in and camp; you cannot drive or park a rig inside one.

  • San Gorgonio Wilderness64,886 acres
  • San Jacinto Wilderness33,186 acres
  • South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness20,158 acres
  • Santa Rosa Wilderness19,709 acres
  • Cucamonga Wilderness13,007 acres
  • Bighorn Mountain Wilderness12,056 acres
  • Cahuilla Mountain Wilderness5,575 acres
Scenic drives

Byways through this country

Next door

National parks close enough to pair

Plan it

Drive to San Bernardino the long way

Byway plans the road in, not just the destination — real places along the way, weighted to what you like, with nothing invented.

Plan a driveOfficial Forest Service page