Can you reserve a site at Old Isabella?

No. Old Isabella is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Old Isabella, California — sites, fees and cancellation alerts

Located off Highway 178 on the southern side of Lake Isabella, this facility offers visitors a vault toilet, trash service, a visitor information station, and campsites above the high-water mark. Below the high-water mark, visitors can drive their vehicles to the shoreline and camp at the water’s edge. Below the high-water mark, portable toilets and trash receptacles are provided for visitor convenience during the summer.

Adjacent to the camping site there is a public boat launch and courtesy dock with a large, paved parking area for vehicles and boat trailers, flush toilets, and drinking water.

The Forest Service’s Southern Sierra Passesare accepted at this site, as well as the interagency Annual, Senior, Access, Volunteer, and MilitaryPasses. The Southern Sierra Pass can be purchased at Golden State Surplus in Lake Isabella, Red’s Marina in the South Fork Recreation Area, Riverside One Stop in Kernville, James Sierra Gateway Market in South Lake, and local Forest Service offices or online.

The facts

Season: Year Round — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026

Recreation.gov's own page

Getting there

35.65247, -118.45689 · 35°39'8.9"N 118°27'24.8"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 98°F in Jul, down to 58°F in Dec.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	59	62	67	73	82	92	98	98	91	81	69	58
Low °F	30	34	36	40	52	59	65	62	55	43	34	30
Precip in	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 5.4 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Common questions about Old Isabella

Can you reserve a site at Old Isabella?: No. Old Isabella is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Also listed by

Old Isabella also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Old Isabella's operator.

USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026

Day Use Fee $12 per vehicle Dump Station Use - $20 Boat launch ramp; RV dumpsite with automated fee collection

Restrictions:

Camping is limited to 14 days within any 30 day period.

USDA Forest Service's own page

Camping near Old Isabella

French Gulch 1.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
Boulder Gulch 1.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
Hungry Gulch 1.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
Pioneer Point 1.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
Paradise Cove 1.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
Tillie Creek 3.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
Auxiliary Dam Campground 0.7 mi · Campground
Lake Isabella 1 mi · Facility
South Fork Rec Campground 1.2 mi · Campground
Lake Isabella Visitor Center 1.3 mi · Facility
Camp 9 Lakeside Group Campgrounds 3.2 mi · Campground
Camp 9 Recreation Area Campground 3.2 mi · Campground

Contact

Info Recreation.gov

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Old Isabella