Live Oak South sits in an oak grove directly across from Lake Isabella, making it the closest tent-only option to the 11,000-acre reservoir. With 90 sites and full amenities, it's built for families and groups who want easy lake access without the hassle of reservations.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Developed
- 🏕️Total Sites
- 90
- 💵Fee per Night
- Free
- 🏔️Elevation
- 2,700 ft
- 📍GPS
- 35.70215, -118.46066
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- No
- 📞Phone
- 760-376-1815
- 🗺️Address
- CA
The Camp
The 90 tent sites spread through a grove of oak trees at 2,700 feet, each equipped with picnic tables and fire rings. Flush toilets, showers, and drinking water handle the basics. The oak canopy provides natural shade, a welcome feature in this part of the Sierra Nevada foothills where summer temperatures climb.
Being tent-only keeps things quieter than mixed campgrounds — no generator hum from RVs — but with 90 sites, this isn't a secluded experience during busy periods.
What to Know
No reservations accepted, so arrival timing matters. The campground sits just across the road from Lake Isabella, putting you within walking distance of swimming, fishing, and boat launches. The lake produces trout during colder months, plus year-round opportunities for bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish.
Water activities dominate here: skiing, windsurfing, and general lake recreation. The 11,000-acre reservoir marks where the Upper and Lower Kern Rivers divide, creating substantial water for desert country.
Nearby
Live Oak South works as base camp for day trips into Sequoia National Park and the Trail of a Hundred Giants within Giant Sequoia National Monument. The town of Lake Isabella sits 6 miles away for resupply, while Kernville — 5 miles in the other direction — offers the Giant Sequoia Mercantile for books, maps, and camping gear.
The location puts you at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada, with elevations ranging from 1,000 to 12,000 feet throughout Sequoia National Forest. Higher elevations mean waterfalls like Salmon Creek Falls and Grizzly Falls, plus access to the 30-plus giant sequoia groves scattered across the forest's lower slopes.