Central Valley Camping

Central Valley Camping Overview

California has literally thousands of campgrounds. Below, you'll find campgrounds from Colusa to Bakersfield with conveniences like flush toilets and showers, as well as popular and unique campgrounds to help you narrow the choice. These include campgrounds in National Parks, State Parks, National Forests, State Forests, County Parks and privately owned resorts. Camping locations along the Central Valley include campsites along sloughs, beside roaring rivers, in historic parks and under the oak trees of the Sierra foothills. We've included as much detail as possible so you have a better idea of what to expect and whether reservations are required in advance.

PETS: Dogs are allowed at almost all campgrounds but must be kept on a leash, picked up after, and never left unattended. Most beach campgrounds allow dogs in the campground but not on the beach.

CAMPING CHECKLIST - download our checklist of camping essentials and you won't forget anything at home.

REI - rents camping equipment including tents, sleeping bags, stoves, lanterns and more.

TIP: Looking for some late night campsite entertainment? Check out www.seasky.org for their celestial calendar including meteor showers.

California State Park Closures are expected to begin in 2012 because of California's budget crisis. Check here for an update on park closures.

Central Valley Camping
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Colusa-Sacramento River SRA Campground is located off Highway 20, 9 miles east of Interstate 5 in Colusa. Campground is situated next to the Sacramento River and some of the best fishing in the state. Activities include boating, fishing, birdwatching and picnicking. Campground offers 14 campsites for tent or RV camping. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. Groceries, boat launch, RV dumpstation and laundry onsite. Reservations recommended.
TIP: Fishing for king salmon in the river can be tricky. The salmon stopped feeding when they left the ocean, which makes bait fishing almost impossible. The way to catch them is to irritate them with a Kwikfish lure (#12 is a good size) so they bite in defense. Or, use roe (salmon eggs) wrapped in a transparent netting. The salmon think their eggs are floating away and gently carry them back to the nest. You need a special salmon pole to feel the slight movement for this type of catch. Either way, make sure you're ready to handle up to a 50 pound catch in river current (no kidding). The deepest portions of river are always the most productive. We highly recommend using a guide if you really want to catch a lunker.

Colusa-Sacramento River SRA
Highway 20
Colusa, California 95932-0207
(530) 458-4927
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Oak Shores - Lake Berryessa Campground is located east of Rutherford off Highway 128. This large-scale lake is situated on the edge of Napa wine country and offers opportunities for camping, boating, fishing, swimming and water skiing. Pleasure Cove Marina rents everything from kayaks to houseboats. Campground is situated at water's edge and offers 140 campsites for tent or RV camping. Amenities include a picnic table, BBQ pit and flush toilets. Reservations recommended. Lakeside cabins also available.

Oak Shores Campground - Lake Berryessa
5600 Berryessa Knoxville Road
Napa, CA 94558
(707) 966-9363
Map  |   Call for Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Folsom Lake SRA Campground is located east of Sacramento between Highway 50 and Interstate 80. Activities on this large lake include hiking, biking, running, camping, picnicking, horseback riding, water-skiing, fishing and boating. Three campgrounds offer a total of 70 campsites for tent or RV camping. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. Ranger station, boat rentals and RV dumpstation.

Folsom Lake State Recreation Area
7806 Folsom-Auburn Road Folsom, California 95630
(916) 988-0205

Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Brannan Island SRA Campground is located north of Antioch off Highway 160. Campground is situated next to the Sacramento River and two sloughs. A portion of the park is home to beaver, muskrat, river otter, mink and 76 species of birds. Activities include boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, birdwatching and picnicking. Campground offers 140 campsites for tent or RV camping. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. Boat launch and RV dumpstation onsite. Reservations recommended.

Brannan Island SRA
17645 State Highway 160
Rio Vista, California 94571
(916) 777-6671 or (916) 777-7701
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Caswell Memorial State Park Campground is located southwest of Ripon from Highway 99, off Austin Road. Campground is situated next to the Stanislaus River and two sloughs. A portion of the park is home to beaver, muskrat, river otter, mink and 76 species of birds. Activities include fishing, swimming, hiking and picnicking. Campground offers 64 campsites for tent or RV camping. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. Reservations recommended.

Caswell Memorial State Park
28000 South Austin Road
Ripon, California 95366
(209) 599-3810
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Turlock Lake SRA Campground is located 25 miles east of Modesto off Highway 132. Campground is situated between the Tuolumne River and Turlock Lake. Activities include boating, water skiing, fishing, swimming, hiking and picnicking. Campground offers 66 campsites for tent or RV camping. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. Reservations recommended.

Turlock Lake SRA
22600 Lake Road
La Grange, California 95329
(209) 874-2056
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

McConnell SRA Campground is located northeast of Livingston from Highway 99, off Livingston Cressey Road. Campground is situated next to the Merced River. A small lake is located at the eastern end of the park. Activities include fishing, swimming and picnicking. Campground offers 21 campsites for tent or RV camping. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. Reservations recommended.

McConnell SRA
8800 Mcconnell Road
Ballico, California 95303
(209) 394-7755
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Lake Camanche Campground is located east of Lodi between Highways 12 and 88. This large reservoir attracts boaters and anglers from the region and has two large campgrounds as well as a motel, cabins and an RV park. The North Shore Campgrounds support nearly 200 campsites. Two of ten of the restrooms have running water, flush toilets and showers. The rest are pit toilets. We prefer the second, running water restroom near campsite 56 for its private shower stalls rather than open room. All campsites feature a picnic bench, fire rings with barbeque attached, and a second parking spot for boats. All South Shore campsites have pit toilets. The marina offers a general store, coffee shop and boat rentals (only fishing or patio boats). Fish include bass, trout, crappie, sturgeon, bluegill, sunfish, catfish and carp. Nearby attractions include the Masonic Caves, Black Chasm Caverns, Indian Grinding Rocks State Park, Kirkwood Ski Resort and the historic towns of Volcano and Jackson.

Camanche Reservoir
North Shore
2000 Camanche Road
Ione, California 95640
(866) 763-5121

South Shore
11700 Wade Lane
Burson, California 95225
(866) 763-5178
Area Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Lake Tulloch Campground is located east of Oakdale off Highways 120 & 108. Tulloch campground offers a total of 130 campsites for tent or RV camping. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. Activities include fishing, boating, picnicking, hiking and swimming. Other amenities include a general store, swim beach, courtesy docks and a marina offering boat rentals. Reservations recommended.

Lake Tulloch
14448 Tulloch Road
Jamestown, CA 95327
(209) 881-0107
Map  |   Call for Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Woodward Reservoir Campground is located north of Oakdale off Highways 120 & 108. Four campgrounds offer a total of 114 campsites for tent or RV camping - 40 campsites have full-hookups. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring and flush toilets. Activities include fishing, boating, swimming, picnicking and radio control airplane flying. First-come, first-served.

Woodward Reservoir
14528 26 Mile Road
Oakdale, CA 95361
(209) 847-3304
Map  |   No Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Modesto Reservoir Campground is located east of Modesto off Highway 132. Several campgrounds offer a total of 150 full hook-up campsites for tent or RV camping, as well as undeveloped campsites. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring and flush toilets. Activities include fishing, boating, swimming, picnicking and radio control glider airplane flying. First-come, first-served.

Modesto Reservoir
18143 Reservoir Road
Waterford, CA 95386
Map  |   No Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Eastman Lake Campground is located east of Chowcilla off Road 26. The Codorniz campground offers a total of 65 full hook-up campsites for tent or RV camping. Amenities include a picnic table, firepit/grill, flush toilets and showers. Activities include fishing, boating, water-skiing, swimming, picnicking, hiking, mountain biking, softball and more. Reservations recommended.

Eastman Lake
Road 29
Raymond, CA 93653
(559) 689-3255
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Hensley Lake Campground is located northeast of Madera off River Road. The Hidden View campground offers a total of 55 campsites for tent or RV camping. Amenities include a picnic table, firepit/grill, flush toilets and showers. Activities include fishing, boating, water-skiing, swimming, picnicking, hiking, mountain biking, wildlife viewing and more. RV dumpstation on-site. Reservations recommended.

Hensley Lake
Road 400
Raymond, CA 93653
(559) 673-5151
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

George J. Hatfield SRA Campground is located between Newman off Interstate 5 and Livingston off Highway 99. Campground is situated between the Merced and San Joaquin Rivers. Activities include fishing, swimming and picnicking. Campground offers campsites for tent or RV camping. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring and flush toilets. Reservations recommended.

George J. Hatfield SRA
4394 North Kelly Road
Hilmar, California 95324
(209) 632-1852
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

San Luis Reservoir SRA Campground is located west of Santa Nella and Interstate 5, off Highway 152. Campgrounds are situated near two large lakes. Activities include boating, water skiing, wind surfing, fishing, swimming, hiking and picnicking. Two campgrounds offer a total of 132 campsites for tent or RV camping. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. Visitor center, boat launch and RV dumpstation onsite. Reservations recommended.

San Luis Reservoir SRA
31426 Gonzaga Road
Gustine, CA 95322
(209) 826-1197
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Millerton Lake Campground is located north of Fresno and Highway 99, off Highway 41 and Millerton Road (Highway 145). Campgrounds are situated on the northwest shore of this large lake. Activities include boating, water skiing, fishing, swimming, hiking, horseback riding and picnicking. Bald eagle viewing tours are available during the winter. Several campgrounds offer 145 campsites for tent or RV camping. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. Boat launch and RV dumpstation onsite. Reservations recommended.

Millerton Lake SRA
5290 Millerton Road
Friant, California 93626
(559) 822-2332
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Lake Kaweah Campground is located east of Visalia off Sierra Drive (Hwy 198). Activities include boating, water-skiing, fishing, swimming, hiking and picnicking. Campground offers 80 campsites for tent or RV camping. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. RV dumpstation and amphitheater on-site. Reservations recommended.

Lake Kaweah
Sierra Drive
Lemon Cove, CA 93244
(559) 597-2005
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Success Lake Campground is located east of Porterville off Poplar Avenue (Hwy 190). Activities include boating, water-skiing, fishing, swimming, hiking, picnicking and softball. Campground offers 103 campsites for tent or RV camping. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. RV dumpstation, amphitheater and general store on-site. Reservations recommended.

Success Lake
E. Poplar Avenue
Porterville, CA 93258
(559) 783-9200
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Colonel Allensworth SHP Campground is located west of Earlimart and Highway 99, off Higby Drive (Highway 43) south of Sierra Avenue. This historic town was founded, funded and governed by African Americans in 1908. Campground offers 15 campsites for tent or RV camping. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. Reservations recommended.

Colonel Allensworth SHP
Star Route 1, Box 148
Earlimart, California 93219
(661) 849-3433
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Buena Vista Aquatic Recreation Area Campground is located southwest of Bakersfield off Interstate 5. Buena Vista includes Lake Webb and Lake Evans. Together they offer opportunities for fishing, boating, jet-skiing, camping, picnicking and bicycling. Campground offers 112 campsites for tent or RV camping. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. Boat launch, general store and RV dumpstation onsite. Reservations recommended.

Buena Vista Aquatic Recreation Area
South End of Enos Lane
Tupman, California 93276
(661) 868-7000
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Kern River Campground is located east of Bakersfield off Kern Canyon Road. Situated next to Lake Ming and the Kern River, the campground offers 50 campsites for tent or RV camping. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. RV dumpstation onsite. First-come, first-served. Nearby attractions include boating, fishing, water-skiing and river rafting.

Kern River Campground
Old Alfred Harrell Highway
Bakersfield, CA 93306
(661) 868-7000
Map  |   No Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Tehachapi Mountain Park Campground is located southeast of Bakersfield off Highway 58. Situated nearly 8,000 feet in the Tehachapi Mountains, the campground offers 61 campsites for tent or RV camping. Amenities include a picnic shelter, table, BBQ grills and pit toilets. Cabins are available that offer bunk beds, electricity, a kitchen-dining building and restroom building with showers. Reservations recommended.

Tehachapi Mountain Park
Water Canyon Road
Tehachapi, California 93561
(661) 868-7000
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Camping by Region
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