Camping in Arnold, CA, US: 12 Best Campgrounds 2024

Star Hosts in Arnold

Available this weekend

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Diamond Gulch

23 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents824 acres · Groveland, CA

CLOSE TO YOSEMITE! Explore the mines and hang out on our Groveland, California ranch! We are 35 minutes to the main gate of Yosemite National Park. A great place to stay just outside of the park. We have 824 acres on a beautiful cattle ranch with two small ponds. On our property, you'll find frogs, turtles, oak trees, pine trees and stunning views of Yosemite. We have several campsites to choose from including RV camping, tent camping, and a glamping tent. Pets are welcome. Campfires are permitted as long as there is no fire ban. Potable water and toilet are available onsite. There's a golf course less than a mile away. We are also very close to town. In just a few minutes, you can drive to our local grocery store and pizza parlour. We are a 10-minute drive to Pine Mountain Lake. Beautiful Pine Mountain Lake offers golfing, dining, horseback riding, water sports and an airport. When you come to the ranch it feels like you are hundreds of miles away from civilization, but still close to everything you need. It is incredibly peaceful! This is a great place for someone who wants to escape city life and enjoy the tranquillity of nature. Much of the ranch is open wilderness for you to explore, and it's not uncommon to see deer, frogs, turtles, quail, turkeys, or other countless species of birds. Diamond Gulch Camp is the perfect place to relax if you’re a photographer, artist, family or a group of friends looking for a place to camp near Yosemite. A small portion of the property was used as a gold mine years ago, and you may find remnants of old home sites if you go exploring. We're not far from Wards Ferry Road, Groveland, Lake Don Pedro and other interesting places.

89%

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Yosemite Westlake Camp

33 sites · RVs, Tents6 acres · Coulterville, CA

Located on the John Muir Historic route to Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Westlake Campground and RV Park is convenient to all things Yosemite. Between here and the park is Rainbow Pool, a well-known swimming hole that campers here often visit on their way back to the campground for a refreshing dip in the cool waters. Coulterville was started as a gold-rush town. You can visit the museum and visitor center even try your hand at panning for gold.

Cosumnes River Somerset Camp

9 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents23 acres · Somerset, CA

This land was home to the Miwok, then European and Chinese miners, then a cattle rancher. It was also home to a former nun who quit the dominican order to purchase this land for inner city kids to have a chance to ride, swim, hike and fish. We moved here in 2017 and purchased this land with the main goal to raise our large family here, but we have found that good things must be shared! There is NOTHING like being in the wilderness of this area for a good re-centering of the soul! We have found it to be a true blessing for our family, and we hope you can experience this blessing as we share this space with you. We feel certain you will not be disappointed with this beautiful river canyon. Our property is situated right on the middle fork cosumnes river. We have 2 sleeping cabins and several tent sites (can be rented separately). The cabins offer a rustic/minimalist type vibe - bring your own bedding/pillows to sleep on the comfy futon. A table and chairs are provided for the cabins. Tent sites have a wood table (bring your camp chairs) and a fire pit when the season is open for burning. The swimming is awesome and the stars at night will put you into a state of awe! Many family owned wineries in the area, most of them offering free tasting. It’s a short drive to Tahoe and the Marshall gold discovery site as well as the historic hangtown Placerville. The recent Caldor Fire was VERY close to our property and a back burn was initiated nearby the cabins. It is still as beautiful as ever but please know there are lots of slash piles. Falling trees and burned up stump holes are also a risk and it is presumed campers will be cautious and use at their own risk. Please don't hesitate to shoot us a message if you have any questions!

Cosumnes River Ranch

25 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents100 acres · Plymouth, CA

We are a family owned/operated ranch, located along the Cosumnes River, one of the last un-dammed rivers in California. As one of the last rivers flowing from the west slope of the Sierra without a major dam, the Cosumnes is a vital example of a healthy watershed. Our goal is to offer a unique outdoor experience for anyone looking for a place to spend time in the great outdoors. Whether you're looking for a single campsite, or a place for a larger gathering, we're excited to have you visit! Take your pick of activities available on site: swimming , gold panning, fishing, camp fires, wildlife watching, floating, hiking, and mountain biking to name a few. There are 3 miles of river to explore. Private and noise free. Porta potties on site.

Camp 🏕 Gold Dust Vineyard

6 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents6 acres · Somerset, CA

A six acre organic vineyard & natural winery on 21 acres awaits you at Gold Dust Vineyard. A working natural winery and cidery, come enjoy a glass, relax in the breezes at 2’700 feet. Decomposed granite soils and high elevation make for sweeping views and even better natural wine and cider! We welcome guests year round! Surrounded by nature, there is so much to do! Up in the Foothills, we experience all four seasons! Come relax☮️ March - May 🌸Don’t miss the wildflowers & babbling brooks, steams & rivers June - September 🏞Swimming in the Consumnes River or paddle boarding at Jenkinson Lake September - December 🍂🍁Fall foliage, wine harvest, apple picking and alpaca petting December - March ❄️⛷Snowy hikes, mushroom hunting and quick trips to South Lake Tahoe We accept reservations for wine and cider tastings and typically host guests between the hours of 11 am and 5 pm. Occasionally, during very hot and busy holiday weekends, we will host an evening tasting. Please note, we are a mom and pop shop with just two of us and our young son running the show. We live on site in a tiny house and use the tasting area as our 'back yard' during off hours. We ask that guests please respect our area and off hours requests. We do not permit live fires or generators.

Nearby parks

Explore the area’s public lands.

93%

(165)

Stanislaus National Forest

Strawberry, California

Looks like coming from The Walking Dead, isn't it?

99%

(41)

Calaveras Big Trees State Park

Dorrington, California

92%

(135)

Eldorado National Forest

Kirkwood, California

100%

(13)

Grover Hot Springs State Park

Markleeville, California

Glacier point, definitely recommended! Get here EARLY in the morning for a damn good sunrise, and before the tour busses show up (or snag a wilderness permit and stay overnight!)

97%

(1537)

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite Valley, California

91%

(64)

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Mono City, California

92%

(171)

Sierra National Forest

Big Creek, California

93%

(110)

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

South Lake Tahoe, California

Stanislaus River Parks

East Oakdale, California

75%

(6)

New Hogan Lake

Valley Springs, California

hipcamp.com/discover/california/calaveras-big-trees'>Calaveras Big Trees State Park.

Camping near Arnold guide

Overview

Southeast of Sacramento in the Stanislaus National Forest, the town of Arnold has long been a stopover point for road-trippers and area explorers. The town can trace its roots back to 1927 when a local couple, the Arnolds, opened an area in. Today, Arnold has quite a few lodging options and campgrounds, along with shops, restaurants, a grocery store, and even a brewery. Arnold’s biggest draw these days is the Calaveras Big Trees State Park on the outskirts of town, established in 1931 to protect a couple of giant Sequoia groves.

Where to go

Calaveras Big Trees State Park and Around

Among California's longest-running attractions, Calaveras Big Trees State Park features two groves of gargantuan sequoias along with ample camping opportunities and trails. While this is the biggest attraction in the immediate Arnold area, there are also plenty of other quieter spots to take in nature, including the Sourgrass Day Use Area just up the road.

Stanislaus National Forest

Spread out over 1.4 million square miles in the Sierra Nevada, this sprawling forest area has long been a popular spot for water sports enthusiasts, owing to its numerous lakes and hundreds of miles of rivers and other flowing waterways. Stanislaus campgrounds are plentiful.

Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway

It’s worth taking a drive along the 61-mile-long Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway, which connects Arnold with the town of Markleeville. You can expect to see views of volcanoes, basalt and granite rock formations, lakes, rivers, and plenty of trees, including—of course—giant sequoias.

When to go

Arnold and the surrounding areas are at their most pleasant from late May through early October, when temperatures are pleasant and rainfall is usually nonexistent. Summers are busy, particularly with those visiting for outdoor recreation, but they rarely get too hot, with July and August highs hovering in the mid 80s. If visiting between November and March, be prepared for the possibility of snowfall and road closures or delays.