The best camping near Turlock Lake State Recreation Area

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Turlock Lake adventure.

83% (7 reviews)

Park with both lake and river offers camping and water recreation in the San Joaquin Valley.

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near Turlock Lake State Recreation Area

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Public campgrounds in the park
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Stay at a public campground in Turlock Lake State Recreation Area

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Turlock Lake Campground

111 sites · RVs, Tents In Turlock Lake State Recreation Area

Top-rated campgrounds near Turlock Lake State Recreation Area

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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.

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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.

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Cole Ranch

10 sites · RVs, Tents5 acres · Waterford, CA

"I firmly believe that Nature brings solace in all troubles." -Anne Frank- Serene, quiet acreage on the Tuolumne River, with views of the snow capped Sierra Nevadas on a clear day. Scores of wildlife sightings, including river otters, eagles, wild turkeys, beavers, and many more. Perfect for swimming, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, or just relaxing. Like to fish? Fishing at Cole Ranch is a Love/Hate thing. If you Love to Fish, you will Hate to leave. Gateway to Yosemite National Park, the Mother Lode region, hiking trails, and spelunking opportunities. All sites have access to our community outdoor kitchen, which has a refrigerator, coffee bar, sink, BBQ's, and stoves. Also available is our bathrooms, quite possibly the cleanest campground bathrooms in the 13 western states, which include flushable toilets, two sinks, and warm showers. Book your visit now. (Group bookings must be approved by host. Group bookings that have not been pre-approved may be cancelled.) (Cole Ranch is a working ranch. Occasional noise from common ranching activities may be heard.) Check back here periodically for advisories on river conditions. ###EXCITING NEWS### We are working hard to open at least THREE new campsites. These new sites will be more secluded and private than current sites, each with its own path to the river. Contact Barry, coleranch23@icloud.com, for more information. **ADVISORY** 4/18/24 River is currently running about 3' above normal. Except for Fisherman's Hideout, all sites remain open. Fisherman's Hideout is currently under water, but should be open some time in May. Fishing is great right now, but water activities will be limited. Will update as changes occur.

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The Painted Lake

17 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents20 acres · Copperopolis, CA

Kayaks, Eggs & firewood provided. Explore BLM and Reclamation land along the shores of New Melones reservoir near Angels Camp. Horses, goats, sheep , and chickens await you on every fence line you come to. Kayak on the waters below us as you camp on our vineyard fenced 20 acre private scenery. Our land is surrounded by 100’s of acres of lake front - public Federal lands surrounded by our private acreage .

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River Ranch Campgrounds

28 sites · RVs, Tents50 acres · Twain Harte, CA

At River Ranch Campgrounds, Tuolumne, CA we offer a wide range of activities to make your stay enjoyable. Take a hike on one of the many trails winding through the Stanislaus National Forest at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains, or cast a line in the North Fork of the Tuolumne River or Basin Creek for some great native fishing. After a long day of exploration, come back to the campgrounds and relax by the firepit or enjoy a picnic in one of our many picnic areas. Activities in the campground include horseshoes and volleyball. We pride ourselves on blending nature and family camping in a safe, serene environment. We offer water hookups and centrally located restrooms with heated showers to make your stay comfortable and convenient.

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Walden Ranch

2 sites · Tents300 acres · Linden, CA

Walden Ranch began with the purchase of a neighboring 20 acres. Couple that with the inspiration of Thoreau's lines and life at the real Walden Pond, the ranch has grown to nearly 300 acres and the small ranch pond has grown to a 5-acre lake with a 3-acre forest and home. Scouts, family and church groups use the site for gatherings. Available are canoes, bonfire, and exploring the ranch's 300-head cattle, llamas, poultry and wildlife. Pitch your tent in a forest setting alongside a lake on a working cattle ranch. Watch wildlife or hike to smaller lakes on the ranch. Other animals include dogs, llamas, geese, chickens, and horses. The ranch is within a 20 minute drive to either Stockton or Lodi, CA and is surrounded by vineyards, orchards and pastures. Outdoor flush toilets, sink, tables and fire ring available. Forested area is set amidst grazing lands. This "Walden" even has willow trees slipped from Walden Pond, MA. Owner looks forward to sharing this peaceful, special spot!

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Yosemite's Colfax Spring

8 sites · RVs, Tents15 acres · Groveland, CA

Welcome to Yosemite's Colfax Spring! Home to a basecamp for river rafting trips during the summertime, we are located 15 minutes driving distance to the entrance to Yosemite National Park. If you are staying with us between May - September and want to come rafting, ask us about our river trips! Our camp sits on a ridge with views down into the Tuolumne River Canyon. The Tuolumne River begins at 13,000 feet of elevation in the High Country of Tuolumne Meadows and provides drinking water for over 2.7 million people in San Francisco. With cedar and pine trees, manzanita bushes, and wildflowers in the spring, enjoy the Sierras' flora and fauna. Our family has been operating our river rafting company for over 50 years, the last 11 of those years being here at Colfax Spring. Conveniently located off Highway 120, we are in close proximity to swimming holes, hikes, and more. Enjoy the privacy of our campsite and getting world-class views to yourself, with all of the amenities (flushing toilets, wi-fi, showers.) Make sure to check the Yosemite National Park website for information about reservations to visit the park!

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Robinson Mine Basecamp

8 sites · Tents13 acres · Groveland, CA

Come enjoy the peaceful outdoors in a rustic mountain setting ! But still have all the amenities of town only a couple miles away; grocery store, restaurants, a craft brewery and one of the oldest saloons in California! There’s even a park for the kiddos, a Library and Museum for all ages! The stars are something to see, as you feel like you can just reach up and touch them! We are just getting started so each time you come visit us, you will see and enjoy something new! We are so close to Yosemite @ the big old flat entrance or maybe you would like to see Hetch Hetchy! There is river rafting, mountain biking, swimming and fishing all close by! Lots to do in our area it will be hard to choose! When you’re on the property keep your eye out for shiny rocks, as we are located on an old gold mine who knows you may “GET LUCKY“

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Little Piece of Yosemite

1 site · RV, Tent5 acres · Mariposa, CA

Learn more about this land:River status: flowing! Camp on our small piece of paradise located near Yosemite. We are a family of 5 (me, my husband, our two toddlers and our dog, River) living on 5 acres of mountain land in the foothills of the Sierras complete with an outdoor shower and bath and also flowing (seasonal) stream that you can swim in. Feel free to wander around the property on a few of our trails or just chill by the water and enjoy the magic of the mountains. Our property is about a 45 min drive to the Yosemite entrance. Dogs are more than welcome as long as they are ok with our dog wandering around. He’s super sweet loves everybody.

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Rocksteady Adventures

4 sites · RVs, Tents70 acres · Copperopolis, CA

Off-grid campground adjacent to 1000 acre private reservoir perfect for fishing, kayaking & paddle boarding. 70 acres in Sierra Nevada Foothills with Valley Oaks, Gray Pines & Manzanita. Best birding in Calaveras County with over 188 species including Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, Osprey & waterfowl.

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Yosemite Garden Camp

5 sites · Tents10 acres · Groveland, CA

I found Yosemite Garden Camp when I was working as a backpacking guide in Yosemite and wanted a local base of operations. In the 8 years since I bought it, the place has gradually grown to include a large vegetable garden and a small vineyard. I have put into place basic comforts like power and indoor plumbing, but for the most part have left it undeveloped. Amazing western sunset views, huge, starry night skies, and access to the funky Gold Rush-era town of Groveland make it perfect for a weekend of camping with friends. It's proximity to Yosemite makes it a great base for exploring the National Park. Yosemite Garden Camp is on 10 acres of grassy meadows, pine and oak trees, and manzanita chaparral in the lower Sierra Nevada mountains, near the town of Groveland, outside Yosemite National Park.The property includes a large vegetable garden and a small vineyard, and borders Federal Bureau of Land Management land. Most of the property has sweeping views across the Central Valley to the Coast Ranges to the west. Sunsets are breathtaking. Yosemite National Park, with endless hiking, backpacking, climbing and swimming, is about 1 hour away by car. Even closer are the Stanislaus National Forest and the Tuolumne River. The town of Groveland has some great bars, cafes and restaurants, and a good grocery store.There is a bathroom shack in the middle of the property with a flush toilet, a sink, and a solar shower. The water is clean and drinkable. There is also a communal fire pit and a communal picnic table.Note that Yosemite Garden Camp is on a very rough dirt road, which gets worse every year and looks like a dry river bed in places, with exposed rock and deep ruts. A higher clearance vehicle is necessary and 4-wheel drive is ideal. Sedans often bottom out on this road and are not recommended. Please drive no faster than 5 mph when going past neighbors' homes.

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Wondernut Farm

4 sites · Lodging37 acres · Big Oak Flat, CA

Wondernut Farm is an upstart, entirely off grid, working farm-stead being built from the ground up. We breed milking goats and sheep, heritage pigs, and are in the process of converting to a grade A dairy and creamery! We use organic practices, management intensive rotational grazing, and dryland pasture management. We sell our animals locally so that others can have their own milking and meat animals. Our 110 year old hay barn and the roof of the former lumber mill were all we had to work with in getting off the ground. Being first and foremost a functional farm, we can't help but offer a somewhat warts-and-all look into everything it takes to be working to our goals. Our hearts are, and always will be, educational and local community focused, and we work closely with farmers and friends alike in better understanding our innovative animal husbandry, power, pasture and water systems. Whenever we have time, we'll afford the same time and opportunities to interested hip-campers. Our location is stunning and historic, and the beauty of the wild, natural landscape is powerful, yet offers easy access to both Yosemite Valley and the San Francisco Bay area. The area features excellent road and mountain biking in the immediate vicinity, vast access to hiking and backpacking trails, a huge variety of rock climbing in the area, the best whitewater rafting in California on the Tuolumne River, with some tasty places to eat or drink coffee in the nearby town of Groveland, just 10 minutes away. Accommodations at the farm are certainly rustic, and private but not secluded, with occasionally heavily project-exploded shared kitchen and living space, showers, and airy flush toilets. Do be advised that animals are pooping, hammers are hammering, sometimes we need to look into a health or animal injury related issue. Sometimes there is blood in an animal birth or slaughter, and our working guardian dogs have been known to be noisy some nights. Water and electricity are both very limited (though we reuse all our water), waste must be carefully sorted into a number of different categories, and there is always evidence of ump-teen projects unfolding at once. The most difficult condition during much of the summer are nuisance flies, which are always gone at night. We have almost no mosquitoes or ticks. Depending on the exact situation and time of year, guests may have the opportunities to snuggle with baby animals and run our herd to or from pasture, and maybe even get their hands dirty picking veggies in the garden.

The best camping near Turlock Lake State Recreation Area guide

Overview

About

Nestled in the foothills east of Modesto, the SRA covers 228 acres between the Tuolumne River and Turlock Lake. A popular summer destination to escape the heat of the San Joaquin Valley, visitors flock to the lake to take advantage of its 26 miles of shoreline, ideal for boating, water sports, swimming, fishing, picnicking, and bird watching. Just one mile away from the lake, a year-round campground offers 66 shady campsites for tents and small RVs and trailers, with picnic tables, fires rings, and grates, and additional amenities that include flush toilets, pay showers, drinking water, and dump station.

Notable campgrounds

Best for boaters: Campsites 15 to 27 are the closest to the hand boat launch area at Turlock Lake Campground.
Best for space: Campsites 35, 36, 39, 40, 42, and 43 offer the most space per site.
Best for hikers and bikers: Campsite 58 is available for hikers and bikers only.

Tips for snagging a campsite

During the busy season, reserve a campsite as soon as you know your dates. Campgrounds can be reserved at least two days and up to six months in advance between late March and mid September.
If your plans are flexible, try to visit during the week or during non-holiday periods.
Arrive early to grab a first-come, first-served site at other times of the year.

When to go

The park is busiest between Memorial Day and Labor Day. September and October are ideal times to visit for warm days and smaller crowds. Enjoy ranger-led programs at the campground campfire center over the summer. From September 25 to February 15, certain southern portions of the lake are restricted to duck hunters only. Trout fishing is good year-round, while summer is a good time for bass fishing.

Know before you go

Bring your own boat or watercraft; rentals are not available at the park. Boating hours are from 8am to sunset; boats are not permitted in the water overnight.
There’s a separate swim beach and ski beach. Lifeguards are not available.
Bring repellent; mosquitos and ticks can be an issue in the area.
Fishing licenses are required for anyone 16 or over.
Do not gather dead wood or plant materials for fires. Firewood is available for sale.