The best camping in Millerton Lake State Recreation Area, CA

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80% (9)

Play in the water or boat on the lake created by the Friant Dam.  

The best camping in Millerton Lake State Recreation Area, CA

Public campgrounds here are often sold out.
80% (9)

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Millerton Lake State Recreation Area adventure.

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Top-rated campgrounds

Musick Creek Falls by Shaver Lake

98%
(363)
19mi from Millerton Lake State Recreation Area · 5 sites · Tents, RVs · Shaver Lake, CA
Musick Creek Falls — Waterfalls, Stargazing & Off-Grid Luxury Near Shaver Lake Just minutes from Shaver Lake, your wilderness adventure awaits. Welcome to Musick Creek Falls—40 acres of sunsets, serenity, and the occasional Sasquatch. Each of our four private campsites has a gazebo, fresh spring water, and its own waterfall view. Nestled at the edge of the Sierra National Forest, this hidden retreat blends adventure, comfort, and sustainability. Swim in natural pools, stargaze through our telescope, or nap in a hammock under towering cedars. Bring your pup—our off-leash policy and open terrain make tails wag. Explore private hiking trails, try gold panning, climb granite boulders, or borrow a free kayak for nearby Shaver Lake. As the region’s first carbon-negative campground, we honor the land’s rich history—from the Native Nuumm (Mono) people who gathered here for its medicine to the Musick family’s 1848 gold strike. Today, every stay supports forest restoration and replanting projects that keep this place wild. Rugged but accessible (4×4 helpful in winter), Musick Creek Falls offers creekside camping, mountain views, and crystal-clear skies for the best stargazing in the Sierras. Four secluded sites ensure privacy and a light footprint—complete with composting toilet, fire rings, and picnic tables. Reconnect with nature, your partner, and your inner explorer. 🌲 Book your stay today and discover why even Sasquatch never left. Learn more at MusickCreekFalls.com Activities: 🌌 Stargazing with telescope 🥾 Private hiking trails 🐾 Off-leash dog adventures 💧 Waterfall swimming holes 🧗 Granite rock climbing 🪶 Wildlife & bird watching ⛏️ Gold panning 🚴 Mountain biking 🛶 Free kayaks for Shaver Lake Terrain: Cascading waterfalls weave through cedar and manzanita groves. Rugged granite outcrops, mossy creek beds, and forest clearings create endless photo ops. Expect elevation around 4,500 ft, crisp air, and incredible night skies. Essentials: Four secluded sites with gazebos, composting toilet, and spring water. Fire rings and picnic tables at each site. No hookups—off-grid experience. Cell service limited. 4×4 helpful but not required except after snowstorms. Shaver Lake 6 min away for supplies.
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$64
 / night

Sierra Ranch - Cabins & Tents

98%
(602)
76mi from Millerton Lake State Recreation Area · 14 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Springville, CA
Swimming in North Fork Tule River, miles of hiking trails on ranch. River Ridge Ranch goes from 1,000' elev. to 3,000' elevation. Hike right on the ranch. We are between Sequoia National Park (about an hour) and the Giant Sequoia National Monument (16 miles to groves up Hwy 190 and no entrance fee). Choose from individual tent sites, group tent sites, tiny cabins. the 5-acre Compound or the Entire Ranch. We occasionally host small, thoughtful, low impact weddings. Please inquire. There are 33 giant sequoia groves in our Southern Region of the Giant Sequoia National Monument, some easily driven to, and some remote. Our ranch is a nature preserve and an education demonstration site, teaching sustainable and regenerative land use practices. River Ridge Institute, our non-profit, hosts a variety of events for the public. Please note: you are expected to leave the ranch and kitchen area as you found it, i.e., dishes washed thoroughly and dried and put away, recycling separated from trash, food scraps in compost buckets, sticky marshmallow removed from forks and surfaces (ick!). Thank you. Enjoy: The Kitchen has a 3-burner cooktop, large fridge, microwave, full dishes and utensils and pots and pans with a big washing area in the back. Propane barbecue grill.. There's a River Barn to use as a remote space and Turtle Cove for swimming. Saturday morning Farmer's Market in downtown at 9 AM - Noon. Ancestral land of the Foothill Yokuts tribe. Homesteaded in 1859, owned by the Negus family from 1909-2000. Barbara and I bought it to save it from subdivision and it's now protected by a Conservation Easement and acts as a community center for the arts, music, poetry, gatherings and outdoor education. We're both biologists, so, just ask us. Please see the Rules and Safety section to review our Waiver of Liability.
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$40
 / night

Camp ikigai Animal Sanctuary 501c3

90%
(81)
36mi from Millerton Lake State Recreation Area · 112 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Squaw Valley, CA
Camp ikigai is a 72 acre farm/ranch stay near Sequoia-Kings (SEKI) Canyon Nat'l Parks. Rescued/EOL horses, sheep, chickens, and ducks freely roam the property. The property has a communal clubhouse with a fully stocked kitchen, washer/dryer, firepit, hot/cold showers, compost and pit toilets, and an above ground swimming pool. Our business is committed to inclusivity and respect for people from all backgrounds and a safe inclusive space for solo female travelers. 30 minutes from park entrance, 20 min from nearby lakes, 50 minutes from Fresno. 3 hours from SF, 3.5 from LA. We have running hot/cold water for our outdoor shower but NO flushable toilets. We have pit and compost toilets filled with cedar shavings for now! Our priorities: 1. Wildfire prevention 2. Community building 3. Environmentalism and Sustainability If you're coming July-Mid August, please know it is HOT (95 average/75 night) and wildfires are a consistent threat. With that, wildfire prevention is a high priority. We have a lot of projects we have started and could use all the help we can get! Some of those are: - invasive species management - tiny home building - gardening/greenhouse building - event space building - raising livestock - medicinal plant growing + onsite apothecary (Come volunteer build the food forest and medicinal garden) Come book a cabin, park a bus or RV, bring a tent, bring your cat/dog/turtle/horse etc. To see volunteer positions/project please visit https://Campikigai.com or https://linktr.ee/ikigaiSanctuary or at VolunteerMatch.com
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$49
 / night

Wildhaven Yosemite Glamping

94%
(27)
35mi from Millerton Lake State Recreation Area · 37 sites · Lodging · Mariposa, CA
Wildhaven Yosemite offers glamping tents and cabins on a beautiful property with mountain views in Mariposa, CA, just outside Yosemite National Park. Our glamping experience provides the comfort, cleanliness, and customer service of a hotel while keeping everything you love about a night outdoors in nature. Our extra-large, safari-style tents feature comfortable beds with linens, electricity, heaters, and all the furnishings needed for a memorable night outdoors. Looking for a little more structure in your night outdoors? Our larger glamping cabins provide a kitchenette, bathroom & shower, AC and heating, improved sound insulation, upgraded views, large windows, and a private patio to get you the fresh air you need. Your stay includes more than just a comfortable place to sleep. Guests are treated to hiking trails, communal spaces to socialize, trip planning help, Wi-Fi, and on-site activities such as yoga, wine tasting, and live music (spring through fall). The 36-acre hillside property is the star attraction, providing sweeping views towards the snow-capped Sierra Nevadas, down onto scenic Mariposa, and across miles of rolling hills.
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$119
 / night

Camp Hye Sierra

96%
(89)
38mi from Millerton Lake State Recreation Area · 9 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Dunlap, CA
Camp Hye Sierra is a 160-acre property located about 35 miles east of Fresno, California (within five miles of the the entrance to Kings Canyon National Park).Our property offers a unique rental opportunity and serene retreat setting perfect for reflection and fellowship.Learn more about this land:Camp Hye Sierra is a 160-acre property located about 35 miles east of Fresno, California (within five miles of the the entrance to Kings Canyon National Park).Our property offers a unique rental opportunity and serene retreat setting perfect for reflection and fellowshipSPORTS COURTLocated at the center of camp, our all-weather, outdoor, lighted basketball court provides a great experience for basketball, tennis, and a host of other court friendly games. At night, the sport court provides us with an excellent place to take the entire camp for some spectacular stargazing!CAMPFIREOur campfire is also located next to beautiful Ketchoyan Lake. It features a stage, amphitheater, and outdoor lighting. The campfire location is a great venue for daytime classes and an area where campers have a chance to perform skits, sing songs, and roast marshmallows at evening campfires.ARBOROur arbor is a gorgeous open air structure adjacent to the sparkling water of Ketchoyan Lake. It is the perfect venue for an evening dance in the cool mountain air, daytime classes, talent shows, and a host of other activities. LAKESOur property has 2 fully stocked lakes where you can enjoy catch and release fishing, swimming and sunbathing.
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$70
 / night

Outdoorsy Yosemite Campground

91%
(54)
22mi from Millerton Lake State Recreation Area · 150 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Bass Lake, CA
Outdoorsy Yosemite – Nature, Comfort & Adventure at Your Doorstep Welcome to Outdoorsy Yosemite, your gateway to unforgettable outdoor experiences just minutes from Yosemite National Park. Nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills, our boutique campground offers a blend of rustic charm and modern comfort, perfect for RV travelers, glampers, and nature lovers alike. Choose from spacious RV sites with full hookups or relax in our stylish glamping tents, complete with cozy beds, electricity, and private decks. Whether you're hiking Half Dome, exploring Bass Lake, or stargazing by the fire, Outdoorsy Yosemite is your ideal basecamp. What You’ll Love: Easy access to Yosemite National Park, Bass Lake, and Oakhurst Full hookup RV sites (Standard, Superior & Premium options) Comfortable glamping tents for couples or families Pet-friendly, family-friendly, and surrounded by towering pines Modern amenities: clean bathhouses, Wi-Fi zones, and picnic areas Fire pits, walking trails, and curated local experiences Come for the fresh air, stay for the moments. Whether you're escaping for a weekend or planning a longer adventure, Outdoorsy Yosemite delivers the perfect mix of nature and comfort.
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$47
 / night

Dunlap Canyon Retreat

99%
(189)
37mi from Millerton Lake State Recreation Area · 36 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Dunlap, CA
22 acres of camp sites and another 40 acres nextdoor to a hang gliders and paragliders landing. We have restrooms with showers attached to a geodesic dome on property. BBQ , water at sites. A seasonal 2 acre pond. We are about 25mi from sequoia and Kings Canyon right off the Highway 180 and a close drive from restaurants, stores. Beautiful views. We strive to make sure you have an amazing experience in the outdoors. We are still working on making the campground 100% so sorry in advance but what we are lacking we will make up for it with making your experience memorable hope to meet everyone soon P.S I got 6 things ask you to do while you are here 1.Enjoy your time here 2. If you need anything or have concerns say something ( I will try to accommodate the best I can) 3.Have fun 4. Only TP in toilets please 5. Make memories 6. Be respectful to your neighbors ( Get to know them. I don’t really have quite hours just keep in mind some ppl might be waking up early to hike in the park)
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$40
 / night

Other options near Millerton Lake State Recreation Area

The best camping in Millerton Lake State Recreation Area, CA guide

Overview

About

Bask in the sunshine while the kids play in the water at the beach area. You can enjoy a variety of water activities in the Millerton Lake State Recreation Area from scuba diving to boating.

The lake has more than 40 miles of shoreline to explore and discover. In the winter months, sign up for one of the special boat tours to see the bald and golden eagles soaring overhead.

While exploring the area, you might see the original Millerton County Courthouse. Its construction dates to 1867. Hiking in the surrounding foothills might reward you with a glimpse of a mule deer or badgers. Bring your binoculars to catch sight of birds and possibly one of those rare eagles.

Numerous family and group campsites are found surrounding the lake. If you have a boat, enjoy a night on the water with a floating campsite. You can bring an RV and find a full hookup and dump station. Facilities include showers in the restrooms along with outdoor showers.

Notable campgrounds

  • Family Campsites: Ideal for a cozy family getaway, offering a chance to create lasting memories under the stars.
  • Group Campsites: Perfect for larger gatherings, these sites provide ample space for friends to enjoy the great outdoors together.
  • RV Sites w/Hookups: Catering to the modern traveler, these sites combine the comfort of RV amenities with the beauty of lakeside camping.

Tips for snagging a campsite

  • Book early, as sites can be reserved up to six months in advance to secure your ideal spot.
  • Consider visiting during the off-peak season for better availability and a quieter experience.
  • Keep an eye on cancellation policies for last-minute openings that may arise.
  • Explore nearby camping options if your preferred dates are not available at Millerton Lake SRA.

When to go

The best time to visit Millerton Lake SRA is during spring and fall when the weather is mild and the natural beauty is at its peak. Summer offers warm conditions perfect for water activities, while winter provides a unique opportunity to view bald eagles. Avoid peak holiday weekends for a more tranquil visit.

Know before you go

  • Check the park's operating hours by calling ahead, as they may vary seasonally.
  • Remember that dogs are allowed only in the campground areas.
  • Stay safe by following posted safety tips, especially when participating in water sports.
  • Accessibility is a priority, with wheelchair-accessible features available for visitors.
  • Don't forget to bring layered clothing as the weather can be changeable throughout the year.
80%
9 ratings · 5 reviews

Top cities near Millerton Lake State Recreation Area