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 campgrounds include National Parks, State Parks, National Forests, State Forests, County Parks and privately owned resorts. Camping locations along the Central Valley include sites 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.

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

Central Valley Camping
BACK TO TOP

Colusa-Sacramento River SRA 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. 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

Brannan Island SRA 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. 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 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. 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 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. 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 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. 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

Camanche Reservoir 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 sites. 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

George J. Hatfield SRA 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. 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 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. 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 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. 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

Colonel Allensworth SHP 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. 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

Camping by Region
BACK TO TOP