SUMMER SALE 50% off The Dyrt PRO — just $2.49/moGet now
SALE: PRO just $2.49/mo

Millerton Lake State Recreation Area Campground

SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

Millerton Lake State Recreation Area spreads across the foothills northeast of Fresno, and the campground here sits close enough to the water that campers can move between their sites and the lake without much effort. California Department of Parks and Recreation manages the grounds, which include multiple loops with distinct characters. The Rocky Point And Mono Loops (Sites 1-37) - Millerton Lake State Recreational Area share the same recreation area and offer a comparable setup for those who want to compare options before booking.

Shade is limited. That detail comes up repeatedly across reviews, and it matters most for tent campers arriving in summer, when temperatures in this part of the San Joaquin Valley climb well into triple digits. Sites in the Mono Loop tend to be more spread out, with site 25 noted as particularly private, while sites clustered near the restrooms in that loop run closer together. Water faucets are positioned between campsites rather than at each individual site, which is convenient for most campers but can mean a short walk depending on placement. "Sunrises here were awesome," notes Bud H., who also found the bathrooms clean during a late August visit.

Cleanliness is inconsistent. Multiple reviewers across different years describe finding litter and trash left by previous campers, and at least one visit turned up restrooms with spider infestations and non-functioning water fill stations. Ground squirrels are an active concern, particularly in the full-hookup sites (numbered 120-144), where one reviewer reported the animals chewing through RV wiring and accessing food storage bays. Those hookup sites are arranged on a paved lot rather than a natural setting, which suits RVs up to 36 feet but lacks the feel of a traditional campsite.

The lake itself draws boaters and anglers more than swimmers, and water levels shift noticeably by season. Spring and early summer tend to bring higher water and easier lake access from camp. By late summer, levels drop and the shoreline pulls back. The North Shore Campground -- Millerton Lake State Recreation Area sits within the same recreation area and gives campers another foothold on the lake if this campground is full or the layout doesn't suit. Reservations are available, the campground operates year-round, and the nearest store is roughly seven minutes by car. For campers who prefer a different setting altogether, the Valley Oak Loop (Sites 85-90) - Millerton Lake State Recreational Area sits about a mile east and rounds out the options within the park.

Check AvailabilitySuggest an Edit

Warning 2 Alerts are In Effect

There are 2 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!

Millerton Lake gate hours are as follows:

4/1 - 9/30:  6 a.m. ___ 10 p.m.

10/1 ___ 10/31:  6 a.m. ___ 7 p.m.

11/1 - 2/29:  6 a.m. ___ 6 p.m.

3/1 - 3/31:  6 a.m. ___ 7 p.m.

(These hours will affect the North Shore Campground gate schedule and will require the visitor to use the gate code after hours for late arrivals.)

**Security Gate Code: ** Park Entrance Security Gate will close after park/gate hours. Plan your trip accordingly to accommodate arrival prior to gate closing. If the gate is closed, check your Sales Receipt for the gate code.  

**Conducting Business on State Park Property:  ** No business or private party may conduct business on State Park Property without an approved contract--this includes delivering an RV into a campsite for rental.

**Seasons:  ** Meadows Loop is nestled amongst gradual scrub oak woodland with intermingled sycamore and eucalyptus. Each campsite includes a picnic table, campfire ring, and paved parking.

Regarding the Large and Small Group Camps:  For reservations occurring after 12/31/2026, visitors are required to contact the park office. Fees and reservations will be handled at the park level for these campgrounds. Please call (559) 822-2332.

RV Road Trip Guides

Map & DirectionsMillerton Lake State Recreation Area Campground is located in California near Friant

Detail location of campground
Public Campground

Directions

Located 2 mi W on Rd 206, then 1-1/2 mi N on Rd 211, then 2 mi E on Rd 145.

Address

5290 Millerton Road
Friant, CA 93626

Coordinates

37.0227997961 N
119.68100034 W

Open in Google Maps

Connectivity

Presented byT-MobileT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
    Verified by 2 users
    Last on 7/20/26
  • signal strength bars
    Verizon5G
    Excellent Coverage
    Verified by 2 users
    Last on 3/30/26
  • signal strength bars
    AT&TLTE
    Some Coverage

Is Millerton Lake State Recreation Area Campground sold out?

Quickly grab cancellations!

Learn More
Presented byHershey's

Connectivity

Presented byT-MobileT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
    Verified by 2 users
    Last on 7/20/26
  • signal strength bars
    Verizon5G
    Excellent Coverage
    Verified by 2 users
    Last on 3/30/26
  • signal strength bars
    AT&TLTE
    Some Coverage

Access

Have you camped here? Help us improve this campground page.

Add Access Type

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • Picnic Table
  • Firewood Available
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Showers
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump

Drive Time


2026 Explorer Giveaway

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Reviews19 Camper Reviews - Millerton Lake State Recreation Area Campground

Add Review

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

21%
47%
16%
11%
5%

3.5

out of 5

19 Reviews

Campers regularly cited spacious sites with great lake views and helpful hosts as major strengths. Some feedback indicated ongoing cleanliness issues with facilities and litter problems throughout the campground.

SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile
Reviewed Feb. 3, 2025

Overrun with Ground Squirrels and Litter

Sites 120 - 144 offer full hookups. However, the sites are arranged on a parking lot. We were able to get our 43’ Blue Bird completely onto site 138. Power was good but there were only 4 of us in the FHU sites. Millerton is a great boating and fishing lake close to Fresno and within a few hours of Yosemite NP.

We would not stay here again until the park gets control of the ground squirrels. We heard stories of cars and RV’s being towed out because they chewed through wiring. Thankfully we escaped with just damage from them entering the RV and getting into plastic containers of food in the bays. On our last night we moved to a parking lot by the lake so we could avoid further intrusion. The campground was also littered with garbage. I was constantly picking up litter on my walks.

There are other campgrounds in the recreational area that have no utilities that could be a better choice for smaller RV’s.

SiteMeadows FHU Site #138
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Millerton Lake State Recreation Area Campground by Tom D., February 3, 2025
  • Review photo of Millerton Lake State Recreation Area Campground by Tom D., February 3, 2025
  • Review photo of Millerton Lake State Recreation Area Campground by Tom D., February 3, 2025
  • (6) View All
Reviewed May. 26, 2024

Horrible experience

WARNING: This park does NOT have accessible ways to pay for parking. They fail to have credit or debit card machines to buy a parking ticket and they fail to have any scan to pay. You can not pay the parking unless you brought cash. This was my first time here and did not know this, Im a disabled veteran and there was NO parking spaces in the parking lot near the lake so I had to park far away on a gravel and dirt area, that was red flag number one. Once my family saw the parking fee of only 12 dollars we looked and looked for a credit or debit card pay area to buy a ticket. Never found one! We searched for scan to pay signs so we could pay on our phone and there were NONE! So I was forced to walk all the way back to my car NOT parked in the parking lot, up a hill, on the dirt and gravel, and they gave me a fine. This place purposely makes it impossible for to pay and then fines you for not carrying cash. This was my first time here and it will be my LAST!

Month of VisitMay
Reviewed Jan. 13, 2024

Good but could be better.

Great for a quick getaway from Fresno metro area. Clean and maintained facilities (camping standards not hotel) water access is not the easiest from the sites and the area does get loud due to proximity geology and acoustics. Closest store is about 7 minutes drive away and the lake is more of a boating than Beach lake.

Site48?
Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Sep. 22, 2023

Amazing view, bad campground

We had an amazing site with a beautiful view. Unfortunately, that was the only good thing about the camping.

Toilets and showers are spider infested and does not seem to be cleaned much. The camp site itself was very dirty, with old beer cans and trash laying around everywhere. Water fill-up stations did not have water.

This place could have been so nice with just a little more effort

SiteA7
Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Apr. 14, 2023

Rocky Point FTW

We loved this campsite! We just drove in over spring break and they had plenty of space available. The sites are well spaced, and give a great view of the lake. The camp host Cindy was super nice, and the campground was really clean.

Site16
Month of VisitApril
Reviewed Jun. 17, 2022

Amazing

Beautiful view amazing camp site will be back

Site52
Month of VisitJune
  • Play button icon
  • Review photo of Millerton Lake State Recreation Area Campground by Bobby S., June 17, 2022
Reviewed Jun. 4, 2022

Nice warm campground

The campground is nice. There was more than normal amount of garbage left by campers. I hope more people will try to leave the place cleaner than they find it. The water was nice and clean. We enjoyed swimming, canoeing and kayaking.

Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Millerton Lake State Recreation Area Campground by Robert , June 4, 2022
  • Review photo of Millerton Lake State Recreation Area Campground by Robert , June 4, 2022
  • Review photo of Millerton Lake State Recreation Area Campground by Robert , June 4, 2022
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Apr. 4, 2022

Love this campground

We stayed for one night but wish we could have stayed longer. The campground is not on the water but is close enough. Very quiet and enjoyable. Enjoyed hiking around the area. Our dogs loved the water. Would definitely stay again. Camp hosts were very friendly and helpful.

Site119
Month of VisitMarch
Reviewed Jul. 9, 2021

Close to water, some shade

Campsite is close to the water you could definitely post up at the lake and easily get to and from campsite. Plenty of space for multiple tents There are a few trees for shade but I’d recommend bringing something to make more shade. We were there in the 4th and it was busy but not at all overwhelming. Getting a campsite is much easier than dealing with the day use area at millerton.

Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Millerton Lake State Recreation Area Campground by august M., July 9, 2021
  • Review photo of Millerton Lake State Recreation Area Campground by august M., July 9, 2021
Reviewed Jan. 3, 2021

Good camping site (tent campsite)

Had a fun time with the family, had accesible restroom and showers, had picnic table so we could put our things, shade, place where we could set our tent with our truck next to us, and we were able to go swimming in the lake. 👍👍👍

Reviewed Sep. 11, 2020

Great Lake access & stunning views

We stayed in site 25 in the Mono Loop and the views were wonderful! Staying over Labor Day during record heat and local fires were not ideal but our site was private. Bathrooms were so-so with regard to cleanliness but most sites had its own access to water which was awesome! Sites next to the restroom on the mono loop were close together not very privateer that is something to note when picking a site. More trash at this campground than others I have been to as well. Lake levels were low in Sept but I hear they were high & lake access was even better in the spring & early summer!

  • Review photo of Millerton Lake State Recreation Area Campground by Charlotte , September 11, 2020
Reviewed Jun. 28, 2019

Lake side camping

The lake is very full now till July 4th. Great boating, and jet ski area. Swimming areas ok. Also day use. Only one trail.

SiteSite 88 we liked this site only 6 sites in this area.
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Millerton Lake State Recreation Area Campground by Regina P., June 28, 2019
Reviewed Sep. 29, 2018

Quiet, tranquil campsites above Millerton Lake

Stayed in late August 2018, and we were almost alone in this large campground. Water faucets are between campsites. Sites and Bathrooms were clean. Picnic tables at each site. Level area for tent setup. Sunrises here were awesome. About an hour outside of Fresno - we went to the Fresno Grizzlies game after setting up our tent. The park ranger gave us a gate code to enter late that night since the gate closes earlier than we planned to return. Raccoons visited while we sat out late at night but didn’t bother us since we kept our food inside our vehicle.

We were checked on by the campground host in the morning. Did a survey of our stay. He was very cordial. I’d of given this campground 5 stars if there was more shade. Didn’t bother us much, but on hotter days, in a tent, things might get sweltering.

SiteRocky Point
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Millerton Lake State Recreation Area Campground by Bud H., September 29, 2018
  • Review photo of Millerton Lake State Recreation Area Campground by Bud H., September 29, 2018

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the reviews like for Millerton Lake State Recreation Area campground?

Millerton Lake State Recreation Area Campground generally receives positive feedback with most ratings between 3-5 stars. Campers appreciate the beautiful lake views, clean water for swimming and boating activities, and spacious sites with picnic tables and water access between campsites. The campground is noted for being quiet and enjoyable, particularly during weekdays or off-peak seasons when it's less crowded. Visitors enjoy the recreational opportunities including hiking, biking, fishing (especially spring bass fishing), boating, jet skiing, and swimming. Some concerns include occasional cleanliness issues with restrooms and showers, and varying levels of maintenance. The campground's proximity to Fresno (about an hour away) makes it a convenient getaway option.

Are there RV camping facilities at Millerton Lake?

Yes, Millerton Lake State Recreation Area accommodates RVs. The campground features designated parking spaces at campsites where you can park your RV next to your setup area. While the campground doesn't offer full hookups, water access points are available between campsites. The sites are generally level and spacious enough for RVs. Be aware that some spots may offer more shade than others, which is an important consideration during hot summer months. For specific RV length restrictions or additional amenities, contact the park directly before your visit.

How do I make reservations for camping at Millerton Lake?

Reservations for Millerton Lake State Recreation Area can be made through the California State Parks reservation system. You can book online or by phone. During peak seasons (especially summer and holidays), advance reservations are recommended as the campground can fill up. Some visitors have reported success with walk-in camping during off-peak times, particularly in spring or fall when the campground is less busy. The reservation system allows you to select specific sites, with the Mono Loop offering some sites with excellent lake views. Contact California State Parks directly for the most current reservation policies and availability.

Are there cabins available at Millerton Lake?

No, Millerton Lake State Recreation Area does not offer cabin accommodations. The campground provides traditional camping with sites suitable for tents and RVs. Each site includes a picnic table and access to water faucets between campsites. For those seeking more comfort than tent camping, bringing your own RV is the best option at this location. If cabin accommodations are essential for your trip, you might need to explore other nearby recreation areas or private campgrounds in the region around Fresno.

What does the Millerton Lake campground map show?

The Millerton Lake campground map displays several camping loops, including the Mono Loop which features sites with lake views (such as site 25). The map shows individual campsites with their numbers, water access points located between sites, restroom and shower facilities, and proximity to the lake. While the campground isn't directly on the water, the map indicates relatively close lake access. The map also shows hiking trails in the area, including the main trail mentioned by visitors. Day-use areas and swimming zones are also marked. For the most current and detailed map, check with California State Parks or the park entrance station upon arrival.