Best Campgrounds near Angels, CA

The Angels Camp area in California's Calaveras County provides a range of camping accommodations within proximity to the Sierra Nevada foothills. Campgrounds such as Angels Camp Campground and RV and Glory Hole Recreation Area offer tent, RV, and cabin options for visitors. The region includes several established campgrounds with varying amenities near New Melones Lake and surrounding recreational areas. Some locations like Lake Tulloch RV Campground provide full hookups for RVs alongside primitive tent sites, while cabins are available at select locations including North Grove Campground at Calaveras Big Trees State Park.

Reservations are strongly recommended for most campgrounds in the area, particularly during summer months when temperatures can reach over 100°F in valley locations. Many campgrounds remain open year-round, though winter access to higher elevation sites may be limited by weather conditions. Facilities vary significantly between locations, with some campgrounds like Glory Hole Recreation Area occasionally experiencing maintenance issues with restrooms and showers. Water access points at New Melones Lake fluctuate with seasonal reservoir levels, impacting shoreline camping opportunities. A visitor to Glory Hole Recreation Area noted, "The view at campsite 57 is gorgeous! However, be prepared for the heat. It can reach up to 110F in summer. It is toasting even with shade."

Several campgrounds near Angels Camp feature lake views and water recreation access as primary attractions. Big Oak Campground at Gloryhole Recreation Area provides sites with panoramic views of New Melones Lake, with campers particularly recommending sites 116 and 117 for optimal vistas. Spacing between campsites varies considerably throughout the region, with some campgrounds offering more privacy than others. One camper at Ironhorse campground shared, "This site is right on the lake, the bathrooms were clean. It was pretty busy but the spaces are far enough apart that it wasn't super loud even in a tent." Spring visitors frequently mention abundant wildflowers and comfortable temperatures, while summer campers should plan for significant heat, especially at lower elevations.

Best Camping Sites Near Angels, California (241)

    1. Acorn Campground

    28 Reviews
    Valley Springs, CA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 772-1343

    $20 / night

    "A good clean campground, popular in central California. Reasonably priced $20 per night."

    "The lake has receded quite a but that one of the docks is about 100 yards from the actual lake now (California drought). The campsite was well maintained."

    2. Tuttletown Recreation Area

    11 Reviews
    Jamestown, CA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 536-9094

    $150 / night

    "Cute small campsites, kind of close to your neighbor. Not a lot of bugs which is always a plus when your near water, we went mid October and the weather wasn’t too hot or too cold."

    "New Melones was not a top destination but it was close to a very special place for us, Natural Bridges."

    3. Glory Hole Recreation Area

    7 Reviews
    Angels, CA
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 536-9094

    $18 - $22 / night

    "Showers and bathrooms aren't working but otherwise a great place to camp. been going to the nearby Tuttletown camp for showers and working bathrooms while they work on Gloryhole."

    "The lake's water was too low for a swim though :( sad"

    4. Angels Camp Campground and RV

    5 Reviews
    Angels, CA
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 736-0404

    "Super nice, close to the bathrooms. There's a community outdoors kitchen with stove and sink. Small hiking trail that had some horse nearby that cam and said hi to us. Will definitely be coming back."

    "Close to lots of cute towns and wineries."

    5. USBR Gloryhole Rec Area Big Oak Campground

    5 Reviews
    Fall River Lake, CA
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 536-9094

    "The only downside is that the park closes at 8:00 pm so we had to sleep behind the entrance until 4:00 am when they opened the door again. A Fire ring and a bench available at each spot."

    "Sites were a good size and were tucked down a slight hill from the road which was great for privacy. Bathrooms were kept very clean and well stocked."

    6. North Grove Campground — Calaveras Big Trees State Park

    22 Reviews
    Arnold, CA
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 795-2334

    $25 - $70 / night

    "I think this is my favorite California State Park. It is situated in the Calaveras Big Trees Giant Sequoia Grove."

    "Pros - you are in the middle of the Sequoias, near hiking, kayaking, etc. Beautiful river nearby; pretty easy in and out for small-ish RVs. Hard to beat the location."

    7. Lake Tulloch RV Campground and Marina

    10 Reviews
    Fall River Lake, CA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 881-0107

    "We were lucky to have a spot at the dead center of the top of the mountain looking out at the lake (site 13) with a big shade tree."

    "There are sites on the lake with shade provided over the tables. It was mid week and was not crowded at all. The lake is gorgeous and at night there were several deer walking thru the site."

    8. Ironhorse- Glory Hole Area - New Melones Lake

    4 Reviews
    Fall River Lake, CA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 459-7290

    "This site is right on the lake, the bathrooms were clean. It was pretty busy but the spaces are far enough apart that it wasn’t super loud even in a tent."

    9. Chamise - Tuttletown Area - New Melones Lake

    2 Reviews
    Fall River Lake, CA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 459-7290

    10. Mighty Farms

    2 Reviews
    Avery, CA
    9 miles
    +1 (734) 216-2182

    $35 - $45 / night

    "Situated close to a creek and perfect for stargazing, this property offers a way to get away from it all. We've heard the gardens are AMAZING!"

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Recent Reviews near Angels, CA

836 Reviews of 241 Angels Campgrounds


  • Raymond M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 5, 2025

    Top of Arnold - FR 5N56 Dispersed

    This place is real camping

    This campground was the best campground that I’ve been to in a long time take note that this is real camping so there is no bathrooms. There is no running water. There is no showers not for the week but for the real man not recommended for women in small kids, but absolutely amazing and beautiful place. Be sure to obtain a fire permit from Cal fire and check fire restrictions in the area have a bucket full of water and a shovel next to your fire at all times again this place was amazing

  • Laura The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Glory Hole Recreation Area

    Pretty and quiet

    Easy to find, there was no one but my spot was labelled with the tags. Facilities are clean but the shower was cold, at best lukewarm. The lake's water was too low for a swim though :( sad

  • Shir S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    El Dorado

    Great place before lake tahoe

    We drove from redwood to Lake Tahoe and wanted a place to stay since it got late Good place Online booking and entrance if after hours and affordable price opposed to other sites in the area

  • Jolean D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 21, 2025

    Stanislaus National Forest Pine Marten Campground

    Close to the lake but not huge spots

    The location is beautiful. Smaller Alpine lake with spot for tents, and smaller RVs. Good space for outdoor setup and clean bathrooms. If you are looking for boondocking Sierra Nevada mts with a few comforts. This is great.

  • andrew The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes

    Nice spot

    We ended up on the “outside” of the spots in the trees. But, we did not have anyone in either side of us. Huge spot. It’s pretty here. No nearby grocery so have what you need. The Yosemite village store has quite a selection but it is an hour away. Easy access to the park. No cell service. Have to drive about 4 miles to west to get signal. Sporadic signal in the park. WiFi is subscription at sites. It was $14.95 fir a weak. Very intermittent.

  • Bob N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Crane Flat Campground

    Yosemite

    Nice campsite, nowhere near level. Open sky, big trees, close to your neighbors, but quiet.

  • Steve M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Mormon Emigrant Trail Dispersed Pull Off

    Good spot for a night or two but nothing here

    Easy to get to and easy to park at although not a great spot for tents. Unfortunately there was a massive fire here and there is nothing to look at but burned out trees.

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes

    A good campground for full hook

    The bathrooms and showers are clean. The sites are a little tight. My Wi-Fi was Starlink so I don’t know how the camp Wi-Fi was.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 22, 2025

    Pinecrest Campground

    Beautiful Location With Talkitive Ravens

    We went to Pinecrest as the first trip we took with our brand new travel trailer. Not only was it a great break-in trip but the location was lovely. The hosts were friendly and very helpful when we had difficulty getting into the site we reserved. Once we set up camp in our new sire, we started to relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. And the ravens. Lots of talkative ravens. Very entertaining.

    We were thrilled to find out there’s a restaurant and general store located right across the street from the campground. It was just delicious icing on a very tasty cake. Two thumbs up for Pinecrest Campground and an extra thumbs up and thank you to the hosts.


Guide to Angels

Camping spots near Angels, California range from lakefront sites to forested mountain campgrounds at elevations between 1,400-5,000 feet. Summer temperatures in valley campgrounds regularly exceed 100°F while higher elevation sites remain cooler. Water levels at reservoir campgrounds fluctuate seasonally, with spring offering optimal shoreline conditions.

What to do

Water sports at New Melones Lake: At Acorn Campground, kayaking is popular around the reservoir's coves. "We got in our kayaks for an awesome day paddle around the many coves of this reservoir. Since the lake level fluctuates there aren't many good beaches, but you can pull off to have a picnic lunch," notes Shari G.

Hiking Carson Creek Trail: USBR Gloryhole Rec Area Big Oak Campground offers accessible hiking options. "Took the pups for a walk on the Carson Creek Trail. It's listed as a 'moderate' trail as is the Gold Rush Trail. Don't be dissuaded by that. Both trails are really easy and offer great views," shares Lori T.

Wildlife viewing: Deer sightings are common at many campgrounds, particularly during evening hours. "Deer are fearless & majestic, several 'packs' walked through our campsite all throughout Sunday night when everyone else was gone. They walked up to us to smell our campfire & our food," reports Katie K. from Lake Tulloch RV Campground.

What campers like

Spacious campsites: Acorn Campground receives praise for its layout. "Nice spacious spots. No power or water hookups. Water spigots close by. Bathrooms with flush toilets and a single spacious shower," according to Martha H.

Lake views from select sites: Specific sites with premium vistas are worth requesting. At Big Oak Campground, Lori T. suggests: "We loved site 106 in the Big Oak campground, but found others that were even better view wise. 116 and 117 had great views of a larger part of the lake."

Clean facilities: North Grove Campground at Calaveras Big Trees State Park maintains well-kept amenities. "Bathrooms are very nice: clean, flush toilets, and sinks with cold water taps. Bear boxes provided," notes L.

Spring wildflowers: Visiting during spring offers botanical displays. "The campground is quiet and the scenery is amazing this time of year," shares Lori T. about Big Oak campground, adding that rates were "$22 per night plus online reservation fee. Our total for 2 nights was $52."

What you should know

Shower conditions vary: Glory Hole Recreation Area facilities sometimes need attention. "Restroom and showers need maintenance," advises Susan Y. Similarly, at Acorn Campground: "The shower needs to be updated."

Seasonal water levels: Reservoirs experience significant level changes throughout the year. "The lake level varies wildly throughout the year, sites that are right on the lake can end up being hundreds of feet from the lake if the water level is low. Early summer is the best time to go for high lake levels," explains Darin D.

Mosquito activity: Insects increase as temperatures rise. "We liked this campground enough to come back a second time in two weeks. The mosquitoes have definitely increased!" warns Lori T. about Big Oak campground.

Campsite selection: Many campgrounds offer varied site options. At Tuttletown Recreation Area, Natalya P. advises: "Cute small campsites, kind of close to your neighbor... Near 39 is nice."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Lake Tulloch RV Campground offers dedicated play areas. "The kids had fun playing at the playground, jet skiing, and making sand castles at the beach," says Elisabeth.

Kid-friendly water activities: Several campgrounds provide safe swimming options. "Acorn Campground is great for tent and RV camping. Warm weather so great for swimming. Good for fishing, boating (they have a launch), kayaking, paddle boarding and you can bring bikes and scooters for the kids," shares Rosina A.

Educational programs: State parks often provide ranger-led activities. "There's lots of trails to hike here, an extensive ranger station with a Visitor Center, snack bar, and organized talks and activities," reports L. from North Grove Campground.

Heat preparation: Summer temperatures require planning. "We were here in July of 2019, and it was hot! But the lake is fantastic and the campsites are big which provides plenty of room for shade structures," advises Trisha L. about Acorn Campground.

Tips from RVers

Supply access: Tuttletown Recreation Area has nearby services. "Gas station with firewood not too far away (Lakeridge Inn Gas), and they have diesel. Boat launch and day use area only a short drive away," notes Hunter P.

Site selection for larger vehicles: RV sites vary significantly across campgrounds. "The campground offers a range of pull-through and back-in campsites along the slopes of the rolling hills, but most of the individual sites were flat and could accommodate a wide variety of rig sizes," explains Shari G. about Acorn Campground.

Solar considerations: Some campgrounds provide adequate sun exposure for solar power. "While there were many trees around for shade, we still had enough open sky for good solar gain and Starlink," mentions Shari G.

Dump station information: Facilities for waste disposal are available but may have fees. "They have a nice dump station ($8 fee recommended.. pay station is at park entrance)," shares Hunter P. about Tuttletown Recreation Area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Angels, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, Angels, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 241 campgrounds and RV parks near Angels, CA and 11 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Angels, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Angels, CA is Acorn Campground with a 3.6-star rating from 28 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Angels, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 11 free dispersed camping spots near Angels, CA.

What parks are near Angels, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 24 parks near Angels, CA that allow camping, notably New Melones Lake and Fall River Lake.