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.
$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."
$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."
$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"
"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."
$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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"At the junction of Hwy49 the “Chain of Gold” and 108 outside Yosemite National Park. Daily/weekly rates. Short walk to downtown in this 1850’s mining town."
ScoutWe have spent summers here on the water for the last 3 years. The site has a convenience store and a restaurant that serves up a really great burger. Also a very short drive into town.
ScoutThis campsite was well kept, in a beautiful area not toooo far from stores if you forget anything and a really beautiful creek and river around it. The camp hosts are nice and seem to really care about the property, which I love seeing. There is no electric hookups at least at some of the sites which is fine, just be aware to plan for that if you need any medical devices etc. The mosquitoes are rabid. So come prepared with the best repellent you can get. They keep the potties clean but like of spiders in them that have clearer been left there, one had a small wasps nest that I took care of since it was right by our head in the toilet. I also wouldn’t plan to swim, if it gets warm enough I guess, but the water is literally ice cold. I got in to my ankles and they were red and stinging after about 10 seconds.
While I understand most of their rules the one rule that is THE MOST insisted and on literally all points of booking and checking in is that they don’t allow any music of and level on any speakers. I understand quiet times and having a sound limit but absolutely no music seems extreme to me. Especially for families, my kids love music and it’s a daily part of our lives, and as a place they used to hold literal music festivals it seems a little saddening to me.
But overall it was a nice time.
ScoutIt's been some years since I've been here but just downloaded this app. I wouldn't take my children now because of the river, but if it's just adults I think it's a great spot! Small and quiet!
TravelerThe morning view and the sunset light through the trees were wonderful, and the starry sky at night was a highlight. I also liked the grill area, but the campsite was quite challenging for the tent since the ground wasn't even.
We booked two nights but left after one because of the cold weather and lack of internet connection. Service was only available about 10 minutes away by car, which became inconvenient for us. Since the area is publicly managed, getting help was difficult, and we couldn’t easily cancel the second night because nobody was available. Two volunteers were very kind and tried to help though.
The place would also benefit from adding showers, especially considering how many people stay there.
Overall, the location itself was beautiful, but the inconveniences made it harder to fully enjoy the experience.
ScoutWe are having a great time at Hodgdon Meadow Campground! The camp hosts have been terrific! Helped us out when we got locked out of our trailer. This campground has lots of tent camping and a handful of rv and trailers. The hardest thing is to get consecutive nights at the same site. We had to move from site 104 to site 85 after 1 night. We are at site 85 (very nice ) for 3 nights. Have 1 more move to site 75.
TravelerI went up for Memorial Day weekend and it was a wonderful experience! I stayed in site M1. There is no visual of the river there, but it is a very short walk to get to the picnic area where you have full view.
The site was very close to the bathrooms and showers which was very convenient. The only downside is that you are right next to the entrance so you see a lot of cars go by, however it never caused an issue during our stay. We also didn’t see much wildlife, but again I think that was because of the proximity to the entrance.
Because you are close to the entrance though, we did have full access to wifi throughout the entire trip! If course we didn’t use it much because the goal was to disconnect, however if having connection is important to you, this is a great site!
ScoutWe stayed here in B loop site 25 over Memorial Day weekend. The site was FHU with a level concrete pad for the RV. Each site has a concrete picnic table and very large concrete fire pit. That’s where all the good things about this campground end.
There are burrs, goose poop and spiders everywhere. Tent campers are allowed to reserve FHU RV sites, and many do. Because the 6 people per site rule is NOT enforced, the tent campers easily infringe on others’ campsites and are constantly walking through others’ campsites. When asked about the tents in RV sites, the staff at the campground entrance shack stated “We do not discriminate”, which clearly contributes to the chaos of the campground. The staff at the entrance shack are rude and incompetent.
There is absolutely NO enforcement of quiet hours. Other campers keep their music loud and the party going all night, every night. They literally never turned it down and were blasting it like they were at the club… 12am, 2am, 4am, 6am… ALL NIGHT. My kids and I couldn’t get a good night sleep because of it. This is not a true family campground. It invites all the wrong elements, because they don’t enforce the rules. Drunken, loud, yelling campers are everywhere at all times.
This is not relaxing camping. It’s just non-stop loud music and partying. I would NEVER recommend this campground to people I actually like, and will never be returning.
GuideIt's a gorgeous service road, fully paved, with plenty of pull-offs alongside it. Depending on the spot you set up in your phone service is either going to be spotty or non-existent. My only complaint is the number of vehicles pulling through in the middle of the night, pulling right up to where I was at with their high beams and sitting there for a while before eventually leaving.
TravelerI will start with the good. Fantastic WiFi, extremely clean bathrooms and shower rooms, excellent pool at cedar Lodge next door, short walkable distance to the YART bus stop into Yosemite, great price for a campground 8 miles from a national park entrance and easy access to a beautiful little river park across the highway. The only negative is, out of the several hundred campgrounds I have camped in over the last six years, none have even come close to how packed this place is. I was fortunate to get the best campsite in the park but across from me are 4 campers in an area no larger than some single campsites I have stayed at. The spaces don't allow for parking both your camper and your towing vehicle so you need to use the overflow parking which is outside the campground parallel to the highway. The Jupe Tents, tent cabins, and cottages are also packed just as tight as are the tent sites. I would still recommend this campground to anyone wanting to go to Yosemite though. It's definitely the closest and most convenient campground
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.
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.
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."
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."
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.
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 249 campgrounds and RV parks near Angels, CA and 13 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 13 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.
Keep Exploring
