236 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping near Friant, California centers around water recreation with established campgrounds at Millerton Lake State Recreation Area and Lost Lake Campground. Both areas accommodate tents and RVs, with Millerton Lake providing year-round access to camping along the reservoir created by Friant Dam on the San Joaquin River. The surrounding Sierra Nevada foothills offer additional camping opportunities within a short drive, including dispersed sites in the San Joaquin River Gorge managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Bass Lake, approximately 30 miles northeast, provides another popular water-based camping destination with multiple campgrounds.
Most campgrounds in the Friant area require reservations, especially during summer months when water recreation is at its peak. Millerton Lake State Recreation Area features basic amenities including drinking water, picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets, though hookups for RVs are limited. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F, making shade a valuable commodity at campsites. Fire restrictions are common during the dry season from late spring through fall. According to reviews, early spring camping offers more comfortable temperatures and less dust than summer visits.
The camping experience varies significantly between developed and primitive sites. Millerton Lake campgrounds provide convenient access to water recreation with boat ramps and swimming areas, while Lost Lake offers a more secluded experience with boat-in camping options. One visitor noted that Lost Lake Campground is "big-rig friendly" with water hookups available. For those seeking proximity to Yosemite National Park, several campgrounds within an hour's drive of Friant serve as convenient basecamps. The foothills location means campers should be prepared for hot, dry conditions in summer and potential for significant rainfall during winter months, when some primitive roads may become difficult to navigate.
"Bathrooms were so-so with regard to cleanliness but most sites had its own access to water which was awesome!"
"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"
from $30 - $200 / night
Check Availability"It was quite and have several trails to walk on. Their is a nice that runs by the campgrounds and further down and pass the station where pay the toll to the stake park."
"A few miles out of town, store close by. Usually mostly empty and good privacy"
from $25 / night
Check Availability"Even with all the rain, the lake isn’t very full. The campground, including the bathroom, was clean."
"The site we stayed at had a nice fire ring, was flat, had a picnic table and it was close to running water. We tent camped, but it looked like there were plenty of RV spots too. Nice and quiet too."
from $20 - $100 / night
Check Availability"Great campsite if you want to camp around Shaver Lake in the Sierras of California. Beautify lake, plenty of water sports. The small town has great rustic mountain vibe."
"Easy walk to lakeside and boat ramp. Nice picnic area near lake. Camped with full hookups. Nice store and hospitality center with food, drinks and stock of camp supplies."
from $40 - $105 / night
Check Availability"RV spaces have many different location styles, secluded, views, groups etc.
Large clean pool with a shallow lounging section. Playground. Bathrooms/showers were freshly renovated and clean.""You’re 25 miles from the park entrance, on a straight path. The sites were a great space and the pool and playground was a lot of fun of the kids. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful."
from $5 - $25 / night
Check Availability"Nice bathrooms and right next to a clean blue river perfect for swimming in! Surrounded by granite rocks in one of the most wonderful place Yosemite"
"We hiked the waterfall trail, which is breathtaking, but full of a lot of people! Once you get passed the 2nd huge waterfall, the crowds start to die down and its just you and the mountains."
"Bass lake is the perfect campground for young family camping. There are plenty of facilities and even a restaurant."
"It's a nice place real nice open large camp area pretty cool nice trail to a bridge overlooking the San Joaquin River gorge I really enjoyed it it's much more fun if you have horses to ride"
"They all kept saying it was the best camping trip they ever had.. our hosts Frank and Jamie were super sweet and welcoming.. the campgrounds are immaculate and near the water."
"The access to the lake is a little walk but not too far and the cove is perfect for relaxing with kids. Highly recommend!"
from $48 - $99 / night
Check Availability
GuideAbsolutely beautiful campground. 40 min or more to Yosemite valley. Very quiet, no reception, pick your own firewood (not sold at campground but at the Valley), no showers but flushing toilets and plenty of water. Boulders throughout the campground and the occasional bear strolling through. Check in and check out required. Also bring warm clothing and sleeping bags for the night.
GuideNice campground. Bathrooms are outdated but generally clean. Some spots are not very great- such as 156, but I was able to get my van in sideways.
GuideGreat spot to camp for the night! Private, safe
TravelerWe stayed here to get to Yosemite. The entrance is super close but you are about 45-60 minutes to get to Yosemite valley, but the drive is beautiful. There are plenty of sites we have a travel trailer about 26’ but I saw campers from tents to a 5th wheel out here. There are some dumpsters nearby for use. The dirt here is red and loose so you do have to worry about getting dusty.
GuideSites 100, 33, 41. Late June. A beautiful HILLY campground with dirty to very dirty flush bathrooms and no hosts. NPS does a terrible job with janitor service all over the country in my experience.
Site 100 parking pad has a 4 degree grade. It is a very lovely site for smaller tent camping with view of sunset. In a quiet hilly part of the campground, but I had few neighbors even though the sites showed up as completely booked on rec.gov.
Site 33 has a 3 degree grade and *abuts several sites* and the water spigot. Short pad could accommodate a van, but the pad adjacent is *very* close.
Site 41 is at the top of the hill and has a beautiful view and but little shade.
Big Stump trailhead can be reached by footpath from the campground. (Or you can drive back toward the gate and park there).
Visitor's Center with WiFi and a store and decent flush toilets near the restaurant is almost just across the street.
Beware of tiny chipmunks in the most crowded areas. At site 33 I saw two jump onto people's cars/campers. One was trying to get into an open car door.
GuideRun by concessionaire, this is a hosted campground with some Saturday night events in the amphitheater. Warm days and cold nights(40) refreshing respite from the valley heat. The fragrance of the forest in Sequoia is like no other. Best for tents and small RVs.
Abuts the beautiful Princess Meadow, at the turn off to Hume Lake. Site 90 has Open space behind and on one side. Large site, dirt parking pad. Slight grade. Pit toilet close. (Did not use). Walk to trailhead. 1 mile easy hike partially paved is drop dead gorgeous in the early evening light.
Lively Hume(a youth camp) has a snack shop with fast food and gigantic milkshakes. They also have canoes, rowboats, paddle boards, etc for rent, as well as a gift shop, mini mart, and gas station. The campground is near to Grant Grove and Grant Tree and several trailheads.
GuideAt first it was a little confusing to see where the sites are and where the driving path is, as I was there on a weekday and most of the sites were empty, however it’s not so difficult that you can’t find a site. I think if you were there on a weekend it would be easier to distinguish sites since more people would be around to fill them. My dog had so much fun exploring the forest behind our site, and I was able to get level within 2 minutes.
GuideEvening sun, super secluded, loved the spot. Nice birdwatching
GuideOnly a bit of mosquitoes but nothing too major
Camping near Friant, California provides access to foothill recreation sites ranging from 500-3,000 feet in elevation. The region experiences hot, dry summers with temperatures routinely reaching 100°F from July through September. Winter camping from November through March often sees nighttime temperatures dropping below 40°F with occasional frost at higher elevations.
Fishing opportunities: At Lost Lake Campground, visitors can fish directly on the San Joaquin River. "Camped here twice, pros camp right on the river, playground for kids, trail to the fish hatchery," notes Regina P. The campground provides river access for anglers seeking bass and trout.
Jet skiing and water sports: Millerton Lake State Recreation Area Campground offers multiple water recreation options. Christina C. reports, "Beautiful nice clear water," making it ideal for jet skiing. Christopher H. adds, "Great place to wakeboard, jet ski, fish, and BBQ," highlighting the diverse water activities available.
Hiking trails: The San Joaquin River Gorge offers several hiking options. Aaron M. describes it as having a "nice trail to a bridge overlooking the San Joaquin River gorge," adding that "it's much more fun if you have horses to ride." Trails range from easy 1-mile loops to more strenuous 4-mile routes with significant elevation changes.
Private camping sites: Campers appreciate sites with some separation from neighbors. At Hidden View Campground, Matt notes, "The site we stayed at had a nice fire ring, was flat, had a picnic table and it was close to running water. We tent camped, but it looked like there were plenty of RV spots too. Nice and quiet too."
Spring season visits: Early spring offers more comfortable temperatures compared to summer heat. Charlotte from Millerton Lake mentions, "Lake levels were low in Sept but I hear they were high & lake access was even better in the spring & early summer!" Spring camping from March to May typically sees daytime temperatures in the 70s-80s.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms matter to campers. LosAngeles F. says about Lost Lake Campground, "Gets hot in summer, spots are close by to each other but usually respectful neighbors... bathrooms aren't particularly clean so I chose not to shower."
Wildlife concerns: Ground squirrels can cause problems at some sites. Tom D. warns about Millerton Lake: "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."
Seasonal lake levels: Water levels fluctuate significantly throughout the year. At Millerton Lake, Regina P. notes, "The lake is very full now till July 4th. Great boating, and jet ski area." Plan water activities accordingly, with peak water levels typically occurring in late spring.
Campsite proximity: Many sites offer limited privacy from neighbors. Heather R. observes about Lost Lake Recreation Area, "I enjoyed my stay on the most part. Sadly there was some trash scattered all over the place because of previous visitors. It was quite and have several trails to walk on."
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds include play areas for children. Heather R. notes at Lost Lake, "Their is a few playgrounds in the middle of the campgrounds and option to play an activity or two." These play areas provide children with recreation options when not swimming.
Swimming options: The river provides safer swimming than the lake for younger children. Esbeyda D. shares about Millerton Lake, "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."
Evening quiet time: Most campgrounds enforce evening quiet hours. LosAngeles F. mentions that Lost Lake "closes at 7pm so you won't get people coming in the middle of the night." Families appreciate the enforced quiet time for earlier bedtimes with children.
Full hookup options: Yosemite RV Resort offers complete services for larger vehicles. Jesse F. reports, "Great place and experience. Bathroom are the best I've seen by far. Large dog run which was amazing. Personal just a bit expensive 100 ish for a rv spot with 30 amp an water."
Site sizing concerns: RV sites vary significantly in size between campgrounds. Aban J. notes about Yosemite RV Resort, "Site is small little to no space for vehicle at the site we are at some sites have a lot more room than ours. Cable works great and staff is very friendly and helpful."
Millerton Lake hookup details: The campground offers limited full-service sites. Tom D. points out, "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."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Friant, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Friant, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 236 campgrounds and RV parks near Friant, CA and 26 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Friant, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Friant, CA is Millerton Lake State Recreation Area Campground with a 3.7-star rating from 19 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Friant, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 26 free dispersed camping spots near Friant, CA.
What parks are near Friant, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 22 parks near Friant, CA that allow camping, notably Hensley Lake and Pine Flat Lake.
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