J
Jessica W.
Scout
ScoutFraser Flat Campground
Quiet
It'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!
Best Campgrounds near Cedar Ridge, CA
Campgrounds near Cedar Ridge, California range from developed sites with amenities to more remote options along rivers and lakes. The area includes established campgrounds like North Grove Campground at Calaveras Big Trees State Park, which accommodates tents, RVs, and cabins with amenities including drinking water, fire rings, and picnic tables. Several campgrounds in the region, such as Pinecrest Campground and River Ranch Campground, provide access to water recreation while offering varying levels of facilities. Many locations feature tent sites alongside RV hookups, with some offering cabin rentals for those seeking more comfort.
Reservations are strongly recommended for most developed campgrounds, particularly during summer months when sites fill quickly. "The sites were well maintained. We went early in the season (April) so the dust was not bad. I think later in the spring/summer you might find yourself faced with dust and foxtails," noted one camper about McCabe Flat Campground. Seasonal considerations affect both accessibility and comfort, with many campgrounds operating only from spring through fall. Water levels at reservoirs like New Hogan Lake can fluctuate dramatically throughout the year, potentially leaving waterfront sites far from the actual shoreline during drought conditions. Cell service is limited or non-existent at many locations, particularly those in more remote settings or at higher elevations.
Campers consistently highlight the natural surroundings and wildlife viewing opportunities throughout the region. Proximity to water features prominently in positive reviews, with the Stanislaus River and various lakes serving as focal points for recreation. As one visitor to Acorn Campground observed, "The wildlife was 'people friendly' to say the least. I had a family of deer pretty much monitoring my whole trip plus they couldn't seem to wait until I went to bed to come check out my camping gear." Campgrounds closer to Yosemite National Park tend to be more crowded but offer convenient access to popular attractions. Those seeking more solitude might prefer locations like Sand Bar Flat Campground, described as "remote and quiet, if you want to get away from the crowds," though reaching such sites often requires navigating unpaved roads that may challenge standard passenger vehicles.
Best Camping Sites Near Cedar Ridge, California (283)
1. North Grove Campground — Calaveras Big Trees State Park
23 ReviewsArnold, CA15 milesWebsite+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."
2. Yosemite Pines RV Resort & Family Lodging
25 ReviewsGroveland, CA17 milesWebsite+1 (209) 962-7690$24 - $439 / night
"Only 5 minutes away from a small town for groceries. It is quite a drive to get to the actual locations in the Yosemite park from the campground."
"If you plan to go into Yosemite NP, it's a long drive so plan accordingly. Our family really enjoys Rainbow Pools and Yosemite Pine's proximity to Rainbow Pools is part of why we stay here."
3. River Ranch Campground
6 ReviewsTwain Harte, CA7 milesWebsite+1 (209) 586-3234"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."
"Watering holes on campgrounds and around the area like Cherry Lake, Rainbow Pools and Gods Bath! California is full of beautiful wonders and this little gem in Stanislaus Forest is one of them!"
4. Pinecrest Campground
18 ReviewsLong Barn, CA17 milesWebsite+1 (209) 965-3116$40 / night
"The campsites are a very short walk from the lake. the sites are spacious, well spaced and shady. Amenities are quite good with flush toilets, showers, a general store and more."
"This is a nice campground on Pinecrest Lake near Sonora Pass in Stanislaus National Forest."
5. Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes
45 ReviewsEastman Lake, CA25 milesWebsite+1 (888) 707-1477"Whip out your wallet and empty on it on the check-in desk of this thousand trails (or whatever) park."
"Our tent site was #311 and it was perfectly tucked in the trees with a stream alongside."
6. Tuttletown Recreation Area
11 ReviewsJamestown, CA14 milesWebsite+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."
7. Diamond Gulch
10 ReviewsGroveland, CA15 miles+1 (209) 484-3137$30 - $89 / night
"You feel like you're in the middle of nowhere but you're so close to things. Directions are easy to follow, leveling is required but there were pretty good lots."
"It was a bit hard to find in the dark, but the camping area is fenced in under an oak grove so eventually we found the stump with our name on it next to the tent."
8. Fraser Flat Campground
7 ReviewsLong Barn, CA13 milesWebsite"Surrounded by trees, typical pretty campsite. Campgrounds is next to the water for close fishing. Less than 10 minutes to Pinecrest Lake. First come First serve. Dog friendly."
"Very nice , loved camping right next to the river. Bathrooms were very clean."
9. Glory Hole Recreation Area
9 ReviewsAngels, CA15 milesWebsite+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"
10. Mother Lode Fairgrounds
4 ReviewsSonora, CA9 milesWebsite+1 (209) 532-7428"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."
Recent Camping Photos near Cedar Ridge, CA
456 Photos of 283 Cedar Ridge Campgrounds
Anthony Q.
Sand Bar Flat Campground
Ben G.
Mighty Farms
Andrea A.
Fraser Flat Campground
Jim M.
Angels Camp Campground and RV
Mon M.
Tuttletown Recreation Area
Julie D.
Tuttletown RA - Chamise - BOR
Rosie R.
North Grove Campground — Calaveras Big Trees State Park
John B.
Diamond Gulch
Damien M.
Top of Arnold - FR 5N56 Dispersed
Lori T.
USBR Gloryhole Rec Area Big Oak Campground
Ryan D.
Glory Hole Recreation Area
Benjamin K.
Golden Pines RV Resort and Campground
Recent Reviews near Cedar Ridge, CA
1145 Reviews of 283 Cedar Ridge Campgrounds
Peter D.
TravelerHodgdon Meadow Campground — Yosemite National Park
Beautiful Views, Frustrating Experience
The 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.
Elijah W.ScoutWawona Campground — Yosemite National Park
Just Okay
Wawona Campground is good if all you’re needing is somewhere to camp inside the park. The sites are fairly close together with little to no foliage blocking your view to each site. Some of the sites are not very level so if you have a roof tent like myself keep this in mind. It is about a 30-40 minute drive to the valley and the whole campground just feels busy and not much privacy. If you’re needing a place to stay I would recommend trying for a campground inside the Valley it will make your time in Yosemite much better spent
Joan B.ScoutHodgdon Meadow Campground — Yosemite National Park
Hodgdon Meadow Campground
We 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.
Delaney N.TravelerRiver Ranch Campground
Great getaway!
I 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!
- MMark T.Scout
Modesto Reservoir
Worst Camping Ever!
We 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.
Vahste (.
GuideHardin Flat Road
Plenty of sites, busy-ish road traffic
It'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.
Jerry S.TravelerIndian Flat RV Park
Great but tight
I 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
Leslie M.ScoutVan Haven Dispersed Site Yosemite
Amazing view for sunrise
Amazing spot love it, it’s a bit of a drive for a car but amazing view and very peaceful
Guide to Cedar Ridge
Campgrounds near Cedar Ridge, California offer diverse options from the high-elevation pine forests of Stanislaus National Forest to the oak woodlands closer to Highway 108. Most area campgrounds operate seasonally, typically April through October, with limited availability during winter months due to snow conditions. Water access is a significant feature throughout the region, with river sites along the Stanislaus and numerous reservoir-based options for recreation.
What to do
Fishing spots: Fraser Flat Campground provides easy river access for anglers. "Campground is next to the water for close fishing. Less than 10 minutes to Pinecrest Lake," notes one visitor. The campground includes wheelchair-accessible fishing areas with an "improved fishing deck" according to another camper.
Hiking trails: The area surrounding Pinecrest Campground offers several hiking options. "There is a great hike around the lake close by," mentions one camper. Another adds that "The hike around the lake was beautiful too, roughly 2-3 hr hike with some great views."
Water recreation: Summer activities center around lakes and rivers throughout the region. At River Ranch Campground, visitors enjoy "watering holes on campgrounds and around the area like Cherry Lake, Rainbow Pools and Gods Bath." Many campgrounds feature swimming areas, and as one visitor notes, "The lake is amazing and gets a lot of day trippers. You can walk around the lake, fish, rent kayaks or boats, paddleboards etc."
What campers like
River sounds: Camping near water features prominently in positive reviews. At Diamond Gulch, one camper recalls, "We loved waking up to cows and turkeys, and an incredible sunrise view. There were such sweet little birds grazing nearby at sunset."
Night skies: Star visibility ranks high among visitor experiences. At Tuttletown Recreation Area, one visitor mentioned, "It was so dark that I was able to do some great astrophotography." Diamond Gulch similarly offers "Stars and Cows" according to a reviewer who added, "The stars were so so beautiful, you can see the milky-way."
Wildlife encounters: Many campsites offer opportunities to observe local fauna. One visitor to Yosemite Pines RV Resort enjoyed the "petting zoo animals were adorable," while others frequently spot deer, birds, and occasionally bears throughout the region.
What you should know
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies widely between campgrounds. At Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes, one camper noted it has "no wi-fi" while at Diamond Gulch, visitors report "cell service (ATT) and WiFi if you don't want to unplug completely."
Campsite selection timing: Most popular sites fill quickly, especially during summer months. At North Grove Campground, a visitor advises, "You need to make reservations. Enjoy these majestic trees!"
Road conditions: Access to remote campgrounds can be challenging. One visitor to Sand Bar Flat Campground warns, "The drive starting off 108 is bad and then gets horrendous," though adds that "A basic truck or SUV would have an easy time driving down."
Weather variations: Significant elevation changes mean temperature differences between campgrounds. As one camper at Sand Bar Flat noted, "We didn't realize how low in elevation this campground is and man was it HOT."
Tips for camping with families
Entertainment options: Several campgrounds offer organized activities for children. At Yosemite Pines RV Resort, one visitor appreciated that "With a pool, petting zoo, a corral where they have a fire and s'mores followed by a movie, this is a great place to camp with the kids."
Educational opportunities: Three Links Camp provides diverse recreation facilities for families. "The campground was beautiful and my kids had a blast walking around all the buildings (hall, chapel, cabins/dorms) and on baseball field, disc golf course, and basketball court!"
Movie nights: Several campgrounds feature outdoor film screenings. At Pinecrest Campground, "There is also an ampitheatre and they had movies at night - families 'reserve' their seating early by putting blankets on the seats."
Beach access: Swimming areas with gradual entry points work well for younger children. "The kids can jump and swim there and that's all they really want to do anyway so being close to that is key for us," shared one visitor regarding Rainbow Pools near Yosemite Pines.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Full-service RV sites are limited in the region. At Yosemite Lakes, "There are only a handful of 50amp spots and people move to them quickly after someone leaves, lots of 30amp though so you might want to bring an adapter."
Site limitations: Many campgrounds have space restrictions for larger vehicles. One visitor to Tuttletown Recreation Area noted, "Def geared for tent camping although I was lucky enough to be here when it was dead empty and picked a good site for my 27' toy hauler."
Dump stations: Several campgrounds offer sanitary facilities. North Grove Campground has a dump station that "is included in the space rent," according to one reviewer, making extended stays more convenient for RVers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Cedar Ridge, CA?
What camping is available near Cedar Ridge, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Cedar Ridge, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 283 campgrounds and RV parks near Cedar Ridge, CA and 26 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Cedar Ridge, CA?
Which is the most popular campground near Cedar Ridge, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Cedar Ridge, CA is North Grove Campground — Calaveras Big Trees State Park with a 4.7-star rating from 23 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Cedar Ridge, CA?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Cedar Ridge, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 26 free dispersed camping spots near Cedar Ridge, CA.
What parks are near Cedar Ridge, CA?
What parks are near Cedar Ridge, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 23 parks near Cedar Ridge, CA that allow camping, notably Fall River Lake and New Melones Lake.
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