Pet friendly camping near Clovis, California centers around the San Joaquin River watershed, with most sites situated at elevations between 300-500 feet in the Sierra foothills. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F while winter nights can drop below freezing between November and February. Campsites in this region typically offer varied terrain from flat, grassy areas to more rugged sites with limited shade.
What to do
**Fishing opportunities: Year-round fishing access at Millerton Lake State Recreation Area Campground is popular with anglers. "Outstanding fishing in the spring," notes camper Jim B. The lake supports bass, trout, and catfish populations.
**Water recreation: Boating and water sports draw many visitors during summer months. "Great place to wakeboard, jet ski, fish, and BBQ," reports Christopher H. about Millerton Lake. Water levels are typically highest from April through June.
**Wildlife observation: The San Joaquin River basin supports diverse wildlife viewing opportunities. At Lost Lake Campground, evening bat watching is a unique activity. "It was cool to hear and watch the local bats flying around," shares Lesley A. from Choinumni Park.
**Hiking options: Several trail systems connect the recreation areas around Friant. "We've had a wonderful stay... the park is clean and has a lot of space and things to do," notes Sandy J. at Riverbend RV Park, which connects to riverside trails.
What campers like
**Clean, level sites: Riverbend RV Park earns praise for its well-maintained grounds. "FHU with large pull through spots. Quiet place that was nice to spend a few days at while exploring Sequoia and Kings Canyon. Place has grass, dog park, lots of kids play areas, adults game areas, fishing pond, creek and river next to property is very pretty," shares Lauren M.
**Quiet weekday camping: Campgrounds near Clovis experience significant differences between weekday and weekend occupancy. "Gets hot in summer, spots are close by to each other but usually respectful neighbors... closes at 7pm so you won't get people coming in the middle of the night," explains a camper at Lost Lake Campground.
**Lake access: Camp Edison provides direct lake shore access. "Each site has plenty of room and includes a picnic table and fire pit. It's a short walk to Shaver Lake from virtually any of the sites, and several have a nice view of the lake," notes Angela D.
**Camp host assistance: Attentive staff enhance the camping experience. "Very clean campground. Nice host. Food locker. Restrooms. Amazing weather," reports Edwin N. about Dorabelle Campground.
What you should know
**Wildlife encounters: Ground squirrels can become problematic at certain campgrounds. "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," warns Tom D. about Millerton Lake.
**Temperature variations: Daily temperature swings can be significant. "It was a whole lot colder than I had thought, but luckily we just put some stones around our fire and wrapped it up in wool to keep at our feet," shares Azizah T. about camping at Camp Edison in October.
**Campground closures: Some facilities operate seasonally or close unexpectedly. "Closed no reopen date," reports Kathleen K. about Choinumni Park. Always call ahead to confirm operational status.
**Water level fluctuations: Lake levels change dramatically throughout the year. "The lake is very full now till July 4th," notes Regina P. about Millerton Lake, while others report low water levels requiring long walks to shorelines later in summer.
Tips for camping with families
**Playground access: Island Park offers family-friendly amenities. "This park is absolutely stunning this time of year. There are wildflowers everywhere... the nature trail was perfect for our three boys," shares Sarah P. The park features dedicated children's play areas.
**Swimming areas: Designated swimming zones provide safer water recreation for children. "The cove is wonderful for swimming and mostly kayaks/SUP with plenty of beach space, water temp was perfect," says Margo A. about Dorabelle Campground.
**Educational opportunities: Several campgrounds offer nature programs during summer months. "Camp Edison has great activities during the summer season including guided educational nature walks, both day and evening, as well as kids' movies in the amphitheater," notes a reviewer.
**Site selection for families: Choose sites away from common areas for quieter family experiences. "As a solo traveler... I reserved a corner space with a nearby toilet and water spigot... My campsite was large, clean, with sunny and shade spots and separated from other sites by trees," advises Margo A.
Tips from RVers
**Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds have uneven terrain. "Sites vary in length, there were only a few that would have fit our rig. Some are only parking spaces that lead to tent platforms. Very few sites are level and some so steep that leveling is not possible," warns Erin S.
**Limited hookup availability: Full hookup sites are restricted at most campgrounds. "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," reports Tom D. about Millerton Lake.
*Navigational challenges: Larger RVs face access difficulties on narrow campground roads. "You will NOT fit here if you can't take your rig past a 90 turn safely. It was a bit of a nightmare getting turned around to back in here," cautions Sarah P. about Island Park.
**Dump station access: While some campgrounds lack sewer hookups, dump stations are available. "Sanitary dump" facilities are listed at Millerton Lake, Camp Edison, and Island Park, though some may require additional fees beyond standard camping rates.
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