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.
What to do
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.
What campers like
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."
What you should know
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."
Tips for camping with families
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.
Tips from RVers
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."
