Campgrounds near Gustine, California provide access to varied terrain from valley floors to mountainsides reaching 1,800 feet in elevation. Temperatures fluctuate significantly between seasons, with summer days often exceeding 90°F and winter nights dropping below 40°F. The region sits at the intersection of several ecosystems, creating diverse camping environments from oak woodlands to lake shores.
What to do
Waterfall hiking: 6 miles of trail networks connect several small cascades at Uvas Canyon County Park. "Really pretty, really small. I would say in 1 full day you can explore 100% of this park. No need to make an entire weekend out of this place when you can do all of the pretty stuff in just a few hours," notes one visitor to Uvas Canyon County Park.
Wildlife viewing: Early morning and dusk provide prime wildlife spotting opportunities. "Our family enjoyed this campsite. The only issue was the squirrels had chewed through the electrical at some of the better sites. All in all it was very relaxing," shares a camper at Thousand Trails San Benito, where deer, wild boars, and sometimes foxes are common sightings.
Fishing: Bass and seasonal trout attract anglers to McSwain's waters. "There are free warm showers and the bathrooms are fairly clean. If you are staying in a tent make sure to layer up and bring lots of blankets because nights can get very cold. It's also a nice place to fish and the on-site store is a plus," reports a visitor at Lake McSwain Recreation Area.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Daily maintenance keeps campground services operational. "Very nice and clean. Only complaint is the layout of the campsite area I was in. They were very close together. And the water spout was difficult to get on. Other than that it was beautiful," explains one camper at Mount Madonna County Park.
Spacious sites: Varied site layouts across campgrounds accommodate different camping styles. "Lots of sites. Good views. Very quiet. Lots of wildlife to see. Good bass fishing," notes a visitor to Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park about the campground's attributes.
Family-friendly amenities: Playgrounds and activities keep children entertained. "In mid-October the campground is still running kids activities daily and they're good! Great culture here - friendly, lots of things to do (pool, basketball, volleyball, horseshoes, playground, billiards, karaoke, tennis)," shares a camper at Thousand Trails Morgan Hill.
What you should know
Seasonal temperature fluctuations: 40-50 degree swings between day and night require proper gear. "This is the only place I've seen the redwood trees harvest the fog and make their own rain, which is pretty cool. In the morning it's raining under the redwood trees but not under the madrone or tan oak trees, which is wild. It is a lot colder here than on the valley floor. Prepare for it to be 40deg colder than Gilroy or San Jose," warns a Mount Madonna visitor.
Wildlife precautions: Food storage requirements vary by campground. "There are food lockers since wild pigs come out at night. Be sure to lock all food up! They will roam through the camp ground all through the night if anyone has left any food out," cautions a camper about Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park.
Off-season advantages: Reduced crowds and rates from November through March. "We were here in November while my house was fumigated. Nice open campsites with hookups. Dump station was available although I did not see it listed on web site," reports an off-season visitor to Coyote Lake.
Tips for camping with families
Alternative yurt options: Mid-week availability improves for yurt camping near Gustine. "I had a big spot and no neighbors my entire half of the campground on a Monday night in June. I was under 2 big oaks that were buzzing with bird activity," shares a camper at Coyote Lake, which offers yurt accommodations beyond Mount Madonna's options.
Water activities: Seasonal restrictions apply to lake access. "The lake is closed to any and all water-craft because the water level is too low. It is very clean and well maintained for the most part," notes a summer visitor to Coyote Lake.
Biking opportunities: Loop roads provide safe cycling for children. "Great campground for the kids to bike at but there are a few big hills so make sure they know how to use their brakes," advises a Mount Madonna visitor.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Water and power vary significantly between campgrounds. "We got a nice spot close to the dump station near front. Their pool is huge and very very well kept. The spot was 30amp and back in however they have 50amp/pull through also," explains an RVer at Morgan Hill.
Level sites: Bring leveling blocks for some campground spots. "If you plan to sleep in your car, you may want to take leveling blocks as I found the car parking spot to be not leveled at all," suggests a visitor to Uvas Canyon who discovered uneven terrain.
Convenient locations: Shopping proximity makes supply runs easier. "Right behind shopping center with Walmart, Target, Lowe's and much more. Only negatives were, even though it was a week after the 4th of July, both nights someone was shooting fireworks," reports a camper at Gilroy Garlic USA RV Park about the benefits and drawbacks of camping near town.
