Joseph D. Grant County Park offers equestrian camping near Gustine, California, located approximately 40 miles northwest in the hills east of San Jose. The park spans 10,000 acres of oak woodland terrain with significant elevation changes—some trails feature over 1,200 feet of elevation gain in under two miles. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing at night, while summer days regularly exceed 90°F, making spring and fall the preferred seasons for visitors.
What to do
Horseback riding trails at Del Valle: Del Valle Campground features extensive riding opportunities with varied terrain. "The hills are pretty intense, but they're beautiful! The lake is also very picturesque... There is a swimming area, & there are picnic tables & nice-sized camp sites," notes Emmy.
Wildlife viewing at San Benito: Thousand Trails San Benito provides excellent wildlife watching opportunities approximately an hour from Gustine. "We had Condors above our cabin, deer around us, wild pigs crossing the roads. Its amazing!!!! My favorite part of our California trip was staying here!" reports Samantha N.
Fishing at Modesto Reservoir: The lake offers shoreline fishing spots accessible directly from campsites. According to John G., "We starter visiting Modesto Resivor in the sixties... Now that we are older, we camp on the shore line. Rustic tent camping near the water-skiing course is my favorite."
What campers like
Seclusion and privacy: Coe Ranch Campground at Henry W. Coe State Park provides a quiet retreat. "This small and quite campground is our favorite in Bay Area. Each site has a picnic table and a fire pit, with enough of trees and privacy. Campground is really small with only 20 campsites," shares Marta T.
Hot showers and facilities: Joseph D. Grant County Park maintains clean restroom facilities with free showers. "Showers are free only one shower per restroom though so be prepared to wait," notes Ashley E., while Melissa S. adds, "Bathrooms and showers were available. Camp host was friendly. They also sell ice which was nice to grab for the cooler."
Family-friendly activities: Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park offers numerous outdoor recreation options. Kate L. explains, "This gem of a county park is just 15 minutes from the Gilroy outlets but you'd have no idea. Campsites are along the beautiful Coyote lake... Bring your hiking loot as there are some great trails here."
What you should know
Limited cell service: Many campgrounds in the region have poor or no connectivity. Sophie S. notes about Joseph D. Grant Park: "We came in November, just in time for a temperature drop and some nice gusts... The camp ground was quiet and it was mostly couples or small family groups."
Seasonal water restrictions: Pacheco State Park has important water limitations visitors should know about. "NO WATER. Note that there is no safe potable water at the park, so if you're hiking, bring plenty to drink," warns Winnie K.
Wildlife encounters: Wild pigs are common at several campgrounds. At Coyote Lake, Quyen W. advises, "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."
Tips for camping with families
Booking timing: Henry W. Coe State Park requires advance planning. According to Sara W., "The Coe Ranch campground has several tent-only campsites that can be reserved online ($8 transaction fee, $20/night), and the campground has parking for vehicles in a small parking area ~20-100 feet from the campsites."
Swimming options: Woodward Reservoir offers family-friendly water recreation. Bonnie S. shares, "Woodward is our family go to place to camp in the summer heat. Lots of campsites with room for tents or RVs. Fire pits and picnic tables at each site. Water feels good when it's 100+ degrees outside."
Educational opportunities: Several parks offer nature programs and historical exhibits. At Joseph D. Grant County Park, Lisa D. mentions, "there's also a mansion & rose garden on the property... there are nights to gather and stargaze."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: At Thousand Trails San Benito, finding the right spot makes a difference. Alberto C. advises, "We stayed towards the back site 353 I believe abs had no others around us. Definitely will be booking another stay here!"
Hookup availability: Coyote Lake provides good value for RV campers. Theodora G. notes, "Very reasonable $36 per night for rv hookup. Off season is cheaper and less crowded. Turkeys and deer. There are wild pigs, but I haven't seen any. Bathrooms are clean, showers are free."
Level challenges: Henry W. Coe State Park poses difficulties for larger rigs. Karen warns, "all of the pull in sites were extremely off-level (even with all our blocks we couldn't get close) and the roads through the campground itself is so steep/narrow and windy that it would be extremely difficult to back in."
