Camping options near Hanford, California include several overnight rv sites in the central San Joaquin Valley, with elevations ranging from 249 to 330 feet above sea level. Most campgrounds experience hot, dry summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 95°F from June through September, while winter months bring cooler temperatures and occasional fog. Several rv parks within a 50-mile radius provide access to both valley amenities and mountain destinations.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Access Kings River RV Resort where the seasonal river creates varied fishing conditions. "During summer months, Kings River fills with water, creating riverside camping opportunities, while winter visitors will find the riverbed dry," notes one visitor. Another camper observed, "The park is along the King River. Which was dry as a desert when I was here. No water presently but looks like that's not always the case."
Swimming options: Visit Sequoia RV Ranch for water recreation during warmer months. "There was a really nice swimming hole that we did not test out in March. Easy and quick to Sequoia and a coffee shop and brewery just down the road!" A camper mentions the "natural spring-fed swimming hole in the North Fork of the Kaweah River, just a short walk from the campground."
Park exploration: Use campgrounds as base camps for national park visits. "We stopped just for the night and I had time to do our laundry, dump the rv… I loved it 100%!" reports a visitor at Sequoia Resort & RV Park. Another camper states, "FHU with large pull through spots. Quiet place that was nice to spend a few days at while exploring Sequoia and Kings Canyon."
What campers like
Scenic river locations: Many campgrounds offer sites with water views. At Riverbend RV Park, "We've had a wonderful stay, the staff was super sweet and helpful. The park is clean and has a lot of space and things to do." Another review notes, "creek and river next to property is very pretty. We really enjoyed it."
Spacious sites: Campers appreciate room to spread out at Almond Tree Oasis RV Park. "This is a great location halfway between northern and southern California along I5. Clean and not too busy so we were nicely spaced out," reports one camper. Another mentions, "Very nice spots with plenty of space. 30 and 50 amp hookups with water and sewage."
Convenience to highways: RV parks strategically located near major routes facilitate travel breaks. "A great RV stop. Bathrooms were impeccably clean & well-maintained. Pool looked to be spotless as well, but since it was winter we didn't try it." For those needing quick access, "This park is next door to a gas station as well so you can fuel up as you leave."
What you should know
Seasonal availability: Water features fluctuate throughout the year. At Sequoia RV Park, "When we got there they said just park any open site, so basically they don't reserve you a campsite online so its all a surprise until you get there." Another camper confirms, "From the information on their website, the King River that runs adjacent to the CG is pretty much dried up this time of year(January) but fills for the summer season."
Road conditions: Access routes vary in quality and navigation ease. "A section of road leading into the park is extremely bumpy. Careful with carbonated drinks after you arrive," advises one visitor. Another warns, "We arrived after carefully following the website and emailed instructions, as our RV GPS and Waze would not have gotten us here."
Bathroom facilities: Shower availability and conditions differ between parks. "Bathrooms could benefit from some maintenance and a good cleaning," notes one camper. Others mention, "Showers use quarters" at some locations, while another reports, "The bathrooms are impeccably clean. Really nice showers."
Tips for camping with families
Recreational amenities: Several parks offer kid-friendly facilities. At Blackstone North RV Park, "The park is well maintained and provided a nice area to walk with my pup." Riverbend RV Park offers "lots of kids play areas, adults game areas, fishing pond."
Noise levels: Consider quiet times and noise policies when traveling with children. "We stayed here on a Monday night and it was peaceful," notes one visitor. Another mentions, "The campground was full, but everyone observed the no noise after 10 PM rule."
Shade availability: Summer heat makes shade important for comfort. "Lots of trees which is great unless you have a satellite dish on top of your RV," reports one camper. Another notes, "Not many shade trees. I got lucky and pick spot 44 which is right across from the pool and showers and best of all a huge shade tree."
Tips from RVers
Site configurations: Different layouts affect comfort and convenience. "The way the large-sized sites here are arranged, you can park your rig in various configurations," notes one RVer. Another mentions, "The sites on either side of us had a bit more [shade]. It was buggy and hot but it was august!"
Utility connections: Power stability varies between locations and sites. "We had issues with low voltage from the electric post on site 6 which caused our RV's electrical system to cycle on and off every minute or two. The onsite techs diagnosed an issue with the city-supplied power and mentioned sites 1 through 10 had issues with power, mostly on the weekends."
Internet access: Connectivity options differ across rv sites near Hanford. "Supposedly, they have Wifi, as indicated by the multiple repeaters around the park, but we received no instructions/password and didn't see a guest network to try and log in. This was fine as we put out our Starlink and we had 4 bars on Verizon."
