J
John V.
Scout
ScoutRiverpoint Landing Marina Resort
It is beautiful, clean, secure and right on the River! 50 amps are available… We would prefer to have sewer hook up as
Camping near Lathrop, CA
15 campgrounds with availability next weekend
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The Central Valley community of Lathrop, California provides convenient access to multiple water-oriented camping destinations within a 30-minute drive. Dos Reis County Park offers year-round camping directly within Lathrop city limits, featuring both tent and RV sites with electric hookups and boat-in access to the San Joaquin River. Nearby options include French Camp RV Park and Golf Course, which caters primarily to RV travelers with full hookups, and Caswell Memorial State Park Campground in neighboring Ripon, where tent camping is available in a more natural setting along the Stanislaus River. The California Delta waterways shape much of the camping experience in this region, with several campgrounds offering direct water access for boating, fishing, and water recreation.
Reservations are essential during summer months when temperatures regularly exceed 90°F and water-adjacent sites fill quickly. Most campgrounds in the area feature level, paved access roads suitable for RVs and trailers, though site spacing varies considerably between locations. As one camper noted, "The water level really varies on the year. Sometimes the water is right up to the edge of the campsites and other years it's about a half-mile walk." California drought conditions can significantly impact lake and river levels, affecting water access at certain times. Cell service is generally reliable at most campgrounds near Lathrop, though coverage may be spotty at more remote sites. Summer heat makes shade a premium amenity, with many reviewers recommending early booking for sites with tree cover.
Water recreation dominates the camping experience around Lathrop, with boating, fishing, and swimming opportunities available at most campgrounds. Facilities typically include standard amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and restrooms, with varying levels of maintenance. "The campground was clean as usual. During the pandemic, they closed every other site, therefore, it felt safer and not overcrowded," reported one visitor to nearby Lake Camanche. Wildlife sightings, particularly deer and waterfowl, are common at campgrounds throughout the region. Weekend crowding can be significant during summer months, with midweek stays offering a quieter experience. The proximity to Interstate 5 and Highway 99 makes these campgrounds popular stopover points for travelers moving between Northern and Southern California, resulting in a mix of short-term and extended-stay campers.
Best Campgrounds near Lathrop (136)
1. Caswell Memorial State Park Campground
"Near by river provides access to canoeing or kayaking. A few hiking trails plus a good size group campsite area. Online reservation available."
"Most of the sites are close to the entrance to the river. The day use are is well shaded and provides easy hicks. Will definately go again."
27 Sites AvailableAvailable next weekend
from $30 - $175 / night
2. Dos Reis County Park
"Not a lot to do in the surrounding area, no obvious hiking trails, for example, although some fishing seems to have been possible. A small loop of 20+ sites, all (it appeared) with full-hookups. "
"Trails to hike and bike"
Check Availabilityfrom $30 - $40 / night
3. Riverpoint Landing Marina Resort
"Dog friendly with a nice park just outside of the resort. Shopping and restaurants nearby."
"This is a unique rv park right on the Stockton deep water channel where you can sit next to your rv and watch huge oceangoing ships come into port. We loved it."
Check Availabilityfrom $69 - $89 / night
4. Thousand Trails Turtle Beach
"Stayed on large grass site next to the water. Very nice. Few amenities and staff was scarce but more than adequate. Lots of room to roam for people & pets."
"Showers and clubhouse activities are still limited, but the nearby delta offers its own attraction. Day use, tents, and every class of RV are easily accommodated."
5. French Camp RV Park and Golf Course
"Was passing thru from south California. Very clean. Staff was pleasant to work with at check in. Plenty of room to leave RV hooked up to truck."
6. French Camp Recreational Vehicle Park
7. Camptown Tracy CA
"The location is close to the freeway and passes by for 7 years. Often it has a foul odor due to farmers, waste facility plants or Warehouses ."
8. Del Valle Campground — East Bay Regional Park District
"After time spent here at this oasis in the middle of Eastbay, California, you’ll very much feel like part of this place with its endless trails, fantastically well-kept camping grounds and the warm hospitality"
"Campsite amenities were great, easy access to water and bathrooms. Bathrooms were spotless the whole weekend, even though it was a holiday weekend and every site was booked."
Check Availabilityfrom $15 - $200 / night
9. Turner Cut Resort
"Good for camping on the delta with green grass and close to the boat spots"
10. Windmill Cove RV Park
Drive Time
- 17 min from Stockton, CA
- 31 min from Modesto, CA
- 59 min from Sacramento, CA
- 1 hr 8 min from San Jose, CA
Recent Camping Photos near Lathrop, CA
99 Photos of 136 Lathrop Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Thousand Trails Turtle Beach
Caswell Memorial State Park Campground
Castle Crags Campground — Castle Crags State ParkA
Sugar Barge RV Resort & Marina
Delta Shores Resort and Marina
Woodward Reservoir
Del Valle Campground — East Bay Regional Park District
Willow Campground — Brannan Island State Recreation Area
Brannan Island State Recreation Area
Sandy Beach County Parkj
Live Oak Campground — Mount Diablo State Park Campground
Cole RanchE
Recent Reviews near Lathrop, CA
495 Reviews of 136 Lathrop Campgrounds
Laura K.ScoutCalifornia Delta's Snug Harbor
This campground needs a lot of work including docks, boat births and sites need pads and less weeds, stickers, burs.
T T.
GuideDumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay
Great safe place in sourh east bay
Great location with spaces in safe SE bay area location and reasonable prices New development small young trees limited natural shade
Kylee R.
RangerCaswell Memorial State Park Campground
Caswell Memorial State Park
Lots of sites with privacy! Bathrooms are clean and they have coin operated showers. Dumpsters and water in various spots. Right on the river, a small beach access. Saw some cats. Bear box, picnic table, and fire pit at each spot.
Tom T.ScoutDumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay
Open sky great starlink users.
Very quiet campground at night. See stars clearly. Use the fire pit after 730pm when the wind has calmed down.
KrystleScoutMineral Springs Trailhead
Overnight stays not allowed
I was woken up by law enforcement and asked to leave on my second night staying here. They will issue a citation (luckily they took mine away and gave me a warning) this needs to be removed as a dispersed site.
- TTwindaddyGuide
Del Valle Campground — East Bay Regional Park District
East Bay Parks - IYKYK
Like most/all east bay parks, this is well appointed for the masses. It’s also surrounded by rolling hills and close to suburbia. For many, these are positives. As an east bay resident they are for me as well. Del Valle is a bit more removed than many east bay parks. From my location in Fremont, it’s a one hour drive. A pleasant drive for the most part. I camp to get away for a bit and almost always to mountain bike. As such, I seek parks that have trails. Del Valle has a map of many trails. They also appear on many of the mapping services used by mountain bikers. Review those and digest them if this is also your intention - these are east bay parka style trails. In other words, mostly steep and loose fire roads, with many “social trails” sprinkled between. If you are compelled to stay legit/legal trails, bring an ebike. Now on to the camping. I picked a spot as far removed from any booked spot on the map. I triple checked this up until the day before I arrived. I want solitude! When I arrived Thursday afternoon, I was surprised to see the sites just 3 spaces away, on both sides, occupied. This is a fairly compact area. And while I’m sure they’re lovely folks, this isn’t what I expected on a Thursday. Saturday? Sure. Anyway… be aware that these reservation services aren’t completely reliable in that regard. The bathrooms and showers are amazing! Clean, smell good, cared for. Noteworthy is the hot showers in the camp grounds are free and your one push of the button provides water for two minutes I'd guess. Very nice! The space, 135 for me, is okay. A couple trees for shade, a nice table and fire pit. It’s now dark and the noise is minimal - mostly from the group campsite just down the hill. I’ll update this with more details in the coming days since it’s a 4 day visit.
Update 1: it’s my first morning here. Using starlink as there is no cell signal to be found. What I noticed last night was that this park is directly below the flight path to the local airports. Every couple minutes last night, a plane would fly overhead. According to flight aware, they’re at about 10,000 feet. If this will ruin your getaway, you’ve been warned.
Update 2: On Friday night, the majority of the spots were filled. Many large groups of people with varying degrees of consideration, but to their credit almost all (except the barking German Shepard) were quiet by 10PM. It was a bit more crowded come Saturday morning. Some friends came to visit for a mountain bike ride, and we set off at about noon. I had been complimentary of the facilities and bragged that I'd be taking a nice shower after our ride. Unfortunately, upon our return, there was no hot water and no lighting in the showers. And, sadly, someone decided to remove the tags and hangers from their TJ Maxx haul and leave them all over the floor of two of the showers.
Verdict: I'd only come back here in the springtime when it's likely to be green and have some water in the arroyo and only during the week. The density and composition of the people here was akin to being at Costco on a Saturday, and I only did that once.
- DDon E.
TravelerSherman Island Regional Park
Sherman island is about the wind and the beach and the launch
This is a fun place for you and the fam either to camp or for the day.
The tide comes in and out here as it’s a low level island and the approach to access sometimes will be under water from the tide. It is just like that, not poorly maintained, just one short section that can get 6inches deep and is not an issue for anybody.
I stayed in a tent camper fold-out. I hugged the hedge next to a teardrop. Everyone was nice and it was a relaxing stay. Can launch boat/kayak or do all the wind surfing type sports they talk about.
Stuart K.
LegendLas Trampas Regional Wilderness
Come for the Solitude & Stay for Those Ridgeline Views
Las Trampas is one of those wonderfully odd camping experiences that almost feels like you’ve discovered something you weren’t supposed to know about. Despite sitting on the doorstep of Danville and San Ramon, this 6,050-acre preserve quickly trades suburbia for steep ridges, oak woodland, grasslands and some terrific views across the East Bay. And camping here is decidedly primitive: the Corral Area is a single reservable group campsite for 17–50 people, rather than a conventional campground with individual sites. That means lots of privacy, lots of space and very little resembling a traditional developed campground.
While my earlier review goes into considerably more detail, I thought I’d revisit this campground with a quick topline of HIGHLIGHTS and LOWLIGHTS - along with a fresh batch of photos.
HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Remarkable feeling of seclusion considering you’re only minutes from the suburban East Bay, with Oakland lying just beyond; (2) Having essentially one primitive group camping area makes this feel more like your own private campground than a conventional campsite; (3) Picnic tables, BBQs, food-storage box and a drinking-water spigot provide just enough infrastructure without spoiling the primitive experience; (4) Direct access to a huge trail network with Rocky Ridge reaching 2,024 feet and panoramic views toward Mt. Diablo and the surrounding valleys; and (5) Abundant wildlife, seasonal wildflowers, grazing cattle and those beautiful rolling East Bay hills make the setting the real amenity here.
LOWLIGHTS: (1) This is group camping only, with a 17-person minimum, so it simply doesn’t work for a couple or small family looking for an ordinary campsite; (2) No hookups, showers or flush toilets - here, primitive means primitive; (3) Water at the campsite should be considered unreliable, so bring your own rather than betting the weekend on the spigot; and (4) Many of the best trails are steep, exposed and short on shade, which can make hot-weather hiking considerably more strenuous than the beautiful scenery initially suggests.
Insider’s Tip: Bring more water than you think you’ll need and make time for a ridge hike. Las Trampas is one of those places where climbing a few hundred feet completely changes your perspective especially when the suburban Bay Area seemingly disappears beneath you, which is precisely what makes camping here so unexpectedly special.
Happy Camping!
Guide to Lathrop
The San Joaquin River and surrounding California Delta waterways define the camping experience near Lathrop, California. Most campgrounds sit at elevations between 10-30 feet above sea level with summer temperatures averaging 90-95°F. Water levels fluctuate significantly based on seasonal rainfall patterns, sometimes dropping 10-15 feet below normal during drought conditions and affecting water access at several camping areas.
What to do
Tube floating on calm waterways: At Caswell Memorial State Park Campground, visitors can enjoy a 45-minute lazy river float. "A small river is nearby. There aren't trails nearby but it worked out fine for us," notes one camper. The park offers tube floating from the camp area to the day-use beach.
Golf near your campsite: French Camp RV Park and Golf Course provides easy access to golfing without leaving the grounds. "It's a super sweet RV resort. It is very well-maintained, nicely landscaped, and they have some great dog parks," reports a visitor. The course remains open year-round with affordable green fees.
Delta shipping channel observation: From Riverpoint Landing Marina Resort, campers can watch oceangoing vessels navigate the Stockton deep water channel. "We saw ships coming in and out of the channel. Was lucky to see a sailboat race also," shares one reviewer. The deep-water channel provides a unique maritime viewing experience uncommon at most inland campgrounds.
What campers like
Clean bathroom facilities: Caswell Memorial State Park earns high marks for its restroom upkeep. "The bathrooms were astounding. Very modern and especially clean," notes a camper. This contrasts with some other delta campgrounds where bathroom maintenance receives mixed reviews.
Shaded campsites for summer relief: The mature trees at several campgrounds provide crucial shade. "As I was camping in the summer and it was supposed to be 100s I wanted to make sure I had a shadey spot. I was able to find quite a few spots that had shade," explains one Caswell Memorial visitor. Sites under tree cover can be 10-15°F cooler than exposed sites.
Direct water access: Turner Cut Resort offers immediate river access for boaters and anglers. "Good for camping on the delta with green grass and close to the boat spots," comments a visitor. Many sites allow boaters to dock directly behind their campsite for convenient water entry.
What you should know
Mosquito preparation essential: Delta wetlands create ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes, especially from April through October. "TONS of mosquitos, be prepared! When we drove in midday, we were swarmed with mosquitos," warns a Caswell Memorial camper. The mosquito population increases significantly after spring rainfall.
Weekend crowds vs. midweek tranquility: Occupancy patterns follow predictable cycles. "It can be crowded on the weekends, but the week days are wonderful," explains a reviewer of Caswell Memorial. Reservation data shows some campgrounds reaching 95% capacity on summer weekends but dropping below 40% occupancy Tuesday through Thursday.
Campsite spacing varies considerably: At Dos Reis County Park, site proximity affects privacy. "We were very close to surrounding sites, so we felt we didn't have enough privacy," notes one camper. Site measurements range from as little as 15 feet between units at some locations to over 30 feet at more spacious campgrounds.
Tips for camping with families
Shallow swimming areas: Several campgrounds offer designated swimming zones with gradual entry. "The river is usually very pleasant for tube floating, water can be a little cold but mostly it's refreshing since Ripken tends to get hot," explains a Caswell Memorial visitor. Water depth in designated swimming areas typically remains under 4 feet.
Midweek timing for quieter stays: Family campers often report better experiences during non-peak periods. "A couple of campers didn't respect the quiet time rules and it ruined my whole experience at the site," shares a Dos Reis County Park visitor, highlighting weekend noise challenges. Tuesday and Wednesday arrivals generally encounter fewer occupied sites.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Del Valle Campground offers abundant wildlife sightings. "I saw deer and turkeys roaming the campground," reports a visitor. Morning hours between 6-8am provide the best wildlife viewing opportunities when animals are most active.
Tips from RVers
Leveling considerations: Many delta campgrounds feature varying terrain. At Flag City RV Resort, "The cement pad was plenty long enough for our 40' fifth wheel and unhooked F450. The utilities are on the back quarter of the pad. We needed 15' of sewer hose." Bringing leveling blocks remains advisable for most area campgrounds.
Hookup placement awareness: Utility connections often require planning. "This application says it's 50 amp with septic. No septic and only 30 amp service," notes a visitor to Turtle Beach, highlighting the importance of verifying actual hookup specifications before arrival. Extension cords of at least 25 feet are recommended for most sites.
Site selection for shade: Summer temperatures make shade essential for comfortable RV camping. "Not a big fan of the lava rock site area, would prefer grass," mentions a Flag City RV Resort visitor, underscoring the value of researching site surface materials and shade coverage before booking. Sites with afternoon shade can reduce air conditioning needs by up to 40%.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any free or low-cost campgrounds in Lathrop?
Are there any free or low-cost campgrounds in Lathrop?
While there aren't free campgrounds directly in Lathrop, Acorn Campground offers affordable options at $20 per night, with discounts to $10 per night for Golden Age Pass holders. This budget-friendly campground is located at New Hogan Reservoir and permits stays up to 15 days per month. Another economical option is Dos Reis County Park near Lathrop, which features reasonable rates and is situated along the San Joaquin River. Both locations provide basic amenities while keeping costs low, making them popular with budget-conscious campers looking to enjoy the Central California outdoors without breaking the bank.
What are the best tent camping sites near Lathrop?
What are the best tent camping sites near Lathrop?
For excellent tent camping near Lathrop, Anthony Chabot Regional Park offers spacious sites with convenient access to restrooms and water. The park features family-friendly areas, particularly around site #45, with plenty of space for children to play. Another great option is Lake Camanche, which provides a relaxing environment with easy lake access. The South Shore area is particularly well-maintained with clean facilities. For tent campers seeking a water-oriented experience, Woodward Reservoir features shallow, warm water perfect for swimming and water activities, with paved loop campgrounds and picnic tables near the shore.
What amenities are available at Lathrop camping areas?
What amenities are available at Lathrop camping areas?
Camping areas near Lathrop offer a range of amenities to enhance your outdoor experience. Del Valle Campground provides exceptionally well-maintained grounds with enormous sites that can accommodate large groups, particularly sites 78 and 80. The campground features access to endless trails and warm hospitality from camp rangers. At COE New Hogan Lake Coyote Point Campground, you'll find lake access perfect for kayak fishing, with abundant wildlife including dragonflies and butterflies. Most campgrounds in the area offer clean restrooms with hot water, designated fire rings, picnic tables, and drinking water. Some locations also provide boat ramps, RV hookups, and proximity to recreational activities.
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