Laura K.
Scout
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.
Tent Camping near Lathrop, CA
2 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Search destinations
Add dates
Tent camping options near Lathrop, California include a mix of established campgrounds and more secluded backcountry sites within driving distance. Lake Camanche, located about 40 miles east in Wallace, offers tent camping with amenities like drinking water, showers, and toilets. Morgan Territory Regional Preserve provides a more primitive backcountry tent camping experience that feels more removed from urban areas.
Most tent campsites in the region require advance reservations, particularly during summer months when the area experiences high temperatures and increased visitation. Lake Camanche tent sites include picnic tables and fire rings, with the campground maintaining trash collection and potable water sources. Sites at Morgan Territory Regional Preserve are more rustic, with minimal facilities but greater seclusion. Tent campers should prepare for variable weather conditions, with summer temperatures often exceeding 90°F. During peak season, weekday visits offer significantly less crowding than weekends.
Walk-in tent sites at Morgan Territory Regional Preserve provide a more immersive outdoor experience than vehicle-accessible campgrounds. The preserve's backcountry campsites require some hiking but reward tent campers with greater privacy and natural surroundings. Sunol Regional Wilderness, another option for tent camping within driving distance of Lathrop, features sites along a creek with opportunities for day hiking on adjacent trails. According to one visitor, Morgan Territory "feels very off grid" with a genuine backcountry experience despite its relative proximity to urban areas. Lake Camanche can experience significant crowds during summer weekends, with one camper noting that "weekends are filled up and busy, but during the week days it's nice and quiet."
Best Tent Campgrounds near Lathrop (17)
1. Lake Camanche
"Wicked August heat, BUT there’s the lake! 5 Stars — were it not for the SLOBS who preceded us!!"
"I come here with my family every year around 4th of July. I would book way ahead for busy holidays like that.
The water level really varies on the year."Check Availabilityfrom $50 / night
2. Delta Bay RV Resort
3. Rancho Seco Recreation Area
"About 50 tent only sites, some just feet from the lake. RV sites are farther from the lake on mostly level gravel pads with picnic table, fire rings, and a trash can at each site."
"Great Lake for paddle boarding and some fishing. Rv site was nicely groomed with drainage rock. Not perfectly flat but that is fine. No shade during the day. But over all a nice park and pretty quiet."
4. Morgan Territory Regional Preserve
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $15 / night
5. Sunol
"Great backpacking getway. Many day hikers here but you can backpack as well. I camped on a beautiful ridge."
"I have never camped here but hiked many trails."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when available6. Cole Ranch
"They also change the hand towel in the restrooms daily for everyone to use. The campsite is well taken care of as well as the kitchen which is communal use."
"The amenities were above and beyond anything we have seen at other locations. Complimentary watercraft for the river, stocked outdoor kitchen, and hot showers with shampoo/lotion etc. "
from $60 - $90 / night
7. Juniper Campground — Mount Diablo State Park
"We didn’t have a reservation, but got 1 upon arrival around 2pm. Our site had nearby bathrooms, showers & trash. It included picnic table, fire pit, food storage boxes, & is very spacious."
Check Availabilityfrom $30 / night
8. Round Valley Regional Preserve
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $15 / night
9. Joseph D. Grant County Park
"Lots of wildlife to see and hear (coyotes). Didn’t get 5 starts cause it was quite busy with loud neighbors!"
"They also sell ice which was nice to grab for the cooler. Nice stay, saw a lot of bunnies and a bobcat on the way out."
10. Joseph D Grant County Park - Horse Camp
"Lotsa shaded oak spaces. Good trails."
"Hamilton and a lake up the road a way, there’s also a mansion & rose garden on the property, shower & bathroom are clean, there are nights to gather and stargaze.The tent spaces are sizable &"
Check Availabilityfrom $15 - $400 / night
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 Tent Camping Photos near Lathrop, CA
17 Photos of 17 Lathrop Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Lathrop, CA
441 Reviews of 17 Lathrop Campgrounds
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.
- 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.
Rosa M.ScoutCarnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area
Stayed 2 nigths, it was perfect
We stayed 2 nigths, 10$ per night. The staff was very kind. The place has showers and bathrooms clean enough for being it the middle of towns. Each space has a fire ring and a table. There's a little bit of noise in the morning and afternoon because of the cars that avoid the highway and pass nearby. It's first come first served. Overall, it's a very safe and good place to camp
Brook L.ScoutRancho Seco Recreation Area
Rancho Stinko
This park is completely understaffed, and the staff they do have are short and rude when talked to. Leaches in the water, goose poop all on beach area along with trash and dirty diapers. Management is never to be seen and the store they have is never open. Restrooms had poop on walls, birds in the bathroom, toilet paper everywhere. They constantly have water problems. They have an abundance of wasps also.
Margaret R.GuideMerced River Resort
Beware rat infested
Stayed at this camp for a few months,then storages my basically new fifth wheel through the winter. When the hauler went to pick it up,there was significant damage done in which he took date and location stamped photos of while still parked next to the same RV we parked it by. When it arrived,it was even worse we had an active rat infestation that cost me over$3k repairs to all of my water lines and gas lines they had chewed through. Not including the mattresses,bedding ect we had to replace. I contacted the park,they ask for the photos and then said get an estimate and they would pay for repairs. It took me over a month to get an estimate,in which I had to pay for. For them then to decide they were not responsible now. Please do not store your nice items at this place! They do not care about you or your stuff. My insurance will be suing for all damages now.
Eric T.ScoutDelta Shores Resort and Marina
Very Friendly
Showers are clean, lots of play area, for kids.boating
Guide to Lathrop
Tent campsites near Lathrop, California include options across San Joaquin, Contra Costa, and Sacramento counties, with elevations ranging from near sea level in the Delta region to over 3,800 feet at Mount Diablo. Summer temperatures typically reach 90-100°F between June and September, making spring and fall the most comfortable camping seasons for most visitors. Campgrounds within an hour's drive offer varied terrain from riverside settings to oak woodland preserves.
What to do
Paddle the waterways: At Cole Ranch, campers can enjoy complimentary watercraft on the river. "We took out one of the facilities canoes on the river and relaxed on the water all afternoon. Fishing was a success, what a bonus," shares Joyce L., highlighting the unique amenities.
Explore Little Yosemite: The creek area in Sunol features interesting rock formations and water features. "The hike is uphill.... it starts along a creek/river which is referred to as Little Yosemite. Fun creek area with lots of water/rock formations," notes one backpacker who stayed at Hawk's Nest on the ridge.
Fish at Rancho Seco Lake: The 160-acre lake at Rancho Seco Recreation Area provides good fishing opportunities year-round. "Nice quiet campground good fishing lake to fish just make sure you put your food away at night raccoons will get your food and snacks," warns Robert A., highlighting both the fishing and wildlife awareness needed.
What campers like
Communal amenities: Cole Ranch stands out for its exceptional shared facilities. "They even provide pots, pans, knives and other cooking utensils you may need. Overall, it was such a great experience," explains Eric A., describing the well-maintained communal kitchen area.
Secluded backcountry experience: Morgan Territory Regional Preserve offers genuine off-grid camping without traveling far. "Feels very off grid. Camp experience was smooth and the sun was shining," notes Tyler S. about the backcountry campsite.
Winter camping options: Some camping areas around Lathrop remain accessible year-round. "Our go to campground for Winter Camping and Fishing... We were the only ones camping on Christmas Weekend and we had a few neighbors when we went again in mid January," reports Ed E., describing winter visits to Lake Camanche.
What you should know
Seasonal challenges: Summer heat makes some campsites uncomfortable without proper preparation. "Insanely hot in the summer, I would not recommend going in July like we did. It was 104° or something and I was just drenching my clothes in water to stay cool," warns Ben W. about Juniper Campground.
Wildlife awareness: Raccoons are active at several campgrounds in the region. "Make sure you put your food away at night raccoons will get your food and snacks," advises a camper at Rancho Seco Recreation Area. At Juniper Campground, another camper notes, "They have food lockers, not bear lockers, and ours was broken one time so have a solid backup plan, the raccoons are very intelligent."
Water level fluctuations: Lake levels can vary significantly at some locations. "We've been there during drought years and when the water is back at normal levels," shares Kellie D., noting that water activities remain enjoyable regardless at Lake Camanche.
Tips for camping with families
Choose camp hosts wisely: Attentive camp hosts can transform the family camping experience. "Barry and his wife were amazing hosts! They made sure that we had everything we needed! Our dog Rocket lost his floatie frisbee in the water and they took time out of their day to buy him a new one," shares Eric A. about Cole Ranch.
Consider off-peak timing: For a more peaceful family experience, midweek camping offers quieter surroundings. "Weekends are filled up and busy, but during the week days it's nice and quiet," notes a camper about Lake Camanche.
Look for water access: Camps with safe water access provide natural entertainment for children. "Cool for a weekend stay. We don't have boat and did not rent one, but the kids had a great time with just the floaties," shares Nicole S. about Lake Camanche's swimming areas.
Tips from RVers
Elevation considerations: Some campgrounds near Lathrop involve significant elevation changes. "Just a heads up the drive is windy, I got carsick on the way down," warns Brittney L. about the road to Juniper Campground at Mount Diablo State Park.
Off-season advantages: Several camping areas near Lathrop offer excellent off-season RV camping. "We stayed at the lake for one night, mid-week, off season. We were only one of a few handful of RVs in the RV section of the campground. I could imagine it being a loud party-scene in the summer," notes a visitor to Lake Camanche describing the peaceful atmosphere during shoulder season.
Site selection strategy: At Rancho Seco Recreation Area, location within the campground significantly impacts your experience. "21 water and electric sites with a dump station on the way out. Some pull through sites. About 50 tent only sites, some just feet from the lake. RV sites are farther from the lake on mostly level gravel pads with picnic table, fire rings, and a trash can at each site," explains one RVer, providing helpful site selection information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Lathrop, CA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Lathrop, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Lathrop, CA is Lake Camanche with a 4.1-star rating from 18 reviews.
What is the best site to find
tent camping near
Lathrop, CA?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Lathrop, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 17 tent camping locations near Lathrop, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring