11 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Pet-friendly camping near Madera ranges from full-hookup RV parks to leash-friendly lakeside campsites, giving travelers with dogs practical options across different budgets and setups. The Lakes RV & Golf Resort in Chowchilla accommodates tent and RV campers with pets throughout the year. Surrounded by a pond, this campground maintains a secured property with electronic access devices for safety while allowing alcohol and fires at designated sites. Full hookups include electric, water, and sewer connections, with a sanitary dump station available. The meticulously maintained grounds feature paved spots with small patio and grass areas, though some visitors note the space can be somewhat limited. The swimming pool provides welcome relief during hot summer months, making it particularly popular with families.
Millerton Lake State Recreation Area Campground permits pets at all their campsites with proper leashing. Located a short drive from Madera, this year-round destination offers flush toilets, trash service, and picnic tables without requiring electrical hookups. Hiking trails surround the campground with access to the lake for swimming and fishing activities. Lost Lake Campground near Friant provides additional dog-friendly camping options with boat, drive-in and walk-in access points. The campground closes at 7pm which prevents late-night arrivals, and a $25 camping fee includes access to multiple trails where visitors can explore with their pets. During winter months, the temperatures remain comfortable for camping with pets, though summer heat can be intense and requires additional consideration for animal safety.
"Even with all the rain, the lake isn’t very full. The campground, including the bathroom, was clean."
"The site we stayed at had a nice fire ring, was flat, had a picnic table and it was close to running water. We tent camped, but it looked like there were plenty of RV spots too. Nice and quiet too."
from $30 - $150 / night
"There is a high fence surrounding the property and it is secured by electronic hand held devices that you receive when you check in. The lake and swimming pool are beautiful and restful."
"Surrounded by a pond. Cable & wifi. Decent laundry room. Perfect place if you're a golfer. We stayed here multiple nights. My kids loved the pool."
from $42 - $1500 / night
"It would make the perfect group site as they were a bit tucked back from the other sites. Site #12 could easily be connected to site #11 as the brush is well-cleared between the two."
"Located a short 20 miles east of 99, just north of Fresno, this Army Corps of Engineers campground is stunning."
Available this weekend
from $30 - $200 / night
"Enjoyed hiking around the area. Our dogs loved the water. Would definitely stay again. Camp hosts were very friendly and helpful."
"Bathrooms were so-so with regard to cleanliness but most sites had its own access to water which was awesome!"
Available this weekend
from $30 - $200 / night
"Bass lake is the perfect campground for young family camping. There are plenty of facilities and even a restaurant."
"It was quite and have several trails to walk on. Their is a nice that runs by the campgrounds and further down and pass the station where pay the toll to the stake park."
"A few miles out of town, store close by. Usually mostly empty and good privacy"
from $25 / night
"Close to hwy but far enough that road noise isn't onerous. Train passes through once at night time, bring earplugs. Clean, tidy, well kept campground."
"Picnic tables, well used.. fire pits, barbecue pits.. sites look d pretty clean, i am across from lake, train noise.."
from $30 / night
"There was also an impressive amount of glass spread out around our site. I have no idea who had a rage room here but I was picking up glass all weekend, it became a hobby."
"This site is just about four minutes away from Yosemite entrance. We stayed here two nights. The sites are really spread out, which is super nice!"
GuideBeautiful spot on the side of Bass Lake. Goat Mtn trail can be accessed right from the campground. Friendly camp host. There are definitely bears, raccoons and lots of ticks - we saw all of them. We expect that when camping in the woods but some might not. Food can’t be left out at all.
RangerConvenient location - on 152, just west of I-5. The majority of the 115 sites are residential RVers, but there are a few sites available for short term. Clean and heated bathrooms, although dated; covered area with ping ping, pool, and tables and chairs. Pool, laundry, dog run area, and playground (closed for maintenance while we were here). No stray or feral animals; saw several people with dogs - all in a leash and behaved. The RV Park itself is very quiet - as essentially a residential area. The highway noise is fairly loud, thus the 4.
GuideThe campground is very accessible and therefore can feel busy at times (visited in October). It has flushable toilets and the general store is less than 10 min away by car. The campsites are rather close to each other, so don’t expect a lot of privacy. Our site (88C) was right in front of the restrooms, which have floodlights on all night and would not recommend. Overall, it’s a pretty good campground!
Scout$50 a night for full hookups, and WiFi
TravelerThe campground is going to be starting to do their cleanup of the over growth to make campsites better. But it is a gorgeous place to camp. Veterans free, seniors get discounts and regular camping is very reasonable. Fishing in the river. Day use side and campground side. Camp host is awesome. I've been several times and we love it. Great telephone reception, potable water spigots and restrooms (either portable outhouse or regular flush bathroom). 👍
GuideLoads of space! Not many people here in October. Park lot had two trailers and the trail to the right is wide open with numerous pullouts. Lots of great trails around for the dogs.
GuideWe loved our visit here so much we extended an extra week. The community welcomed us with open arms to participate in all their daily activities. Chris was especially helpful when we needed to arrive e early due to an issue at the park we were at. The site she gave us was very nice with papers for a patio and beautiful landscaping. We were able to watch the birds(many varieties) landing on our gutters for water from our couch. The only two things that were a little less than perfect was the road noise from 41 behind us and the water had some brown in it that filled our filter so have a spare on hand. There is a business nearby that allows you to ship items to for pickup. Trip into Yosemite via Oakhurst was about an hour (due to winding roads).
GuideThis is actually a really nice free dispersed camping site. Once you get to the Goat Meadows sign if you go left you will find a large parking lot with bathrooms. There were probably ten rigs or so jst camping up on the parking lot. If you go right down the hill you will find multiple dispersed camping sites. They are a little obscure, but some have nice fire rings that let you know it’s a site. They are very well spaced so even when you have neighbors you will hardly see or hear them. At the top of the hill where you go left or right was a camp host looking site but not sure if it is actually, but there was a camper there with a bumper pull trailer who uses a very loud shop type cheap generator that you can literally hear all over the area. Luckily, he turned it off about 10pm but started it up around 8am. If it weren’t for him probably would have given this site five stars. Also, T-Mobile and ATT both had zero cell service our phones were both on SOS but that really wasn’t a problem for us.
TravelerBeautiful. Would definitely come back.
Dispersed camping near Madera, California offers access to several recreational areas within a 30-mile radius of the city. The region sits at the base of the Sierra Nevada foothills with elevations ranging from 270 feet in Madera to over 500 feet at nearby camping destinations. Winter temperatures typically range from 38-60°F while summer months can reach above 100°F, making spring and fall the most comfortable camping seasons.
Hiking trails near waterways: Lost Lake Campground features multiple trails along the San Joaquin River. "Nice huge area, can go off the trails and explore the area," notes one camper at Lost Lake Campground, who also mentions a convenient "$5 day pass, $25 total for camping."
Fishing opportunities: Eastman Lake at Codorniz Campground provides good fishing even during drought periods. A camper reports, "Fishing is good. Springtime has the grasses green with abundant wild flowers in late Feb through early March" at COE Eastman Lake Codorniz Campground.
Watersports and swimming: Bass Lake Recreation Area supports various water activities throughout the season. A visitor comments that Bass Lake is "a recreation destination in and of itself, with the 'Forks Resort' nearby, huge professional boat rentals advertising everywhere."
Security features: The Lakes RV & Golf Resort offers enhanced safety measures uncommon at other local campgrounds. One review notes, "There is a high fence surrounding the property and it is secured by electronic hand held devices that you receive when you check in" at The Lakes RV & Golf Resort.
Clean facilities: Arena RV Park maintains well-kept bathroom facilities despite highway proximity. A reviewer states, "Clean, tidy, well kept campground. Easy on/off from Hwy. 99. Nice management. Spaces large and lots of shade coverage."
Wildlife viewing: Codorniz Campground provides opportunities to observe local fauna. "Fall has a Tarantula migration and you will definitely see them. Coyote, Bobcat, and deer are frequently seen," reports a camper about the natural surroundings.
Seasonal water levels: Lakes in the region fluctuate significantly throughout the year. A visitor to Millerton Lake State Recreation Area Campground notes, "The lake is very full now till July 4th. Great boating, and jet ski area."
Campground closures: Several locations have specific operating hours. At Lost Lake, "closes at 7pm so you won't get people coming in the middle of the night."
Wildlife challenges: Be prepared for potential encounters with ground squirrels and insects. One RVer warns about Millerton Lake: "We would not stay here again until the park gets control of the ground squirrels. We heard stories of cars and RV's being towed out because they chewed through wiring."
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. At Yosemite RV Resort, "Large clean pool with a shallow lounging section. Playground. Bathrooms/showers were freshly renovated and clean."
Swimming options: Bass Lake provides family-friendly water recreation. A camper shares, "Don't let anyone tell you that you can't camp with an infant. It's actually one of the best activities that you can do with them. Bass Lake is the perfect campground for young family camping."
Temperature considerations: Plan family trips during moderate seasons. A visitor to Codorniz notes, "Summer can be hot as the elevation is low in the California Central Valley and the grasses are brown," while another adds that "it's a quiet campground on a hill."
Site dimensions: Many campgrounds have specific space limitations. At Blackstone North RV Park, "Sites are large and level but no screening between rigs. Good overnight spot!"
Road conditions: Access roads to some campgrounds require careful navigation. A reviewer cautions about Codorniz: "Although not far off of Highway 99, the road from Chowchilla was incredibly rough. 15 miles of poorly-patched pot holes. I went no faster than 35 mph but still bounced the rig badly."
Pet-friendly camping near Madera, California: Most campgrounds around Madera welcome pets with specific leashing requirements. Yosemite RV Resort features a "Large dog run which was amazing," making it an excellent choice for dog-friendly camping near Madera.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Madera, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Madera, CA is Madera District Fair RV Campgrounds with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Madera, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 100 dog-friendly camping locations near Madera, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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