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Tent Camping near Manteca, CA
13 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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Regional parks and recreation areas surrounding Manteca, California offer diverse tent camping options within an hour's drive. Lake Camanche, located 30 miles east in Wallace, provides tent-only sites with lake access and substantial fire rings with primitive grills. Rancho Seco Recreation Area in Herald features approximately 50 tent-only sites, some positioned just feet from the water's edge. For backcountry tent camping experiences, Sunol Regional Wilderness offers primitive ridge-top sites that require hiking in all necessary supplies.
Most tent campgrounds in the region feature basic amenities on semi-flat terrain. Sites typically include picnic tables, fire rings, and access to water stations, though water availability varies seasonally. Lake Camanche's tent sites have varying levels of shade coverage, which becomes critical during hot summer months when temperatures regularly exceed 90°F. Campers should note that bathroom facilities range from clean facilities with hot water at Riverview Campground to basic porta-potties at other locations. Walk-in tent sites at Morgan Territory Regional Preserve require carrying gear approximately 150 yards from parking areas on sometimes uneven pathways.
Tent campers frequently report quieter experiences during weekday visits. According to reviews, Lake Camanche is "very nice for tent camping" though cell service is limited. At Rancho Seco Recreation Area, one visitor noted that tent-only sites near the lake offer excellent access to fishing and swimming. The region's campgrounds experience significant seasonal variations, with spring offering wildflowers and moderate temperatures ideal for tent camping. Wildlife sightings are common, with campers at Joseph D. Grant County Park reporting encounters with deer, rabbits, and even bobcats. Winter camping is possible at several locations, with one camper noting they were "the only ones camping on Christmas weekend" at Lake Camanche, making it ideal for solitude-seeking tent campers.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Manteca (13)
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."from $50 / night
Check Availability2. 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."
3. 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
4. Delta Bay RV Resort
5. Morgan Territory Regional Preserve
from $15 / night
Check Availability6. 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."
7. 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."
8. George J. Hatfield State Recreation Area Group Camp
from $150 / night
Check Availability9. 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 &"
from $15 - $400 / night
Check Availability10. 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."
from $30 / night
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Drive Time
- 14 min from Stockton, CA
- 16 min from Modesto, CA
- 49 min from Merced, CA
- 1 hr 1 min from San Jose, CA
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Manteca, CA
17 Photos of 13 Manteca Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Manteca, CA
455 Reviews of 13 Manteca 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.
- 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.
K.S. P.Scout49er RV Ranch
Comfortable, Clean, Accommodating
This is a cute and quiet park. They help you park because it's small park with tight roads but the spaces are big enough. They have propane, a small shop, and clean laundry. Its a beautiful environment with lots of birds and wildlife, and big trees for shade. Pads are dirt and gravel. They charge a reasonable rate for monthly stays and have mail service available.
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.
Guide to Manteca
Tent campsites near Manteca, California offer varied camping experiences within an hour's drive. The region has elevations ranging from 200 to 2,500 feet, creating different ecosystems from riverside flats to oak-studded hills. Summer temperatures frequently reach 100°F in July and August, particularly at lower elevation sites, while spring camping typically experiences temperatures between 60-80°F.
What to do
Fishing access: Cole Ranch provides excellent river fishing opportunities with complimentary watercraft available for use. "Fishing was a success, what a bonus," notes one visitor who enjoyed the riverside campsite and "relaxing, quiet and inviting" shoreline.
Paddling options: Rancho Seco Recreation Area offers canoe and kayak rentals for exploring its lake. A camper mentioned, "Beautiful lake to canoe/kayak about. Sites along lake are best," while another noted they "have boat rentals and a fishing derby every year."
Hiking trails: Mount Diablo State Park has trail access directly from Juniper Campground to the summit. A camper described, "The hike is pretty nice to the summit from there," though they warn summer hiking can be challenging due to high temperatures that reached "104° or something" during their July visit.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Joseph D. Grant County Park maintains well-kept bathroom and shower facilities. A visitor noted, "The bathrooms were a short walk down hill. They were clean with flushing toilets," while another mentioned "bathrooms and showers were available" during their overnight stop.
Wildlife viewing: Joseph D. Grant County Park offers chances to spot native animals. One camper reported seeing "a lot of bunnies and a bobcat on the way out," while another reviewer mentioned the park has "beautiful wildlife" including woodpeckers that were "busy storing acorns."
Spacious sites: Juniper Campground provides roomy tent sites. A camper highlighted that their site "included picnic table, fire pit, food storage boxes, & is very spacious," making it comfortable for overnight stays.
What you should know
Heat considerations: Summer temperatures at many sites regularly exceed 100°F. At Juniper Campground, a camper warned it gets "Insanely hot in the summer" and advised "not going in July like we did," describing how they were "just drenching clothes in water to stay cool."
Wildlife precautions: Several campgrounds have active nocturnal wildlife. At Lake Camanche, campers should secure food properly. One visitor at Rancho Seco advised to "make sure you put your food away at night raccoons will get your food and snacks."
Water level variations: Lake levels fluctuate seasonally, affecting shoreline access. A Lake Camanche visitor noted, "When the lake is down (like now) it's a bit of a haul to the water — cart/wagon recommended, as well as a shade pop-up AT water's edge."
Tips for camping with families
Water recreation options: Delta Bay RV Resort offers good fishing access for children. A visitor stated it has "Great fishing" and noted the "staff is friendly and food is good," making it suitable for family outings.
Off-season visits: Family camping is often more enjoyable during shoulder seasons. At Rancho Seco, a camper advised visiting in the off-season: "This is a wonderful spot to stay for a few days in the off season. We stayed in February. Summers would be very hot and I imagine the area would be packed with day use folks."
Kid-friendly swimming: Several locations have swimming areas suitable for children. At Lake Camanche, a camper noted it was "Great for water playing kids" and added, "We don't have boat and did not rent one, but the kids had a great time with just the floaties."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: At Rancho Seco Recreation Area, RVers have 21 serviced sites. A visitor noted there are "21 water and electric sites with a dump station on the way out. Some pull through sites... RV sites are farther from the lake on mostly level gravel pads with picnic table, fire rings, and a trash can at each site."
Winter camping benefits: Off-season camping offers more solitude and space. At Lake Camanche, RVers found "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. But in the early spring, it was full of bird songs and a gorgeous sunset."
Utility connections: Check hookup specifications before booking. One camper at Rancho Seco Recreation Area mentioned the campground has "big-rig friendly" sites with "thirty-amp hookups" available, though they don't offer fifty-amp service which larger modern RVs might require.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Manteca, CA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Manteca, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Manteca, CA is Lake Camanche with a 4.1-star rating from 18 reviews.
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tent camping near
Manteca, CA?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Manteca, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 tent camping locations near Manteca, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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