Campgrounds near Mendota, California span free dispersed sites to full-service RV resorts, giving tent and RV campers a wide range of options across the Central Valley. Tumey Hills Box Canyon offers primitive dispersed camping on Bureau of Land Management property approximately 25 miles southwest of Mendota, while developed options like Mercey Hot Springs provide cabin accommodations and RV hookups about 30 miles west. The region contains a mix of public lands and private campgrounds, with most established sites offering at least basic facilities such as vault toilets and picnic tables.
Road conditions vary significantly between campgrounds, with some requiring travel on unpaved roads. Many developed campgrounds in the area maintain year-round operation due to the mild Central Valley climate, though summer temperatures frequently exceed 100°F, making spring and fall the most comfortable camping seasons. According to one visitor at Tumey Hills Box Canyon, "It takes about 15 minutes to drive to where we camped. There is no water or bathrooms so bring a jug from Lowe's with a spicket!" The Lakes RV & Golf Resort provides secured access with electronic gate systems, while primitive areas like Tumey Hills have minimal infrastructure. Cell service ranges from reliable near highway corridors to spotty in more remote locations.
Campers report mixed experiences with noise levels at various sites. Several visitors noted that Tumey Hills Box Canyon serves as a popular target shooting area, which can create significant daytime noise. As one reviewer explained, "It is a shooting range. If you're into target practice you'd give it a five." After shooting activities end in the evening, however, the area becomes "amazingly quiet." More developed campgrounds like The Lakes RV & Golf Resort receive consistent praise for their maintained facilities and amenities, with reviewers appreciating the "meticulously maintained" sites and security features. Trash management appears problematic at some dispersed sites, with multiple reviewers mentioning litter issues at Tumey Hills. Most tent and RV sites throughout the region offer varying levels of shade, though tree cover is limited in many areas due to the Central Valley landscape.
"Close by amenities gas stations, mcdonald’s & freeway about 10 mins out"
"Took us about 15 min to drive to where we camped. There is no water or bathrooms so bring a jug from Lowe’s with a spicket!"
$48 - $174 / night
"Per my rating system, this is very close to being 5 stars, meaning it's worth planning a trip from out of state just to visit this park and surrounding national/state forest for 3 days or more The only"
"It’s a beautiful park and has the largest population of California Condors in the world. The campground is situated about 2.3 miles from the main trailheads. There's tent and RV campsites."
$42 - $1500 / 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."
"It is difficult to find BLM camping in California and this is a gem! The road is in prone to mudslides and looked like is was recently cleared of mud in multiple spots."
"Laguna mountain road trail is very strenuous The last leg of the trail(primitive trail) is not easy to follow. Someone has marked the trail with stacked rocks."
$70 - $185 / night
"If you’re doing the long drive from the Bay Area to LA, a nice place to stay is Mercey Hot Springs. It takes about 20 minutes to get there from the freeway and is in the middle of nowhere. "
"When I arrived the nights were hot so I decided to take an AC Cabin #10 where I could park right next to the cabin and slept comfortably."
$30 - $200 / night
"Bathrooms were so-so with regard to cleanliness but most sites had its own access to water which was awesome!"
"Had a fun time with the family, had accesible restroom and showers, had picnic table so we could put our things, shade, place where we could set our tent with our truck next to us, and we were able to"
$20 - $100 / night
"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."
"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."
"Fresh Air (despite being surrounded by bad air on all sides) + Nature (deer, quails, turkeys, coyotes in one night) + Dark New Moon Skies means Bright Stars with Clear View of the Milky Way + Safe (Popular"
"It's a somewhat long drive, but you're rewarded with decent solitude. There are only a few sites, so we got lucky. I was surprised how nice the campground was, especially since it was free."
GuideThis is an excellent campground. This is our second time visiting. The campsites are level and adequately sized and fire rings are available. There is a dump station and water available on site. There are plenty of hiking trails available from the campsite.
TravelerCodorniz is a quiet, well-maintained campground run by the Army Corps of Engineers on Eastman Lake. It’s a great spot if you want a peaceful camping experience with decent amenities and easy lake access. What I liked: • Spacious sites with good separation for privacy • Decent restrooms and hot showers • Hookups available at some sites • Relaxed, low-key atmosphere—no crowds or noise • Nice lake setting for fishing, kayaking, and swimming Things to keep in mind: • It’s fairly remote, so bring everything you’ll need • Amenities can vary by site and season • Cell service is limited, so download maps/info ahead of time Overall, Codorniz is a solid choice for RV or tent camping if you want a calm, lake-adjacent spot without the chaos of more popular campgrounds. Great for a weekend getaway or a longer stay if you’re exploring the Central Valley area.
LegendAlthough it is easy to miss the turn off onto Los Gatos, the drive is long but scenic. There are at least four developed sites, and several other potential pull-offs. The road may have been graded recently because it was not bad at all. There were some ruts and a moderately steep grade, once you turn off the paved Road into the campsite, but our Ford Transit van made it without difficulty. The vault toilets were in need of some attention but at least there was lots of toilet paper and no trash. Each developed site has a shelter, a gravel pad for vehicles, and a fire ring. There is no trash disposal or water. A popular site for off-road vehicles, there are also several hiking trails. Some T-Mobile service.
ScoutVery calm, clean, welcoming campground on Hensley Lake. Free hot showers were clean.
Many of the sites have very weird, undesirable layouts for RVs, either the picnic table area up a hill from the RV pad or water spigot 65ft from thr RV pad. Do some research before booking. We stayed in 44, and again 38/39 (joint sites). 38/39 has power hookup at the pad and a water spigot about 65ft away in thr middle of the site.
All-in-all good stay and would come back if the right spots were open.
GuideLocation has large dirt lots where the semi trucks don't park, and there's access to food, bathrooms, gas, and good cell service. Right next to the highway and can get windy but that's about it. Great for low-profile free overnight stops
GuideArrived just before sunset to this fresh and beautiful spot with the sound of frogs and birds and the fresh scent of grasses. Lovely roadside stop, could be a bit cleaner.
RangerNice place to camp clean bathrooms store of items and food and most importantly a great place to go hiking
GuideBoondocked in the back for $15 per night.
LegendWe stayed two nights while exploring the park. Quiet campground despite being quite busy. We found clean facilities and friendly staff. There is a lot of wildlife eager to partake in food items left laying around so you need to keep a clean site using the boxes where needed. We had a couple raccoons try to visit till our dog said hello. They quickly moved to another campsite where I heard them sending them packing as well.
We enjoyed our time at this campground.
Mendota, California sits at approximately 174 feet elevation in the San Joaquin Valley, where summer temperatures frequently reach triple digits with less than 10 inches of annual rainfall. The surrounding camping areas include BLM lands to the west and state recreation areas to the north and east. Most campgrounds remain accessible year-round, though many experienced campers visit during spring and fall when temperatures are more moderate.
Hiking on BLM land: Upper Sweetwater Laguna Mountain Campground offers multiple hiking trails with varied terrain. As one visitor notes, "This place is great. If you love hiking this place has awesome views and lots of wildlife. Be careful while hiking we came across a rattle snake. Specially during hot summers they are definitely out more."
Fishing opportunities: Los Banos Creek Reservoir provides shoreline fishing access directly from campsites. According to a camper, "The entire campground is right on the banks of the reservoir so water access no matter where you're staying. Sites #5-9 are the flattest and beach front." Many visitors report catching bass and bluegill throughout the year.
Stargazing: The remote location of Laguna Mountain Campground provides excellent dark sky viewing. One visitor reported, "Fresh Air (despite being surrounded by bad air on all sides) + Nature (deer, quails, turkeys, coyotes in one night) + Dark New Moon Skies means Bright Stars with Clear View of the Milky Way."
Natural hot springs: Mercey Hot Springs offers mineral baths approximately 30 miles west of Mendota. According to one camper, "I love that the hot tubs are available all night long. It allows for long soaks while star gazing. The therapeutic water is magical some of the best I have found."
Lakefront sites: Several campers appreciate direct water access at Los Banos Creek Campground. One reports, "It was perfect for our young kids to play in safely (with life vests of course) and we could still be at the campsite and keep eyes on them."
Privacy between sites: Campers frequently note the well-spaced sites at free BLM campgrounds. One Upper Sweetwater visitor mentioned, "Clean, easy, spacious. Any car could make it. No service. Six spots. Each spot has shelter, table and ring. Pretty private."
Weather considerations: Summer temperatures in the Mendota area regularly exceed 100°F, making spring and fall the preferred camping seasons. One visitor to Pinnacles Campground noted, "Between the long walks, the heat, and the surprisingly bold raccoons and birds, I'd recommend this spot only for a one-night stay—especially if you're planning to hike during the day."
Road conditions: Access to many campgrounds requires traveling unpaved roads with variable conditions. According to a visitor at Upper Sweetwater, "The road on the mountain is paved but can be a little bumpy at times." Another camper at Los Banos Creek warned, "The water crossing is no joke!!!! When I arrived it was about 7" but when I crossed the next day to go into town it was 9-10" high and flowing fast."
Wildlife management: Several campgrounds require strict food storage protocols. A Pinnacles visitor advised, "Many here will tell you about the raccoons! The campground is split by a creek which has a lot of critters, rabbits, chipmunks(?), quail, mice, and raccoon. Don't leave food out and make sure they are afraid of humans. It's for their safety and ours!"
Water safety: Families camping at Los Banos Creek Reservoir should bring life jackets for children. One parent reported, "There was a sandy beach front leading into shallow water. It was perfect for our young kids to play in safely (with life vests of course)."
Pest preparation: Several campgrounds report significant spider activity after dark. At Los Banos Creek, one camper reported, "In the light of the headlamp I saw MANY LARGE spiders. They'd come out to hunt, apparently. This is no exaggeration, they were so large that their eyes gleamed when they caught the light of the headlamp."
Swimming alternatives: When reservoir conditions are unsuitable for swimming, Rangers often recommend alternative swimming locations. At Millerton Lake State Recreation Area, many campers enjoy the swimming areas. One visitor noted, "We stayed for one night but wish we could have stayed longer. The campground is not on the water but is close enough. Very quiet and enjoyable. Our dogs loved the water."
Leveling requirements: Several campgrounds have uneven sites requiring advance preparation. At Los Banos Creek, one RVer advised, "Nice older campground you'll need a tent or smaller rig. If RV... bring leveling blocks... lots."
Security features: The Lakes RV & Golf Resort provides enhanced security systems not found at most campgrounds near Mendota. A visitor mentioned, "There is a high fence surrounding the property and it is secured by electronic hand held devices that you receive when you check in."
Hookup options: Electricity and water connections vary widely between campgrounds. At Arena RV Park, full hookups are available but noise may be an issue. One visitor noted, "Easy on/off from Hwy. 99. Nice management. Spaces large and lots of shade coverage. Close to hwy but far enough that road noise isn't onerous. Train passes through once at night time, bring earplugs."
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best camping spots near Mendota, California?
The Mendota area offers several excellent camping options. Pinnacles Campground — Pinnacles National Park is a standout choice about an hour southwest, offering spacious sites, a camp store, and direct access to hiking trails with amazing California Condor viewing opportunities. For those seeking solitude, Condon Peak Campground provides a remote experience in the coast range with recently improved access roads. Other good options include Tumey Hills Box Canyon for primitive camping and Los Banos Creek Campground for water recreation.
How far is Mendota, CA from Stockton, CA?
Mendota, CA is approximately 92 miles south of Stockton, CA, with a driving time of about 1.5-2 hours depending on traffic conditions. The most direct route follows I-5 South, then transitions to CA-33 South. If you're planning to camp along this route, Almond Tree Oasis RV Park makes an excellent stopping point, conveniently located right off I-5 with full hookups and two saltwater pools, making it a popular halfway spot between northern and southern California destinations.
When is the best time of year to visit Mendota for outdoor recreation?
The best time to visit Mendota for outdoor recreation is during spring (March-May) and fall (September-November) when temperatures are moderate. Summer months can be extremely hot, with temperatures frequently exceeding 100°F, making outdoor activities challenging unless you have access to water. Laguna Mountain Campground is an excellent BLM camping option during these milder seasons, though be cautious of mud and potential road closures after rain. Winter offers milder temperatures but can bring fog and occasional rain, which may affect road conditions in more remote camping areas.
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