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Best Campgrounds near Mendota, CA

261 Reviews

Campgrounds surrounding Mendota, California range from free dispersed sites to full-service RV resorts with varied amenities. 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.

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Best Camping Sites Near Mendota, California (48)

    1. Tumey Hills Box Canyon

    11 Reviews
    Mendota, CA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (831) 582-2200

    "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!"

    2. Pinnacles Campground — Pinnacles National Park

    90 Reviews
    Pinnacles, CA
    48 miles
    Website
    +1 (831) 200-1722

    $44 - $164 / 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."

    3. Madera District Fair RV Campgrounds

    2 Reviews
    Madera, CA
    22 miles
    Website

    4. The Lakes RV & Golf Resort

    4 Reviews
    Madera, CA
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (559) 665-6980

    $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."

    5. Laguna Mountain Campground

    14 Reviews
    Pinnacles National Park, CA
    37 miles
    Website
    +1 (831) 630-5000

    "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."

    6. Mercey Hot Springs

    2 Reviews
    Pinnacles National Park, CA
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 826-3388

    $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."

    7. Millerton Lake State Recreation Area Campground

    19 Reviews
    Friant, CA
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (559) 822-2332

    $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"

    8. Arena RV Park

    2 Reviews
    Madera, CA
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (559) 665-1752

    "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."

    9. Upper Sweetwater Laguna Mountain Campground

    9 Reviews
    San Lucas, CA
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (831) 630-5000

    "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."

    10. Los Banos Creek Campground — San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area

    7 Reviews
    Los Banos, CA
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 826-1197

    $20 / night

    "Campsites are mostly at the water’s edge of the small-ish reservoir that’s main attraction (at least this time of year) appears to be fishing."

    "Not to mention the water was only a few steps away. Very small campground which made it not feel crowded. Portable Potty bathrooms which were not to bad and well maintained."

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Recent Camping Photos near Mendota, CA

67 Photos of 48 Mendota Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Mendota, CA

261 Reviews of 48 Mendota Campgrounds

  • HThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Condon Peak Campground

    Nice spot!

    Easy access in a camper van. Nice big areas but not many spots (about 5 or 6). Only 2 other vehicles/campers here. Beautiful views, cooling winds and don’t seem to be any biting bugs! Picnic tables & shelter, plus a fire ring on each pit. No showers but toilet available. Lovely & quiet!!!

  • Emily W.
    Aug. 15, 2025

    Pinnacles Campground — Pinnacles National Park

    Wildlife Wonders

    I had a great time at the Pinnacles Campground. I saw a bunny (pictured) and hordes of quail. The tent-only sections of the campground were very pretty too. The only downside of our site (130–134) is that there was not a lot of privacy — it would have done better as a group camp. Fortunately, our neighbors were awesome so the forced company was not a downside! But if I go again, I am going to try to get spot 129, which seemed really secluded. The other nice thing about the little area we were in is that it is right at the trailhead for the Bench Trail. Raccoons were REALLY bold — they stole our neighbors' food while they were at their campsite! So keep the area crumb clean for sure.

  • kThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 14, 2025

    Buck Ridge

    Blm with a lake view

    First come first serve, vault toilets, water pump by outhouse area, pic a site and make a donation, the is a camp host. Picnic tables, well used.. fire pits, barbecue pits.. sites look d pretty clean, i am across from lake, train noise..

  • Erika V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 2, 2025

    Medeiros Primitive Campsites — San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area

    Down by the river

    Last minute overnighter on a Friday night in July. First come first serve camping. We stayed right next to the river, which was nice. Open area with nice spots with a table, shade and a fire ring. Very windy, but tolerable. Overall a chill place though cars kept driving through into the evening, though it settled down around 11pm. Slept well! Great spot if passing through.

  • E
    Jul. 24, 2025

    Pinnacles Campground — Pinnacles National Park

    Bathroom disclaimer would have been nice

    The campground overall was pretty nice—it’s huge and even has a pool (though by around 1:30, it gets completely taken over by a swarm of kids). What really threw me off was the bathroom situation. I expected flush toilets, as advertised, but our loop only had Port-a-Potties. To make matters worse, it’s a quite a walk to get to the restroom in our loop—and that’s not ideal in the heat. Every other loop seemed to have proper bathrooms, so it felt like we got the short end of the stick without any heads-up. 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.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 1, 2025

    RandCher Vineyards

    Quiet & serene

    We had a beautiful, relaxing campsite surrounded by a raisin vineyard. Randall & Cheryl were friendly & accessible by phone to answer our questions & we had a wonderful, memorable overnight stay.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 1, 2025

    Tumey Hills Box Canyon

    Free and okay

    I like this place because the angle of the sun should give some extra time in the morning to break down. I always like a free spot and I was like a spot that’s quiet. And there’s no one else here during the week. To be honest, there are gun shell casings everywhere but I think that’s probably a weekend thing. I will adjust the review if it turns out to be a morning thing.

  • Alexander Mark C.
    Jun. 11, 2025

    Laguna Mountain Campground

    Busy but worth it

    Pulled up to this campground at like 5:00PM over memorial day weekend and it was full to the brim.  The trail/road was closed to vehicles, and we found a spot about 500 yds up just off the trail. There were probably 9-12 groups total, 4 of which were on the trail. 

    Otherwise pretty chill and would come back here if there aren't any other options

Guide to Mendota

Camping near Mendota, California, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and unique experiences. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a quiet getaway, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the stunning trails at Pinnacles Campground. One reviewer mentioned, "The trails are wild, like a moonscape," making it a great spot for adventure seekers.
  • Wildlife Watching: Campers at Millerton Lake State Recreation Area Campground have spotted a ton of wildlife. One visitor noted, "Seen a ton of wildlife and overall wasn’t very crowded."
  • Star Gazing: The dark skies at Laguna Mountain Campground make it perfect for star gazing. A camper shared, "Great views. Very dark at night which is great for star gazing."

What campers like:

  • Secluded Spots: Many campers appreciate the privacy at Wildcat Campground. One reviewer said, "The tall grass gave some privacy between neighboring campsites."
  • Friendly Hosts: Campers at Shooting Star Sanctuary and Retreat near Yosemite National Forest rave about the welcoming atmosphere. A visitor mentioned, "Jason was such a friendly, helpful, and welcoming host!"
  • Clean Facilities: The cleanliness of the restrooms and showers at Yosemite RV Resort is a big plus. One camper stated, "Such an amazing site with clean amenities."

What you should know:

  • Heat in Summer: Campers at Pinnacles Campground warn about the heat. One reviewer said, "It is WICKED hot in the summer."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Millerton Lake State Recreation Area Campground, lack certain amenities. A visitor noted, "Water access is not the easiest from the sites."
  • Crowded on Weekends: Expect busy weekends at popular spots like California Spring Cove. One camper mentioned, "The campground is super tight. Sites are very close."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with pools, like Almond Tree Oasis RV Park. A reviewer said, "There are two saltwater pools to jump into."
  • Nature Exploration: Encourage kids to explore the wildlife at Thousand Trails San Benito. One family shared, "We had Condors above our cabin, deer around us, wild pigs crossing the roads."
  • Plan for Heat: Bring plenty of water and sunscreen, especially if you're camping at places like Pinnacles Campground during summer.

Tips from RVers:

  • Full Hookups: Look for campgrounds with full hookups, such as Yosemite RV Resort. One RVer mentioned, "We booked a pull through deluxe full hookup site."
  • Easy Access: Choose campgrounds that are easy to access from the highway, like Almond Tree Oasis RV Park. A visitor noted, "Right off the I-5 freeway next to a Shell and Valero gas station."
  • Check for Amenities: Before booking, check what amenities are available. One RVer at California Spring Cove said, "The campground has terrible direction and signage."

Camping near Mendota, California, has something for everyone, whether you're a family looking for fun or an RVer seeking comfort.

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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