Best Campgrounds near Mi-Wuk Village, CA

Camping options around Mi-Wuk Village in California's Sierra Nevada range from developed campgrounds to secluded riverside sites. Pinecrest Campground offers tent, RV, cabin, and glamping accommodations in a forested setting approximately 7 miles northeast of Mi-Wuk Village. River Ranch Campground in Twain Harte provides tent and RV camping with water access, while Fraser Flat and Sand Bar Flat campgrounds along the Stanislaus River offer more rustic experiences with varying amenities.

Access to campgrounds varies significantly by season, with most sites in the region operating between April and October due to snowfall at higher elevations. Roads to more remote areas like Sand Bar Flat require high-clearance vehicles to navigate. One visitor noted, "It's about 14 miles of dirt road to get to this campground and there were no signs last time I was here. A basic truck or SUV would have an easy time driving down." Facilities range from developed sites with showers and drinking water at River Ranch to more primitive options at Sand Bar Flat. Reservations are recommended for most established campgrounds, especially during summer weekends and holidays.

Riverside camping experiences receive particular praise from visitors to the area. Several campers highlighted the peaceful atmosphere at River Ranch, with one noting they "had such a relaxing time" and "slept with our van back door open. The sound of the creek was awesome, made falling asleep so easy." Fraser Flat Campground attracts families seeking accessibility and fishing opportunities, with clean facilities maintained by attentive camp hosts. For those seeking solitude, Sand Bar Flat provides a more remote experience described as "quite remote" and "nowhere as busy as campgrounds like Fraser Flat or Pinecrest." Wildlife viewing, fishing in the Stanislaus River, and proximity to regional attractions like Cherry Lake and Black Oak Casino enhance the camping experience throughout the area.

Best Camping Sites Near Mi-Wuk Village, California (294)

    1. Pinecrest Campground

    18 Reviews
    Long Barn, CA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 965-3116

    $40 / night

    "The campsites are a very short walk from the lake. the sites are spacious, well spaced and shady. Amenities are quite good with flush toilets, showers, a general store and more."

    "This is a nice campground on Pinecrest Lake near Sonora Pass in Stanislaus National Forest."

    2. Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes

    43 Reviews
    Eastman Lake, CA
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "Whip out your wallet and empty on it on the check-in desk of this thousand trails (or whatever) park."

    "Our tent site was #311 and it was perfectly tucked in the trees with a stream alongside."

    3. North Grove Campground — Calaveras Big Trees State Park

    23 Reviews
    Arnold, CA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 795-2334

    $25 - $70 / night

    "I think this is my favorite California State Park. It is situated in the Calaveras Big Trees Giant Sequoia Grove."

    "Pros - you are in the middle of the Sequoias, near hiking, kayaking, etc. Beautiful river nearby; pretty easy in and out for small-ish RVs. Hard to beat the location."

    4. Yosemite Pines RV Resort & Family Lodging

    23 Reviews
    Groveland, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 962-7690

    $24 - $439 / night

    "If you plan to go into Yosemite NP, it's a long drive so plan accordingly. Our family really enjoys Rainbow Pools and Yosemite Pine's proximity to Rainbow Pools is part of why we stay here."

    "Not located in the Yosemite Park (we made that mistake). 20-30min drive to Yosemite Park. Very cute and quiet spot.

    Trails around camp grounds, petting zoo for kids."

    5. River Ranch Campground

    5 Reviews
    Twain Harte, CA
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 586-3234

    "Watering holes on campgrounds and around the area like Cherry Lake, Rainbow Pools and Gods Bath! California is full of beautiful wonders and this little gem in Stanislaus Forest is one of them!"

    "The site has several trails and is secluded in a great little canyon."

    6. Fraser Flat Campground

    6 Reviews
    Long Barn, CA
    10 miles
    Website

    "Surrounded by trees, typical pretty campsite. Campgrounds is next to the water for close fishing. Less than 10 minutes to Pinecrest Lake. First come First serve. Dog friendly."

    "Very nice , loved camping right next to the river. Bathrooms were very clean."

    7. Diamond Gulch

    10 Reviews
    Groveland, CA
    14 miles
    +1 (209) 484-3137

    $30 - $89 / night

    "You feel like you're in the middle of nowhere but you're so close to things. Directions are easy to follow, leveling is required but there were pretty good lots."

    "It was a bit hard to find in the dark, but the camping area is fenced in under an oak grove so eventually we found the stump with our name on it next to the tent."

    8. Sand Bar Flat Campground

    5 Reviews
    Long Barn, CA
    9 miles
    Website

    "I made the drive in a 2wd cargo van and I saw an 80s Ford Mustang down there at the same time but i don't think I'd recommend doing that. A basic truck or SUV would have an easy time driving down."

    "I loved it super secluded way off the beaten path. Great camp host and the fishing was incredible"

    9. Three Links Camp

    2 Reviews
    Mi-Wuk Village, CA
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 591-0195

    "The campground was beautiful and my kids had a blast walking around all the buildings (hall, chapel, cabins/dorms) and on baseball field, disc golf course, and basketball court!"

    10. Tuttletown Recreation Area

    11 Reviews
    Jamestown, CA
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 536-9094

    $150 / night

    "Cute small campsites, kind of close to your neighbor. Not a lot of bugs which is always a plus when your near water, we went mid October and the weather wasn’t too hot or too cold."

    "New Melones was not a top destination but it was close to a very special place for us, Natural Bridges."

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Recent Reviews near Mi-Wuk Village, CA

1235 Reviews of 294 Mi-Wuk Village Campgrounds


  • kevin M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 27, 2026

    Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes

    Nothing Like yosemite in April

    Went April of 2025, Used my free Thousand trails membership and it was okay the site are a little close together but the facility was GRADE A!! River was great, and plenty of hiking to keep me busy and the Yosemite park was very close, summer time looks like it would be an absoulute Sh!t show, and never want to see that. Cut old towen nearby and a over priced resort as well.

  • Richard R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 20, 2026

    Hardin Flat Road

    Some nice spots

    Most of Hardin Road goes through a burn area so there is little tree cover and the scenery is not so good. The east end is still forested and there are nice sites along Rush Creek. Forest Sevices vehicles drove by nearly every half hour and you can hear some road traffic from Hwy 120 so don’t expect real seclusion.

  • Kevin C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 13, 2026

    Hardin Flat Road

    Absolutely the best!

    Being so close to the entrance to Yosemite and yet deep in the peace of the forest is a golden treat. This road has both the Hardin Flat and the hardin Dispersed sites. In reality, it's all along this road - there's really no distinction and there are loads of isolated sites. A few at the East end are very near the creek so there's water as well if you filter. No other services. Verizon is 1 to 3 bars. And, it's not really that far from Groveland and the services in town. I came into Yosemite via Oakhurst (Fish Camp - Goat Meadow dispersed) and an exiting at this dispersed site. You really can see and experience it all on a truly minimal budget.

  • David W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 10, 2026

    Spicer Meadow Sno-Park

    California Sno-Park for boondocking near Bear Valley CA

    The Spicer Meadow Sno-Park is primarily a place for families to play in the snow. By purchasing a Sno-Pass ($40 for all Sno-Parks for the season), visitors may spend a couple nights camping during the snow season. 

    In addition to snow play (family play, XC skiing, dog sledding, snowmobiling), the park is a few miles south of Bear Valley Cross Country skiing and about ten miles south of Bear Valley Resort (downhill skiing). 

    I parked and camped here in my van (with my pass) on January 6 2026. There were families playing in the snow when I arrived just before dark. This was a week day so the parking lot was only half full. I parked well away from where most of the families were playing. Within an hour, my vehicle was the only one in the lot. 

    The lot had been plowed recently. It was pretty level. The only service was a pit toilet. My T-Mobile service was two bars. 

    I don't know if camping is permitted in the summer. I'm pretty sure camping OUTSIDE your vehicle is not allowed.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 27, 2025

    Indian Flat RV Park

    More than just an RV park

    This park is located along the 140 right before El Portal. It is part of a larger complex that includes a lodge with access to all amenities (fitness center, pool, rec room with table tennis and billiard tables) as well as a shop (both gift and groceries). Visitors can stay until 10pm, campground office (with very helpful and pleasant staff) closes at 9pm and the lodge lobby/shop at 11pm. Pools are open from 8am to 10pm. In winter only the indoor pool is accessible (a pool and a jacuzzi) but in hot season, there are also multiple outdoors options.

  • Kevin C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 19, 2025

    Goat Meadow - Dispersed Camp Site

    Boondocking Paradise

    Beautiful forested Sugar Pine Forest. The sigh of the breeze in the trees is enough to make this a paradise. Two to three bars verizon, no other services, though there is a trash can in the parking lot. Fish Camp is only a couple miles away with its General store. Plenty of relatively level sites, fire rings, easy in and easy out. The road is paved up to the parking lot and the Boondock sites on the dirt access road are to the right of the parking lot and meadow. There's nothing negative to say about these sites.

  • Kevin C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 18, 2025

    Van Haven Dispersed Site Yosemite

    Isolated but difficult

    This site is isolated, but disappointing. There is a single pull-in site only sufficient for a van with decent clearance. There are no flat spots- none. I was able to sort-of get level by driving up on a mound of dirt - even then the van is a bit tilted. The road is paved until the last 1/2 mile and the last few hundred feet is very steep, but a passable forest road. There are many houses along the road up until the very steep part. This is not an ideal spot, but it is viable for a quiet respite. Verizon is 1 to 2 bars. No services of any kind- it really is in the forest- and is quite a drive to Groveland which has everything one needs.

  • S
    Nov. 28, 2025

    Indian Flat RV Park

    2 Night Stay

    Honestly an amazing place to stay, coming in November most camps are either closed or have reduced amenities but this place was still at full capacity. Hot showers, a bar, shop, WiFi and swimming pool all available. It’s also really easy to get too and only 30 minutes away from Yosemite .


Guide to Mi-Wuk Village

The Sierra Nevada foothills surrounding Mi-Wuk Village range in elevation from 3,200 to 5,600 feet, creating distinct camping microclimates throughout the region. Summer temperatures typically reach 75-85°F during the day with nighttime lows of 45-55°F, requiring campers to pack for significant temperature fluctuations. Campgrounds in the higher elevations often experience later spring openings due to lingering snowpack that can persist into May.

What to do

Fishing in the Stanislaus River: Anglers can access multiple fishing spots near Fraser Flat Campground where the river provides habitat for trout and other native species. "Campgrounds is next to the water for close fishing. Less than 10 minutes to Pinecrest Lake," notes Jessica J., highlighting the convenience of fishing access from camp.

Hiking around giant sequoias: North Grove Campground at Calaveras Big Trees State Park offers numerous trails through ancient sequoia groves suitable for various ability levels. "There is plenty to do and trails to hike in this area, easy enough for families with children and rugged trail options for the more experienced hikers," according to Jennifer R.

Swimming in natural water features: Rainbow Pool, located near Yosemite Lakes RV Resort, provides a popular swimming hole during summer months. One camper reported, "It's about 45 minutes to drive to the valley or Hetch Hetchy in Yosemite but the drive is beautiful. Plus a short drive to Rainbow Pool and Cherry Lake if you want to avoid park crowds."

What campers like

Creek sounds for sleeping: Many campers cite the natural soundtrack as a highlight at River Ranch Campground, where sites back up to flowing water. As Allison describes, "We were backed up to the river and slept with our van back door open. The sound of the creek was awesome, made falling asleep so easy."

Stargazing opportunities: The lack of light pollution makes the region ideal for night sky viewing. At Diamond Gulch, camper Brenna R. shares, "The stars were so so beautiful, you can see the milky-way and in the morning you're greeted by cows outside the fence!"

Lakeside activities: Pinecrest Campground provides extensive water-based recreation. "The lake is amazing and gets a lot of day trippers. You can walk around the lake, fish, rent kayaks or boats, paddleboards etc. There is also an ampitheatre and they had movies at night," explains Christy K.

What you should know

Road conditions vary significantly: Access to more remote campgrounds can require specialized vehicles. George C. notes about Sand Bar Flat Campground, "I made the drive in a 2wd cargo van and I saw an 80s Ford Mustang down there at the same time but i don't think I'd recommend doing that. A basic truck or SUV would have an easy time driving down."

Limited or no cell service: Most campgrounds in the area have minimal to no connectivity. At Yosemite Lakes RV Resort, a camper advises, "There is no cell service and the 'pay WIFI' did not work for us...but there is complimentary WiFi at the laundry to check in on things that works just fine."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Mi-Wuk Village, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, Mi-Wuk Village, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 294 campgrounds and RV parks near Mi-Wuk Village, CA and 28 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Mi-Wuk Village, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Mi-Wuk Village, CA is Pinecrest Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 18 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Mi-Wuk Village, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 28 free dispersed camping spots near Mi-Wuk Village, CA.

What parks are near Mi-Wuk Village, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 22 parks near Mi-Wuk Village, CA that allow camping, notably Stanislaus National Forest and Fall River Lake.