K R.
Traveler
TravelerThousand Trails Yosemite Lakes
First time RV Park
Easy access parking site, great family lodge to spend cold days playing or watching videos. Great hiking trails to explore the area.
Camping near New Melones Lake
New Melones Lake features several established campgrounds including Tuttletown Recreation Area and Glory Hole Recreation Area. These campgrounds provide a range of accommodation options for tent and RV camping, with some sites offering water and lakefront views. The Bureau of Reclamation manages most camping areas, with developed campgrounds like Big Oak, Ironhorse, and Chamise offering basic amenities including vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. Sites vary in size and terrain, with some providing more privacy and shade than others.
Summer temperatures frequently exceed 100°F, making spring and fall the preferred camping seasons. Water levels fluctuate significantly throughout the year, affecting lake access and swimming opportunities. Most campgrounds require reservations, particularly during peak summer months when boaters frequent the lake. Facilities include coin-operated showers at some locations, dump stations, and potable water sources, though availability varies by campground. A camper noted, "We selected spot 96 as it was the furthest from any other spot. It was something like 107 when we were setting up the tent, but on the lake itself, the temperature was perfect."
Campsites with lake views receive consistently positive feedback, though many lack substantial shade. Several visitors mentioned the clean facilities as a highlight, while others noted issues with trash at certain sites. The campgrounds provide good access for fishing, swimming, and boating activities when water levels permit. Weekday visits typically offer a quieter experience with better site selection. One reviewer shared, "The view was amazing, the tent spot was level and clear of big rocks, and it was so dark that I was able to do some great astrophotography." Wildlife sightings, including deer and raccoons, are common throughout the area. Sites at Tuttletown tend to be smaller and closer together, while Glory Hole offers more spacious camping options with better lake views when water levels are adequate.
Best Camping Sites Near New Melones Lake (224)
1. Tuttletown Recreation Area
11 ReviewsJamestown, CA2 milesWebsite+1 (209) 536-9094$150 / night
"Water level in the New Melones Lake was quite low at that time and it is kind of an off-season time to visit this recreation area so campground was not crowded at all."
"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."
2. Lake Tulloch RV Campground and Marina
10 ReviewsFall River Lake, CA8 milesWebsite+1 (209) 881-0107"We were lucky to have a spot at the dead center of the top of the mountain looking out at the lake (site 13) with a big shade tree."
"There are sites on the lake with shade provided over the tables. It was mid week and was not crowded at all. The lake is gorgeous and at night there were several deer walking thru the site."
3. Glory Hole Recreation Area
7 ReviewsAngels, CA1 mileWebsite+1 (209) 536-9094$18 - $22 / night
"Showers and bathrooms aren't working but otherwise a great place to camp. been going to the nearby Tuttletown camp for showers and working bathrooms while they work on Gloryhole."
"The lake's water was too low for a swim though :( sad"
4. Acorn Campground
28 ReviewsValley Springs, CA19 milesWebsite+1 (209) 772-1343$20 / night
"A good clean campground, popular in central California. Reasonably priced $20 per night."
"The lake has receded quite a but that one of the docks is about 100 yards from the actual lake now (California drought). The campsite was well maintained."
5. USBR Gloryhole Rec Area Big Oak Campground
6 ReviewsFall River Lake, CA0 milesWebsite+1 (209) 536-9094"The only downside is that the park closes at 8:00 pm so we had to sleep behind the entrance until 4:00 am when they opened the door again. A Fire ring and a bench available at each spot."
"Sites were a good size and were tucked down a slight hill from the road which was great for privacy. Bathrooms were kept very clean and well stocked."
6. Angels Camp Campground and RV
5 ReviewsAngels, CA3 milesWebsite+1 (209) 736-0404"Super nice, close to the bathrooms. There's a community outdoors kitchen with stove and sink. Small hiking trail that had some horse nearby that cam and said hi to us. Will definitely be coming back."
"Close to lots of cute towns and wineries."
7. Ironhorse- Glory Hole Area - New Melones Lake
4 ReviewsFall River Lake, CA1 mileWebsite+1 (209) 459-7290"This site is right on the lake, the bathrooms were clean. It was pretty busy but the spaces are far enough apart that it wasn’t super loud even in a tent."
8. Mother Lode Fairgrounds
4 ReviewsSonora, CA8 milesWebsite+1 (209) 532-7428"At the junction of Hwy49 the “Chain of Gold” and 108 outside Yosemite National Park. Daily/weekly rates. Short walk to downtown in this 1850’s mining town."
9. Yosemite Pines RV Resort & Family Lodging
24 ReviewsGroveland, CA22 milesWebsite+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."
10. North Grove Campground — Calaveras Big Trees State Park
23 ReviewsArnold, CA23 milesWebsite+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."
Recent Camping Photos near New Melones Lake
281 Photos of 224 New Melones Lake Campgrounds
Lori T.
USBR Gloryhole Rec Area Big Oak Campground
Susan Y.
Glory Hole Recreation Area
Jordan L.
Tuttletown Recreation Area
Julie D.
Tuttletown RA - Chamise - BOR
Jim M.
Angels Camp Campground and RV
Yvette M.
Lake Tulloch RV Campground and Marina
Ben G.
Mighty Farms
Tammy H.
Moccasin Point Campground
Pamela P.
COE New Hogan Lake Coyote Point Campground
Trisha L.
COE New Hogan Lake Acorn Campground
Darin D.
New Hogan Lake - COE/Acorn West
Jovani M.
Acorn Campground
Recent Reviews near New Melones Lake
812 Reviews of 224 New Melones Lake Campgrounds
Dennis H.TravelerThousand Trails Yosemite Lakes
Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes
The Road (CA 120) from Oakdale to the campground is steep, narrow and has a lot of close quarter turns for a 40 foot motorhome pulling a 20 foot dual axle open car trailer with a Jeep on board. Occasionally the wheels of the trailer would cross into the center line on tight turns. Really didn't have any problems pulling the uphill grade with 400 hp. After you get to the top I do wish that they would mark the down hill grades when you come to them as there are a lot of ups and downs with curves once you are up on top. Definitely plan on using your engine brake. The weather was not hot when we made the trip but there are signs at the bottom of the mountain advising to turn off the air conditioning of your vehicle before making the ascent. Once there the RV park map that they gave us at check in showed us our site location but they did ot escort us. Some others did get an escort. The sewer pipe connection was recessed too far down in the concrete protective block/pad that I was not able screw my angled adapter into the provided threads. Ended up utilizing a large rock to retain the angled adapter into the poop chute. As others have said. Absolutely no cell signal from any carrier is available. Our neighboring camper advised that they were trying to use the park wi-fi but weren't getting very good reception. I let them use our starlink wi-fi as a common courtesy. Site 164 was level and a mix of sparse short grass and dirt. So guessing that when it rains, if it does we won't have to worry about the RV sinking into the grass as it is somewhat firm.
Vince N.
GuideUSBR Gloryhole Rec Area Big Oak Campground
Good spots, lousy neighbors
Staying here April 17-20 and it’s quite a good spot. Reservations are required but usually aren’t hard to get. $22 per night with a $8 reservation fee. Potable water available and bathrooms with a couple of them having showers. Weather is great with the lowest only getting to 48 degrees at night. Right by New Melones allowing for ease of water activities and taking a stroll around the park. Towns are 20-30 minute drive away so supplies and in-town activities also not hard to come by.
Only gripe is large groups nearby were noisy way past quiet hours. Besides that, great place to be.
Kimberly L.GuideDos Reis County Park
So much lost potential
The campground is in a good location, nice view, spacious sites at a fair price. Unfortunately, this campground could be an easy 5 stars if the camp hosts were more invested but I'm sure they are living there for free and not having to do much at all except drive around on their golf cart every couple of days. If they were invested in their responsibilities as a camphost, they wouldn't take up three spots for their extra vehicles because they'd be full. They also don't walk the park or the grassy areas(trash throughout), no clean up of sites or fire pits(dog waste bags and plastic trash bags in fire pit and broken glass at site), and they don't unlock the showers at the posted times(you get 2 hrs in the morning and 2 hrs in the evening to use showers if they're not locked up), nor do they clean the bathroom which was pretty gross the whole week I was there. The sign says to let the camp host know if the showers are locked during scheduled use times but good luck getting past their GS who lets you know not to bother them. On top of those issues, the feral cats will urinate/spray on anything left outside your rig. This park could easily get full and stay that way if issues were addressed but it's obvious that someone knows someone. If you get my drift. It's disappointing and I won't be back.
- AAllen R.Traveler
Mariposa Fairgrounds
Very good stay
Simple self registration. Fairgrounds campground is clean, we'll kept and is convenient to Mariposa city and Yosemite National Park.
Delaney N.TravelerCaswell Memorial State Park Campground
Great getaway!
I love how many sites here are private. It really gives the sense that you are out alone in nature, while being only 15 minutes away from the city. The restrooms are in good conditions, I haven’t tested the showers. But I’ve always enjoyed my trips here
A negative though- people do tend to dump their cats here, so depending on the time of year cats may be heavy. In January there were lots, this last time in March I only saw one or two!
LMTravelerModesto Reservoir
Great scenery, but easily ruined by inconsiderate campers
We recently camped at Vivian Cove and had a mixed experience.
The positives:
The natural setting is beautiful — right by the water with lots of ducks, and the campsite layout is quite nice. The stone seating areas are a great feature, and overall the location itself is very enjoyable. It feels more secluded compared to the main campground areas.Important notes about facilities:
Be aware that facilities here are very basic. While the site may be listed as having amenities, in reality:- There was no visible water access at the campsite
- No sinks or designated areas for washing dishes
- The restrooms are vault toilets (pit-style, no running water)
This may be expected for some campers, but it can be very different from what people assume if they see “restrooms” or “hookups” mentioned.
The main issue:
Our experience was heavily affected by a few groups who did not follow campground etiquette.- When we arrived shortly after check-in time (~4:15 PM), our reserved site was already occupied by another group
- Some visitors appeared to be using campsites without proper reservations
- A small number of groups were extremely disruptive at night — loud music, generators, and shouting well past quiet hours
While many campers were respectful and quiet, it only took one or two inconsiderate groups to significantly impact the experience.
Enforcement:
There does appear to be enforcement — staff/patrol came through in the morning and disruptive groups were eventually asked to leave. However, quiet hours were not effectively enforced overnight.Tips for future visitors:
- Bring earplugs
- Bring your own water and be prepared for no washing facilities
- Expect a more primitive camping setup
Overall:
The location is great, but the experience depends heavily on neighboring campers and expectations regarding facilit- DDawn C.Guide
Pardee Reservoir Recreation Area
Beautiful in Spring
Beautiful. Not crowded. All the RVs are on one shaded hillside. Nice to park in the trees. Electric, water, sewage hook up all easy access. Each site comes with fire ring and picnic table, all also in the shade.
- JJ B.Traveler
Glory Hole Recreation Area
Great time of year
Just got back from a weekend jaunt to Glory Hole. Marina and some boat ramps still not open for the season, but the hills were bright green—verdant comes to mind. And the male turkeys were everywhere, calling early in the morning. Not enough toilets for the number of campers (males—1 toilet to ~25 campers—you better be good at holding it!)
Guide to New Melones Lake
New Melones Lake offers camping opportunities at elevations between 800-1,200 feet in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The reservoir spans over 12,500 acres when full, with 100 miles of shoreline accessible for camping and recreation. Water temperatures range from 50°F in winter to 80°F during summer months, affecting both swimming conditions and fishing productivity.
What to do
Hiking trails: Several campgrounds provide access to hiking paths with views of the reservoir. At Glory Hole Recreation Area, trails range from easy to moderate difficulty. A camper noted, "There are easily accessible hiking trails that were a great help in wearing out the pups... The Carson Creek Trail is listed as a 'moderate' trail as is the Gold Rush Trail. Don't be dissuaded by that. Both trails are really easy and offer great views."
Fishing year-round: Tuttletown Recreation Area offers multiple fishing locations with varying shoreline access. "Fishing areas were easy to get to and we watched numerous people enjoy water sports on the lake," reports a visitor. Rainbow trout, bass, and crappie are common catches depending on season.
Wildlife viewing: Early mornings and evenings provide opportunities for wildlife sightings around campgrounds. A camper at Lake Tulloch RV Campground and Marina shared, "Several 'packs' walked through our campsite all throughout Sunday night when everyone else was gone. They walked up to us to smell our campfire and our food."
Astrophotography: The limited light pollution makes New Melones Lake excellent for night sky photography. Bring a tripod and camera with manual settings for best results. Weeknights typically offer less ambient light from other campers.
What campers like
Spacious sites: Acorn Campground features well-spaced camping areas suitable for different equipment configurations. "This is a large campground with sites generally well spaced apart, you don't feel right on top of your neighbors. Lots of site variation, so do your homework or be flexible, you might get an amazing lake side spot with a view," one camper advised.
Clean facilities: Despite seasonal challenges, most campgrounds maintain functional amenities. At USBR Gloryhole Rec Area Big Oak Campground, "Bathrooms were kept very clean and well stocked. Sites were a good size and were tucked down a slight hill from the road which was great for privacy."
Weekday solitude: Visiting Sunday through Thursday provides a dramatically different experience than weekends. A camper observed, "We pulled in on Easter Sunday to a near empty campground. The campground is quiet and the scenery is amazing this time of year... The campground was a little busier than last visit, but surprisingly empty during the week."
Lake views: Higher elevation sites offer better vistas, particularly in the early morning and at sunset. "Site 116 is great. It is a little steep to get to the fire pit but the views were worth it," noted a camper.
What you should know
Site selection matters: Researching specific site numbers before booking improves camping experience. "Sites 116 and 117 had great views of a larger part of the lake... Site #142 has great afternoon shade, a nice view, and is very level," advised a repeat visitor at Glory Hole Recreation Area.
Heat preparation: Daily temperature swings can be extreme, especially in summer. A camper at Ironhorse - Glory Hole Area reported, "This site is right on the lake, the bathrooms were clean. It was pretty busy but the spaces are far enough apart that it wasn't super loud even in a tent. There aren't a lot of trees so no hammock and no privacy but still a really great park."
Facility variability: Bathroom and shower conditions vary significantly between campgrounds and seasons. "The bathrooms that were open were disgusting... No camp host onsite while we were there," reported one camper, while another noted, "They have flushing toilets and coin operated showers with is nice, but the toilet situation near our campsite was questionable."
Cell service limitations: Most campgrounds have limited or no cellular reception. Download maps, reservation details, and activity information before arrival to avoid connectivity issues.
Tips for camping with families
Shade structures essential: Most lakeside sites lack natural shade. "No hammocks allowed so if that's your sleeping method you'll want to bring a tent," advised a visitor at Tuttletown. Bring pop-up canopies for daytime comfort, particularly during summer months.
Swimming locations: Angels Camp Campground and RV offers controlled swimming areas better suited for children. "There's a day use area and a swimming area with a beach," notes a visitor. Lake access points vary significantly with water levels, requiring drives from some campsites.
Wildlife precautions: Secure food items at all campgrounds to prevent unwanted visitors. "Deer and cats get into everything! And cats pee on everything!" warned one camper. Use provided food lockers or bring sealed containers for nighttime storage.
Campsite terrain: Many sites feature uneven ground requiring careful tent placement. "The tent spot was level and clear of big rocks," noted one satisfied camper, but conditions vary across campgrounds and individual sites.
Tips from RVers
Dump station logistics: Facilities at Tuttletown include a fee-based dump station. "There is a nice dump station ($8 fee recommended... pay station is at park entrance)," advised an RVer. Plan to dump early morning to avoid lines on busy departure days.
Site dimensions: RV campers should research specific site measurements before booking. "Def geared for tent camping although I was lucky enough to be here when it was dead empty and picked a good site for my 27' toy hauler," reported one RVer at Tuttletown.
Water access challenges: RVers noted varying distances to water sources. "Water was available at campground," mentioned one visitor, while another cautioned, "No idea where the water is at but didn't really look." Bring hose extensions to ensure hookup reach at partially-serviced sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find camping at New Melones Lake?
Where can I find camping at New Melones Lake?
New Melones Lake offers several camping options. The Tuttletown Recreation Area provides well-spaced campsites with good interior roads and facilities. The campground is typically less crowded during off-season months like October. For RV camping near the lake, Glory Hole Recreation Area offers reservable sites with amenities suitable for recreational vehicles. Both areas provide good access to the lake for water activities, though water levels can fluctuate seasonally due to California's drought conditions.
Are there any designated campgrounds at New Melones Reservoir?
Are there any designated campgrounds at New Melones Reservoir?
Yes, New Melones Reservoir has several designated campgrounds. Ironhorse- Glory Hole Area offers reservable sites with water and toilet facilities. Another option is Chamise - Tuttletown Area, which provides drive-in access with reservable sites and amenities. Both campgrounds are well-maintained and offer varying proximity to the water depending on current reservoir levels. For visitors looking for full hookups near the reservoir, several private RV parks are located within a short driving distance.
What recreational activities are available near the Turtle Town Recreation Area at New Melones Lake?
What recreational activities are available near the Turtle Town Recreation Area at New Melones Lake?
Turtle Town Recreation Area at New Melones Lake offers diverse recreational opportunities. Boating is popular with multiple boat ramps available when water levels permit. Fishing is excellent, particularly when water levels are high. Hiking trails wind through the area, providing scenic views of the lake and surrounding landscape. Swimming is available in designated areas, though conditions depend on water levels which can fluctuate seasonally. For those wanting to explore beyond Turtle Town, Lake Camanche is nearby and offers additional family-friendly recreation options including easy lake access and well-maintained facilities. Acorn Campground on New Hogan Reservoir is another alternative with excellent boating opportunities.
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