New Melones Lake, CA is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of New Melones Lake. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in New Melones Lake, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
"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."
"Stayed in the cabin that sleeps 6. Super nice, close to the bathrooms. There's a community outdoors kitchen with stove and sink."
"Lots of activities for kids (pool, horseshoes, playground). East side of CG seems to accommodate more for families with kids while west side is better for RVs."
"With a pool, petting zoo, a corral where they have a fire and s'mores followed by a movie, this is a great place to camp with the kids."
"What a great place to stay and enjoy this magnificent National Park."
$30 - $70 / night
"There are 4 cabins that can be rented from the Park Service however, they are not actually in the park. They are across the highway and up in the hills."
"The campground we chose was kind of close to the road which would have been the only real negative."
"This Campground is 5 miles from West gate entrance to "Yosemite National Park". Only 35 miles west of " Lake Don Pedro, take out your boat, go jet skiing or fishing."
"Fairly clean, a few of the dishes needed rewashed, but it‘s required that the previous occupants wash and put away their dishes."
"Three Links Camp is a private campground just below Stanislaus National Forest on 108."
$25 - $45 / night
"The campsites are mostly level with a shared water source every site or two. Restrooms are basic and clean, no shower."
"The park is a mix of old RV’s that folks have long term stays and open spots for visitors. Some nice spots and some tight spots. We stayed in site 62 with 41 foot MH."
$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."
"Had a large campsite with plenty of room and fairly secluded. Close to the restrooms, never did find showers. Enjoyed the proximity to the lake and had a great hike around it."
"It has nice big pull through spots, park with pool and mini golf. Lots of stuff to keep kids busy. It’s an older sport but feels like camping and not glamping. Staff is very friendly."
"They have a store that carries most of the essentials. They have clean restrooms. They also have a pool and play area for smaller kids. This is a nice place for families with small kids."
TravelerThis Campground is 5 miles from West gate entrance to "Yosemite National Park". Only 35 miles west of " Lake Don Pedro, take out your boat, go jet skiing or fishing. Don't forget to go to " Moaning Cavern!" Tuolumne River runs through campground. There are 254 Full Hookups, 130 Tent sites, Hostel, Cabin & Yurts. They have WiFi, Satellite TV,Clubhouse, Billiard's, Game room, Shuffleboard, Store, Hiking Trails,Nature, Playground, Mini Golf, Tennis, Picnic/BBQ,Volleyball, Basketball & in the Summer-Bus runs to Yosemite, for an additional fee. Summer Swimming,Seasonal Fishing,Wheelchair Accessible, Restroom/Shower Facilities & Laundry. Yosemite Lakes Resort 31191 Hardin Flat Rd. Groveland,CA 95321 Reservations Member- 1-800-368-7788 Non-Member 1-888-481-6348 Welcome Center (209)962-0103 Rental Check In- 4PM Rental Check Out - 11AM Front Desk- Sun-Sat 8AM-8PM
GuideWith a pool, petting zoo, a corral where they have a fire and s'mores followed by a movie, this is a great place to camp with the kids.
The showers are free and usually clean although on Saturday evening the campground was full and the bathrooms were dirty and out of TP.
There are tent sites, RV sites and cabins so something for everyone.
There were A LOT of stray cats on the property which kind of drove our dog crazy. But at least the campground is pet friendly.
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. The kids can jump and swim there and that's all they really want to do anyway so being close to that is key for us. So many of the places in the park where we used to get in the water do not allow swimming anymore.
GuideI love this place because it is about 45 minutes from the house. There's plenty to do with lots of great sites. The first time we went, they didn't have any annual passes because they lady was out that day. But the other day, we were able to finally get a season pass. You can fish, hike, or swim here. The campsites are spacious and you don't feel over crowded if there is a family next to you. It's pet friendly. The store was recently redone and they offer a wide variety of items, from keep sakes to any necessity you may have forgotten ( lighter, logs, clothes shoes, etc... ) There also boat rental that are a fair price, plus you get them for an hour or so. ( You will have to check the prices and availability. ) There's a dog park for the dogs to roam free off the leash, which also has access to water/ beach area for the dogs only.
RangerCabin had bunk beds. Small refrigerator
LegendGeneral: This is a HUGE RV park (a Sun Resort) with back-in, pull-through sites, and cabins. We called a day ahead to see if there was room and on a weekday in early May, there was plenty of availability. We even received a Spring Flash Sale (40% off) rate which, although more than we usually spend to camp, was reasonable. As is typical of RV parks, there is a small patch of lawn between sites but virtually no privacy. There are trees throughout the park and although it is located right on the road, only the sites that back up to the road hear road noise. There is a small pond in the center and we saw some ducks. All camping sites have full hook-ups and a picnic table but no fire ring or grill. There is a large laundry room and a café. We were assigned a site at check-in.
Site Quality: Pads are paved and level. The back-in sites in the center back up to each other with no divider between them. I saw several large RVs look almost like they were touching!
Bathhouse: Two bathhouses each with three stalls, two sinks, and two showers. Although there is a curtain separating the showers from the rest of the bathroom, the bench is outside of the shower stalls, which could be awkward. However, in the time we were there, I never saw a single person in the bathroom(assuming most people use their own bathrooms in their RVs). The shower had good water pressure and hot water.
Activities: There is a pool, playground, rec center. Shuffleboard, horseshoes, and beach volleyball. It is a half-mile around the perimeter, so I was able to enjoy a short run.
This is not our usual type of camping experience, but since we met friends at a nearby winery, this worked for us since we did not want to drive far.
GuideSummary as of late June 2020:
-Super nice, helpful manager -Great location for Yosemite/Hetch Hetchy -Large, clean restrooms -Inconsistent electricity -Bear Lot is right next to Hwy 120 -Coyote Lot is literally a new gravel parking lot, 4x4 required -No wi-fi in Bear Lot or Coyote Lot
First of all, I have to say that the manager (owner? I never caught his name) was very kind and tried his best to accommodate everyone there. The location is great for trips to Yosemite, and if you’re lucky enough to reserve a spot in the ‘main loop’ (I don’t see this ability online), you’ll probably love it. The bathrooms are large and clean and there is laundry, a small playground, a small pool (closed during our stay), and a privately run store on-site.
We brought our 28’ toy hauler here at the end of June 2020. We had reserved a spot in Coyote Lot, which we were told over the phone would be no problem. Upon arrival, the manager had his doubts but told us to “put the truck in 4x4 and give it a go!” Coyote Lot looks like a newly, semi-leveled gravel parking lot with full hook-ups… no trees or shade. There were some longer spots, but there was no way our trailer would fit in the one we reserved. The lot also exits through a run-down residential grouping of trailers, some occupied and some abandoned.
The manager put us in Bear Lot, no question, after it was determined Coyote Lot would not work. This lot is a little more established than Coyote, but still a gravel parking lot with electricity (inconsistently for many) and water hook-ups. The lot is pretty level and separated from Hwy 120 by a wooden fence. There are some picnic tables and fire pits, but not enough for each spot. We didn’t end up having to use our generator like others did. There were tent campers and rv/trailers in this lot.
Side note: the Rainbow Pools swimming hole that is recommended on the website was WAY overcrowded and I do not suggest going unless maybe you go in the early morning. There were tons of people, tons of litter, and no respect for nature… very sad to see.
Photo are of Bear Lot
TravelerFairly clean, a few of the dishes needed rewashed, but it‘s required that the previous occupants wash and put away their dishes. Quiet, the neighbors were all pretty quiet, occasioanlly a car would drive past the road that backs up to the yurts. Comfortable bed, gas stove heater and AC worked well. I didn’t use the propane grill that was on the balcony, it was very dirty, and one of the grates were broken. Nothing spectacular about my 2 night stay. About an hour drive all the way to Yosemite Village.
GuideThere are 4 cabins that can be rented from the Park Service however, they are not actually in the park. They are across the highway and up in the hills. We drove to the park but it's only short distance.
The cabins are great but expensive, $170 per night, so I deducted a star. They are rustic. No TV, no air conditioning (just ceiling fans), no bedding or towels. You bring your own.
GuideThree Links Camp is a private campground just below Stanislaus National Forest on 108. The campground has dorms for families/groups (a building with bunk beds and a bathroom) and tent and full-hookup RV sites. 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! There’s also a pool, but it was closed for the season. They’re open year-round, so we might return for a snow visit! The hosts were nice, the rates are affordable, and there is cell service (ATT) and WiFi if you don’t want to unplug completely.
I feel like I should note the owners are new and not the ones who were there for the review below mine. They’ve done a lot of work to better the campsite!
Cabin camping near New Melones Lake, California, offers a unique blend of outdoor adventure and cozy accommodations, perfect for families and nature lovers alike.
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