Looking for tent camping near Oakdale? Find the best information on tent campgrounds near Oakdale, including sites, reviews, and tips. Would you prefer a quiet dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities? Either way, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.
$50 / night
"I firmly believe that Nature brings solace in all troubles." -Anne Frank-
Pitch your tent under the shade of a majestic oak tree, right on the bank of the Tuolumne River, whose waters originate in Yosemite National Park. Keep an eye out for river otters, turtles, bald eagles, and beaver. Expect nighttime visitors like owls, foxes, and raccoons. Cole Ranch is a bit of an oasis surrounded by almond and walnut orchards. Pick a treat from the wild blackberry bushes, or from our family organic pomegranate orchard (mid-October thru mid-December). Warm yourself with your own personal fire pit in your camp, no extra charge (bring your own firewood, or purchase seasoned oak from Your Host). Outdoor kitchen available with a coffee bar, refrigeration, electricity, hot water, 3-burner stove, and BBQ’s.
**ADVISORY** (9/08/23) 8:05 AM
The river is back to normal flow, perfect for wading, swimming, fishing, kayaking, or any other river activities.
**ADVISORY** (8/10/23) 8:05 AM
The Tuolumne River unexpectedly rose about 2- 3' over night. The entire gravel shore us under water. Wading is relatively safe, but use extreme caution when boating or swimming.
$60 - $90 / night
North Grove (sites 27-59)
$25 - $70 / night
Get back to nature at Rancho Seco Recreational Area. A short 25-minute drive from downtown Sacramento, you’ll find the 400-acre park that makes up the Rancho Seco Recreational Area. Take a short vacation and enjoy bird watching, boating, camping, fishing, hiking and even a sanctuary for rescued exotic animals and wildlife. Camp in comfort with recreation and concession buildings, shade structures, laundry facility, boathouse, and newly renovated restrooms and showers. This Rancho Seco camping destination offers RV sites, tent camping sites, and group sites, some with gorgeous lake views.
George Hatfield Group Camp
$150 / night
Army veteran and outdoor enthusiast that loves to share my passion for the wilderness!
One hour from Yosemite's West Gate, we have plenty of room, extra camping gear and amenities, and lots of peace and quiet! ATVs and guided tours are also possible upon request. Four-wheel drive is required for RVs and campers, and we can assist with your arrival. Please call or email ahead.
$50 - $150 / night
Remember your OUTDOOR ETHICS when enjoying your public lands. Please RECREATE RESPONSIBLY. Overview At the end of Briceburg River Road and 4.5 miles from the suspension bridge within the BLM, Merced River Recreation Area is the Railroad Flat Campground. Popular with gold prospectors and hikers alike, there is always interesting campfire talk in this campground. It also serves as the trailhead for the BLM, Merced River Trail. The Merced River Trail is a spectacular wildflower walk in spring, has great scenery, fine fishing, and amazing swimming during other times of the year. Know Before You Go Camping Camping is first come, first served. No reservations available. There are 9 campsites available. Maximum 8 people and two vehicles per site. Quiet Hours: After 10 PM (No loud music, generators, etc.) There is a self-pay system available to pay for sites. A campsite is rented ONLY once it has been paid in full, pay-stub is properly completed and attached to campsite post, and site is occupied by campers (tent up). All sites have a picnic table, grill, and food storage lockers. No potable water available at the campsites. There is potable water available__by the information kiosk, across the Briceburg Bridge. Facilities Parking Area Restrooms Dumpsters Recycling Cans Campfires Seasonal fire restrictions apply. Fires must be in a metal fire ring. No fires on the beach! Warnings There are no lifeguards on duty at the Merced River! Please wear a life jacket. The Merced River is undammed, and the flow changes dramatically. SWIMMING IS ONLY RECOMMENDED BELOW 700 CFS. Trailers/RV's over 18 feet are not recommended crossing the suspension bridge. Dogs must be on a leash. No discharging of fireworks or firearms. Helpful Links: River flow is posted on-line at: www.dreamflows.com Return To: Merced River Recreation Management Area Visit: Mother Lode Field Office Recreation Passes: America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass ADA Access: At least 90% of all campsites are ADA accessible
Dispersed camping takes a lot more effort than camping in a developed campground, but for those with an adventurous spirit, it can be a lot of fun.
Here are some important points to remember about dispersed camping:
The maximum length of stay in a forest ranger district is 21 days per year. Please practice good outdoor ethics about camping, travel and behavior while visiting. Dispersed campers are allowed to park within one vehicle length (including any tow vehicle) of a National Forest transportation route and walk into camp. Dispersed camping is not permitted in developed campgrounds and day use areas. Other areas closed to dispersed camping include historical and archaeological sites. Also, be certain that you are within the boundaries of the National Forest before setting up camp. To prevent resource damage please keep your campsite within 150 feet from a roadway. Dispersed camping is not allowed in these areas: within one mile of Pinecrest Basin along 7N83, Clark Fork Road along Hwy 108 between Clark Fork Road and Kennedy Meadows Road Leave No Trace Camping – Camp so no one notices you while you are there, and no one even knows you were there after you leave. Please respect nature and other visitors by keeping noise to a minimum. Always pack out whatever you pack in. No permanent structures are to be constructed to an area, such as building rock-lined fire pits, trenches around tents, or carving into trees. Human waste should be deposited in a hole dug 6 - 10 inches deep and then covered with organic soil. Vehicles are not permitted off of roads, but if you can safely park your vehicle adjacent and parallel to the road and are not blocking the roadway, you may park and camp. Most sites will have a parking spot nearby while other sites may not. Because the footprint of a vehicle can have a large impact to soils, please do not create new “parking spot” for a campsite. Please park in designated or already impacted spots. If you are going to an area where others have camped before, pick a site that has been used before. Plants, soil and wildlife are impacted by new campsites so using existing ones will minimize your impact in the forest. We want you to learn some of the many reasons to enjoy the quiet and solitude of dispersed camping, it’s up to you to LEAVE NO TRACE.
Remember your OUTDOOR ETHICS when enjoying your public lands. Please RECREATE RESPONSIBLY. Overview The second BLM campground within the Merced River Recreation Management Area is Willow Placer. The campsites are located 3.6 miles downstream from the suspension bridge along Briceburg River Road. With mostly walk-in sites, this camp-ground usually offers a quieter, family atmosphere. The main beach is not nearly as large as McCabe Flat Campground, but good swimming can be found a short walk down stream in the late summer. Facilities in Willow Placer Campground (9 sites total): 8 Walk-in camp sites 1 drive-up group camp site (25 people max) 1 vault toilet 1 Port-o-let toilet (seasonal near site 1 and 13) Trash collection cans Recycling collection cans Main parking lot Self-pay Iron Ranger fee system There are picnic tables, fire grills, and food storage lockers at all camp sites. All campsites are within 200 feet of the river Permits, Fees, and Limitations: Camp fee is $10.00 per site per night. America the Beautiful Pass fee is $5.00/site/night. Camping is allowed only in designated, numbered camp sites. Maximum 8 people and two vehicles per site. Camping is first come, first served. No reservations available. A campsite is rented ONLY once it has been paid in full, pay-stub is properly completed and attached to campsite post, and site is occupied by campers (tent up). Self-pay system. Iron Ranger located near Bulletin Board. Pay camp fee within 30 minutes of occupying site. No dispersed camping within the Merced River corridor. No person shall leave any property unattended for more than 24 hours. (43 CFR 8351.2-1 (1)) Campfires are allowed ONLY in provided metal fire rings. NO campfires on beach.__Seasonal Fire Restrictions__apply. No glass bottles allowed within 1/4 mile of the Merced River. 43 CFR 8351.2-1 (i) Dogs must be on a leash at all times. NO DOGS allowed at McCabe BEACH. NO AMPLIFIED MUSIC or unreasonable noise any time. QUIET TIME AFTER 10:00 pm (no speakers, generators etc.) No discharge of firearms or fireworks 43 CFR 8351.2-1 (a) No person shall enter a developed campground between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am, unless that person is a registered camper. 43 CFR 8351.2-1 (g) All California Motor Vehicle Laws Apply. (Seat Belts, DUI, etc.). 43 CFR 8351.2-1 (e) Any person who fails to comply with these written orders may be subject to a fine not to exceed $500 and/or imprisonment not to exceed six months. Federal Register/ Vol. 66 No. 130/ Friday, July 6, 2001/ Notices Pg 35663. WARNING: No lifeguard on duty. Swimming is dangerous any time of year, but especially during spring and early summer. The Merced River is un-damned and the flow changes dramatically from year to year and season to season. Please wear a life jacket.__ SWIMMING IS ONLY RECOMMENDED BELOW 700 CFS. Potable water is available across the Briceburg Bridge as you head towards the campground facilities. Look for the faucet near the information kiosk. Bring your own water for camping purposes. Potable water is not available at the campground sites. PLEASE NOTE: Trailers over 18 feet and large RV's are not recommended crossing the suspension bridge. The old Yosemite railroad grade is accessible by vehicles up to the Railroad Flat Campground. Only equestrian, pedestrians, and bicycles are permitted beyond the Railroad Flat Campground. Commercial lodging is available in the town of Mariposa. Helpful Links: River flow is posted on-line at: www.dreamflows.com Return To: Merced River Recreation Management Area Visit: BLM, Mother Lode Field Office Recreation Passes: America the Beautiful -__National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass ADA Access: At least 90% of all campsites are ADA accessible
Legend
We’ve stayed at this campground a couple of times on our way to/from Yosemite National Park, and it is a nice place to spend a couple of nights. Many campers come here to get on the lake in their powerboats, or fish from the shore, and there will be no shortage of anglers most weekends; but, during the week in the shoulder season, we pretty much had the place to ourselves.
The campground offers a range of pull-through and back-in campsites along the slopes of the rolling hills, but most of the individual sites were flat and could accommodate a wide variety of rig sizes. Some are close enough together to make a great group camping set-up, while others were off on their own with a view of the reservoir. While there were many trees around for shade, we still had enough open sky for good solar gain and Starlink.
The main bathroom building had clean flush toilets and showers, but there were a few extra vault toilets scattered around. Fresh water taps and recycling/ trash bins were plentiful.
Hiking, cycling, paddling and fishing are the name of the game here, and we got in our kayaks for an awesome day paddle around the many coves of this reservoir. Since the lake level fluctuates there aren’t many good beaches, but you can pull off to have a picnic lunch.
There is a nearby gas station with a few supplies, ice, and firewood. Sonora is the closest town with larger grocery stores and restaurants.
Legend
We ended up at this small campground because our potential boondocking spots were completely snowed in up top. So glad we did as it is tucked away on the grounds of an amazing state park!
Most of the sites are small with a lot of tree coverage. It was quiet, quaint, and clean. We found a good site that provided just enough sky for both our 400W portable solar panel and Starlink to work pretty well. The bathroom building has flush toilets, was kept clean, and warm showers.
But the campground isn’t the reason to come here...it’s the history! This little park tucked into the Western Sierras will blow your mind. It is a significant Miwok Native American historical site, with home sites, ancient Oak trees, and literally thousands of grain, and acorn grinding stones located in the central part of the park.
The visitor’s center is a must-see and brings the location to life. In cooperation with the local tribes, the state manages the site and visitor’s center for the public. Take a walk on the interpretive trail, hike the adventure trails, fish in the creek, or attend a special program. It is a beautiful place to spend a few days.
The nearby town of Pine Grove has a few restaurants and grocery stores to get what you might need.
Guide
Very nice park, great walking trails, beautiful trees. Many of the buildings are older, but well kept. Showers are coin operated and nice. No trailer hookups, but very site has a water but can’t connect it with the trailer. Park does have a dump station and is included in the space rent. Only issue is being by the road and having road noise. Plenty of restrooms and showers (coin operated). The only Wi-Fi is at the visitor center and VERY limited cell service, no great loss.
Guide
Camping spot was clean and a tall fire pit a good distance from the water and bathroom at site 22. Was hot af was the only issue for us, 103 and the sun just hurt. There were plenty of fish and fishing folks on the shore and boats all were catching.
Traveler
Was a wonderful experience! The host was super helpful even at night when we didn’t find our designated spot (even though it had super obvious signs - our fault) Super lovely host and a beautiful ranch. A lot of fireplaces with wood. Can only recommend lighting up a little campfire and stargazing at night! Bring some marshmallows with you !
Scout
Our neighbors in A119 talked, played loud music, whooped and laughed loudly until at least 3 am. At about 11 pm, we requested that please keep the noise down and reminded them of the quiet after 10 pm park rule. They said that the rule only applied to loud music and proceeded to make rude comments and told us to call the ranger. No one answered the phone. We called the local police: no noise ordinance in the county. Our neighbors proceeded to increase the volume of their talking, laughing and started hooting (making animal noises) as well. My husband asked them again at about 12 am to please be quiet and they got even louder after that. We moved to a different site and were still able to hear them but the noise level dropped to a more moderate level. We reported them to the ranger the next day but did not get a satisfactory response. There were at least 20 people at that site. The ranger said that 8 people was the limit. Without enforcement, number limits or quiet time rules are meaningless.
Scout
Loud music playing at this hour clearly says quite time is at 10 pm and it’s so loud
ScoutA good clean campground, popular in central California. Reasonably priced $20 per night. They do accept golden age passes which reduces your nightly expense to $10 per night maximum 15 days for the month. Geared mostly for small trailers and tents, however, they do have some sites for larger RVs drive-through 40 foot max and roadside, slide outs might cause a problem. Park managers are very professional, courteous and pleasant. Bathrooms are a problem for cleanliness dump station is available for RVs. If you have a portable black tank, it would work out better for you on extended stays when dumping your black tank. If you are self-contained, you won’t have any difficulties at all.
GuideWe used Diamond Gulch as our base while exploring Yosemite for 5 days. Overall, it was a great experience with a great host! We visited in mid to late July, so it was very hot, and this means the campground was a little dusty, but manageable. As others have stated, there is free firewood at your site, but we were a little scared to light a wood fire given how everything was so dry. Also, as others have mentioned the showers were great, but we did have issues with getting them to heat up.
One thing to keep in mind is that while Groveland is only ~30 minutes from Yosemite, the drive within the park can take up 45-60 minutes. So, plan accordingly and be prepared. Our experience was that if we left camp around 7:30 we'd be through the gate with no line at 8am, and be at a parking lot around 9am. This always worked for us to get a parking spot without any hassle. After a long day of hiking and exploring the drive back to the campground felt a little long.
Something we did not expect was how little there is in Groveland itself. We tried to spend a couple of hours there one afternoon, and ended up just grabbing coffee and going back to camp. There just isn't much to do in town. This isn't to discourage anyone, but keep that in mind.
The good:
* Good host
* Beautiful scenery from camp
* Clean, well serviced bathrooms (porta potties)
* Water available in camp
* Excellent showers (especially when you can get them to heat up)
* Very relaxed atmosphere
The okay:
* The sites have wood chips spread to keep down dust, but those get tracked everywhere.
* A bit of a drive from the sights in Yosemite
* On busy weekends it can get a bit crowded
Guide
We spent one night right in front of the water, amazing view for the sunset. It’s true that bathroom / toilets / showers aren’t clean, they are quite old.
But we didn’t care, the view worth it. We went swimming in the lake : what a pleasure. We saw some squirrels and dears, they didn’t bothered us.
It was super calm. The crew was nice with us and let us spend only one night here for 50$ (the minimum should be 2 nights)
I recommend this place!
(Also, it’s right halfway between Yosemite and San Francisco: which was perfect for us)
Scout
We have been going to camanche Lake for years . Low cell service but very nice place to tent camp. Last year, they gave us our spot we set up, then was told they made a mistake and made us move spots, but the new spot was closer to the water and that made the kids happy. Kinda a hassle, but it worked out. We love it at this lake.
RangerNot expensive and has bathrooms, garbage, fire pits and picnic tables but no privacy and unfriendly camping ground covered with gravel and few level places to comfortably pitch a tent. Many families here but some partiers till midnight and an idiot who ran his generator all night during quiet hours
Scout
Thank you for sharing your experience at Hirst Horse Ranch! It sounds like a perfect getaway with its peaceful 10-acre property, shaded by trees and dotted with delightful horse pastures. The children’s playground, with its sandbox, treehouse, and impressive 17-foot swing, promises endless fun for the young and the young at heart. The opportunity to interact with horses and enjoy breathtaking sunsets makes it truly special. For more captivating moments and updates, make sure to follow them on Instagram. Download the Instagram app through this link and stay connected with Hirst Ranch!
ScoutFh
Scout
This place itself is just one star worth. But the near proximity to Yosemite is good. Sites are cramped, toilets and showers were unhygienic. Was the most expensive camping we had with the worst service and accommodation.
Guide
This time I brought a friend who hadn't been here before.
As usual, the staff was great! Very friendly at our arrival and in the evening while performing their drive-by checks.
This time I actually tried the showers and I was not disappointed. Great water pressure, plenty warm and cleaner than you might expect. Sure, there are some bugs that get in, but it was way nicer than showering in my van.
The bathrooms are well maintained and stocked with paper towels and tp. They really do a nice job here.
The riding was great. We were in awe of how empty it was. Father's Day weekend and we never came across anyone else on the trails.
We did have to relocate. My buddy couldn't get his RV into the hillside spot we'd reserved - M49 I think it was.
GuideThis is a nice place to stay a couple of nights. It’s close to the road yet quiet. The only problem are the mosquitoes and other insects. Carry repellent all the time.
Traveler
Amador is a laid back camping spot that never disappoints. Great for families. Not a party destination but you can still have a great time! They have a water hole with a fun slide, which is all kept nice and clean with tables you can sit at. I would recommend a pop up tent for shade if you go to the water hole. There is also a old school playground for the kids. The staff is super friendly and always there to help. I take my kids at least 3-4 times a year and enjoy any of the seasons. There is Frisbee golf as well.
ScoutWow, let's say we had a nightmare ishhorrible experience. We rented a tent camp site for 2 nights. We were given an RV Slab camping site. It had the tiniest barbecue grill available. The water that was coming out of all the faucets, was red and brown. People weren't allowed to shower that night. Once night fall came, the camp's site was infested with roaches Everywhere, they went in all our grocery bags and under them. Went into and under all our boxes that we had. The roaches hid under our tents also. There also seemed to be a termite infestation. We had to cut our camping trip short after spending over a thousand dollars on supplies, food, the Camping site and parking fees The workers that drove by, especially Travis, were nice and Welcoming. Dogs have to be on a leash at all times. If you want to go into the lake with your dog, You have to walk very far away if you didn't rent one of the tent sites at the lake front area. Had to fumigate my vehicle when I got home with all my stuff in it. I pray none of the bugs will be in my stuff at home. I heard many other guests screeching and shouting, omg theres cockroaches every where. Good to know, we weren't the only ones disappointed. The owner Jake refused to refund me, or my two guests that wasted their 50 dollars in parking fees, although the trip was cut short due to the conditions. Jake offered for us to stay another night. Will never be back. Beware.
ScoutBooked a reservation through The Dyrt app for this place. Reservation says I booked for a “tent”, meaning a tent will be ready already and should have a bed inside. We wanted a place to sleep before heading to Yosemite the next day, without having to unpack our stuff.After booking on 5/18, I emailed the owner of the campground to make sure my reservation went through and I mentioned that I booked it through the dyrt app and it was a reservation for a tent. The owner replied with “it did”. Upon getting to the site, the owner was not there and we didn’t know where we needed to go. Some of his family members were camping there as well and helped us get a hold of him. When we finally spoke with the owner, he said that the dyrt app is not supposed to do reservation for the tent. We were put in an empty campsite because all the tents were occupied. This was around 9 pm, we don’t have time to set up tent so we took everything out of the back the car and slept in the back of the car. I emailed the dyrt app to get a refund, I paid for the tent but got a camp site instead so I should be refunded for the difference plus not to mention the inconvenience. It was not my fault the reservation was incorrect, I also did my due diligence to make sure the booking was done correctly. It is not my fault the owner did not read my email properly when I asked. The dyrt app will not issue a refund because the owner said he will not issue a refund. Although the amount is not a lot, I would rather only pay for what I got. The owner was nice and his family was nice but we are really disappointed with our experience.
ScoutHorrible place to go to they commence in homosexual activities and aid in sex trafficking
Ranger
I had a very different take on this place than the others. The RV spot was a fair distance from the neighboring spots, it was low-density, quite, all good qualities, but there was very little see or do near the loop. There were no hikes suitable for young kids as far as I could tell. There was a little store for ice cream and camping supplies and dump station on the loop. HOWEVER, WARNING: the road around the campground looks wide but there are boulders every 10 feet or so making it insanely hard to back into our spot - and we had only a 22ft trailer! I can't see myself coming back here. The maps do accurately depict the relatively narrow space you have for back in spots. Once we were in, it was fine. The pedestal and sewer set-up was just fine. No issues there. It's just not worth the hassle.
As for the park/water part of the park, well, it was covered in garbage from the day-trippers. It was packed and only accessible by driving to it. Truly not a place I wanted to BBQ or picnic at. Cars, people, dogs, loud music, and garbage. A gross diaper on the shore. We took a very nice hike starting at the dog run. That was beautiful, but not worth the trip.
I didn't bother to photograph our site. There were all adequate, just avoid back in site here. There are so many better places to visit. I checked this off the list, no reason to return. I don't believe there was reception either from the campsite.
Last thing, we peaked in on the cabins in our loop. They looks very nice and maintained.
ScoutSpots are unlevel, but not horribly. Firewood already at the site for your use. Wonderful outdoor showers! The scenery is beautiful! Wish we had more time to stay here longer. Favorite site of our trip so far
Traveler
Cross country Jeep camping. Thought the $38 price was a bit steep, but after discovering hot showers, really couldn't complain. Right on the water, got to hear the fish jump and the bull frogs croak.
TravelerHuge but peaceful camping 15 mins from the entrance and 45 mins from the Yosemite visitor center. General store equipped in nicer gifts than the visitor center. First come first served, but after a check in you can reserve your site for when you are leaving. We didn’t bother looking for a place by the river as it was already packed, but found a nice spot in the third row. Spotted a skunk twice:) Bathrooms are rarely cleaned - three nights in there were still dirty. WiFi poor and limited to the front desk and laundry room. For this price would’ve been nice for it to work throughout the whole place though. Coin machine in laundry room out of order, you can exchange money at the front desk.
Scout
We stayed 1 night and it was perfect. The staff was very nice and the place was clean and quiet. There are toilets and showers on the campground and it only cost 10$!
the campsite is perfect for traveling through and getting a night's sleep.
GuideSince my initial visit in 2021 I've been back 4 or 5 times now. I guess that means I like it.
Generally, it's a great place - especially for mountain biking fans. Perhaps also for fishing and other activities, but that's outside my scope of interest.
On my first return visit I went to the same spot as the first visit. It was a bad choice - crowded and full of RVs who ran their generators all night long. The next morning I scouted out some better spots. The ranger was quite accommodating and allowed me to move to a quiet spot on top of a hill. This area has become my "go to" as it's close to the Exchequer trailhead and away from boaters.
Subsequent visits have been much better.
Could be a 5 star place, but shade is hard to come by in some areas and some clusters of camp sites get noisy when they're used by groups.
None of my complaints will stop me from going again - the trails are great and keep getting better.
The photos are from various visits.
Camping near Oakdale, California, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking to pitch a tent or park your RV, there are plenty of options to explore.
Camping near Oakdale, CA, has something for everyone, whether you're a family looking for fun or an RV enthusiast seeking adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Oakdale, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Oakdale, CA is Lake Camanche with a 4.1-star rating from 18 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Oakdale, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 20 tent camping locations near Oakdale, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
