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Tent Camping near Patterson, CA
1 campground with availability this weekend
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County parks and regional preserves surrounding Patterson, California offer diverse tent camping options within a short drive, ranging from developed tent campsites with full amenities to primitive backcountry sites. Uvas Canyon County Park, located about 40 miles west in the eastern Santa Cruz Mountains, features 25 tent campsites with amenities like food lockers, fire rings, and picnic tables. Joseph D. Grant County Park, situated near Mount Hamilton, provides walk-in tent sites with views of the surrounding hills. Cole Ranch offers tent camping under walnut and almond trees with riverside access. For those seeking more primitive tent camping experiences, Morgan Territory Regional Preserve offers backcountry tent sites that feel "very off grid" according to recent visitors.
Most tent campgrounds in the region provide basic amenities for comfort while maintaining a natural setting. Campsites typically feature flat dirt or gravel pads suitable for pitching tents. Uvas Canyon's sites include water faucets, trash bins, and recycling stations for every three sites. Bathroom facilities vary by location, with Joseph D. Grant offering clean restrooms with hot water and showers. Fire regulations permit campfires in designated rings at most locations, though seasonal restrictions may apply during dry periods. Tent campers should note that some sites have uneven terrain - one visitor at Uvas Canyon mentioned being "on a bit of a slope and quite a ways away from the fire pit and picnic table."
The tent camping experience varies significantly between weekdays and weekends. According to reviews, "weekdays are best if you want to avoid the crowds" at popular locations like Uvas Canyon. One camper noted that "during less crowded times (winter) this campground is one of the best" with "extremely beautiful and peaceful surroundings." Tent sites at Morgan Territory provide a more secluded backcountry camping experience. Most tent campgrounds offer access to hiking trails - Joseph D. Grant features "good trails" through oak-studded hills where visitors have spotted wildlife including bunnies and bobcats. Tent campers should be prepared for temperature drops after sunset, particularly in canyon locations where one visitor noted "it can get cold quickly."
Best Tent Campgrounds near Patterson (9)
1. George J. Hatfield State Recreation Area Group Camp
1 Site AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $150 / night
2. Cole Ranch
"They also change the hand towel in the restrooms daily for everyone to use. The campsite is well taken care of as well as the kitchen which is communal use."
"The amenities were above and beyond anything we have seen at other locations. Complimentary watercraft for the river, stocked outdoor kitchen, and hot showers with shampoo/lotion etc. "
from $60 - $90 / night
3. Joseph D. Grant County Park
"Lots of wildlife to see and hear (coyotes). Didn’t get 5 starts cause it was quite busy with loud neighbors!"
"They also sell ice which was nice to grab for the cooler. Nice stay, saw a lot of bunnies and a bobcat on the way out."
4. Joseph D Grant County Park - Horse Camp
"Lotsa shaded oak spaces. Good trails."
"Hamilton and a lake up the road a way, there’s also a mansion & rose garden on the property, shower & bathroom are clean, there are nights to gather and stargaze.The tent spaces are sizable &"
Check Availabilityfrom $15 - $400 / night
5. Uvas Canyon County Park
"There's 25 campsites; each with a food locker, fire ring, a picnic table, and parking space for 2 sedan sized vehicles or 1 RV. 8 people max per site."
"We camp in a roof top tent and wish we had been more selective on our site, as parking space and the incline at each site are different."
Check Availabilityfrom $34 / night
6. Sunol
"Great backpacking getway. Many day hikers here but you can backpack as well. I camped on a beautiful ridge."
"I have never camped here but hiked many trails."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when available7. Morgan Territory Regional Preserve
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $15 / night
8. Round Valley Regional Preserve
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $15 / night
9. Deer Flat Boat In Campground
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 / night
Drive Time
- 20 min from Modesto, CA
- 37 min from Stockton, CA
- 42 min from Merced, CA
- 1 hr 15 min from San Jose, CA
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Patterson, CA
14 Photos of 9 Patterson Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Patterson, CA
383 Reviews of 9 Patterson Campgrounds
- kkelly E.
GuideUvas Pines RV Park
Nice big campsites, creek running but unsure if clean enough to go in. There’s a dog park with lights which is really awesome for our old dogs. There are definitely some long term campers here but it still has a nice feel. Only reason it’s not 5 star is we are close to the road so it’s loud.
Kylee R.
RangerCaswell Memorial State Park Campground
Caswell Memorial State Park
Lots of sites with privacy! Bathrooms are clean and they have coin operated showers. Dumpsters and water in various spots. Right on the river, a small beach access. Saw some cats. Bear box, picnic table, and fire pit at each spot.
- TTwindaddyGuide
Del Valle Campground — East Bay Regional Park District
East Bay Parks - IYKYK
Like most/all east bay parks, this is well appointed for the masses. It’s also surrounded by rolling hills and close to suburbia. For many, these are positives. As an east bay resident they are for me as well. Del Valle is a bit more removed than many east bay parks. From my location in Fremont, it’s a one hour drive. A pleasant drive for the most part. I camp to get away for a bit and almost always to mountain bike. As such, I seek parks that have trails. Del Valle has a map of many trails. They also appear on many of the mapping services used by mountain bikers. Review those and digest them if this is also your intention - these are east bay parka style trails. In other words, mostly steep and loose fire roads, with many “social trails” sprinkled between. If you are compelled to stay legit/legal trails, bring an ebike. Now on to the camping. I picked a spot as far removed from any booked spot on the map. I triple checked this up until the day before I arrived. I want solitude! When I arrived Thursday afternoon, I was surprised to see the sites just 3 spaces away, on both sides, occupied. This is a fairly compact area. And while I’m sure they’re lovely folks, this isn’t what I expected on a Thursday. Saturday? Sure. Anyway… be aware that these reservation services aren’t completely reliable in that regard. The bathrooms and showers are amazing! Clean, smell good, cared for. Noteworthy is the hot showers in the camp grounds are free and your one push of the button provides water for two minutes I'd guess. Very nice! The space, 135 for me, is okay. A couple trees for shade, a nice table and fire pit. It’s now dark and the noise is minimal - mostly from the group campsite just down the hill. I’ll update this with more details in the coming days since it’s a 4 day visit.
Update 1: it’s my first morning here. Using starlink as there is no cell signal to be found. What I noticed last night was that this park is directly below the flight path to the local airports. Every couple minutes last night, a plane would fly overhead. According to flight aware, they’re at about 10,000 feet. If this will ruin your getaway, you’ve been warned.
Update 2: On Friday night, the majority of the spots were filled. Many large groups of people with varying degrees of consideration, but to their credit almost all (except the barking German Shepard) were quiet by 10PM. It was a bit more crowded come Saturday morning. Some friends came to visit for a mountain bike ride, and we set off at about noon. I had been complimentary of the facilities and bragged that I'd be taking a nice shower after our ride. Unfortunately, upon our return, there was no hot water and no lighting in the showers. And, sadly, someone decided to remove the tags and hangers from their TJ Maxx haul and leave them all over the floor of two of the showers.
Verdict: I'd only come back here in the springtime when it's likely to be green and have some water in the arroyo and only during the week. The density and composition of the people here was akin to being at Costco on a Saturday, and I only did that once.
Tim P.
TravelerThousand Trails Morgan Hill
Great Campground
I liked this Thousand Trails resort because it’s more like camping. The staff is amazing. The facilities are great amazing big pool. The only problem I had is they didn’t have any sewage hook up, but I have a tote so it wasn’t that big of a deal.
- DDale J.Guide
Medeiros Primitive Campsites — San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area
Great peaceful place to stay
We got a site at the water with a table and fire pit. The place was busy but there were plenty of places to park. The people were friendly and the park host even asked if I had discounts available. Which I did and my stay was just $10 a night. 1/2 price! Great! Who knew getting old would give me a bunch of discounts! There are Senior and Handicapped discounts available. The water smelled a bit fishy, but that was fine with me. There were campers that were fishing and swimming in the water. Way too cold for me as I'm from Palm Springs and used to 110 degrees with water temps in the 90's.
Rosa M.ScoutCarnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area
Stayed 2 nigths, it was perfect
We stayed 2 nigths, 10$ per night. The staff was very kind. The place has showers and bathrooms clean enough for being it the middle of towns. Each space has a fire ring and a table. There's a little bit of noise in the morning and afternoon because of the cars that avoid the highway and pass nearby. It's first come first served. Overall, it's a very safe and good place to camp
Margaret R.GuideMerced River Resort
Beware rat infested
Stayed at this camp for a few months,then storages my basically new fifth wheel through the winter. When the hauler went to pick it up,there was significant damage done in which he took date and location stamped photos of while still parked next to the same RV we parked it by. When it arrived,it was even worse we had an active rat infestation that cost me over$3k repairs to all of my water lines and gas lines they had chewed through. Not including the mattresses,bedding ect we had to replace. I contacted the park,they ask for the photos and then said get an estimate and they would pay for repairs. It took me over a month to get an estimate,in which I had to pay for. For them then to decide they were not responsible now. Please do not store your nice items at this place! They do not care about you or your stuff. My insurance will be suing for all damages now.
- TTom H.Guide
Moccasin Point Campground
One of my favorites
Been here many times. I particularly like winters when few are around. The sites are spacious and clean. You will have to level. We have seen deer, turkeys, a good size flock of buzzards, osprey, bald eagles, a few big cats. Signs are posted about rattlesnakes.
Guide to Patterson
Tent camping near Patterson, California offers options ranging from riverside sites to backcountry experiences within a 50-mile radius. Summer temperatures in this region regularly exceed 90°F during peak camping season, while spring and fall provide milder conditions. The terrain varies from oak woodland to exposed grasslands with limited natural shade at several campgrounds.
What to do
Watercraft activities: At Cole Ranch, campers can borrow canoes, paddleboards, and kayaks for river recreation. "We took out one of the facilities canoes on the river and relaxed on the water all afternoon. Fishing was a success, what a bonus," reports one visitor.
Wildlife spotting: The oak-studded hills around Joseph D. Grant County Park provide habitat for diverse wildlife. "Saw a lot of bunnies and a bobcat on the way out," notes a camper who stayed overnight at the park.
Waterfall hikes: Multiple trails connect from the camping areas at Uvas Canyon County Park to seasonal waterfalls. "The 25-site campground is relatively small, so camp sites are not big," explains a camper, but "short hikes along the Uvas Creek and Swanson creek are right next to the campground."
What campers like
Well-maintained facilities: Campers at Uvas Canyon County Park appreciate the clean amenities. "Super clean and maintained. Especially the bathrooms and showers. The sites are spaced out nicely and there is a water faucet and trash bins plus recycle every couple of sites," notes a recent visitor.
Helpful camp hosts: Staff at several campgrounds receive positive mentions for their service. At Cole Ranch, "Barry and his wife were amazing hosts! They made sure that we had everything we needed!" One visitor's dog lost a toy in the water, and "they took time out of their day to buy him a new one."
Off-grid feeling: Backcountry sites at Morgan Territory Regional Preserve provide seclusion not found at more developed campgrounds. A camper describes the experience as feeling "very off grid" while noting "camp experience was smooth and the sun was shining."
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Weather varies dramatically by season and can affect camping conditions. At George J. Hatfield State Recreation Area, flooding has been an issue, with one visitor reporting in June 2023 that the "main gate is locked. No entry, despite what it says on the park website about day use area being open."
Insect preparedness: Some campgrounds have seasonal insect issues. A camper at Uvas Canyon noted, "We were here about 2 weeks ago at a different site and didn't have any wasp issues. I'm pretty sure there is a wasp nest near 25."
Limited privacy: Many campgrounds in the region have closely spaced sites. At Joseph D. Grant County Park - Horse Camp, sites are "fairly spare, with some having shade," and the campground can feel crowded during peak periods.
Tips for camping with families
Accessible water play: Families with children should consider Cole Ranch for its safe water access. "The shoreline overlooking the river was relaxing, quiet and inviting," notes a visitor, adding that the site offers "complimentary watercraft for the river" making it ideal for family activities.
Trail difficulty awareness: When camping with children at Uvas Canyon, be aware of trail conditions. "Trails are narrow and steep at some places but mostly shaded. Small waterfalls are the highlights of the trail, but kids will enjoy playing in the water on hot days," explains a camper.
Poison oak precautions: At some campgrounds, plant hazards require extra vigilance with children. "On the trails there's quite a bit of poison oak so keep dogs close," warns a camper about the hiking paths at Uvas Canyon.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for leveling: For those camping in vehicles or with rooftop tents, terrain can present challenges. A visitor to Sunol noted that many sites have "uphill" terrain, and recommends checking site specifications before booking.
Gate closure timing: RV campers should note access restrictions at certain parks. At Joseph D. Grant County Park, "Gate closes 8:15pm," reports a visitor, which can limit late arrivals or returns from day trips.
Hookup availability: Most tent campgrounds near Patterson offer limited RV amenities. Sunol provides electric hookups with both fifty-amp and thirty-amp options, but lacks sanitary dump stations and showers, making it better suited for self-contained units.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Patterson, CA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Patterson, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Patterson, CA is George J. Hatfield State Recreation Area Group Camp with a 1.5-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find
tent camping near
Patterson, CA?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Patterson, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 tent camping locations near Patterson, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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