149 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Riverbank, California and its surrounding areas feature multiple developed campgrounds along waterways, with options ranging from primitive tent sites to full-hookup RV camping. Woodward Reservoir, located just outside Oakdale, provides waterfront camping with both primitive sites and sites with hookups, while Caswell Memorial State Park Campground in Ripon offers tent and RV sites surrounded by riparian habitat. The region includes specialized locations like Cole Ranch with its 8 tent sites along the Tuolumne River, and larger facilities like Modesto Reservoir that accommodate various camping styles with electric and water hookups.
Seasonal factors significantly affect camping conditions in the Central Valley. Summer temperatures frequently exceed 100°F, making spring and fall preferable for comfort. "It's best in the spring and fall. It's nice and quiet and the spots are not too close to each other. Staff is nice and grounds are clean," noted one camper about Woodward Reservoir. Water recreation opportunities vary throughout the year, with some reservoirs implementing no-body-contact periods during winter months due to waterfowl populations. Many campgrounds near Riverbank require reservations, especially for waterfront and hookup sites during peak summer weekends, while primitive areas may offer first-come, first-served options with varying levels of amenity access.
Waterfront camping represents the most sought-after experience in the region, with several reviewers highlighting the direct lake or river access. The developed campgrounds around Woodward and Modesto reservoirs feature sites where campers can set up directly adjacent to the water's edge, allowing for convenient boat and water sport access. One visitor observed, "On the T-Island sites you're right on the water. Both our kids' families have kayaks, so that makes getting on the water great." Campgrounds like Cole Ranch receive praise for their riverside settings and amenities, including complimentary watercraft for river exploration. During summer months, these water-adjacent campgrounds become popular social gathering spots, while those seeking quieter experiences might prefer off-season visits or the more secluded camping areas with greater distance between sites.
"Out in Central valley is Woodward Lake. Great for a day trip if you live in the Bay area and want to get away. They have boat access to the lake."
"Woodward Reservoir is a great place to camp with or without all the amenities...They have primitive camping for the folks that like roughing it as well as people that like the home away from home experience"
"Near by river provides access to canoeing or kayaking. A few hiking trails plus a good size group campsite area. Online reservation available."
"Most of the sites are close to the entrance to the river. The day use are is well shaded and provides easy hicks. Will definately go again."
from $30 - $175 / night
Check Availability"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
"Love coming here anytime of the year.Not to far out from Modesto Or Riverbank. There is an archery range here which I still need to check it out."
"The positives:
The natural setting is beautiful — right by the water with lots of ducks, and the campsite layout is quite nice."
from $40 - $60 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $25 - $35 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $25 - $45 / night
Check Availability"Stayed on large grass site next to the water. Very nice. Few amenities and staff was scarce but more than adequate. Lots of room to roam for people & pets."
"Showers and clubhouse activities are still limited, but the nearby delta offers its own attraction. Day use, tents, and every class of RV are easily accommodated."
"The campgrounds are nicely positioned with plenty of space for individuals or families. Adequate parking and tent area."
from $36 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $20 / night
Check Availability
ScoutPerfect spot with river access gor fishing. Friendliest people ive met so far. They actually like my bloodhounds ❤️ that right there says alot. Clean pool clean bathrooms and showers. Only bad thing is showers close at 8pm
ScoutA renewed campground with very friendly Staff, Pool and Casino. The Sites are big. The restrooms and showers excellent
ScoutWebsite says Luxurious sites, spacious sites. Our site was extremely narrow, sat on a hillside, unlevel, difficult to hook/unhook a 5th wheel because of the downhill. We booked a site for a 30 foot 5th wheel. After my negative review, they posted that LARGE trailers and 5th wheels might have issues??? 30 foot is not large. Our lawn chairs were literally 6 feet from our neighbors sewer hook up and our picnic table sat at about a 30 degree slope. They also said the staff tried to resolve my issues, which never happened. They have a lot of amenities, laundry, pool, etc. But the sites we saw were pretty much like ours. Make your own decisions, form your own opinions, but we'll never go back, nor will we recommend it to anyone.
ScoutWe have spent summers here on the water for the last 3 years. The site has a convenience store and a restaurant that serves up a really great burger. Also a very short drive into town.
ScoutThis campsite was well kept, in a beautiful area not toooo far from stores if you forget anything and a really beautiful creek and river around it. The camp hosts are nice and seem to really care about the property, which I love seeing. There is no electric hookups at least at some of the sites which is fine, just be aware to plan for that if you need any medical devices etc. The mosquitoes are rabid. So come prepared with the best repellent you can get. They keep the potties clean but like of spiders in them that have clearer been left there, one had a small wasps nest that I took care of since it was right by our head in the toilet. I also wouldn’t plan to swim, if it gets warm enough I guess, but the water is literally ice cold. I got in to my ankles and they were red and stinging after about 10 seconds.
While I understand most of their rules the one rule that is THE MOST insisted and on literally all points of booking and checking in is that they don’t allow any music of and level on any speakers. I understand quiet times and having a sound limit but absolutely no music seems extreme to me. Especially for families, my kids love music and it’s a daily part of our lives, and as a place they used to hold literal music festivals it seems a little saddening to me.
But overall it was a nice time.
ScoutEasy freeway access. Sites are wide open with no real privacy.
ScoutThe campgrounds was well kept - grass was mowed - trashes empty. Beautiful little spot if you like to fish the delta. But they have a sign as you enter the property that says “Pay Here” but don’t do that because the prices on the sign are not correct, and the instructions are also incorrect… I guess. I know this because I was told that I got it wrong and if you argue about it, they will threaten to call the sheriff. I like sheriffs.
TravelerI went up for Memorial Day weekend and it was a wonderful experience! I stayed in site M1. There is no visual of the river there, but it is a very short walk to get to the picnic area where you have full view.
The site was very close to the bathrooms and showers which was very convenient. The only downside is that you are right next to the entrance so you see a lot of cars go by, however it never caused an issue during our stay. We also didn’t see much wildlife, but again I think that was because of the proximity to the entrance.
Because you are close to the entrance though, we did have full access to wifi throughout the entire trip! If course we didn’t use it much because the goal was to disconnect, however if having connection is important to you, this is a great site!
ScoutWe stayed here in B loop site 25 over Memorial Day weekend. The site was FHU with a level concrete pad for the RV. Each site has a concrete picnic table and very large concrete fire pit. That’s where all the good things about this campground end.
There are burrs, goose poop and spiders everywhere. Tent campers are allowed to reserve FHU RV sites, and many do. Because the 6 people per site rule is NOT enforced, the tent campers easily infringe on others’ campsites and are constantly walking through others’ campsites. When asked about the tents in RV sites, the staff at the campground entrance shack stated “We do not discriminate”, which clearly contributes to the chaos of the campground. The staff at the entrance shack are rude and incompetent.
There is absolutely NO enforcement of quiet hours. Other campers keep their music loud and the party going all night, every night. They literally never turned it down and were blasting it like they were at the club… 12am, 2am, 4am, 6am… ALL NIGHT. My kids and I couldn’t get a good night sleep because of it. This is not a true family campground. It invites all the wrong elements, because they don’t enforce the rules. Drunken, loud, yelling campers are everywhere at all times.
This is not relaxing camping. It’s just non-stop loud music and partying. I would NEVER recommend this campground to people I actually like, and will never be returning.
Camping near Riverbank, California centers on a Central Valley location with elevation ranges from 100 to 150 feet above sea level. The region experiences Mediterranean climate patterns with distinct seasonal transitions from cool winters to hot summers. Local campsites typically border either reservoirs or rivers, with most offering direct water access through shorelines or boat launches.
River floating at Caswell Memorial State Park: Take advantage of the gentle Stanislaus River current that flows through the park. "There's a creek that runs from the camp ground to the public beach down below. You can take your floating stuff up to the camp area and literally float down stream in 45 minutes or so," notes a Caswell Memorial State Park Campground visitor.
Archery practice at Modesto Reservoir: Visit the archery range located within the recreation area. "There is an archery range here which I still need to check it out. There is also a 1 Mile Orienteering Course which is used to train my boys to use a compass," explains a camper from Modesto Reservoir.
Watercraft exploration at Cole Ranch: Utilize the complimentary boats provided by the campground for river activities. "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," shares one visitor to Cole Ranch.
Easy water access: Many campgrounds feature waterfront sites that allow for immediate water activities. "On the T-Island sites you right on the water. Which is were we go. Both our kids family have Kayaks so that makes getting on the water great," mentions a Lake Tulloch visitor about their shoreline camping experience.
Shaded campsites along waterways: Several locations offer tree-covered sites that provide relief from summer heat. "Most of the sites are shaded and all are a short walk to the swim beach," says a Caswell Memorial camper, while another notes, "Very shady campgrounds with big oak trees providing shade throughout the day and night" about Turlock Lake State Recreation Area.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many campgrounds support wildlife habitats visitors can observe. "Deer are fearless & majestic, several 'packs' walked through our campsite all throughout Sunday night when everyone else was gone. They walked up to us to smell our campfire & our food," reports a Lake Tulloch RV Campground camper.
Insect preparations required: Several campgrounds report significant insect presence, especially near water. "TONS of mosquitos, be prepared! When we drove in midday, we were swarmed with mosquitos. Considering there's a river and lots of weeds/bushes/trees, this isn't surprising," warns a Caswell Memorial visitor, while another camper suggests, "Bugs everywhere! Haha, if you got an easy up screened in, you can manage."
Cleanliness variations: Bathroom facilities vary widely across locations. "The bathrooms were astounding. Very modern and especially clean," reports one Cole Ranch visitor, while a Lake Tulloch camper notes, "Bathrooms could use some upgrades."
County residency restrictions: Some local reservoirs have implemented access limitations. "This campground is only open to Stanislas County residents," reports a Woodward Reservoir visitor, highlighting the importance of checking current policies before traveling.
Shallow water recreation: Parents appreciate the kid-friendly water conditions at some sites. "Shallow and warm water great for swimming and water sports," notes a Woodward Reservoir camper, making it suitable for families with younger children.
Educational opportunities: Several parks offer organized activities. "They do movies and nature demonstrations on the weekends for kids," shares a Caswell Memorial visitor, providing structured entertainment options.
Campsite selection for privacy: Choose locations strategically based on family needs. "The sites are clean and well maintained. A small river is nearby. There aren't trails nearby but it worked out fine for us," explains a Thousand Trails Turtle Beach visitor, emphasizing the importance of research before booking.
Mixed hookup availability: RV sites vary significantly across parks. "Has water & electricital hook ups and fire rings and every camp site," reports a Turlock Lake visitor, while another mentions, "They have primitive camping for the folks that like roughing it as well as people that like the home away from home experience (electricity, showers & water)."
Site accessibility considerations: Some campgrounds have challenging access routes. "Road in is narrow and bad," notes a Turtle Beach visitor, indicating the importance of checking approach conditions for larger rigs.
RV-specific amenities: Look for campgrounds with complete hookup systems. "The grassy hook-up RV sites were big and welcoming," shares a Cole Ranch visitor, highlighting the comfort available at certain locations for motorhome campers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find riverbank camping spots near me?
The Central California region offers several excellent riverbank camping options. Modesto Reservoir is not far from Riverbank, CA and provides shoreline camping with easy water access. For a peaceful creek-side experience, Mighty Farms offers beautiful grounds perfect for stargazing and reconnecting with nature. Other notable riverbank camping destinations in the region include Tuolumne River Ranch and Caswell Memorial State Park along the Stanislaus River. Most riverbank campgrounds in this area are within a 30-minute drive from Riverbank, CA, making them convenient options for local residents seeking weekend getaways or day trips to enjoy fishing, kayaking, and other water activities.
Is RV camping available at Riverbank, CA camping areas?
Yes, several camping areas near Riverbank, CA accommodate RVs with varying levels of services. Woodward Reservoir offers paved loop campgrounds with full hookups for RVs and motorhomes, making it a convenient option just outside Oakdale. COE New Hogan Lake Coyote Point Campground provides gorgeous lakeside RV sites with easy water access. While some sites at these campgrounds can accommodate larger rigs, it's advisable to check specific site dimensions before booking. Additional RV-friendly options in the vicinity include Lake Tulloch RV Campground and Marina, which is big-rig friendly, and Thousand Trails Turtle Beach near Manteca. Most RV campgrounds in the area require reservations, especially during peak summer months.
What amenities are typically available at riverbank campgrounds?
Riverbank campgrounds in Central California typically offer clean restrooms with hot water, picnic tables, and fire rings at each site. Lake Camanche provides well-maintained facilities with some campgrounds like Riverview offering hot showers. Acorn Campground features restrooms within a short walking distance of all sites and reasonable pricing at about $20 per night (with discounts for Golden Age passes). Most riverbank campgrounds in the region include water access points, boat ramps, and swimming areas. Some properties offer additional amenities like archery ranges, hiking trails, and wildlife viewing opportunities. Campground layouts typically provide a mix of shaded and open sites, with varying proximity to water depending on seasonal lake or river levels.
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