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Camping near Stanislaus National Forest

1,516 Reviews

The Stanislaus National Forest has camping that ranges from established state parks to remote forest sites. Calaveras Big Trees State Park sits within the forest boundaries and is known for its giant sequoias and hiking trails that wind through the massive trees. You can soak in natural hot springs at Grover Hot Springs State Park Campground after a day of hiking. The Stanislaus NF Andrea A area gives you more quiet camping with fewer people around and thick forest surrounding the sites. Many trails cut through the forest, taking you to waterfalls and viewpoints worth the hike. The rivers and lakes throughout the area are good for fishing if you bring your gear. Spring and fall bring the best weather and fewer crowds, with colorful foliage in autumn. Winter brings snow that can make some roads impassable without chains or 4WD. Summer gets busy, particularly on weekends when spots fill up fast. Most sites come with basic amenities like picnic tables and fire rings, but many lack water and power hookups. The forest has plenty of wildlife—keep your food secure since deer and bears frequent the area. The small towns near the forest have some interesting historical sites if you need a break from camping. Always check current conditions before your trip, as fire bans and closures change throughout the year. Taking out your trash and minimizing your impact helps keep the forest in good shape for everyone.

Map showing campgrounds near Stanislaus National Forest, CaliforniaExplore the Map

Best Camping Sites Near Stanislaus National Forest (361)

    1. Pinecrest Campground

    18 Reviews
    Long Barn, CA
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 965-3116

    $40 / night

    "This is a nice campground on Pinecrest Lake near Sonora Pass in Stanislaus National Forest."

    "Pinecrest was an amazing place at the edge of the Stanislaus national forest. The community is great, the campground and bathrooms were very well maintained. It was a 10min walk to the lake."

    2. North Grove Campground — Calaveras Big Trees State Park

    22 Reviews
    Arnold, CA
    17 miles
    Website
    +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."

    3. Fraser Flat Campground

    6 Reviews
    Long Barn, CA
    6 miles
    Website

    "Surrounded by trees, typical pretty campsite. Campgrounds is next to the water for close fishing. Less than 10 minutes to Pinecrest Lake. First come First serve. Dog friendly."

    "Very nice , loved camping right next to the river. Bathrooms were very clean."

    4. Meadowview

    3 Reviews
    Stanislaus National Forest, CA
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 965-3474

    $32 / night

    "About a 1/4 mile walk or drive to Pinecrest Lake. Store has food, ice, drinks close by. Steam Donkey bar and restaurant next to store. A great spot to get relief from main Pinecrest CG crowds."

    "Close to town and Dodge Ridge. There isn't really any cell signal, which is a good thing. The site is somewhat primitive, but we really enjoyed it. There is a lot of shade and that is a plus."

    5. Wa Ka Luu Hep Yoo Campground

    7 Reviews
    Camp Connell, CA
    13 miles
    Website

    "A short walk down to the edge of the Stanislaus River and you won't want to leave. Very family friendly."

    "This hidden gem has a great lay out with tent only sites up front and spots for RVs and tents around the loop in the back - all sites have tables and fire rings are fairly close to several pit toilets"

    6. Sand Bar Flat Campground

    5 Reviews
    Long Barn, CA
    9 miles
    Website

    "I made the drive in a 2wd cargo van and I saw an 80s Ford Mustang down there at the same time but i don't think I'd recommend doing that. A basic truck or SUV would have an easy time driving down."

    "I loved it super secluded way off the beaten path. Great camp host and the fishing was incredible"

    7. Utica/Union Reservoirs

    6 Reviews
    Bear Valley, CA
    12 miles
    Website

    $16 / night

    "It's about a 3 hour drive from my home in the Bay Area, the Utica/ Union Reservoirs are right off the 4 highway and Spicer Reservoir Rd (roughly 20 miles north of Arnold, CA)."

    8. Clark Fork Campground

    7 Reviews
    Bear Valley, CA
    15 miles
    Website

    "Clark's Fork is a large campground with 88 sites – all of which are situated with lots of space so that you aren’t too close to your neighbors."

    "It’s a nice quiet place away from cell service and nice hikes you can do."

    9. Cascade Creek Campground

    2 Reviews
    Bear Valley, CA
    3 miles
    Website

    10. Meadowview Campground

    2 Reviews
    Long Barn, CA
    4 miles
    Website
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Recent Camping Photos near Stanislaus National Forest

636 Photos of 361 Stanislaus National Forest Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Stanislaus National Forest

1516 Reviews of 361 Stanislaus National Forest Campgrounds

  • A
    Oct. 13, 2025

    Indian Flat RV Park

    Great site

    If Traveling with kids make use of their fire pit and roast marshmallows

  • Connie H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 10, 2025

    Bridgeport Travertine Hot Springs Dispersed

    Quiet Spot Near Hot Springs

    There are No Camping signs posted at the road and farther up toward the hot springs. We did end up staying here one night with our pop-up camper, because it was late when we finally arrived. There was a little pull out loop that had a camper van and another truck camper already parked and camping when we got there. There was plenty of room to be able to pull in and park in that area as well. It’s very dusty/sandy in this area. The hot springs were a 5 min drive from this spot. There are really no facilities here! There is one vault toilet down by the hot springs, but it was pretty rough. There are no trash cans around, it is a pack it in, pack it out area, please be prepared to clean up after yourselves and remove your trash. I did clean up some remnants of others trash, but for the most part it was pretty well kept. Although it says no camping, this was a decent overnight spot with beautiful views and it was pretty awesome to be able to wake up and soak in the hot springs on a chilly morning!

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 10, 2025

    Evergreen Rd Dispersed camping

    Great little spot to boondock

    Firstly, the spots aren’t actually on Evergreen; they’re on an easily missed dirt road near Aspen Valley Rd. There are two spots at the end of the very short road - each with a fire pit and ample space. There’s tons of dead/dry wood around for fires. It’s close to the road but there isn’t much traffic and it’s very close to the Yosemite entrance.

  • Michelle R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 8, 2025

    Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping

    Beautiful boondocking

    Passing through the area, I was pleased to find this site. Large spaces and plenty of room for more than one vehicle per site.

  • Raymond M.
    Oct. 5, 2025

    Top of Arnold - FR 5N56 Dispersed

    This place is real camping

    This campground was the best campground that I’ve been to in a long time take note that this is real camping so there is no bathrooms. There is no running water. There is no showers not for the week but for the real man not recommended for women in small kids, but absolutely amazing and beautiful place. Be sure to obtain a fire permit from Cal fire and check fire restrictions in the area have a bucket full of water and a shovel next to your fire at all times again this place was amazing

  • Laura The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Mill Creek National Forest

    Beautiful and quiet spot close to Mono Lake

    Not gonna lie, I was skeptical at first. GPS took me to the wrong (dirt) road, it was getting dark and stormy... Eventually stormed passed and I got a clear moonlight and could hear the gurgle of the river a few meters away. Best reward was in the morning... Wow! ♥️ A nice spot for those just leaving Yosemite or about to go into it.

    The road is not great, drive slowly

    PS: I found a tote bag (see pic) where I was, if it's yours hit me up!!

  • Laura The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Glory Hole Recreation Area

    Pretty and quiet

    Easy to find, there was no one but my spot was labelled with the tags. Facilities are clean but the shower was cold, at best lukewarm. The lake's water was too low for a swim though :( sad

  • Levi K.
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Campground by the Lake

    Not all reservations

    This is a great spot. We were out there the whole weekend and enjoyed the campground and lo9k forward to going back. There are first come first serve spaces available and that worked out great. The campground was not packed or to noisy over the weekend. We look forward to going back

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2025

    Virginia Lake Rd. Boondocking

    Amazing Open Campground In The Forest

    We loved camping here. There were great campsites with bear lockers along a really nice little creek. Fantastic location for dogs. Lots of space to walk the dogs. Campground is quiet. No cell service but our Starlink worked great.

Guide to Stanislaus National Forest

Camping near Stanislaus National Forest, California, offers a mix of stunning scenery and outdoor fun. Whether you're pitching a tent or parking an RV, there's something for everyone in this beautiful area.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the many trails in the area. Campers have enjoyed the "beautiful river nearby; pretty easy in and out for small-ish RVs" at North Grove Campground — Calaveras Big Trees State Park. The trails are great for families and offer a chance to see local wildlife.
  • Fishing: Many campers have had success fishing in the nearby lakes. One visitor at Buckeye Campground mentioned, "We chose campsite 63 it was next to a stream," making it easy to catch some fish for dinner.
  • Wildlife Watching: Keep an eye out for deer and turkeys. A camper at Indian Grinding Rock State Historical Park Campground noted, "Plenty of wildlife to see in the day use area as well."

What campers like:

What you should know:

  • Crowded Campsites: Some campgrounds can get busy, especially on weekends. A camper at Hodgdon Meadow Campground — Yosemite National Park noted, "Quite busy and noisy, with generators going quite late."
  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have showers or electric hookups. For example, Yosemite Creek has no drinking water or showers, so plan accordingly.
  • Road Conditions: Some access roads can be rough. A visitor at Buckeye Campground mentioned, "The road in is dirt, depending on the winter season it can be a little rough."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Campgrounds with Activities: Look for places with nearby lakes or trails. Campers at Pinecrest Campground enjoyed "the proximity to the lake and had a great hike around it."
  • Bring Entertainment: Some campgrounds have outdoor movie nights. A visitor at Pinecrest Campground mentioned, "Saturday nights they play outdoor movies at the Amphitheater."
  • Plan for Meals: Make sure to pack enough food, as some campgrounds lack markets. A camper at Yosemite Pines RV Resort noted, "There was a high volume of campers and it seemed they struggled a bit to keep up with the bathrooms."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the campsite. A visitor at Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes mentioned, "We are in a 45 ft toy hauler and taking 120 up here was an ok drive."
  • Be Prepared for Limited Services: Some campgrounds may not have Wi-Fi or cell service. A camper at Yosemite Pines RV Resort said, "Cell service was non-existent - but such is life in the mountains."
  • Bring Extra Supplies: Stock up on essentials before arriving. A visitor at Hodgdon Meadow Campground noted, "Decent location, medium even camp spot, decent toilets, no shower."

Camping near Stanislaus National Forest, California, is a great way to enjoy the outdoors. With beautiful campgrounds and plenty of activities, it’s a perfect spot for families and RVers alike.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best campgrounds in Stanislaus National Forest?

Pinecrest Campground is highly rated, offering access to Pinecrest Lake with swimming, fishing for trout, and hiking trails circling the lake. The campground is well-maintained with nearby conveniences including a marina and store. For groups or families seeking spacious sites, Clark Fork Campground features 88 sites with ample spacing between neighbors and convenient double sites for larger parties. Loop A offers 25 particularly nice spots. Both campgrounds are seasonal, generally operating spring through fall due to winter snow conditions. Reservations are recommended, especially during summer weekends and holidays when these popular spots fill quickly.

Where can I find dispersed camping in Stanislaus National Forest?

Dispersed camping is available throughout Stanislaus National Forest, with Hermit Valley Campground offering several rustic sites with no freshwater or garbage service. This area has historical significance as a former pack station for silver mines. Another option is near Dimond O Campground, where you can camp along logging roads. The Stanislaus National Forest Ranger Station provides detailed maps of logging roads and dispersed camping areas. Remember that dispersed camping follows pack-in, pack-out principles. Most sites are accessible from Highway 108, and camping is typically allowed 100-200 feet from water sources and roads. Always check current forest regulations and fire restrictions before your trip.

Are there cabins available in Stanislaus National Forest?

While traditional Forest Service cabins are limited in Stanislaus National Forest, Three Links Camp offers private cabin-style accommodations just below the forest boundary on Highway 108. This facility features dorm-style buildings with bunk beds and bathrooms for families or groups. For those seeking more rustic options, the forest does contain some historic guard stations that are occasionally available for public rental through the Forest Service reservation system. These typically require advance booking, sometimes 6 months ahead. Near the forest, North Grove Campground at Calaveras Big Trees State Park provides alternative lodging options close to the magnificent sequoia groves.

What are the camping options along the Stanislaus River?

Sand Bar Flat Campground offers drive-in access with sites situated along the Stanislaus River, providing excellent fishing and swimming opportunities. For those seeking a quieter experience, Fraser Flat Campground features walk-in sites with water and toilet facilities in proximity to the river. Both campgrounds are typically open from late spring to early fall, depending on weather conditions. The river provides recreational activities including fishing, swimming, and tubing during summer months. Most river campgrounds require fees and may offer both reservable and first-come, first-served sites. Fire restrictions are common during dry summer months, so always check current regulations.

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