T T.
Guide
GuideDumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay
Great safe place in sourh east bay
Great location with spaces in safe SE bay area location and reasonable prices New development small young trees limited natural shade
Camping near Vernalis, CA
144 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Search destinations
Add dates
Campgrounds near Vernalis, California range from developed facilities to lakeside recreation areas across the Central Valley region. Caswell Memorial State Park Campground along the Stanislaus River provides tent and RV sites with amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, and restrooms. Several miles north, Thousand Trails Turtle Beach offers full-hookup RV sites along with tent camping options. The area features a mix of state parks, county recreation areas, and private campgrounds within a 30-mile radius, with most concentrated around water features including reservoirs, lakes, and rivers.
Road conditions throughout the region remain accessible year-round, though summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F, making spring and fall the most comfortable camping seasons. Most developed campgrounds require reservations, particularly during holiday weekends and summer months. "This is a primitive campground, no showers only vault toilets and restroom near visitor center (2 min walk from campground) both decently clean. Water for washing dishes is available," noted one camper about a nearby state park. Cell service varies significantly between campgrounds, with better coverage at sites closer to Interstate 5 and Highway 99 corridors. Many campgrounds in the area implement fire restrictions during the dry summer and fall months due to wildfire concerns.
The Central Valley camping experience centers around water recreation, with several campgrounds providing direct lake or river access. Woodward Reservoir receives positive reviews for its waterfront camping and warm swimming conditions. Campers frequently mention wildlife viewing opportunities, with one visitor reporting, "We saw deer and turkeys roaming the campground." Sites at Del Valle Campground east of Livermore offer more elevation and cooler temperatures than valley-floor locations. Proximity to urban areas makes these campgrounds popular weekend destinations for Bay Area residents seeking quick nature escapes, though midweek visits typically offer more solitude and site availability. Most developed campgrounds in the region provide basic amenities including restrooms, picnic tables, and fire rings, with varying levels of hookups for RV campers.
Best Campgrounds near Vernalis (144)
1. Caswell Memorial State Park Campground
"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 Availability2. Del Valle Campground — East Bay Regional Park District
"Campsite amenities were great, easy access to water and bathrooms. Bathrooms were spotless the whole weekend, even though it was a holiday weekend and every site was booked."
"After time spent here at this oasis in the middle of Eastbay, California, you’ll very much feel like part of this place with its endless trails, fantastically well-kept camping grounds and the warm hospitality"
from $15 - $200 / night
Check Availability3. Thousand Trails Turtle Beach
"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."
4. Riverside Campground — Castle Crags State Park
from $25 - $45 / night
Check Availability5. Dos Reis County Park
"Not a lot to do in the surrounding area, no obvious hiking trails, for example, although some fishing seems to have been possible. A small loop of 20+ sites, all (it appeared) with full-hookups. "
"Trails to hike and bike"
from $30 - $40 / night
Check Availability6. Kit Fox RV Park
"I stayed here for one night in a 22’ RV at one of the back-in sites for the shorter term stays on a drive from Death Valley back towards the San Francisco Bay area."
"I received a military discount, The park is next to a good sized interchange with food, fuel and etc available."
7. Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area
"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"
8. Castle Crags Campground — Castle Crags State Park
from $25 / night
Check Availability9. Camptown Tracy CA
"The location is close to the freeway and passes by for 7 years. Often it has a foul odor due to farmers, waste facility plants or Warehouses ."
10. French Camp RV Park and Golf Course
"Was passing thru from south California. Very clean. Staff was pleasant to work with at check in. Plenty of room to leave RV hooked up to truck."
Drive Time
- 19 min from Modesto, CA
- 23 min from Stockton, CA
- 52 min from Merced, CA
- 59 min from San Jose, CA
Recent Camping Photos near Vernalis, CA
141 Photos of 144 Vernalis Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Caswell Memorial State Park Campground
Castle Crags Campground — Castle Crags State ParkA
Thousand Trails Turtle Beach
Del Valle Campground — East Bay Regional Park District
Woodward Reservoir
Joseph D. Grant County Park
Cole RanchE
Grant County Park
Joseph D Grant County Park - Horse Camp
Sugar Barge RV Resort & Marina
Coe Ranch Campground — Henry W. Coe State Park
Modesto Reservoir
Recent Reviews near Vernalis, CA
584 Reviews of 144 Vernalis Campgrounds
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.
Tom T.
ScoutDumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay
Open sky great starlink users.
Very quiet campground at night. See stars clearly. Use the fire pit after 730pm when the wind has calmed down.
- 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.
- DDon E.
TravelerSherman Island Regional Park
Sherman island is about the wind and the beach and the launch
This is a fun place for you and the fam either to camp or for the day.
The tide comes in and out here as it’s a low level island and the approach to access sometimes will be under water from the tide. It is just like that, not poorly maintained, just one short section that can get 6inches deep and is not an issue for anybody.
I stayed in a tent camper fold-out. I hugged the hedge next to a teardrop. Everyone was nice and it was a relaxing stay. Can launch boat/kayak or do all the wind surfing type sports they talk about.
Stuart K.
LegendLas Trampas Regional Wilderness
Come for the Solitude & Stay for Those Ridgeline Views
Las Trampas is one of those wonderfully odd camping experiences that almost feels like you’ve discovered something you weren’t supposed to know about. Despite sitting on the doorstep of Danville and San Ramon, this 6,050-acre preserve quickly trades suburbia for steep ridges, oak woodland, grasslands and some terrific views across the East Bay. And camping here is decidedly primitive: the Corral Area is a single reservable group campsite for 17–50 people, rather than a conventional campground with individual sites. That means lots of privacy, lots of space and very little resembling a traditional developed campground.
While my earlier review goes into considerably more detail, I thought I’d revisit this campground with a quick topline of HIGHLIGHTS and LOWLIGHTS - along with a fresh batch of photos.
HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Remarkable feeling of seclusion considering you’re only minutes from the suburban East Bay, with Oakland lying just beyond; (2) Having essentially one primitive group camping area makes this feel more like your own private campground than a conventional campsite; (3) Picnic tables, BBQs, food-storage box and a drinking-water spigot provide just enough infrastructure without spoiling the primitive experience; (4) Direct access to a huge trail network with Rocky Ridge reaching 2,024 feet and panoramic views toward Mt. Diablo and the surrounding valleys; and (5) Abundant wildlife, seasonal wildflowers, grazing cattle and those beautiful rolling East Bay hills make the setting the real amenity here.
LOWLIGHTS: (1) This is group camping only, with a 17-person minimum, so it simply doesn’t work for a couple or small family looking for an ordinary campsite; (2) No hookups, showers or flush toilets - here, primitive means primitive; (3) Water at the campsite should be considered unreliable, so bring your own rather than betting the weekend on the spigot; and (4) Many of the best trails are steep, exposed and short on shade, which can make hot-weather hiking considerably more strenuous than the beautiful scenery initially suggests.
Insider’s Tip: Bring more water than you think you’ll need and make time for a ridge hike. Las Trampas is one of those places where climbing a few hundred feet completely changes your perspective especially when the suburban Bay Area seemingly disappears beneath you, which is precisely what makes camping here so unexpectedly special.
Happy Camping!
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
Guide to Vernalis
Camping sites near Vernalis, California provide diverse outdoor experiences across San Joaquin County's varied terrain. The region sits at approximately 30 feet above sea level in the Central Valley, with camping options along river corridors and near reservoirs. Summer temperatures regularly reach triple digits, while winter lows can drop into the 30s with occasional valley fog affecting visibility.
What to do
Water recreation on the Stanislaus River: At Caswell Memorial State Park Campground, visitors can float downstream from the campground to the day-use beach. "The park has 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," explains one visitor who found a perfect swimming hole along the route.
Boating and fishing opportunities: Multiple reservoir sites offer various water activities beyond swimming. "Great boating and swimming. Be aware that usually late September to Mid April, there is no body to water contact," notes a camper about Woodward Reservoir, making it essential to check seasonal regulations before planning water activities.
Hiking and wildlife viewing: The hills around Del Valle Campground provide challenging but rewarding trails with diverse wildlife sightings. "The hills are pretty intense, but they're beautiful! The lake is also very picturesque," remarks one visitor. Morning wildlife viewing yields results as noted by another camper: "I saw deer and turkeys roaming the campground."
What campers like
Shaded campsites during hot weather: Caswell Memorial State Park offers protection from the intense summer heat. "As I was camping in the summer and it was supposed to be 100s I wanted to make sure I had a shadey spot. I was able to find quite a few spots that had shade and were set off the road a bit to have some privacy," explains one visitor who appreciated the temperature relief.
Clean, well-maintained facilities: Despite being in remote locations, many campgrounds maintain good standards. "I'm not sure wether or not they had upgrades done recently, but the bathrooms were astounding. Very modern and especially clean," reports one Caswell visitor. Another camper at French Camp RV Park noted, "Very clean. Staff was pleasant to work with at check in. Plenty of room to leave RV hooked up to truck."
Affordable camping options: Budget-conscious campers appreciate the reasonable rates at certain locations. Carnegie State Vehicle Recreation Area offers surprising value: "A really pleasant surprise, especially in Northern California, was its cost: a mere $10 per night/vehicle. Two vehicles can share a campsite."
What you should know
Seasonal restrictions affect water access: Water activities may be limited during certain months. At Woodward Reservoir, "there is no body to water contact" from approximately late September through mid-April, requiring campers to adjust their expectations and plans accordingly.
Weekend crowding vs. midweek solitude: Proximity to urban areas means weekend crowds. "It can get crowded over the weekends," notes one Del Valle camper. Another adds, "Both our kids family have Kayaks so that makes getting on the water great," highlighting the importance of bringing your own equipment during busy periods.
Pest considerations: Turtle Beach RV Resort and other waterfront locations can have seasonal insect issues. "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 one visitor about water-adjacent camping areas.
Tips for camping with families
Lazy river floating activities: Families particularly enjoy the gentle water recreation at Caswell Memorial State Park. "Family friendly. Most of the sites are shaded and all are a short walk to the swim beach. A 45 minute lazy river meanders through the park and lets out at the day use beach. Bring your bug spray and a good tube!" advises one experienced camper.
Evening campground entertainment: Some locations offer organized activities. "We love this campground and come here at least 2-3x per year. It's great for the kids, they do movies and nature demonstrations on the weekends for kids," shares a regular visitor to Caswell Memorial State Park.
Kid-friendly water conditions: Woodward Reservoir provides ideal swimming conditions for children. "Shallow and warm water great for swimming and water sports," notes one visitor, while another adds, "Woodward is our family go to place to camp in the summer heat... Water feels good when it's 100+ degrees outside."
Tips from RVers
Full hookup availability: Several campgrounds offer complete services for self-contained camping. "Wonderful rv spot, the staff are welcoming and very helpful. The grounds are kept up, every site has a fire ring with picnic tables. The bathrooms are decent and dump Station is clean," reports one visitor to Turtle Beach.
Site selection considerations: At Dos Reis County Park, site layout requires planning. "This campground will not work for people wanting a one night stay because there are no pull through sites and each campsite would require disconnecting the trailer or tow car to fit in the site," warns one RVer about the logistics of overnight stays.
Big rig accommodation varies: Not all camping areas can handle larger vehicles. French Camp RV Park receives positive reviews for accommodating larger setups: "Clean flat site. Pool and launderette good... Good hookup," notes one traveler, while several other campgrounds specifically mention limitations for larger rigs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Vernalis, CA?
What camping is available near Vernalis, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Vernalis, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 144 campgrounds and RV parks near Vernalis, CA and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Vernalis, CA?
Which is the most popular campground near Vernalis, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Vernalis, CA is Caswell Memorial State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 15 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Vernalis, CA?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Vernalis, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Vernalis, CA.
What parks are near Vernalis, CA?
What parks are near Vernalis, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 23 parks near Vernalis, CA that allow camping, notably New Hogan Lake and New Melones Lake.
Keep Exploring