Best Campgrounds near Volcano, CA

The Sierra Nevada foothills surrounding Volcano, California offer several established campgrounds with diverse accommodation options. Indian Grinding Rock State Historical Park Campground provides tent and RV sites with picnic tables and fire rings in a wooded setting, while Gold Country Campground Resort features tent sites, RV hookups, and cabins with additional amenities like a pool and mini-golf. Several properties in the region, including Buffalo Hill and Lake Amador Resort, offer cabin camping experiences ranging from rustic to modern, providing alternatives to traditional tent camping.

Campground facilities in the Volcano area vary significantly in terms of amenities and accessibility. "Most of the sites are small with a lot of tree coverage. It was quiet, quaint, and clean," noted one visitor about Indian Grinding Rock State Historical Park. The region experiences typical Sierra foothill weather patterns with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters that occasionally bring snow to higher elevations. Cell service can be inconsistent throughout the area, with some campgrounds having no coverage for certain carriers. Many campgrounds in the region require reservations, particularly during peak summer months when families visit to enjoy swimming pools and water features available at resorts like Gold Country Campground.

Campers frequently highlight the natural beauty and historical significance of the area as key attractions. The historical aspects of Indian Grinding Rock State Historical Park receive particular praise, with its Native American cultural sites and interpretive trails adjacent to the campground. A camper described it as "a significant Miwok Native American historical site, with home sites, ancient Oak trees, and literally thousands of grain and acorn grinding stones." Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, with visitors regularly spotting deer, turkeys, and various bird species. While some campgrounds near main roads experience occasional traffic noise, most sites provide a peaceful setting with ample shade from mature oak trees. Families particularly appreciate campgrounds with recreational amenities, though several reviews mention issues with yellowjackets during late summer months, suggesting bringing protective nets for outdoor dining.

Best Camping Sites Near Volcano, California (322)

    1. Indian Grinding Rock State Historical Park Campground

    12 Reviews
    Volcano, CA
    1 mile

    $30 / night

    "Next to a beautiful state operated historical park with lots of open space, tall ancient oak trees and two easy trails. Open space great for games, frisbee, soccer, or setup a volleyball net."

    "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. "

    2. Gold Country Campground Resort

    9 Reviews
    Pine Grove, CA
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 296-4650

    "Staff a very friendly and our site was just a walking distance to the bathrooms."

    "We used the spot to not be in the snow but make the trip up to Iron Mountain Sno-Park...a 45 minute drive. The snow looked great for skiing but not so much for snowmen or sledding."

    3. Jackson Rancheria RV Park

    6 Reviews
    Jackson, CA
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 223-1677

    $50 - $70 / night

    "We wanted a close to home location with all the hookups to make sure we knew how to use everything. We were shocked at how clean and beautiful this park was!"

    "Spacious , clean, very friendly staff, beautiful walking trail around the park. The views are so beautiful we will definitely come back!"

    4. Acorn Campground

    28 Reviews
    Valley Springs, CA
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 772-1343

    $20 / night

    "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."

    5. North Grove Campground — Calaveras Big Trees State Park

    22 Reviews
    Arnold, CA
    21 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."

    6. 49er Village RV Resort

    6 Reviews
    Sutter Creek, CA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 245-6981

    "There are trees throughout the park and although it is located right on the road, only the sites that back up to the road hear road noise. There is a small pond in the center and we saw some ducks."

    "We enjoyed walking around with our pets and getting ice cream. The only annoyance was loud music past curfew, but it was only on the weekend."

    7. Lake Amador Resort

    12 Reviews
    Ione, CA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 274-4739

    $25 - $45 / night

    "Fabulous lakeside camping.... We’ve been in March, May, July and September..... July, just too hot but we love being able to just get up and fish... The lake is stocked with Trout, Bass and Catfish."

    "We had a couple of trees behind us to filter some of the sunlight. It was hot but cooled down nicely during the evening. We had some debris from previous campers but the campsite was pretty clean."

    8. Roaring Camp

    2 Reviews
    Pine Grove, CA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 296-4100

    "No camping here but it is next to Henry Cowell SP. Tight turns, I would not recommend for RV’ers."

    "We found a huge group site out here for our Burns Canyon trail run. I’m not sure if it was this exact location but it’s hard to miss! We’re planning another trip back already!"

    9. Sly Park Recreation Area

    13 Reviews
    Pollock Pines, CA
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 295-6810

    "They are set into the mountains with trees behind you. The park rangers are very present to keep people in check and the camp host drives by multiple times to keep the bathrooms clean."

    "The lake is GORGEOUS and amazingly cool during the summer, and we also love winter camping in the snow as well."

    10. Buffalo Hill

    1 Review
    Pine Grove, CA
    4 miles
    +1 (707) 474-2693

    $39 - $90 / night

    "I love the rich history behind it. The cabin boasts a king sized bed. We're excited to have them on The Dyrt!"

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Recent Reviews near Volcano, CA

1125 Reviews of 322 Volcano Campgrounds


  • Lisa Marie L.
    Oct. 19, 2025

    Gold Country Campground Resort

    Peaceful and clean campground

    We really enjoyed our weekend here. Super clean and quiet. Lots of play areas for kids and pets allowed. Clean bathrooms full hookups too

  • Kevin C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 15, 2025

    Independence Hill Dispersed

    Super quiet, super remote

    If getting away is on your list, then Independance Hill is one place to go. 1 bar Verizon and a small creek (if you continue on up the road). It's really about 2 miles from the village of Iowa Hill, but it is remote. I scared two black bears as I was walking (don't I wish I had that on film...). And yes, that's his footprint on my van door - he was checking out the bag of garbage I had stored on my roof. No services, but there are at least 6 good sites, including a large flat area that can take any size RV. This is my second favorite spot in this area. I'll go again many times :-)

  • 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

    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

  • Shir S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    El Dorado

    Great place before lake tahoe

    We drove from redwood to Lake Tahoe and wanted a place to stay since it got late Good place Online booking and entrance if after hours and affordable price opposed to other sites in the area

  • 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

  • Jolean D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 21, 2025

    Stanislaus National Forest Pine Marten Campground

    Close to the lake but not huge spots

    The location is beautiful. Smaller Alpine lake with spot for tents, and smaller RVs. Good space for outdoor setup and clean bathrooms. If you are looking for boondocking Sierra Nevada mts with a few comforts. This is great.


Guide to Volcano

Camping spots near Volcano, California offer diverse experiences across elevations ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 feet in the western Sierra foothills. Winter temperatures occasionally drop below freezing at higher elevations, while summer brings hot days with cooling evening temperatures. Cell service varies significantly between campgrounds, with better connectivity typically available at established RV resorts than in more remote Forest Service locations.

What to do

Waterfall hiking: 1 mile from shore. At Sly Park Recreation Area, a short waterfall trail provides an accessible nature experience. "It's just a 1 mile walk along the lakeshore from the Hazel Creek day use parking area," notes a recent camp host, making it ideal for beginners or families.

Explore cave systems: 5-minute drive. The Black Chasm Cavern near Indian Grinding Rock State Historical Park Campground offers unique underground exploration. A camper explains it's "a small, but unique cavern about 5 minutes drive from campground and well worth the visit," providing a cool adventure option during hot summer days.

Kayaking and paddleboarding: Rentals available. Lake Jenkinson at Sly Park offers water recreation with equipment rentals. "Kayak and paddle board rentals make exploring the lake relaxing and fun! You can rent for $20/hr + $10/hr after that," reports a visitor, making it accessible for those without their own equipment.

What campers like

Wildlife viewing: Early morning best. Acorn Campground at New Hogan Reservoir offers abundant wildlife viewing opportunities. "We woke up with 4 deer casually strolling through our campsite, a huge group of turkeys were cruising around the whole weekend," mentions one reviewer who also spotted a tarantula near the disc golf course.

Fishing: Multiple species available. At Lake Amador Resort, fishing enthusiasts find good opportunities throughout the seasons. "The lake is stocked with Trout, Bass and Catfish," explains a camper who enjoys "being able to just get up and fish" from their lakeside site.

Stargazing: Best in winter months. Several campgrounds offer exceptional night sky viewing, especially during meteor showers. "We ventured into the parks opened field to see all the stars. It was spectacular," reports a camper at Lake Amador, while another mentioned specifically visiting during a meteor shower night for an "amazing" experience.

What you should know

Yellowjacket season: Late summer. Insect activity increases in August and September at campgrounds throughout the region. One camper at Gold Country Campground Resort warned: "The only and biggest downfall was the meat bees. Absolutely ruined the trip... Recommend bringing nets and tents to eat under."

Road noise: Consider site selection. Traffic sound can affect certain campsites that border main roads. A camper at Indian Grinding Rock noted: "You can hear cars and trucks going by at night on nearby Pine Grove Volcano Rd. Not too bad, but does take away the ambiance of being in the outdoors."

Water levels fluctuate: Call ahead. Lake levels change significantly throughout seasons, particularly at Lake Amador. "The water levels drastically change due to it being a privately owned lake," explains a camper, which affects shoreline access and water activities.

Tips for camping with families

Recreation amenities: Good for mid-week stays. 49er Village RV Resort offers family-friendly facilities including "pool, playground, rec center, shuffleboard, horseshoes, and beach volleyball." A parent recommends: "We stayed here for a little over 2 months... It felt like we were on vacation every night. Pool is open in the winter with heating and a tent over top. Kids loved the arcade games."

Splash pad options: Bring shade. Gold Country Campground Resort features a splash pad popular with young children. "Splash pad was great for the littles, definitely bring chairs down with you," advises a family camper who appreciated this amenity during hot summer days.

Off-season adventures: Use as base camp. Several campgrounds serve as good launching points for winter activities. One family reports: "We used the spot to not be in the snow but make the trip up to Iron Mountain Sno-Park...a 45 minute drive" from Gold Country Campground Resort.

Tips from RVers

Site selection strategy: Request shaded sites. At 49er Village RV Resort, staff accommodations for sun exposure concerns make a significant difference. "We were advised on our arrival that the site I picked was in full sun, and we were moved to 'Shady Lane', site 18," appreciates one RV camper who visited during hot weather.

Leveling considerations: Check site descriptions. North Grove Campground — Calaveras Big Trees State Park offers variable site terrain. "Our site, 18, didn't have a very big tent pad, and our tent barely fit. The site was pretty large, but only one small flat part," reports a camper, highlighting the importance of checking site specifications before arrival.

Dump station access: Check location and hours. RV services vary between campgrounds. "Note that there's a gate that closes so that you can't enter - we just barely made it by the 9pm Friday closing time," warns a Lake Amador Resort visitor regarding dump station access.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Volcano, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, Volcano, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 322 campgrounds and RV parks near Volcano, CA and 20 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Volcano, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Volcano, CA is Indian Grinding Rock State Historical Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 12 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Volcano, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 20 free dispersed camping spots near Volcano, CA.

What parks are near Volcano, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 25 parks near Volcano, CA that allow camping, notably New Hogan Lake and Eldorado National Forest.