RV camping near Walnut Grove, California offers access to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, a 1,000-mile waterway with over 50 river miles to explore. The region maintains year-round accessibility with mild winters (45-65°F) and hot summers (80-100°F), though Delta winds can reach 15-25 mph in spring and early summer. Waterfront sites throughout the region provide direct water access while inland options offer more protection from winds.
What to do
Fishing access without licenses: At Sherwood Harbor Marina & RV Park, visitors enjoy free fishing with no license requirements. "Tons of beautiful, shady spots overlooking or near the Sacramento river... includes free fishing and swimming and is a beautiful spot," notes one camper who extended their stay an extra night.
Water sports rentals: Sugar Barge RV Resort & Marina provides kayak rentals directly on-site. "They rent kyacks and have a restaurant that looks right over the water," according to a reviewer who appreciated the water access options.
Bike trail access: The American River Bike Trail connects to Cal Expo RV Park, offering miles of paved pathways. "Great Bike paths adjacent along the river into Downtown or up to Folsom," reports one camper who stayed while attending college events.
What campers like
Swimming beaches: Several campgrounds offer water access, with Sherwood Harbor providing a dedicated swimming area. "Outstanding location, Right on the river with a swimming beach," writes a visitor who appreciated the river amenities.
Dog-friendly areas: Flag City RV Resort features an unusually large pet area. "AND HUGE fenced area to walk your dog OFF LEASH," emphasized one reviewer who would "give this place 6 stars if I could!"
Delta wildlife viewing: Morning wildlife sightings add to the camping experience. One Sherwood Harbor visitor mentioned, "Having Canandian snow geese in our site upon waking up was a real treat."
What you should know
Road conditions: Access roads to some parks require slow driving. At Rio Viento RV Park, "Road to get into the park is rough but take your time, it's worth the drive," advises one camper.
Wind exposure: Waterfront sites experience stronger winds. A Duck Island RV Park resident notes, "We live here full time and love it! It can get really windy though."
Spacing variations: Site size and layout differ significantly between parks. At Sugar Barge, "Some sites are pretty close together," while a reviewer at SacWest found "Pull through sites. Nice dog walking/park area."
Seasonal patterns: Summer brings more activity to the Delta. SacWest visitors note the park has "Lots of pull through spots" but "If it wouldn't have been so expensive and so many kids here, I would have stayed a lot longer."
Tips for camping with families
Duck watching opportunities: SacWest RV Park & Campground offers unique wildlife viewing with "more than 100 ducks going around!" according to one family who described it as having "Great hospitality and professionalism."
Kid-friendly amenities: Multiple parks provide recreational facilities. One Flag City visitor mentioned the park has a "clubhouse, pool, hot tub, propane, clean spots and plenty," making it "an actual resort."
Playground access: SacWest includes "great playgrounds, swimming pool" as noted by a family who found it the "only RV parking in Sacramento that will allow you to stay for one night."
Age restrictions: Some campgrounds have age policies. One reviewer noted about Sherwood Harbor: "We did try to stay there, they were okay with us having one dog and two boys ages 9 and 8, but as soon as we told them we had a baby they referred us somewhere else."
Tips from RVers
Generator restrictions: Most Delta campgrounds prohibit generator use, requiring hookups for power. "We paid around 100 bucks for a normal site, nothing fancy," noted a SacWest visitor about pricing.
Site surface variations: Campgrounds offer different parking surfaces. Flag City features "nice lava rock and clean concrete sidewalks and roads," while Cal Expo is described as "very flat. Part is concrete part is gravel."
Water/sewer positioning: Check utility locations before setup. At Sugar Barge, "the water spigot is really close to the ground and really close to the sewer drain. Scrub with bleach before booking up your water and you'll be fine."
Overnight options: For travelers passing through, Flag City serves as a convenient stopover. "We were only here one night but it was easy in and out from the Interstate. Clean park with not a lot of people but it may have been the season."