Do you enjoy camping but don't want to rough it? Glamping is a great option. Glamping near Waterford is especially popular among campers who enjoy beds and electricity. These scenic and easy to access California glamping locations are perfect for any adventurer.
Yosemite Pines RV Resort & Family Lodging offers some of the best lodging near Yosemite National Park, with many types of cabins, plus yurts and RV and tent sites. While here, enjoy our large swimming pool, volleyball court, deli and Petting Farm! Spend your days at Yosemite and the surrounding Gold Country towns and return to stay with us, where peace and quiet is plentiful! Relax and recharge in a family-friendly setting, ready for your next day’s adventure!
At Lake Tulloch RV Campground and Marina you can enjoy your choice of 110 sites on over ten acres including shoreline for Lake Tulloch camping. These include lakefront hookups with space to keep your boat right at your site, lakefront cabins with your own dock and full hookup sites with 50 amp service, water and sewer. Many tent sites with water, picnic table and firepits are also available. Our General Store, Restaurant, 21 slip marina and gas dock, boat rentals at Lake Tulloch Boat Rentals, modern restrooms, hot showers and laundromat all contribute to making Lake Tulloch RV Campground and Marina one of the best spots for family camping, boating and fishing in California!
Acorn Campground is a sunny campground in the brush-covered hills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The area is generally characterized by a warm, dry climate with summer temperatures regularly soaring above 90 degrees.With sites just a short walk from the shores of the popular New Hogan Lake, visitors will have no problem finding relief in the comfortable clear waters.
Boating is a popular pastime, with boat ramps conveniently located around the lake. The large surface area allows for plenty of water skiing, wake boarding, jet skiing and more. Year-round fishing for stripers, bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish is perfect for experts and beginners alike. Some of the largest fish are found in less than 25 feet of water. The "River of Skulls" hiking trail is located below the dam at the Monte Vista Recreation Area. There is also a staging area for an eight mile equestrian trail on a scenic loop that winds along the lake and through the foothill chaparral. Trail guides are available at the park office. Bicycle trails suitable for the beginner as well as the advanced rider are found on the west side of the lake and next to the group camping area. An easy 3-mile trail connects the park office with Acorn Campground. Hunting with bow or shotgun during the open season is permitted in certain areas of the lake. Upland game such as turkey, quail and dove is available and waterfowl includes a variety of duck and geese.
The 4,400 surface-acre lake was created in 1964 with the completion of New Hogan Dam. When full, the lake has 50 miles of shoreline and extends nearly eight miles upstream to the confluence of the north and south forks of the Calaveras River. The dam was built to provide flood protection to the city of Stockton and water for irrigation, drinking and hydroelectric power, and it now offers recreation opportunities for thousands of visitors each year. The New Hogan area supports a wide variety of wildlife. The foothills location is home to grey fox, mule deer, coyote, turkey, mountain lion, bobcat and rattlesnakes. New Hogan is also a wintering home for bald eagles. The south shore of the lake has been designated as a wildlife viewing area.
A number of historic sites are located nearby, including Carson Hill, the discovery site of the largest gold nugget ever found, and The Black Bart Inn, located in San Andreas, where the famous outlaw Black Bart was captured. Groceries, gas, camping supplies and more can be found in the nearby town of Valley Springs, California.
$20 / night
$30 - $40 / night
Yosemite Lakes RV Resort is located 80 miles east of Modesto, and just 5 miles west of Yosemite National Park’s Big Oak Flat entrance station. This large, year-round resort offers nearly 400 sites for RV and tent campers along the banks of the South Fork Tuolumne River. RV campers can choose from open, grassy spaces, or shady, wooded spaces with full hookups; tent campers can set up under mostly shady pine woods. Sites are equipped with picnic tables and fire pits, and restrooms and shower facilities are conveniently located throughout the resort. The resort also offers a variety of cottages, cabins, yurts and bunkhouses. Onsite amenities include a country store, laundry room, Wifi and satellite TV service, trash receptacles, gas station, and propane depot. Dogs are permitted. Reservations are recommended, however many tent sites are first-come, first-served. Seasonal campsite rates are $41–$75/night; other accommodations range from $86–$305/night. For campers looking for a little rest and relaxation time outside of the busy national park, the resort offers a variety of amenities and activities. There’s a playground for the kids, and mini golf, shuffleboard, horseshoes, and basketball for kids of all ages. Swimming, floating, fishing, and gold panning can be enjoyed on the South Fork Tuolumne River, which flows right through the resort area. The resort also hosts group activities, movies and weekend events. Nearby activities include swimming, fishing, boating and water skiing on Don Pedro Reservoir and New Melones Lake, as well as touring the old mining towns of Sonora, Angels Camp and Murphys. When it’s time to visit Yosemite National Park: Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is 45 minutes away; Yosemite Valley is 1 hour away; Tuolumne Meadows is 80 minutes away; and Mariposa Grove is 90 minutes away. In the busy summer season, it’s good to allow extra time to get to these destinations, and have patience looking for parking. Yosemite National Park, located in the heart of California’s spectacular Sierra Nevada Mountains, is, justifiably, one of America’s most popular national parks. Visitors flock to Yosemite every summer to marvel at its towering granite walls, domes and pinnacles, as well as its spectacular meadows, waterfalls and wildlife. No trip to Yosemite is complete without taking at least a short walk or hike to soak in the majesty of this glacier-carved landscape, away from the park’s busy roads and villages. Yet, with its limited camping and lodging options, it can be challenging to visit the park during its busy summer season. Fortunately, there are several campgrounds and resorts located just short distances outside of the park that make suitable alternatives to the often congested and overcrowded park facilities, while still allowing easy access to the park’s sights, attractions, and trails.
Group Camping Area
$30 - $200 / night
Lake Camanche Resort features 550+ tent camping sites spread out over hundreds of acres which are available year-round at both North and South Shores.
Many sites offer immediate lake access while others are just a short walk away. Campsite amenities include bbqs, tables, water, hot showers, restrooms and laundry facilities. Primitive sites are just a short drive away to restrooms & showers. Ask you reservation agent for which sites provide shade.
All of our sites feature some of California’s best natural and native species of trees, plants and flowers. Looking for alcohol-free camping? Both shores also feature alcohol-free campgrounds, perfect for those in search of a more family-friendly camping experience.
$50 / night
Tuttletown Recreation Area is located at New Melones Lake on the Stanislaus River. The 12,500 surface-acre lake is the fourth largest reservoir in California and is situated along the edge of the Mother Lode, the rich gold vein that prompted the California Gold Rush of 1849. At an elevation of 1100 feet, the Foothill Oak Woodlands hug the 100 miles of shoreline. Popular activities on and around the large lake include fishing, boating, water skiing, wake boarding, jet skiing, sailing, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, wildlife viewing, rock climbing, hiking, biking, and picknicking. The New Melones Visitor Center offers year-round interpretive events and a museum highlighting natural and cultural resources. *COMING APRIL 2021: A new disc-golf course is being constructed and will be available for play!
Hiking, fishing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, boating, sailing and biking are just some of the activities available in Tuttletown Recreation Area. Equestrian trails are also present in the Peoria Wildlife Mitigation Area and open for the general public. Camping is also permitted in designated campsites. Other interesting sites include Natural Bridges, which can be accessed from Parrott's Ferry Road. It has a hiking trail and creek that flow through a marble cave. The Table Mountain Trail provides visitors an opportunity to hike to the top of an extensive lava flow which occurred over nine million years ago.
New Melones Lake is located in Northern California between the historic gold rush towns of Sonora and Angels Camp. The terrain varies from rolling hills to steep marble cliffs, and the vegetation consists of oaks, Ponderosa pines, chamise and buckbrush shrubs. Visitors can experience the beauty of New Melones by hiking the many trails in the Tuttletown and Glory Hole Recreation Areas. The climate is Mediterranean with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. For those who wish to venture outside the main recreation areas, there are many unique places to visit. Overall, the geography is quite varied and provides many opportunities for all types of recreation.
For facility specific information, please call (209) 459-7290.
Tuttletown Recreation Area is surrounded by countless places of natural beauty, including Natural Bridges, Camp Nine, Yosemite National Park, Stanislaus National Forest, Moaning Caverns, Big Trees State Park and Columbia State Park. Angels Camp Museum, Calaveras County Museum and Sonora Military Museum provide great opportunities for learning interesting information about the area. Surrounding communities are popular vacation and retirement destinations and provide necessary services and shopping opportunities. Golfing, snow skiing, river rafting, commercial caves, historical railroad and Native American museums are also located nearby.
All site changes and cancellations need to be done through the Recreation.gov website.
In Groveland CA and right next to Pine Mountain Lake and 30 miles to Yosemite !
We are new to The Dyrt but please read our incredible reviews at the Hipcamp:
We have 824 acres on a beautiful ranch with two small ponds. On our property you'll find frogs, turtles, lots of oak trees, pine trees and stunning views of Yosemite. We're 30 miles from the main gate of Yosemite National Park and there’s a golf course less than a mile away. We're not far from town either -- in just a few minutes you can drive to our local grocery store and pizza parlor. When you come to the ranch it feels like you are hundreds of miles away from civilization and it's real quiet.
This is a great place for someone who wants to escape city life and enjoy the tranquility of nature. Much of the ranch is open wilderness for you to explore, and it's not uncommon to see deer, frogs, turtles, quail, turkeys, or the other countless species of birds. Diamond Gulch Camp is the perfect place to relax if you’re a photographer, artist, family or a group of friends looking for a place to camp near Yosemite. A small portion of the property was used as a gold mine years ago, and you may find remnants of old home sites if you go exploring. We're not far from Wards Ferry Road, Groveland, Lake Don Pedro and other interesting places.
$30 - $89 / night
Please note: Tent Camping is by reservation only.
Here at Lake Amador we have a large campground consisting of 113 sites located on a 100 acre portion of the facility that is surrounded by shade giving Oaks. Most campsites have running potable water, some have electricity and many sites are located on the waters edge when the lake is full. There are hot showers and flush toilets located throughout the campground and some sites located by swim pond also have free WIFI access!
Lake Amador also has a 73 site Deluxe RV Park on a private peninsula. All sites located in the RV Park have Full hookups and FREE WIFI. Some sites are reserved year round for residents and as vacation spots. All open RV sites are first come first served so call prior to your visit to check availability.
At the Lake Amador Clubhouse we offer food and fun. There you will find both air conditioning and a large fireplace so no matter the weather outside you can always find refuge inside. While there you can utilize the FREE WIFI, play pool, horse shoes, foosball, watch TV or even play Checkers, Chess, or Cribbage on our custom gaming tables. The Clubhouse features a well stocked Beer Bar as well as The Tackle Box Café where you can get a delicious Breakfast and Lunch on the weekends. Now if supplies are all your after you’ll be happy to know we also have a fully stocked general store with any essentials you may have forgotten at home.
$25 - $45 / night
Guide
Full hookups on level gravel pads. We stayed in lot 5 at the back of the fair grounds, and it was quiet at night. The showers were clean, and the wifi was the best campground internet we have experienced. It is 2 miles from town, but there are plenty of restaurants and a market in Mariposa to make the trip worthwhile Make sure you go to the Mine and Mineral museum on the the grounds.
Legend
We’ve stayed at this campground a couple of times on our way to/from Yosemite National Park, and it is a nice place to spend a couple of nights. Many campers come here to get on the lake in their powerboats, or fish from the shore, and there will be no shortage of anglers most weekends; but, during the week in the shoulder season, we pretty much had the place to ourselves.
The campground offers a range of pull-through and back-in campsites along the slopes of the rolling hills, but most of the individual sites were flat and could accommodate a wide variety of rig sizes. Some are close enough together to make a great group camping set-up, while others were off on their own with a view of the reservoir. While there were many trees around for shade, we still had enough open sky for good solar gain and Starlink.
The main bathroom building had clean flush toilets and showers, but there were a few extra vault toilets scattered around. Fresh water taps and recycling/ trash bins were plentiful.
Hiking, cycling, paddling and fishing are the name of the game here, and we got in our kayaks for an awesome day paddle around the many coves of this reservoir. Since the lake level fluctuates there aren’t many good beaches, but you can pull off to have a picnic lunch.
There is a nearby gas station with a few supplies, ice, and firewood. Sonora is the closest town with larger grocery stores and restaurants.
Traveler
Was a wonderful experience! The host was super helpful even at night when we didn’t find our designated spot (even though it had super obvious signs - our fault) Super lovely host and a beautiful ranch. A lot of fireplaces with wood. Can only recommend lighting up a little campfire and stargazing at night! Bring some marshmallows with you !
Guide
It wasn’t as nice as the photos depicted. Water shortage? The grasses were long and dried up, there appears to have been a wooden bridge as a shortcut to the pool/restroom/laundry room/Deli, but no longer. The restrooms were barely tolerable and the woman’s had a bad odor. There’s a dishwashing station that is no longer serviceable, just a stainless sink set in a covered table with no water or even plumbing to include drains. You have to pay for WiFi and sometimes the signal drops. For the cost of the campground the WiFi should be free! Lesser known campgrounds even have free WiFi. There are Conestoga Wagons, Cabins and Yurts. None were occupied. Reason?
ScoutA good clean campground, popular in central California. Reasonably priced $20 per night. They do accept golden age passes which reduces your nightly expense to $10 per night maximum 15 days for the month. Geared mostly for small trailers and tents, however, they do have some sites for larger RVs drive-through 40 foot max and roadside, slide outs might cause a problem. Park managers are very professional, courteous and pleasant. Bathrooms are a problem for cleanliness dump station is available for RVs. If you have a portable black tank, it would work out better for you on extended stays when dumping your black tank. If you are self-contained, you won’t have any difficulties at all.
GuideWe used Diamond Gulch as our base while exploring Yosemite for 5 days. Overall, it was a great experience with a great host! We visited in mid to late July, so it was very hot, and this means the campground was a little dusty, but manageable. As others have stated, there is free firewood at your site, but we were a little scared to light a wood fire given how everything was so dry. Also, as others have mentioned the showers were great, but we did have issues with getting them to heat up.
One thing to keep in mind is that while Groveland is only ~30 minutes from Yosemite, the drive within the park can take up 45-60 minutes. So, plan accordingly and be prepared. Our experience was that if we left camp around 7:30 we'd be through the gate with no line at 8am, and be at a parking lot around 9am. This always worked for us to get a parking spot without any hassle. After a long day of hiking and exploring the drive back to the campground felt a little long.
Something we did not expect was how little there is in Groveland itself. We tried to spend a couple of hours there one afternoon, and ended up just grabbing coffee and going back to camp. There just isn't much to do in town. This isn't to discourage anyone, but keep that in mind.
The good:
* Good host
* Beautiful scenery from camp
* Clean, well serviced bathrooms (porta potties)
* Water available in camp
* Excellent showers (especially when you can get them to heat up)
* Very relaxed atmosphere
The okay:
* The sites have wood chips spread to keep down dust, but those get tracked everywhere.
* A bit of a drive from the sights in Yosemite
* On busy weekends it can get a bit crowded
Guide
We spent one night right in front of the water, amazing view for the sunset. It’s true that bathroom / toilets / showers aren’t clean, they are quite old.
But we didn’t care, the view worth it. We went swimming in the lake : what a pleasure. We saw some squirrels and dears, they didn’t bothered us.
It was super calm. The crew was nice with us and let us spend only one night here for 50$ (the minimum should be 2 nights)
I recommend this place!
(Also, it’s right halfway between Yosemite and San Francisco: which was perfect for us)
Scout
We have been going to camanche Lake for years . Low cell service but very nice place to tent camp. Last year, they gave us our spot we set up, then was told they made a mistake and made us move spots, but the new spot was closer to the water and that made the kids happy. Kinda a hassle, but it worked out. We love it at this lake.
RangerNot expensive and has bathrooms, garbage, fire pits and picnic tables but no privacy and unfriendly camping ground covered with gravel and few level places to comfortably pitch a tent. Many families here but some partiers till midnight and an idiot who ran his generator all night during quiet hours
ScoutFh
GuideUnderrated for sure - we stayed 2 nights while exploring Yosemite because we could not find a campground closer with spots. Big grassy area close to Mineral Museum, water and electric hookups. We basically had the fairgrounds to ourselves. They have additional spots in more of a parking lot setting, well marked.
$55 per night Wifi worked great
Scout
This place itself is just one star worth. But the near proximity to Yosemite is good. Sites are cramped, toilets and showers were unhygienic. Was the most expensive camping we had with the worst service and accommodation.
Traveler
Amador is a laid back camping spot that never disappoints. Great for families. Not a party destination but you can still have a great time! They have a water hole with a fun slide, which is all kept nice and clean with tables you can sit at. I would recommend a pop up tent for shade if you go to the water hole. There is also a old school playground for the kids. The staff is super friendly and always there to help. I take my kids at least 3-4 times a year and enjoy any of the seasons. There is Frisbee golf as well.
ScoutWow, let's say we had a nightmare ishhorrible experience. We rented a tent camp site for 2 nights. We were given an RV Slab camping site. It had the tiniest barbecue grill available. The water that was coming out of all the faucets, was red and brown. People weren't allowed to shower that night. Once night fall came, the camp's site was infested with roaches Everywhere, they went in all our grocery bags and under them. Went into and under all our boxes that we had. The roaches hid under our tents also. There also seemed to be a termite infestation. We had to cut our camping trip short after spending over a thousand dollars on supplies, food, the Camping site and parking fees The workers that drove by, especially Travis, were nice and Welcoming. Dogs have to be on a leash at all times. If you want to go into the lake with your dog, You have to walk very far away if you didn't rent one of the tent sites at the lake front area. Had to fumigate my vehicle when I got home with all my stuff in it. I pray none of the bugs will be in my stuff at home. I heard many other guests screeching and shouting, omg theres cockroaches every where. Good to know, we weren't the only ones disappointed. The owner Jake refused to refund me, or my two guests that wasted their 50 dollars in parking fees, although the trip was cut short due to the conditions. Jake offered for us to stay another night. Will never be back. Beware.
ScoutBooked a reservation through The Dyrt app for this place. Reservation says I booked for a “tent”, meaning a tent will be ready already and should have a bed inside. We wanted a place to sleep before heading to Yosemite the next day, without having to unpack our stuff.After booking on 5/18, I emailed the owner of the campground to make sure my reservation went through and I mentioned that I booked it through the dyrt app and it was a reservation for a tent. The owner replied with “it did”. Upon getting to the site, the owner was not there and we didn’t know where we needed to go. Some of his family members were camping there as well and helped us get a hold of him. When we finally spoke with the owner, he said that the dyrt app is not supposed to do reservation for the tent. We were put in an empty campsite because all the tents were occupied. This was around 9 pm, we don’t have time to set up tent so we took everything out of the back the car and slept in the back of the car. I emailed the dyrt app to get a refund, I paid for the tent but got a camp site instead so I should be refunded for the difference plus not to mention the inconvenience. It was not my fault the reservation was incorrect, I also did my due diligence to make sure the booking was done correctly. It is not my fault the owner did not read my email properly when I asked. The dyrt app will not issue a refund because the owner said he will not issue a refund. Although the amount is not a lot, I would rather only pay for what I got. The owner was nice and his family was nice but we are really disappointed with our experience.
ScoutHorrible place to go to they commence in homosexual activities and aid in sex trafficking
ScoutSpots are unlevel, but not horribly. Firewood already at the site for your use. Wonderful outdoor showers! The scenery is beautiful! Wish we had more time to stay here longer. Favorite site of our trip so far
TravelerHuge but peaceful camping 15 mins from the entrance and 45 mins from the Yosemite visitor center. General store equipped in nicer gifts than the visitor center. First come first served, but after a check in you can reserve your site for when you are leaving. We didn’t bother looking for a place by the river as it was already packed, but found a nice spot in the third row. Spotted a skunk twice:) Bathrooms are rarely cleaned - three nights in there were still dirty. WiFi poor and limited to the front desk and laundry room. For this price would’ve been nice for it to work throughout the whole place though. Coin machine in laundry room out of order, you can exchange money at the front desk.
GuideWe absolutely loved our monthly stay at Yosemite Lakes TT. We arrived early April and where the first ones to take a spot by the river - basically on our own for a week or so before others started trickling in. Towards the end of April the weekends were packed and buzzing but as soon as Monday's came around it was quite again. We ended up moving spots to have more space and better Starlink reception. Great activities at the lodge, clean and friendly and super close to the NP. We are in a 45 ft toy hauler and taking 120 up here was an ok drive. Would definitely come back again!
ScoutWe enjoyed our first visit and will definitely come back! The park is a mix of old RV’s that folks have long term stays and open spots for visitors. Some nice spots and some tight spots. We stayed in site 62 with 41 foot MH. There was no room for a tow vehicle and we did not put our awnings out. We enjoyed fishing from the bank and had some good luck with power bait. The resort is very clean and quiet!
Traveler
Sites are packed in tight. Def geared for tent camping although I was lucky enough to be here when it was dead empty and picked a good site for my 27’ toy hauler. Fire pits and picnic tables at every site. No idea where the water is at but didn’t really look. There is a nice dump station ($8 fee recommended.. pay station is at park entrance). Lots of deer and raccoons. Gas station with firewood not too far away (Lakeridge Inn Gas), and they have diesel. Boat launch and day use area only a short drive away. Just would not want to be here if it was busy.
ScoutWe stayed here for the night prior to a Hetch Hetchy backpacking trip. We arrived in the dark. We had reserved a site with a small two person tent already set up for us. It was a bit hard to find in the dark, but the camping area is fenced in under an oak grove so eventually we found the stump with our name on it next to the tent. In the future, I think I’ll just bring my own tent and deal with the small hassle of setting it up—the tent provided was fine, but definitely would not have been a good choice if there had been rain. And you could tell it is essentially set up 24/7—some tiny insects living inside etc. The campsites themselves were sufficiently spacious and the host has nice fire pits with fire wood provided for each site, plus picnic tables. Basic portapotties plus some running water for bathrooms. Fellow campers were an interesting mix of folks from all over, though I wish the owner had quiet hours posted and communicated—our immediate tent neighbors sat out chatting and laughing until nearly 1am which was annoying. The coyotes and owls at night were lovely.
Guide
Lot of people nice place no shade
GuideExpensive but kept up very well on the smaller camp sites
ScoutI've been coming to Huggins since I was little and these bathrooms over here now are disgustingly disgraceful I mean they are so horribly filthy and they just don't seem to care to even bother to really clean them
ScoutWe enjoyed our stay here while on a three week trip from our home in PA to the West Coast. There was a high volume of campers and it seemed they struggled a bit to keep up with the bathrooms but place more blame on people's poor manners in cleaning up after themselves. Definitely recommend!
ScoutGreat stay at Diamond Gulch! Host was responsive and available. The bonus of free firewood and hot showers were next level. The sites were clean. Overall a great stay! It’s a little misleading as you think you are booking a specific site, when in actuality all sites are first come first serve. We pulled up in the evening and it was unclear how the process worked to pick a site, especially when we thought we had “site 1”. We had a lot of room because only a handful of campers there. Everyone was quiet and respectful. But if all sites are booked it may have been a different vibe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Waterford, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Waterford, CA is Yosemite Pines RV Resort & Family Lodging with a 3.9-star rating from 23 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Waterford, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 22 glamping camping locations near Waterford, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
