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Best Tent Camping near Williams, CA

283 Reviews

Tent camping near Williams, California provides access to several established campgrounds within the surrounding wilderness areas and lake regions. Lower Hunting Creek Campground in the Knoxville Recreation Area offers year-round tent campsites with basic amenities including toilets, trash service, and picnic tables. Snow Mountain Wilderness, located north of Williams, provides backcountry tent camping opportunities with walk-in and hike-in access points for those seeking a more primitive experience. Lake Berryessa, approximately 45 miles southwest of Williams, features multiple tent-friendly campgrounds including Putah Canyon and Steele Canyon (formerly Lupine Shores).

Most tent campgrounds in the region require campers to be self-sufficient. Fire regulations vary seasonally, with complete fire bans often in effect during summer and fall months due to wildfire risk. Campers noted that many areas show evidence of past fire damage. Potable water is limited at most primitive tent sites, with Snow Mountain Wilderness requiring water filtration from natural sources. Temperatures fluctuate significantly between seasons, with summer highs regularly exceeding 90°F and winter nights occasionally dropping below freezing. Cell service is generally available at Lake Berryessa campgrounds but becomes spotty in more remote wilderness areas.

The tent camping experience around Williams offers diverse terrain and solitude levels. Pine Ridge Camp provides dispersed tent camping with drive-in and hike-in access, featuring minimal amenities but greater privacy. According to reviews, Lake Berryessa tent sites offer "spacious sites" but "limited shade," making summer camping challenging without proper sun protection. One visitor to Lower Hunting Creek reported "decent Verizon signal" and noted a "short hike to the mountain top" accessible directly from the campground. Snow Mountain Wilderness provides the most authentic backcountry tent camping experience, with a reviewer highlighting that "wildflowers are plentiful in spring" and "campsites are delineated with rock fire rings." Wildlife sightings, including eagles, are common in the more remote tent camping areas.

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Best Tent Sites Near Williams, California (29)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Williams, CA

10 Photos of 29 Williams Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Williams, CA

283 Reviews of 29 Williams Campgrounds

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 1, 2018

    Sunset Point Campground

    The name says it all

    Super cool place to camp in Sequoia National Park. I drove in from the south and passed quite a few full campgrounds before I finally made it to Sunset and scored a spot that I thought was great- up high and dry, no neighbors, a nearby source of downed wood. It looks like the Park Service stays busy downing dead/dying trees, however there were lots of trees providing cover. The closest neighbors were even able to hammock (though I was not due to lack of trees). When noisy neighbors moved in at the adjoining site, I was able to move to a primo site the next day. The new site (52, I think) was right on the edge of the granite slope with an amazing view of the sunset (hence the name of the campground). All sites had the usual amenities of picnic table and fire ring (and the mandatory must use bear boxes), but you need to take a look around for a site that is level and has adequate space between the fire pit and the tent site (mine did not, so no fire for me).  There is a visitor center across the road at Grant Grove Village with ranger station, grocery, post office, restaurant, gas station, and cabins. This is a good place to set up camp if you want to see big trees; the big sequoia tree General Grant is in a sequoia grove just up the road (you could easily hike there from the campground).

  • Michi P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 24, 2025

    Middle Creek Campground

    Great place for dry camping

    Beautiful location, campground was easily accessible going up Elk Mountain Road. Camped in Site 11, pull through, no hook ups, nice picnic table, grill and fire pit. Vault toilets, no showers. There is potable water close to the campsites. Very quiet during the week, it did get noisier on the weekends, but everyone settled down for the evening.

  • Susan R.
    Jun. 9, 2021

    Buckhorn Recreation Area

    Great Spot, very windy

    Wonderful spot. Sites were kinda small, but we we able to fit 2. -6 person tents and a 4 person in a row. Wasn’t windy when we got there in the morning, but that night the wind started and almost blew everything away. STAKE down, no matter the weather. Water was super warm, but gets icky in the summer, so definitely need to go early in the season.

  • Cary A.
    Aug. 10, 2020

    Pogie Point Campground

    Nice lake camping

    Arrived early Friday afternoon in August and there were only 3-4 spots occupied. We got our pick of spots without a reservation. Most spots offer plenty of shade and space between neighbors. Bugs were moderate, bring bug spray. Pit toilets were clean. All camps have a fire ring and picnic table and a few have brick ovens. This is close to the lake, but no direct lake access. Weather was pretty hot and humid until a few hours after dark. Of all the campgrounds on Lake Pillsbury, this one seems the most secluded with privacy and distance from neighbors. The road to get here is mostly dirt and pretty windy, 4WD recommended. This is a popular area for hunting and off roading, so be prepared for a lot of OHV noise and gunshots echoing through the valley. In the evening it sounded like there was a gun range on the other side of the lake, 100 gunshots per minute until after dark. I would give 5 stars except for the OHV and gunfire noise. But the best part, in the right season the elk herds come through the dry riverbed next to the camp. We saw a herd of 30+ elk and listened to them calling all evening and in the morning.

  • Bonnie M.
    Feb. 11, 2020

    Collins Lake Recreation Area

    Beautiful shoreline camping

    Open camping options make this a great spur of the moment option. We camped along the lake shore. They also have lots of great spots higher up, among the trees that come with picnic tables, firepits and water available. Portable toilets, so if your neighbors are clean, you're safe. Great little store with coffee and ice cream. Great place for boating and kayaking too.

  • J
    Mar. 31, 2019

    Ritchey Creek Campground — Bothe-Napa Valley State Park

    Glamping

    Nice state park north of Napa, the few car tent sites are nicely situated near a creek. Good space between sites. Easy and fun camping.

    Yurts and cabins available. Close to road so a little noisy. Great for a less expensive stay. Saves money for wine tastings...

  • Julie D.
    Oct. 25, 2020

    Harbin Hot Springs

    Unique camping experience

    The camping area is first come first serve.  Very peaceful.  There are platforms that are right on the creek where you can pitch your tent.  We have an 8×8 tent and it was a little tight, so if your tent is bigger than that, you might want to call to get exact dimensions.  Otherwise, there is a large open field for camping too.  

    Lots of shade and decent space between platforms. Close to the parking area, though the creek is between the parking and the camping platforms, so you can't drive directly up to your site.  Very clean showers and restrooms nearby.  No picnic tables at the individual sites.

    One downfall (though very understandable) is not being able to have campfires or camp stoves, even in the winter.  You cant really cook any food, BUT the cafe onsite had very tasty food if you want a hot meal or coffee.  

    The camping fee includes use of the hot springs too, which are amazing.  Clothing optional, and I would say not that many people had clothes.  The trail to the hot springs is right by the camping area, and a nice little hike.

  • Christine T.
    Aug. 3, 2018

    Sunset Point Campground

    Relaxing campsite near the Grove village in Sequoia

    Nice sites, trees for hammocks, bathrooms (no showers) w running water and toilets. Close to neighboring campsites but not too bad. Grove village is really close where they have firewood, grocery store, restaurant, shops, post office. Bugs in summer so don’t forget your bug spray! It’s bear country, so bear bins provided! Campsite is in the middle between King’s canyon and Sequoia National Park. Our site had a spot for 1 car, 2 tents and a hammock. Space looked shared with adjacent site.

  • Les S.
    Sep. 24, 2019

    Live Oak Riverfront Park

    Beautiful river side park

    I tent camped and loved it. Very quiet and beautiful scenery. A water faucet and picnic table at every campsite .

Guide to Williams

Dispersed camping near Williams, California centers around the surrounding wilderness areas and lake regions. The area typically experiences hot, dry summers with temperatures reaching the mid-90s and cool winters with occasional freezing nights. During peak season (May-September), campgrounds at Lake Berryessa often reach capacity by midday Friday, requiring early arrival for securing sites.

What to do

Fishing at Clear Lake: Cole Creek Campground offers excellent fishing access, with one camper noting, "Lots of places to fish, hike and bike. We really enjoyed our stay."

Eagle watching: Snow Mountain Wilderness attracts birdwatchers, with one visitor reporting, "Have seen eagles in the canyon everytime I have hiked in." The wilderness area requires proper footwear for rocky terrain.

Paddleboarding: Steele Canyon at Lake Berryessa features protected coves ideal for paddleboards. A visitor shared, "I came to check out the more calm waters in the canyon for my paddleboard. Other boaters were very respectful of the no wake zones."

Cliff jumping: Manzanita Canyon provides adventurous options with "a pretty awesome cliff jump nearby" according to one reviewer. Water levels vary seasonally, affecting jump safety.

What campers like

Privacy at off-peak times: Steele Canyon campground offers solitude during weekdays. One camper mentioned, "I got a beautiful spot secluded from everyone. I loved it! Just me and nature."

Wildlife viewing: Cache Creek in Snow Mountain Wilderness hosts diverse wildlife. A visitor observed, "Have seen eagles in the canyon everytime I have hiked in" and noted "a resident herd of elk" accessible after fording the creek.

Clean facilities: Putah Canyon maintains well-kept amenities despite remote location. A camper reported, "Toilets are clean and trash cans are provided. They sell ice and propane on-site."

Cell service: Unlike many remote camping areas, Lake Berryessa campgrounds maintain connectivity. A camper at Manzanita Canyon confirmed, "Full bars on Verizon service!"

What you should know

Fire regulations: Fire restrictions vary by location and season. At Manzanita Canyon, a recent visitor noted, "Fire ban in effect," while at Boggs Mountain, campers should check current regulations as the area recovers from past fires.

Water levels: Lake Berryessa experiences significant fluctuations. A camper observed, "Lake water level is pretty low," which affects shoreline camping and water activities.

Temperature extremes: Night temperatures can drop dramatically even in warmer months. One camper at Putah Canyon reported, "It got really cold at night (32 degrees), but my fault for not checking the weather."

Additional fees: Some campgrounds charge resort fees beyond nightly rates. A visitor to Manzanita Canyon stated, "Site was $45 a night, plus a $35 resort fee."

Tips for camping with families

Best family-friendly location: Steele Canyon offers calm waters ideal for children. A parent shared, "Our favorite spot to take the kids to the lake. If your looking for something calm this is the spot at Lake Berryessa."

Security considerations: Putah Canyon provides regular patrols. A camper noted, "Security driving around, noise limit is 10pm," making it suitable for families seeking structure.

Glamping option: Pine Grove Cobb Resort offers a comfortable introduction to camping. A visitor with a group reported, "Four of us stayed in the Glamping Tent for two nights and it was perfect- very comfortable and relaxing. We also had access to our own private bathroom."

Weather preparation: Temperatures fluctuate significantly between day and night. Pack layered clothing and extra blankets even in summer months.

Tips from RVers

Site selection: At Steele Canyon, RV campers should choose carefully. A visitor advised, "Look in the 50's & 80's for the more secluded campsites. Can get windy, and it's dry camping at this time (no fires, no water, no hookups, etc.)."

Water supply: Most campgrounds around Williams require bringing water. A camper emphasized, "Bring extra H2O," due to lack of hookups at many sites.

Overnight parking: Weekday arrivals offer better site selection. RVs over 25 feet may find limited suitable spots at some locations, particularly during peak season.

Generator rules: Most campgrounds prohibit generators after 10pm. Check specific campground rules as some locations ban generators entirely during fire season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Williams, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Williams, CA is Lower Hunting Creek Campground with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Williams, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 29 tent camping locations near Williams, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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