Top Camping & RV Parks Near Merced, CA: Best Tent Sites & Outdoor Adventures
Merced, CA, known as the "Gateway to Yosemite," is a prime location for campers looking to explore California’s diverse landscapes. Just a short drive from the city, Lake Yosemite offers excellent lakeside camping, fishing, and boating. For a more immersive nature experience, campers can venture into the Sierra National Forest, which features remote camping spots, stunning waterfalls, and scenic hiking trails. Yosemite National Park, one of the most iconic outdoor destinations in the world, is within a couple of hours and provides unparalleled opportunities for camping, rock climbing, and wildlife viewing. For coastal adventures, the Monterey Bay area offers beachside campgrounds with ocean views and easy access to scenic coastal hikes. Whether you’re looking for mountains, lakes, or beaches, Merced is a fantastic starting point for an unforgettable camping trip.

















McConnell Campground is part of Mcconnell State Recreation Area in California (just 18 min southeast of Turlock, CA) with an elevation of 111 feet. There are a total of 19 campsites including 4 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 15 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 30 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. Prices start at $30.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, accessible, restroom, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include fishing, floating sports.
Turlock Campground is part of Turlock Lake State Recreation Area in California (39 min northeast of Turlock, CA) with an elevation of 312 feet. There are a total of 37 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 24 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $36.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, boat ramp, restroom, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include fishing, floating sports.
Codorniz Rec Area in Madera County is located 38 min northeast of Madera, CA with an elevation of 669 feet. There are a total of 86 campsites including 4 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 81 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 37 and 75 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. 37 sites have electric and water hookups. 49 sites have water hookups. Fees range from $20.00 to $100.00. Some amenities include shower, playground, swimming, amphitheater. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Los Banos Creek Campground is part of San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area in California (just 24 min southwest of Los Banos, CA) with an elevation of 351 feet. There are a total of 14 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 30 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. Prices start at $25.00 per night. Some amenities include swimming. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Hidden View Campground in Madera County is located just 28 min northeast of Madera, CA with an elevation of 536 feet. There are a total of 54 campsites including 11 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 43 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 25 and 90 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 15 sites have electric and water hookups. 7 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $20.00 to $100.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, playground, boat ramp, swimming, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include biking, horseback riding, hiking trails.
San Luis Creek Campground is part of San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area in California (just 24 min west of Los Banos, CA) with an elevation of 546 feet. There are a total of 49 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 30 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. All sites have electric and water hookups. Prices start at $40.00 per night. Some amenities include dump station, boat ramp, restroom. Activities include boating, fishing, floating sports.
Pines Group Campground Stanislaus is located in the Groveland Ranger District, Stanislaus National Forest (1 hr 27 min northeast of Merced, CA) with an elevation of 3,260 feet. The site is normally open from the end of April to mid October. Prices start at $125.00 per night. Some amenities include swimming. Activities include fishing, hiking trails, rock climbing.
Dirt Flat Campground is located in the Bass Lake Ranger District, Sierra National Forest (1 hr 28 min northeast of Merced, CA) with an elevation of 1,601 feet. There are a total of 3 campsites including 1 tent-only site. The campground is open all year. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $35.00 per night.
Lost Claim Campground is located in the Groveland Ranger District, Stanislaus National Forest (1 hr 29 min northeast of Merced, CA) with an elevation of 3,009 feet. There are a total of 10 campsites including 7 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the end of April to mid October. Max equipment length is 55 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Prices start at $23.00 per night. Activities include biking, fishing, hiking trails.
Tuttletown Rec Area in Tuolumne County is located 1 hr 18 min northeast of Modesto, CA with an elevation of 1,158 feet. There are a total of 164 campsites including 50 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 111 sites can accommodate RVs between 18 and 65 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $18.00 to $150.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, boat ramp, swimming, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Wawona Campground is part of Yosemite National Park in California (1 hr 30 min northeast of Madera, CA) with an elevation of 4,000 feet. There are a total of 96 campsites including 22 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 74 sites can accommodate RVs between 15 and 125 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. 18 sites have water hookups. Fees range from $10.00 to $75.00. Some amenities include drinking water, restroom, trash dumpster, amphitheater. Activities include fishing, floating sports.
Caswell Campground is part of Caswell Memorial State Park in California (just 14 min southeast of Manteca, CA) with an elevation of 53 feet. There are a total of 55 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 24 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $30.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, swimming, restroom, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include fishing, floating sports.
Hodgdon Meadow Campground is part of Yosemite National Park in California (1 hr 46 min northeast of Merced, CA) with an elevation of 4,900 feet. There are a total of 104 campsites including 65 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 39 sites can accommodate RVs between 18 and 40 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. Fees range from $28.00 to $75.00. Some amenities include drinking water, restroom, pay telephone, flush toilets. Activities include hiking trails.
Millerton Lake Campground is part of Millerton Lake State Recreation Area in California (40 min north of Clovis, CA) with an elevation of 626 feet. There are a total of 135 campsites including 6 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 114 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 36 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 25 sites have electric and water hookups. 1 site has water hookups. Fees range from $30.00 to $40.00. Some amenities include shower, boat ramp, restroom, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, horseback riding, water skiing, floating sports.
Crane Flat Campground is part of Yosemite National Park in California (1 hr 57 min northeast of Merced, CA) with an elevation of 6,200 feet. There are a total of 166 campsites including 92 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from mid July to mid October. 74 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 15 and 40 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. Prices start at $36.00 per night. Some amenities include drinking water, accessible, restroom, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include biking, fishing, horseback riding, hiking trails, floating sports, rock climbing.
Summerdale Campground is located in the Bass Lake Ranger District, Sierra National Forest (1 hr 18 min northeast of Madera, CA) with an elevation of 5,011 feet. There are a total of 29 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid May to mid September. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 30 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. Prices start at $40.00 per night. Some amenities include drinking water, restroom. Activities include fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Glory Hole Rec Area in Calaveras County is located 1 hr 24 min northeast of Modesto, CA with an elevation of 1,140 feet. There are a total of 144 campsites including 20 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 122 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 30 and 65 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $18.00 to $22.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, boat ramp, swimming, marina, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Rec Point Campground is located in the Bass Lake Ranger District, Sierra National Forest (1 hr 10 min north of Clovis, CA) with an elevation of 3,366 feet. There are a total of 4 campsites which are all tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Fees range from $209.00 to $348.00. Some amenities include swimming, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Forks Campground is located in the Bass Lake Ranger District, Sierra National Forest (1 hr 6 min north of Clovis, CA) with an elevation of 3,389 feet. There are a total of 27 campsites including 5 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of April to the beginning of September. 22 sites can accommodate RVs between 10 and 40 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $45.00 per night. Some amenities include swimming, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Soquel Campground is located in the Bass Lake Ranger District, Sierra National Forest (1 hr 27 min north of Clovis, CA) with an elevation of 5,333 feet. There are a total of 11 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid May to mid September. 9 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 20 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $38.00 per night. Activities include ohv trails nearby, hiking trails.
Dimond O Campground is located in the Groveland Ranger District, Stanislaus National Forest (1 hr 47 min northeast of Merced, CA) with an elevation of 4,706 feet. There are a total of 26 campsites including 4 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the end of April to mid October. 22 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 22 and 50 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Fees range from $30.00 to $60.00. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports, rock climbing.
Tamarack Flat Campground is part of Yosemite National Park in California (2 hrs 16 min northeast of Merced, CA) with an elevation of 6,300 feet. There are a total of 54 campsites including 3 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from mid July to mid October. 51 sites can accommodate RVs between 18 and 20 feet. Prices start at $24.00 per night. Some amenities include accessible, restroom, trash dumpster. Activities include hiking trails.
Coyote Point Campground in Calaveras County is located 44 min northeast of Manteca, CA with an elevation of 240 feet. The site is normally open from the beginning of May to the end of September. Prices start at $130.00 per night. Some amenities include swimming. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Lupine Campground is located in the Bass Lake Ranger District, Sierra National Forest (1 hr 13 min north of Clovis, CA) with an elevation of 3,419 feet. There are a total of 51 campsites including 13 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 38 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 10 and 40 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $45.00 per night. Some amenities include swimming, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Cedar Bluff Campground is located in the Bass Lake Ranger District, Sierra National Forest (1 hr 13 min north of Clovis, CA) with an elevation of 3,419 feet. There are a total of 22 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 40 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $91.00 to $182.00. Some amenities include swimming, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Spring Cove Campground is located in the Bass Lake Ranger District, Sierra National Forest (1 hr 9 min north of Clovis, CA) with an elevation of 3,467 feet. There are a total of 62 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid April to the beginning of September. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 36 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $45.00 per night. Some amenities include swimming, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Chilkoot Campground is located in the Bass Lake Ranger District, Sierra National Forest (1 hr 17 min north of Clovis, CA) with an elevation of 4,625 feet. There are a total of 20 campsites including 2 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from mid May to mid September. 4 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 30 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $35.00 per night. Some amenities include swimming. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Wishon Bass Lake Campground is located in the Bass Lake Ranger District, Sierra National Forest (1 hr 5 min north of Clovis, CA) with an elevation of 3,366 feet. There are a total of 47 campsites including 9 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of April to mid September. 38 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 30 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Fees range from $45.00 to $91.00. Some amenities include swimming, marina, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Kelty Meadow Campground is located in the Bass Lake Ranger District, Sierra National Forest (1 hr 34 min north of Clovis, CA) with an elevation of 5,851 feet. There are a total of 9 campsites including 7 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from mid May to the beginning of September. 2 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 30 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. Fees range from $35.00 to $71.00. Some amenities include restroom. Activities include horseback riding, hiking trails.
Bridalveil Creek Group And Horse Camp is part of Yosemite National Park in California (2 hrs 19 min northeast of Merced, CA) with an elevation of 6,976 feet. There are a total of 110 campsites including 2 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from mid July to the beginning of September. 108 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 15 and 35 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Fees range from $18.00 to $50.00. Some amenities include drinking water, restroom, amphitheater, pay telephone, flush toilets. Activities include hiking trails.