The best camping near George J. Hatfield State Recreation Area

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next George J. Hatfield State Recreation Area adventure.

100% (1 reviews)

A restful and restorative patch of green with stellar fishing in California's San Joaquin Valley.

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near George J. Hatfield State Recreation Area

Book externally

Public campgrounds in the park
Book externally

Stay at a public campground in George J. Hatfield State Recreation Area

100%

(1)

George Hatfield Group Camp

1 site · RV, Tent In George J. Hatfield State Recreation Area

Top-rated campgrounds near George J. Hatfield State Recreation Area

100%

(68)

Rocksteady Adventures

7 sites · RVs, Tents70 acres · Copperopolis, CA

Off-grid campground adjacent to 1000 acre private reservoir perfect for fishing, kayaking & paddle boarding. 70 acres in Sierra Nevada Foothills with Valley Oaks, Gray Pines & Manzanita. Best birding in Calaveras County with over 188 species including Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, Osprey & waterfowl. Reservoir is a no-wake waterbody created for irrigation of the surrounding private rangeland. Jet Skiing and WaterSkiing is not allowed. Boats of all sizes are welcome for the purposes of fishing. Ideal for kayaking, paddleboarding and canoeing with all of those available for rent on site. Please note we host events throughout the year. Upcoming we have: June 22-23 - APBA Boat Racing - no boats or swimming on water July 4-6th - Rocksteady Campout for Celebrate Americana so expect full campground with a laser show on the 4th and live music on Friday and Saturday nights. Sept 20-21 - Rocksteady Campout with Goonies & Pirates so expect full campground with live music on Friday and Saturday night Oct 4-5 - Rocksteady Campout TBD so expect full campground with live music on Friday and Saturday night.

100%

(122)

Cole Ranch

10 sites · RVs, Tents5 acres · Waterford, CA

"I firmly believe that Nature brings solace in all troubles." -Anne Frank- Serene, quiet acreage on the Tuolumne River, with views of the snow capped Sierra Nevadas on a clear day. Scores of wildlife sightings, including river otters, eagles, wild turkeys, beavers, and many more. Perfect for swimming, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, or just relaxing. Like to fish? Fishing at Cole Ranch is a Love/Hate thing. If you Love to Fish, you will Hate to leave. Gateway to Yosemite National Park, the Mother Lode region, hiking trails, and spelunking opportunities. All sites have access to our community outdoor kitchen, which has a refrigerator, coffee bar, sink, BBQ's, and stoves. Also available is our bathrooms, quite possibly the cleanest campground bathrooms in the 13 western states, which include flushable toilets, two sinks, and warm showers. Book your visit now. (Group bookings must be approved by host. Group bookings that have not been pre-approved may be cancelled.) (Cole Ranch is a working ranch. Occasional noise from common ranching activities may be heard.) Check back here periodically for advisories on river conditions. ###EXCITING NEWS### We are working hard to open at least THREE new campsites. These new sites will be more secluded and private than current sites, each with its own path to the river. Contact Barry, coleranch23@icloud.com, for more information. **ADVISORY** 4/18/24 River is currently running about 3' above normal. Except for Fisherman's Hideout, all sites remain open. Fisherman's Hideout is currently under water, but should be open some time in May. Fishing is great right now, but water activities will be limited. Will update as changes occur.

98%

(344)

The Ranch at Cross Road

10 sites · RVs, Tents84 acres · Livermore, CA

Welcome to the ranch at cross road! We are a family owned organic farm in the heart of Livermore wine country. We have 10 camp sites spread across the property for you to choose from. The property is minutes from Lake Del Valle and some of the best wineries and breweries California has to offer. Settle in and enjoy amazing sunsets every night with us! We accommodate tents,Travel trailers, Fifth wheels, Toy haulers, Pop-up campers, Class A RVs, Class B RVs, Class C RVs, Campervans, and Cars. Our guests love us too! "I had a wonderful stay at Matt’s ranch! It was easy to find even as it was starting to get dark, and the campsites were well lit and easy to find. The ranch is beautiful. It was such a treat to stay here. I would definitely stay again."

97%

(534)

Wondernut Farm

4 sites · Lodging37 acres · Big Oak Flat, CA

Wondernut Farm is an upstart, entirely off grid, working farm-stead being built from the ground up. We breed milking goats and sheep, heritage pigs, and are in the process of converting to a grade A dairy and creamery! We use organic practices, management intensive rotational grazing, and dryland pasture management. We sell our animals locally so that others can have their own milking and meat animals. Our 110 year old hay barn and the roof of the former lumber mill were all we had to work with in getting off the ground. Being first and foremost a functional farm, we can't help but offer a somewhat warts-and-all look into everything it takes to be working to our goals. Our hearts are, and always will be, educational and local community focused, and we work closely with farmers and friends alike in better understanding our innovative animal husbandry, power, pasture and water systems. Whenever we have time, we'll afford the same time and opportunities to interested hip-campers. Our location is stunning and historic, and the beauty of the wild, natural landscape is powerful, yet offers easy access to both Yosemite Valley and the San Francisco Bay area. The area features excellent road and mountain biking in the immediate vicinity, vast access to hiking and backpacking trails, a huge variety of rock climbing in the area, the best whitewater rafting in California on the Tuolumne River, with some tasty places to eat or drink coffee in the nearby town of Groveland, just 10 minutes away. Accommodations at the farm are certainly rustic, and private but not secluded, with occasionally heavily project-exploded shared kitchen and living space, showers, and airy flush toilets. Do be advised that animals are pooping, hammers are hammering, sometimes we need to look into a health or animal injury related issue. Sometimes there is blood in an animal birth or slaughter, and our working guardian dogs have been known to be noisy some nights. Water and electricity are both very limited (though we reuse all our water), waste must be carefully sorted into a number of different categories, and there is always evidence of ump-teen projects unfolding at once. The most difficult condition during much of the summer are nuisance flies, which are always gone at night. We have almost no mosquitoes or ticks. Depending on the exact situation and time of year, guests may have the opportunities to snuggle with baby animals and run our herd to or from pasture, and maybe even get their hands dirty picking veggies in the garden.

97%

(160)

Red Dragonfly Ranch

18 sites · RVs, Tents38 acres · Groveland, CA

At Red Dragonfly Ranch our goal is to make a HipCamp that our campers can fully enjoy and have the property be the destination of choice when visiting Yosemite or the gold country of the Sierra’s. Red Dragonfly Ranch is conveniently located. We are only 29 miles from Yosemite Big Oak Flat entrance and only minutes away from the beautiful town of Groveland " The Gateway to Yosemite" and all the hidden gems in between. There are chickens and we are working on maintaining the many raised beds, our goal is being able to have our campers feel free to pick fresh herbs, fruits and veggies for their pleasure. There is a seasonal spring fed creek to cool off in and shade is plentiful. Rv's are welcome , but we are boondocking only. Follow us on instagram @red_dragonfly_ranch Please shoot us a message if you have any questions. Yosemite National Park Reservation Information : A reservation is required to drive through Yosemite National Park for those driving into the park between 5 am and 4 pm as follows: April 13 through June 30: A reservation is required from 5 am to 4 pm on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays ( May 27 and June 19) . July 1 through August 16 : A reservation is required from 5 am to 4 pm every day August 17 through October 27: A reservation is required from 5 am to 4 pm on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays ( September 2 and October 14 ).

97%

(982)

Song of the Ancients

15 sites · RVs, Tents40 acres · Paicines, CA

Spring is here! Warm days and cool starry nights. The annual grasses are turning gold and now you can see the green of the native grasses and plants with stars of color amid the gold. The days are bright and sunny and comfortably warm. The nights are cool and crisp and filled with the song of coyote and their frog chorus'. Bring your family and friends outside and laze around in the hammock or put your feet up on the side of the campfire, throw your head back and loose yourself in the galaxies above. You can pitch any where from 1 to 15 or more tents at each campsite. Our campsites are RV friendly but remember we are off grid so we do not have blackwater facilities or electricity for RVs. We do have garden hoses to fill up the RV water tanks. We are the same latitude of Carmel (but a world away), Between Hollister and the Monterey - Salinas metro area and Los Banos and the San Joaquin Valley, close to the vast San Francisco Bay Area; which includes Berkeley, Oakland, Walnut Creek and all the East, North, and South Bay to Pinnacles National Monument and the town of Paicines. You can spend the day in San Juan Bautista at the Mission and Shops or breakfast or lunch at Flapjacks in Tres Pinos, Monterey at the Aquarium, walk on the beach at Moss Landing, hike at Pinnacles, Fremont Peak, Griswold Mountains, or Panoche Hills. Then back home to sit in a quiet world under the stars. You can also...do nothing. Read a book doze in the shade drift off in a hammock or walk and discover the land and discover your place in this world. Pitch your tent or park your camper amid the ancient Blue Oaks of California. Warm yourself by your campfire as you drink in the dark skies. Shake the dust off your work worn spirit. Let the celebration begin. Dance to the music in your heart sing along with the songs of the ancients. Regenerate. A place to breathe and to hear yourself breathe. A sacred place in the shade of the blue oaks. It's time to take time. Time to play and enjoy with friends and family. A place to bask in opulent starlight and absorb the sounds of darkness. A quiet place to clear your soul and revive your spirit. As the air softens and relaxes listen closely to the ancients singing in the oaks. Lend your voice to the Song of the Ancients and let Coyote sing you to sleep. What we provide is: outdoor hot shower, flush toilet, water from a faucet, and at your campsite a fire pit and grill to cook on, picnic table with benches, and the blue oak savanna. Firewood for $15/bundle, fire starters -first two free in the winter then $0.50/each. Our firewood is sustainably harvested from downed trees and branches. We sell it for a neighbor. No healthy live trees are harmed in order to produce firewood. No native trees are felled in order to plant fast growing hardwood for fire or anything else!

96%

(80)

Peace, Love and Sunset Ranch

10 sites · Lodging, Tents5 acres · Watsonville, CA

Your cooking supplies, stoves, barbeque and dinnerwares are inclusive! Located in a serene oakwood grove area, our private campground offers a peaceful getaway with an abundance of bird varieties and occasional wild turkeys passing through. Take a stroll around our 5-acre property and catch a breathtaking sunset from the hillside. We're only 11 minutes away from Mount Madonna State Park and just 10 minutes from a local healthy grocery store and yoga studio. The beautiful Pajaro Dunes coastal area is just a 15-minute drive away, and the Santa Cruz fairground is only two minutes away. Our location is surrounded by farms and nurseries, hence why it's considered the salad bowl of the United States. The Santa Cruz beaches are only 15-25 minutes away, while Monterey is just 30 minutes away. The wine trail is also nearby. There are plenty of activities to enjoy nearby, including horseback riding at Mount Madonna Stable, a yoga retreat at Mount Madonna, hiking at Mount Madonna State Park, wine tastings at various wineries with stunning views, kayaking at Elkhorn Slough or any beaches, yoga at Watsonville Yoga or onsite, swimming, scuba diving in Monterey, visiting the Hanoman temple at Mount Madonna retreat center, and attending any events at the Santa Cruz Fairground. The property has 3 stalls for hot showers, 1 hand washing sink, 1 flushable toilette, 1 communal outdoor kitchen with supplies of cookwares, dishes, mugs, glasses, utensils, pots and pans, coffee mugs, and 1 sink with hot water, 3 fire pits (2 of them is fire burning and 1 of them is propane), camping stoves, 1 gas barbeque and there is an electricity in the communal kitchen area. Propane for fireplace is included and Firewoods are available for sale. No need to bring your cooking utensils. Salt and pepper are provided. No need to bring your own cooking supplies and dinnerware unless you prefer to do so. Your parking spot is within a very short walking distance and there is a wagon for you to use to haul your belongings to your camp site.

100%

(17)

The Painted Lake

3 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents20 acres · Copperopolis, CA

Kayaks & Eggs provided. Explore BLM and Reclamation land along the shores of New Melones reservoir near Angels Camp. Horses, goats, sheep , and chickens await you on every fence line you come to. Kayak on the waters below us as you camp on our vineyard fenced 20 acre private scenery. Our land is surrounded by 100’s of acres of lake front - public Federal lands surrounded by our private acreage .

99%

(112)

Mission Ranch "Mi Querida"

8 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · CA

Annular Eclipse Saturday, October 14, 2023 Nearby SF Bay Area viewing 9:20am PDT (16:20 UDT) The New Moon—on October 14—will coincide with the Great American Annular Eclipse, providing a fantastic opportunity to observe the “Ring of Fire” – an incredible thin ring of sunlight that is visible around the moon during this phenomenon. The Nearby Second Best viewing opportunity is a quick and easy 60 minute drive from the SF Bay Area. At Mi Querida we will be viewing a 80% Annular Eclipse on Saturday morning 9:20am, while live streaming the full path of the eclipse from Mexico through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada and Oregon. Your booking includes a pair of safe solar viewing “eclipse glasses” for your safety. NEWS FLASH: Charge your EV on-site while watching the eclipse! Come to your "Nearby Getaway" at Mi Querida - an easy drive from the SF Bay Area - for great Annular Eclipse views. Book today. Space is limited. Contact Host for Special Daytime Eclipse Viewing rate. Learn more about this land: This is a large flat site with rolling hills, lovely rural views, rolling oak studded pastureland, open views, lovely sunsets and beautiful mornings. Very quiet, private, peaceful and serene. Afternoon breezes while red tailed hawks ride the thermals, and woodpeckers work on their treasure hoarde. Wildlife abounds. Easy access from Highway 101, yet private and secluded. Historic San Juan Bautista Mission and town nearby. Monterey/Carmel 30 minutes. Santa Cruz/Beaches 30 minutes. Hollister, Salinas, or Gilroy 20 minutes. Site will accommodate RV, Sprintervan, or trailer 50/30/20 amp service. Tents welcome too! Water. Ranch "outhouse" with flushable RV style toilet, running hot & cold water, shower and electricity. Bunkhouse accommodations available. Contact Host for details. Tent and Car Top Tent sites also available. Contact Host for details. Beautiful peaceful historic San Juan Bautista. Quaint historic mission town nearby with restaurants. Hiking trails nearby Horseback riding woods & beach. Equine Facilities available. 20 min to beach or redwoods. Beautiful rural area. Weddings, anniversaries, celebrations of life; event camp; event site. Family groups and events always welcome! Call for more information. NOTE: This property is located in a very private country area. It is approximately 10 minutes from the small historic town of San Juan Bautista. We meet our first time guests at the Park & Ride as a welcome courtesy so you can easily follow us in and around the potholes on our rural roads! Let us know if we can assist you with any special interests or attractions in the Monterey Bay and Central Coast Area. As your hosts, our goal is that you will rest easy, enjoy the relaxation, peace and harmony for your "getaway."

94%

(127)

Winery Camping

12 sites · RVs5 acres · Livermore, CA

Set up and camp with us at Leisure Street Winery. Where you can taste some wine and purchase a bottle or so to sit out on the patio and watch the sunset go down. Ride your bike into town grab some lunch at one of our mom and pop restaurants. Golf at the golf course 5 minutes away. We have horse shoes, corn hole and other fun stuff to do. Some weekends we have live music!Our property is located in Livermore Wine Country. The property is located 5 minutes from Downtown Livermore and 8 minutes away from Lake Del Valle. Livermore is California's oldest wine region, framed by award-winning wineries, farm lands, and ranches that mirror the valley's western heritage. The property is located on 5 acres and home of Leisure Street Winery. Any questions please contact us. Thanks. Rick & Kelly Volpatti

97%

(156)

Terra Cultura

4 sites · Lodging, Tents5 acres · Aromas, CA

Our farm is nestled in the scenic hills of Aromas, CA, just 15 minutes away from the ocean. Whether you’re passing through on a road trip along California’s majestic coast, or looking to spend some time getting to know the lush landscape of the Central Coast, we welcome you with open arms! We are a nonprofit educational eco-arts farm and your booking supports environmental stewardship and arts education for underserved communities. Thank you for your support! We place the highest value on respect--for the land, and for the people, plants, and animals that call this area home. While you are here, please consider yourself a partner in stewarding this place.

95%

(144)

Santa Cruz Bayview Retreat

1 site · RV, Tent20 acres · Day Valley, CA

Whenever we go on vacation it’s never as nice as home. This is that same experience as we get when we come home.

The best camping near George J. Hatfield State Recreation Area guide

Overview

About

If you find yourself halfway between Merced and Modesto in need of a nature infusion, this park hits the spot. Surrounded by the Merced River in the arid San Joaquin Valley, George J. Hatfield SRA is a shady little park with great fishing.

Popular activities for locals include swimming, floating and dog walking. Picnics, barbecues, birthday parties, and family reunions are also the park's claim to Central Valley fame. First-come first-served rustic camping, RV access, and family and group campsites are available.

The 46.5-acre park boasts a multitude of native riparian zone trees and is home to numerous bird species. Near the park, a historic bridge built in 1910 spans the Merced River.

No cars allowed up there, but bikers and pedestrians enjoy great views of the river. Anglers land rainbow trout and bass in the spring, while catfish and perch abound throughout the year.

There's no boating ramp, but there are miles of river frontage with plentiful shade to cool you.

Notable campgrounds

Family Campsites - Ideal for a cozy retreat with loved ones amid lush greenery and riverside views.
Group Campsites - Perfect for larger gatherings, offering ample space and communal charm.
Primitive Camping - For the true adventurer, these sites provide a rustic and intimate connection with the wilderness.

Tips for snagging a campsite

Book early - Reserve your spot up to six months in advance to secure your ideal dates.
Be flexible - Consider midweek stays for better availability and a quieter experience.
Check for cancellations - Last-minute openings can be your ticket to a spontaneous getaway.
Explore nearby camping options - Expand your search to surrounding areas for additional opportunities.

When to go

The best time to visit George J. Hatfield State Recreation Area is during the spring and fall when the weather is mild and the natural beauty is at its peak. Summer offers warm days perfect for water activities, while winter may bring cooler temperatures and fewer visitors.

Know before you go

Check park hours, open from 8am to sunset, to plan your visit accordingly.
Dogs are welcome in the campground, ensuring your furry friends can join the adventure.
Remember to bring layered clothing as the weather can be changeable.
Accessible features are available, making the park enjoyable for all visitors.
Always follow safety tips and park regulations to ensure a pleasant and safe experience.