1) Millerton Lake State Recreation Area
The Millerton Lake State Recreation Area is just north of downtown Fresno surrounding the beautiful Millerton Lake. The lake is a popular recreational lake with 47 miles of shoreline with several different campground areas, including some boat camping! Enjoy swimming at Hillis Beach, boating, fishing (large and smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, bluegills, and catfish), or paddle boarding. There are miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. One of the campgrounds has facilities for horse camping as well. Millerton Lake is known for its bald eagle population, and they host Eagle watching boat tours in the winter. The campgrounds at Millerton are all on the north shore, with 148 campsites nestled in the wooded pines. Twenty-seven sites have electrical hookups, and they all have a picnic table and a fire ring. Drinking water is located nearby for all of the sites. For a fun adventure, you can load up your boat with all your camping gear and head out to Temperance Flat, where there are 24 campsites reachable only by boat, and North Finegold has room for 15 boats for overnight docking to stay in your boat. You can see why Millerton is one of the absolute best places to camp near Fresno.
2) Island Park Campground
Another popular lakeside campground is the Island Park Campground just east of Fresno on Pine Flat Lake. The park is on the edge of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, with the Sierra Nevada Mountains as the backdrop. Camping on the lake with mountains in the background sounds very peaceful! The park offers miles of hiking trails, with the quarter-mile Blue Oaks Trail being an easy hike right from the campground. If you hike quietly and keep your eyes peeled, you might see a bobcat or red-tailed hawk living along the lake’s shores. Of course, there are all the lake activities like swimming, boating, and fishing, with spotted bass and rainbow trout being some of the favorites with anglers. The campground has 94 RV’s and tent sites, with 5 with electric and water hookups and 25 with electric. A group campsite is available for large groups, including a volleyball court and horseshoe pit. Grill up some burgers, play some volleyball, then hit the beach, sounds like a fun camping trip.
3) Lost Lake Recreation Area Campground
The Lost Lake Recreation Area is north of Fresno, near Millerton Lake. The park is on the San Joaquin River, perfect for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. There are access points along the river where you can put your canoe/kayak. There is also a small 38-acre man-made lake with a nature study area which is great for wildlife watching. The park is home to mule deer, squirrels, cottontails, and many migratory birds that use the lake and river areas as stopovers. The campground is at the park’s north end and has 37 campsites. Although the campsites do not have hookups, restrooms and water are nearby. Each campsite does have a picnic table and fire ring for evening campfires after a day on the river.
4) Visalia/Sequoia National Park KOA
For a resort-like camping experience, the Visalia/Sequoia KOA is one of the absolute best places to camp near Fresno. Located about 35 miles SE of Fresno, the KOA makes a great home base for visiting Fresno, Sequoia and King’s Canyon National Parks. It is one thing to see pictures of the giant sequoia trees, but it is another thing to be staring up at some of the world’s largest trees. Although it is rare to encounter these potentially dangerous animals, be aware that mountain lions and black bears do live in the park. Always keep your distance from animals in the wild. There won’t be bears or mountain lions at the KOA, where you can settle in after a day of exploring. The campground has full hookup sites for RV’s, a tent camping area, and cabin rentals (with air conditioning). The resort-like amenities include a swimming pool, Game Room, Gift Shop, and Exercise Room. Everything you need is right there, but you are also in Visalia for restaurants and shopping.
5) New Horizons Mobile/RV Park
If you want to stay right in Fresno, you can camp at the New Horizons Mobile/RV Park. It is located in the NW corner of the city and is only 2 ½ miles from the Chaffee Zoo! The zoo is a popular attraction in Fresno with the “Roo Walkabout” (kangaroo exhibit), Stingray Bay, and the new “Kingdoms of Asia” featuring Malayan Tigers, Komodo Dragons, and Sloth bears (opening in early 2023). The New Horizons RV park is also close to the Forestiere Underground Gardens, created by Baldassare Forestiere in the early 1900s. You can explore the network of rooms and tunnels of the vast gardens that still have fruit trees and grapevines today. The RV park has 64 sites with full hookups and can accommodate small and large RV’s. There is a swimming pool with a covered outdoor living room nearby and a rec room with a billiards table. Play a bocce ball or horseshoe game before enjoying a BBQ at your campsite. A lovely RV park right in Fresno!
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