Campgrounds and RV parks near Clay, CA

Camanche Reservoir is the main draw. The lake has 54 miles of shoreline and 7,700 surface acres of water for outdoor recreational activities. Activities include family and group camping by the shoreline, hiking, boating, fishing, swimming, kayaking, and equestrian trails. It is best known for bass fishing but is also a favorite of trout anglers, with around 60,000 pounds of trout planted every year between October and May. From the South Shore, campers can access over 25 miles of the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail, while the North Shore offers the 10.2-mile China Gulch trail with an optional 3-mile loop. Gold Rush history is close by: nearby gold rush towns include Jackson with its Kennedy Gold Mine Tours, Mokelumne Hill, and Sutter Creek. EBMUD also runs Eagle Tours every January for winter wildlife viewing.

The Clay area follows a hot-summer Mediterranean pattern, with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Temperatures across the year typically vary from about 39 to 93 degrees Fahrenheit, with summers hot, arid, and mostly clear and winters short, cool, wet, and partly cloudy. Summer is peak camping season at Camanche, when water temperatures support swimming and the marinas run at full capacity. No alcohol is permitted anywhere in the park from May 1 through September 30, a rule worth flagging for families planning summer trips. Fall brings cooler nights, fewer crowds, and the start of trout stocking. Winter stays open: tent and RV sites are available year-round at both North and South Shores, with RV hook-up sites at South Shore only and self-contained RVs welcome at North Shore. Spring delivers green hillsides, wildflowers, and rising lake levels from Sierra runoff, though boat-launch rules can shift due to invasive mussel concerns. Following the detection of the highly invasive golden mussel in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, EBMUD suspended public boat launching at Camanche while a long-term prevention program is developed, so trailered-boat plans should be confirmed in advance.

Expect open, oak-dotted foothill country rather than dense forest. Shade varies site to site, so RV renters should ask about tree cover when booking. Campground amenities at Camanche North Shore include clean restrooms, hot showers, picnic tables, laundry, a playground, and a dump station for RV travelers. RV hook-ups are located on the South Shore only, and RVs camping in the Monument and Miners Camps areas must be fully self-contained. Connectivity is limited in spots, so download maps before arrival. Wildlife is abundant: expect waterfowl and shorebirds along the lake plus wild turkey, quail, bald eagles, ospreys, hawks, deer, and the occasional bobcat. Note that Laguna Del Sol is an adults-oriented clothing-optional resort and is not appropriate for family RV trips with children.