Campgrounds and RV parks near Durham, CA

Lake Oroville anchors most outdoor plans east of town. The lake offers a wide variety of outdoor activities including picnicking, hiking, sail and power boating, water-skiing, fishing, swimming, boat-in camping, floating campsites and horse camping. Marinas at both Lime Saddle and Bidwell Canyon offer rental services and park stores. In Chico, Bidwell Park is the main draw for families. The park stretches across thousands of acres along Big Chico Creek, with Upper Bidwell offering hilly, rugged terrain for hiking and biking and Lower Bidwell remaining flatter and more accessible. The Sycamore Pool at the One-Mile Recreation Area is a concrete-lined swimming hole built around the creek, with seasonal lifeguard coverage in summer. Disc golf, swimming holes, and creek-side trails round out a typical day, and the Feather River corridor and Feather Falls trail are within easy driving distance to the east.

The climate of Chico can be defined as Mediterranean, with mild, rainy winters and hot, sunny summers. Spring and fall are the most comfortable windows for RV travel. Wildflowers and green hills peak from March into May, and reservoir levels at Lake Oroville are typically highest after the wet season. Summers are hot in the valley, regularly pushing into the 90s Fahrenheit, which drives campers toward shaded creek pools and the lake. It is also the core of fire season in Butte County, and smoke days or temporary closures are possible from July into October, so travelers should check park status before arrival. After a wildfire, some parks and recreation areas may remain closed for extended periods. Winter brings rain and cool fog to the valley floor. Fog can form at night and in the early morning, and in autumn, in September and October, it still rarely rains. Foothill parks stay open in many cases, but some campground loops reduce services and the highest lake-access roads can be slick after storms.

Valley and foothill RV parks near Durham generally offer flat, gravel or paved pull-through and back-in sites with full hookups. Pine Ridge RV Park has 43 large full hook-up sites ranging from 45 to 100 feet, gravel paved and shaded by towering pine trees. Expect 20/30/50 amp service, water, sewer, and shaded sites, plus laundry at most private parks. At Lime Saddle, conditions are more rustic. Sites include a picnic table and fire ring with grill, spigots with drinking water, restrooms with flush toilets, and coin-operated showers, with paved campground roads and parking driveways. Four sites have electric and water hookups and nine sites have electric hookups, and a dump station is on site. Bring extra drinking water in summer and pack out trash from any boat-in or floating sites.