Campgrounds and RV parks near Fresno, CA

Millerton Lake is the centerpiece for water-based recreation. With over 40 miles of shoreline, the lake offers boating, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, water skiing, jet skiing, swimming, windsurfing and sailing. There are also hiking and wildlife viewing opportunities, including seeing bald and golden eagles. During winter, the park runs special boat tours to view bald eagles. Day trips from a Fresno basecamp reach Yosemite's southern entrance, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Park within roughly one to two hours by road. Closer to town, families can plan visits to Forestiere Underground Gardens, the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, and Woodward Park.

Fresno has a long, hot, dry camping season and a short, damp winter. The city experiences a cold semi-arid climate defined by low annual precipitation and strong seasonal contrasts, with hot, very dry summers and cool winters that bring most of the area's limited rainfall in brief showers. Spring and fall are the most comfortable windows for RV travel. Fresno summers are hot, with all but a few days seeing highs over 90 and many topping 100 Fahrenheit; the 90-degree weather usually begins in April and can linger into October. Plan for shaded sites, generator hours that allow air conditioning, and early-morning hikes. At Millerton Lake, the campground is open all year, though summer brings peak demand and the strongest heat. Roughly 114 sites accommodate RVs and trailers up to 36 feet, all sites are reservable, and reservations can be booked up to six months in advance. Winter in the valley brings tule fog that reduces visibility on I-5 and Highway 99, a real factor when planning travel days.

In-town parks are paved or graveled, with full hookups, laundry, and quick freeway access. They are practical rather than scenic, ideal for an overnight stop or a base for day trips into the Sierra. Millerton Lake offers a more outdoor experience. All campsites have a paved parking spur, table, food storage cabinet, fire ring and grill; amenities include drinking water, flush toilets, vault toilets, hot showers, and a dump station, plus a boat ramp, picnic area and playground. Expect oak-studded foothills, exposed sites with limited shade, and warm reservoir water in summer. Cell service in the area is fair. Eight people are allowed per family campsite, and sites are designed for no more than three vehicles, with additional vehicles parked in the overflow lot. Pets are allowed on leash.