Campgrounds and RV parks near Murphys, CA

Main Street Murphys is the centerpiece for most visitors. The walkable downtown holds over two dozen wine tasting rooms within a short stroll, with additional wineries a short drive from town. Families combine tasting stops with caverns and state parks. Mercer Caverns, Moaning Cavern, and Black Chasm are all within easy driving distance and offer underground tours of formations and crystals. Calaveras Big Trees State Park is renowned for its groves of giant sequoias, including the North Grove where visitors can walk among some of the largest and oldest trees on Earth, and the park also offers hiking trails, fishing along the Stanislaus River, and winter activities when conditions allow. Columbia State Historic Park, a preserved Gold Rush town with stagecoach rides and gold panning, is about 30 minutes west. Ironstone Vineyards hosts concerts at its outdoor amphitheatre and operates a museum just outside town.

Murphys has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Summer days are generally dry and hot, often reaching the upper 80s, while nights cool noticeably. Winters are mild at town elevation with occasional light snowfall in the early months, and spring and fall are typically mild and pleasant. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable windows for RV travel, with mild days, lower fire risk than peak summer, and easier reservations than the July to August peak. Summer brings the busiest crowds for wine tasting, Ironstone concerts, and sequoia visits. It also coincides with California fire season, which can affect air quality and trail access. Winter is wet at town elevation and snowy higher up Highway 4; chains may be required on the route to Bear Valley. Oak Hollow Campground is open seasonally from May 15 through October 1. Private parks in Columbia and Angels Camp generally operate year-round, making them the better choice for shoulder-season and winter trips. Snow play and skiing at Bear Valley draw RV travelers in winter, but most stay at lower-elevation parks and drive up for the day.

Sites near Murphys range from full-hookup gravel pads to dry forest sites. At Oak Hollow, expect a forested, hilly campground where each site includes a picnic table, fire ring, and bear-proof food locker, with modern restrooms, token-operated showers, and potable water throughout. RVs up to 30 feet are welcome, but this is a dry camping facility with no hookups; a dump station is available elsewhere in the park. Dogs are permitted in the campground but must be kept on leash and are not allowed on trails or in the giant sequoia groves. Bear lockers must be used for all food and scented items. Cell coverage is limited inside the park. Private parks in Columbia and Angels Camp offer full hookups, Wi-Fi, laundry, and easier big-rig access. Fill water and dump tanks before heading up to Bear Valley, where services are limited.