Camping at Turlock – A Trip Report

Turlock lake campsite is located 25 miles east of Modesto by the Tuolumne River. Lake access (day use recreation area) located a mile away from the campsite is included in the campsite fee. The campsite fees for Turlock ranks among the lowest for California state park campsites. For $20 per day for a family of four they provide a developed drive-in site that can accommodate two families during in-season - a reservation charge of $7.50 also apply. Accurate directions are available in the reserve America website - From Modesto, take highway 132 East 14 miles to the small town of Waterford, turn right on Hickman Road for 1 mile, and Left on Lake road for another 10 miles to the campsite at 22600 Lake Road, La Grange, CA-95329.

The campground is spread over 66 acres, amply shaded with huge trees and lookout spots closer to the Tuolumne River. There is also the birdwatchers delight in observing and listening to the feathered friends in various gowns.

The warm inland area is ideal for camping in the summer months with night-time temperatures hovering in the 50’s during the night. Day time heat can be intense and the lake is a great option for those times – the wading area is cordoned off, ideal for the whole family and there are several other natural coves. Visitors can enjoy fishing, boating, and water skiing in those waters. The breezy, tree-lined lookout spot located at a slight elevation in the day-use facility is a great spot to escape the intense sun. The campsite location is unbeatable providing opportunity to enjoy San Joaquin Valley climates but there are a few downsides:

1. The site is well-liked and like all popular sites reservations need to be made early. As the campsites are given out on a first come, first served basis, getting there early is paramount. Check-in time is mentioned as 2 PM, but entry is not barred for early arrivals as long as they have a reservation. In general, the sites by the river provide for a serene setting,
2. There is no designated hiking area. The park personnel mentioned of hiking trails past the river and did indicate the area between two campsites where one can traverse the shallow marshy area. To our disappointment it was not a viable option, especially with kids,
3. The restroom facilities were well below par – the shower area was constantly flooded during the two days we were there and the facility was badly in need of maintenance, and
4. Some restrictions require park personnel to keep some sites open for RV campers. Raucous vagabonds claimed squatter’s rights to these during the night. They were promptly asked to leave in the morning but the damage was already done.

All things considered, we rate our Turlock camping experience to be between Brannan Island State Park near Sacramento (click to read our review) and the Brighton State park near Santa Cruz (much closer to the Brannan State Park though). One reason for the Brighton experience ranking high could be that the state funding for the national parks were much higher in that time.

Last Updated: 02/2011.