Meadowview Campground
Important campground update — reservations required Beginning Summer 2026, all campsites at Meadowview Campground will require advance reservations during peak season. Peak Season: Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend These sites were previously first-come, first-served and will no longer be available without a reservation during this time period. Please plan ahead to secure your site. Meadowview campground is located by Pinecrest Lake, just 30 miles east of Sonora, at an elevation of 5600 feet. The area includes a day-use beach and a marina, a small shopping center and Coffee Shop.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in California · reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 86 |
| Tent-only | 11 |
| Host/management | 3 |
Site guide
97 sites in 4 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | 100 | Tent only | 31 | Paved | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 102 | 100 | Standard | Back-in | 27 | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 103 | 100 | Standard | Back-in | 26 | Paved | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 104 | 100 | Standard | Back-in | 27 | Paved | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 105 | 100 | Standard | Back-in | 22 | Paved | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 106 | 100 | Standard | Back-in | 22 | Paved | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 107 | 100 | Standard | Back-in | 22 | Paved | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 108 | 100 | Tent only | 22 | Paved | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 109 | 100 | Standard | Back-in | 26 | Paved | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 110 | 100 | Standard | Back-in | 19 | Paved | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 49 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Amenities for each site includes a paved parking pad, picnic table and campfire ring. Drinking water is handy and restrooms have flush toilets, sinks and a utility sink. No RV hookups area available and no showers. 100-200 loops remain first come first serve.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | May to October |
| Forest | Stanislaus National Forest |
| Booking | NEW! Make reservations on Recreation.gov Loops 100 and 200 are First come, first served. Cash Only. |
| Fees | Dodge Ridge Corporation operates Meadowview Campground and charges the following fees: $38.00 for a single-family site Cash only. The Interagency Senior and Interagency Access Passes are honored and provide a 50 percent discount on camping fees in the campground. |
| Rules | Camp in designated sites only. The number of people allowed in a single campsite is six. The maximum length of stay in any campground is 14 days. Please leave the area in as good (or better) condition than you found it. Often, locations destroyed by thoughtless campers must be closed to restore the area's natural health. Help ensure your favorite area remains open. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Sonora, take Highway 108 east for 30 miles, take the Pinecrest exit onto Pinecrest Lake Road and continue to the campground.
| Nearest town | Pinecrest, California |
| Coordinates | 38.1865° N, 120.0038° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireDome
48 mi from the campground · 6,788 acres · 95% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Bear Valley Adventure Company ↗ | 19.2 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 27 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Meadowview Campground Pinecrest Full Drive Though all Loops 4K HDR Outside of Yosemite Nat
Worth a stop
Located in the nearby area are several activities. There are ample hiking trails, horseback riding, fishing, mountain bike riding, and water activities. Pinecrest lake is a boating and swimming recreation area with restaurants, stores, boat rentals, and an outdoor movie theater. Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort is a ski area in the winter and in the summer is a basecamp for mountain biking, hiking, and a great indoor/outdoor BBQ. Aspen Meadow Pack Station is three miles from Pinecrest Lake and offers horseback rides and trail head for hiking. Kennedy Meadows is 30 miles east of Pinecrest and offers great river access for fishing, horse bike rides, hiking, and restaurants. Sonora Pass, a scenic winding highway that has guided people across the Sierra Nevada since 1852, is located nearby.
- 0.7 miPinecrest Day Use ↗Day use
- 2.1 mi
- 2.3 mi
- 3.2 miBeardsley Day Use ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miTrail of the Survivors I.t0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miShadow of the Miwok Interperat0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.7 miPioneer0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.7 miPinecrest Lake N.R.T ↗3.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike · national_recreation_or_other
- 1.1 miStraw / Fraser Flat Rr Bike Tr2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.1 miPinecrest to Strawberry0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 2.1 miCrabtree Cross-Country Ski Trailhead ↗Stanislaus National Forest · Season December to April
- 2.3 miGooseberry Cross-Country Ski Trailhead ↗Stanislaus National Forest · Season December
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Stanislaus National Forest.
- inStanislaus National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,090,354 acres
- 5.6 miEmigrant Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 112,723 acres
- 14.6 miCarson-Iceberg Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 158,147 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Stanislaus Branch, California Forest and Range Experiment StationHistoric district · Strawberry · 1.1 mi
- Niagara CampHistoric district · Tuolumne · 12.5 mi
- Leighton EncampmentSite · Pinecrest · 12.9 mi
Natural features
Many campsites are shaded by trees and sit near the southwest side of the 300-acre Pinecrest Lake in Stanislaus National Forest. In this beautiful mountain landscape, wildlife viewing opportunities include marmots, squirrels, coyotes and deer. Stanislaus National Forest is situated in the central Sierra Nevada Mountains, between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite. The area boasts gorgeous views of snow-capped mountain peaks and California's Great Central Valley.
Recreation
The Pinecrest Lake National Recreation Trail takes hikers on an easy 4-mile stroll around Pinecrest Lake. Rainbow trout is a common catch in the lake and swimming is enjoyed at the sandy beach. Educational programs are also a highlight of the recreation area. Bike rentals are on hand so campers can bike around the area.
Guidebooks for California
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Meadowview Campground?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Meadowview Campground?
Dodge Ridge Corporation operates Meadowview Campground and charges the following fees: $38.00 for a single-family site Cash only. The Interagency Senior and Interagency Access Passes are honored and provide a 50 percent discount on camping fees in the campground.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Meadowview Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Meadowview Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May to October.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Meadowview Campground have?
100 sites, including 86 standard sites without power and 11 tent-only sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Meadowview Campground?
The longest site here provides 49 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are there showers or a dump station at Meadowview Campground?
Drinking water is handy and restrooms have flush toilets, sinks and a utility sink.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Meadowview Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Meadowview Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Meadowview Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Camp in designated sites only.
Source: Fire nearby
Is there cell service at Meadowview Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Meadowview Campground?
The Pinecrest Lake National Recreation Trail takes hikers on an easy 4-mile stroll around Pinecrest Lake. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Meadowview Campground?
Pinecrest, California. Located in the nearby area are several activities.
Source: Getting there