Tuttletown Recreation Area
Tuttletown Recreation Area is located at New Melones Lake on the Stanislaus River. The 12,500 surface-acre lake is the fourth largest reservoir in California and is situated along the edge of the Mother Lode, the rich gold vein that prompted the California Gold Rush of 1849. At an elevation of 1100 feet, the Foothill Oak Woodlands hug the 100 miles of shoreline. Popular activities on and around the large lake include fishing, boating, water skiing, wake boarding, jet skiing, sailing, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, wildlife viewing, rock climbing, hiking, biking, and picknicking.
More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California · group sites in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 109 |
| Walk-in | 43 |
| Tent-only | 9 |
| Group sites | 1 |
| Group tent areas | 1 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 25 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
163 sites in 8 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Acorn Sites 1-35 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Paved | None | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 002 | Acorn Sites 1-35 | Standard | Pull-through | 65 | Paved | None | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 003 | Acorn Sites 1-35 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | None | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 004 | Acorn Sites 1-35 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | None | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 005 | Acorn Sites 1-35 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 006 | Acorn Sites 1-35 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | None | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 007 | Acorn Sites 1-35 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 008 | Acorn Sites 1-35 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | None | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 009 | Acorn Sites 1-35 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | None | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 010 | Acorn Sites 1-35 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | None | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 40 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Sites 005, 009, 016, 022 and 13 more are listed accessible |
The campground provides modern conveniences like flush toilets, showers and water spigots. Visitors will also find a fish cleaning station and electric vehicle charging station in the Lupine day use area. Picnic tables and fire rings are provided at each campsite. Recreation Area entrance gates close at 9:00 PM, and open at 4:00 AM. Exit gates are never closed.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Sacramento take 99 S, 88 W and 12 E to San Andreas. Take 49 S for approximately 20 miles. Turn right onto Reynolds Ferry Road and follow the road 2 miles to the recreation area. From Central California and the Bay Area take 80 E, 580 E then 205 E to 120 E in Manteca. Take the exit for 120 E/99 N. Continue on 120 E. Take 108 E to 49N.
| Nearest town | Sonora, California |
| Coordinates | 37.9839° N, 120.5081° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Sierra Nevada Adventure Co. ↗ | 10.9 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 20.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | Modesto RV Center ↗ | 36.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
CAMPING AT TUTTLETOWN RECREATION AREA // MAY 2021
Public land it sits in
Stanislaus National Forest begins about 6.3 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 6.3 miStanislaus National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,090,354 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
- EmporiumBuilding · Jamestown · 5.1 mi
- Sierra Railway Locomotive No. 3Structure · Jamestown · 5.5 mi
- Sam Choy Brick StoreBuilding · Angels Camp · 6.1 mi
Natural features
New Melones Lake is located in Northern California between the historic gold rush towns of Sonora and Angels Camp. The terrain varies from rolling hills to steep marble cliffs, and the vegetation consists of oaks, Ponderosa pines, chamise and buckbrush shrubs. Visitors can experience the beauty of New Melones by hiking the many trails in the Tuttletown and Glory Hole Recreation Areas. The climate is Mediterranean with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. For those who wish to venture outside the main recreation areas, there are many unique places to visit. Overall, the geography is quite varied and provides many opportunities for all types of recreation.
Recreation
Hiking, fishing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, boating, sailing and biking are just some of the activities available in Tuttletown Recreation Area. Equestrian trails are also present in the Peoria Wildlife Mitigation Area and open for the general public. Camping is also permitted in designated campsites. Other interesting sites include Natural Bridges, which can be accessed from Parrott's Ferry Road. It has a hiking trail and creek that flow through a marble cave. The Table Mountain Trail provides visitors an opportunity to hike to the top of an extensive lava flow which occurred over nine million years ago.
Nearby
Tuttletown Recreation Area is surrounded by countless places of natural beauty, including Natural Bridges, Camp Nine, Yosemite National Park, Stanislaus National Forest, Moaning Caverns, Big Trees State Park and Columbia State Park. Angels Camp Museum, Calaveras County Museum and Sonora Military Museum provide great opportunities for learning interesting information about the area. Surrounding communities are popular vacation and retirement destinations and provide necessary services and shopping opportunities. Golfing, snow skiing, river rafting, commercial caves, historical railroad and Native American museums are also located nearby.
Guidebooks for California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Tuttletown Recreation Area?
Sites at Tuttletown Recreation Area are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Tuttletown Recreation Area?
Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Tuttletown Recreation Area have?
164 sites, including 109 standard sites without power, 43 walk-in sites, 9 tent-only sites, and 1 group site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Tuttletown Recreation Area?
The longest site here provides 40 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 Tuttletown Recreation Area?
The campground provides modern conveniences like flush toilets, showers and water spigots.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Tuttletown Recreation Area?
Yes, pets are allowed at Tuttletown Recreation Area. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Tuttletown Recreation Area?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Tuttletown Recreation Area?
Sites 005, 009, 016, and 022 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 17 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Tuttletown Recreation Area?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Tuttletown Recreation Area?
Hiking, fishing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, boating, sailing and biking are just some of the activities available in Tuttletown Recreation Area. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Tuttletown Recreation Area?
Sonora, California. Tuttletown Recreation Area is surrounded by countless places of natural beauty, including Natural Bridges, Camp Nine, Yosemite National Park, Stanislaus National Forest, Moaning Caverns, Big Trees State Park and Columbia State Park.
Source: Getting there
What if Tuttletown Recreation Area is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Glory Hole Recreation Area (2.4 mi), River Ranch - Hacienda Campground (17.8 mi), and Coyote Point (18.3 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby