Buena Vista Aquatic Recreational Area

We camped one night (Thursday 1/25/2024) here on our way from Anza Borrego Desert State Park to Yosemite National Park. I made a reservation one day before arrival and paid $25 camp fee + $ 8 reservation fee.

It's a nice quiet campground (off season). Not very many sites were occupied. We didn't do anything other than sleeping and eating meals, but we enjoyed the view of the lake (reservoir).

This is a great park to stay at if you want something quiet. There was no road noise and no trains! We were there off season, there were less than a dozen rigs in the entire campground and we were on a row all by ourselves, until the weekend. But those people showed up on Friday and left on Sunday and they were quiet neighbors. There are two lakes on the property, with different speed limits, but very few boats were out when we were there. They stock the small of the lakes, but I didn't catch anything and didn't see anyone else catch anything. Supposedly it is heavily fished immediately after stocking, which was two weeks before we arrived. They have a TON of squirrels who have torn up the grass and burrowed holes all over the place, making walking on the grass a difficult proposition. The bathrooms were small, but clean and there were very few trees which was great for our Starlink, but I was told it can get very hot in the summer. The site was one of those curved pull throughs but the pedestal was on the inside of the curve, so easy to get in and out of. Some sites had a sign on the outside of the curve and that would have been more difficult for a longer rig.

First night of a two month road trip from Sacramento to Kentucky. We decided to take 40 instead of 80. We'd thought about a trip into Carrizo Plain so this was the perfect place to stay. It was close to 5, with all pull through sites. The place is huge and sits on a nice lake that is very busy in the summer. It is also pretty clean. I mistakenly booked a non-hookup site. And since we got there just before the office closed, it was too late to change sites, legally. We thought about doing it anyway. If we were going to stay a second night we would've. Anyway, great place to camp this time of year. And the Verizon signal was strong enough for us to watch the Kings beat the Warriors!

I see negative reviews here, but they're from the summertime. We hit it in March, and found it to be very pleasant. The sites along the lakeside are the premium spots. Pretty laid back and not many campers. It's kinda in the middle of nowhere and really seems far away if you're coming from CA Highway 58. But, it's close to I-5 without being so close you can hear it. Bicycling is good here, with a bike path next to the access road. Lots of agriculture nearby, so I imagine it can smell pretty ripe in the summer. Well maintained when we were here.

I don’t often give negative reviews but Buena Vista Aquatic Rec stands out. 1.There are major stockyards in the vicinity and particularly when the wind blows in from the west the stench is BAD (and this was in January)! 2.The bathrooms are cramped, decrepit and poorly maintained. 3. Cancellation fee is $38 - even if canceling months in advance! (be sure to read ALL the fine print as there are other onerous stipulations)! I could go on, but other folks have already mentioned the bad roads, party scene, poor maintenance, etc.

Great for families. Boden allowed and the lake is beautiful. They have a lot of rules and restrictions which is normal for campsites. The cost including $5 add a for each of my two dogs. Daily charge was 33 + 10. It was pretty clean and I did not encounter any flies but I don't think the flies come out until later in the summer. Very cool and windy but a light sweater was about all that was required. Parking sites are gravel and include picnic table and Fire ring. I stayed in the side with water and Electric but I believe there are sites without the hookups that are cheaper. Tent camping is also allowed. I would come here again if in the area. Bathrooms and trash are included as well bathrooms or nothing fancy but we're clean. No showers. Had four stars with T-Mobile cell and had internet pretty much all of the time.

My first stop using campendium to find a place!
I paid for site 28 which was listed as shaded (its not) and not lake view but its pretty close to Lake view! Its on on non living side across the little road. I have a pretty view out my bedroom window so thats nice.
Site was listed as $24 but there was an $8 reservation fee. Says dogs are $5 per dog per day but they didn't ask us about dogs but did tell us dogs must be leashed.
They were very clear that if we unhook our toad vehicle even for a second we will get charged for it.
Flies are rough but I don't smell anything like other reviews.
Bathrooms are a WRECK tho. Idk how the showers are even supposed to work. So those really lowered my cleanliness score. And fire pit had a bunch of trash in it.

Not bad for a night just passing through and I could see how it could be nice to stay for a few nights if you have the lake view. Other spots kinda look like parking lot spots.

Yes, there are a fair amount of flies here, it was nice to be forewarned!
Mid week during this season there are plenty of open sites.
I took a walk and preferred the view of the lake along campsite numbers 20’s through 40’s. There is also someone running a generator at this end, and since those camp sites at the other end have hookups it’s likely to be quieter. I also noticed a loud buzzing that seems to be coming from either the building near the boat launch or it’s the large light over there.