Millerton Lake State Recreation Area

The scenery and topography are good, but the campground, and the people who visit here—ESPECIALLY day users, but also many campers—are plain awful. A TON of pot smokers. I had to keep closing my windows and use the air conditioner on not-very-hot days (and no hookups, so a HUGE waste of my batteries) to avoid the reeking smell of pot. Noisy all the time. Garbage EVERYWHERE. And while some of the staff seem nice, no one seems to care about maintaining this campground, and especially not enforcing the rules. My second, and absolutely, positively, my last, stay here. Don’t make the same mistake I did.

Really great views of scenery and sunsets in February. We are part time remote working engineer and travel nurse and this is an awesome work/relax location. Plenty of grass area in Meadows camp, and trails for dog walks & sunrise and sunset views. Be aware: trailer tires must remain on pavement so make sure your dump hose can reach. Shopping is 30-40 minutes away. Can get a bit noisy and busy during the weekend. I need solid internet connection, so if my phone can get 1-2 bars, my equipment (mobile modem/router with a high gain external antenna) gets great speeds. Consistently got 10-45 mbs. Don’t forget the gate code if your returning to camp in the evening!

This is my favorite spot to camp out when I need to hop into Fresno. Full hookups right by the lake! It is usually quite busy during the warmer months on the weekends, but the weekdays are still quite peaceful. The sites are paved and mostly level. There is a gate for overnight but you get a gate code so you can come and go as you please. It is a bit of a winding road to get all the way to the Meadows area campsites where the full hookups are. There are some hiking trails and of course, the lake! The public toilets are clean but note that the showers are coin operated.

We had a wonderful experience at Millerton Lake with its beautiful vistas and very friendly camp host and would highly recommend it, except if you're looking for a peaceful place on the weekend!

Value:
Great. This is a terrific value for the area at $30/night for full hook-ups. On top of that, the stunning views from the RV sites and throughout the campground make it a great deal. The sites are in a paved lot and mostly level, the only watchout is that they are very close to each other. This became a bit of an issue on the weekend we were there (mid-Sept) when the park got packed with loud partyers. Our camp host Jimmy did a terrific job getting folks to observe quiet hours but just be aware that your weekend experience will likely not be as peaceful as the park during the week.

Dog-Friendliness:
Good. While there's no dog park, there are many places in the park and on the beach you can walk your dog.

Runner's and Biker's Rave:
Great. The 10 mile loop from the campground to the main road (and back) was a really great, challenging course for running and biking. There's no sidewalk/pedestrian path but the traffic is light enough that we did this loop several times over the course of the week we were there. There's also a couple mile hiking trail in walking distance from the campground that provides great views of the lake and surrounding communities.

WHJ Insider Tip:
Hopefully you'll have the chance to meet the camp host, Jimmy- he was a big part of what made our experience so special.

Overall, this is a peaceful beautiful park that's a great value and only about 30 minutes from the city.

We had to stop on our first leg in Fresno upon arriving locals told us of the hidden gem. We headed out and found this beautiful oasis. Getting here was a bit interesting as there really was no large signs directing us. Only the markers and the map from the Ranger office. Once there we were pleased to find this beautiful place. The camp host were wonderful. They reminded us if we were going to venture out to the casino after the gate closes be sure to get the gate code or else your out for the night. The hook ups were good in fine working order. We got a great handicap discount. Regular rate was $40. Plenty of showers and bathrooms. All in all everything was well kept and clean. We had a chance to speak with a few other there who have been going for 20 years that speaks volumes to
Us. On our trip back I’m sure we will stay longer then one night.