Dispersed Camping in Merced County, California
Showing 27 locations in Merced County.
Atwater Urban Stealth Parking
This urban area covers commercial and medical parking lots in Atwater. Local regulations and private security active overnight enforcement make this area unsuitable for overnight stays.
Castle Air Museum RV Park
A basic grassy parking area with hook-up spaces adjacent to the Castle Air Museum, accommodating both overnight and long-term guests.
Costco Merced
A large commercial parking lot offering a convenient paved option for self-contained rigs. Stays are subject to manager permission, with parking typically designated in the perimeter area past the fuel station. Note that an active railway runs immediately adjacent to this section of the lot, bringing frequent and loud overnight train horns.
Dos Amigos Vista Point
A scenic vista point parking area located along Pole Line Road near the California Aqueduct.
Highway 152 Scenic Reservoir Overlook
This spacious paved and gravel turnout offers expansive views of the San Luis Reservoir directly off Highway 152. While the scenery is beautiful, expect constant highway noise and minimal privacy as it functions primarily as a roadside rest spot. The dirt road spur previously accessible from this location is now gated off, restricting stays to the main roadside pullout area.
La Grange OHV Campground
A developed off-highway vehicle park offering both hookup sites and basic dispersed camping fields. The basic camping area is flat, ample, and operates on a first-come, first-served basis with standard amenities like fire rings and tables.
Lake McClure Recreation Area
A large and popular developed recreation area situated along the shores of Lake McClure, offering designated loops with both dry camping and hookup options.
Los Banos Creek Campground
Located inside Los Banos Creek State Recreation Area, this campground is situated along the banks of a small reservoir. The campground features sites with fire pits, picnic tables, and shade ramadas, though there is no potable water on-site. Access is via Canyon Road, which features a shallow stream crossing that is generally passable for most standard vehicles under normal conditions.
Los Banos Walmart
A spacious and well-lit commercial parking lot offering a reliable one-night stopover along Highway 152. Large rigs and trailers can easily navigate the paved lot, with the quietest spaces located on the outer perimeter near the neighboring restaurant. While signs at the entrance indicate overnight parking restrictions, store management has historically permitted overnight stays for self-contained vehicles parked away from the main entrance.
Love's Travel Stop - Santa Nella
A high-volume interstate travel plaza offering designated truck and vehicle parking. Ideal for a quick, illuminated rest stop with 24-hour food, fuel, and facilities.
McConnell State Recreation Area Group Camps
Developed group camping sites situated along the Merced River within McConnell State Recreation Area. Perfect for organized groups or large families looking for a structured, paved camping setup with mature shade trees.
Medeiros Campground - San Luis Reservoir SRA
Medeiros Campground offers spacious primitive camping along the shores of San Luis Reservoir. This first-come, first-served State Recreation Area site is an easy stop near Highway 152 and Interstate 5, providing basic vault toilets and trash cans, though it lacks individual hookups. Visitors should be prepared for potential high winds, seasonal swarms of insects, and muddy conditions after heavy rains. The campground provides direct reservoir access, making it a convenient overnight option for travelers crossing the valley.
Merced Elks Lodge RV Park
A clean and well-maintained private RV park located on the Merced Elks Lodge property. It features grassy areas, clean restrooms, laundry, and hot showers, with dry camping options available for smaller rigs. Calling ahead is highly recommended to secure a spot.
Mercey Hot Springs
A historic and well-maintained hot springs resort offering private soaking tubs, a mineral pool, and developed RV sites with hookups. The property is exceptionally clean, offering a quiet and relaxing atmosphere with amenities including hot showers, restrooms, and Wi-Fi. Guests must bring their own food as dining options are not available on-site. No pets allowed.
Planet Fitness Los Banos
This commercial parking lot in Los Banos offers a convenient overnight stop for self-contained campervans. It is situated within walking distance of multiple dining options, a grocery store, and a laundromat.
Planet Fitness Merced
Paved commercial lot at Planet Fitness in Merced. Suitable for low-profile overnight stays for active gym members, though checking in with management is highly recommended.
Rotten Robbie Truck Stop
A 24-hour truck stop with a convenience store and B2 diesel. Staff are generally accommodating to overnight travelers in cars, vans, and RVs, making it a reliable quick-stop option.
San Luis Creek Campground
A developed state park campground situated along the reservoir in the rolling green hills. It features paved sites with electric and water hookups, picnic tables, fire rings, and a free dump station for overnight guests. Amenities are basic, featuring pit toilets but no showers or flush toilets. A paved bike trail runs nearby, making it popular with cyclists and fishermen.
San Luis Creek Group Camp
A developed group campground situated near the San Luis Reservoir, offering paved access and convenient proximity to water recreation at the nearby beaches.
San Luis Creek Group Camp
San Luis Creek Group Camp offers paved, spacious developed camping suitable for large groups near the shores of the O'Neill Forebay within the San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area.
San Luis Reservoir State Campground
This developed state recreation area campground offers paved sites with full hookups near the reservoir. It provides extremely easy paved access right off the highway, making it convenient for large rigs, though users should expect some highway noise.
San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area - Basalt Campground
Situated near the shores of the San Luis Reservoir, this developed state park campground offers paved, level sites with standard amenities. It serves as an excellent base for boating and water recreation, though the area is known for high winds and open, exposed terrain.
Santa Nella Commercial Side Streets & Turnouts
A network of industrial side streets and informal turnouts located directly behind the major truck stops in Santa Nella. These areas are commonly used by long-haul truckers and overnight rigs seeking a darker, slightly quieter alternative to the bright, loud main travel plazas. While convenient for a quick night of rest, the surrounding fields contain significant litter and trash, and long-term parked vehicles are common in the area.
Santa Nella RV Park
A developed RV park located right off Highway 5, offering pull-through sites, full hookups, and basic amenities. Ideal for a convenient, secure single-night stopover during long transits, though highway noise is highly audible throughout the park.
Shell Gas Station Lot
This commercial lot adjacent to the gas station has been used for overnight parking, though recent observations indicate the presence of private property signs. While some have reported permission from staff in the past, others noted a lack of facilities and truck traffic. It is highly recommended to ask permission before attempting to stay overnight.
TA Travel Center - Gustine
A standard commercial truck stop with a large paved parking area, 24-hour convenience store, and amenities like restrooms and showers. Safe and functional for an overnight sleep, though active trucks run engines throughout the night.
Urban Stealth Parking (Merced)
Street parking options along wide roads in Merced with moderate noise from nearby train tracks. While some sections are residential with fewer houses, city-wide street regulations apply, demanding discretion.