About Tuttletown Recreation Area
Number of accommodations: 152
Nearby Activities & Attractions
Boating
Canoeing
Fishing
Hiking
Jet Skiing
Kayaking
Swimming
Water Skiing
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Pet friendly
RV Utilities and Hookups
- Dump station on site
Water Access
- Lake Access
Pets and Policies
- Pet friendly
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Rates, Sites & Availability
152 Sites Available
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Site Details
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152 Sites Available
No available sites
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Reviews (208)
What Guests Are Saying
Tuttletown Recreation Area offers a peaceful and well-maintained camping experience, with beautiful lake views and friendly park rangers. Many visitors appreciated the cleanliness of the facilities and the quiet surroundings, especially during off-peak times. However, some noted issues with bathroom facilities, limited access to water activities, and challenges with the reservation system. Overall, it is regarded as a lovely spot for nature lovers looking for a tranquil getaway.
What Guests Are Saying
Tuttletown Recreation Area offers a peaceful and well-maintained camping experience, with beautiful lake views and friendly park rangers. Many visitors appreciated the cleanliness of the facilities and the quiet surroundings, especially during off-peak times. However, some noted issues with bathroom facilities, limited access to water activities, and challenges with the reservation system. Overall, it is regarded as a lovely spot for nature lovers looking for a tranquil getaway.
Review Summary
Letizia N
VerifiedSeptember 14, 2020 • Stayed at: 046, Loop: Acorn Sites 36-69
The lake is surprisingly clean! There are some nature hikes around it as well. The main bathrooms were cleaned. There are showers that take quarters
Genesis Q
VerifiedSeptember 14, 2020 • Stayed at: 086, Loop: Manzanita Sites 70-93
Fantastic view
Erik M
VerifiedSeptember 13, 2020 • Stayed at: 045, Loop: Acorn Sites 36-69
If it hadn’t been for the California fires and all the smoke around, it would have been an excellent family getaway. Unfortunately due to COVID the trails that were there were closed. But they looked like they were some good hikes. I would recommend this area to anyone looking for an area to getaway. Water isn’t really something I would swim in maybe just kayak fish or boat.
Joshua T
VerifiedSeptember 12, 2020 • Stayed at: 081, Loop: Manzanita Sites 70-93
Walk in site was awesome
Kim S
VerifiedAugust 31, 2020 • Stayed at: 027, Loop: Acorn Sites 1-35
Campsites are not being cleaned as well as bathrooms. No dump station working. I know a area manager of 6 campgrounds and their campgrounds are clean an the bathrooms are cleaned a minimum of twice a day. Campgrounds need better management.
AIDA C
VerifiedAugust 31, 2020 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: Acorn Sites 1-35
showers and bathrooms not working. lake access was non at campground. both bathroom and lake access required driving.
Samantha G
VerifiedAugust 28, 2020 • Stayed at: 085, Loop: Manzanita Sites 70-93
The area we camped in was deserted. We arrived after dark, had a hard time finding our spot, ended up just choosing one of the many empty spots. The host site was empty, and the nearest bathroom was closed, with the portable toilet a complete mess.
The next morning we found another toilet farther away that was open, and used water from the closed host site, since there wasn't another spigot nearby that we could find. The temperature quickly climbed to 90 degrees and we got out of there after seeing a few Reclaimation trucks drive through, without contacting us. I wouldn't recommend it in August, very dusty, dry and hot! But it was available and we needed a place for the night, so you take what you can get.
Michelle D
VerifiedAugust 23, 2020 • Stayed at: 109, Loop: Manzanita Sites 94-125
We went during the hottest weekend of the year where it was 105 degrees outside. It would have been nice to have more shade. The restrooms only had one working shower which was sad and the dump station was out of service. There were also not a whole lot of beach areas to take the kids for the day. We made the best of it, brought a generator, and had great neighbors and surrounding campers which made the experience what it was. My husband also caught some catfish right off the shore. I would only recommend this location for fisherman or for spring or fall months. Otherwise way to hot!
Brandon H
VerifiedAugust 21, 2020 • Stayed at: 154, Loop: Chamise Sites 145-161
The lake is extremely low and could not find any accessible areas to even get in the lake by foot. Not a single tree for any shading around the entire lake. Campsites were on a hill. We left after 10 minutes of looking at the site.
Danielle C
VerifiedAugust 14, 2020 • Stayed at: 072, Loop: Manzanita Sites 70-93
While the campground itself was clean, there were a lot of issues.
1. There is no beach, it states there is beaches an swimming opportunity but this area lacks an actual beach area. Just very steep rocky hills and Cliffs.
2. The sites are not labeled appropriately on this site. We reserved a site that was supposed to be a pull through to accommodate trailers up to 30 ft. Out site was not pull through, and was not supposed to be available to trailers (it was supposed to be tent only sites, and they wanted nothing with wheels on grass). We made it work but in comes the next problem.
3. There’s nobody at the front gate to direct campers on where to go. While we were able to locate our site on our own because the web site misclassified it we had to clarify with the ranger later in the day about what happened. After we spoke with him he told us we were ok to camp there and he would make notes so we wouldn’t be harassed. However on the last day of our trip an older couple who was placing reserved stickers on sites decided to harass us about being there. They made rude insensitive comments to my family, and berated us for at least 20 minutes (until we decided to walk away) even after being told by the ranger that we could be there.
I would never recommend this campground to anyone. Extremely disappointed.
Two stars only for the campgrounds being clean.
Location Tuttletown Recreation Area
Address:
Tuttletown Recreation Area
Sonora, CA, 95370
United States
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. Turn left onto Reynolds Ferry Road and follow the road 2 miles to the recreation area.
Tuttletown Recreation Area is accessible via State Highway 49, which is approximately 20 miles from San Andreas. It can also be reached via State Highway 108 and U.S. Highway 120, connecting to major routes from Sacramento and the Bay Area.
Latitude & Longitude: 37.9839 / -120.508
Elevation: 353 feet
Policies & Rules
Arrival & departure
Check in time
3PM
Check out time
2PM
General
- PLEASE HEAD STRAIGHT TO YOUR CAMPSITE UPON ARRIVALThere will be a reservation tag and 1 or 2 vehicle tags clipped to your campsite's post. Please leave the reservation tag on the post and place the vehicle tag(s) inside your vehicle(s) with dates visible. Contact a Park Ranger if you have any questions.
- At New Melones Lake there is a 14-day camping limit within a 30-day period.
- The recreation area entrance gate closes at 9:00pm. Vehicle entry after the gate is closed is prohibited. Exit at any time.
- Camping fees include boat launch and day-use fees. Two vehicles are permitted in standard campsites. One vehicle is permitted in walk-to sites. All vehicles must display a campground vehicle tag or an overflow vehicle parking receipt.Vehicles must remain on paved roads and parking spots. Off-roading is prohibited.
- Campfires are only allowed in fire rings or grills in designated areas. Campfires must be attended at all times and extinguished completely before leaving.Campers may collect only dead and down wood for campfires. Chainsaw use is not allowed on property.During National Weather Service "Red Flag Warning" days and facility fire bans, wood and charcoal fires will not be permitted.
- All pets must be on a maximum six-foot (1.8 m) leash at all times. Leaving your pets unattended is not permitted.
- The dump station is an additional $8 for registered campers or $4 for Senior/Access pass holder campers. Please pay using the automated fee station at the park entrance.
- While recreating at New Melones Reservoir: CLEAN, DRAIN, and DRY boats and any other recreational equipment that comes in contact with water. Never dump unwanted bait, worms, fish parts or other organisms into the water. For more information visit https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/ STOP THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE SPECIES. REMOVE plants, seeds, animals and mud from boots, gear, pets, and vehicles. CLEAN your gear before entering and leaving the recreation site. STAY on designated roads and trails and use local firewood. For more information visit https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/
- If New Melones Lake elevation is below 910', boat ramps are not available. "Water front" campsites may also not be available. Park maps depict an elevation around 1050 feet. Current lake elevation: http://cdec.water.ca.gov/dynamicapp/QueryMM?Stations=NML&SensorNums=6&End=2021-07-19&span=1+month
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Last updated: June 4, 2026
