Caswell Memorial State Park Campground
28000 S Austin Rd, Ripon, CA 95366, United States
Overview
Caswell Memorial State Park Campground is located 5 miles southwest of Ripon, among the forests along the Stanislaus River. Take Highway 99 and turn off the Austin Road exit, heading south until you reach the park.
Back in 1950, Thomas Caswell and his family donated 134 acres to the people of California, and subsequent donations brought the park to its current size of 258 acres of oak-riparian forests.
The park is a popular one during summer when the water levels are safe for swimming, and the river bank is awesome for keen anglers to try for bass, catfish, bullhead, and crappie.
Caswell Memorial State Park Campground includes 64 campsites that are suitable for tents as well as small RVs or trailers up to 24 and 21 feet respectively, but there are no hookups or a dump station.
A number of campsites are close to the river, and most are well-shaded by trees. There is also a group site that can accommodate up to 50 people in the campsite.
Each site features a paved parking area, a table, a fire ring, and a grill. There is also drinking water, flush toilets, and coin-operated hot showers at the campground.
Pets are allowed on a leash and must be attended to at all times, but they aren’t allowed on trails, the beaches, or in the river.
The park is open year round. Days with temperatures over 100F are common from June to September, and mosquitoes are extremely prevalent so remember the bug spray!
Best Campsites at Caswell Memorial State Park Campground
Below are Power Camper’s recommended sites if you want to have the best experience at Caswell Memorial State Park Campground.
Sites 22, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 44, 50, 53, 58
- Some are tent-only sites
- Closest to water
- #22 is closest to river access
Unique Experiences
Go fishing, swimming or boating and explore the waters at this park which is located along the Stanislaus River.
Go wildlife watching and try to spot deer, wild turkeys, and coyotes. The park is also a birdwatchers paradise with numerous species of birds such as ospreys, bald eagles, and red-tailed hawks.
Hike through one of the several trails that wind through oak woodlands and along the river.
Visit the historical landmarks and museums nearby that showcase the history of the area, including exhibits on the Native American tribes and early pioneers who settled in the valley.
Caswell Memorial State Park Campground Campground Rules
Pet Friendly
YesMax Trailer/RV Length
Trailers 21 feet. RVs 24 feetMax Length of Stay
14 daysMax People per Site
8Max Vehicles per Site
1 free, additional vehicles at a feeFires Allowed
YesCaswell Memorial State Park Campground Reservation Information
Reservations Allowed?
Reservations Required?
NoCaswell Memorial State Park Campground can be reserved online or in person. The camping fee is $30 per night. You can check availability at the reservation website www.reservecalifornia.com or by calling 1-800-444-7275. Check-in time is 2 pm, and check-out time is 12 pm.
Plan ahead of time to be at the campground before it gets dark. There is no vehicle access to the campsite after designated hours. Further information can be obtained by contacting (209) 599-3810.
Ensure you have the following information to make a reservation:
- Park selections
- Date you wish to start camping
- Type and size of camping equipment
- Number of people that will occupy the campsite
- Number of nights you wish to camp
- Alternative park and camping date choices
- Your phone number and area code
- Method of payment/Credit card number and expiration date
- Mailing address
Group Camping Reservations
The group site costs $175 a night and can accommodate up to 50 people. It is a tent-only site where you park your vehicles nearby and walk a short distance to the group site.
You can check availability at the reservation website www.reservecalifornia.com or by calling 1-800-444-7275.
Campsite Reservation Cancellations
If you cancel a reservation, you will be charged a cancellation fee of $7.99 per reservation. Cancellations can be made online or by contacting the Customer Service Department at (800) 444-PARK (7275).
This service is accessible from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST seven days a week (excluding New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day). Customers who cancel after 6:00 p.m. the day before arrival will be charged a $7.99 cancellation fee and will forfeit the unit cost for one night and the $7.99 reservation fee. Customers who cancel before 6:00 p.m. the day before arrival will be charged a $7.99 cancellation fee and will forfeit the $7.99 reservation fee.
Caswell Memorial State Park Campground Campground Cost
Single Sites
$30Activities
Historic Sites
Fishing
Swimming
Hiking
Bike Trails
Canoeing / Kayaking
Wildlife Viewing
Picnicking
Nature Trails
Stargazing
Geocaching
Amenities
RV/Trailers
Hookups
Pull Through Spots
Pet Friendly
ADA Sites
Showers
Grills
Restrooms
Showers
Picnic Tables
Ranger Station
Wood for Sale
Campground Host
Potable Water
Campfire Rings
Directions
FAQs
Nearby Campgrounds to Caswell Memorial State Park Campground
Mchenry Avenue Recreation Area Campground
McHenry Avenue Recreation Area Campground is part of the park system that runs along the lower Stanislaus River in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
This is a very small campground with only 7 campsites compared to the Caswell Memorial’s 64 campsites. 6 of these sites are boat-in only, and they have a site for group walk-ins.
A boat-in site costs $20 a night while the group walk-in costs $60 a night. Like all boat-in sites, you cannot drive to McHenry Avenue campground, while at Caswell Memorial, you can.
Valley Oak Recreation Area Campground
Valley Oak Recreation Area Campground is one of Stanislaus River Parks' three designated campgrounds. It is a primitive campground with no potable water and only vault toilets while Caswell has flush toilets and plenty of water spigots.
In Valley Oak, campers park their vehicles in the front lot and walk roughly, a quarter mile to their campsites. There are only 10 campsites available at Valley Oak whereas Caswell offers 64 campsites to visitors.
Valley Oak allows a maximum number of 6 people at each campsite which is less than the maximum occupancy of 8 people at Caswell.
It costs $20 per night at Valley Oak which is cheaper than the $30 per night cost to stay at Caswell. There are no hookups available at either of these campgrounds.
Horseshoe Road Recreation Area Campground
Horseshoe Road is another one of the three campgrounds in the Stanislaus River Parks system.
In contrast to Caswell, which has 64 campsites available to guests, Horseshoe Recreation only has 10 primitive campsites with no drinking water and only vault toilets.
Compared to the $30 per night pricing at Caswell, Horseshoe Recreation is less expensive at $20 per night.
Mcconnell State Recreational Area Campground
McConnell State Recreation Area Campground is on the banks of the Merced River. It has only 20 campsites which is way smaller than the 64 campsites available in Caswell. Both campgrounds cost the same - $30 a night.
The maximum trailer length allowed at McConnell is 24 feet and that of RVs is 30 feet which is more than the 21 and 24 feet maximum length of trailers and RVs at Caswell respectively.
