Pinecrest
Stanislaus National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: PINECREST, CA, CA
Price: From $40 per night
Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (925 reviews)
Season: May through October
Pinecrest features a large campground by Pinecrest Lake, just 30 miles east of Sonora, at an elevation of 5600 feet. The area includes a day-use beach and a marina, a small shopping center and recreation cabins. The campground caters to all ages and is within walking distance of the lake, an amphitheater, visitor center, swimming beach and spectacular hiking trails.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 0%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Drinking Water, Showers, Electric Hookups, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/pinecrest to be notified when sites open up.
Pinecrest offers a large 196-site campground on Pinecrest Lake with excellent amenities including flush toilets, showers, and drinking water. The location provides easy access to swimming, hiking, boating, and fishing with a 4.6/5 rating from 416 Google reviews praising its beautiful lake views and clean facilities.
Wildlife alert: Northern Pacific Rattlesnake present in area; also Sierra Garter Snake and California Alligator Lizard. North American River Otter and various bird species (Pileated Woodpecker, Lazuli Bunting, Bewick's Wren, Dusky Flycatcher) documented nearby.
Insider tips for Pinecrest: Book early—this is a popular federal campground with high demand Avoid sites A1 and A2 based on camper feedback Note that most sites lack electrical hookups; suitable only for self-contained RVs
Skip Pinecrest if: You require RV electrical hookups—no hookups available at most sites. You need camping outside May through October—seasonal operations only. You visit during fire season in CAZ139 zone.
Best time to visit Pinecrest: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during this window only.
Nearby campgrounds: Pinecrest Day Use Area (Pinecrest, CA), Meadowview Campground (Pinecrest, CA), Cherry Valley (Groveland, CA), New Spicer Meadows (CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Pinecrest
Cell signal at Pinecrest (PINECREST, CA): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: Verizon.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Pinecrest features a large campground by Pinecrest Lake, just 30 miles east of Sonora, at an elevation of 5600 feet. The area includes a day-use beach and a marina, a small shopping center and recreation cabins. The campground caters to all ages and is within walking distance of the lake, an amphitheater, visitor center, swimming beach and spectacular hiking trails.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a popular federal campground with high demand
Avoid sites A1 and A2 based on camper feedback
Note that most sites lack electrical hookups; suitable only for self-contained RVs
Campground operates seasonally during this window only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: Verizon.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Sonora, take Highway 108 east for 30 miles, take the Pinecrest exit onto Pinecrest Lake Road and continue to the campground.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Stanislaus National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Stanislaus National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Pinecrest cost per night?+
What season is Pinecrest open?+
Does Pinecrest have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Pinecrest?+
How do I make reservations at Pinecrest?+
What is the cell service like at Pinecrest?+
What season is Pinecrest open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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