Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this...seems like the best place for it.
I have more trouble finding a good place to camp on the way to the border than once I am in Baja.
Where can we camp between Sacramento and Lodi on I5 in Californian Alta? 7 times down I have never found a good spot, campground or hotel with a
secure parking area for the rig and trailer with bikes it in.
between Manteca and Ripon along the Stanislaus River--nice place, but a little further south than you requsted.Packoderm - 12-12-2003 at 08:57 PM
This place is just a couple miles off I-5. It is an excellent place. My boat is in a slip there. You can catch fish right off the docks. It has a good
family atmosphere. http://www.walnutgrovemarina.com/
Here is another place just north of Sac. http://www.swabbies.com/index.html
This place is good if you want to hang out at the bar, play pool, and just hang out. In a way, it reminds me of some places in Baja. During the summer
nights, the place has live bands on a lawn right in front of the Sac. River. Some people come here and never seem to leave.
Maybe I shouldn't be such a David K and spill the beans to everybody about where all of the cool places in Sacramento are. Just kidding Dave! But
really, Sacramento is an extremely cool place if you know what's going on. Nearly every marina has camping; I don't know why it is such a secret.
If you want more info, U2U me. Corky1 - 12-12-2003 at 10:47 PM
This is not a smart alick answer. Try a Wal Mart parking lot. Done this for years. Well lit and patroled. corky
Thanks All
Barriles - 12-12-2003 at 11:31 PM
We leave tomorrow so we will take a look at the recommendations and depending on how far we get choose the nearest one.
And I have stayed in Walmarts before too! I generally try to stay in the
parking as you recommended tho I remember some people tried to inhabit the restrooms once. Gives a whole new meaning to the term "squatter".
Anyway...its a loooong way to Los Barriles from the Northwest. Hope to run into you there!!
Packoderm - 12-13-2003 at 11:05 AM
I would advise against staying at the Wal-Mart on Florin road due to the bad element. If it is raining, the Truxel road Wal-Mart could be a good stop.
But if it is good weather, I'd stay at either Walnut Grove Marina or Sherwood Harbor for more of a vacation experience during your trip south.
Swabbie's is a really good place to stop for a couple of hours. You won't regret it. These places are really quite a departure from the all of the
typical generic places along your route.Skeet/Loreto - 12-13-2003 at 12:30 PM
Barriles: At the intersection of Hwy 5 and Hwy 152 the Los Banos Cut Off there is a safe Camping and Trailer Pardk about 300 yds south of the
Overpass. There is a Pea soup Andersons on the other side.Skeet/LoretoPackoderm - 12-13-2003 at 12:36 PM
Originally posted by Packoderm
Maybe I shouldn't be such a David K and spill the beans to everybody about where all of the cool places in Sacramento are. Just kidding Dave!
Ha ha... I hope that I won't open a dictionary someday and see a listing for a verb to 'David K' >>>"is to give ultimate details about cool
locations, including GPS and photos, so that others may enjoy, also.":
I generally try to stay in the
parking as you recommended tho I remember some people tried to inhabit the restrooms once. Gives a whole new meaning to the term "squatter". 
: