Eshom Campground — Hotel in Dinuba

I'm very new to camping and choosing this campground seemed like a risk at first due to the little information that I was able to find about it. The only problem that I had was actually contacting the facility itself. I had a friend that wanted to know if we were able to fish anywhere near the area, but was never able to find out since no one was available to receive my call. Other than that, this campground was a dream. Waking up near a flowing stream could not have been a more relaxing experience. As you drive up to the camp, you see ranch style homes filled with cattle, and everything seems a little dry, which makes you wonder, "where are all the tall trees that I've seen online?" As you keep driving, the scenery suddenly changes from dry browns to luscious greens. It was like you teleported into a different biome. The campground was very quiet and very clean. I would recommend getting one of the bigger camps because while I was walking around the grounds, I noticed the smaller camps seemed to be a little too small, but its all about preferences anyway. Water being provided was very convenient. There is plenty of wood to scavenge for fires and it would be best to stock up before night comes, as it gets pitch black during the night. There was actually a bull roaming around the grounds while we were there which was a little frightening and exciting, but it was far away from our camp so it was not a bother. I really recommend going the meadow to take in the great view of the tree covered mountain. If you go here, do not forget bug spray. Our double sized camp would easily fit the maximum amount of people they suggest and I would recommend bringing your closest friends. Have a cooler stocked with food as there are no shops nearby. I found that doing research on how to use dry ice in coolers allowed me to keep my food frozen solid for the 4 nights that i stayed. The grounds keeper was very friendly as well, and only interacted with us once to sign in. Camps are also spaced apart which gives you a more intimate experience. I would highly recommend this camp to get away from your day to day, and i will definitely be coming here for another get away in the future. Also, make sure to load up on gas and checking your tire pressure is a good idea before going up the winding road to the camp. The road itself is longer than I expected, so just a good idea to play it safe. Sorry for a long review, but damn it was a...

My friend and I spent 3 nights at Eshom Campground as a way of exploring Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and we LOVED IT! We stayed here originally because we could not make reservations in the National Park, but it ended up being one of the best parts of the trip. The sites are very large, and MUCH more private than the sites in the National Park. We felt totally alone among the beautiful trees and under the stunning view of the stars.

The sites are pretty standard- picnic table and a fire pit. There are no bear boxes but you should keep your food in the trunk of your car. There is a pit toilet which is kept VERY clean. There is potable water available, but we got water from the small creek that runs by the campground and boiled it. Steve, the host on the campground was very kind and helpful and has firewood for sale (though there was plenty to be found around the site).

As another reviewer suggested, from Badger we took Eshom Valley Rd. via Hartland rather than Whitaker Forest Rd. which GPS suggests. Eshom Valley Rd. was well maintained. From the campground, reaching the park requires driving about 20 minutes on an unpaved, winding road. This would be difficult in bad weather, but we managed to do it in a Mazda Protoge without 4 wheel drive. The drive also takes you through a Sequoia grove- leave your sunroof open if you have one for some amazing views of the trees! If you are coming from the park, the turn off to this road is labeled with a sign for Redwood Canyon. In total, the campground is about 30 minutes from the Kings Canyon Visitors Center, an hour from the Lodgepole Visitors Center, and about an hour and a half from the Giant Forest Museum.

When you look via GPS, it appears that there is no gas station anywhere near the national parks, but there is a gas station in the national forest at Stony Creek.

Eshom Creek Campground really helped make our trip so wonderful- it gave us a great jump off point to explore different areas of the National Parks, and offered solitude and privacy after our days of exploring. Highly...

Eshom's appeal is the unique experience of being in a comfortable camp yet very much in the back woods, Worlds away from your normal NP campground, Eshom is a National Forest campground, and is located at about 5200 feet where cattle graze the woods and cowboys often ride through camp. Bears are no problem here, but birdwatching, and letting the kids run off through the woods safely are definite pluses. Almost all the reservable campsites are truly awesome. Especially the group sites, one of which has a pretty huge sequoia right in the middle. Otherwise the trees are merely 300' cedars and sugar pines that put off the largest cones we've ever seen. Drive two miles to Whittaker Forest for the best Sequoia- watching experience to be had in the Park, simply because you'll likely be the only one there. The hosts have managed the camp for years, and couldn't be more friendly and helpful. Good water you carry to your campsite, and the cleanest vault toilets you'll find anywhere. The one thing is getting there. Some research of the route is well worth it. From the West, don't follow (gps and website) directions up route 180 and then down route 245 to Badger, and then up forest Whittaker road to Eshom Camp. It is a little shorter but the elevation change is approximately 10,000 feet and roads are abismal - barely passable. We pulled a small trailer, and made it but it took 2 1/2 hours. Instead, turn off 180 onto Dunlap road at the ranger station down at the bottom of the first mountain. Follow that through Dunlap to route 245, and then into Badger. Then for goodness sake don't take Whittaker Forest road. From Badger, proceed onto Eshom Valley road for a beautiful drive that gradually rises through handsome farms to the village of Hartland, and then on to eventually connect back to Whittaker Forest Road. We loved our three days at Eshom. Although getting from there into Kings Canyon National Park is a 3 mile - 30 minute drive, keeping the crowds at bay makes the Eshom experience...