George J. Hatfield State Recreation Area
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 8 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $10 per dayAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below6-ft leash
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- parks.ca.gov(209) 596-9032
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Covering about 61 acres, George J. Hatfield State Recreation Area lies in Merced County, about 4 miles northeast of Newman.
Popular activities here are boating, fishing, geocaching, picnicking, and hiking. Overnight options include campsites, with RV sites, tent sites, and group camping.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 8 a.m. – sunset | — |
Official wording
8:00 am to Sunset
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Day Use (Regular) | $10 |
| Vehicle Day Use (Special Holiday/Seasonal/Weekend Rate) | $12 |
Official wording
Special rates may apply for peak season, high demand holiday periods, and during weekends. Prices are subject to change without notice. • Vehicle Day Use (Regular): $10.00 • Vehicle Day Use (Special Holiday/Seasonal/Weekend Rate): $12.00
California park passes
- California Explorer Annual Pass — $195. Vehicle day-use entry to 134 state parks incl. high-demand Southern California beaches Details
- Golden Poppy Annual Pass — $125. Vehicle day-use entry to 112 state parks Details
- Historian Passport — $50. Admission for up to four people at per-person-fee State Historic Parks Details
- Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Annual Pass — $50. Entry to State Vehicular Recreation Areas that collect day-use fees Details
- SNO-Park Pass — $40 season / $15 day. 18 SNO-PARK winter recreation areas Details
From the California state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Camping
- Not required
- Booking system
- ReserveCalifornia
- Phone
- (800) 444-7275
Capacity— First come, first served camping.
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
See the park’s wording · leash up to 6 feet
Are dogs allowed? Yes: Dogs allowed only in campground. Dogs—No dogs on trails or beaches. All dogs must be on leash 6 feet or less in length and under control of owner.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
CAMPING
Capacity— First come, first served camping. Campsites are for tents only and require a short walk from the parking area. The park is equipped with tables, drinking water and two restrooms.
Quiet Hours—Campground quiet hours 10:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. Be courteous; allow everyone to enjoy their visit.
Generators—Permitted 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Check in is at 2:00 p.m. and check out is at 12:00 p.m.
Group Site—The group campground can serve up to 25 people. It has a large barbecue pit, sinks, water, serving areas, picnic tables, and benches.
Fires—Gathering wood is prohibited. Campfires are permitted in fire rings provided in the campsites only. Stoves and barbecues are permitted.
Reservations—Reserve your group site by visiting ReserveCalifornia.com or calling 1-800-444-7275.
Overnight facilities: Tent Camping, Group Campsites, Remote Camping, RV Access
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
BoatingPicnickingFishingGeocachingHikingCamping
Swimming
BOATING AND SWIMMING
Please remember when boating or rafting on the Merced River:
- Tell family or friends where and when your river trip is to take place, including start and finish points
- Currents in low flow periods are very slow. An hour of padding may result in only 1 to 3 miles of travel, depending upon the water’s depth
- Always wear a life jacket
- Beware of dangerous current
NO LIFEGUARD SERVICE is available. Visitors may swim and fish in the river, but should be aware of deep holes beneath the surface and steep and arrow banks along river.
Boating and paddling
BOATING AND SWIMMING
- Always wear a life jacket
- Beware of dangerous current
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Drinking water
- Picnic areas
- Parking
- Group facilities
Camping
- Tent camping
- RV camping
- Group camping
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Getting there
- Address
- 4394 Kelley Road
Hilmar-Irwin, CA 95324 - Nearest town
- Newman — about 4 mi northeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 37.3522, -120.9610
- Phone
- (209) 596-9032
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
From Interstate 5, take the Newman exit into Newman and continue east on County Road J-18 for five miles; the park entrance is just past the San Joaquin River bridge. Address: 4394 Kelley Rd, Hilmar, CA 95324
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- California State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- California State Parks Listing page (one link per unit, page_id = officialId), unioned with the CSP Enterprise GIS 'ParkEntryPoints' ArcGIS layer (coords, address, county, unit number, management status) and the 'CSPParkUnit_CurrentStatus' layer (open/partial/full closure)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology