McConnell 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) 394-7755
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Covering about 67 acres, McConnell State Recreation Area lies in Merced County, about 2 miles north of Livingston.
Visitors come for boating, swimming, fishing, geocaching, and picnicking. Water access includes a swimming beach. Camping is available: campsites, including RV sites, tent sites, group camping, and showers.
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
- Booking system
- ReserveCalifornia
- Phone
- (800) 444-7275
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
Quiet Hours—Campground quiet hours 10 p.m.–6 a.m. No loud voices during quiet hours. Be courteous; allow everyone to enjoy their visit.
Generators—Permitted 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Check In/Check Out—2 p.m./noon
Capacity—Campsites limited to eight persons/two vehicles. One vehicle per campsite included with reservation fee. Additional vehicles will be charged an overnight vehicle fee.
Fires—Gathering wood is prohibited. Campfires are permitted in fire rings provided in the campsites only. Stoves and barbecues are permitted.
Reservations—Reserve your site by visiting ReserveCalifornia.com or calling 1-800-444-7275.
Overnight facilities: Tent Camping, Group Campsites, RV Access
Max trailer: 24 feet
Max camper/motorhome: 30 feet
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
BoatingPicnickingFishingSwimmingGeocachingHikingCamping
Boating and paddling
BOATING
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.
- Wear life jackets at all times.
- Beware of dangerous currents.
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.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Picnic areas
- Nature center or museum
- Parking
- Group facilities
Water
- Swimming beach
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.
Accessibility
Overview
McConnell SRA is located along the Merced River on Highway 99 just east of the town Delhi. Fishing for catfish, black bass and perch is popular. Phone: 209-394-7755.
Camping
Three sites, #5,6 and 21, are designated as accessible. All sites have a firm surface but wet weather may affect usability of lawn tent spaces. Unisex toilet rooms are generally accessible. Showers are usable. The campfire center has been redesigned and now includes an accessible path of travel and some spaces for wheelchair users.
Group campsite ‘B’ provides accessible tables and cooking facilities that are on a firm grass surface whose usability is best in dry weather. Electricity, lights and water are also provided at this group site.
Read more from the park
Picnic Area
An accessible picnic site, including table, post-mounted grill and trash disposal, is located on a spacious concrete pad near a spreading oak tree immediately adjacent to the shore of the Merced River. An accessible portable is available nearby and an accessible permanent restroom is planned. Parking includes two spaces designated accessible, and paths of travel to site and restroom are paved and accessible. The route to the restroom will require passing behind other vehicles in the small parking lot.
Beach/Shore Access
See picnic site along shore described above. A beach wheeelchair is available. Call the park for more information.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 8800 McConnell Road
Ballico, CA 95303 - Nearest town
- Livingston — about 2 mi north (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 37.4166, -120.7133
- Phone
- (209) 394-7755
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
The recreation area is 4 miles east of Delhi. From the South Av exit off Hwy 99, go east to Pepper St, turn right. Continue south to 2nd Avenue, turn left. Proceed to McConnell Rd and the park entrance.
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