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San Luis Reservoir

Los Banos, California — Merced County.

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12,970Surface acres

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 135775069, 2 mapped parts).

Location & fast facts

Where San Luis Reservoir is in California

The red circle marks San Luis Reservoir.

Fast facts

About San Luis Reservoir

  • County: Merced
  • Nearest city: Los Banos (about 9.5 mi from the lake)
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 77 mi from Fresno and 87 mi from San Francisco, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (California: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in California

Official CDFW pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Camping. 8 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

    Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

    Lake map

    San Luis Reservoir shoreline

    Basalt Campground (campground)1 mileN

    No public access sites are listed for this water in the OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) data.

    Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 135775069, plus 1 more mapped parts), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

    Campgrounds near San Luis Reservoir

    We found 8 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of San Luis Reservoir, 3 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

    2 more within 15 miles

    All campgrounds & RV parks in California

    Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

    Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

    Nearest airports

    The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to San Luis Reservoir, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

    Compare car rentals near this lake

    Car rental links go to our partner Discover Cars; LakeRipple may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.

    Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.

    Conditions right now

    Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
    Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

    Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (37.0439, -121.1183). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for San Luis Reservoir. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

    Sun, moon & best fishing times

    Sun & moon at San Luis Reservoir

    Best fishing times

    Major periodMinor periodDaylight

      Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in PT (America/Los_Angeles), and accurate to within a few minutes.

      Contact & official info

      Questions about San Luis Reservoir

      How big is San Luis Reservoir?

      San Luis Reservoir covers about 12,970 acres in Los Banos, California (Merced County).

      Are there campgrounds near San Luis Reservoir?

      Yes. We list 8 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 3 of them within 5 miles.

      What towns are on San Luis Reservoir?

      San Luis Reservoir touches Los Banos in Merced County, California.

      Share a tip or fishing report

      Know San Luis Reservoir? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

      Lakes & ponds nearby

      Straight-line distance between lake centers. All California lakes & ponds · All waters in Los Banos