Stanislaus district, California, United States
Places to visit near Empire
Empire is a town in Stanislaus district, California, United States, home to about 4,189 people. Within 50 km by road there are 58 places to visit — 14 hill stations & viewpoints, 8 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 12 churches and 14 parks. The must-see places are Empire Community Park (1 km), River Bluff Regional Park (5 km) and McHenry Museum (10 km).

Empire at a glance
- Location
- Stanislaus district, California, United States
- Population
- about 4,189
- Coordinates
- 37.6383° N, 120.9022° W
- Places within 50 km
- 58 (19 must-see)
- Best time to visit
- October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; year-round for churches and parks
Top places to visit near Empire
Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Empire: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.
- Empire Community ParkParks · StanislausMust-see
- River Bluff Regional ParkParks · StanislausMust-see
- McHenry MuseumMuseums · StanislausMust-see
- Graceada ParkParks · StanislausMust-see
- Oakdale Recreation AreaChurches · StanislausMust-see
- Turlock First Bpatist ChurchChurches · StanislausMust-see
- Salida ParkParks · StanislausMust-see
- Escalon United Methodist ChurchChurches · San JoaquinMust-see
- Smyrna ParkParks · StanislausNotable
- Roeding Heights ParkParks · StanislausNotable
- Downey ParkParks · StanislausNotable
- Ripon Assembly of God ChurchChurches · San JoaquinMust-see
More places near Empire
- Mancini Park · park · Stanislaus · ~9 km
- Sutter Park · park · Stanislaus · ~10 km
- Roosevelt Park · park · Stanislaus · ~12 km
- Hilmar Christian Tabernacle · church · Merced · ~33 km · Must-see
- Davis Community Park · park · Stanislaus · ~13 km
- Patterson War Memorial · church · Stanislaus · ~34 km · Must-see
- Mark Twain Park · sanctuary · Stanislaus · ~14 km
- Modesto Arch · church · Stanislaus · ~11 km · Must-see
- Knights Ferry Covered Bridge · church · Stanislaus · ~36 km · Must-see
- Lake Mcswain, Merced Falls · waterfall · Stanislaus · ~20 km
- Manteca First Church of the Nazarene · church · San Joaquin · ~42 km · Must-see
- Kern Canyon · viewpoint · Stanislaus · ~45 km · Must-see
Things to see near Empire, by type
Hill stations & viewpoints near Empire
41 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Empire. The closest is Iron Mountain (41 km); the best-known is Kern Canyon (45 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.
- Kern Canyon · viewpoint · Stanislaus · ~45 km · Must-see
- Ingram Canyon · viewpoint · Stanislaus · ~47 km · Must-see
- Del Puerto Canyon · viewpoint · Stanislaus · ~53 km · Must-see
- Mount Oso · viewpoint · Stanislaus · ~55 km · Must-see
- Arkansas Canyon · viewpoint · Stanislaus · ~59 km · Must-see
- Iron Mountain · viewpoint · Calaveras · ~41 km
Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Empire
31 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Empire. The closest is Brush Lake (27 km); the best-known is Tulloch 62-006 Dam (47 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.
- Tulloch 62-006 Dam · lake · Tuolumne · ~47 km · Must-see
- Brush Lake · lake · Stanislaus · ~27 km
- Modesto Reservoir · lake · Stanislaus · ~27 km
- Tulloch Reservoir · lake · Calaveras · ~50 km · Must-see
- Woodward Reservoir Regional Park · lake · Stanislaus · ~30 km
- Kesterson Reservoir · lake · Merced · ~53 km · Must-see
Churches near Empire
21 churches within 100 km of Empire. The closest is Modesto Arch (11 km); the best-known is Oakdale Recreation Area (19 km). Best time: year-round.
- Oakdale Recreation Area · church · Stanislaus · ~19 km · Must-see
- Turlock First Bpatist Church · church · Stanislaus · ~21 km · Must-see
- Escalon United Methodist Church · church · San Joaquin · ~24 km · Must-see
- Ripon Assembly of God Church · church · San Joaquin · ~29 km · Must-see
- Hilmar Christian Tabernacle · church · Merced · ~33 km · Must-see
- Patterson War Memorial · church · Stanislaus · ~34 km · Must-see
Parks near Empire
16 parks within 100 km of Empire. The closest is Empire Community Park (1 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.
- Empire Community Park · park · Stanislaus · ~1 km · Must-see
- River Bluff Regional Park · park · Stanislaus · ~5 km · Must-see
- Graceada Park · park · Stanislaus · ~11 km · Must-see
- Salida Park · park · Stanislaus · ~22 km · Must-see
- Smyrna Park · park · Stanislaus · ~7 km
- Roeding Heights Park · park · Stanislaus · ~8 km
Wildlife, forests & gardens near Empire
13 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Empire. The closest is Mark Twain Park (14 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.
- Mark Twain Park · sanctuary · Stanislaus · ~14 km
- San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge · sanctuary · Stanislaus · ~32 km
- Bridalveil Falls- Yosemite National Park · sanctuary · Merced · ~63 km · Must-see
- Great Valley Grasslands State Park · sanctuary · Merced · ~50 km
- Grasslands Wildlife Management Area · sanctuary · Merced · ~73 km · Must-see
- Micke Grove Zoo · sanctuary · San Joaquin · ~74 km · Must-see
Museums near Empire
4 museums within 100 km of Empire. The closest is McHenry Museum (10 km). Best time: year-round.
- McHenry Museum · museum · Stanislaus · ~10 km · Must-see
- Haggin Museum · museum · San Joaquin · ~64 km · Must-see
- Angels Camp Museum · museum · Calaveras · ~72 km · Must-see
- San Joaquin County Historical Museum · museum · San Joaquin · ~74 km · Must-see
A one-day trip from Empire
5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 58 km on the road.
- Start in Empire
- 1 km Empire Community Park · park, Stanislaus
- 19 km Oakdale Recreation Area · church, Stanislaus
- 23 km Graceada Park · park, Stanislaus
- 1 km McHenry Museum · museum, Stanislaus
- 9 km River Bluff Regional Park · park, Stanislaus
- 5 km Back to Empire
Plan a longer trip from Empire — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.
From travellers near Empire
No traveller has reported from around Empire yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.
How to reach Empire
All places near Empire by distance
15–50 km — half-day trips
- Tulloch 62-006 Dam · lake · Tuolumne · ~47 km · Must-see
- Ingram Canyon · viewpoint · Stanislaus · ~47 km · Must-see
- Brush Lake · lake · Stanislaus · ~27 km
- Modesto Reservoir · lake · Stanislaus · ~27 km
- Lathrop Lighthouse of the Cross Church · church · San Joaquin · ~49 km · Must-see
- Tulloch Reservoir · lake · Calaveras · ~50 km · Must-see
- Woodward Reservoir Regional Park · lake · Stanislaus · ~30 km
- Cocklebur Beach · beach · Stanislaus · ~32 km
- San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge · sanctuary · Stanislaus · ~32 km
- Caswell Memorial State Park · park · San Joaquin · ~33 km
- Turlock Lake 68-003 Dam · lake · Stanislaus · ~34 km
- Westley · fort · Stanislaus · ~35 km
- Finnegan Falls · waterfall · Stanislaus · ~36 km
- Turlock Lake · lake · Stanislaus · ~37 km
- Iron Mountain · viewpoint · Calaveras · ~41 km
- Goodwin Dam · lake · Tuolumne · ~43 km
- Hog Hill · viewpoint · Calaveras · ~44 km
- Stevinson Strip · fort · Merced · ~44 km
- Quail Hill · viewpoint · Calaveras · ~44 km
- Rushing Mountain · viewpoint · Tuolumne · ~45 km
- Shirley Mountain · viewpoint · Calaveras · ~46 km
- Flowers Mountain · viewpoint · Calaveras · ~46 km
- Winton Community Park · park · Merced · ~46 km
- Tuolumne Gold Dredge · fort · Stanislaus · ~47 km
- Crow Hill · viewpoint · Stanislaus · ~48 km
- Black Hill · viewpoint · Stanislaus · ~48 km
- South Shore Recreation Area · park · Tuolumne · ~48 km
- Saint Louis Catholic Church · church · Stanislaus · ~49 km
- Boucher Mountain · viewpoint · Calaveras · ~49 km
- Negro Jack Point · viewpoint · Tuolumne · ~50 km
- Great Valley Grasslands State Park · sanctuary · Merced · ~50 km
- Hammils Mountain · viewpoint · Tuolumne · ~50 km
- Tulloch Mountain · viewpoint · Tuolumne · ~50 km
- Holy Cross Lutheran Church · church · Merced · ~50 km
50–100 km — one-day trips
- Atwater Baptist Church · church · Merced · ~52 km · Must-see
- Kesterson Reservoir · lake · Merced · ~53 km · Must-see
- Del Puerto Canyon · viewpoint · Stanislaus · ~53 km · Must-see
- New Don Pedro Dam · lake · Tuolumne · ~54 km · Must-see
- Gustine Community Presbyterian Church · church · Merced · ~54 km · Must-see
- Mount Oso · viewpoint · Stanislaus · ~55 km · Must-see
- Salt Spring Valley Reservoir · lake · Calaveras · ~58 km · Must-see
- Arkansas Canyon · viewpoint · Stanislaus · ~59 km · Must-see
- New Melones Dam · lake · Calaveras · ~60 km · Must-see
- Evangelical Free Church of Tracy · church · San Joaquin · ~62 km · Must-see
- Bridalveil Falls- Yosemite National Park · sanctuary · Merced · ~63 km · Must-see
- Haggin Museum · museum · San Joaquin · ~64 km · Must-see
- Don Pedro Reservoir · lake · Tuolumne · ~64 km · Must-see
- Stockton Baptist Church · church · San Joaquin · ~65 km · Must-see
- Merced Bethel Seventh Day Adventist Church · church · Merced · ~65 km · Must-see
- Mount Boardman · viewpoint · Stanislaus · ~66 km · Must-see
- Rough and Ready Island · river spot · San Joaquin · ~67 km · Must-see
- Jamestown Methodist Church · church · Tuolumne · ~68 km · Must-see
- Red Mountain · viewpoint · Santa Clara · ~70 km · Must-see
- Mount Mocho · viewpoint · Santa Clara · ~70 km · Must-see
- Table Mountain · viewpoint · Tuolumne · ~70 km · Must-see
- Mount Stakes · viewpoint · Stanislaus · ~71 km · Must-see
- Heller Park · park · Merced · ~51 km
- La Grange Dam · lake · Stanislaus · ~51 km
- New Melones Lake · lake · Calaveras · ~72 km · Must-see
- New Hogan Dam · lake · Calaveras · ~72 km · Must-see
- Angels Camp Museum · museum · Calaveras · ~72 km · Must-see
- Grasslands Wildlife Management Area · sanctuary · Merced · ~73 km · Must-see
- Mount Wallace · viewpoint · San Joaquin · ~73 km · Must-see
- Blackbird Valley · viewpoint · Santa Clara · ~73 km · Must-see
- Micke Grove Zoo · sanctuary · San Joaquin · ~74 km · Must-see
- New Hogan Lake · lake · Calaveras · ~74 km · Must-see
- San Joaquin County Historical Museum · museum · San Joaquin · ~74 km · Must-see
- Altamont Speedway · attraction · Alameda · ~74 km · Must-see
- Central Valley · viewpoint · San Joaquin · ~74 km · Must-see
- Rooster Comb · viewpoint · Stanislaus · ~74 km · Must-see
- Sonora United Methodist Church · church · Tuolumne · ~75 km · Must-see
- Los Banos Regional Park · sanctuary · Merced · ~76 km · Must-see
- Lake McClure · lake · Mariposa · ~76 km · Must-see
- Columbia State Historic Park · park · Tuolumne · ~76 km · Must-see
Count by type (within 100 km)
| Type | Within 50 km | Within 100 km | Nearest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hill stations & viewpoints | 14 | 41 | Iron Mountain (41 km) |
| Lakes, dams & reservoirs | 8 | 31 | Brush Lake (27 km) |
| Churches | 12 | 21 | Modesto Arch (11 km) |
| Parks | 14 | 16 | Empire Community Park (1 km) |
| Wildlife, forests & gardens | 3 | 13 | Mark Twain Park (14 km) |
| Museums | 1 | 4 | McHenry Museum (10 km) |
| Forts & heritage | 3 | 4 | Westley (35 km) |
| Caves | 0 | 3 | Moaning Cave (77 km) |
| Waterfalls | 2 | 2 | Lake Mcswain, Merced Falls (20 km) |
| Rivers, islands & mangroves | 0 | 2 | Rough and Ready Island (67 km) |
| Other attractions | 0 | 2 | Altamont Speedway (74 km) |
| Beaches & coast | 1 | 1 | Cocklebur Beach (32 km) |
| Mosques & dargahs | 0 | 1 | Lodi Mosque (78 km) |
Empire: questions travellers ask
What are the best places to visit near Empire?
Empire Community Park (park, about 1 km), River Bluff Regional Park (park, about 5 km), McHenry Museum (museum, about 10 km), Graceada Park (park, about 11 km), Oakdale Recreation Area (church, about 19 km), Turlock First Bpatist Church (church, about 21 km).
How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Empire?
58 places on Spotwander: 14 hill stations & viewpoints, 8 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 12 churches, 14 parks, 3 wildlife, forests & gardens.
Which is the nearest viewpoint to Empire?
Iron Mountain, about 41 km by road; Hog Hill (44 km) is next.
Which is the nearest lake to Empire?
Brush Lake, about 27 km by road; Modesto Reservoir (27 km) is next.
Which is the nearest church to Empire?
Modesto Arch, about 11 km by road; Oakdale Recreation Area (19 km) is next.
What is a good one-day trip from Empire?
Start in Empire, visit Empire Community Park, then Oakdale Recreation Area, then Graceada Park, then McHenry Museum, then River Bluff Regional Park, and drive back — about 58 km by road in all.
What is the best time to visit places near Empire?
October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; year-round for churches and parks.
Towns near Empire
- Places near Hughson · 7 km
- Places near Ceres · 9 km
- Places near Bystrom · 10 km
- Places near Modesto · 10 km
- Places near Keyes · 11 km
- Places near Riverbank · 14 km
- Places near West Modesto · 15 km
- Places near Waterford · 16 km
- Places near Oakdale · 19 km
- Places near Del Rio · 19 km
Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Empire’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Empire on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.