Best Lake Tahoe Campgrounds

Renowned for its spectacular natural beauty, Lake Tahoe is considered the jewel of the High Sierra. Famous for its cobalt-blue water and surrounding snow capped peaks, Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America and draws visitors from around the world to explore and experience the region’s magnificent landscapes.

Dotted with small lakeside towns and the larger, more energetic Tahoe City, Lake Tahoe has something for everyone, from outdoor adventures such as low-key sightseeing, hiking, camping, and boating on the tranquil Californian side to bargain dining and big game entertainment on the Nevada side of the lake.

The crystal clear waters of the lake are ideal for water-based activities in the summer, such as kayaking, canoeing, swimming, or boating, and the surrounding state parks, national forests, and protected tracts of wilderness boast a plethora of hiking trails, cycling tracks and picnic areas to enjoy.  The winter months bring snow-covered slopes that cater to all levels of skiers and cozy lakeside restaurants with crackling fireplaces boast beautiful winterscape views.

For bright lights and big city action, the Nevada side of the lake offers gambling at one of the many casinos, dining in excellent restaurants, and partying the night away at an array of nightclubs and bars.

Lake Tahoe by Lara Farhadi / WikiCommons  / CC BY 2.0.

Best Lake Tahoe Campgrounds

Lake Tahoe is full of amazing places to lakeside camp from backcountry and primitive camping to deluxe glamping where you can soak up the spectacular natural scenery, swim in the crystal-clear lake, and hike in some of the most beautiful areas of the world. Here are some of the best lakeside campgrounds around Lake Tahoe to park your RV and soak up the scenery.

Campground by The Lake

Conveniently located within walking distance of the shores of Lake Tahoe, Campground by the Lake is a 178-campsite facility with access to an array of amenities and facilities ranging from a Recreation and Swim complex, baseball fields, and an ice arena to children’s playgrounds, hiking, and biking trails, a Visitor Center and the Bijou Golf Course.

Situated on the shores of the ‘Jewel of the Sierra,’ Campground by the Lake offers full-hook-up sites with picnic areas, tables, and fire rings, modern restrooms with hot showers, and RV dump stations. Recreational activities in the area include swimming, boating, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, paddle-boating, hiking, and mountain biking.

150 Rufus Allen Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, United States, Phone: +1 530-542-6096

Sand Harbor, Lake Tahoe by DimiTalen / WikiCommons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Lake Tahoe State Park

Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park is a 14,300-acre park that surrounds Lake Tahoe, the ‘jewel of Nevada.’ Renowned for its spectacular natural beauty, Lake Tahoe is considered the jewel of the High Sierra. Famous for its cobalt-blue water and surrounding snow capped peaks, Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America and draws visitors from around the world to explore and experience the region’s magnificent landscapes.

The largest alpine lake in North America, Lake Tahoe boasts gently sloping beaches, crystal-clear water, and unusual rock formations and provides a wealth of activities from swimming, kayaking, and scuba diving at Sand Harbor to boating, fishing, and water-skiing.

The crystal-clear waters of the lake are ideal for water-based activities in the summer, such as kayaking, canoeing, swimming, or boating, and the surrounding state parks, national forests, and protected tracts of wilderness boast a plethora of hiking trails, cycling tracks, and picnic areas to enjoy. The winter months bring snow-covered slopes that cater to all levels of skier and cozy lakeside restaurants with crackling fireplaces boast beautiful winterscape views.

NV-28, Incline Village, NV 89451, United States, Phone: +1 775-831-0494, https://www.stateparks.com/lake_tahoe_state_park_in_nevada.html

The beauty of Lake Tahoe is world-renowned by Ken Lund / WikiCommons / CC BY-SA 2.0.

D.L Bliss State Park Campground

One of the most scenic locations on Lake Tahoe, D.L. Bliss State Park boasts a beautiful stretch of golden sand, gin-clear water, and impressive rock outcroppings with a breathtaking vista of mountains in the background.

Set high above the lake, the park’s campground has comfortable, spacious sites set in a heavily wooded area with ample space to park large RVs and views of the lake through the trees. Each site has easy access to the lake where campers can launch canoes, kayaks, and other water vessels, and children can play in the shallow waters. Hikers can access the popular Rubicon hiking trail directly from the park.

9881 CA-89, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, United States, Phone: +1 530-525-7277, https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=505

Emerald Bay from Rubicon Trail in the D. L Bliss State Park by ray_explores / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Meeks Bay Resort and Marina

Meeks Bay Resort and Marina is ideally located for enjoying all that Lake Tahoe has to offer and boasts an array of amenities and facilities. Meeks Bay has a large, crescent-shaped beach with shallow water, which is perfect for young children to enjoy as well as for launching leisure crafts such as canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards.

The resort has cabins overlooking the lake, a beachside restaurant, and a large campground with spacious tent and RV sites, plenty of shade provided by towering pine trees, and easy access to the beach. Each site has full hook-ups, some pull-through sites, and clean restrooms and showers.

Campers can enjoy a wide range of activities from hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing to canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding.

7941 Emerald Bay Rd, Tahoma, CA 96142, United States, Phone: +1 530-525-6946

Meeks Bay Resort by Ian Gratton / Flickr / CC BY 2.0.

Meeks Bay Campground

Meeks Bay Campground is a small, federally operated campground located just down the beach from Meeks Bay Beach Resort and Marina and offers a quiet and slightly more primitive camping experience than the resort.

Set along the same fabulous stretch of beach, the campground offers spacious shady sites surrounded by pine trees with lovely views of the lake. All sites are back-in and can accommodate RVs of 18 to 25 feet in length, with a few exceptions for longer units. They do not have hook-ups and facilities include flush toilets but no showers.

7941 Emerald Bay Rd, Tahoma, CA 96142, United States, Phone: +1 530-525-6946

Meeks Bay Campground by Andy Nystrom / Flickr / CC BY 2.0.

Fallen Leaf Campground

Set amid towering pines and surrounded by forest, Fallen Leaf Campground offers a more wilderness-style experience and a peaceful escape from the crowds around the shores of the lake. This campground is a hiker’s paradise with several trails to explore, such as the Moraine Trail, Glen Alpine, and Mt. Tallac.

Fallen Leaf Campground offers 200 spacious tent and RV sites, as well as six yurts. The RV sites have paved parking pads, and some sites are pull-through sites, with some that can accommodate very large vehicles. Facilities include restrooms with flush toilets and showers.

2165 Fallen Leaf Rd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, United States, Phone: +1 530-544-0426, https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232769?gclid=CjwKCAjww8mWBhABEiwAl6-2RY_RDjD5RbBDNMP0MClM3nfbZiQTlyY6Yf_tbdgKXKiNCBV4XvpmphoC0f8QAvD_BwE

Fallen Leaf Lake Hike in South Lake Tahoe by caruba / Flickr / CC BY 2.0.

Eagle Point Campground

Located at the entrance to Emerald Bay in Emerald Bay State Park, Eagle Point Campground is ideally located for exploring the scenic area. Based on a point of land jutting out into the bay, the campground has a variety of campsites for both tents, trailers up to 18 feet, and motorhomes up to 21 feet.

Run by California State Parks, Eagle Point Campground has 100 sites with faucets in the campground, however, does not have hook-ups. Facilities include paid showers and flush toilets, and dogs are allowed with restrictions.

Eagle Point Campground is another great campground for hikers and is home to the Rubicon hiking trail, one of the most popular hikes near South Lake Tahoe. Eagle Falls trail is located further up the highway, as well as several other popular trails for all levels of hiker.

South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, United States, Phone: +1 530-541-3030, https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=506

Emerald Bay State Park by Michael / WikiCommons / CC BY 2.0.

Campground by the Lake

Conveniently located in the heart of South Lake Tahoe town, Campground by the Lake is a pet-friendly, comfortable campground with plenty of shade provided by large pine trees and easy access to the lake. Boasting lovely views of the lake, the campground has 178 sites that can accommodate tents and RVs of all sizes with full hook-ups, fire rings, BBQs, and picnic tables.

Campground by the Lake also has a new aquatics and recreation center, good mobile phone reception and Wi-Fi, and there are basketball courts and a public playground nearby. Nearby is a small convenience store, cafes, and sandwich shops, and El Dorado Beach offers a food concession and non-motorized watercraft rentals such as paddle boats, stand-up paddleboards, and kayaks. You can also rent bikes and explore the extensive network of bike trails in the area.

1150 Rufus Allen Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, Phone: (530) 542-6096

Bayview Campground

Bayview Campground is a small, well-located campground based on Inspiration Point Lookout on Emerald Bay that is heaven for avid hikers and sightseers due to its location. The campground is ideally located for easy access to many popular hiking trails in the area, including Cascade Falls/Cascade Lake, Granite Lake, and other connecting trails that wind their way through Desolation Wilderness.

Located off Highway 89, the campground isn’t as quiet as other campgrounds in the area, however, its accessibility to the lake is unrivaled. The small campground has 12 first-come, first-served campsites, which can accommodate tents and small RVs and facilities include pit toilets, picnic tables, fire pits, barbecues, and food storage lockers.

South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, United States, Phone: +1 530-543-2600, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/ltbmu/recarea/?recid=11779

View of Lake Tahoe by Dicklyon / WikiCommons / CC BY-SA 4.0.

Campgrounds at Camp Richardson Historic Resort and Marina

Camp Richardson Historic Resort and Marina is located just west of South Lake Tahoe with a beautiful waterfront setting and offers various accommodation options, including three campgrounds. Two of the campgrounds, Eagle’s Nest and Badger’s Den, have over 100 tent sites and there is a separate RV Village with full hook-ups and an on-site dump station that can accommodate about 100 RVs.

The campground has a wealth of amenities, ranging from a general store and deli to a full-service restaurant, an ice-cream parlor, and a coffee shop. Sports equipment rentals are offered for fun on the lake such as canoes, kayaks, paddle boats, and more.

1900 Jameson Beach Rd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, United States, Phone: +1 530-541-1801

Camp Richardson, Lake Tahoe by Ken Lund / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0.

Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park Campground

Set on a beautiful point of land on the edge of Lake Tahoe just north of Meeks Bay, Ed Z’Berg Sugar Pine Point State Park is home to over a thousand acres of forested mountains with the tallest pine trees in the world and is a stunning setting for camping.

The campground is based a little less than a mile from the main area of the park and is heavily forested with large pines, offering a cool, shady spot for camping. Sites are large and well-spaced and facilities include flush toilets, showers, and an RV dump station. The campground is not near the lake, however, there are several excellent hiking trails in the area and a path that connects the campground with the waterfront area.

Sugar Pine Point State Park operates programs for visitors in the winter and has over 20 kilometers of marked cross-country trails for skiing and snow-shoeing. The park is also home to the historic Hellman-Ehrman Mansion, also known as Pine Lodge, which dates back to 1903 and provides an interesting view into the lifestyles of the wealthy on Lake Tahoe. 

7360 W Lake Blvd, Tahoma, CA 96142, United States, Phone: +1 530-525-7982

Sugar Pine Point State Park, California by DimiTalen (talk · contribs) / WikiCommons / CC BY-SA 3.0.

Camp Shelley

Nestled in a pine forest 1.5 miles from the lake in South Lake Tahoe, Camp Shelley is a small and intimate campground with just 25 basic individual campsites. Several of the sites can accommodate RVs, tent trailers, motor homes, and boats, while a few of the sites can hold large vehicles or trailers up to 24 feet in length and 10 feet in height.

They are well-equipped with plenty of parking, fire pits, picnic tables, grills, and clean facilities with flush toilets and hot showers. The campground offers plenty of things to do from horseshoes, ping pong, and volleyball to hiking and mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, and swimming in the nearby lake.

Mt Tallac Rd A, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, United States, Phone: +1 925-373-5700

Camp Shelley offers true forest camping.

Tahoe Valley Campground 

Located in the heart of South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe Valley Campground is a year-round campground that offers full hook-ups, and clean facilities including flush toilets and hot showers. Sites have barbecue grills, picnic tables, and fire pits, and there is a playground for children and a park for dogs.

This campground has plenty of activities to enjoy ranging from horseshoes, volleyball, and basketball and the site is a short drive away from the Pope Baldwin Bike Path, Fallen Leaf Lake, and several scenic beaches.

1175 Melba Dr, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, United States, Phone: +1 530-541-2222

Happy Camping!