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Map showing campground location near South Lake Tahoe, California
Camper submitted image from Campground by the LakeView 19 Photos
FacilitiesMap showing campground location near South Lake Tahoe, California

Campground by the Lake

18 ReviewsAdd Review

Highway 50 cuts directly through this city-operated campground, placing campers in the commercial heart of South Lake Tahoe with Lake Tahoe visible across the street. The 179 sites spread across multiple loops, with D, E, and F loops offering larger spaces away from the main entrance traffic. Kerry V. notes "sites were flat and clean" with fire pits in good condition.

Road noise from Highway 50 provides a constant backdrop, particularly for sites in the A, B, and C loops closest to the highway. The campground operates more like urban camping than a wilderness retreat, with a small store, rental cabins, and both hookup and non-hookup sites available. Restrooms and showers receive regular maintenance, though facilities show their age. Hot water runs consistently, and Kerry V. appreciated that "restrooms are clean and HEATED" during cooler months.

Lake access sits directly across Highway 50, connecting to bike trails that extend along the shoreline. The commercial district surrounds the campground, putting Safeway, restaurants, and casinos within walking distance. Some campers use the location as a base for day trips to hiking areas in the surrounding mountains, while others focus on lake activities and town attractions.

Reservations fill the campground completely during peak summer weekends and holidays like Labor Day. The campground offers both drive-in and boat-in access, with a dump station available for an additional fee. Sites accommodate large RVs, with some spots like E06 providing enough space for multiple vehicles.

For those seeking alternatives in the area, Tahoe Valley Campground and Emerald Bay Lodge offer different settings. This location works well for campers who prioritize convenience over solitude and want immediate access to South Lake Tahoe's commercial amenities.

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Location

Public Campground

Campground by the Lake is located in California

Detail location of campground

Directions

From US-50 in town: Go 400 yards S on Rufus Allen Blvd.

Address

1150 Rufus Allen Blvd
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

Coordinates

38.94039765 N
119.97409882 W

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Connectivity

  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
    Verified by 40 users
    Last on 3/28/26
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Good Coverage
    Verified by 54 users
    Last on 3/28/26
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Excellent Coverage
    Verified by 30 users
    Last on 3/28/26

Connectivity

  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
    Verified by 40 users
    Last on 3/28/26
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Good Coverage
    Verified by 54 users
    Last on 3/28/26
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Excellent Coverage
    Verified by 30 users
    Last on 3/28/26

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • ADA Access
  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Showers
  • Toilets
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Pull-Through Sites

Drive Time

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Reviews

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4.0

out of 5

18 Reviews

Numerous guests pointed out the prime lakeside location with spacious, clean sites and well-maintained facilities including hot showers. Highway noise affects sites near the road, though the convenient in-town location provides easy access to amenities.

Levi K.
Reviewed Sep. 29, 2025

Not all reservations

This is a great spot. We were out there the whole weekend and enjoyed the campground and lo9k forward to going back. There are first come first serve spaces available and that worked out great. The campground was not packed or to noisy over the weekend. We look forward to going back

Sitec13
Month of VisitSeptember
C
Reviewed Jul. 2, 2025

Great location

Can’t beat being near the lake and amenities like food, wood, and drinks.

Month of VisitMay
MThe Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Oct. 17, 2024

Great option if available for Lake Tahoe

Camped here for what we thought would be a couple of nights for an event. However, event was canceled due to massive wild fire (air quality index was horrible, so stayed 1 night and left ASAP next morning). Campground is right on the main drag through town and just across the street and a short walk to the lake, although the lake does not permit dogs in this area. Nice walking/biking paths, but heavily commercial district means lots of traffic going by. Site (#E06) is huge with enough space for several RVs, but we parked sideways adjacent to the picnic table and had spot near to bathrooms/showers which are clean but a bit ragged around the edges. 

Food aside: Dinner of Curly's pork with cheese and Hatch green chile tortillas. Good to come back here at some point when not high season and can stay more in camping zone, this is a pretty commercial district.

SiteE06
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Campground by the Lake by Mark M., October 17, 2024
Olivia V.
Reviewed Oct. 28, 2022

Weird camping in the middle of the city

I was here for one night at the end of October, and the campground was all but abandoned. I couldn’t find anywhere to pay for the night and there was no one in the little hut at the entrance, and no camp host. There were amenities but no one to talk to to get the codes for the showers/bathrooms. When I woke up in the morning there was a note outside of my rig to pay, and it was $17 more than it said online, so I ended up paying $52 for one night to park and no amenities accessible to me. Overall I’m sure in the summer this campground is poppin because it’s right by the lake, but in the off season I definitely wouldn’t stay here again.

SiteD4
Month of VisitOctober
J
Reviewed Sep. 22, 2022

General camping

Just pulled up to our camp ground it was an easy to find location we pitched the tent and added our propane heater to the mix and it was awesome

Site32
Month of VisitSeptember
D
Reviewed Aug. 31, 2022

Nice spot 👌

Well kept camp with showers, water, trash and bathrooms. Showers take quarters so make sure to bring some!

Sitee01
Month of VisitAugust
D
Reviewed Jul. 22, 2021

In town

Nice people run the place and it is in walking distance to the lake. You are close to the road and it is busy. Because of this three star rating was given.

Sitee7
Month of VisitJuly
Jonnie B.
Reviewed Aug. 16, 2019

Super awesome

Customer service was really nice about allowing me to change the day I camped. Each campsite has a lot of room and I was able to rent a paddle board right across the street.

  • Review photo of Campground by the Lake by Jonnie B., August 16, 2019
Linda M.
Reviewed Aug. 2, 2019

Perfect Location for Lake Tahoe

Gorgeous campground, owned by the city of South Lake Tahoe. Not many hookups, but perfect location for visiting SLT. Beach across the street. Only 3 stars because of hookup situation and extra charge to dump.

Erin S.
Reviewed Oct. 25, 2018

A campground centrally located in South Lake Tahoe

I was surprised when I heard of this campground. A city run campground across the street from the lake in the middle of town? Sure! We had a site in one of the two loops that had full hook-ups, and our site backed up to US 50. I was prepared for a lot of road noise and even strangers wandering through our camp but neither was a nuisance. Sites were spacious. We loved seeing the lake from our campsite and hitting the bike trail right outside the campground. There was also a nice city pool, library, and playground in walking distance.

Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Campground by the Lake by Erin S., October 25, 2018
T
Reviewed Sep. 6, 2018

Great alternative to an expensive hotel

This large campground (which is run by the city) is right in the middle of South Lake Tahoe and across the highway from The Lake. It's right in the middle of town so if you're wanting to "get away from it all" you better keep looking. We stayed here over Labor Day weekend and it was PACKED. There are 179 spaces at this campground and every one of them was occupied (we made our online reservation months in advance). That being said, we loved it here! We wanted to partake in some Labor Day activities around The Lake and staying here was ideal. For the amount of people that were there, noise was minimal. We stayed in "D-loop" which is a non hook-up spot. We choose this area because it's away from the traffic of the main entrance and somewhat away from Hwy 50. The spots close to Hwy 50 are NOISY. Also, D/E/F loop spots seem to be larger. Some of the people in the A/B/C loop sites were RIGHT ON TOP OF EACH OTHER. Our spot was quite large, clean, and flat. We easily parked our 29' RV and our SUV with lots of room to spare. We were semi-close to the restrooms/showers, water faucet, and trash receptacles ( a couple of people cut through our site to get to the facilities - NOT COOL). Unlike some other public campgrounds, we were allowed to fill our RV water tank at the campground's public water faucet which was awesome!

Camping here is like staying at a "rustic KOA". They have cabins and tents to rent, a little store (we didn't go in), sites with hook-ups, free RV sewer dump, and crappy wi-fi (lol). The showers and restrooms are far from fancy and could definitely use a remodel but whatever, it's CAMPING and they were good enough! While staying here we coined the phrase "city camping". We loved "city camping" and are looking forward to going back!

SiteD24
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Campground by the Lake by Tina B., September 6, 2018
  • Review photo of Campground by the Lake by Tina B., September 6, 2018
  • Review photo of Campground by the Lake by Tina B., September 6, 2018
  • (4) View All
M
Reviewed Aug. 1, 2018

Great location

I love camping in hope valley, and these sites right in the heart of the it provide perfect acces to everything.

K
Reviewed May. 14, 2018

Clean, nice spaces, too much traffic!

This campground is in the heart of South Lake Tahoe. It is right on Highway 50. There is loud traffic noise day and night. This campground is great for visitors to Tahoe who want to stay for cheap and avoid hotels, but it is not the wilderness getaway that some campers like. Restrooms are clean and HEATED. Hot showers are free. Fire pits were in good condition. Sites were flat and clean. We had a large group and were able to book sites close together and used one central campfire location. Campers around us were considerate and quiet. Close to Safeway, right across the street from the lake, near casinos. Short drive to beautiful hiking areas.

Month of VisitMay
R
Reviewed May. 7, 2018

Right by Lake

Easy and quick check in! Made reservation online. Camping spot close to bathrooms. People working at the office were very helpful and nice!

SiteSite 15
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Campground by the Lake by Rachel S., May 7, 2018
  • Review photo of Campground by the Lake by Rachel S., May 7, 2018
J
Reviewed Jul. 15, 2016

Campground

Great find last minute. Didn't have a problem getting a site. Easy access to the lake and main road. showers were available, hot water.

Showing results 1-18 of 18 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities are available at Campground by the Lake in South Lake Tahoe?

Campground by the Lake offers hot showers (requiring quarters), clean restrooms, water stations, and trash facilities. Some sites have full hookups, though they're limited in number. The campground provides easy access to the beach across the street where paddle boards can be rented. Additional amenities include convenient check-in services, helpful staff at the office, and sufficient space at each campsite. The location also puts campers within walking distance of town conveniences like food and supplies.

How do Campground by the Lake reviews compare to other South Lake Tahoe campgrounds?

Campground by the Lake generally receives positive feedback for its convenient location in South Lake Tahoe. Campers appreciate the easy access to the lake and town amenities, though some note the highway noise as a drawback. With ratings typically ranging from 3-5 stars, it's viewed as an excellent option for visitors wanting to experience Lake Tahoe without the isolation of wilderness camping. The campground stands out for its city management, clean facilities, and friendly staff, making it a practical choice for those prioritizing location and convenience over a secluded nature experience.

What's the location and address of Campground by the Lake in South Lake Tahoe?

Campground by the Lake is centrally located in the heart of South Lake Tahoe, right on Highway 50. It sits across the street from Lake Tahoe itself, offering easy beach access within walking distance. The campground is city-owned and positioned to provide convenient access to all South Lake Tahoe amenities and attractions. For the specific street address, contact the campground directly or check with the City of South Lake Tahoe recreation department.

Is Campground by the Lake suitable for RV camping in South Lake Tahoe?

Yes, Campground by the Lake accommodates RVs with some full hookup sites available in two specific loops. However, hookups are limited in number and there's an extra charge for dump station use. The campground's convenient location in town makes it ideal for RVers wanting to explore South Lake Tahoe. Sites are spacious enough for comfort, and the campground's layout provides easy access. For RVers seeking urban convenience over wilderness isolation, this city-run campground offers a practical solution with the lake just across the street.

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