Best RV Parks & Resorts near Alta, CA

RV campgrounds in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Alta provide options ranging from year-round facilities to seasonal mountain retreats. Dutch Flat RV Resort offers full hookup sites with 30-amp service and accommodates big rigs on its paved pull-through sites. Thousand Trails Snowflower in Emigrant Gap features partial hookups (water and electric) with both tent and RV camping areas on uneven terrain. Tahoe Valley Campground remains open year-round with full hookup capabilities including sewer, water, and electric connections. "Sites are neither flat nor level, but close enough to get level. The setting is magnificent," noted one camper about Dutch Flat RV Resort.

Steep mountain roads accessing some parks require careful navigation, especially for larger rigs approaching Snowflower and other foothill destinations. Most facilities provide sanitary dump stations, though wait times can exceed 30 minutes during peak periods. Between May and October, reservations become essential as Sierra campgrounds fill quickly with summer travelers. Facilities vary significantly across the region - some parks like Dutch Flat maintain shower facilities and restrooms while others offer more basic amenities. At Thousand Trails properties, members receive priority access but cannot reserve specific sites, creating competition for level spots during busy weekends. Many locations welcome pets but enforce strict quiet hours beginning at 11 PM.

Best RV Sites Near Alta, California (247)

    1. South Yuba Campground

    4 Reviews
    Nevada City, CA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (916) 941-3101

    $15 / night

    "No cell signal here - speed test is from starlink. Note google & garmin routing from Nevada City takes a bridge with a 4 Ton weight restriction."

    "There's hiking access to the river, and almost never anybody at this campground. It's scenic privacy at it's best. Hike up or downstream for some really great swimming holes."

    2. Tahoe Valley Campground

    28 Reviews
    South Lake Tahoe, CA
    48 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "We had a great time at this winter paradise!! South Lake Tahoe had gotten 20 inches of snow in the 14 days prior to our arrival, then got four more inches while we were there."

    "he showed us where to drop our tow and even helped us…..He helped my husband back into our site and made sure our slide outs were out and everything before heading off."

    3. Dutch Flat RV Resort

    3 Reviews
    Gold Run, CA
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 389-8924

    "Our site had several old rugs and leveling Timbers left behind, for example. Most sites are neither flat nor level, but close enough to get level. The setting is magnificent."

    4. Loganville

    2 Reviews
    Sierra City, CA
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 478-6253

    $24 / night

    "It was not busy, there was on other occupied campsite not to close to where we were. It has water, bathrooms and a bear box. Beautiful trees and clean sites."

    "The campground itself is pretty standard, sites are decent size, and lots of shade.  There is a path down to the Yuba River, where you can get in the water or float on a tube. "

    5. Thousand Trails Snowflower

    6 Reviews
    Emigrant Gap, CA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "I am a member of Thousand Trails and that being said this is one of my favorite TT spots in California. Family friendly, great little Lake for swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding."

    "Great lake for swimming and water play. Too warm for trout and too small for kayaks/SUPs. But it does make a beautiful backdrop. 
    The park is rather spread out, so a bicycle/ebike is a plus."

    6. French Meadows

    9 Reviews
    Alpine Meadows, CA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 367-2224

    $24 / night

    "Great amenities(fire ring, table, bear box)."

    "We rolled in around midnight on a Thursday in September and there were still plenty of walk-in sites available. The camp sites were a little close together, but it wasn't too bad."

    7. Coyote Group Campground

    1 Review
    Alpine Meadows, CA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 367-2224

    $82 - $143 / night

    "water spigots 4 big picnic tables • Some shade • Uneven terrain around sites and lots of fallen trees • Lots of parking, including triller/RV parking. Parking is paved and flat."

    8. Thousand Trails Lake of the Springs

    7 Reviews
    Oregon House, CA
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "It’s definitely a place I’ll put on my list to camp at again, especially when they figure out their electrical issues."

    "Clean and Rustic. WiFi is very very limited- drive to top of hill or lodge( very sporadic) Great Lake for swimming, fishing and small boats. Store on site. Clean swimming pool. Ideal for Tent or RV."

    9. Lake Francis Resort

    3 Reviews
    Oregon House, CA
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 692-1700

    $40 - $100 / night

    "We decided this time around to reserve one of their cabins. We stayed at the Diamond P cabin which has the best view of the lake within this group of cabins."

    "Nice quiet lake. Good campsites. Good general store and even a little restaurant and ice cream shack."

    10. Thousand Trails Ponderosa

    9 Reviews
    Coloma, CA
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "It’s great for kids that want to ride bikes around the sites- but be careful of the river, it’s swift."

    "Once I figured out the sites I had people move their cars so we could back in…. Lucky us we get next to a resident that lives there and is so rude!"

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RV Park Reviews near Alta, CA

993 Reviews of 247 Alta Campgrounds


  • A
    Aug. 30, 2019

    Clio's Rivers Edge RV Park

    Great RV Park

    Impressed with clean sites and tall pine trees. A very clean RV park and friendly staff. Call for reservations as its popular. Some lower sites had concrete pads for the provided table. Several seasonal private modular homes among the RVer. Secured large dog area with running creek within walking distance. A number of lower RV spaces within walking pathways to creek. Most were 30 amps and upper level had some 50 amps. Lots of back ends and pull throughs. Visitors must walk to the trash designated area fenced in with recycling bins. Only one bathroom building that housed laundry room. Shower stall in women’s area .50cent for 20 minutes and 2 toilet stalls that the door hits your knees a very weird old bathroom. We enjoyed the park and plan to return again.

  • Christina L.
    Aug. 13, 2020

    River Rest Resort

    Supe Nice and Easy

    This is a great campsite, with lots of amenities. Super family friendly. Lots of kids at this site.

    I came here in early August, 2020! It gets warm during the day and many spots have trees, which provide partial shade at some point in the day. I do recommend bringing a pop up structure for the moments when shade is not available.

    We stayed at campsite 24, which is right on the river and next to the main river pool access. Lots of people coming by but everyone is respectful and there is some privacy from small trees planted along the path.

    At the other end of the site is a river access that’s smaller and allows dogs (the main one does not). Since I do not have kids but do have a dog, I will probably try for the sites closer to the dog access next time.

    The main river pool gets busy, lots of kids, families etc. but in the early evening and morning it is pretty empty and was a great time to relax. The dog access river pool was a lot less crowded. You can also float from the dog access pool down river to the main pool site which was a lot of fun.

    The property has great bathrooms with showers. They take quarters for the showers, $.25 for 2 minutes. They have a small store onsite for the last minute essentials. They have a air pump to fill up rafts to float in the river. They also have wood delivery to your site if you order by 7pm. Each site has a picnic table and small fire pit with a grate if you want to cook on that! They also have a larger communal areas with BBQ and sink for those wanted to have a group meal. Each campsite has water, electricity and full RV hookups. So lots of RV’s at this location.

    Very dog friendly and kid friendly.

    Staff was super helpful and always present. They made rounds emptying trash cans, cleaning the bathrooms and just monitoring the area so that’s is super well maintained. You can tell they really love the place and want to keep it clean. They also were super nice when enforcing the rules, not mean but were not afraid to remind people to follow the camp rules (which were super reasonable).

    No cell service, which was great. But you can drive up the hill 10 minutes to park at the vista and get a signal.

    All in all we had a great time and will be back!

  • Mike C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 17, 2020

    Zephyr Cove Resort

    Family fun for all ages

    Excellent spot for the whole family. Beware, if you are pulling a trailer brush up on your backing up skills. Very tight and narrow. Best time to get in the park is during the day. Not much difference between back in sites versus pull through sites. Very clean facilities. Close to everything. Everyone is nice and friendly. #162 is a good level site for RV.

  • Bill
    Nov. 28, 2024

    Thousand Trails Lake Minden

    If I could give zero stars, I would.

    If I could give zero stars, I would. Thousand Trails Lake Minden is very rundown. Immediately upon arrival at this so-called "resort," you can see the neglect from the outset. Their main sign is faded and sunburned, looking like it’s from 1970. The roads are riddled with potholes, none of which are paved. It’s clear the maintenance of this property has been ignored for years.

    The "resort" advertises full hookups, but the reality is they have about 20 full hookup sites that can’t accommodate RVs over 35 feet. My 40-foot RV doesn’t fit, so I’m forced to drive around the lake to the non-hookup section, which only has water and power. To dump your tanks, you have to make trips to the dump station—hardly convenient for a place claiming to be a resort.

    I paid $10,000 for a lifetime membership that allows me to stay at Thousand Trails properties for 21 days at a time. My mistake was not visiting any of their locations before making this purchase. I strongly urge anyone considering a Thousand Trails membership to visit several of their properties first—it will likely change your mind. Lake Minden is no better than other Thousand Trails locations, and in fact, I’d rank it among the worst.

    As a full-time RVer, I’m stuck here for the 21-day maximum, and once that’s up, I’m forced to relocate two hours away to their next nearest property, Ponderosa. I’ll review that location when I arrive, but I don’t have high expectations.

    What’s most frustrating is the blatant contradiction between their claims and reality. They require age-appropriate RVs for members, yet I’m parked next to a 20-year-old RV with a blue tarp on the roof. The facility is so poorly maintained it’s a stretch to even call it a campground, let alone a resort.

    My regret for buying a Thousand Trails lifetime membership is astronomical. If I knew then what I know now, I would never have spent a dime. Thousand Trails should be ashamed to call themselves a resort. Lake Minden, like many of their properties, is nothing more than a run-down trailer park.

  • S
    Jul. 13, 2021

    Cottonwood Campground

    Very friendly, convenient campground

    Located with convenient access from Highway 89, the campgrounds and all sites can be easily accessed by any road vehicle. Several motorcycle campers were here during my visit. The sites I saw were all pull in/back in… no pull through. Highway 89 is a two-lane highway, well paved, and plowed in the winter.

    A friendly camp host can set you up with a site recommendation and as much firewood as you'd like to buy (current price was $5 for about 10 pieces).

    Each campsite has a picnic table, fire ring, and cooking fire enclosure (bricks covered by grate). They do not have bear lockers and the site suggests you store your food in your locked vehicle.

    Sites varied in size and proximity to other campers. In mid-summer mid-week, there were less than 10 campers in the whole campground. Every week is different, but most people appeared to have reservations starting on Wednesday, so Monday-Tuesday are very light. There are first-come-first-serve sites, but the ones taking reservations seemed to book up for the weekend.

    Sites near Highway 89 will hear road noise during the day and the occasional vehicle at night. Some of these are big logging trucks or diesels, so if you are a light sleeper or looking to get away from society, pick a site closer to the back. In the back, if there was the slightest breeze, I could only hear it blowing through the trees and no road noise. This was a big plus versus other sites in the area which tend to all be very close to the highway.

    The campground has towering trees and most sites are very well shaded. This is a big plus versus nearby campgrounds that may have pull-through spaces but also sparse coverage. 

    This site is close to civilization. About 2-3 miles North the forest ends and there is a ranger station. Another 2 miles beyond that is the town of Sierraville. The small gas station/grocery store says fuel is available 24/7, advertises propane available, has diesel, and has a modest selection of food and supplies. Definitely enough to help round out your inventory. The town has two cafes but I did not visit and can't confirm if they are still open (one said "for lease" in the Google photo). And of course, about 10-12 miles to the south is Truckee, a very full service town with restaurants, bars, large grocery stores, etc.

    For hiking, a very easy 1/2 mile round-trip botanical trail is located at the south end of the campground. It is level, following the creek. Various markers highlight botanical references, but no brochure was available, so download one before you go just in case. The trail goes out about 1/4 mile and then turns back to return on the other side of the creek. It is fully shaded.

    An offshoot from the trail takes you up 3/4 miles to the top of a hill overlook - very much worth the exercise and the view. You aren't 'on top of the world', but you have a good view of the valley and some nice breezes. The hike is moderately strenuous but there are plenty of opportunities to stop and catch your breath. It is very well shaded.

    If you are looking to burn off a few calories, a campground walk plus botanical trail plus lookout trail loop will get you to about 3 miles total including a good uphill portion to the lookout.

  • Nathaniel S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 10, 2021

    Little Bear RV Park

    Great Spot for Exploring Plumas Eureka

    If the first place you think of when you hear “the Sierra Nevada mountains” is Tahoe or Yosemite, I would strongly encourage you to explore points north of Truckee/Tahoe in the Plumas National Forest. And, a great place to stay while exploring the area is Little Bear RV park. This clean, quiet, and very family friendly campground offers a mixture of full and partial hookup sites, plus cabins. It’s right on the Feather river, with a refreshing swimming hole walking distance from the campground. Plumas Eureka state park offers a number of hikes that even little ones can manage. It also has great picnic areas on the creeks that run through the park. Within a 30 minute drive are a number of gorgeous alpine lakes. Gold Lake is especially beautiful and peaceful. I spent 5 nights here and while I love the more “famous” Sierra attractions, I have to say: I didn’t miss the crowds. Plumas is what Tahoe was like in the 1950’s. Highly recommended.

  • David & Sue C.
    Feb. 13, 2021

    Tahoe Valley Campground

    Winter Wonderland !!

    We had a great time at this winter paradise!! South Lake Tahoe had gotten 20 inches of snow in the 14 days prior to our arrival, then got four more inches while we were there. Practice your backing up, the plowed snow made some of the pull through sites back in only!! The huge, beautiful trees made for some additional obstacles. The best part of our stay was the assistance we received from TERRY in changing sites and getting set up. The campground is close enough to all the activities in South Lake Tahoe. The plowed snow and ice made walking through the campground very difficult, but there wasn’t anyplace else you could put it. The dog park was great!! When you’re traveling with a Great Dane and Australian Shepard, that’s a big deal!! We’ll stay here again...maybe in the summer!!

  • ProfG999
    May. 21, 2021

    Dru Barner Campground — Eldorado National Forest

    Wonderful woods

    This has been my favorite spot after traveling all across US. I wanted to hide in the forest. Nothing but trees and the wind blowing through them. It was an adventurous drive on a curvy mountain road to get here, but we'll worth it. There are 48 sites (no hookups) and it's just me and one other person pretty far away. Very clean. With a pass, I only paid $4 per day. Nice clean vault toliets. Water available. Picnic tables and fire rings at each site. Corrals for horses. Wood to burn laying around everywhere. Rangers were very friendly and helpful when I came in. I'm staying 4 days this time. I'll be back. I used my WeBoost and was able to teach online and even stream some TV. The dog has loved the nice forest floor to run on and lay on. I drove into Georgetown (6 miles) one day and had the best time exploring the shops and talking to the locals. Gas station has propane. Back in or pull through sites. You can call and reserve or just show up and find an open spot. I was there in May 2021.

  • m
    Aug. 13, 2018

    Thousand Trails Snowflower

    SUP and kayak friendly

    we found there to be a lot of rules at this campground such as no fires, however there is a community fire pit. No driving over 5 MPH, no charcoal grills or smokers, only electric and propane grills. They are also very serious about the 11pm quiet time.

    Aside from all the rules this was a very clean, family and pet friendly campground. Very clean bathrooms with showers!! There are a few lakes that are very nice for fishing and kayaking. Nice calm water for a leisurely SUP experience.


Guide to Alta

Sierra Nevada camping near Alta offers riverside and reservoir locations with varied terrain at elevations between 2,500-6,000 feet. Most campgrounds open May through October with closures during winter due to snow accumulation. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F during daytime with cooler 45-55°F nights at higher elevations.

What to do

River swimming: South Yuba Campground provides direct access to clear water pools along the Yuba River. "This river trail is the best in the state. Clear water, lovely pools. Expect nudity as it is Northern California. The river is beloved by kayakers and swimmers. Perfect snow melt means August is the prime time," notes one camper.

Fishing opportunities: French Meadows reservoir offers trout fishing from shoreline or small boats. A reviewer states, "Great trout fishing. Bear country be advised. Extreme fire danger the summer months and closed due to snow in winter." Bring appropriate tackle and check local regulations.

Watersports: Lake of the Springs RV Resort offers paddle boats and non-motorized water activities. "We spent practically the whole wknd in the lake. It was the perfect temperature to sit in for hours. No motorized water craft kept it quiet. I really wish I'd brought my canoe," writes a visitor who camped during 100°F weather.

What campers like

Lake swimming: Thousand Trails Lake of the Springs provides a beach area for swimming and recreation. "We love Lake Francis. Nice quiet lake. Good campsites. Good general store and even a little restaurant and ice cream shack," reports a regular visitor who has camped there for years.

Wildlife viewing: Thousand Trails Lake of the Springs offers opportunities to see deer and other wildlife. "Each day a family of deer came thru our site and were so tame they ate fruit right out of the kids' hands. So cool!" notes one camper who visited during August.

Natural swimming holes: Ponderosa RV Resort sits along the American River with access points for swimming. "The best thing about this campground is its location on the river. But the sites are packed in and many have little or no cover. We spent most of our time lounging at the edge of the river. It really moved along and was fun to float down in a tube," shares a summer visitor.

What you should know

Campsite terrain: Many rv sites near Alta, California have uneven surfaces requiring preparation. At French Meadows, "two thirds of the campsites were on a slope with no where to setup a tent on level ground. We got lucky and reserved a site with a 'decent' spot to place a tent but if you have never been and don't know what sites to pick while making reservations online then you are rolling the dice."

Cell coverage: Limited connectivity exists throughout the region. At Lake of the Springs RV Resort, "cell coverage is nonexistent outside of one small area," according to a visitor. South Yuba Campground has "no cell signal here - speed test is from starlink," reports another camper.

Bear awareness: Most campgrounds in the Alta region require proper food storage. French Meadows and neighboring areas have active bear populations. Coyote Group Campground provides "3x Bear food and 4x trash/recycling bins" though one visitor noted "there could be an additional bear bin to support as much food/scented items as a group of 25 would need."

Tips for camping with families

Swimming options: Tahoe Valley Campground offers a pool and organized activities. "They put on a ton of events like karaoke nights, live music, and smores nights. Hot showers and well lit clean bathrooms. Hard to find solitude or silence," reports a visitor noting its popularity with families.

Kid-friendly activities: Lake Francis Resort has facilities beyond camping. "We spent our time at the pool which is near the flushable toilets and the ice cream parlor, restaurant, and camp store. The pool goes from 3.5' ft to 5' back to 3.5' ft. There is also a small game room with a pool table, a baseball field, paddle boats, and kayaks to rent."

Toilet conditions: Facilities vary widely between campgrounds. At South Yuba, "the composting toilet is a wreck. Not usable. Use cat holes instead (200 ft from water please). Poison oak is everywhere. River views are spectacular," warns one visitor who camped with scouts in June 2019.

Tips from RVers

Electrical reliability: RV sites near Alta, California sometimes experience power issues. At Lake of the Springs, "there wasn't a single day when some campsite didn't have electrical issues, in fact they turned a lot of their RV sites into Tent Sites because of electrical issues," according to a 2020 visitor.

Dump station waits: Thousand Trails Snowflower in Emigrant Gap has limited dump facilities. "Only one dump station was open (there are 3) so waited 30+ minutes to dump, hopefully management is working on that… they do offer a honey wagon service for $40.00 available 2 times a week," notes a visitor.

Site selection strategy: For Thousand Trails properties, advance planning helps secure better spots. "Thousand Trails does not reserve campsites so it can be quite a scene to find a site especially in the summer," explains a member who regularly visits Snowflower. This applies to most rv campgrounds near Alta during peak season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular RV campsite near Alta, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Alta, CA is South Yuba Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 4 reviews.

What is the best site to find RV camping near Alta, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 247 RV camping locations near Alta, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.