342 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Applegate, California range from established facilities to more primitive sites along the American River watershed. Auburn State Recreation Area offers several campgrounds including Mineral Bar and Ruck-A-Chucky, providing access to the North Fork American River. The area supports tent camping, RV sites, and cabin accommodations at places like Coloma Resort, which sits adjacent to the South Fork American River. Most developed campgrounds in the region provide basic amenities such as picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets, while some offer additional features like showers and electric hookups.
Road conditions and seasonal closures significantly impact camping availability throughout the area. Many campgrounds operate on seasonal schedules, with sites like Ruck-A-Chucky Campground open from October to April, while others like Lake Clementine Boat In operate from May through September. A visitor noted, "The sites are a little small, but very nice. The beaches are great too and secluded." Elevation changes affect temperatures and accessibility, particularly during winter months when some forest roads become impassable. Campers should check current fire restrictions before planning trips, as summer and fall fire bans are common. Most developed campgrounds require reservations through recreation.gov or Reserve California, especially during peak summer weekends.
The proximity to water features represents a major draw for campers in the Applegate area. Several visitors mentioned the American River as a highlight, with swimming holes and fishing opportunities accessible from many campgrounds. One camper shared, "Close to the n. fork of the American river. Lots of great swimming holes close by up river. Great hiking path opposite the camp ground going up river." Wildlife sightings, including bears, are relatively common, with most campgrounds providing bear-proof storage lockers for food and scented items. Noise levels vary significantly between locations, with campgrounds closer to highways experiencing more road noise than more remote options. Giant Gap Campground and other forest service sites typically offer more seclusion but fewer amenities than state park campgrounds. Folsom Lake State Recreation Area provides additional camping options within a 30-minute drive, offering more developed facilities and lake access.
"I’ve been here about 8-10 times and every time I love my stay, it’s a quiet getaway around 45 mins away from me and the sound of the river is amazing."
"Place the cash ($28 a night) in the envelope and put it in the post that’s on the parking entrance."
from $38 / night
Check Availability"Beautiful fall surroundings right adjacent to the South Fork of the American River. Easy walk or car ride to numerous hiking trails."
"If you ever want to experience the thrill of gold panning, and California history go here!"
"Our site was next to the raft launch/pickup, so there were a couple of groups picked up during the day. Bathrooms were average and the site was maintained well."
"Small cars made it down ther without difficulty)
Once at the camp ground, right on the waters edge, grab up the 3rd site on the right. It is literally on the edge of the river."
"As with most of California everything is dry. The lake is very low and a half mile walk from park to get to. The sites are surrounded by dry tall grass and spaced out nicely."
"As full timers- we thought we hit the jackpot for the area in order to be near the towns we wanted to explore and also have service for good wifi."
from $33 - $58 / night
Check Availability"The site was spacious and a short walk to the reservoir and trail. We hiked around the entire reservoir and it was gorgeous."
"The campsites are all very nice but 23 and 24 can’t be beat with the best access to the water ( you will have a lot of people walking by to get there also though)."
from $24 - $48 / night
Check Availability"You’re also about 3 or 4 miles away from the Georgetown OHV which made it an easy ride to get to the dirt."
"A lovely quiet spot midweek, quiet drive to Georgetown for some great breakfasts if you want some classic American diner fare."
from $3 - $8 / night
Check Availability"We got a pretty secluded site at Cabana 12 but the rest of the sites are kinda stacked on top of each other or out in the open right next to each other. If you want some more privacy then do C12."
"This is a smaller but nice lake. It hasn’t ever been over crowded when I’ve gone. The reason I like this spot is because campsites C3-C10 have the most shade you can hope for!"
from $42 - $53 / night
Check Availability"Very quite camping spot very clean.coin operated showers😭 lake is very close by."
"I wanted to find a spot somewhat close by and came across this one."
from $33 / night
Check Availability"Just know that here on The Dyrt, the location on the map for some reason shows it as being many miles away from Kidder Ct: it’s marked as if it is at Higgins Corner, halfway to Auburn?"
"Super clean and friendly Not congested and close to many hiking trails Easy drive and close to Nevada City.
Especially nice during Christmas Season. Feels like walking back in time."
TravelerThe campsites are so big and it's right on the river. The bathrooms are clean, hiking is forever and it's 8 miles up from the highway so most people don't know about it. It's quiet and there is a big sandy beach.
TravelerAll sites are First Come First Serve. Arrived on a Thursday with only 1 other camper at the grounds. By Saturday morning it was full and loud. All sites are close enough to the lake, that your priority should just be what ever fits your set up. Traveling in a 25ft Class C felt like I didn't belong and space was tight. Almost no sky for solar or starlink, and AT&T service gave me a single bar.
I'd return if I had a small towable or in a tent. Overall very scenic and peaceful during the week days.
As of August 2026 price was $10 a night.
ScoutEasy to find campsite, we arrived after hours on a Monday so drove around to find a spot and then paid using the collection box and envelopes, we couldn't get the QR code to work. Phone reception here is good. There is a constant hum of traffic but it is not loud and it is quiet around camp. Toilets and showers are clean and well stocked with toilet paper. We didn't stay long but saw some wildlife, coyote and squirrels mostly. A little bit of rubbish around from campers but overall very tidy. The sites are flat pull-in or reverse-in style, there are also some campsites marked with wheel chair access.
ScoutThe campground was clean and quiet
GuideThey let us check in early it is all paved but not level!
Scout5 stars for the campground itself. I've been camping at Lodgepole in Sequoia National Park since 1984, when I was just 20 years old. I have loved every camping trip since(at least 30 plus times)! The campsites are great, the grounds, and trails are well-maintained, and safe. I love that the general store is easy to get to and has ice and extras that we may have forgotten to bring. However, we have noticed over past few years that the restrooms in the campground have become increasingly filthy. I get that people walk in with dirt all over their shoes, so of course the floors will be dirty, but it's unacceptable to allow the toilets to be so gross! I will leave out the unpleasant details! I asked a young park ranger how often the restrooms are cleaned and he said every day. Apparently they source out the cleaning. It's obvious that all they do is sweep the floors, empty the trash and provide more TP. The sinks, and floors look like they haven't been scrubbed in a long time, and I noticed the toilets looked as bad the day we got there to the day they left. I remember in the 80's and 90's seeing rangers doing a very thorough cleaning each morning. We would walk in and could smell the cleaning chemicals, and the floor would be wet from mopping. Also, the showers are dirty too. They removed the benches in the individual shower stalls so there's no place to put your clean clothes. Do better Lodgepole!
TravelerWe got a pretty secluded site at Cabana 12 but the rest of the sites are kinda stacked on top of each other or out in the open right next to each other. If you want some more privacy then do C12. Being near the lake was great and having a camp store and bathrooms. Showers cost 50¢ for 5 min which isn’t bad but since the campsite is so expensive it would have been nice for them to be free.
ScoutThis place is awesome. Super clean, spaces are big and neighbors are not too close. The facilities are super clean and modern. We enjoyed the pool, spa and shower facilities. There’s a shuttle that shows up about every 40 minutes to the casino. The office staff was very friendly and knowledgeable about the different spaces and location of the afternoon sun.
ScoutThis park is completely understaffed, and the staff they do have are short and rude when talked to. Leaches in the water, goose poop all on beach area along with trash and dirty diapers. Management is never to be seen and the store they have is never open. Restrooms had poop on walls, birds in the bathroom, toilet paper everywhere. They constantly have water problems. They have an abundance of wasps also.
Camping options around Applegate, California span elevations from 500 to 2,500 feet, creating significant temperature variations between locations. The region's campgrounds typically close by 10 PM, with quiet hours strictly enforced from 10 PM to 6 AM. Most campsites in this area remain green with oaks and pines through spring, but become drier with limited shade during summer months.
Swimming in crystal clear water: The North Fork American River near Mineral Bar Campground offers numerous swimming spots. "Beautiful mountain valley of north fork. Clean campsites right along road with bearboxes, picnic tables, and fire pits. Easy river access down the hill to rocky swimming pools," notes one visitor who enjoyed the secluded setting.
Gold panning: Try your luck searching for gold flakes along the American River. As one camper at Coloma Resort shared, "If you ever want to experience the thrill of gold panning, and California history go here! You will not strike it rich, but with a couple hours of effort you can get a nice little bottle of gold flakes to take home with you."
Explore historic sites: Visit nearby Sutter's Mill and historic mining towns. "Campground is walking distance from the historic town of Coloma and the Argonaut for breakfast and lunch (and Gelato!)," explains a camper who appreciated the blend of outdoor recreation with local history exploration.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain exceptionally clean bathrooms and showers despite their remote locations. A visitor to Inn Town Campground noted, "They have dish washing stations and the absolute nicest, cleanest bathrooms/showers I've ever seen in a campground."
Waterfront access: Lake and river proximity allows for immediate water recreation. "We camped during the off season (November) so we had our pick of the campsites, which was a great considering the spots are right next to each other. Really nice site right by the water," reported a camper at Lake Clementine Boat In.
Wildlife viewing: The area supports diverse wildlife encounters throughout the year. At Peninsula Campground, one camper observed, "Wildlife is off the chain here. As others have said, if you don't love being surrounded by wild animals, this will probably be a bit much for you. Bears have been seen on occasion, cougars, Bobcats, and coyotes all stop by from time to time."
Road conditions: Many campgrounds require navigating narrow, winding roads. For Giant Gap Campground, a visitor advised, "Be warned though, Google maps will suggest driving up Iowa Hill. DO NOT. Follow the directions of the campground, that road is not for the faint of heart. And NOT for RVs or trailers."
Seasonal water levels: American River and lake water levels fluctuate dramatically by season. "The river was crystal clear and beautiful," noted a camper at Lake Clementine Boat In during October, while summer visitors often find water levels significantly lower.
Reservation requirements: First-come sites fill quickly during summer weekends. "First come first serve campsites, I went for a solo camp trip and loved it. I came in on a Thursday afternoon and snagged campsite #5. (Useful tip, BRING A PEN AND EXACT CASH)," advised one camper detailing the self-registration process.
Pool access: Some campgrounds offer swimming pools as alternatives to river swimming. An Inn Town Campground visitor mentioned, "Pool was small but the pool area was really nice. Great location for swimming in the Yuba river!"
Kid-friendly amenities: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and recreational facilities. According to a Dru Barner Campground visitor, "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."
Safety considerations: Bear activity requires proper food storage throughout the region. "Bears are common in this area and I've personally seen a few crossing the road on my way to and from the campground. There are bear lockers provided for food and scented items," reported a Mineral Bar camper highlighting the importance of using provided bear boxes.
Site leveling challenges: Many RV sites require significant leveling. A visitor to Beals Point Campground shared, "Stayed two nights while working on the road. Really nice camp hosts and attendants. Nice services; clean bathrooms and coin op showers. Very green early in the season, lake extremely low, warm evenings already."
Length restrictions: Several access roads have vehicle length limitations. "The access road is about six miles of curvy, hilly, and narrow (sometimes only one lane) pavement. There is a sign prohibiting trailers; our 18-foot camper van did fine but anything much larger would definitely be challenged," warned a Lake Clementine Boat In visitor.
Hookup availability: Most campgrounds offer limited or no hookups. An Auburn Gold Country RV Park visitor noted, "If you don't have the premium hookup spots, you got to pay 20$ 'Service Fee' for dumping. Idk why because you end up doing it all by yourself as usual anyway."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Applegate, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Applegate, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 342 campgrounds and RV parks near Applegate, CA and 20 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Applegate, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Applegate, CA is Lake Clementine Boat In — Auburn State Recreation Area with a 4.6-star rating from 7 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Applegate, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 20 free dispersed camping spots near Applegate, CA.
What parks are near Applegate, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 23 parks near Applegate, CA that allow camping, notably Eldorado National Forest and Plumas National Forest.
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