Best Campgrounds near Auburn, CA

Camping areas around Auburn, California range from basic city parks to more remote forest sites. Auburn City Park Campground sits close to town, making it easy to grab supplies when needed. The Auburn Recreation Area has camping spots among trees where you can fish or walk trails during the day. You'll find bigger campsites with good views at Auburn Area State Park. If you want something more basic, the National Forest has areas where you can camp away from facilities in certain spots. Families often pick Auburn County Park Campground because it has tables for meals and places for kids to play. Spring and fall bring the best camping weather in Auburn. The summer gets pretty hot, so you'll need extra water and sunscreen. Winter camping works too, but snow might block some roads to campsites. It's smart to book ahead, particularly on weekends and holidays when spots fill up. During dry times, fire rules can get strict, so always check what's allowed before lighting anything. You can usually stay up to two weeks at most Auburn campgrounds. While permits aren't common for camping here, double-check with whichever place you choose. Different campgrounds open their booking at different times, so look into this early. Auburn works well for camping trips since it has so many different places to stay.

Best Camping Sites Near Auburn, California (286)

    1. Beals Point Campground — Folsom Lake State Recreation Area

    32 Reviews
    Granite Bay, CA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (916) 791-1531

    $33 - $58 / night

    "Folsom Lake is a very large lake which touches 3 counties (Sacramento, Placer & El Dorado). Beals Point is right on the border of Folsom & Granite Bay on Folsom-Auburn Rd."

    "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."

    2. Peninsula Campground — Folsom Lake State Recreation Area

    16 Reviews
    Granite Bay, CA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (916) 988-0215

    $33 / night

    "Very quite camping spot very clean.coin operated showers😭 lake is very close by."

    "Folsom lake is a great place to take the boat, beals point has a snack bar, life guards and equipment rentals, there are plenty of places you can drive or boat to get away from the crowds if you prefer"

    3. Coloma Resort

    15 Reviews
    Coloma, CA
    13 miles
    Website

    "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!"

    4. Lake Clementine Boat In — Auburn State Recreation Area

    7 Reviews
    Cool, CA
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 885-4527

    $38 / night

    "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."

    5. Auburn Gold Country RV Park

    5 Reviews
    Auburn, CA
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 885-0990

    6. American River Resort

    10 Reviews
    Coloma, CA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 622-6700

    "Nice campground - close to river. .5 mile walk to town for shopping/eating. All sites have fire pit and picnic table. Bathrooms clean and private showers."

    "It is right in the American River and next to a class 3 rapid called Trouble Maker. It was awesome watching rafters and kayakers go through it."

    7. Thousand Trails Ponderosa

    9 Reviews
    Coloma, CA
    12 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."

    "Great spot if you can get in half of the camp got washed away from the rain this year though ."

    8. Ruck-A-Chucky Campground — Auburn State Recreation Area

    6 Reviews
    Applegate, CA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 885-4527

    "Definitely the best campground in the Auburn area, though only 5 walk-in spots. It’s right on the river with fishing and boating opportunities. Lots of hiking trails right from camp."

    "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."

    9. Camp Lotus

    3 Reviews
    Coloma, CA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 622-8672

    10. Ascension Ranch

    2 Reviews
    Granite Bay, CA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (916) 439-0002

    $49 - $245 / night

    " WELCOME TO ASCENSION RANCH Ascension Ranch is an off-grid paradise tucked away in an oak savanna along Folsom Lake with a unique and ever growing list of features and activities."

    "Super relaxing and has a lake that is at the end of the trail. Super convenient. It was cool to experience the animals that were in the pastures as well. I'd definitely come back."

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Recent Reviews near Auburn, CA

749 Reviews of 286 Auburn Campgrounds


  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    South Yuba Campground

    nice wooded campground

    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.

  • Steve M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Mormon Emigrant Trail Dispersed Pull Off

    Good spot for a night or two but nothing here

    Easy to get to and easy to park at although not a great spot for tents. Unfortunately there was a massive fire here and there is nothing to look at but burned out trees.

  • M
    Aug. 28, 2025

    North Fork Campground

    Nice quiet campground and river

    I stopped by here to check out the campground and found it to be very nice quiet and clean. There is a nice river running along the side with a waterfall and a few nice deep swimming holes. I got the only FCFS site and it was nice.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    White Cloud

    Beautiful but LOUD

    Awesome spots to camp, it’s just insanely close to the 20 so you’ll hear non-stop traffic.

  • HThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 21, 2025

    Scotts Flat Lake

    Pricey but nice

    Paid $68 for a tent site with no hookups. Showers take quarters too. Price is a bit steep IMO but the site was nice, a quick walk to the lake to cool off.

  • John L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Collins Lake Recreation Area

    Family Friendly Campgrounds

    This is our second time camping at Collins Lake, and we loved it just as much as the first! We stayed at site 60A Lake Front View, which had stunning water views and a spacious setup 🤩👌🏽. The site gets a lot of sun in the morning and afternoon, so bring a popup canopy for shade—it made a big difference for us! Overall, the campground is clean, peaceful, and perfect for a relaxing getaway. Highly recommend!

  • B. Douglas J.
    Aug. 7, 2025

    Sycamore Ranch RV Park

    One of our favorite campgrounds

    We live just up the road (Nevada City) yet we ignored this campground for years thinking it was full of trailer trash. But years ago Yuba County did a great job of cleaning this place up and putting in hookups and paving the campground and adding irrigation systems that keep the grass green all year long.

    My favorite thing about this campground is the birds! I use the Merlin app to identify the birds here and so far this place holds my record of around 18 birds not including the more silent ones we saw. There are turtles and otters in the creek to check out as well. 

    The camp host (Jan The Man) is the best camp host ever!

    Weekdays are the best when there are few people but on weekends it does fill up. We did camp one time and some folks were having a karaoke party late into the night (somehow I suspect they will never be back). Usually everyone's respectful and its a great place to be.

  • John L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 7, 2025

    Collins Lake Recreation Area

    Collins Lake was awesome!

    Great campground! Our first stay at Collins Lake was fantastic. The lake views were beautiful, the campsites were clean and spacious, and the staff was friendly. Plenty of activities for the family, like fishing and hiking. We’ll definitely be back!

  • N
    Aug. 7, 2025

    Carlton

    Meh

    We left 1 day into our 4 day stay. The scenery, beautiful. The river, stunning. The campsite, tiny and awkwardly set up (Site12 specifically), good shade though. Prior occupants left a bunch of trash (as in an entire tent.....) in the bear box that we had to dispose of. Clean enough bathrooms. No firewood on site (which we were sdvised there would be) at the camp host site, don't think we had one, if we did they're hard of hearing. Drove up the road to a different campsite per the info board and got wood there **CASH ONLY**

    Awful site neighbors, incredibly loud, watching reality TV shows at top volume, even waking me up at 0400 talking full volume 10 feet from our tent. Another neighbor with a generator on until almost 11pm. 

    *****ROAD NOISE. So. Much. Road. Noise. There was next to zero peaceful outdoor serenity. Not only the noise from the road, but the headlights hit our tent all night as well. 

    Won't be back, sad to end the week early, but no way were we able to stay with all of that going on. Was supposed to be a peaceful, quiet, relaxing week away from the sounds of a loud city......all we did was add a few trees 🤷‍♀️


Guide to Auburn

Camping near Auburn, CA, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a peaceful retreat, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do

  • Hiking: Explore the numerous trails in the area. Many campers enjoy the nearby hiking trails, with one reviewer from Fallen Leaf Campground mentioning, "Many excursions and hiking trails. Breathtakingly beautiful."
  • Water Activities: Enjoy water sports at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. A visitor shared, "Great access to hiking, bike trails, clean and fairly quiet."
  • Wildlife Watching: Keep an eye out for local wildlife. A camper at Eagle Point Campground noted, "We had a bear visit our campsite, so it’s crucial to store your food in the provided bear boxes."

What campers like

  • Spacious Sites: Campers appreciate the roomy sites at Tahoe Valley Campground. One reviewer said, "Camping spots are spaced out enough that you are not right on top of your neighbor."
  • Clean Facilities: Many enjoy the cleanliness of the campgrounds. A visitor at Beals Point Campground remarked, "This is a very clean and well-maintained State campground."
  • Beautiful Scenery: The stunning views are a big hit. A camper at Calaveras Big Trees State Park said, "The entire park is beautiful and well-maintained."

What you should know

  • Bear Activity: Be aware of bear activity in the area. A camper at Fallen Leaf Campground mentioned, "Well there is a lot of bear activity, but we loved it here."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds may have limited amenities. A visitor at Acorn Campground noted, "Bathrooms are a problem for cleanliness; dump station is available for RVs."
  • Crowded During Peak Season: Expect larger crowds during holidays. A camper at Zephyr Cove Resort shared, "The campground was completely full."

Tips for camping with families

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with activities for kids. One family at Tahoe Valley Campground said, "This is a great spot if you have kids. Lots of stuff to do just at the resort."
  • Plan for Bear Safety: Teach kids about bear safety. A camper at Eagle Point Campground emphasized, "The campground staff enforces this rule diligently."
  • Pack Snacks: Keep snacks handy for hikes. A visitor at Collins Lake Recreation Area mentioned, "Great views and clean, great for kids."

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Size: Make sure your RV fits the site. A camper at RV Village Campground noted, "It is definitely big enough for our 26’ TT."
  • Be Prepared for Limited Hookups: Some campgrounds may not have full hookups. A visitor at Beals Point Campground said, "Full hookups, but unfortunately low water pressure."
  • Stay Vigilant About Cleanliness: Keep your area tidy. A camper at Tahoe Valley Campground mentioned, "The bathroom and shower are clean until more people show up."

Camping near Auburn, CA, has something for everyone, whether you're in a tent, RV, or cabin. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does camping cost at Auburn area campgrounds?

Camping costs vary across Auburn area campgrounds. American River Resort charges around $45 for tent sites with an additional $5 fee for dogs. This higher price point includes amenities like fire pits, picnic tables, clean bathrooms, and private showers, plus convenient river access. Lake Camanche offers more moderate pricing with well-maintained facilities, clean bathrooms with hot water, and easy lake access. Most public campgrounds in Auburn State Recreation Area range from $20-35 per night depending on the season and amenities. Private campgrounds generally charge more ($40-60) but offer additional facilities like showers, electricity, and sometimes WiFi access.

Are there tent camping sites with shower facilities in Auburn?

Yes, several campgrounds near Auburn offer tent sites with shower facilities. Inn Town Campground provides excellent tent camping with clean, modern shower facilities about 25 minutes from Auburn. Located just a mile from downtown Nevada City, it's highly rated for its amenities and convenience. For those camping at Lake Camanche's South Shore, while the immediate sites don't have showers, there are hot shower facilities available at the nearby Riverview area within walking distance. Auburn Gold Country RV Park also welcomes tent campers and provides shower facilities, though it primarily caters to RV travelers. Call ahead to confirm shower availability, especially during peak season.

Where are the best campgrounds near Auburn, CA?

Auburn offers diverse camping options for all preferences. Ruck-A-Chucky Campground is considered the best in the immediate Auburn area with just 5 walk-in spots right on the river, offering excellent fishing, boating, and hiking opportunities. The road down is challenging but creates a secluded wilderness feel. For lakeside camping, Beals Point Campground at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area offers numerous tent and RV sites with lake access, trails, and fishing. While slightly farther, French Meadows and Mineral Bar campgrounds provide additional scenic options within reasonable driving distance of Auburn.