305 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping options around Big Bar, California range from established campgrounds to lakeside recreation areas throughout the Gold Country region. Acorn Campground provides sites for tents, RVs, and glamping experiences near New Hogan Reservoir, while Lake Camanche offers similar accommodations with lake access about 20 miles northeast of Big Bar. Indian Grinding Rock State Historical Park Campground features tent and RV sites with historical significance and natural attractions. Several campgrounds in the area feature water access, picnic tables, fire rings, and basic amenities, making them suitable for family outings and weekend getaways.
Road conditions and campground amenities vary significantly by location and elevation. Many sites require advance reservations, especially during summer months and holiday weekends. Most campgrounds provide toilets, but shower availability is inconsistent across facilities. Drinking water is available at most established sites including Lake Amador Resort and Gold Country Campground Resort, though primitive locations may require bringing your own supplies. Cell service can be limited in canyon areas and around reservoirs. Seasonal water levels affect lake access, particularly during California's drought periods. According to one visitor, "The lake has receded quite a bit that one of the docks is about 100 yards from the actual lake now (California drought). The campsite was well maintained."
Campers report high satisfaction with sites near lakes and rivers, which are particularly popular during warmer months. Wildlife sightings are common, with multiple reviews mentioning deer encounters at campgrounds. Noise levels vary by location, with campgrounds closer to highways experiencing more road noise than more remote sites. Bathroom cleanliness receives positive mentions at several locations including Indian Grinding Rock State Park, where "very clean bathrooms are cleaned and sterilized twice a day according to the ranger." Shade coverage is important during hot summer days, with tree-covered sites being particularly desirable. Several campgrounds, including Jackson Rancheria RV Park and Gold Country Campground Resort, offer full hookups for RVs, while others like Acorn Campground maintain a more rustic atmosphere with basic amenities and proximity to natural features.
"A good clean campground, popular in central California. Reasonably priced $20 per night."
"The lake has receded quite a but that one of the docks is about 100 yards from the actual lake now (California drought). The campsite was well maintained."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"Next to a beautiful state operated historical park with lots of open space, tall ancient oak trees and two easy trails. Open space great for games, frisbee, soccer, or setup a volleyball net."
"So glad we did as it is tucked away on the grounds of an amazing state park! Most of the sites are small with a lot of tree coverage. It was quiet, quaint, and clean. "
from $30 / night
Check Availability"Easy access to the lake. Campground is well maintained. Bathrooms are always clean and with hot water. No shower at this site. But there’s one close by at the Riverview, walking distance."
"I come here with my family every year around 4th of July. I would book way ahead for busy holidays like that.
The water level really varies on the year."
from $50 / night
Check Availability"We wanted a close to home location with all the hookups to make sure we knew how to use everything. We were shocked at how clean and beautiful this park was!"
"Spacious , clean, very friendly staff, beautiful walking trail around the park. The views are so beautiful we will definitely come back!"
from $50 - $70 / night
Check Availability"Fabulous lakeside camping.... We’ve been in March, May, July and September..... July, just too hot but we love being able to just get up and fish... The lake is stocked with Trout, Bass and Catfish."
"We had a couple of trees behind us to filter some of the sunlight. It was hot but cooled down nicely during the evening. We had some debris from previous campers but the campsite was pretty clean."
from $25 - $45 / night
Check Availability"Staff a very friendly and our site was just a walking distance to the bathrooms."
"We used the spot to not be in the snow but make the trip up to Iron Mountain Sno-Park...a 45 minute drive. The snow looked great for skiing but not so much for snowmen or sledding."
"This campground is located in Lake Pardee. Some sites have a beautiful view of the lake. Lake View also has several RV sites but reservations go quickly. The lake is for fishing and boating only."
"I think this is my favorite California State Park. It is situated in the Calaveras Big Trees Giant Sequoia Grove."
"Pros - you are in the middle of the Sequoias, near hiking, kayaking, etc. Beautiful river nearby; pretty easy in and out for small-ish RVs. Hard to beat the location."
from $25 - $70 / night
Check Availability"There are trees throughout the park and although it is located right on the road, only the sites that back up to the road hear road noise. There is a small pond in the center and we saw some ducks."
"We enjoyed walking around with our pets and getting ice cream. The only annoyance was loud music past curfew, but it was only on the weekend."
"The campsites are spacious and you don't feel over crowded if there is a family next to you. It's pet friendly."
"I pitched a tent in site 43 right next to the lake. Excellent place."
ScoutThis place was a blessing. Rangers were very kind and informative however price is misleading at riverside it’s more expensive $25 a night. Felt safe and quiet for the most part beside the train.
GuideLook up this site’s history, it’s quite fascinating.
While there’s a no trespassing sign, this is indeed a Forest Service-managed site and confirmed as a dispersed location.
I pulled in just as this older gentleman was walking the area, and he started telling me all about the owner back in the 60s-70s (“a mean guy”) and what a cool ski resort it once was.
GuideVery warm weekend (as to be expected in July) bathrooms and showers were satisfactory. It’s a public campsite with lots of families and most are there for the lake. Sites were large enough but No hookups for RV. We just stayed at night and spent the days with family in the area. Met our needs.
TravelerA few cons about this spot. There is NO drinking water. There are spigots but they all say non-potable. Most of the toilets were locked and the open ones were disgusting. There is no natural water to cool off in. The map looks like there is but there was none. There are so many mosquitoes that you have to hide in the tent during sunrise and sunset. Also, it’s right on the highway and the cars are loud! Finally, the road from Carson City going up Ebbets pass is a corkscrew of the death defying nail biting vomit inducing variety. With all of that in mind, it is the most beautiful spot I have ever visited.
ScoutI have stayed at Bear River Group Campground twice and plann to make it an annual trip. It is near a reservoir, but necessary to drive to get to the water. There is no road noise at all. It is fairly remote and very well set up for groups. Highly recommend it.
LegendGeneral: Beals Point is one of two locations on Folsom Lake for camping. Large campground with a mix of electric and non-electric campsites plus some group sites.
Site Quality: Drives are paved and mostly level. We camped in a little “cul-de-sac” with just four sites. While these sites back up to the American River Bike Trail (aka Jedediah Smith Recreation Trail), it was overgrown, and I did not see direct access to the trail as we did the last time we were here.
Bath/Shower: Typical CA state park layout– all-gender units with toilet and sink (but no soap, towels, or dryers) and showers. Unlike other CA state parks, these take quarters instead of tokens. The units could use a little TLC, but what was most disheartening was how other campers had trashed them– toilet paper (and worse) scattered all over the insides. Obviously not the fault of the campground.
Activities/Amenities: Folsom Lake is the draw, and people were fishing, kayaking, and swimming. The 32-mile paved multi-use American River Bike Trail is easily accessible. There is a snack bar/concession stand for beach rentals, but it was not open when we were there.
Our stay here this time was over a weekend; it was completely full, and it reminded us once again that we prefer to camp during the week and shoulder seasons when campgrounds are less crowded!
TravelerYou don’t exactly need to go all the way to the pinpoint, I pulled off to the side about a mile before pinpoint. Amazing spot, several areas to pick from, safe and quiet with amazing views. Few other people but that also made me feel safe. I would definitely come back.
LegendI invite you to take a look at the pictures. This is a simple gravel parking lot with hookups. There's nothing special about this location.
GuideThere’s only a couple of spots to pull off the road, the boat ramp clearly states no camping. I found a spot but every few hours all night long a truck with flashing lights on the roof drove by. Kinda weird
Camping options near Big Bar, California range from basic tent sites to full-service RV resorts throughout the lower Sierra foothills. Elevations typically range from 700 to 2,500 feet, creating mild spring and fall camping conditions with hot summer days reaching 90-100°F. Winter camping is possible at lower elevations where snow rarely accumulates for long periods.
Disc golf courses: Lake Amador Resort offers multiple disc golf courses popular with campers. According to one visitor, "As disc golfers, of course we love camping here, having 3 courses to choose from. But there is something for everyone in the family here, there is amazing fishing, boating and swimming."
Historical exploration: Indian Grinding Rock State Historical Park Campground offers a unique cultural experience. "This little park tucked into the Western Sierras will blow your mind. It is a significant Miwok Native American historical site, with home sites, ancient Oak trees, and literally thousands of grain, and acorn grinding stones located in the central part of the park," writes one camper.
Cave tours: Several campgrounds provide access to nearby cave systems. "Stop by the Black Chasm Cavern nearby. It's a small, but unique cavern about 5 minutes drive from campground and well worth the visit," notes one camper at Indian Grinding Rock State Historical Park.
Paddling opportunities: Acorn Campground offers water recreation on New Hogan Reservoir. "We got in our kayaks for an awesome day paddle around the many coves of this reservoir. Since the lake level fluctuates there aren't many good beaches, but you can pull off to have a picnic lunch," reports one visitor.
Off-season tranquility: Many campgrounds are significantly less crowded outside summer months. A visitor to Lake Camanche mentioned, "We camped twice at this campground on the South Shore. We were the only ones camping on Christmas Weekend and we had a few neighbors when we went again in mid January."
Wildlife viewing: Animal sightings enhance the camping experience. At Lake Amador Resort, one camper noted, "The wildlife is RIGHT THERE! We saw a tarantula near the tee box on 2. I woke up with 4 deer casually strolling through our campsite, a huge group of turkeys were cruising around the whole weekend."
Swimming options: Several campgrounds feature swimming areas beyond typical lake access. A visitor to Gold Country Campground Resort shared, "Splash pad was great for the littles, definitely bring chairs down w you. The pool was closed down the day we all tried to get together."
Astronomy viewing: Dark skies allow for stargazing opportunities. At Lake Amador Resort, one camper reported, "It was a meteor shower night and it was amazing. I would recommend this place during the cooler months."
Insect management: Bees can be problematic during certain seasons. A Gold Country Campground Resort visitor warned, "The only and biggest downfall was the meat bees. Absolutely ruined the trip. We had a group of 9 families so we couldn't eat together cuz we all had to escape to our sites and quickly eat. Recommend bringing nets and tents to eat under."
Water level fluctuations: Reservoir levels vary significantly by season and drought conditions. A visitor to Acorn Campground noted, "Early summer is the best time to go for high lake levels. There is boating, fishing, water skiing, jet skiing, swimming etc available in the lake."
Limited connectivity: Cell service and internet are inconsistent. One camper at Gold Country Campground Resort shared, "Only issue was the internet was not working...and our T-Mobile phones didn't have coverage in the area. That's on us though. If you want cell service and reliable internet I don't think you can hold the campground liable for that!"
Site selection strategy: Some campgrounds have significant variation between sites. A camper at Indian Grinding Rock State Historical Park advised, "Our site, 18, didn't have a very big tent pad, and our tent barely fit. The site was pretty large, but only one small flat part. Our friends had site 20, which had a couple flat spots, but none very big."
Water play alternatives: North Grove Campground at Calaveras Big Trees State Park offers river access. "This is a super magical park! Giant trees, great visitor center and junior ranger program, and swimming in the Stanislaus river (cold but refreshing!!)," reports one visitor.
Educational opportunities: Several campgrounds include interpretive programs for children. A visitor to Indian Grinding Rock State Historical Park noted, "Stop by the free museum. The ranger was very knowledgeable and engaged the kids well covering the history of artifacts."
Outdoor game areas: Gold Country Campground Resort provides multiple recreation options. According to one camper, "Good family place. Nice Splash pad and pool. Nothing fancy but it works. They also have a mini golf course."
Traffic considerations: Some campgrounds feature low-traffic roads ideal for bike riding. A visitor to Gold Country Campground Resort shared, "Little traffic so our kids could ride their bikes with no worries. Definitely worth coming back for the price."
Site layout awareness: Jackson Rancheria RV Park offers premium view sites. "We specifically stayed in spot 24, but any of the spots along the back have a beautiful view of the canyon," advises one RVer.
Hookup availability: Many campgrounds offer varying levels of services. A visitor to Jackson Rancheria RV Park noted, "The grounds are clean, nice level concrete spaces with lots of grass around them. Easy to social distance."
Off-season camping: Winter camping is available with proper preparation. An RVer at Lake Camanche wrote, "We've been camping here for 10 years now. Always 4+ campsites for 4-5 days around July 4th weekend (reserve at least 6months out) to start our year off. And at least once a month thru Sept/Oct."
Extended stay options: Some campgrounds accommodate longer visits. A visitor to 49er Village RV Resort shared, "We stayed here for a little over 2 months while waiting for our home to be built. It felt like we were on vacation every night. Pool is open in the winter with heating and a tent over top."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Big Bar, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Big Bar, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 305 campgrounds and RV parks near Big Bar, CA and 16 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Big Bar, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Big Bar, CA is Acorn Campground with a 3.6-star rating from 28 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Big Bar, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 free dispersed camping spots near Big Bar, CA.
What parks are near Big Bar, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 26 parks near Big Bar, CA that allow camping, notably New Hogan Lake and New Melones Lake.
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