345 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The Calpine area in northeastern California provides camping access to the Tahoe National Forest with several established campgrounds set among pine forests and alpine lakes. Sardine Lake Campground, located near Camptonville, offers tent, RV, and cabin options with views of Sierra Buttes. Chapman Creek Campground provides more secluded sites, while Clio's Rivers Edge RV Park accommodates larger rigs with full hookups. The camping landscape stretches from Gold Lake to Webber Lake, with accommodations ranging from basic tent sites to cabins and glamping facilities at locations like East Meadow Campground.
Campgrounds in this mountainous region typically operate seasonally from late May through mid-October due to snow and weather conditions at higher elevations. Most developed sites provide basic amenities including vault toilets and picnic tables, while facilities like Clio's Rivers Edge offer more extensive services including showers, hookups, and dump stations. Road access varies by location, with some campgrounds accessible by standard vehicles and others requiring high-clearance for optimal access. Water availability differs between sites - some offer drinking water while others require visitors to bring their own. A camper noted: "There are a lot of beautiful hiking options in the area, including some moderate-distance hikes to nice alpine lakes."
Camping experiences near Calpine are characterized by mountain scenery, lake access, and forest settings. Visitors frequently mention the quiet atmosphere and natural beauty. "Great location and overall a great RV park. The staff was super friendly and helpful. The park is immaculately maintained. The sites are level and the scenery is breathtaking," wrote one visitor to Clio's Rivers Edge. Several reviewers highlighted the fishing opportunities at lakes throughout the region. Campgrounds near water bodies like Sardine Lake receive particularly positive reviews for their scenic value, though they tend to fill quickly during peak season. More secluded options like Chapman Creek offer greater privacy but fewer amenities. Bear-resistant food storage is provided at most Forest Service campgrounds, reflecting the active wildlife in the area.
"It’s a cute RV park, it’s clean and close to a little town the bad thing is that every space is so close to each other, you have next to you their services and it’s impossible to access your storage without"
"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."
"We had great time at sardine lake campground. Great place for active families. Gorgeous view of sardine lake and sand pond in walking distance and lots of other lakes around the area."
"Campground was situated nicely with perfect trees for our hammocks and bathrooms were tidy."
from $24 - $48 / night
Check Availability"Situated out in the Sierra Buttes in California. This bad boy was shown to me by my father. A place to really escape the busy city life, let alone people."
"Warning - this site requires a high clearance vehicle with good off road tires. Low profile tires and trucks modified for street use, you WILL destroy your vehicle."
"Sites near Highway 89 will hear road noise during the day and the occasional vehicle at night."
"I walked the adjacent trail in the morning, which was very pretty. The pit toilets are old style and smelly, but clean."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"Some hikes access from the campground and some are short drives from the campground. A little expensive for no service but we are in California."
"Very nice camping spot, right next to a lake and it is small and secluded. Though next to a road it is still easy to sleep there and nice a secluded to cook and eat."
from $24 / night
Check Availability"Bugs were minimal, a far cry from about 3 weeks ago at a nearby site. We were in Site 16, which has the ‘camp’ side opposite of our camper door - only reason we gave 4 stars & not 5."
"So remote and private but everything you need at the campground with water access within walking distance. Sites are great with picnic tables and bathrooms near by."
from $24 - $48 / night
Check Availability"Located near the restroom but not to close (if you know what I mean). The site is while in five to 15 mins of several lakes and breathtaking water falls."
"It is right off a main highway, on a hill, so you do hear trucks accelerating. No RV hookups."
from $24 / night
Check Availability"My all Time favorite spot maybe because I grew up in the area and there are lots of wonderful hikes lakes and waterfalls. This park is nice well taken care of lots of redwood trees."
"Went to Wade's Lake in Plumas NF on July 5th & 6th. Easy to moderate climb; one from the trailhead at Jaimison Mine and the second to get up to Wade's."
from $35 - $250 / night
Check Availability"I have been here several times and enjoy the proximity to the peaceful lake. I try to locate a site away from the others to totally enjoy the serenity this area can offer."
"The lake itself is wonderful. The water can be on the cool side but not so much that you don't want to swim in it in August for sure."
from $31 / night
Check Availability"Had a great time here - terrific proximity to lake & decent sized camping sites. Nearby Portola, & easy drive from the Reno area."
"Super easy access to the lake from this site where you can paddle board and kayak in peace."
from $38 - $100 / night
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TravelerNice little Campground, not a lot of shade in the site that we were in. But we did have a Palapas, which was lovely. We cooked out everyday we had a fire several nights. The campground was pretty chill pretty quiet overall. Had water access directly across from us which was great. The dump station and water fill up on the exit was easy. Overall great first camping in our new RV.
TravelerThis park is really beautiful and with good services. Good cell phone signal with Tmobile 7 days every 30. Some sites are reservation only and some others are first come first served No overflow camping
TravelerCampground was nice and quiet despite being adjacent to a casino. Showers lock up at seven except for two to cover the entire large campground. Laundry shuts down at six and opens in the morning at eight. Location was fantastic.
TravelerThis appears to be another roadside pullout in the Demonstration Forest area rather than a legal overnight campsite. Based on on-site clarification from CAL FIRE at a nearby listing, overnight camping is not permitted in this Demonstration Forest area. Only the campground run by PG&E is legal.
Traveler--- Not a legal campsite: confirmed by CAL FIRE ---
I originally stopped here with an in-progress cargo trailer conversion because this looked like an excellent roadside pullout: large, easy to access, relatively level, and long enough to maneuver a truck and trailer without drama. As a short stop, turnaround, or day-use staging spot, it is genuinely useful. However, this should not be listed or treated as an overnight campsite. While I was on-site, I was contacted by Officer Steve Garcia with CAL FIRE, who advised me that overnight camping is not permitted at this location. I had interpreted the posted seasonal“no parking” signage as suggesting that public use might be allowed outside the snow-removal season, but he clarified that the signage relates to snow removal and does not authorize overnight camping in the Demonstration Forest area. For practical details: the pullout itself is easy to enter and exit, with enough room for a modest trailer rig to get fully out of traffic and turn around. Road noise drops off substantially overnight, though traffic begins again in the morning. The area may be useful for a brief rest stop, equipment check, turnaround, or day-use pause. But as a camping location, the important information is simple: Do not plan to camp here overnight. I’m updating this review so others don’t make the same assumption I did. This is a good pullout, but it is not a legal overnight campsite.
GuideIf you are looking for Free Dispersed camping then this is the place. No hookups but there is a toilet at the entrance (about 1 mile from the highway). The first mile was gravel. Turning towards the Sheep Camp the road gets a lot rougher and narrow. I have a smaller RV with 9-10” ground clearance and we were jumping around a bit and taking a lot of trees down the side of the RV. We set up at the end of the road past the Sheep Camp and got Absolutly Overrun with an actual Sheep Herd along with their protectors (3-4 dogs who just barked as us and visited several times in the middle of the night just to remind us not to mess with their sheep). We moved closer to the bathrooms away from the sheep. We were able to get good sky views and solid Starlink connection. This was 4th of July and there was no one there the first day and only two other sites the next. Very quiet. Near the bathrooms there is a dozen sites but I think there are way more if you don’t turn at the bathroom and continue down the road you can camp more in the meadows.
GuideIndian Valley. Site 5. I love this campground and this area of California. It is not directly situated on the Hwy, and abuts the Yuba River, which is clear and gorgeous and draws a lot of birds and wildlife. A small, quiet family campground with an excellent local host couple. Vault toilets are kept clean. Site 5 has a large open space to the right and a beautiful view to the scenery beyond the river. The vault toilet was close, and now and then I could smell an odor, but it was not constant, nor terrible.
TravelerThis is a really beautiful area! Very quiet and peaceful! Of course, it is a Wed night, so it could be very different on a weekend!😂
The grounds are VERY well kept! This is going to become a regular stop for us now! My wife has family in Redding, so this will be a nice overnight, before moving on the next day!
TravelerThis was a nice place to stay in Truckee for the night.
I was able to get enough Starlink signal to surf web, I didn’t trust it for work video calls with lots of trees in the actual campsites. There’s a couple of places a 2-5 minute drive away where you can have open sky and post up for the day if you need to work.
Camping options near Calpine, California span diverse terrain in the Sierra Nevada range, with established campgrounds and dispersed sites throughout Tahoe National Forest. The area includes developed sites like Clio's Rivers Edge RV Park and Sardine Lake Campground, offering accommodation for tents, RVs, and cabins. Several locations feature lakeside camping, with Webber Lake and Gold Lake providing water access and scenic mountain backdrops. Most campgrounds are positioned along forest roads with proximity to hiking trails, alpine lakes, and mountain vistas.
Seasonal operations significantly affect camping availability, as most developed sites operate from late May through mid-October due to heavy winter snowfall. Many campgrounds require reservations, particularly during summer weekends when sites fill quickly. Facilities vary considerably, with some campgrounds offering amenities like showers and electrical hookups, while others provide only vault toilets and bear boxes. Road conditions can limit access to remote areas, especially during spring snowmelt. As one camper noted about Chapman Campground, "No running water I found. Creek onsite. Dog friendly. $24/night. Grab an envelope on way in, pay station is a bit up the road."
Visitors consistently highlight the natural beauty and tranquil settings available at camping areas throughout the region. Campgrounds near water features receive particularly positive reviews, with several campers mentioning fishing opportunities at lakes and creeks. The Salmon Creek area draws families seeking accessible outdoor experiences, with large, well-maintained sites that accommodate group activities. A review of Tahoe National Forest Salmon Creek Campground stated it features "Very large sites, with some hike in with shallow creek crossing. Lush fields and forests. Great views." While road noise affects some locations, most campgrounds provide sufficient spacing between sites to maintain a wilderness feel. Cell service is limited or non-existent at most campgrounds in the area, allowing for genuine disconnection from urban environments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Calpine, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Calpine, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 345 campgrounds and RV parks near Calpine, CA and 28 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Calpine, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Calpine, CA is Clio's Rivers Edge RV Park with a 4.9-star rating from 9 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Calpine, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 28 free dispersed camping spots near Calpine, CA.
What parks are near Calpine, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 19 parks near Calpine, CA that allow camping, notably Plumas National Forest and Martis Creek Lake.
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