Best Campgrounds near Carmichael, CA

Developed campgrounds near Carmichael, California are primarily concentrated in the nearby Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, which includes both Beals Point and Peninsula campgrounds. The Sacramento region offers several established campgrounds with varied accommodation types, from tent sites to RV hookups, with options including SacWest RV Park & Campground and Cal Expo RV Park within 15 miles of Carmichael. Most campgrounds in this area are suitable for both tent and RV camping, though many RV parks have restrictions on older vehicles.

Camping availability in the Sacramento area remains consistent year-round due to the region's mild climate, with most established campgrounds open throughout all seasons. Many campgrounds require reservations, particularly during summer months and weekends when visitation increases. While tent camping is technically allowed at some RV parks, several reviews indicate these facilities primarily cater to RVs with full hookups. Roads are generally paved with good access, making most sites accessible without specialized vehicles. Campgrounds in the region typically offer amenities like drinking water, toilets, and trash service, though amenity quality varies between locations. One camper noted about Sacramento Shade RV Park: "Great place to camp! While setting up, every person that walked by said hi and welcome! We have never experienced that much friendliness in a campground."

Mixed-use campgrounds in the area provide varying experiences depending on their proximity to urban environments. Sites closer to downtown Sacramento offer convenience for city exploration but often come with urban noise. As one reviewer mentioned about Cal Expo RV Park: "It is accessible to downtown, but it is just a parking lot with no frills." Folsom Lake State Recreation Area campgrounds provide more traditional outdoor experiences with lake access and natural surroundings. Several visitors note the benefit of bike path access from Cal Expo RV Park, with one stating it has "great bike paths adjacent along the river into Downtown or up to Folsom." For those seeking unique accommodations, a clothing-optional resort with cabins exists in Wilton, approximately 20 miles southeast of Carmichael, receiving positive reviews for its amenities and privacy.

Best Camping Sites Near Carmichael, California (181)

    1. Beals Point Campground — Folsom Lake State Recreation Area

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

    $28 - $48 / night

    "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."

    2. SacWest RV Park & Campground

    17 Reviews
    West Sacramento Vmf, CA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (916) 371-6771

    $52 - $100 / night

    "Great little campsite with a 50s vibe right outside the city of Sacramento. The bathrooms and showers are clean the staff are friendly and helpful."

    "We stayed at the side close to the highway so it was a bit noisy but not too bad. The people were friendly! It was a bit too pricey though."

    3. Peninsula Campground — Folsom Lake State Recreation Area

    15 Reviews
    Granite Bay, CA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (916) 988-0215

    $28 / 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"

    4. Cal Expo RV Park

    10 Reviews
    Sacramento, CA
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (916) 263-3187

    $50 - $1000 / night

    "Great Bike paths adjacent along the river into Downtown or up to Folsom. All Full hook up sites on gravel or asphalt, daily, weekly, monthly rates."

    "then you want a good location for your home base. Cal Expo definitely has the centralized location for exploring Old Sac, Cal Expo, State Capitol, the rivers and beyond."

    5. Sacramento Shade RV Park

    4 Reviews
    Rio Linda, CA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (916) 922-0814

    "Also while setting up, every person that walked by said hi and welcome! We have never experienced that much friendliness in a campground."

    6. Sherwood Harbor Marina & RV Park

    7 Reviews
    West Sacramento Vmf, CA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (916) 371-3471

    "Tons of beautiful, shady spots overlooking or near the Sacramento river. Very Breezy and well maintained park with good prices for electrical and water hookup and a dump station."

    "Everything you need to “get away” is here and big city amenities a short drive away."

    7. Loomis RV Park

    3 Reviews
    Roseville, CA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (916) 652-6737

    $65 / night

    "This is an older park in a location close to shopping. However, the train is near by and can be heard in the park. It comes by about twice in a 24 hr period. Office staff very nice and helpful."

    "There is a little store within walking distance.  Overall a very nice park!"

    8. Mark J RV Park

    3 Reviews
    Carmichael, CA
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (916) 332-6244

    9. Imperial Manor Mhc And RV Park

    2 Reviews
    Carmichael, CA
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (916) 344-4915

    10. Laguna Del Sol - CLOTHING OPTIONAL

    3 Reviews
    Sloughhouse, CA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (916) 687-6550

    "Four swimming pools

    • Three social pools
    • Volleyball courts
    • Pickleball
    • Hiking/walking trails <-- our favorite.
    • Tennis And others."

    "Everything you could ask for as amenities go in a beautiful location. Don't forget your sun screen."

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Recent Reviews near Carmichael, CA

589 Reviews of 181 Carmichael Campgrounds


  • Shir S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    El Dorado

    Great place before lake tahoe

    We drove from redwood to Lake Tahoe and wanted a place to stay since it got late Good place Online booking and entrance if after hours and affordable price opposed to other sites in the area

  • J
    Sep. 17, 2025

    American River Resort

    Perfect match

    During our stay (mid of September) the place was empty and we had the most relaxed time we could have. RV site close to the river and some deers also crossing our ways on the campground

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Lake Solano County Park

    Great campsite, loud road

    I loved staying here for one night and wish I could’ve been there for longer. The bathrooms are accessible, I had a beautiful spot by the water, my neighbors were friendly, the staff were welcoming. The only catch was that the road parallel to the lake is super loud and for me bothersome at night. I did not get good sleep because of this, i recommend bringing ear plugs if you are sensitive to noise and sleeping outside (i was in a tent). I don’t know how noisy it is for other spots farther away, but I would guess the sound still travels but is not as bad as having a spot along the water. Normal site are $30 per night, sites along the water are $40.

  • 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.

  • 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!

  • Random E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 21, 2025

    Dutch Flat RV Resort

    One of the Few Reasonable Places Left In California

    I stayed at Dutch Flat RV for a year (Aug 24-Jul 25). it is a nice campground with some beautiful hikes starting at the campground.  

    Good mix of vacation and working residents. Everyone pretty much stays to themselves but are quite friendly. 

    The management and owners are super friendly and helpful.  

    I know the owners are in the process of improving many aspects of the site.


Guide to Carmichael

Carmichael camping sites offer visitors access to both developed campgrounds and RV parks within the greater Sacramento area. The region sits in California's Central Valley at an elevation around 100 feet, experiencing hot, dry summers and mild winters with temperatures rarely dropping below freezing. Water levels at nearby Folsom Lake fluctuate significantly throughout the year, affecting beach access and swimming conditions at associated campgrounds.

What to do

Hiking trails access: Folsom Lake State Recreation Area provides extensive trail systems for hikers of all levels. At Peninsula Campground, campers can access the 8-mile Darrington Trail directly from the campground. "A shorter accessible trail (Oaks Nature Trail) is entirely contained within the campground and takes you through some great examples and educational signs regarding the riparian ecosystem," notes one Peninsula Campground visitor.

Cycling options: Several campgrounds offer direct bike path access. From Cal Expo RV Park, visitors can ride along riverside paths. According to a camper, the park has "great bike paths adjacent along the river into Downtown or up to Folsom." The American River Parkway connects multiple recreation areas and offers paved trails suitable for road bikes.

Water recreation: When lake levels permit, swimming and boating are popular at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. As one visitor to Beals Point notes, "The lake itself is beautiful! If not camping overnight i love to get a day pass and just hang out on the beach!" The same reviewer warns, "I suggest staying on the main beach with the provided lifejacket area if with children as the other rock areas near the beach suddenly can drop off underwater very deep."

What campers like

Riverside environments: Camping sites near the Sacramento River provide unique water access. At Sherwood Harbor Marina & RV Park, one camper appreciated the "tons of beautiful, shady spots overlooking or near the Sacramento river. Very Breezy and well maintained park with good prices for electrical and water hookup and a dump station." Another visitor described it as an "undiscovered gem" with "beautiful spaces to park your RV with a view of the river and small local marina."

Clean facilities: Many campers highlight shower quality as important. At SacWest RV Park, visitors appreciate the "wonderful ada bathroom/showers with a fold down bench." At Beals Point Campground, a reviewer noted, "The showers take quarters and have hot water most of the time. The showers are very big its actually quite peaceful and nice. The shower rooms have very high ceilings with thicker glass windows way up high as well. Almost like a spa experience if you ask me."

Wildlife viewing: Peninsula Campground offers exceptional wildlife encounters. "Wildlife is off the chain here," writes one camper. "Bears have been seen on occasion, cougars, Bobcats, and coyotes all stop by from time to time, and there are so many skunks it can get annoying." The same reviewer describes seeing "some of the most beautiful emerald and sapphire colored lizards" during breeding season.

What you should know

Seasonal variations: The Sacramento area experiences extreme heat in summer months. A Beals Point visitor warns, "The Sacramento area gets very hot in the summer, and this campground provides some but not a ton of shade." Water levels at Folsom Lake fluctuate dramatically. One camper observed, "The lake is very low and a half mile walk from park to get to. The sites are surrounded by dry tall grass."

Frequently Asked Questions

How far are the major campgrounds from Carmichael?

Lake Camanche is approximately 60 miles east of Carmichael (about 1.5 hours drive), offering well-maintained grounds with lake access and clean facilities. Acorn Campground at New Hogan Reservoir is about 65 miles southeast (around 1 hour 20 minutes), providing reasonably priced sites suitable for tents and smaller trailers. For those willing to travel a bit farther, Indian Grinding Rock State Historical Park Campground is about 70 miles east (1.5 hours) and offers a shaded, smaller campground adjacent to a fascinating historical park.

Where are the best campgrounds in Carmichael, California?

While Carmichael itself doesn't have campgrounds within town limits, several excellent options are nearby. Beals Point Campground — Folsom Lake State Recreation Area offers spacious sites with nice tree coverage, clean facilities, and lake access, though water levels can vary seasonally. American River Resort provides riverside camping with fire pits and picnic tables at each site, plus it's within walking distance to town for supplies. Both campgrounds feature clean bathrooms and are family-friendly, making them popular choices for Carmichael residents looking for local outdoor getaways.

What are the closest car camping options to Carmichael?

The closest convenient car camping option to Carmichael is Mineral Bar Campground — Auburn State Recreation Area, about 35 miles northeast (45-minute drive). Despite its beauty and river access, weekends can get busy, so midweek visits are recommended for a quieter experience. For RV enthusiasts, Cal Expo RV Park in neighboring Sacramento provides easy urban car camping just 15 minutes from Carmichael. Both locations offer drive-up access to campsites, making them ideal for car campers who want to park directly at their site without hauling gear long distances.