Carnelian Bay sits at an elevation of 6,325 feet on Lake Tahoe's north shore, with a climate characterized by winter snow accumulation and warm summer temperatures reaching the 80s. Most campgrounds in this region offer non-electric tent sites with vault toilets, while RV camping near Carnelian Bay requires driving 15-30 minutes to reach full-service parks with water and sewer connections.
What to do
Reservoir swimming: 45-minute drive to French Meadows where water conditions are ideal for families. "The water access, and water was perfect temperature for swimming for our toddlers even. Great amenities (fire ring, table, bear box)," notes one visitor to French Meadows.
Winter camping opportunities: December options available at several parks. "We ended up camping in a truck camper at Tahoe Valley Campground after being caught in a snow storm. For a last minute find, it turned out to be an awesome choice," reports a camper at Tahoe Valley Campground.
Hiking trails: Direct access from some RV parks. "There is access to a hiking/mountain biking path, but I did not explore it since it had rained heavily the day we arrived, and it was muddy," mentions a visitor at Gold Ranch Casino & RV Resort.
What campers like
Clean bathroom facilities: Individual shower units at some parks offer privacy. "There were five individual sink/toilet/shower units that were clean," notes a camper at Gold Ranch Casino & RV Resort.
Spacious group sites: Accommodates large parties with multiple tent spots. "Large group camp site with lots of flat places to pitch a tent. Clean pit toilets. 3x Bear food and 4x trash/recycling bins," shares a visitor at Coyote Group Campground.
Quiet off-season camping: Fewer crowds during shoulder season. "It was the weekend after Thanksgiving and snowing so there were a handful of people at the campground and the entire place was very quiet," reports a winter camper at Tahoe Valley.
What you should know
Reservation no-shows: Campground management issues can lead to double-bookings. "We stayed Memorial Day 2014. The location is beautiful, the reservoir is nice. We reserved our campsite online and when we arrived there was as another family who had also paid the host for the same spot," reports a visitor at French Meadows.
Some quiet hour enforcement problems: Noise concerns at certain locations. "Nicely kept campground but no night enforcement for quiet hours. Had several rowdy groups keeping us up til 2am. A few air horns, car alarms going off. No camp hosts or ground keepers around," notes a camper at Tahoe Valley Campground.
Vehicle age restrictions: Some parks limit older RVs. "There is NO mention of an age restriction on their website... But they WILL take the reservation online, take your money, then call to check the age of your rig," warns a visitor to Sparks Marina RV Park.
Tips for camping with families
Age restrictions for amenities: Some facilities have minimum age requirements. "Kids must be 18 to enjoy the spa even if accompanied by adults, had a great club house with a pool table but kids must be 14 to play," explains a camper at Sparks Marina RV Park.
Family-friendly activities: Organized events at some campgrounds enhance the experience. "They put on a ton of events like karaoke nights, live music, and smores nights. Hot showers and well lit clean bathrooms. Hard to find solitude or silence," notes a visitor at Tahoe Valley Campground.
Child-friendly beach access: Walking distance to swimming. "We came into south lake to visit family. This campground is right in town but there's enough space and trees to give it a natural setting. Bathrooms are great and it's pretty quiet considering it's popular. Looks great for families and there's a dog park, pool and trails," shares a camper at Tahoe Valley.
Tips from RVers
Uneven terrain at some campgrounds: Site selection matters. "WARNING- two thirds of the campsites were on a slope with no where to setup a tent on level ground. We got lucky and reserved a site with a 'decent' spot to place a tent," advises a visitor to French Meadows.
Casino RV park value: On-site dining perks at some locations. "We were given several coupons including one for $15 off food at the café but you need to walk through the casino to get to the café. We had breakfast there and it was good (as was the service)," explains a camper at Silver City RV Resort.
Winter hookup limitations: Cold weather camping challenges. "RV sites have hookups (although we weren't able to connect to water because of freezing temperatures) and there are many amenities available including hot showers, laundry facilities and a general store," reports a winter visitor to Tahoe Valley Campground.
