Best Campgrounds near Clearlake, CA

The shores of Clearlake in Northern California draw campers year-round with several good options for overnight stays. Clearlake City Park Campground works well for anyone wanting to stay near town while still having lake access. If you're looking for better hiking, Clearlake Area State Park connects campers with trails while still keeping the lake close by. Some campers head to the national forest land instead, where dispersed sites give you more space but fewer amenities. Clearlake Recreation Area has room for both tents and RVs with decent spacing between sites. Families tend to like Clearlake County Park Campground because of its picnic areas and playgrounds. Most campgrounds have roads that any car can handle, though some of the forest sites need vehicles with better clearance. You should make reservations if camping between May and September when the lake gets busy. Many local campers prefer April-May or September-October when there are fewer people and the weather stays mild. Winter camping works too, but bring rain gear and warm sleeping bags. Different campgrounds have different booking timeframes, so check ahead. The main roads to Clearlake stay in good shape, but sometimes close seasonally. The area has enough camping variety that most people can find something that fits what they want.

Best Camping Sites Near Clearlake, California (162)

    1. Kelsey Creek Campground — Clear Lake State Park

    21 Reviews
    Kelseyville, CA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 279-4293

    $30 / night

    "Having visited Lake County many times, I wasn't expecting much from this camp ground. I had intended to camp at Boggs Forest - my usual hangout for mountain biking when in the area."

    "Had a nice spot that was semi-shaded in the afternoon, next to a lovely couple who I was able to share some beers with.  The place was at capacity, but many people leave during the day."

    2. Lakeview Dispersed Campground

    14 Reviews
    Nice, CA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 934-3316

    "First time camping and going somewhat off road. If you’re worried about your vehicle making it up we saw a tesla and a nissan altima up there. My subaru made it up perfectly."

    "Beautiful spot with some views of the lake. No services, but had cell service (CC). I drove in from the south access to High Valley rd. The road was challenging."

    3. Clear Lake Campground

    6 Reviews
    Lower Lake, CA
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 994-2236

    $55 - $999 / night

    4. Cache Creek Regional Park Campground

    14 Reviews
    Rumsey, CA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 406-4880

    $35 / night

    "There are plenty spots so we had our privacy, toilets were clean and it’s next to a road but there isn’t much traffic. Really calm and nice!"

    "The site in in a valley between a small creek (that runs right next to the roadway) and a small mountain “range” on the opposing side."

    5. The Aurora RV Park & Marina

    8 Reviews
    Nice, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 274-5531

    $22 - $75 / night

    "A picnic bench behind the RVs and looking out to the water. Large group cooking and gathering areas. The other side is a standard RV park. It’s a medium size park."

    "It’s a cute little campground, conveniently located right on the lake. There are a few sites directly at Lake side and Moore across the street. Generally well kept looks a little older."

    6. Blue Oak Campground

    3 Reviews
    Clearlake Oaks, CA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 468-4000

    "We went to this campground to hike the San Juan trail and ended up staying the night as well. Such as beautiful campsite. It was a quiet night with not such noise from people."

    7. Calso - Boggs Mountain Demo Forest - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

    2 Reviews
    Cobb, CA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 928-4378

    "None the less, I still come here to enjoy the new growth, the impressive new trails and the new views of the valleys below.  It’s Labor Day weekend and I’m one of maybe a half dozen campers."

    8. Pine Grove Cobb Resort

    2 Reviews
    Cobb, CA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 928-1006

    $25 - $210 / night

    "We also had access to our own private bathroom and shower a short walk away which was great. Would stay here again, highly recommend!"

    9. Huttopia Wine Country

    1 Review
    Lower Lake, CA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 461-0740

    $236 - $364 / night

    "You can't ask for a more picturesque place to glamping, surrounded by the fields of the ranch & winery, while also within driving distance of San Francisco, this is a spot to check out!"

    10. High Valley Rd Dispersed

    4 Reviews
    Nice, CA
    12 miles

    "There’s views of Lear Lake if you want to walk a bit. No water nearby. The road is very dusty on the way up!"

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Recent Reviews near Clearlake, CA

730 Reviews of 162 Clearlake Campgrounds


  • Kevin C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 22, 2025

    High Valley Ridge

    Stunning Vistas

    There are numerous pull-outs and campsites along this High Ridge Road with absolutely breathtakingly stunning views of the valley to the east and the lake to the west. It is primitive camping to be sure but you will find nothing more beautiful and peaceful than this. While there are a few campsites with foliage canopies, most are in the Sun and where I stayed it is entirely sunny all day with equally beautiful sunsets and sunrises. Verizon is two bars. The road coming in from the north is easy though it can be rutted and bumpy in spots as well as narrow. Overall it's an easy Road for van lifers and vehicles with reasonable clearance. Pulling a small trailer up here would also be straightforward. This is not an area for large rvs. It is about a 45 minute drive into town with full services. It's not far but a very slow drive.

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 22, 2025

    Lake Solano County Park

    Good spot for the night

    Just electric $40. Two of four bathrooms are closed. I like to stay close to the bathroom, since I don’t have one. You can hear the freeway traffic.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 21, 2025

    Bodega Dunes Campground — Sonoma Coast State Park

    Noisy lighthouse, excellent campground

    Pack earplugs if you are not a deep sleeper, keep reading to find out why. The campsite is located in a unique location near the pacific coast highway 1. There are large trees and sandy dunes to explore. There's a little bird under habitat protection, so no dogs on trails, but you can take your dog walking on Marshall beach just a few miles up north on the coast. There's a RV park with a friendly little cafe with sunny outdoor seating and honey lavender lattes back down south. The campground is quite large and bushes give excellent privacy. The state park staff offer a large cardboard box of firewood for $10 dollars. Lower light pollution makes for good night sky views. Unfortunately the proximity to the highway and a lighthouse make the night noisier than it should be. The boat horn from the lighthouse can be heard every 10 seconds blasting faintly, but loudly enough to make falling asleep tough, I used earplugs which made this maneageable, but the lighthouse starts the horn interval at nightfall and doesnt stop sounding the horn until 6AM. The amenities like a sink and indoor bathrooms make up for this.

  • Carly B.
    Nov. 19, 2025

    The Aurora RV Park & Marina

    Good short stop

    It’s a cute little campground, conveniently located right on the lake. There are a few sites directly at Lake side and Moore across the street. Generally well kept looks a little older. Has showers and washrooms.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 12, 2025

    Putah Canyon - Lake Berryessa USBR

    Fish splash cows moo, and great lake views

    The campsites have various placements on the hill and two walkable peninsulas. The sunrise is wonderful from the views on the hillside campgrounds. Has amenities but since it's by the lake the firewood was damp and made getting a fire going a struggle of feeding it more and more bundles of dried pine. The highway is within earshot and cars can be heard faintly going by. I did see mosquitos, only few, and they were not trying to bite often (Nov 2025). There's a farm keeping cows which moon all night. The stargazing is great and there's a periodical splash of a fish from the lake. Overall great and would go again, maybe site 118 next time, but 117 was close to the lake and a parting in the trees made a great lookout.

  • Anna R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 30, 2025

    Dawn Ranch: Hotel – Restaurant – Spa

    Riverside Retreat

    Easily accessible & right near downtown. These cabins are thoughtfully developed with wonderful onsite amenities. The staff are incredible and the restaurant is delicious! Enjoy relaxing near the Russian River here.

  • s
    Oct. 28, 2025

    Doran Regional Park

    Bodega Beach Getaway

    A great camping spot in Bodega Bay. We stayed in the shell loop and it was a short walk to the bathroom. Bathrooms were very clean, I was impressed, with coin operated showers (we did not use). There are lots of RVs but we pitched a tent. We went in October and one day it was completely sunny and the next morning it was pretty wet. Nothing too bad though. Only downside is how close together the campsites are, otherwise great site with fire ring and picnic table provided. We were at site 44 which had a great tree, but sites 42, 41, and 40 looked spacious and had great views. The town is a short drive away too with good seafood spots.

  • R. J.
    Oct. 26, 2025

    Lower Bayview Campground — Clear Lake State Park

    Not completely worth it

    Great campground, not so great in the summer. There is barely any airflow. Once in a while a breeze will manage to pass through, but when its 100ºF outside...you'd wish it were breezy all day.

    Campsite #99 is literally right next to the restroom, as well as a few other campsites at the Lower Bay View campsite(93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 100, & 110) with a bit more walking. The other campsites are a bit of a walk the further you get away.

    If you are expecting it to be quiet during the evening nearby the restrooms, these sites will not help. Not everyone is respectful of their camping neighbors and will either stand there and chitchat...for some odd reason...but also, you can really hear the toilet flush as it was amplified.

    I do highly recommend to bring a rake and rake out where you are going to put your tent. Soo many twigs and rocks on the ground, ain't fun. Also, be sure to bring a canopy with a mosquito screen...tons of flies, yellow jackets, moths, gnats, just all around flying bugs. Remember when I mentioned the breeze coming once in a while...yeah, this is another reason why.

    Thankfully no trash pandas(racoons) were seen the entire trip. But we have seen tons of lizards, crows, and bluejay's. I did see however on our last night at the camp, a California Kingsnake. I was going to the restroom before going to bed and 3 women were by the men's side of the bathrooms. Once I was done, I came out and saw the snake with my headlamp. I stepped aside and told the women to be careful, there is a snake.

    They told me its just lizards...apparently a few ran across their feet. I told them "No, its a snake...look". They looked down where my light was spotted and saw the snake. 2 of the 3 women ran while the 3rd stood by me til it moved away. The 3rd ran once the snake continued to where it was going. I went to my tent and zipped it up tightly and went to bed. While laying down, I can hear the ladies talking to the men at their campsite about the snake and couldn't help but laugh a bit silently.

    The swimming lagoon was not worth even trying to get in. The water level is low, boat launch nearby was closed due to waterline being low. There is soo much algae, the water stinks if you break the surface. Wasn't even worth trying to swim.

    Oh and one last thing, call before you arrive the day you plan on visiting. No Charcoal Grills, No Campfires, Only gas or propane grills. Due to an extreme risk of fire, there has been a ban. I asked the ranger about using the fire pit rings at the campsite, and seeing on the website reservation system that we are allowed to use it. That is not true and whoever is responsible on maintaining the system hasn't updated it to reflect the fire ban according to what the ranger at the station stated.

  • Jan P.
    Oct. 26, 2025

    Lake Solano County Park

    Friendly staff, nice location

    The river is beautiful, though you can hear the road when you are near the river. Great location. T-Mobile only works at certain sites, no Wi-Fi. Peacocks are a fun addition!


Guide to Clearlake

Camping near Clearlake, California, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a quiet retreat or a family-friendly adventure, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the scenic trails around the area. Campers at Bodega Dunes Campground — Sonoma Coast State Park enjoyed the "nice walk" to the beach, which is easy to follow and leads to beautiful views.
  • Beach Access: Spend time at the beach! One reviewer mentioned that the beach was "quiet and only a few folks were out there after the storm," making it a perfect spot for relaxation.
  • Wine Tasting: If you're into wine, head to nearby wineries. Campers at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground appreciated the campground's proximity to many wineries, saying it "feels more remote than it is."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Many campers appreciate clean restrooms and showers. A visitor at Hendy Woods State Park Campground noted, "The restrooms are clean and the showers are a nice amenity."
  • Privacy: Campers enjoy the spacious sites that provide a sense of privacy. One reviewer at Gualala Point Regional Park mentioned, "The campsite we got was pretty big as well."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often highlight the helpfulness of campground hosts. A visitor at Doran Regional Park said, "Helpful hosts" made their stay more enjoyable.

What you should know:

  • No Hookups: Many campgrounds in the area do not offer electric hookups. A camper at Bodega Dunes Campground mentioned, "This location has no hookups but does have a dump station."
  • Wildlife: Be aware of local wildlife. Campers at Gualala Point Regional Park reported seeing raccoons and were warned about mountain lions, so keep an eye on your food and belongings.
  • Busy Seasons: Some campgrounds can get crowded, especially during holidays. A visitor at San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA noted, "It sucks that so many people go here now."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with activities for kids. One reviewer at San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA mentioned, "This KOA offers a variety of activities that cater to children, such as petting zoos and jumping pillows."
  • Choose Spacious Sites: Opt for campgrounds with larger sites for more room to play. A camper at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground appreciated the "large meadow in the center, which is great for frisbee or other games."
  • Plan for Meals: Bring easy-to-cook meals or snacks. A family at Hendy Woods State Park Campground enjoyed the "firewood available from the camp host."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A visitor at Lawson's Landing mentioned, "They also will typically let you get creative with your layout if you're with a group."
  • Be Prepared for No Hookups: Many campgrounds don’t have electric hookups, so plan accordingly. A camper at Skyline Wilderness Park noted, "It’s good for an RV park type setting, but it’s still an RV Park."
  • Bring Firewood: Some campgrounds don’t provide firewood. A visitor at Woodside Campground — Salt Point State Park advised, "Bring firewood; there’s none available on site."

Camping near Clearlake, California, has something for everyone, whether you're a family looking for fun or an RVer seeking adventure. Enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best times of year to camp at Clear Lake, California?

The ideal camping season at Clear Lake runs from late spring through early fall (April to October). Spring offers mild temperatures and blooming wildflowers, while summer provides perfect conditions for water activities. Fall brings cooler temperatures and fewer crowds. Deer Valley Campground, about 45 minutes from Nice, CA near Clear Lake, makes a great alternative when seeking solitude during peak summer months. For those seeking year-round options, Stony Gorge Reservoir - USBR provides accessible camping with fewer restrictions during off-peak seasons. Be aware that some campgrounds may have seasonal closures, particularly in winter.

Is tent camping available at Clear Lake?

Yes, tent camping is widely available at Clear Lake. Spring Lake Regional Park offers tent camping with newer bathroom and shower facilities, plus easy access to water activities and hiking trails. While tent camping is possible at Clear Lake Campground, sites are quite close together, so RVs might be more suitable there. Clear Lake State Park also welcomes tent campers across its multiple campgrounds. For more secluded tent camping options, Blue Oak Campground near Clearlake Oaks offers tent sites with more privacy. Most tent sites include fire rings and picnic tables, though be aware of seasonal fire restrictions that may be in place.

Where are the best campgrounds in Clearlake, CA?

Clear Lake offers several excellent camping options. Kelsey Creek Campground — Clear Lake State Park is a popular choice with level paved pads and access to water activities. The park actually contains four campgrounds: Upper Bayview, Lower Bayview, Cole Creek, and Kelsey Creek. For a smaller, family-owned option, Clear Lake Campground offers a quaint setting with friendly management and convenient location as you enter Clearlake. For those seeking more solitude, consider venturing to nearby areas like Cache Creek Regional Park Campground which offers more secluded sites while still being within driving distance of Clear Lake.

What RV facilities are available at Clear Lake?

The Aurora RV Park & Marina offers premium RV facilities with two distinct areas - one directly on the water with back-in sites (for an additional fee) featuring picnic benches overlooking the lake, and another across the road with standard amenities. The waterfront section includes large group cooking and gathering areas. Kelsey Creek Campground in Clear Lake State Park provides level sites with paved pads suitable for RVs. Most RV parks around Clear Lake offer water and electric hookups, with some providing full hookups including sewer. Dump stations are available at several locations. Many sites accommodate larger rigs, though it's always advisable to check specific length restrictions when booking.