329 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping near Coloma puts you along the American River with access to California's Gold Rush history, swimming, and fishing. Several good camping spots can be found in the area, including Coloma Resort right along the river. Campers often make the drive to South Lake Tahoe as well, where Sierra Nevada campsites sit at higher elevations with cooler temperatures. Many hiking trails start near these campgrounds, with some paths leading to good viewpoints and quiet spots to watch for deer and other wildlife. Some campsites have good tree cover for shade, while others are more open and sunny. Roads to most camping areas stay in good condition year-round, though winter snow can affect access to higher elevation sites. Gold panning opportunities at Coloma Resort let campers try their hand at finding flakes in the same river that started the 1849 Gold Rush. American River Resort has larger sites that work well for families with kids who need room to play. Bear activity means food storage is important - many campgrounds provide metal food lockers to keep supplies safe. Most camping areas have good signs and you can reach them without needing four-wheel drive in dry conditions. Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park sits just minutes from many campsites and shows where gold was first discovered. The area works well for campers who like fishing, hiking, or just hanging out by the water. Pack layers since the temperature often drops significantly at night, even in summer. The combination of history and river access makes Coloma worth considering for California camping trips.
"Beautiful campground along the American River in Coloma CA. The campground contains both on river and off river sites. You can literally backup to the rivers edge in the on river sites."
"We loved the Coloma Campground."
"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."
from $33 - $58 / night
Check Availability"Nice campground - close to river. .5 mile walk to town for shopping/eating. All sites have fire pit and picnic table. Bathrooms clean and private showers."
"It is right in the American River and next to a class 3 rapid called Trouble Maker. It was awesome watching rafters and kayakers go through it."
"Very quite camping spot very clean.coin operated showers😭 lake is very close by."
"I wanted to find a spot somewhat close by and came across this one."
from $33 / night
Check Availability"It’s great for kids that want to ride bikes around the sites- but be careful of the river, it’s swift."
"Great spot if you can get in half of the camp got washed away from the rain this year though ."
"You’re also about 3 or 4 miles away from the Georgetown OHV which made it an easy ride to get to the dirt."
"A lovely quiet spot midweek, quiet drive to Georgetown for some great breakfasts if you want some classic American diner fare."
from $3 - $8 / night
Check Availability"I’ve been here about 8-10 times and every time I love my stay, it’s a quiet getaway around 45 mins away from me and the sound of the river is amazing."
"Place the cash ($28 a night) in the envelope and put it in the post that’s on the parking entrance."
from $38 / night
Check Availability"It reminded me of Lake Pillsbury north of Clear Lake Ca where we as a family had been camping since 1981. But with just over 2hr drive not 6hr with trailer. There is a pool, and kids pool."
"About 1.5hr from Sacramento and South Lake Tahoe. Built thick forest of the Sierra mountains. Nice size campsites. Water and Electricity only."
"Our site was next to the raft launch/pickup, so there were a couple of groups picked up during the day. Bathrooms were average and the site was maintained well."
"Small cars made it down ther without difficulty)
Once at the camp ground, right on the waters edge, grab up the 3rd site on the right. It is literally on the edge of the river."
GuideAll grass with plenty of shade tress. A lot of spaces to choose from, they have a camp host who patrols the area. Gates are locked at night so some what secure. There is a dump station that you can use if you rent a space. Very nice !
TravelerOnly a couple people here dispersed camping on a weekend. Arrived on Friday around 2 PM and the best spot was taken, but there were several others that were very good. It’s an unusual place as it is in abandoned ski resort. Lots of wide open spaces, but to the west there are two spots that are fairly secluded, but still open space and allow for good son for solar and great mountain and Sunset views. Very spotty cell service make sure you bring Starlink. It is a little close to the road so there’s slight road noise and on the weekend you can hear gunfire far away in the distance as people are in the forest taking target practice. No big deal though, very safe place. The sites are about 7500 feet above sea level. So even on the hottest days, it’s relatively cool and very comfortable at night (50s to 60s).
TravelerPlace was quite busy over the weekend but we were able to secure the last campsite Saturday afternoon. The drop toilets had a little remaining toilet paper but ran out during our stay (bring your own). I wouldn’t recommend the road without 4x4 or AWD, especially if the road conditions are wet/muddy. Our RWD car made it to the site, however it's the type of road that you could easily get stuck without off roading experience and careful navigation. There are sizable rocks, ruts, and potholes to navigate through. Under carriage scrapping will be unavoidable for lower clearance vehicles. Cell service available at campground. Bear box boxes available at campground, each site had one.
Amazing hikes and trailhead near campsite.
ScoutWas not aware lake tahoe was surrounded with all kinds of shops in the area we were staying in, extremely friendly people and so were the bears! Our first night a bear came right for our campsite as we were about to cook and took our eggs out of our cooler then invited its other fuzzy friend over. It was hard to cook our food as they were targeting our campsite so we went out to eat instead. The bears walked about the campsite for 6 hours probably but besides that bathroom was clean and so was the shower i felt really safe with other campsites close to me
TravelerThe campsite is set along one side of the middle fork of the Cosumnes River and is quite lovely. It is a popular campground on weekends so reservations are recommended. There are outhouses and fresh water available. Cell service is very spotty (we have Verizon) but drive up the road a half mile and you'll get a signal. There are places to fish and swim in the river, with several day use areas in the campground.
TravelerWe did two nights and left in the morning on the third day. The ranger drove by briefly both days but didn't stop to give us any feedback. We followed the coordinates using GPS out to this site just fine without losing signal. But once there, definitely no cell signal. We didn't see any posts labeled"8N54" or"8N55". We did see posts for Motorized Trailhead 13E33.
Overall this was a good little spot for first time dispersed campers like us. We did some light hiking and there was plenty opportunity for star gazing. Oddly enough there was rave music playing all night into the early morning hours. Unexpected, but distant enough that one of us was able to sleep through it ok, but not the best or most peaceful sleep. We're not really sure if it was coming from a nearby campsite or private property but, oh well. At times throughout the day time the rave music would come on briefly.
Also, this site is really well suited for folks who love dirt motor biking, driving ATVs and that sort of thing. We don't have anything like that but we chose this site because it was easy to get to and not too far from home and civilization. There were several folks riding around both days from about 9 am to 4 pm. We recommend using a copy of the MVUM Map for El Dorado NF Placerville area to see all of the trails and road types. During the peaceful quiet moments, we heard several woodpeckers, crickets, loud deer mooing. And there was even a small heard of cows that came into the campsite a little bit. For about 45 minutes we heard them clinking around with their cowbells on. But it was at night so it was pitch black and the bells were a bit distracting along with the music. One of them even decided to smudge our truck(see photo).
Also, be prepared to shake out your shoes and clothes often as this site featured dirt floor that was particularly dusty. Any time the riders would go by, a big cloud of dust would flow our way. Plenty of tree cover for shade. We didn't use the fire pit because of fire restrictions right now, but we got a fire permit anyway before heading out there. Instead we used a mini stove with butane canister. Definitely plan to pack everything out and clean up your trash. There were a few straggler pieces of debris clearly left behind by less mindful folks, but overall the site was clean in that sense. We were here in late July and it wasn't too hot or cold. We got a mix of warm and cool breezes that were really nice!
TravelerSheila Edelen is an excellent camp host! She taught me the campers rule and that the campers rule is to always leave a place better than when you got there. I honestly believe if that was a law for every person and thing in existence, every person and thing in existence would have a better existence and life. Truly potent wisdom from a fun and cool artistic person! Remember how simple philanthropy is to continue to teach that important teaching, and that those excellent nostalgic Forest of wisdom philanthropy could be grown from one teaching idea in the form of the thought of a pine cone that had pinecones, and that was one seed from a pine cone teaching that life needs to learn and teach more.
ScoutAn absolute hidden gem! The camp hosts greet you like family, and the bathrooms are spotless. Our site was huge with plenty of breathing room. The best part? You can hear the Truckee River roaring just a short walk away and you're in pure paradise!
ScoutGood, functional layout. Campsites offer excellent spacing and privacy. Facilities are exceptionally clean, and the hosts are highly efficient. Safe, direct foot path leads to the Truckee River in under two minutes. Optimal choice for a quick escape under an hour from Reno.
Dispersed camping options near Coloma, California include primitive sites in the surrounding Sierra Nevada foothills. The area sits at elevations ranging from 600 to 1,200 feet above sea level where summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F. Afternoon thunderstorms occur during summer months, making morning arrival times preferable for setting up camp.
River activities: Access points along the American River provide day-use areas for swimming, fishing, and gold panning. Coloma Resort connects visitors directly to these activities with "River was stunning and it was neat to walk across the bridge and check out the old historic mining town. We are going back in august and can't wait. Looking forward to rafting in the river!" according to visitor Whiffaroni M.
Gold panning: American River Resort offers direct access to the same river that sparked the California Gold Rush. Chris U. notes, "Campground was clean and well taken care of. It is right in the American River and next to a class 3 rapid called Trouble Maker. It was awesome watching rafters and kayakers go through it."
Hiking trails: Nearby Folsom Lake State Recreation Area features multiple trail networks less than 30 minutes from Coloma. A visitor at Peninsula Campground reports, "The near by Otter Creek Trail is a nice day hike though a bit of switch backing elevation to get down to the creek. Lots of wild turkeys, deer, and birds."
Direct river access: Coloma Resort campsites place visitors steps from the American River where summer water activities center. Karen T. comments: "Beautiful view of the river but it was certainly crowded. Group sites we were near played loud music. Quiet hours weren't enforced as people played music or loudly chatted until 1am the first night we were there."
Covered tent sites: Many campsites offer shade structures important for summer camping when temperatures regularly reach 90-100°F. One camper mentioned, "The sun shade provided in the tent sites came in handy when we had a short moment of rain. It was also much appreciated during the sunny weather."
Historical attractions: Dru Barner Campground provides a quiet base for exploring Gold Rush history. A visitor shared, "I drove into Georgetown (6 miles) one day and had the best time exploring the shops and talking to the locals. Gas station has propane. Back in or pull through sites."
Fire restrictions: Summer fire bans frequently affect the area during peak camping season. At Auburn State Recreation Area, a visitor noted, "A fire pit/grill, large concrete picnic table, and bear box complete the site (although there was a fire ban in effect)."
Water conditions: Camp Lotus sits on the American River with water levels changing seasonally. Kevin L. explains, "Great campground for tenting or RV camping. It's on the river. Friendly and helpful hosts. No dogs are allowed though. This is one of our favorite campgrounds."
Reservation timing: Popular sites book quickly during summer months. A guest at Dru Barner Campground advises, "You can call and reserve or just show up and find an open spot. I was there in May 2021."
Cell service: Connectivity varies significantly by location. Brian A. at Beals Point Campground reported, "GREAT cell service for working remotely. 5G with 5 bars. Dry camping spot 28.00/per night."
Water safety precautions: Rivers near Coloma have strong currents, especially during spring runoff. Abigail S. warns about Folsom Lake: "If not camping overnight I love to get a day pass and just hang out on the beach! 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."
Bathroom access: Beals Point Campground offers coin-operated showers and clean facilities. One visitor mentioned, "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. Although I did get hit with a cold shower one time here during the winter."
Recreational options: Many campgrounds offer additional family-focused amenities. Rosina A. shares about Coloma Resort: "You can tent camp (it's covered sites for camping too), rent a cabin or RV camp. Great sites along the river too. Kids can play along several playgrounds for kids of different ages. A large grass area great for games."
Site size restrictions: Peninsula Campground accommodates smaller RVs better than large rigs. Ray B. explains: "We picked a site away from everyone else at the other end of the campground with a stunning view over the lake. Highly recommended for a spring visit."
Power limitations: Many campgrounds offer only 30-amp service or no hookups at all. One American River Resort visitor noted, "The power is not good. I had to bypass the surge suppressor because it kept cutting out due to low voltage. Voltage was generally 104-105."
Access road challenges: Some campgrounds have narrow approach roads. David C. warns: "I would be very cautious about coming here with a larger RV. Ours is 30' bumper to bumper. I think 32 would be ok. Be aware that Garmin nav might take you the wrong way. Apple Maps had it correct though."
Frequently Asked Questions
What amenities are available at Coloma Resort campground?
Coloma Resort offers comprehensive amenities for a comfortable stay. The campground features both water/electric sites along the river and full hookup options off-river. Facilities include clean bathrooms, a small on-site store, group areas, and private showers. There's a large grassy area by the river, hiking trails, and even cabins for those who prefer not to tent camp. The resort provides fire pits and picnic tables at each site. Many campers appreciate the convenient location, with the historic town of Coloma accessible via a short walk across the bridge, where you'll find the Gold Rush park and dining options like the Argonaut restaurant.
Where are the best campgrounds in Coloma, CA?
Coloma offers excellent camping options along the American River. Coloma Resort is highly rated, featuring both riverside and off-river sites with water and electric hookups. For those seeking a unique experience, OARS American River Outpost Campground caters to rafting enthusiasts in the heart of Gold Rush country. Other quality options near Coloma include American River Resort with riverside sites and Camp Lotus. Most campgrounds in the area fill quickly during peak season, so advance reservations are recommended.
What are the nearby cities and attractions when camping in Coloma?
When camping in Coloma, you're perfectly positioned to explore Gold Country attractions. The historic town of Coloma itself is walking distance from campgrounds like American River Resort, offering shopping and dining options. The Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, commemorating the California Gold Rush's birthplace, is a major draw. For outdoor recreation, Beals Point Campground near Folsom is about 30 minutes away, offering lake access despite fluctuating water levels. Sacramento is approximately 45 minutes southwest, while Auburn and Placerville are closer options for supplies and services. The American River provides excellent rafting, fishing and swimming opportunities right in Coloma.
Keep Exploring
