Best Campgrounds near Cool, CA

Clean and friendly staff.
Nice stop for showers, laundry and relaxation.

Cheap and convenient. The area is kind of sketchy, but it worked for one night and we didn't have any trouble. Looks like there's a lot of people there who are overstaying the allowed number of days.

If you look at the map from Hwy 50 just south of Kyburz, you will see a green tag.  Hit that tag and it takes you to Bighorn Campground, not the location of the green arrow.

Some friends of ours love North Fork Campground just off I-80 at Emigrant Gap, so we were going to try it on the way back from the California coast to Reno.  North Fork Campground was nice, and would have been a good place to spend the night, but felt a bit dark and tight with dense foliage along the beginnings of the North Fork of the American River.  We saw that Onion Valley Campground was just a bit further.  Nobody there, so we took a spot at the far end of the campground next to the meadow.  Very peaceful for a short afternoon stop and a morning departure.

We visited this camp ground last year for a pre-spring getaway and really liked it.  Tried it again this week, and it was great again.  About 3 weeks later in March than last year so there were a few more people.  The grass is green, and the leaves are out on all the oak trees which makes it more beautiful.  Everyone else was on the loop near the shore.  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.

We travel for work and had to book last minute, Bruce was/is extremely nice and helpful! Super laid back and willing to help in anyway, we couldn’t be more happy with the customer service here. The sites are a little tight but not bad at all and each one has a privacy fence and small concrete pad. Will absolutely stay here again. Also while setting up, every person that walked by said hi and welcome! We have never experienced that much friendliness in a campground.

Good Points: Pull through sites. Nice dog walking/ park area, cheap laundry, pool looked good, right on a river, close'ish to shopping that you may need, we got a PW(power/ water) site that was$20 cheaper a night than full hookup. Only stayed two nights while traveling through and there is a RV dump there, so easy enough. Showers and toilets were very nice. Not so good, but not too bad. Yes, we did end up by the Maverick Truck Stop side of the park, but the noise was not too bad. Expensive$$$ Is it just California? Yep, everything is very expensive in old CA. Bottom line: Check the prices. If staying for a night or two on your travels probably OK. Looking for a place to winter over- Not here.

$28.00 per night

I called to stay one night. I have a German shepherd service dog with medical paperwork to support that. They still said no and didn't care if my dog was a service dog or not.

The road up to Iowa Hill is terrifying- especially in the dark. We camped in our 4runner as we got there when it was dark and there was so much glass and shell casings everywhere from what seems to be a local shooting area. the town nearby is a bit eerie but fun to explore. it worked for one night! No amenities, but a bathroom and paid campsite down the rugged road so come with everything you need. Hike nearby with waterfall is beautiful

Sympathique mais pas très calme. Toutes commodités dispo

If I could give zero stars, I would. Thousand Trails Lake Minden is very rundown. Immediately upon arrival at this so-called "resort," you can see the neglect from the outset. Their main sign is faded and sunburned, looking like it’s from 1970. The roads are riddled with potholes, none of which are paved. It’s clear the maintenance of this property has been ignored for years.

The "resort" advertises full hookups, but the reality is they have about 20 full hookup sites that can’t accommodate RVs over 35 feet. My 40-foot RV doesn’t fit, so I’m forced to drive around the lake to the non-hookup section, which only has water and power. To dump your tanks, you have to make trips to the dump station—hardly convenient for a place claiming to be a resort.

I paid $10,000 for a lifetime membership that allows me to stay at Thousand Trails properties for 21 days at a time. My mistake was not visiting any of their locations before making this purchase. I strongly urge anyone considering a Thousand Trails membership to visit several of their properties first—it will likely change your mind. Lake Minden is no better than other Thousand Trails locations, and in fact, I’d rank it among the worst.

As a full-time RVer, I’m stuck here for the 21-day maximum, and once that’s up, I’m forced to relocate two hours away to their next nearest property, Ponderosa. I’ll review that location when I arrive, but I don’t have high expectations.

What’s most frustrating is the blatant contradiction between their claims and reality. They require age-appropriate RVs for members, yet I’m parked next to a 20-year-old RV with a blue tarp on the roof. The facility is so poorly maintained it’s a stretch to even call it a campground, let alone a resort.

My regret for buying a Thousand Trails lifetime membership is astronomical. If I knew then what I know now, I would never have spent a dime. Thousand Trails should be ashamed to call themselves a resort. Lake Minden, like many of their properties, is nothing more than a run-down trailer park.

Reasonably priced campground off I5 between Yuba City and Sacramento at the 505 split. Full set ups and dry camp. Very friendly staff. Mixture of residents. Well maintained park.

This place and his staff were absolutely amazing. I had a couple of different times where I needed to change the spot and without fail they were there to help. Quite CLEAN everything! I wanted to stop awhile 30 days later I was told goodbye👋 cause I know the rules at a State Park!🤦😔😔💩

I am not the easiest but the staff has a heart of gold and at every turn we’re really there to help.

We ended up at this small campground because our potential boondocking spots were completely snowed in up top.  So glad we did as it is tucked away on the grounds of an amazing state park!

Most of the sites are small with a lot of tree coverage. It was quiet, quaint, and clean. We found a good site that provided just enough sky for both our 400W portable solar panel and Starlink to work pretty well. The bathroom building has flush toilets, was kept clean, and warm showers. 

But the campground isn’t the reason to come here...it’s the history! This little park tucked into the Western Sierras will blow your mind. It is a significant Miwok Native American historical site, with home sites, ancient Oak trees, and literally thousands of grain, and acorn grinding stones located in the central part of the park. 

The visitor’s center is a must-see and brings the location to life. In cooperation with the local tribes, the state manages the site and visitor’s center for the public. Take a walk on the interpretive trail, hike the adventure trails, fish in the creek, or attend a special program. It is a beautiful place to spend a few days. 

The nearby town of Pine Grove has a few restaurants and grocery stores to get what you might need.