Best Campgrounds near Cottonwood, CA

The Sacramento River corridor near Cottonwood, California features a range of camping options within a 30-minute drive radius. RV-focused facilities dominate the immediate area, with Sacramento River RV Park and Red Bluff KOA Journey offering full hookups and year-round accessibility. Tent campers find more limited options but can utilize Sycamore Grove Campground operated by the USDA Forest Service, which accommodates both RVs and tent camping with boat-in, drive-in, and hike-in access points. Perry Riffle Trailhead provides a dispersed camping alternative with basic amenities including pit toilets but no drinking water or hookups. Most developed sites in the region sit along the Sacramento River, providing water access for fishing and paddling activities.

Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F in this part of Northern California, making shade a critical consideration when selecting campsites. As one camper noted, "This is a great spot close, but not too close to the highway. About 5-7 minute drive off the highway right next to the Sacramento River." Many campgrounds maintain year-round operations, though spring brings higher water levels and better river access. Fire restrictions become increasingly common during late summer and fall when wildfire danger peaks. Cell service remains reliable near Interstate 5 but diminishes quickly in more remote locations. Advance reservations are essential for weekend stays between May and September, particularly at water-adjacent sites.

Waterfront access represents a significant draw for campers in the Cottonwood area, with several reviewers highlighting the Sacramento River as a key attraction. The region serves as a convenient stopover for travelers on Interstate 5, with one visitor reporting, "Large pull-thru sites with vegetation in between. Casino nearby has multiple restaurants and entertainment, including golf. Cheap gas for California." Sites with shade trees receive consistently higher ratings during summer months. Primitive camping options increase as you travel east toward Lassen National Forest, where dispersed sites offer more seclusion but fewer amenities. Wildlife sightings commonly include deer, various bird species, and occasionally rattlesnakes during warmer months, requiring appropriate precautions with food storage and pet management.

Best Camping Sites Near Cottonwood, California (214)

    1. Sacramento River RV Park

    8 Reviews
    Anderson, CA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 365-6402

    "Biggest downfall is the freeway is close by and it is therefore a little noisy."

    "There's a newly built sunshaded playground for the kids, ultimate course on grounds and a small boat ramp nearby to Sac River for fishing access."

    2. JGW RV Park

    5 Reviews
    Anderson, CA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 365-7965

    "Big grassy area to walk dog and enjoy river under shade. Reasonable price. Nice staff. Water does seem cloudy so be sure to run it before you hook up. I have had to clear out my faucet filter twice."

    3. Red Bluff KOA Journey

    11 Reviews
    Red Bluff, CA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 527-5300

    "There is a great off leash dog area along a trail next to the river."

    "Our site near the fountains was pull- or back-in. We pulled in for a nice view. Staff was welcoming. There is some road noise from highway 5 but since we are running the A/C it is not noticeable."

    4. Perry Riffle Trailhead

    6 Reviews
    Red Bluff, CA
    9 miles

    "Nice spot near the river. We stayed in a tent and just pitched it adjacent to the car park. The ranger came by in the morning just had a little look around and left. Didn’t bother anyone"

    "Lots of trails. Sacramento River is within walking distance. Pit toilet, no water or other services."

    5. Sycamore Grove (red Bluff) Campground

    14 Reviews
    Red Bluff, CA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 527-2813

    $16 - $30 / night

    "Super easy access to and from the highway."

    "The river close by and all the beautiful trees, flowers and plants. Will definitely stay again."

    6. Boulder Creek RV Redding

    7 Reviews
    Shasta Lake, CA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 246-0101

    $50 - $70 / night

    "Also the water park next to the campground was closed"

    7. Peltier Bridge Primitive Campground — Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area

    8 Reviews
    Whiskeytown, CA
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 242-3412

    $20 / night

    "6, 8, and 9 probably your best bets if they are open. 4 and 5 are right next to the entrance. There's a small narrow dirt road, but easily doable even in a loaded down sedan."

    "Just me and one friend stayed overnight, very nice area, creek right next to spots. A little bit of a walk to the bathroom though."

    8. Marina RV Park

    5 Reviews
    Redding, CA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 241-4396

    9. Green Acres RV Park

    2 Reviews
    Redding, CA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 223-3780

    "There is a train track close by, so expect some train horns. We would definitely go back when visiting family in the area."

    10. Redding RV Park

    4 Reviews
    Redding, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 241-0707

    "Management allowed us to park our truck in the empty space right next to our camper, which was super convenient. All hookups worked perfectly."

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Recent Reviews near Cottonwood, CA

518 Reviews of 214 Cottonwood Campgrounds


  • Jan P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 26, 2025

    Rolling Hills Casino Truck Lot

    Cheap gas, crappy Wi-Fi if at all, very nice showers

    The casino is pretty dominating and intense as is the truck stop, but if you don't mind those it's not a bad place.

  • Steven V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 17, 2025

    The Parkway RV Resort & Campground

    Great overnight stop

    Stayed for one night. Nice full hookup spots that are level. Clean bathrooms. It is quiet because far enough away from freeway.

  • Connie H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 13, 2025

    Hat Creek

    Great Camping Next to Hat Creek

    We only stayed here for an overnight on our way North, but it was a great campground. The fee was $16.00 a night. We pulled in about 9:00 PM and there were probably at least 10-12 sites occupied. We found site 46 to be perfect. There are no hookups, but each site has a picnic table, fire ring and grill. There is drinking water available through out the campground and vault toilets, which were pretty clean/well kept. Generators are allowed from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM. There are also multiple dumpsters and recycling bins. Our T-Mobile cell service was super spotty and pretty much non-existent. The creek is beautiful and very accessible!

  • Bobbi lee H.
    Oct. 8, 2025

    Lakehead Campground & RV Park

    Owner occupied rustic campground lots of good campsites and also some RV sites to plug in there is little cabins cabin tents type of uret and are great people here there's bathrooms in showers places to have picnics and then the back of the campground I'm sure you can bring a horse show and unload your horses and put up your own you know little enclosure pack with panels off of your horse trailer they don't mind dogs they're good people here it's right off I-5 down the road a bit there's more campgrounds in this area and it's just beautiful here I live at this campground there's only a few of us that are allowed to but it's open year round there's a pool a pool hall laundry services here also the owner is wonderful his name is Cecil

    Oh it's fun here I'm a quarter mile from Shasta lake we have a lot of people that come in for festivals up here lots of huge groups of people lots of families lots of boats lots of water sports everything you can imagine there's a few good restaurants up here but most of us love to barbecue and have a good time but the restaurants are awesome too they're all family owned and they're great the Klondike is my favorite

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 7, 2025

    Christie Hill Basecamp

    Awesome spot to boondock

    Not sure what previous reviewers are talking about regarding lack of spots due to construction. I only had to drive a little ways in to find a nice spot with a fire pit and space for my camper. I’ve been here for hours and haven’t seen or heard anyone. I also have full reception with Verizon. It’s also only 9 minutes from the Lassen NP visitor center.

  • Amanda V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2025

    Hat Creek Resort & RV Park

    Nice Campground

    Nice Campground right on the hat Creek! Full hookups Laundry Wifi available for purchase Close to Lassen Volcanic NP

  • Jeff A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 25, 2025

    Domingo Springs Campground

    Quiet, clean, lucky spot. Did not burn

    USFS Sites good sized, whispering pines all around. Pit toilets clean. PGE CG’s on west side of Almanor Lake same quality, same amenities, more sites, but tripled cost! :( Fire rings new tables, spring water across the way. For us we were pleased like rustic and we take good care of Mother Nature. No lake but brook nearby and Almanor Lake not far. :) Thankful to have found.

  • avery R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 24, 2025

    Manzanita Lake Campground — Lassen Volcanic National Park

    Showers and indoor plumbing!

    If you like camping with modern comforts, this is your spot. They even had laundry (you’ve got to bring cash though). It’s busy, so it won’t be quiet, but it was a great place to meet people.


Guide to Cottonwood

Camping options near Cottonwood, California extend beyond the immediate Sacramento River corridor into the surrounding foothills and national forest lands. Situated at approximately 420 feet elevation, the area experiences dramatic seasonal shifts, with winter bringing periodic flooding along riverfront campsites. The region serves as a gateway to outdoor recreation in Lassen National Forest to the east, where temperatures can be 10-15°F cooler than the valley floor during summer months.

What to do

Hiking accessible trails: Perry Riffle Trailhead offers multiple trail options within walking distance of campsites. "Several horse and hiking trails start from here. There's a pit toilet, garbage, and recycling," notes a visitor at Perry Riffle Trailhead.

Botanical exploration: The Red Bluff Recreation Area features labeled plant specimens along nature paths. "They have many of the plants and trees recognized by little name tags. So interesting and absolutely gorgeous," according to a camper at Sycamore Grove Campground.

Wildlife viewing: Early mornings provide the best opportunities for spotting local fauna. One camper reported, "Saw/heard great horned owl, fox, then cows in the morning" while staying at Perry Riffle Trailhead.

River activities: The Sacramento River offers more than just fishing access. "There's a nice off leash dog area along a trail next to the river," mentions a visitor to Red Bluff KOA Journey.

What campers like

Evening quiet: Despite proximity to highways, many campgrounds maintain peaceful evenings. "Even as close to Redding as this was there were no highway or 'civilization' sounds at night which was awesome. Plenty of frog noises though!" reports a camper at Peltier Bridge Primitive Campground.

Swimming options: Local pools provide relief during intense summer heat. "We chose it for its convenient location on our route, and for its sparkling pool and hot tub, which was a huge win for our kids," notes a family staying at Red Bluff KOA Journey.

Extended stays: Some campgrounds accommodate longer-term visitors comfortably. A camper at Sacramento River RV Park shared, "We spent two nights here. The park is quiet and the people are friendly. There are good river views and we even saw a deer."

Water features: Decorative fountains and water elements enhance several RV parks. "Our spot overlooks a beautiful fountain," mentioned a camper at Red Bluff KOA Journey, adding practical value to sites without natural water views.

What you should know

Reservation inconsistencies: Some campgrounds have unclear policies about requiring reservations. A camper at Sycamore Grove noted, "It says on a sign reservation only, but after driving around to the other spots in red bluff, and feeling great unease, I went ahead and drive in to a spot around 9pm."

Site privacy variations: The distance between campsites varies significantly even within individual campgrounds. "Sites 4 and 5 are directly next to each other, 6 is separate, 7, 8 and 9 are a little more secluded in the back," observed a camper at Peltier Bridge Primitive Campground.

Bathroom facility limitations: Restroom maintenance differs substantially between campgrounds. One visitor commented, "The men's shower had a sign that there was not hot water and my wife said she'd not use the women's bathroom or shower as they were a little nasty."

Pest concerns: Some locations have seasonal ant problems. "The real kicker though is the ant infestation we received in a single eighteen or so hour stay. Another guest warned us as they had the same experience," cautioned a visitor to Marina RV Park.

Tips for camping with families

Temperature management strategies: Summer heat requires careful planning for family comfort. "It was roasting in August; the river was a nice way to cool off," reported a visitor at Perry Riffle Trailhead, highlighting the importance of water access.

Kid-friendly amenities: Several parks offer dedicated play areas. A long-term resident at Sacramento River RV Park noted, "There's a newly built sunshaded playground for the kids, ultimate course on grounds and a small boat ramp nearby to Sac River for fishing access."

Pet accommodation: Dog-friendly facilities vary widely between campgrounds. One camper at Red Bluff KOA Journey shared, "They have two dog run areas which are not much more than a small enclosed area for your dog. But they have real dog wash they we used."

Safety considerations: Some areas require extra vigilance. A camper advised, "Local law enforcement does visit, they are nice. Locals are a problem," suggesting families should choose more developed campgrounds with regular staff presence.

Tips from RVers

Site selection for views: Some RV sites offer better positioning for scenery. "We have a 26 ft travel trailer and mid size pick up. They have sites ranging from basic RV with water and electric along with sites with full hookups," explained a visitor at JGW RV Park.

Heat management: Air conditioning reliability becomes crucial during summer months. "Only issue is that our 30amp had issues, which meant the airconditioning unit could not run continuously in 100 degree heat," warned an RVer at Marina RV Park.

Overnight convenience: Several parks specifically cater to travelers just passing through. "This is a nice KOA with larger sites than some KOAs. It is super well-maintained with nice amenities including pool, small dog area, basketball court, horseshoe area, club house," mentioned an RVer at Red Bluff KOA Journey.

Connectivity considerations: Internet access varies dramatically between locations. One RVer reported, "AT&T coverage was very fair, ranging from 1-2 bars of 5G, with speeds up to 3MB/s," providing specific metrics useful for working travelers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Cottonwood, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, Cottonwood, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 214 campgrounds and RV parks near Cottonwood, CA and 15 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Cottonwood, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Cottonwood, CA is Sacramento River RV Park with a 3.6-star rating from 8 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Cottonwood, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 free dispersed camping spots near Cottonwood, CA.

What parks are near Cottonwood, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 parks near Cottonwood, CA that allow camping, notably Shasta-Trinity National Forest and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.