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

512 Reviews of 214 Cottonwood Campgrounds


  • 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.

  • jThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Sacramento River RV Park

    Nice place, clean and quiet

    The bathrooms are meticulously fussed over, laundry is clean, people are nice. 5 is a bit noisy but you get over that, reasonably priced.

  • marcus K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2025

    Manzanita Lake Campground — Lassen Volcanic National Park

    Excellent NPS CAMPGROUND

    Simple but beautiful campground. Use Recreation.gov to reserve a site. If you dont have reservation you still need to log into the site to claim a spot. Fortunately there is wifi at the visitor center (not at the park store).

    Keep in mind that there is no water available. Need to bring your own.

    Also, no cell service but campground is sparsely tree covered. We were able to use Starlink just fine at our site.

    Lots of hiking nearby.

  • P
    Sep. 13, 2025

    JGW RV Park

    On the river!!

    We like this place in Redding. We have a 24’ motorhome and get spots on the river. It’s very nice to sit and look at river. 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.

  • Steve M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 4, 2025

    Perry Riffle Trailhead

    Simple but clean and nice level sites with picnic tables

    Just staying one night on my way to Nevada but this is an easy location with decent cell service and a clean bathroom and garbage receptacles in a hiking and equestrian area

  • Bruce E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Post Creek Guard Station

    Labor Day seclusion

    Post creek guard station was awesome. The views were amazing, especially the star gazing. Took Tedoc rd going in. Long, dirt, rocky rd not recommended for passenger vehicles. Our transit connect was fine, but slow going, just enough clearance. The cabin was pretty clean. Someone left their garbage. It's a pack in 0ack out kinda place. Water is gravity feed for a flushing toilet and dish washing water. (Non-potable) nearby spring was great for filtering or the 1/4 mile down to creek and swimming hole. There are 2 new full size mattresses and a 2 burner Coleman stove. Recommend just bringing all your own gear and consider it like a camping trip, w/ bonus flush toilet. The drive out was smooth. Took service rd 30. Dirt for a short bit, then paved all the way to hwy 36. Definitely be going back, and hitting some of the hiking trails.

  • Matt S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Christie Hill Basecamp

    Under Construction

    There appears to be logging or construction going on, as a previous review stated most of the pull ins are just areas that the bulldozer is pushed everything back. There is one a few hundred yards in that is decent nice and quiet, but very dusty.


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.