328 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Diamond Springs, California provides access to several established campgrounds within the El Dorado County region. Camping areas in this Gold Rush country include Coloma Resort and American River Resort along the American River, both offering tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and glamping options. Sly Park Recreation Area, approximately 15 miles east of Diamond Springs, features year-round camping with tent and RV sites near Jenkinson Lake. Placerville RV Resort & Campground in nearby Shingle Springs offers 109 developed sites with full hookups for recreational vehicles and tent camping areas.
Most developed campgrounds in the area require reservations, especially during summer months when riverside camping is in high demand. "We loved the Coloma Campground. There were lots of amenities, group areas, large grass area by the river, lots of trails, cabins, a short walk across the bridge to the gold rush park," noted one visitor. Camping in El Dorado County is available year-round at many locations, though some higher elevation areas may have seasonal closures due to winter conditions. Many campgrounds near Diamond Springs feature gated entry for security, with varying levels of amenities including showers, dump stations, and electrical hookups. Visitors should be aware that water pressure and electrical capacity can vary significantly between campgrounds.
Proximity to the American River represents a major draw for campers in the Diamond Springs region. Several campgrounds offer direct river access, with tent sites and RV spots positioned along the riverbank. A review mentioned that "Great park on American River, bathrooms are a five, up keep in park is great, one of the best parks we have stayed in." Some riverside camping areas feature terraced sites with views of rafters navigating rapids. Campgrounds closer to Highway 50 tend to experience more noise but offer easier access to services in nearby Placerville. Fire regulations are strictly enforced at most established campgrounds, with many providing firewood for purchase on-site. Despite the popularity of waterfront sites, several campgrounds maintain spacious sites with room between neighbors, particularly in off-river locations.
"Beautiful fall surroundings right adjacent to the South Fork of the American River. Easy walk or car ride to numerous hiking trails."
"If you ever want to experience the thrill of gold panning, and California history go here!"
"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."
"They are set into the mountains with trees behind you. The park rangers are very present to keep people in check and the camp host drives by multiple times to keep the bathrooms clean."
"The lake is GORGEOUS and amazingly cool during the summer, and we also love winter camping in the snow as well."
"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 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."
"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 ."
"I like the place pros would be doing just water and electric hook up so your away from the croud,clean and quiet, great wifi, cons next to freeway, expensive,no firepit but have a communal fire pit,but"
"Mini train ride around park, great playground, mini golf, showed movie and a lot more awesomeness. Was not cheap but kept the kids entertained. Will be going back."
from $75 - $107 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $65 - $300 / night
Check Availability"We drove from redwood to Lake Tahoe and wanted a place to stay since it got late Good place Online booking and entrance if after hours and affordable price opposed to other sites in the area"
from $52 / night
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ScoutNeeded a place to camp after driving 12 hours from Washington . Wanted to stay as close to Yosemite . This place did the trick . No one was there . Quiet and serene . Lots of scorched trees . But all in all was great . There is also cell service ! 7-23-26
ScoutI've been camping at this location for 10 years. This year the bathrooms were so disgusting it was difficult to use them. The smell was awful and we never saw the hosts clean them once in the 3 days we were there.
Also, the camp hosts were MAGA and thought they owned the place. They had 3 large dogs that at times were running around the campground off leash. We were enjoying our time in the river when her 3 big dogs and her, came to our quiet peaceful spot and just took over and her dogs were off leash and out of control. They tried to attack my small dog multiple times and she wouldn't even try to control them. She kept telling us that she's the camp host and she could do what she wanted. We had to leave because it was so chaotic. She totally ruined our good time. Then, when I tried to make a complaint to the Lake Tahoe Hospitality group who manages that campground, they did not take the event serious and even tried to kick us out because we said a curse word. I told them we were not leaving since we had done nothing wrong and to call the Sheriff. Which they did and guess who took our side. Animal control was dispatched too. And, no, we didn't have to leave. I've never seen such blatant entitlement and disregard for others using the area and enjoying nature in all my life. Pure Trash.
RangerWe stayed here 2 nights while visiting Tahoe. There were several spots to park and roads to explore. It was quiet and the surface was dirt. I found a pull through die that was easy.
TravelerFeel like you’re in the woods all while being right in the smack of town! There is even a little coffee trailer that is AMAZING! All the amenities with a rustic feel. We will definitely be back!
GuideLook up this site’s history, it’s quite fascinating.
While there’s a no trespassing sign, this is indeed a Forest Service-managed site and confirmed as a dispersed location.
I pulled in just as this older gentleman was walking the area, and he started telling me all about the owner back in the 60s-70s (“a mean guy”) and what a cool ski resort it once was.
GuideVery warm weekend (as to be expected in July) bathrooms and showers were satisfactory. It’s a public campsite with lots of families and most are there for the lake. Sites were large enough but No hookups for RV. We just stayed at night and spent the days with family in the area. Met our needs.
TravelerA few cons about this spot. There is NO drinking water. There are spigots but they all say non-potable. Most of the toilets were locked and the open ones were disgusting. There is no natural water to cool off in. The map looks like there is but there was none. There are so many mosquitoes that you have to hide in the tent during sunrise and sunset. Also, it’s right on the highway and the cars are loud! Finally, the road from Carson City going up Ebbets pass is a corkscrew of the death defying nail biting vomit inducing variety. With all of that in mind, it is the most beautiful spot I have ever visited.
ScoutI have stayed at Bear River Group Campground twice and plann to make it an annual trip. It is near a reservoir, but necessary to drive to get to the water. There is no road noise at all. It is fairly remote and very well set up for groups. Highly recommend it.
LegendGeneral: Beals Point is one of two locations on Folsom Lake for camping. Large campground with a mix of electric and non-electric campsites plus some group sites.
Site Quality: Drives are paved and mostly level. We camped in a little “cul-de-sac” with just four sites. While these sites back up to the American River Bike Trail (aka Jedediah Smith Recreation Trail), it was overgrown, and I did not see direct access to the trail as we did the last time we were here.
Bath/Shower: Typical CA state park layout– all-gender units with toilet and sink (but no soap, towels, or dryers) and showers. Unlike other CA state parks, these take quarters instead of tokens. The units could use a little TLC, but what was most disheartening was how other campers had trashed them– toilet paper (and worse) scattered all over the insides. Obviously not the fault of the campground.
Activities/Amenities: Folsom Lake is the draw, and people were fishing, kayaking, and swimming. The 32-mile paved multi-use American River Bike Trail is easily accessible. There is a snack bar/concession stand for beach rentals, but it was not open when we were there.
Our stay here this time was over a weekend; it was completely full, and it reminded us once again that we prefer to camp during the week and shoulder seasons when campgrounds are less crowded!
Diamond Springs sits at approximately 1,800 feet elevation in California's Gold Country, with seasonal camping options available throughout the year. Summer temperatures often exceed 90°F while winter brings occasional snowfall at higher elevations nearby. Several top camping destinations feature historical sites connected to the 1848 gold discovery that transformed the region.
Gold panning experiences: At Coloma Resort, visitors can try their hand at traditional gold panning. "If you ever want to experience the thrill of gold panning, and California history go here! You will not strike it rich, but with a couple hours of effort you can get a nice little bottle of gold flakes to take home with you," notes one camper.
Lake activities: Sly Park Recreation Area offers multiple water recreation options on Jenkinson Lake. "Jenkinson lake is beautiful to kayak or paddleboard on and you can also rent for $20/hr + $10/hr after that. This is a nice campground to stay in and paddling around the lake is wonderful," reports a visitor.
Historic exploration: Near many campgrounds, you can visit preserved Gold Rush sites. "Coloma resort is walking distance from the historic town of Coloma and the Argonaut for breakfast and lunch (and Gelato!) Pool, playground, basketball and soccer - will definitely be back with the kids soon," shares one camper.
Biking opportunities: Several campgrounds provide direct access to biking trails. "Lots of great hiking trails, Great Lake for boating and water activities," mentions a visitor to Peninsula Campground, where the 8-mile Darrington Trail ends at the campground.
River access: The swift currents of the American River create opportunities for rafting and swimming. "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," says a visitor to Camp Lotus.
Camping facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained amenities. "For the amount of people in the area, there isn't many bathroom stalls. Yet, we somehow never ran into any long lines. There's a lot of people, kids, bikes, and dogs. It's highly stimulating environment but everyone was very friendly," notes a visitor to Coloma Resort.
Natural surroundings: The forests and lakeshores provide scenic camping settings. "We were very skeptical of going during the ongoing COVID situation and we were amazed at how well this place was doing to help. Bathrooms smelled like Clorox every morning (good thing, means they were cleaning often) staff used mask at all times. The River was not crowded at all," explains a camper at American River Resort.
Winter camping: Some sites remain open year-round with fewer crowds. "We stayed the weekend at a great site. It was cold with a little rain but was very fun. I really enjoy this campground. Water level was low and this time of year the water spickets are off," says a winter visitor to Sly Park Recreation Area.
Site selection matters: The terrain at many campgrounds creates significant differences between sites. "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," advises a Peninsula Campground visitor.
Off-season benefits: Spring visits offer unique advantages. "Another mid-week quick adventure two weeks before spring. Weather in the Sierra foothills in early March is perfect for a couple day getaway from the colder temperatures and snow in the higher elevations where we live," reports a camper.
Electrical capacity: Power can be inconsistent at some locations. "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," warns a visitor to American River Resort.
Reservation planning: Popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially riverside sites. "You have to book way ahead of time, but it's well worth it. You can pan for gold, relax, or bike, hike along the river, and kids can play along several playgrounds for kids of different ages," advises a Coloma Resort camper.
Kid-friendly amenities: Look for campgrounds with dedicated facilities for children. "Great place to camp with the kids. Staff was very nice and friendly and let us pick a spot. Price was very reasonable for dry spot $28," notes a visitor to Beals Point Campground.
Swimming safety: River currents can be strong in certain areas. "The Sacramento area gets very hot in the summer, and this campground provides some but not a ton of shade. If you plan on going to the lake late in the evening, know that the rangers are pretty serious about their curfew," warns a Beals Point camper.
Educational opportunities: Many campgrounds offer environmental learning experiences. "There is a nice trail down to the water, and is dog friendly. Bathrooms were kept clean and stocked with TP," mentions a camper describing trails with educational signage.
Wildlife encounters: Local wildlife can be part of the camping experience. "Wildlife is off the chain here. As others have said, if you don't love being surrounded by wild animals, this will probably be a bit much for you," advises a Peninsula Campground visitor.
Size limitations: Many campgrounds have restrictions on larger RVs. "I would be very cautious about coming here with a larger RV. Ours is 30' bumper to bumper. I think 32 would be ok," cautions an American River Resort visitor.
Road conditions: Access roads to some of the best places to camp near Diamond Springs can be challenging. "You have to drive down a long windy narrow road to get here, which is the worst part, so it's best to come prepared to stay put for as long as possible once you're here," notes a Peninsula Campground camper.
Site spacing: RV sites at some campgrounds offer limited space. "The park is a little more 'stack and pack' than we like, but the view of the river made up for it. Nice park to spend the holidays," shares a visitor to Thousand Trails Ponderosa.
Services available: Some campgrounds offer additional RV services. "They don't have sewer so you can dump it yourself at a dump area on the campground or have a service come to you and do it for $25," explains a camper at Thousand Trails Ponderosa.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Diamond Springs, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Diamond Springs, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 328 campgrounds and RV parks near Diamond Springs, CA and 28 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Diamond Springs, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Diamond Springs, CA is Coloma Resort with a 4.7-star rating from 15 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Diamond Springs, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 28 free dispersed camping spots near Diamond Springs, CA.
What parks are near Diamond Springs, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 26 parks near Diamond Springs, CA that allow camping, notably Eldorado National Forest and New Hogan Lake.
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