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Campgrounds near Folsom, California cluster around Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, with two primary developed sites: Beals Point and Peninsula Campground. Both offer tent and RV camping with varying levels of hookups and amenities. Camping near Folsom ranges from full-hookup RV sites to primitive tent camping areas, covering a variety of budgets and setups. Beyond the lake, several private campgrounds like Coloma Resort and American River Resort provide additional options including cabins and glamping accommodations. Most camping areas lie within 25 miles of downtown Folsom, with concentrations along the American River corridor and surrounding foothills.
The Folsom Lake area experiences hot, dry summers and mild winters, making spring and fall ideal for comfortable camping conditions. Many campgrounds remain open year-round, though water levels at Folsom Lake fluctuate significantly with the seasons. Peninsula Campground requires navigating "a long windy narrow road," while Beals Point offers easier access from Folsom-Auburn Road. Most developed sites require reservations, particularly during summer weekends and holidays when lakefront sites fill quickly. Wildlife encounters are common at Peninsula Campground, where one camper noted, "Wildlife is off the chain here. Bears have been seen on occasion, cougars, bobcats, and coyotes all stop by from time to time, and there are so many skunks it can get annoying."
Campers consistently rate waterfront access as a key feature, with both Peninsula and Beals Point campgrounds providing lake access for swimming, fishing, and boating. The American River Bikeway connects to Beals Point, offering recreational opportunities beyond the campground. Sites vary considerably in terms of shade and privacy, with Peninsula described as having "spacious unique sunny sites" but limited flat areas for camping. Several visitors mention the proximity to wildlife as both a draw and potential concern. The combination of water access, hiking trails, and wildlife viewing makes these campgrounds near Folsom feel remote despite being within easy reach of urban amenities. Noise levels vary by location, with roadside campgrounds experiencing more traffic sounds than those deeper in the recreation areas.
"Folsom Lake is a very large lake which touches 3 counties (Sacramento, Placer & El Dorado). Beals Point is right on the border of Folsom & Granite Bay on Folsom-Auburn Rd."
"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"Folsom lake is a great place to take the boat, beals point has a snack bar, life guards and equipment rentals, there are plenty of places you can drive or boat to get away from the crowds if you prefer"
"Folsom lake is a beautiful location"
from $33 / night
Check Availability"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!"
"WELCOME TO ASCENSION RANCH Ascension Ranch is an off-grid paradise tucked away in an oak savanna along Folsom Lake with a unique and ever growing list of features and activities."
"Super relaxing and has a lake that is at the end of the trail. Super convenient. It was cool to experience the animals that were in the pastures as well. I'd definitely come back."
from $49 - $245 / night
Check Availability"This is an older park in a location close to shopping. However, the train is near by and can be heard in the park. It comes by about twice in a 24 hr period. Office staff very nice and helpful."
"There is a little store within walking distance. Overall a very nice park!"
from $65 / 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."
"Great Bike paths adjacent along the river into Downtown or up to Folsom. All Full hook up sites on gravel or asphalt, daily, weekly, monthly rates."
"then you want a good location for your home base. Cal Expo definitely has the centralized location for exploring Old Sac, Cal Expo, State Capitol, the rivers and beyond."
from $50 - $1000 / night
Check Availability"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 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 ."
"5 minutes to stores and restaurants, with swimming, fishing, boating, biking trails, ADA sites available. Large well separated campsites among scattered pines and oaks providing nice shade."
from $99 - $150 / 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
GuidePopped in and only a few campers there. A bridge away from towns. Hot showers. Squirrels galore. Ill be back.
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!
LegendI invite you to take a look at the pictures. This is a simple gravel parking lot with hookups. There's nothing special about this location.
GuideThere’s only a couple of spots to pull off the road, the boat ramp clearly states no camping. I found a spot but every few hours all night long a truck with flashing lights on the roof drove by. Kinda weird
ScoutWe had been looking forward to this camping trip, but unfortunately our experience at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park in Lodi was very disappointing. Before our trip, I paid the Lock Fee($40) specifically to guarantee the campsite we had selected. However, when we arrived, we were assigned to a completely different site. After setting up our trailer, we went back to the office to ask about it. Instead of correcting the mistake, another employee told us that we didn’t even have a reservation and that we needed to leave the campground. We had to search through our emails, show our reservation confirmation, and even provide proof of payment from our bank before they finally found our reservation. Only then were we moved to the campsite we had originally reserved and paid extra to secure. Unfortunately, the worst part happened on our last night. We were camping with friends, and between us we had two electric bikes—one worth nearly$5,000 and another worth over$1,000. We went to bed around 2:30 a.m., and everything was still there. When we came out of our trailers around 8:30 a.m., both bikes had been stolen. We immediately called the police. The responding officer told us that just two weeks earlier, another camper had all of the sound equipment stolen from their vehicle at the same campground. What disappointed us most is that the campground doesn’t appear to have adequate security measures, such as surveillance cameras, and there was no warning at check-in that thefts had recently occurred. Had we known there was an increased risk, we would have taken additional precautions with our valuables. When families choose a campground like this, they expect a safe, relaxing environment where they can enjoy nature without worrying that expensive belongings will disappear overnight. The campground has great amenities and is a fun place for families, but our experience with the reservation issues and the lack of security left us extremely disappointed. I hope management takes these concerns seriously, improves security, and is more transparent with guests so other families don’t have the same experience we did.
ScoutOk, but you guys need to improve lots stuff. Pool was out of order, stuff were not that friendly, I would suggest if you can concrete sites, hard for in and out
ScoutClean sharp fun to be there. Lots of staff roaming around and helping. Bring your BBQ
ScoutStayed two nights and had our 8 year old grandson with us. We got what we were told was the best full hook up RV site. I can see a little bit of the lake which is very nice. There is a lot of permanent residence mobile trailer homes. Not at all what I expected. It is dirt, rocks and trees that don’t really provide shade. There were cigarette buts all over our camp site. There is a small fire pit but no bbq. For a good five hours today there was some shooting off a gun. Our dog happens to be afraid of that sound so she spent most of the day inside the trailer. When we arrived we had no picnic table and nobody would answer the phone. My husband and I ended taking one from the empty site next to us. Then this morning I called trying to get the Wi-Fi password. They gave me the wrong one, I called back, they never answered. I left a message, they never called back. My grandson and I walked down a small boat ramp to the lake. The area was full of trash and there was sludge at least a foot off the shore. From there you can see many of the small boat ramps off the backs of the permanent trailers and they were in complete disrepair. I get the feeling no one cares.
I can’t speak to any other area in this resort. Only where we are physically. My Husband did say there was a nice pond with picnic tables and shade, but the dog was not allowed to be there so that wasn’t something that we could enjoy.
Camping near Folsom, California clusters around the American River watershed, with options ranging from 38 to 80 miles above sea level. Water levels at campsites fluctuate drastically between seasons, with up to 200-foot differences between summer low points and winter high marks. Spring camping offers green hillsides and abundant wildlife, while summer conditions bring temperatures frequently exceeding 95°F.
River activities: At American River Resort, visitors can watch rafters navigate the Class 3 "Trouble Maker" rapid adjacent to the campground. "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," notes one camper.
Gold panning: Coloma Resort offers gold panning opportunities where visitors can collect gold flakes. "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," shares a reviewer.
Bike trail access: The Sacramento area offers extensive interconnected trails accessible from several campgrounds. At Cal Expo RV Park, "There is direct access to the bike path which goes for miles and miles and connects to other trails which made our stay really great."
Wildlife viewing: Peninsula Campground offers opportunities to observe local wildlife, particularly in spring. "But in the early spring it is quite, especially here, with green grass and wild turkeys. With only us and two other folks in the entire campground we enjoyed privacy and seclusion."
Coin-operated showers: Beals Point Campground receives positive reviews for its clean facilities. "The showers take quarters and have hot water most of the time. The showers are very big its actually quite peaceful and nice. 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."
Cell service quality: Remote workers appreciate the connectivity at some Folsom Lake sites. "Really nice camp hosts and attendants. Nice services; clean bathrooms and coin op showers. Very green early in the season, lake extremely low, warm evenings already. GREAT cell service for working remotely. 5G with 5 bars."
Off-season experiences: Peninsula Campground provides secluded camping during non-peak times. "Peninsula campground on Folsom Lake is in the rolling hills and oak trees, remote from the more popular side of the lake. In the summer months the lake is very busy and the hills are brown with dried grass. But in the early spring it is quite, especially here, with green grass and wild turkeys."
Family-friendly options: Many sites offer dedicated areas for children and active recreation. "This is a nice retreat. The spaces are a bit small but clean. The bathrooms are spotless and they offer a lot of amenities for families."
Low water levels: Folsom Lake experiences significant water fluctuations affecting access. "Nice 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."
Quarters required: Bring coins for showers at multiple campgrounds. "Dyrt says that it has wifi but couldn't find one and the showers needs QUARTERS and we were out of coins. So remember to take quarters with you if you want to shower."
Site selection strategies: American River Resort requires attention to booking details. "We checked in and had reservations but it's a first come first serve sites! They have different sections that cost more… the closer you are to the river, the more it will cost. It ranges from $5 to $20 bucks more a night."
Limited shade coverage: Several campgrounds have minimal tree cover. "Nice 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."
Sun protection: Ascension Ranch offers opportunities to interact with farm animals alongside typical camping. "Some of things you'll come across at Ascension Ranch include baby farm animals, sheep, goats, cattle, horses, more horses, ranch dogs, puppies, chickens, equestrian activities, secluded campsites, amazing views, access to endless trails."
Entertainment amenities: Some Folsom area campgrounds include additional recreational facilities. "Mini train ride around park, great playground, mini golf, showed movie and a lot more awesomeness. Was not cheap but kept the kids entertained."
Crowding considerations: Family-oriented sites often have higher noise levels. "This place is great for kids that want to ride bikes around the sites- but be careful of the river, it's swift. The RV and tent sites are in two separate areas, with more updated amenities available for RVs like hot showers."
Swimming options: The region offers various swimming access points, though safety varies. "The lake itself is beautiful! If not camping overnight i love to get a day pass and just hang out on the beach! Its a great family friendly area."
Site selection: Placerville RV Resort & Campground has varied hookup options that affect pricing. "Read the fine print! If you are expecting a full-hookup site, make sure it has septic at your site! Many of the sites are water and electric only, and you have to use the one dump station at the camp entrance for dumping."
RV size limitations: Folsom Lake campgrounds have varying size restrictions. "I would be very cautious about coming here with a larger RV. Ours is 30' bumper to bumper. I think 32 would be ok."
Leveling challenges: Some sites require additional equipment for proper setup. "Our spot was not that great for our 40ft bus due to the tree limbs and the ground was very uneven, which made it difficult to level. We would stay here again, however I would make sure it's in a spot that's level."
Hookup quality: Electrical service varies significantly between campgrounds. "Water pressure is excellent. Our site had 30 amp only and I doubt any of them have 50 amp. 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."
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a map of campgrounds at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area?
Yes, maps of Folsom Lake State Recreation Area campgrounds are available through multiple sources. You can find official campground maps at the entrance stations when you arrive or at visitor centers throughout the recreation area. Online maps are available on the California State Parks website and reservation platforms like ReserveCalifornia. These maps show the layout of Beals Point Campground and Peninsula Campground, including individual site locations, facilities, and nearby attractions. For those exploring beyond Folsom Lake, nearby Mineral Bar Campground in Auburn State Recreation Area is also included in regional recreation maps.
Where can I find camping sites at Folsom Lake?
Folsom Lake State Recreation Area offers two main campgrounds. Peninsula Campground is located about 45 minutes to an hour from Folsom via a windy narrow road and provides a more secluded camping experience. Beals Point Campground is situated on the border of Folsom and Granite Bay on Folsom-Auburn Road, offering easier access to town. Both campgrounds provide tent and RV sites with varying amenities. For those seeking an alternative experience, there are also private options nearby such as Ascension Ranch, which offers an off-grid setting along Folsom Lake.
What amenities are available at Peninsula Campground at Folsom Lake?
Peninsula Campground at Folsom Lake offers basic camping amenities in a more remote setting compared to other campgrounds in the recreation area. The campground provides potable water, restrooms, and picnic tables at each site. While the facilities are simpler than those at Beals Point, the campground offers a quieter, more natural experience with access to the lake for swimming, fishing, and boating when water levels permit. The campground's location requires driving down a long, windy narrow road, creating a buffer from urban areas. The surrounding landscape features beautiful oak savanna, and during the right season, campers can enjoy direct lake access, though water levels can vary significantly throughout the year.
Can I go RV camping at Folsom Lake?
Yes, RV camping is available at Folsom Lake. Beals Point Campground offers dedicated RV sites with electric hookups in one section of the campground. The sites are nicely spaced with sufficient room for larger vehicles, though the campground is in proximity to a road which may create some ambient noise. For those seeking full hookups near Folsom Lake, Cal Expo RV Park provides an alternative with full hookup sites on gravel or asphalt, offering daily, weekly, and monthly rates. This park is conveniently located with great bike paths along the river that connect to Downtown Sacramento and up to Folsom.
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