206 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds surrounding Gold River, California range from developed state recreation areas to rustic lakeside sites. The area includes established campgrounds like Beals Point and Peninsula Campground within Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, offering both tent and RV accommodations with lake access. Several RV parks provide full hookup options, including SacWest RV Park & Campground with cabin rentals and Cal Expo RV Park closer to Sacramento. Primitive camping opportunities can be found at Mineral Bar Campground along the American River, while specialty accommodations like the clothing-optional Laguna Del Sol cater to specific interests.
Access to camping areas varies by location, with many sites requiring advance reservations during peak summer months. "The lake has receded quite a bit that one of the docks is about 100 yards from the actual lake now (California drought)," noted one visitor at Acorn Campground, highlighting how seasonal water levels impact the camping experience. Most developed campgrounds maintain year-round operations, though facilities may be limited during winter. Folsom Lake State Recreation Area campgrounds generally provide the most amenities, including showers, flush toilets, and picnic areas. Cell service is inconsistent throughout the region, with better coverage at campgrounds closer to Sacramento and Folsom. Fire restrictions commonly affect the area during dry summer months when wildfire danger increases.
Waterfront camping receives consistently positive reviews, with lakeside sites at New Hogan Lake and Folsom Lake being particularly popular. Campers frequently mention wildlife encounters, especially at more remote locations. "We did a lot of kayak fishing and relaxing by the lake. We were able to walk the kayaks down with no problem," reported one camper at Oak Knoll. Family-friendly campgrounds like Beals Point offer convenient lake access and bike paths, while more secluded options like Giant Gap provide a disconnected experience. Noise levels vary significantly between campgrounds, with sites closer to highways experiencing more traffic sound. Most campgrounds feature fire rings and picnic tables, though shade availability differs between locations, with Oak woodland areas providing better coverage during hot summer months.
"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 $28 - $48 / night
Check Availability"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 $28 / night
Check Availability"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"Great little campsite with a 50s vibe right outside the city of Sacramento. The bathrooms and showers are clean the staff are friendly and helpful."
"We stayed at the side close to the highway so it was a bit noisy but not too bad. The people were friendly! It was a bit too pricey though."
from $58 - $100 / night
Check Availability"Also while setting up, every person that walked by said hi and welcome! We have never experienced that much friendliness in a campground."
"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"The campsites are spacious and you don't feel over crowded if there is a family next to you. It's pet friendly."
"I pitched a tent in site 43 right next to the lake. Excellent place."
"Four swimming pools
- Three social pools
- Volleyball courts
- Pickleball
- Hiking/walking trails <-- our favorite.
- Tennis And others."
"Everything you could ask for as amenities go in a beautiful location. Don't forget your sun screen."
GuideA freshly worked dirt lot. Like a freshly plowed field. Tractor tire tracks make walking difficult. There is no signage at all. I'm not sure I'm not on private property. May be the sketchiest road I've ever driven. I intended to stay a week. Instead, I got here at sunset, I'm leaving at first light. Somehow, it has mosquitoes.
TravelerWe stayed in mid September 26. There was only one family camping the first few days we were there and then we had the entire campground to ourselves. Location was beautiful and it was extremely quiet with exception to the wildlife. Lots of deer, geese, ducks and squirrels. Possible one bear sure to a dumpster dive with shredded garbage on our last day. We were in a 28' RV. Rv camping is a no frill experience. No hook-ups but water spigot at each site. RVs have to parallel park at the top of the hill area. They campers have the difficulty of finding a level spot because most of the tent camping is on a slope. Flush toilets are available. Spotty cell service on Verizon's visible service but we were still able to stream entertainment on our phone's hotspot. Overall, we loved it stay due to the scenery and the obvious peacefulness due to an empty campground. Our 3 night stay midweek with no hook-ups was just over $200.00 which is to me absolutely outrageous but we needed a place to stay on short notice. Aside from the cost, we had an absolutely wonderful peaceful experience watching the wildlife and beautiful scenery.
ScoutThis place is almost empty. It's gorgeous. The store on site doesn't sell alcohol or tobacco. They have everything else, not cheap but, not crazy overpriced.
TravelerThis is a fun place for you and the fam either to camp or for the day.
The tide comes in and out here as it’s a low level island and the approach to access sometimes will be under water from the tide. It is just like that, not poorly maintained, just one short section that can get 6inches deep and is not an issue for anybody.
I stayed in a tent camper fold-out. I hugged the hedge next to a teardrop. Everyone was nice and it was a relaxing stay. Can launch boat/kayak or do all the wind surfing type sports they talk about.
TravelerAll sites are First Come First Serve. Arrived on a Thursday with only 1 other camper at the grounds. By Saturday morning it was full and loud. All sites are close enough to the lake, that your priority should just be what ever fits your set up. Traveling in a 25ft Class C felt like I didn't belong and space was tight. Almost no sky for solar or starlink, and AT&T service gave me a single bar.
I'd return if I had a small towable or in a tent. Overall very scenic and peaceful during the week days.
As of August 2026 price was $10 a night.
ScoutEasy to find campsite, we arrived after hours on a Monday so drove around to find a spot and then paid using the collection box and envelopes, we couldn't get the QR code to work. Phone reception here is good. There is a constant hum of traffic but it is not loud and it is quiet around camp. Toilets and showers are clean and well stocked with toilet paper. We didn't stay long but saw some wildlife, coyote and squirrels mostly. A little bit of rubbish around from campers but overall very tidy. The sites are flat pull-in or reverse-in style, there are also some campsites marked with wheel chair access.
TravelerWe got a pretty secluded site at Cabana 12 but the rest of the sites are kinda stacked on top of each other or out in the open right next to each other. If you want some more privacy then do C12. Being near the lake was great and having a camp store and bathrooms. Showers cost 50¢ for 5 min which isn’t bad but since the campsite is so expensive it would have been nice for them to be free.
ScoutThis place is awesome. Super clean, spaces are big and neighbors are not too close. The facilities are super clean and modern. We enjoyed the pool, spa and shower facilities. There’s a shuttle that shows up about every 40 minutes to the casino. The office staff was very friendly and knowledgeable about the different spaces and location of the afternoon sun.
ScoutThis park is completely understaffed, and the staff they do have are short and rude when talked to. Leaches in the water, goose poop all on beach area along with trash and dirty diapers. Management is never to be seen and the store they have is never open. Restrooms had poop on walls, birds in the bathroom, toilet paper everywhere. They constantly have water problems. They have an abundance of wasps also.
Camping areas around Gold River, California range from large state recreation facilities to smaller private campgrounds, all within a 30-mile radius. The foothills location creates varied camping conditions with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F from June through September. Winter camping remains popular at lower elevations where overnight temperatures rarely drop below freezing, making year-round options practical for tent and RV campers alike.
Water recreation access: Rancho Seco Recreation Area offers a small lake perfect for beginners. "Good rated... Clear and beautiful water. Awesome views," notes Sunshine M. The lake is particularly suitable for novice sailors and sailboarders according to Chuck P., who calls it a "well kept secret!"
Dog-friendly activities: Take your pets to SacWest RV Park & Campground where "a wonderful dog park" awaits according to David & Sue C. The campground provides dedicated pet areas while still offering riverside relaxation. Cheyenne O. at Beals Point Campground mentions "easy trails to take your four legged friend on and of course the beach."
Cycling opportunities: Ride the extensive trail network accessible from Cal Expo RV Park. "Great for bikers," states Wil Rider B. The bike paths connect to miles of regional trails that extend from downtown Sacramento to Folsom Lake. HandL C. confirms its "centralized location for exploring Old Sac, Cal Expo, State Capitol, the rivers and beyond."
Quiet weekday camping: Mid-week visitors to Rancho Seco Recreation Area appreciate the peaceful atmosphere. "Very busy on the weekends but very quiet and peaceful during our one night during the week," shares Chuck P. The 12-mile distance from I-5 helps maintain this tranquility.
Site spacing and privacy: Many campers value the thoughtful layout at Peninsula Campground. R D. describes "spacious unique sunny sites" while noting the campground is "so huge there are usually sites available first come first serve." Ray B. recommends exploring site options: "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."
Clean facilities: Beals Point Campground maintains high standards for bathrooms and showers. Brian A. appreciates the "clean bathrooms and coin op showers," while Mike R. calls it "probably the quietest RV spot i have been to" with "very nice and clean bathroom clean showers." Melissa S. confirms "park is clean with lots of trees."
Water level fluctuations: Lake access can vary dramatically by season and drought conditions. Melissa S. notes at Beals Point Campground that "the lake is very low and a half mile walk from park to get to." During spring visits, Ray B. found Peninsula Campground more appealing with "green grass, and the leaves are out on all the oak trees which makes it more beautiful."
Wildlife encounters: The natural setting means frequent animal sightings. R D. at Peninsula Campground warns "if you don't love being surrounded by wild animals, this will probably be a bit much for you. 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." At Rancho Seco, Angel S. mentions "the whole park is infested with ground beetles that would just land all over you and your food."
Reservation timing: Peak seasons require advance planning. Emmi O. at Beals Point Campground shares that "Staff was very nice and friendly and let us pick a spot. Price was very reasonable for dry spot $28." Several campgrounds offer discounts for disabled visitors, with Abigail S. noting "handicapped discounts can be obtained."
Safety considerations: Check campground terrain before bringing small children. Angel S. at Rancho Seco warns "in our campground we found multiple fish hooks and one happen to pierce my sandal. We have a 3 year old and brought our dog so imagine how dangerous that can be."
Kid-friendly amenities: SacWest RV Park & Campground provides numerous activities for children. Tatiana I. mentions "Lots of things to do for kids: great playgrounds, swimming pool, more than 100 ducks going around!" The campground consistently receives positive reviews for family friendliness.
Shower facilities: Bring quarters for showers at most campgrounds. Emmi O. notes "the showers needs QUARTERS and we were out of coins. So remember to take quarters with you if you want to shower." At Beals Point, Abigail S. describes "The showers take quarters and have hot water most of the time. The showers are very big its actually quite peaceful and nice."
RV age restrictions: Some parks limit older vehicles. Mya C. reports that at Imperial Manor MHC And RV Park, you "have to have an rv 10 years or newer," while experiencing similar discrimination at Mark J RV Park: "Couldn't even rent a space due to how old our RV was."
Work-friendly setups: Remote workers find Sacramento Shade RV Park accommodating. Shelby F. reports "We travel for work and had to book last minute, Bruce was/is extremely nice and helpful!" For digital connectivity, Brian A. notes Beals Point offers "GREAT cell service for working remotely. 5G with 5 bars."
Site leveling challenges: Check site conditions before parking larger RVs. At Loomis RV Park, Tonya B. found "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."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Gold River, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Gold River, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 206 campgrounds and RV parks near Gold River, CA and 6 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Gold River, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Gold River, CA is Beals Point Campground — Folsom Lake State Recreation Area with a 4.2-star rating from 34 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Gold River, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 free dispersed camping spots near Gold River, CA.
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