Best Campgrounds near Kings Beach, CA

The northern shore of Lake Tahoe surrounding Kings Beach, California features diverse camping options within a 30-mile radius, ranging from lakeside state parks to forested mountain retreats. Donner Memorial State Park Campground, located 15 miles northwest near Truckee, offers family-friendly sites with lake access and historical exhibits. Sugar Pine Point State Park on the western shore provides year-round camping with spacious sites shaded by towering pines. For those seeking RV accommodations, several campgrounds offer full hookups, including Zephyr Cove Resort on the Nevada side and Tahoe Valley Campground with its extensive 400-site layout. Tent campers will find primitive options at Granite Flat and walk-in sites at William Kent Campground, where tall trees create natural separation between campsites.

Bear activity significantly impacts camping protocols throughout the Tahoe Basin, with most established campgrounds providing bear-proof storage boxes. As one camper noted, "Active bears are common, so be cautious! Nice bear boxes are provided at most sites." Seasonal considerations affect both availability and amenities, with many campgrounds operating only from May through October. Reservations become essential during summer months when lakeside sites fill months in advance. Winter camping remains available at select locations like Washoe Lake State Park, though access may require snow-ready vehicles. Cell service varies dramatically by location, with stronger signals near towns and limited connectivity in more remote forest settings. Fire restrictions frequently impact summer camping, particularly during drought years when complete bans may be implemented.

Proximity to water defines the camping experience for many visitors to the Kings Beach area. Campgrounds with lake access command premium rates but deliver memorable experiences. "The campground is across the street from the state park day use area where you can access the lake, and with your camping fees you get access to all of the State Parks in the area," reports one Sugar Pine Point visitor. Site privacy varies considerably, with some campgrounds like Meeks Bay described as having "sites on top of each other," while others offer more seclusion. Highway noise affects campgrounds near major roads, particularly those along Highway 89 and Highway 50. Most established campgrounds provide basic amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, and toilets, with shower facilities available at select locations for additional fees.

Best Camping Sites Near Kings Beach, California (355)

    1. Washoe Lake State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Carson City, NV
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (775) 687-4319

    $15 - $30 / night

    "Nice campground situated close to the shores of Washoe Lake. Great amenities; picnic tables, fire pits and shade structures at many of the campsites."

    "We stayed here for just under 2 weeks around Thanksgiving. Very beautiful area with hiking near the lake and mountains. The horses nearby were nice. Right between Reno and Carson City."

    2. Granite Flat

    19 Reviews
    Truckee, CA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 587-3558

    $22 - $44 / night

    "The campground is in a beautiful setting, easy to get to, and right off the Highway."

    "Nice campsite located right on Highway 89, 1 mile from Truckee and a short drive to Tahoe City. Right on the Truckee River and has 68 family sites and 7 walk in sites."

    3. Donner Memorial State Park Campground

    19 Reviews
    Truckee, CA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 582-7892

    $35 / night

    "Two of them have quick walking access to the lake. One is situated between. Most campsites are large."

    "Nice state park right next to the Donner Memorial Site and Donner Lake. We were in site 133 which was not the easiest site to get in with a trailer."

    4. Davis Creek Regional Park

    18 Reviews
    Washoe Valley, NV
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (775) 849-0684

    $30 / night

    "Easy access right off the freeway but tucked into trees so you don't hear any road noise. Nice hiking trails, clean restrooms and very nice staff. Well maintained!"

    "This is relaxing and very quiet area but next to the hwy. Nosie at night. Ranger is very cool. But nice spot"

    5. Village Camp Truckee

    12 Reviews
    Truckee, CA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 290-6210

    "Close to Truckee, a very nice looking rv park, plenty of nice size spots surrounded by trees. Quiet and well maintained. This is the one to stay at when visiting Tahoe-Donner."

    "Nice place to hub for Donner Lake or one of the other lakes in the close proximity."

    6. William Kent Campground

    13 Reviews
    Tahoe City, CA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 583-3642

    $42 - $118 / night

    "The sites were large considering the prime Tahoe location - we had plenty of space for our 9x8ft tent. "

    "Conveniently located within walking distance of a lot of different places. Beautiful campground. Only enough parking for one car per a spot. Decent bathrooms."

    7. General Creek Campground — Sugar Pine Point State Park

    16 Reviews
    Tahoma, CA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 525-7982

    $35 - $475 / night

    "You can drive and park over there or walk or ride a bike.  The campground bathrooms and showers were so clean, the camp hosts were AWESOME and our site was huge!"

    "This campground is on the West side in California about halfway up Lake Tahoe. You take a very winding and narrow two-lane road."

    8. Boca Rest Campground

    12 Reviews
    Floriston, CA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 587-3558

    $20 / night

    "Lake is calm, but it was too windy to set up the tent. Overnight temps in the 30's for Memorial weekend. Few trees, little shade. Lots of off road vehicles and RVs, but not a lot of noise from them."

    "the lake is a great swimming temp in june, the views are gorgeous, and there’s plenty of trees and shade. i was lucky to have the spot i was in because there was plenty of foliage to keep my site fairly"

    9. Zephyr Cove Resort

    26 Reviews
    Zephyr Cove, NV
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (775) 589-4907

    $59 - $94 / night

    "We've always like zephyr cove as it's a bit away from the south shore hectic crowds. Zephyr cove rv park has a ton of rvs, but rent camping as well."

    "Short walk across the highway to the beach, which is nice, but couldn’t get over proximity to other campers. We enjoyed our night but likely won’t visit again."

    10. D.L. Bliss State Park Campground

    22 Reviews
    Tahoma, CA
    18 miles

    $165 / night

    "Lake tahoe is one of the most beautiful place in California. There are plenty of state parks and campsites around the lake, but D.L. Bliss is one of my favorite."

    "We got a site right along the lake (stairs to the beach were just adjacent to our site) and there were only 2 other people in the entire campground."

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Recent Reviews near Kings Beach, CA

1288 Reviews of 355 Kings Beach Campgrounds


  • John C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 24, 2025

    Scout Camp at Fort Churchill

    Large area, space for RV's and smaller vehicles.

    There is a few large, flat, hard-pack areas to park in and multiple dirt roads that lead off to smaller, more secluded sites. Many of the roads will require 4-wheel drive and high clearance but they are not too bad. Some of the area is free while other parts appear to require payment. Many travel trailers out here with huge set-ups and multiple vehicles.

  • Bull D.
    Oct. 23, 2025

    Union Flat

    Union Flat Campground

    been there many times in the 90s, good gold panning results

  • John C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 21, 2025

    Dayton State Park Campground

    Meh.

    As everyone has noted, it is only about 30 feet from the highway...so that is what it is. For $15 for Nevada residents and $20 for non-residents, it's not anything special. It apparently is first come - first served, since there is no Ranger, no host, and the parks.nv.gov website never works properly.

  • John C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 20, 2025

    Moon Rocks Camp

    Fun place to wheel, or watch other people wheel.

    During the week there is not much going on but on the weekends people come out with some really nice 4-wheeling machines. It's a good area for dirtbikes as well. Tent camping is basic with a lot of wind, but the there is plenty of flat and fairly smooth ground to do so.

  • John C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 17, 2025

    Developed 7 — Lahontan State Recreation Area

    Simple and sparse.

    Not a bad place, but probably not worth paying for if you are just looking for a quick overnight camp. As mentioned, some of the roads can be aware bit rough and pitted, with random sand washes throughout. It is probably very lively here in the summer and weekends, but during the week in October there was hardly anyone here.

  • Kevin C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 15, 2025

    Grouse Ridge Campground

    My Favorite Spot near Truckee

    This is as isolated as it gets. There are a number of pullouts and sites along the road up to Grouse Ridge CG - they're all excellent. Don't expect water or cell reception or toilets. In this area, you're on your own. If the road is muddy, you may not want to take the risk as the mud is slick and getting stuck out here is a true disaster. Even in June, there was still mud, and it even snowed on me which was a thrill to wake up to a white wonderland. Did I mention that you're on your own? Have fun.

  • Kevin C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 15, 2025

    Independence Hill Dispersed

    Super quiet, super remote

    If getting away is on your list, then Independance Hill is one place to go. 1 bar Verizon and a small creek (if you continue on up the road). It's really about 2 miles from the village of Iowa Hill, but it is remote. I scared two black bears as I was walking (don't I wish I had that on film...). And yes, that's his footprint on my van door - he was checking out the bag of garbage I had stored on my roof. No services, but there are at least 6 good sites, including a large flat area that can take any size RV. This is my second favorite spot in this area. I'll go again many times :-)

  • H
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Cottonwood Campground

    Quieter Camp with Nice Trail Adjacent

    A two loop campground in a beautiful area. I stayed here in October of 2024. Aside from the host and a forest crew, I was the only camper. It was quiet and lovely. I walked the adjacent trail in the morning, which was very pretty. The pit toilets are old style and smelly, but clean.

  • Michelle R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 8, 2025

    Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping

    Beautiful boondocking

    Passing through the area, I was pleased to find this site. Large spaces and plenty of room for more than one vehicle per site.


Guide to Kings Beach

Camping near Kings Beach, California ranges from high-elevation sites at 6,200 feet to lakeside locations across Nevada-California borders. Summer temperatures average 75-80°F during daytime with nighttime drops to 40-50°F, requiring campers to pack accordingly. The Tahoe Basin camping season typically runs May through October with several year-round options available for winter enthusiasts.

What to do

Hiking from camp: At Granite Flat Campground, situated along the Truckee River, campers can access multiple hiking trails. The camp's proximity to town makes it ideal for day trips. "One negative to this campground is that the highway is right next to it. The Tahoe region is EXTREMELY popular so I'd suggest booking early if you can," notes Sherry L.

Winter activities: Washoe Lake State Park Campground remains open year-round with power hookups on Loop A. "Winter camping is available on Loop A with full power hookups on a first come, first serve basis. Bathrooms are open all winter. Hiking is nice right from the campground and wild horses graze not far away," explains Andrew R.

Water recreation: Fishing and kayaking opportunities abound at Boca Rest Campground, where the lake offers summer recreation. "Beautiful campsite right next to the water. Vault bathrooms were clean. Lots of RV sites and fairly busy campground. People were respectful of quiet hours," shares Andrea M. The reservoir is known for cooler water temperatures and excellent fishing.

What campers like

Spacious sites: Campers consistently praise the roominess at D.L. Bliss State Park Campground, where sites are designed to maximize privacy despite being in a popular area. "One thing my wife and I love about this campground is the creative design of the sites. They are close together but beautiful and create such a fun experience," reports Brady R.

Natural shade: The dense forest cover at many campgrounds provides natural cooling. "Davis Creek is the closest place that feels like we're in the mountains. Not many campgrounds in Northern NV have forest like trees. The spaces are a good size but kinda close to one another. Rangers are friendly and often stop by just to see how things are going," explains Sabrina D.

Lake access: Proximity to water remains a top priority. "The beach is unbelievable with water as clear as the east shore. Don't tell your friends - keep it a secret!" exclaims Bobby L. about D.L. Bliss. Most lakefront campgrounds require advance reservations during peak season, with some sites booking 6 months ahead.

What you should know

Highway noise: Traffic sounds affect many campgrounds in the region. At Davis Creek Regional Park, "You are close enough to hear it but it's more a white noise with the occasional truck breaking. You can't see it though so that's a plus," notes Sabrina D. Similar conditions exist at Granite Flat, where highway noise is noticeable but tends to diminish at night.

Bear activity: Bear encounters occur regularly throughout the Tahoe region. "We did have a bear come through our campsite and scared the crap out of us so make sure you put all food items & trash in the bear bin!" warns Josie H. from Sugar Pine Point State Park. Most campgrounds provide bear boxes, but campers must remain vigilant about food storage.

Winter limitations: While year-round camping exists, services decrease substantially. "It's $25 instead of the full $30 required for an out-of-state vehicle at a hookup site. I think $5 was taken off since the water at the sites was still shut off," reports Mea H. about Washoe Lake's winter operations.

Tips for camping with families

Best kid-friendly sites: Donner Memorial State Park Campground offers excellent facilities for families. "I am a 12 year old and I had tons of fun. Me and my friends were up there and there was conveniently a campground available in there same campsite. We went in the summer and the water was perfect! We went fishing and caught crawfish in a trap underneath the bridge near the front," shares Bobby S.

Educational opportunities: Several campgrounds feature interpretive programs. "Donner Memorial has three camps within this large campground. Two of them have quick walking access to the lake. One is situated between. Most campsites are large. Kids age 0-99 rule the day as there are boulders all around for to climb, a lake to swim in, trails to hike and paved loops for riding bikes. The interpreter center is informative," explains Eleni R.

Swimming options: Water temperatures vary significantly between locations. Lake Tahoe remains cold year-round (55-65°F in summer), while smaller lakes warm more quickly. Boca Reservoir offers swimming in a less crowded setting than main Lake Tahoe beaches during peak season.

Tips from RVers

Site selection: At Village Camp Truckee, RVers should choose carefully. "There are some sites that are nice and wide giving you room from your neighbors and there are some sites like the one we had that left 1 foot of separation. We had respectful neighbors so it was not an issue. We were unable to pull out our awnings due to trees," advises Dennis W.

Year-round accessibility: Washoe Lake State Park provides reliable winter access. "We paid $25 instead of the full $30 required for an out-of-state vehicle at a hookup site. I think $5 was taken off since the water at the sites was still shut off. Only one loop was open for winter," notes Mea H.

Dump station locations: Most RV parks near Kings Beach have dump stations, but not all campgrounds do. Donner Memorial State Park and Washoe Lake State Park offer dump stations, while Granite Flat does not. Fees typically range from $5-10 for non-campers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping options are available in the Kings Beach area of Lake Tahoe?

The Kings Beach area offers diverse camping options within a short drive. For lakeside camping, Meeks Bay on Lake Tahoe's western shore provides a beautiful sandy beach and scenic sites. For those wanting a mountain experience, Tahoe National Forest Wild Plum Campground offers pine forest settings with creek access. Options range from developed state park campgrounds with amenities to more rustic forest service sites. The region also features private camping experiences and RV-friendly locations. Camping is typically seasonal, with most campgrounds operating from May through October, though specific opening dates vary based on snow conditions and elevation.

Where are the official campgrounds near Kings Beach, Lake Tahoe?

Several official campgrounds are located within driving distance of Kings Beach. General Creek Campground — Sugar Pine Point State Park offers lakeside access with easy entry to day-use areas. Donner Memorial State Park Campground provides three camp areas with quick lake access and is about 20 minutes from Kings Beach. Other nearby options include William Kent Campground on the west shore and Granite Flat near Truckee. For campers willing to drive slightly further, additional Forest Service campgrounds are available along Highway 88 and in the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains. Most official campgrounds require reservations during peak season (June-August) and fill quickly.

What amenities are available at Kings Beach campgrounds?

Campgrounds near Kings Beach offer varying amenities depending on the type and managing agency. Campground by the Lake provides water access with more developed facilities. Fallen Leaf Campground features towering pine trees and sites that accommodate both tents and some RVs. Most established campgrounds in the area provide potable water, vault or flush toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. Some offer additional amenities like hot showers, dump stations, and boat ramps. Private campgrounds typically provide more services including electrical hookups and Wi-Fi. Cell service varies significantly by location, with better coverage at campgrounds closer to towns. Amenities may be reduced during shoulder seasons (May and October), and winter camping options are extremely limited.