RV camping options near Kirkwood, California range in elevation from 4,600 to 8,000 feet, with significant seasonal availability differences between mountain and valley locations. Snow conditions can affect campground access from November through May at higher elevations, while valley locations offer year-round camping. Many campgrounds feature gravel sites with limited shade and varying degrees of privacy.
What to do
Outdoor recreation at Tahoe Valley: Visitors can access hiking and biking trails directly from the campground property. "We came into south lake to visit family. This campground is right in town but there's enough space and trees to give it a natural setting... there's a dog park, pool and trails," notes Sarah R. about Tahoe Valley Campground.
Fishing opportunities: French Meadows Reservoir provides trout fishing during summer months. "Great trout fishing. Bear country be advised. Extreme fire danger the summer months and closed due to snow in winter," mentions Toby R. from French Meadows.
Winter camping experiences: Some parks remain accessible during snow season for those prepared for cold-weather camping. "We ended up camping in a truck camper at Tahoe Valley Campground after being caught in a snow storm... nothing beats making a fire in the snow and waking up to a couple of feet of white fluffiness!" shares Basia M.
Casino entertainment: Several RV parks near Kirkwood are located adjacent to casinos offering gaming and dining options. "Staying there for 4 nights gave us a great week of touring all of these places, as well as Donner Pass, Squaw Valley, North Lake Tahoe, as well as the local area of Carson City," reports Robert V. about his stay at Gold Dust West RV Park.
What campers like
Group facilities: Coyote Group Campground offers dedicated space for larger camping parties with appropriate infrastructure. "Large group camp site with lots of flat places to pitch a tent. Clean pit toilets. 3 bear food and 4 trash/recycling bins. 2 water spigots. 4 big picnic tables," notes Tyler M. from Coyote Group Campground.
Level parking sites: Many RV parks near Kirkwood feature paved pull-through sites that accommodate larger vehicles. "All flat setups. Has nice office and store. Has a fishing pond," mentions Steve A. about his experience at Silver City RV Resort.
Resort amenities: Some campgrounds offer more developed facilities that appeal to families. "They put on a ton of events like karaoke nights, live music, and smores nights. Hot showers and well lit clean bathrooms," reports Dani P. about Tahoe Valley Campground.
Water access: Several campgrounds provide direct access to water features. "We were here in August. Slightly long to get to on the windy roads at night time, but during the day the drive back wasn't bad. Loved the water access, and water was perfect temperature for swimming for our toddlers," shares Anastasia P. about French Meadows.
What you should know
Reservation challenges: Popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially during holiday weekends. "We had to find a last minute place on a Sunday due to the Davis Creek Regional park fire. We pulled in here and were helped by a wonderful young woman in the office," describes Kim G. about her experience at Carson RV Resort.
Road conditions: Access to some campgrounds involves challenging mountain roads. "The road to get to the site is extremely windy and narrow with no rails so be careful!" warns Amanda B. about French Meadows Campground.
Campsite variations: Site quality and layout vary significantly within the same campground. "Two thirds of the campsites were on a slope with no where to setup a tent on level ground. We got lucky and reserved a site with a 'decent' spot to place a tent," cautions graham K.
Water availability: Mountain campgrounds may have limited water access during drought conditions. "Water pumps were good in the locations where water was present, but due to lower water levels, the pumps on the higher grounds had no water; had to walk to the lowest pumps," notes Anastasia P.
Tips for camping with families
Activity offerings: Some RV parks near Kirkwood, California provide organized events for children. "Mini train ride around park, great playground, mini golf, showed movie and a lot more awesomeness. Was not cheap but kept the kids entertained," shares Dan about Placerville RV Resort.
Swimming access: Seek out campgrounds with swimming facilities for hot summer days. "Lake Tahoe is always beautiful so you can't go wrong here. Kids will have a fantastic time and be sure to enjoy a Rum Runner from the lakeside restaurant. Lots of fun activities. A perfect family vacation," notes Christy S. about RV Village Campground.
Bear safety protocols: Mountain campgrounds require proper food storage to prevent wildlife encounters. "We showed up and still managed to find a camp spot that same day which is rare for this gorgeous location," mentions Janet G., though other campers note limited bear boxes at some locations.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds enforce quiet hours while others may have challenges with noise. "Had several rowdy groups keeping us up til 2am. A few air horns, car alarms going off. No camp hosts or ground keepers around," cautions cassidy R.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Electrical service levels vary between campgrounds with some offering limited options. "Easy to access, even for larger rigs. We stayed in 39 foot 5th wheel. Plenty of pull thru spots, full hookups, regularly spaced bathroom/showers," reports Steve R. about Tahoe Valley Campground.
Site dimensions: RV site widths can present challenges at some facilities. "Sites are narrow, about twice the width of your RV, and separated by chain link fencing. But all sites are perfectly flat, paved pull-throughs; easy in, easy out parking," explains john W. about his stay at Silver City RV Resort.
Waste management options: Many campgrounds lack sewer hookups at individual sites. "Spaces are wide and recent upgrades will have nice vine covered privacy fences between each site. Showers were clean. Sites were level and pull through," notes Lyf Uninterrupted about Silver City RV Resort.
Road noise impact: Highway proximity affects some RV parks near Kirkwood. "Very large park with spectacular views but the spots were super close together. Also our sewer hookup was broken," reports Heidi about her experience at Silver City.
