Best Tent Camping near Meadow Vista, CA

Tent camping options around Meadow Vista, California include several established sites within the Auburn State Recreation Area, most notably Lake Clementine Boat In Campground along the North Fork of the American River. Additional primitive tent campsites can be found at nearby locations such as Camp Far West North Shore and Onion Valley Campground in Tahoe National Forest, offering varied experiences for tent campers seeking natural settings within an hour's drive of Meadow Vista.

Most tent campsites in the region operate seasonally, with Lake Clementine open from May through September and limited sites available during off-season months. Sites typically include basic amenities such as fire pits, picnic tables, and bear boxes at established campgrounds, while primitive backcountry tent sites offer minimal facilities. Vault toilets are common, but potable water is rarely available – campers should bring sufficient water supplies. Fire restrictions are frequently implemented during dry summer months, especially at higher-elevation tent camping areas within Tahoe National Forest. Many sites require advance reservations during peak summer season.

Walk-in tent sites at Lake Clementine provide direct river access, though spacing between sites can be minimal during busy periods. The campground's proximity to the crystal-clear American River makes it particularly attractive for tent campers who appreciate water activities. Tahoe National Forest's Onion Valley offers more secluded backcountry tent camping with widely spaced sites bordered by meadows and streams. According to one visitor, "It was nice and secluded with not many sites so not many people or noise. Close to some good hiking trails." Tent campers frequently report peaceful conditions and minimal crowds at more remote sites, especially during weekdays or shoulder seasons. Many primitive tent setups in the area provide excellent stargazing opportunities with minimal light pollution from nearby towns.

Best Tent Sites Near Meadow Vista, California (79)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Meadow Vista, CA

821 Reviews of 79 Meadow Vista Campgrounds


  • Dani P.
    Jul. 12, 2019

    Meeks Bay

    Beautiful and big family oriented campground

    Just a small walk away from Lake Tahoe shore. Big beautiful trees cover the entire campground. A couple bathrooms that surprisingly do not smell bad and have a running faucet. Bears are a real issue, so they have big bear boxes at each site - make sure to use them. Sites close together and not much privacy. Camp Host on site. Very limited parking at the sites, but free parking if you park outside of the campground along the main road and walk in. Do not leave food in your car, especially on the outside. And dont forget to Leave No Trace!

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 25, 2023

    Lake Clementine Boat In — Auburn State Recreation Area

    Off-season peaceful stay

    General: Normally, there are 18 designated sites that are reservable only from May 1– October 15. What we didn’t know until we arrived was that only Sites 1-7 were open after this date; fortunately, only two other sites were occupied when we arrived at 5:30 pm on a Monday in late October. The access road is about six miles of curvy, hilly, and narrow (sometimes only one lane) pavement. There is a sign prohibiting trailers; our 18-foot camper van did fine but anything much larger would definitely be challenged. 

    Site Quality: Many of the sites are more suitable for tent campers. The parking area is at the top of the hill, and you set up your tent below. Most of the sites that have a “driveway” were not level, except for Sites 5 and 6. We lucked out with Site 6 – it was large and level and directly across from the vault toilets. A fire pit/grill, large concrete picnic table, and bear box complete the site (although there was a fire ban in effect).

    Bath: Only one vault toilet was open, and it was very clean. It was cleaned again the next morning. 

    Activities: This campground is located on the North Fork of the American River. In season, this campground would be very popular with rafters; there is a raft launch and takeout area close to the campsites. The river was crystal clear and beautiful.

    This was a small but beautiful campground. We were surprised that we had a semi-decent cell signal ranging from 1 to 2 bars (Verizon).

  • Summer A.
    Jul. 25, 2018

    Big Meadows Campground

    Sequoia National Forest Lovely Spacious Camp Sites

    It sounds like there are multiple Big Meadow camp grounds in California. This review is for Big Meadow Campground, Sequoia NF - FS, CA. The photos are of site 009B. My visit was wonderful. The camp sites are large. We set up two 8 person tents and one 2 person tent and there was plenty of room for more. The firepits are very well made. They block the wind while allowing good airflow. There is a very large picnick table at each site, a bear box, and plenty of shade. There is a vault toilet that is cleaned daily. The sites boarder a stream. The water level is about 3 inches in July with temperatures in the 80's. This is a dog friendly site. There is no potable water at this site.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 15, 2023

    General Creek Campground — Sugar Pine Point State Park

    Available off-season camping near Lake Tahoe

    After October 2, it is first come, first available and only sites 26-72 were open so my review is limited to a small portion of the campground. When I researched ahead of time, it was the ONLY open campground I could find in the Lake Tahoe area. At least the per night rate was decreased to $25 ($23 for seniors). I don’t know about the rest of the loops but most of the sites in the open loop appeared to be “doubles” or even “triples”; the camper pads were paved but appeared to be side-by-side parking spaces. Fortunately, there were not many campers so this was not a problem, however, if the park were more crowded, this layout would only make sense if the camper pads were used to park vehicles and people tent camped. All sites appeared to be level. No hookups. Each site had a large picnic table, fire ring, and bear box. 

    We had been warned multiple times that we were camping in an active bear area and although we did not encounter any, one of the other campers told us they had seen a mama and bear cub, along with a coyote. 

    The showers and dump station were closed for the season. There was no host on-site. The restrooms were very basic: toilet and sink but no soap, paper towels, or air dryers. 

    My rating might have been higher if we could have seen other parts of the campground, but our experience was limited to one night and we did not visit the day-use area.

  • Rosina A.
    Jun. 1, 2022

    Beals Point Campground — Folsom Lake State Recreation Area

    Folsom Lake Penninsula

    Beautiful sunsets. No showers. Bathrooms are clean. Some sites are rather small and have little flat ground. Pics on website are tough to see when booking. Lake to most sites is a drive, but there are a few campsites on the lake. Many sites are on hill, you walk up the hill or down a hill with stairs. Lake has day use area, but also a dock area for camping folks. Lots of mosquitoes. They have a fire are to cook, no fire ring, have a bear box and picnic table. Some sites have plenty of shade while others are just plain sun so be prepared.

    Water is nice temperature and super clean! Nice to kayak, paddle, boat (they have boat ramps), fish, swim. Beach areas are rocks with weeds, but pretty.

  • Kate A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 20, 2021

    Thousand Trails Ponderosa

    Great location, but plan ahead

    This is a well maintained RV and tent camping resort. It’s 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. Shared pool site. Lots of great trails to weave through the campground on a mountain bike.

    One downside- it can be hot. Not a lot of tree cover for the RV sites- make sure you bring shade with you. Luckily, there’s a nice cool river to swim in!

    Fires are restricted sometimes in the summer. Some sites require a membership.

    Local grocery and pizza, frozen yogurt available within walking distance.

    Lots of great fishing, floating, and kayak accessibly. Bring tubes and life vests. Poles and bait.

  • Patricia O.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 20, 2018

    Lindsey Lake Campground

    Rustic and remote

    There are only a few campsites here, 12, I think, and a rough road getting (SUV or truck recommended) into the campground. Once you reach camp, you’ll be rewarded with serene and beautiful surroundings. Lots of lakes and hiking in the area. Mosquitos can be a problem so come prepared. Vault toilet. No trash service, no piped water. There are picnic tables and fire rings.

  • A
    Jul. 8, 2020

    Tahoe National Forest Onion Valley Campground

    Great spot

    We rolled in here after midnight and most of the spots were still empty, and they're far enough apart that we were able to set up camp without being too disruptive. There's a vault toilet, picnic tables, fire rings, and some gorgeous scenery. What more could you need?

  • Lauren H.
    Jun. 20, 2019

    Tahoe National Forest Salmon Creek Campground

    A Dog's Dream

    Nestled against salmon creek and among the gold lake area, just outside of Bassetts. Very large sites, with some hike in with shallow creek crossing. Lush fields and forests. Great views. Can here traffic on ridge. Bear boxes at every site Trash and Recycling receptacles Picnic Tables at every site Fresh water available Bathrooms throughout


Guide to Meadow Vista

Tent camping areas surrounding Meadow Vista, California are situated within the Sierra Nevada foothills at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 3,000 feet. The region experiences hot, dry summers with temperatures regularly reaching 90°F, while winter months bring cooler conditions with occasional snow at higher elevations. Most primitive camping sites require visitors to pack out all trash and carry sufficient water supplies for their stay.

What to do

River recreation opportunities: At Lake Clementine Boat In within Auburn State Recreation Area, campers enjoy direct access to the North Fork American River. "The river was crystal clear and beautiful," notes reviewer Lee D., who visited during the off-season. The clear waters provide excellent swimming conditions during summer months.

Oak woodland exploration: Camp Far West Lake features distinctive blue oak woodlands characteristic of the Sierra foothills. "It was green and beautiful. We did a bike ride along the lake through the undeveloped overflow area and beyond to the north east end of the property," reports Ray B., who visited during winter when the campground was nearly empty.

Gold Rush history: When staying at OARS American River Outpost Campground, visitors can explore nearby Gold Rush historical sites. "The campground is in Coloma, which is in the heart of Gold Rush country. If you have some extra time, be sure to check out Marshall Gold Discovery Park, home of Sutter's Mill, and the nearby wine country," recommends reviewer Momma H.

What campers like

Off-season solitude: Visiting during shoulder seasons provides a completely different experience. "We camped during the off season (November) so we had our pick of the campsites, which was a great considering the spots are right next to each other," writes Anna V. about her Lake Clementine experience. Winter camping requires proper cold-weather gear but rewards with peaceful surroundings.

Distinctive oak trees: The landscape at Camp Far West North Shore features remarkable oak woodland. "We must have come at the best time of year because everything was so green and beautiful. The Oak trees that grow here are truly majestic and overall I would say this is a beautiful place to come and be one with nature," writes Aariana N. after a March camping trip.

Clear water access: The American River watershed provides exceptional water quality. "The river is extremely clean and clear with good temperature," notes Drew M. about Lake Clementine, adding practical advice: "Upon arrival, scope out the place and claim your spot by filling out the envelope with your name and vehicle information and how many days your plan on staying. Place the cash ($28 a night) in the envelope."

What you should know

Vehicle size limitations: Several campgrounds in the area have significant access restrictions. At Lake Clementine, "The access road is about six miles of curvy, hilly, and narrow (sometimes only one lane) pavement. There is a sign prohibiting trailers; our 18-foot camper van did fine but anything much larger would definitely be challenged," warns Lee D.

Site variations: Not all sites at a given campground offer equal amenities. "Most of the sites that have a 'driveway' were not level, except for Sites 5 and 6. We lucked out with Site 6 – it was large and level and directly across from the vault toilets," explains Lee D. about Lake Clementine.

Seasonal availability: The best tent camping near Meadow Vista, California often operates on limited schedules. Camila notes about Lake Clementine: "We stayed there for a weekend in late March and it was gorgeous! The only thing is most of the good spots were closed off. There was only one really good spot with shade that was more secluded than the others."

Tips for camping with families

Bring cleaning supplies: Some campgrounds require additional preparation. At Camp Far West North Shore, one camper notes: "I did feel the camping spots need some maintenance because the fire pits and bbqs are non functioning, we had to build our own fire ring. And the broken glass....... man it was everywhere!"

Check for poison oak: At Peninsula Camping and Boating Resort, Laura G. warns: "When we arrived to the campground, we found that the sites we reserved were on a hill, and poison oak between them. We were able to get a combined site to fit most of our group, though."

Reserve early for best sites: Site selection matters significantly for family comfort. "There was only one really good spot with shade that was more secluded than the others so I would suggest getting there early," advises Camila about spring camping at Lake Clementine.

Tips from RVers

Level site scarcity: Most tent camping options near Meadow Vista have limited level parking areas. At Oracle Oak Grove, reviewers note the specialized nature of the camping experience, with minimal amenities but access to water sports: "Jake from the Dyrt here! I got to know the owners at Oracle Oak and they have taken great steps to make this a unique place to stay, they also have kayaks and other water sport equipment available."

Self-contained setup required: Most campgrounds in the region lack hookups. "No showers or running water....there are only toilets available. Bring your own water to drink, wash dishes and pans, or wash yourselves," advises Drew M. about the facilities at Lake Clementine, adding that "The nearest store is about 2 miles back to the main road if you need to re-up on anything."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Meadow Vista, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Meadow Vista, CA is Lake Clementine Boat In — Auburn State Recreation Area with a 4.6-star rating from 7 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Meadow Vista, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 79 tent camping locations near Meadow Vista, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.