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Ruby M.
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TravelerRolling Hills Casino Resort Truck Lot and Rv park
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Been coming here for years when passing through. Super convenient, very affordable gas, security everywhere and good staff.
Camping near Mill Creek, CA
213 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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Camping near Mill Creek, California ranges from full-hookup RV sites and cabin stays to primitive dispersed campsites, with options suited to a variety of setups. Manzanita Lake Campground accommodates tents, RVs, and cabin stays within the national park boundaries. Mill Creek Resort provides cabins along with tent and RV camping, while Christie Hill Basecamp offers primitive dispersed camping approximately 4 miles from the park entrance. Several campgrounds operate seasonally, with most open from late spring through fall.
Road conditions vary throughout the region, with some dispersed camping areas requiring higher clearance vehicles. Paved access serves the developed campgrounds, while Forest Service roads leading to primitive sites may become challenging during wet conditions. "This is a small flat area near the base of Christie Hill. The turn off of the Hwy 89 is at the McGowan SnoPark area. There are a handful of very rough roads one could pull off the road and camp in a tent on (or 4x4 van)," noted one visitor about dispersed camping. Most campgrounds in the area remain closed during winter, with services limited by seasonal staffing and weather conditions. Cell reception varies significantly, with limited connectivity in more remote locations.
Proximity to Lassen Volcanic National Park represents the primary draw for campers in the Mill Creek area. Volcanic Country Camping & RV provides full hookups approximately 9 miles from the southwest park entrance, making it convenient for park visitors. According to reviews, Mill Creek Resort offers "quiet, shady, private campsites" with access to Mill Creek for cooling off during summer months. Christie Hill Basecamp provides more remote camping experiences with minimal facilities but greater privacy. Most developed campgrounds in the region feature vault toilets, with some offering amenities like showers, potable water, and picnic tables. Fire restrictions apply seasonally, with some campgrounds providing firewood on-site. Wildlife sightings are common, with visitors reporting deer regularly passing through campsites.
Best Campgrounds near Mill Creek (213)
1. Manzanita Lake Campground — Lassen Volcanic National Park
"We took an eight-day tour through Northern California and this was our first leg. Tent-camped three nights."
"California Hidden gems."
from $26 / night
Check Availability2. Volcanic Country Camping & RV
"We’ve been on a road trip through California living in a van so after hiking lassen all day we were on the lookout for a shower . This place had a hot shower and toilet !"
"There are 4 tent sites and 20+ RV sites. 9 miles away from the Lassen Volcanic NP southwestern entrance."
from $20 / night
Check Availability3. Southwest Walk-in Campground — Lassen Volcanic National Park
"The sites are "walk-in" which varies from maybe 50 ft to 200 ft from the parking lot."
"When we originally planned our year-long trip to all of the national parks, we did our best to avoid the massive snow packs that limit accessibility to the parks."
4. Battle Creek Campground
"Mosquitoes were out in full force thanks to the proximity to the creek, and the cattle from the ranch next door were mooing all night. Charming!"
"The beauty of a lovely camp like this is the interlude of serenity you experience, away from the busyness of our daily routines, rules, and limitations. It is a beautiful, clean camp."
5. Christie Hill Basecamp
"Just off the main highway. Gravel road in. We had a Ford van that had no problem driving over the dirt and gravel road. There are sites with fire rings and relatively flat ground."
"I only had to drive a little ways in to find a nice spot with a fire pit and space for my camper. I’ve been here for hours and haven’t seen or heard anyone. I also have full reception with Verizon."
6. Potato Patch Campground
"We were in a site close to the road but recommend a site closer to the creek. Note: no easy access to creek from campground, so recommend going to the red bridge to access trails."
"The area is covered in greenery and it is next to Deer Creek with easy access for trout fishing."
7. Elam Campground
"We chose #10 which is adjacent to the creek. Campsites were clean, each one having a fire ring and picnic table. The fishing here is usually great but they were having problems at the fishery."
"Beautiful creek, quiet campground, hand pump for water, bald eagles, osprey, and a nice little hiking trail. It got freezing cold at night with our 30° bags."
8. Mill Creek Resort
"Short hike and you are at Mill Creek for a cooling wade. There is also a small camp store with wood, ice and other amenities. We even had a very friendly doe come for a visit. We will be back."
"This is so close to Lassen without the busyness of the park in summer. We visited end of July and the access to the creek was so welcome."
9. Summit Lake South — Lassen Volcanic National Park
"Like its sister site to the north, this camp site is next to Lassen’s Summit Lake at approximately 7000 feet."
"Summit lake is a great place to hang. There are campgrounds on either side of the lake and this one is the more primate of the two - no flush toilets. "
from $22 / night
Check Availability10. Summit Lake North — Lassen Volcanic National Park
"Our decision for our final resting place -pun intended- was situated between two rocks on the flattest stony ground we could find. We had heard gusts could reach 70 mph at night."
"We stayed here two nights after spending one night at the larger Manzanita Lake CG. The are two loops and about 40 sites. There is also a South Summit Lake CG."
from $24 / night
Check Availability
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Recent Camping Photos near Mill Creek, CA
129 Photos of 213 Mill Creek Campgrounds
The Dyrt
Mill Creek Resort
Josh P.
Christie Hill Basecamp
Sarah P.
Gurnsey Creek
Jeff B.
Battle Creek Campground
Kate A.
Elam Campground
Jessica F.
Southwest Walk-in Campground — Lassen Volcanic National Park
Joe V.
High Bridge Campground
Corinna B.
Summit Lake South — Lassen Volcanic National Park
Corinna B.
Summit Lake North — Lassen Volcanic National Park
alissa C.
Black Rock Campground (Lassen NF)
Jillean G.
Manzanita Lake Campground — Lassen Volcanic National Park
Azizah T.
Juniper Lake Campground — Lassen Volcanic National Park
Recent Reviews near Mill Creek, CA
596 Reviews of 213 Mill Creek Campgrounds
Amber G.
GuideRed Bluff KOA Journey
Best campground I've stayed in thus far!
Clean, beautiful, accessible, and reasonably priced. Laundry (2.75), wifi, pool, and more. Would love to come back!
- Amber G.Guide
Perry Riffle Trailhead
Simple & safe
Arrived on a Tuesday night and was the only one staying. Vault toilet was open. Consistent coverage with at&t. Not terribly strong though. Plenty of space for others. Trash bin available.
- CChristian R.Guide
Manzanita Lake Camping Cabins — Lassen Volcanic National Park
Very Cozy
We arrived very late our first night, but it was very easy to get into our cabin using the code that was emailed to us when we booked the reservation. Due to weird bookings, we had to book 2 different cabins so we got to experience 9 and 16, each of which had a heaters, which is nice for the cold nights. Despite the campground being nearly full, we got great sleep both nights and everything was quiet after 10PM. There are multiple water pumps, vaults, toilet bathrooms, and bear trash cans, each of which are maintained very well. The campground is also not too far from the museum and visitor center which have Wi-Fi. You also have a campground store that is walking distance fro the campground, but is unreasonably expensive. A bundle of firewood was somewhere around $14, and this is where the showers are which were like $5 per person. They also have gas pumps, but neither of them were in service. Aside from all this, sites themselves were amazing, and you are very close to the Manzanita Lake, which is bigger than I expected and seems to be very popular for fishing.
Corey M.TravelerBig Pine Dispersed Camping
Quiet and easy
In late and out early so parked at one of the first pullouts long before the creek. Easy dirt road in my sedan. Some logging I think(?) at around 4am or something actually. But slept easily enough. Best to go farther in for a better experience
Victoria C.
ScoutElam Campground
Elam campground
This campground is amazing we come here often just for the stunning tranquility and amazing fishing ❤️
- NNicole V.Guide
Butte Lake Campground — Lassen Volcanic National Park
Big but spread out
Great CG, bigger than expected but spots are spread out. Cool pine forest, pretty lake, Cinder Cone Hike worth the sweat for the views. Stayed in site 8, not super level for a van, but made it work.
- Ashlin A.Guide
Big Pine Dispersed Camping
Love!!!!
Perfect spot right outside Lassen Volcanic NP. There’s a little river by my spot and I love the moss on the trees. Quiet and peaceful
- JJenny L.Traveler
West Eagle Campground
Beautiful Location- Park is dated
Location is unbelievably beautiful. Has cool camper/cabin locations. Pay showers and laundry near the marina. Good fishing access around the Lake. The 30 amp plug at my site was broken around the ground plug, although still functional. Grass around the pad was tall enough to reach my slide out, so could use a bit of a trim down around the pad but I totally understand leaving the natural look around the camp though. Site was clean and ready to go by the camp host. Wood bundles and ice are available for purchase at the marina.
Guide to Mill Creek
Camping near Mill Creek, California provides multiple options for outdoorsy travelers seeking easy access to Lassen Volcanic National Park. Located at approximately 4,400 feet elevation, the Mill Creek area experiences dramatic seasonal temperature swings with summer daytime temperatures frequently reaching 85°F while winter temperatures often drop below freezing. Most camping sites in this region close after the first significant snowfall, typically in late October.
What to do
Paddling on Manzanita Lake: Manzanita Lake offers excellent boating opportunities with rental equipment available. "Rental kayaks and paddle boards are overpriced so bring your own," advises Karl L., who visited Manzanita Lake Campground.
Fishing at Elam Campground: Catch native trout in Deer Creek. "I caught three native trout. The stocked fish had a disease and couldn't be released," reports Jeff H. about his experience at Elam Campground. The fishing conditions vary throughout the season.
Wildlife viewing: Many campgrounds offer opportunities to spot local wildlife. "We even had a very friendly doe come for a visit," shares James W. from his stay at Mill Creek Resort. Early mornings and evenings provide the best wildlife viewing times.
What campers like
Peaceful atmosphere: Many campers value the quiet environment. "This is a quiet campground. Full hook ups. Only 9 miles to Lassen Southwest entrance. Right off RT 36," notes Eric G. about his stay at Volcanic Country Camping & RV.
Swimming holes: Access to water for cooling off during hot summer months ranks highly with visitors. "Short hike and you are at Mill Creek for a cooling wade," mentions James W. about Mill Creek Resort. Creek access points often feature small pools perfect for cooling off.
Forest setting: The wooded environment provides natural shade and scenery. "The RV sites are somewhat close to each other but there are plenty of trees around so you really have a forest feeling," writes Jeff M. about Volcanic Country Camping & RV. The predominant tree species include ponderosa pine and douglas fir.
What you should know
Water availability: Water access varies significantly between campgrounds. "Keep in mind that there is no water available. Need to bring your own," warns marcus K. about Manzanita Lake Campground. Some dispersed sites have no water source at all.
Temperature fluctuations: The region experiences dramatic day-to-night temperature changes. "It got freezing cold at night with our 30° bags. I'd absolutely stay again but I'd bring an extra blanket," advises Elaina S. about Elam Campground. Nighttime temperatures can drop 30-40°F below daytime highs.
Shower codes: When available, showers often require access codes. "Men's shower code is 9271 as of 10/10/24 for all you stinky campers (myself included)," shared Alex H. at Volcanic Country Camping & RV. Some campgrounds charge for showers, typically $1.75 for 3 minutes.
Road conditions: Many dispersed camping areas require appropriate vehicles. "Not sure what previous reviewers are talking about regarding lack of spots due to construction. I only had to drive a little ways in to find a nice spot with a fire pit and space for my camper," notes Josh P. about Christie Hill Basecamp.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly swimming: Summit Lake offers shallow, accessible swimming. "Totally awesome lake that's safely swimmable for kiddos that's also available for day-use," recommends Corinna B. about Summit Lake North. The lake warms up enough for comfortable swimming by mid-July.
Bike-friendly campgrounds: Some campgrounds have flat, safe areas for kids to ride. "It's great seeing the kids ride around the loop on their bicycles and scooters," says Celina M. about Manzanita Lake. Bring bikes with wider tires for the unpaved surfaces.
Educational opportunities: Many campgrounds offer ranger programs. "All in all, a great place to car camp," continues Celina M., noting the educational value of "geothermal areas [that] are always interesting and remind us of the forces behind this volcanic tower."
Tips from RVers
Parking challenges: Many sites have uneven parking pads. "Many of the parking pads are at extreme angles, and would NOT be usable for folks with a roof-top tent," warns Jason G. about Summit Lake South, adding "I got lucky and the spot I booked just happened to be one of the flat ones."
Leveling requirements: Come prepared to level your RV. "Be ready to level your camper," advises Kim G. about Manzanita Lake Campground. Bringing leveling blocks is essential at most area campgrounds.
Limited hookup options: Full hookups are scarce in the area. The RV sites at Mill Creek Resort include "a small number of RV sites with full hookups," according to Christopher N., though he notes these sites "were filled with people who came and stayed for the entire summer, year after year."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Mill Creek, CA?
What camping is available near Mill Creek, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Mill Creek, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 213 campgrounds and RV parks near Mill Creek, CA and 21 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Mill Creek, CA?
Which is the most popular campground near Mill Creek, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Mill Creek, CA is Manzanita Lake Campground — Lassen Volcanic National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 39 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Mill Creek, CA?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Mill Creek, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 21 free dispersed camping spots near Mill Creek, CA.
What parks are near Mill Creek, CA?
What parks are near Mill Creek, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 18 parks near Mill Creek, CA that allow camping, notably Lassen Volcanic National Park and Lassen National Forest.
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