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Campgrounds near Nevada City, California range from established sites with amenities to more primitive options in surrounding public lands. Inn Town Campground, located just one mile from downtown Nevada City, provides tent and RV camping with modern facilities, while White Cloud Campground in the Tahoe National Forest offers a more rustic experience. The area includes several campgrounds along the Yuba River, with South Yuba Campground providing access to swimming holes and hiking trails. Camping areas extend from the lower elevation foothills around Nevada City to higher elevation sites in the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains, offering diverse camping experiences for both beginners and experienced campers.
Road conditions and accessibility vary significantly by season in the Nevada City region. Most campgrounds operate from late spring through early fall, with some sites like Nevada County Fairgrounds and Rollins Lake remaining open year-round. Winter snow can make access difficult at higher elevations, while summer brings dry conditions and potential fire restrictions. Many campgrounds require reservations, particularly during peak summer months when visitors flock to the Yuba River swimming areas. Cell service becomes increasingly limited in more remote camping areas. A camper noted, "White Cloud is just a 20-minute drive from home in Nevada City. We enjoyed hanging around the campground, took a cruise over to Rucker Lake for some exploring."
Proximity to water features prominently in camper experiences throughout the region. Several visitors highlighted the appeal of camping near the Yuba River, with its swimming holes and scenic hiking opportunities. Campgrounds like Rollins Lake and Scotts Flat Lake provide boat access and fishing opportunities, making them popular for families. Sites closer to Nevada City offer convenient access to town amenities while still providing natural surroundings. "Scott's Flat is just five miles outside of Nevada City. It is run by the Nevada Irrigation District. One of the many man made lakes in the region. There are bath houses, tent sites and no hookup RV sites," according to one review. Campers seeking more solitude can find it at higher elevation sites in the Tahoe National Forest, though these tend to have more primitive facilities and shorter operating seasons.
"Super clean and friendly Not congested and close to many hiking trails Easy drive and close to Nevada City.
Especially nice during Christmas Season. Feels like walking back in time."
"You’re tucked away directly in nature but a 5 minute drive will get you to downtown Nevada city."
"This campground is above Marysville California."
"They were both lake front campsites, which meant the water or shoreline was right at our "front door" from our 27' travel trailer."
"This is a smaller but nice lake. It hasn’t ever been over crowded when I’ve gone. The reason I like this spot is because campsites C3-C10 have the most shade you can hope for!"
"They have a convenience store that is walkable distance to get supplies, food, candy from. You should reserve a spot right on the lake. If you have a boat you can anchor it right in front."
from $42 - $53 / night
Check Availability"There are trails for hiking or mountain biking. You are minutes from Bullards Bar which is one of the most beautiful lakes around. I definitely suggest a day trip to the lake."
"It’s mixed RV and tent with no RV power so the generators are loud and you’ll be surrounded by them."
from $24 - $48 / night
Check Availability"Very peaceful and the fairgrounds are open during the day to walk around."
"Really nice with the lake and quiet woods feeling. No hassle booking and really reasonable price. Huge sites like 150x18 or there abouts."
"Note google & garmin routing from Nevada City takes a bridge with a 4 Ton weight restriction."
"This river trail is the best in the state. Clear water, lovely pools. Expect nudity as it is Northern California. The river is beloved by kayakers and swimmers."
from $15 / night
Check Availability"The site was spacious and a short walk to the reservoir and trail. We hiked around the entire reservoir and it was gorgeous."
"The campsites are all very nice but 23 and 24 can’t be beat with the best access to the water ( you will have a lot of people walking by to get there also though)."
from $24 - $48 / night
Check Availability"Scott’s Flat is just five miles outside of Nevada City. It is run by the Nevada Irrigation District. One of the many man made lakes in the region."
"Reserved 2 campsites next to each other for 10 family members for Father’s Day weekend 2019. Sites were large and not too close to each other so plenty of room to spread out. "
from $39 - $51 / night
Check Availability"It was only a 20-minute drive from home in Nevada City. We enjoyed hanging around the campground, took a cruise over to Rucker Lake for some exploring."
"This gem of a campground gives you wuick access to a variety of activities. A quick 15 minute drive takes you to Nevada City/Grass Valley and wine tasting."
from $24 - $48 / night
Check Availability"It was quiet and private, but close to the hosts so they visited when I had questions about the best spots for swimming and hiking nearby."
"Had a fire in the fire pit and enjoyed the quiet(except for the coyotes in the distance!). Galen, our host, was always available to answer questions and to bring extra firewood."
from $55 / night
LegendThe campsites are on both sides of the forest service road. We were never able to locate site 1 so it must have been eliminated.
If you enjoy camping and OHV riding then this should be on your list of campgrounds to visit.
GuideBoca is a comfortable little USFS campground with nice lake views.
Some of the sites and their trees are oriented a little uncomfortably for me, but I was able to back my trailer in a way that probably wasn't originally intended and open up enough room for my tow vehicle.
They have picnic tables at every site that I've seen and food storage, trash storage, bear lockers at every site.
There's gunfire across the reservoir, but I scarcely even noticed it and I'm very sensitive to it.
The camp hosts seem pretty unobtrusive.
The sites aren't particularly level, but with a few blocks I was able to get mine close enough.
I was in site number four, which is just a stone's throw from the bathrooms and dumpster. I'm self-contained, so I didn't bother looking at the bathrooms.
It's a very quiet campground. In fact, I was feeling guilty about running my generator half the time.
It was completely booked, so I was only able to get a couple of nights here, but I would certainly stay here again. Moderate levels of shade midday in July, but 83F sure beats 108F in the valley! From Site 4 I had a very clear view to the north, so I had great coverage with Starlink, at least 120 megabits; doing work was certainly a reality for me.
Checkout time is noon, and that's coming up quickly. So, thus ends my review for the moment.
[Edit] One more detail worth mentioning: as I was hitching up to leave, a doe and two fawns wandered through the trees right near the site, completely nonchalant. They weren’t begging, approaching, or acting habituated in a bad way, just quietly moving through the forest like I happened to be parked in their campground. It was a lovely little sendoff and exactly the kind of moment that makes a site memorable.
LegendDeanes campground was empty when we visited. There are sites that provide ample space and our 26’ toy hauler would fit in with no trouble.
Vault toilet was clean and most of the camp sites were well maintained.
Of the three campgrounds in this area, Deanes was my favorite.
LegendThis campground is situated between the creek and meadow. At 6100 feet it offers some relief from the valley heat.
When we visited there were three sites, 4-6, which were the nicest of all the sites.
Site 6 is close to the meadow and when we visited this campground there were two deer enjoying the tall grass in the meadow.
Site 5 is closest to the creek and the creek sounds are enjoyable and relaxing.
Site 4 is the largest of all the sites and site 3 is not only small but the road to access the site is in poor condition which makes access difficult.
ScoutWe stayed on a Tuesday night in July and we think there was only one other camper in the campground. We aren’t sure because we arrived at 10:00 pm and didn’t see anyone but then saw them the next morning while touring the entire campground. Paved pads that were somewhat level, concrete picnic tables that were pretty clean, clean bathrooms and showers that required tokens. Pretty nice overall with some campsites arranged for groups of campers while others had good spacing. We stayed in site 28. The fire pit was very tall(36”) and about 75% full of ashes but we did not have a campfire. Mid-July was pretty warm with a low at night of 72. Overall a nice campground that is on the hills and above the lake. Some sites have lake views.
LegendGeneral: Beals Point is one of two locations on Folsom Lake for camping. Large campground with a mix of electric and non-electric campsites plus some group sites.
Site Quality: Drives are paved and mostly level. We camped in a little “cul-de-sac” with just four sites. While these sites back up to the American River Bike Trail (aka Jedediah Smith Recreation Trail), it was overgrown, and I did not see direct access to the trail as we did the last time we were here.
Bath/Shower: Typical CA state park layout– all-gender units with toilet and sink (but no soap, towels, or dryers) and showers. Unlike other CA state parks, these take quarters instead of tokens. The units could use a little TLC, but what was most disheartening was how other campers had trashed them– toilet paper (and worse) scattered all over the insides. Obviously not the fault of the campground.
Activities/Amenities: Folsom Lake is the draw, and people were fishing, kayaking, and swimming. The 32-mile paved multi-use American River Bike Trail is easily accessible. There is a snack bar/concession stand for beach rentals, but it was not open when we were there.
Our stay here this time was over a weekend; it was completely full, and it reminded us once again that we prefer to camp during the week and shoulder seasons when campgrounds are less crowded!
RangerI invite you to take a look at the pictures. This is a simple gravel parking lot with hookups. There's nothing special about this location.
GuideThere’s only a couple of spots to pull off the road, the boat ramp clearly states no camping. I found a spot but every few hours all night long a truck with flashing lights on the roof drove by. Kinda weird
GuideThis appears to be another roadside pullout in the Demonstration Forest area rather than a legal overnight campsite. Based on on-site clarification from CAL FIRE at a nearby listing, overnight camping is not permitted in this Demonstration Forest area. Only the campground run by PG&E is legal.
Camping options near Nevada City, California include sites at elevations from 1,500 to over 5,000 feet across the western Sierra Nevada foothills. The region typically experiences hot, dry summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F from June through September, while winter brings cooler conditions and occasional snow at higher elevations. Most campgrounds in the area require advance reservations during peak season from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Swimming at the Yuba River: Several campsites provide access to swimming spots. At South Yuba Campground, "This river trail is the best in the state. Clear water, lovely pools. Expect nudity as it is Northern California. The river is beloved by kayakers and swimmers. Perfect snow melt means August is the prime time," according to one camper at South Yuba Campground.
Mountain biking: Access the Pioneer Trail directly from some campgrounds. "So fun and quiet for the most part. Traffic noise from 20 was the only drawback so next time will choose a campsite on the back side. Pioneer trail is amazing for mountain biking and hiking," notes a visitor to White Cloud.
Fishing opportunities: Many lakes in the area are stocked regularly. "I love this camp ground. Really nice lake always stocked with fish. Quiet at night and not rowdy during the day. Great place for family camping. They also have boat rentals," explains a camper at Collins Lake Recreation Area.
Private camping spots: Some sites offer more seclusion than others. At Windsong Ridge Village, "This was a very nice, private spot, with a large deck for my tent and water and electricity if needed (I didn't but it was nice to know it was there). The space was unsurpassed for quiet and privacy, with plenty of trees but not choked with underbrush."
Lake views: Waterfront sites are highly coveted. At Collins Lake Recreation Area, "Great Lake and RV Park. We stayed in spot 110 with a lakefront view," shares one visitor who enjoyed direct water access.
Hiking trails: The region offers extensive trail networks. At Giant Gap, "There is a trail that goes around the entire reservoir, it is a 5 mile loop. The camp hosts were so welcoming and helpful. They have firewood for sale $1 a piece. Most sites stayed shady through out the day," according to a camper who enjoyed the scenic loop.
Campsite sizes vary significantly: Some sites are more limited than others. At Nevada County Fairgrounds, "Very very small sites. Hardly enough space to put out the awning and set up some chairs. Just can't recommend based on the very cramped conditions. Sites are not very level either. I needed to raise my front end 6 inches to get level."
Bathroom conditions: Facilities range from basic to well-maintained. At Giant Gap, "They have potable drinking water, pit bathrooms, no shower. We went in the end of June and the water was awesome for swimming. Not too cold like a lot of the mountain reservoirs."
Noise considerations: Traffic sounds can impact some camping experiences. At White Cloud, "Awesome spots to camp, it's just insanely close to the 20 so you'll hear non-stop traffic," warns one camper about highway noise.
Look for swimming access: Kids enjoy water activities in summer. A visitor to Inn Town Campground noted, "We spent the days at Fuller Dam, and the Yuba River and Scotts Flat Reservoir are nearby too. Overall, this is a fantastic campground and I highly recommend."
Consider campgrounds with amenities: Some sites offer more conveniences. "The Inn Town Campground is unlike any other campground I've ever been to. The common house has a fully stocked kitchen so you can camp without having to bring supplies! The campground is exceptionally clean and meticulously maintained," reports one camper.
Check for shade: Summer heat can be intense. At Rollins Lake, "The reason I like this spot is because campsites C3-C10 have the most shade you can hope for! There is a little waterfall and creek running behind the campsites so you get the trickling water sound."
Site leveling requirements: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain. At Nevada County Fairgrounds, a camper noted, "Visit was April 2020. Had spot in rear of facility. Lots of room uneven grass surface but auto leveled no problem. Small pond for kids only fishing. Easy freeway access can get to town on surface streets."
Campsite access challenges: Getting larger vehicles to some sites can be difficult. At Manzanita Rock Meadow, "It was a little challenging getting our 16' trailer to the pad but it was worth it. So quiet and serene there. I don't think the bigger rigs would be able to make the turn into the site and the road to the entrance is a bit rough."
Hookup availability: Water and electric connections vary by location. At Scotts Flat Lake, "Scott's Flat is just five miles outside of Nevada City. It is run by the Nevada Irrigation District. One of the many man made lakes in the region. There are bath houses, tent sites and no hookup RV sites."
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best campgrounds in Nevada City, California?
Nevada City offers excellent camping options for outdoor enthusiasts. Inn Town Campground is highly rated for its cleanliness, friendly staff, and well-maintained sites. It provides a peaceful setting while remaining close to hiking trails and downtown. For those seeking a more rustic experience, White Cloud campground is a gem that offers quick access to various activities including wine tasting in Nevada City/Grass Valley and excellent sites along the Yuba River. The Nevada County Fairgrounds also offers camping facilities with easy access to town events. These campgrounds provide a perfect base for exploring the historic charm of Nevada City and the surrounding natural beauty.
How far are camping areas from downtown Nevada City?
Scotts Flat Lake is just five miles outside of Nevada City, making it one of the closest camping options to town. Run by the Nevada Irrigation District, this beautiful man-made lake offers both recreation and convenient proximity to urban amenities. Gold Lake 4x4 Campground is located farther out in the Sierra Buttes, providing a more remote escape while still being accessible from Nevada City. For those wanting camping options with minimal travel time, several campgrounds are within a 15-20 minute drive from downtown, allowing for easy access to Nevada City's historic downtown area with its restaurants, shops, and seasonal events.
What amenities are available at Nevada City camping sites?
Camping sites around Nevada City offer a range of amenities to enhance your outdoor experience. Sycamore Ranch RV Park features well-maintained grounds with hookups, paved campsites, and irrigation systems that keep the grass green year-round. For those seeking a balance of nature and convenience, Inntown Campground provides water near all sites, well-maintained facilities, and helpful staff who provide daily check-ins. Many area campgrounds offer bathhouses, potable water, and toilets. Some locations include amenities like fire rings, picnic tables, and access to lakes for fishing, boating, and swimming. Campgrounds closer to town typically offer more developed facilities, while those farther out provide a more rustic experience with basic amenities.
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