L
Landon R.
Traveler
TravelerBlue Oak Campground
Very cool views, but a lot of trash
Found a spot on the hill that had a sweet view, but was covered in trash and shotgun shells. A lot of dirt bikers so you hear that most of the day.
Camping near Nice, CA
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Camping around Nice, California centers on Clear Lake, with options ranging from lakeside RV parks to dispersed sites in the surrounding hills. The Aurora RV Park & Marina offers full hookup sites for RVs along with cabin accommodations directly on the lakeshore, while Lakeview Dispersed Campground provides free primitive camping on public land with views overlooking the water. Other nearby options include Kelsey Creek Campground at Clear Lake State Park and the Narrows Lodge Resort, which features tent sites, RV spaces, and cabin rentals approximately 5 miles from Nice.
Road conditions to dispersed camping areas can present challenges, particularly at Lakeview Dispersed Campground where steep, dusty, unpaved routes may require all-wheel drive vehicles. A camper noted, "The drive up was full of breathtaking views, and even though the road was quite bumpy, dusty, and steep at times, our AWD Kia made it up no problem." Weather around Clear Lake is typically mild throughout the year, though summer temperatures can become quite hot. Lakeside sites at developed campgrounds like The Aurora RV Park tend to fill quickly during peak summer months. Cell service is generally available at most locations, including dispersed sites in the hills above the lake.
Waterfront camping represents a significant draw in the Nice area, with several campers highlighting the views and lakeside access. Sites along Clear Lake offer fishing opportunities directly from camp, particularly at The Aurora RV Park where lakeside spots include picnic areas overlooking the water. One visitor mentioned, "We were able to find a secluded spot that overlooks the lake. Very peaceful but some traffic sounds at night from the lake towns." Dispersed camping areas provide more solitude but fewer amenities, with no water sources, restrooms, or trash facilities. Several campers report excellent stargazing opportunities from the higher elevation dispersed sites. The region includes both BLM and Forest Service land, with Cow Mountain Recreation Area offering additional dispersed camping options approximately 15 miles from Nice.
Best Campgrounds near Nice (169)
1. Kelsey Creek Campground — Clear Lake State Park
"Came back a year later on a whim and still found it to be a nice place, in spite of the heat."
"Was a very nice experience with a lot of easy spots for us to back our camper in. We choice a site away from everyone and it was so nice and quiet."
from $30 / night
Check Availability2. Lakeview Dispersed Campground
"First time camping and going somewhat off road. If you’re worried about your vehicle making it up we saw a tesla and a nissan altima up there. My subaru made it up perfectly."
"Very nice view. You have to drive up to right as you enter and then turn toward the lake to find the really nice spots. You can't see them from the main area."
3. The Aurora RV Park & Marina
"This park has two parts: most is across the street from the lake but some spots are lakeside. The lakeside spots are very tight together-and require backing in."
"It’s very nice, certainly beautiful and worth the extra 10 dollars. A picnic bench behind the RVs and looking out to the water. Large group cooking and gathering areas."
from $22 - $75 / night
Check Availability4. Letts Lake Campground — Mendocino National Forest
"Plenty of trees offered great hammocking, and the small lake was great for swimming. The trail looping the lake was a nice quick hike."
"National Forest pulled in officers from surrounding forests and Sheriff Depts. With a 35' Class A our options were limited. A Ranger suggested Letts Lake."
from $12 / night
Check Availability5. High Valley Ridge
"The drive up was windy and a bit steep at points but well groomed and manageable in an SUV. I’m sure most cars can do the drive with a responsible person behind the wheel."
"Recent regrading of the southern road up made it a cake walk, it's like a runway."
6. High Valley Rd Dispersed
"Very nice spot with multiple places to pull over and camp. There’s views of Lear Lake if you want to walk a bit. No water nearby. The road is very dusty on the way up!"
"Lots of little pullouts when you reach the top and then as you head down the north side more with beautiful views of the lake. Some private property on that end but nothing unusual."
7. Narrows Lodge Resort
"It’s a short walk from anywhere in the campground down to the lake. The water is crystal clear and there’s a little dock for jumping off of."
"MUST BE SELF CONTAINED TO STAY IN THIS LOCATION!!"
8. Middle Creek Campground
"Beautiful location, campground was easily accessible going up Elk Mountain Road. Camped in Site 11, pull through, no hook ups, nice picnic table, grill and fire pit. Vault toilets, no showers."
"If you come with that in mind I would say this place is really really nice. It's very clean."
from $8 / night
Check Availability9. Deer Valley Campground
"After a last minute decision to leave Lake Berryessa in search of more solitude, found this gem of a spot. Lonely, picturesque, peaceful, and most importantly... open! Totally recommend it."
"But not a bad place to get away from the city. Daily easy access, rough dirt roads, I have a truck but would feel fine driving my wife’s Subaru to these sites."
10. BLM Sheldon Creek
"Tow behinds/trailers not recommended; rough roads and can’t turn back once on the path."
"There was a nice little creek and a fire pit. Had the area to ourselves likely due to the rain."
Drive Time
- 1 hr 21 min from Santa Rosa, CA
- 1 hr 33 min from Yuba City, CA
- 1 hr 44 min from Napa, CA
Recent Camping Photos near Nice, CA
276 Photos of 169 Nice Campgrounds
Jeremy F.
The Aurora RV Park & Marina
Stacy L.
Lakeview Dispersed Campground
Nicole P.
Kelsey Creek Campground — Clear Lake State Park
Chris P.
Cole Creek Campground — Clear Lake State Park
val G.
Old Train Caboose
keith B.
Buckhorn Campground
April H.
Penny Pines Campground
Summer A.
BLM Sheldon Creek
Bruce P.
Letts Lake Campground — Mendocino National Forest
Ann N.
Stonyford Recreation Area
Maddy S.
Bushay Recreation Area
Recent Reviews near Nice, CA
643 Reviews of 169 Nice Campgrounds
Madeleine B.
ScoutKoa Cloverdale Camping Resort
Glad I Ignored the Bad Reviews
Abundant bad reviews were available for this campground but we had no major issues. Bathrooms and pool were in good condition.
- H
Heather D.TravelerThousand Trails Russian River
They're trying
So the staff here are really nice and helpful and trying to keep the place up. There is definitely not enough staff for the size of of the grounds here. The river is super low right now but it's mid July inland in California so that's expected. Getting down to the river access is either by being dropped off by a car and then picked back up when you are done OR walking down the windy steep road and then back UP when you are tired and hungry and hot etc. If you have a mobility issue be prepared to get help. My husband has prosthetics and we couldn't be down at the same time without a lot of back and forth with the vehicle. The bathroom/bathhouse in A section of the park is trashed. I don't have a nicer way to put that. We lost water the second night we were there and that lasted most of the next day and then power went out at 11pm three nights later and was off for almost 24 hours. We more than likely won't be staying there again anytime soon. It looks like it used to be a really nice spot but it has just been neglected and abused.
Shawna M.
GuideRedwoods RV Resort
Plenty to do here
This RV park has many types of sites with pool, kid playgrounds and very large sights
Alan L.GuideLake Pillsbury Resort and Marina
Nice dirt road drive!
Enjoyed our time at pillsburry. Water was warm, but too much clay and some areas had algae. Camp site was very spacious with fire pit. We fit our vehicles perfectly. Water spigot at camp site and bathrooms were across. There’s a store and token showers
- Alan L.Guide
Upper Bayview Campground — Clear Lake State Park
Spacious camp site!
Very spacious camp site. We got invited here by a relative. Stayed in the upper area, so you had to drive down to the lake. Park rangers were present. Can’t remember the camp site we stayed in but if you don’t mind taking a 5 minute drive,book the upper campground. Lake water was 7/10. Great temperature, but I’m more of a Christal clear water person. There was some algae/ weeds. I heard a lot of negative comments about the water. Overall we had a good time Bathrooms and showers were next to our site.
- CCarley C.Traveler
smittle creek
Definitely not a spot
Tons of signs that say no camping no parking no trespassing. There was a fence and it was locked. Definitely don’t come here
- TTwindaddyGuide
Calso - Boggs Mountain Demo Forest - TEMPORARILY CLOSED
Open to camping again!
Finally open again after a couple years of clearing storm damage.
https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/natural-resource-management/demonstration-state-forests/boggs-demonstration-state-forest
I was there the week prior to July 4 and expected a crowd. Instead I was one of only two campers until I left on the 3rd.
As in years past, the "no-see-ems" and bees get a bit thick. The bees absolutely LOVE water, so have a van with a shower on the rear door complicates things. Nonetheless, the stay was nice. The mountain biking, though tough, was super fun. I got lucky with the weather too - only hit about 82 at the warmest.
Vault toilets are reasonably well maintained. Don't be afraid to use them if you need to.
There continues to be a lot of forest recovery after the fire over a decade (wow!) ago.
The trees that were planted are now reaching an impressive height and providing shade on many of the trails. See the pic with the bike against the tree for a sense of scale.
Nice to have the option available again - I'll be back in the fall.
Oh... the pizza parlor in Cobb is also excellent. They have great pizza a great sleection of good beers on tap!
- DDaniel D.Guide
COE Mendocino Lake Bu-Shay Campground
Unmaintained Free-for-all
Apparently this place has been closed for four years and is just re-opening. It definitely looks like it. Sections of the campground are still closed, and the parts that are open were ROUGH. This places does have potential- views of the lake are good, bathrooms have showers. By far the worst part of camping here is that there was no camp host and no park ranger. Saw unsafe fire practices, and experienced extremely loud music that went to 2:00 am and started again at 6:30 am. Did I ask for it by coming here on Fourth of July weekend? Probably. On the whole, the entire experience felt like trying to camp in a run down city park. Having no one to contact when things get out of control after the sun goes down invites campers to try to regulate other campers, which is always recipe for disaster. I’ve camped in all kinds of place - Nat’l park, state parks, county parks, BLM, National Forests, and have experienced the full range of camping experiences . I will never come back to this place again.
Guide to Nice
Camping near Nice, California offers locations around Clear Lake that range from waterfront spots to secluded forest sites. The region sits at approximately 1,300 feet elevation with oak woodlands surrounding the lake basin. Summer temperatures typically reach 80-90°F during daytime hours, while spring and fall offer milder conditions with cooler nights around 50°F.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Kelsey Creek Campground provides direct lake access for anglers. According to one camper, "Large campground with many great options for activities. This park has lake access from a large sandy beach. Extensive nature trail system throughout the park."
Paddling on Clear Lake: Narrows Lodge Resort offers equipment rentals for water exploration. A visitor noted, "We rented a motor boat for a few hours to explore the beautiful lake. Pet friendly. Great little beach. A dock to fish from."
Hiking trails: Clear Lake area has several walking paths, particularly at Letts Lake Campground where you'll find a loop trail. One reviewer mentioned, "There is an easy trail that loops around the lake that's just over a mile long and a place to put in a boat in the lake."
What campers like
Solitude in off-seasons: Visiting during weekdays or shoulder seasons offers quieter experiences. A camper at Kelsey Creek Campground shared, "Nice and quiet off season and mid week...Beautiful campground, good space between sites. Staff was great...Very peaceful, good birdwatching, and abundant deer life."
Stargazing: Higher elevation sites offer excellent night sky viewing, particularly at dispersed camping locations above Clear Lake. A visitor to High Valley Rd Dispersed noted, "Very nice spot with multiple places to pull over and camp. There's views of Clear Lake if you want to walk a bit."
Swimming access: Many campsites around Nice provide lake access for cooling off. At Narrows Lodge Resort, campers appreciate the beach area: "They had a little dock for jumping off of. The water is crystal clear and there's a little dock for jumping off of. They bring in sand for the beach which makes it a really nice experience."
What you should know
Road conditions: Access to some sites requires careful driving on unpaved roads. At High Valley Rd Dispersed, a camper warned, "The road to this pin is completely impassable in any regular vehicle, this would require an ATV...The road is EXTREMELY narrow and windy on the edge of a cliff."
Fire restrictions: Check current regulations as fire bans are common, especially in summer months. At Deer Valley Campground, a visitor advised, "Note: there are fire restrictions- bring your propane stove / gas fire pit."
Bathroom facilities: Amenities vary widely between established and dispersed sites. One camper at Sheldon Creek reported, "You might want to be prepared to dig your own toilet though as the toilet set up was completely infested with spiders."
Tips for camping with families
Educational opportunities: Some campgrounds offer nature programs. One visitor to Kelsey Creek Campground mentioned, "There is also a visitors center with many displays of the animals that are found within the park as well the cultural history."
Child-friendly swimming: Look for sites with gradual water entry for kids. A camper at BLM Sheldon Creek found that "This is a beautifully wooded area with a flowing creek, would've been a lovely place to camp!"
Wildlife viewing: Many campgrounds offer opportunities to see local animals. A Kelsey Creek visitor shared, "Very peaceful, good birdwatching, and abundant deer life. We would come back."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Many campgrounds have limited large rig access. A visitor to Middle Creek Campground advised, "Camped in Site 11, pull through, no hook ups, nice picnic table, grill and fire pit. Vault toilets, no showers. There is potable water close to the campsites."
Water access: Potable water availability varies by location. One camper at Letts Lake noted, "The water was turned off during our stay but all the 4 pit toilets were open, no hand sanitizer."
Dump station availability: Plan accordingly as not all sites offer dump facilities. A reviewer at The Aurora RV Park & Marina confirmed, "Each site has its own water sipget and two electrical outlets that work well. There was plenty of space at the site to setup two 4-person tents."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Nice, CA?
What camping is available near Nice, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Nice, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 169 campgrounds and RV parks near Nice, CA and 12 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Nice, CA?
Which is the most popular campground near Nice, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Nice, CA is Kelsey Creek Campground — Clear Lake State Park with a 3.9-star rating from 23 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Nice, CA?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Nice, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 12 free dispersed camping spots near Nice, CA.
What parks are near Nice, CA?
What parks are near Nice, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 20 parks near Nice, CA that allow camping, notably Mendocino Lake and Mendocino National Forest.
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