Best Campgrounds near Nicolaus, CA

Campgrounds near Nicolaus, California range from lakeside RV resorts to state recreation areas with mixed-use facilities. Thousand Trails Lake Minden offers year-round camping with cabin accommodations and RV sites, located directly in Nicolaus. Within a 30-mile radius, campers can access additional options including SacWest RV Park & Campground in West Sacramento and Beals Point Campground at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, which provides tent camping alongside RV facilities. Most campgrounds in this agricultural region feature water proximity, with several offering direct lake or river access.

The Sacramento Valley climate shapes the camping experience, with hot, dry summers and mild, occasionally rainy winters. Many campgrounds remain open year-round, though summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F from June through September. "Last trip we caught 3 bass and 12 bluegills. This trip we caught a personal record size bass. Great place for fishing all day," noted one visitor about Lake Minden. Water levels at nearby lakes and rivers fluctuate seasonally, with Folsom Lake often experiencing significant drawdown during drought years. Most established campgrounds provide water hookups and restroom facilities, though amenities vary considerably between private resorts and public recreation areas. Reservations are strongly recommended during summer months and holiday weekends when waterfront sites fill quickly.

Fishing opportunities represent a significant draw for campers in the Nicolaus area, with multiple reviews highlighting successful catches at Lake Minden and other nearby water bodies. Campgrounds with full hookups tend to attract longer-stay RV campers, while tent campers often prefer the more natural settings at state recreation areas like Folsom Lake. Several visitors mentioned the convenience of having Sacramento-area amenities within driving distance while still enjoying outdoor recreation. Noise levels vary significantly between campgrounds, with those near highways or urban areas experiencing more ambient sound. Camp Far West North Shore, approximately 15 miles northeast of Nicolaus, receives praise for its lakeside setting and relative seclusion during off-peak seasons, though it becomes considerably busier during summer months when watercraft activity increases.

Best Camping Sites Near Nicolaus, California (156)

    1. Thousand Trails Lake Minden

    10 Reviews
    Nicolaus, CA
    0 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "If you are okay with that they have a lot of sites right next to the water. The sites away from the water are quieter."

    "Thousand Trails Lake Minden Tiny Park, Giant Heart

    We spent three weeks at Lake Minden and, to be honest, judged it too quickly."

    2. Beals Point Campground — Folsom Lake State Recreation Area

    32 Reviews
    Granite Bay, CA
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (916) 791-1531

    $28 - $48 / night

    "As with most of California everything is dry. The lake is very low and a half mile walk from park to get to. The sites are surrounded by dry tall grass and spaced out nicely."

    "As full timers- we thought we hit the jackpot for the area in order to be near the towns we wanted to explore and also have service for good wifi."

    3. SacWest RV Park & Campground

    17 Reviews
    West Sacramento Vmf, CA
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (916) 371-6771

    $52 - $100 / night

    "Great little campsite with a 50s vibe right outside the city of Sacramento. The bathrooms and showers are clean the staff are friendly and helpful."

    "We stayed at the side close to the highway so it was a bit noisy but not too bad. The people were friendly! It was a bit too pricey though."

    4. Cal Expo RV Park

    10 Reviews
    Sacramento, CA
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (916) 263-3187

    $50 - $1000 / night

    "Great Bike paths adjacent along the river into Downtown or up to Folsom. All Full hook up sites on gravel or asphalt, daily, weekly, monthly rates."

    "then you want a good location for your home base. Cal Expo definitely has the centralized location for exploring Old Sac, Cal Expo, State Capitol, the rivers and beyond."

    5. Peninsula Campground — Folsom Lake State Recreation Area

    15 Reviews
    Granite Bay, CA
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (916) 988-0215

    $28 / night

    "Very quite camping spot very clean.coin operated showers😭 lake is very close by."

    "Folsom lake is a great place to take the boat, beals point has a snack bar, life guards and equipment rentals, there are plenty of places you can drive or boat to get away from the crowds if you prefer"

    6. Camp Far West North Shore

    3 Reviews
    Beale Air Force Base, CA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 633-0803

    "We visited Camp Far West for one night on a quick trip looking for somewhere remote, nearby, and slightly warmer during the winter months.  It was green and beautiful. "

    7. Yolo County Fair RV Park

    4 Reviews
    Davis, CA
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 402-2222

    "This place is in a great location with easy access from I 5. Plenty of room and easy on-line registration. My only complaint is the non-existent WiFi."

    8. Sacramento Shade RV Park

    4 Reviews
    Rio Linda, CA
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (916) 922-0814

    "Also while setting up, every person that walked by said hi and welcome! We have never experienced that much friendliness in a campground."

    9. Collins Lake Recreation Area

    22 Reviews
    Oregon House, CA
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 692-1600

    "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."

    10. Sycamore Ranch RV Park

    6 Reviews
    Smartsville, CA
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 741-1190

    "This is such a beautiful piece of California."

    "There is a boat launch, and a pretty county park is adjacent."

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Recent Reviews near Nicolaus, CA

460 Reviews of 156 Nicolaus Campgrounds


  • Jan P.
    Oct. 26, 2025

    Lake Solano County Park

    Friendly staff, nice location

    The river is beautiful, though you can hear the road when you are near the river. Great location. T-Mobile only works at certain sites, no Wi-Fi. Peacocks are a fun addition!

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 20, 2025

    Cowboy Camp

    Served its Purpose

    This site served its purpose; spot to sleep after a long day of driving. The disbursed camping area was down a gravel road to the left next to the day use vault toilet through a cattle gate.

    There were several campers already there but plenty of room for more. There were also several vault toilets on the property as well.

  • Kevin C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 15, 2025

    Independence Hill Dispersed

    Super quiet, super remote

    If getting away is on your list, then Independance Hill is one place to go. 1 bar Verizon and a small creek (if you continue on up the road). It's really about 2 miles from the village of Iowa Hill, but it is remote. I scared two black bears as I was walking (don't I wish I had that on film...). And yes, that's his footprint on my van door - he was checking out the bag of garbage I had stored on my roof. No services, but there are at least 6 good sites, including a large flat area that can take any size RV. This is my second favorite spot in this area. I'll go again many times :-)

  • Kevin C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 15, 2025

    Cache Creek Regional Park Campground

    Nature solace

    I pulled in here for the night and found I was completely alone. Except I kept hearing splashing in the creek. I wasn't alone - there was a herd of Elk. Super cool. This is a great spot for a short stay. No real 'sites' but a pleasant spot in the middle of the Cache Creek Natural Area.

  • Shir S.
    Sep. 30, 2025

    El Dorado

    Great place before lake tahoe

    We drove from redwood to Lake Tahoe and wanted a place to stay since it got late Good place Online booking and entrance if after hours and affordable price opposed to other sites in the area

  • J
    Sep. 17, 2025

    American River Resort

    Perfect match

    During our stay (mid of September) the place was empty and we had the most relaxed time we could have. RV site close to the river and some deers also crossing our ways on the campground

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Lake Solano County Park

    Great campsite, loud road

    I loved staying here for one night and wish I could’ve been there for longer. The bathrooms are accessible, I had a beautiful spot by the water, my neighbors were friendly, the staff were welcoming. The only catch was that the road parallel to the lake is super loud and for me bothersome at night. I did not get good sleep because of this, i recommend bringing ear plugs if you are sensitive to noise and sleeping outside (i was in a tent). I don’t know how noisy it is for other spots farther away, but I would guess the sound still travels but is not as bad as having a spot along the water. Normal site are $30 per night, sites along the water are $40.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    South Yuba Campground

    nice wooded campground

    No cell signal here - speed test is from starlink. Note google & garmin routing from Nevada City takes a bridge with a 4 Ton weight restriction.

  • S
    Aug. 28, 2025

    smittle creek

    Hidden Gem

    This sweet little spot is a paddle boarding and fishing dream. Primitive site where Smittle Creek flows into Lake Berryessa.


Guide to Nicolaus

Camping options near Nicolaus, California span across Sacramento Valley's agricultural flatlands, with elevations ranging from 30 to 50 feet above sea level. The region features several waterfront campsites at Lake Minden and along the Yuba River, where campers can experience riparian wildlife and oak woodland ecosystems. Most campgrounds maintain operation year-round despite seasonal temperature fluctuations, though water activities are most popular from April through October.

What to do

Kayaking on the Yuba River: At Sycamore Ranch RV Park, located about 30 miles northeast of Nicolaus, visitors can paddle directly from the campground. "I took advantage of the water and after getting shuttled up to the bridge kayaked down the Yuba and up dry creek all the way to our campsite!" reports one camper.

Fishing for variety: Collins Lake Recreation Area offers productive fishing spots approximately 35 miles from Nicolaus. "We fished from kayaks and always caught fish for dinner :-) There are nice hiking and biking trails in and around the campground as well," notes a visitor who stayed at lakefront sites.

Bird watching: The campgrounds near Nicolaus provide excellent bird-watching opportunities. At Sycamore Ranch, one visitor tracked their findings: "My favorite thing about this campground is the birds! I use the Merlin app to identify the birds here and so far this place holds my record of around 18 birds not including the more silent ones we saw."

What campers like

Clean bathrooms: Beals Point Campground at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area maintains well-kept facilities. "The bathrooms are pretty clean and you have to pay for showers. The showers are very big it's actually quite peaceful and nice. The shower rooms have very high ceilings with thicker glass windows way up high as well. Almost like a spa experience if you ask me," shared one camper.

Peaceful off-season camping: Camp Far West North Shore receives praise for its tranquility outside peak summer months. "We were the only people anywhere except for folks in the full hook-up area, which was far from us. We were right on the lake at the end of a peninsula. Not a sound except for the birds," noted one visitor during winter.

Centralized access: SacWest RV Park provides a convenient base for Sacramento-area activities. "Camp site is clean. You can order food and they will deliver. Wonderful ada bathroom/showers with a fold down bench. Friendly staff," reported one visitor who appreciated the amenities during a quick overnight stay.

What you should know

Seasonal considerations: Water levels vary dramatically throughout the year. At Peninsula Campground, timing affects the experience: "In the summer months the lake is very busy and the hills are brown with dried grass. But in the early spring it is quite, especially here, with green grass and wild turkeys."

Site selection matters: At Lake Minden RV Resort, campsite location significantly impacts the experience. "The sites away from the water are quieter," mentions one fisherman, while another warns about proximity issues: "There was absolutely no space between the trailers, to the point I hit my head on my neighbors slide out while setting up."

Facility variations: Campground amenities differ substantially across the region. "The park is built around a lake, and the road looping around it is one-way, enforced with a strict 5 mph speed limit," notes a Lake Minden visitor, while another mentions: "There is only some sites with full hookups. The lake is dirty. There are 4 different lots around the lake, most no hookups."

Tips for camping with families

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Children often enjoy spotting local animals. "There are turtles and otters in the creek to check out as well," reports a Sycamore Ranch visitor, while another camper at Beals Point Campground noted: "The big sinks outside the showers usually have little frogs in them. There is also quite a large squirrel population."

Safe swimming areas: Beals Point Campground offers designated swimming zones. "I suggest staying on the main beach with the provided lifejacket area if with children as the other rock areas near the beach suddenly can drop off underwater very deep," advises a parent who camped there.

Accessible playgrounds: Many campgrounds include play areas for children. "It has a big pond you can go fishing in and it's quiet," notes a Lake Minden visitor, while another camper mentions: "There's a playground with a raised soft-chip base, multiple slides, and just the right level of challenge for a toddler."

Tips from RVers

Hookup availability: Many campgrounds offer limited full-hookup sites. At Lake Minden, one RVer explained: "This is a Thousand trails camp ground. Its has a small (very small) lake. Good fishing for fun. The camp ground is broken up in 4 sections. the first has full hookups but is very small and tight (like will my slide hit you tights) the other one on the other side of the lake is bigger but has no sewer but a dump station."

Level sites: Cal Expo RV Park provides flat, paved spaces. "The campground is very flat. Part is concrete part is gravel. I found the campground to be very quiet during our stay and well maintained," notes one RVer who stayed four nights.

Shade considerations: Campgrounds with tree cover provide relief during hot summers. "Gravel spots & pick nick tables. Only had 30amp service & the outlet moved around a bit. Had to prop up my plug with some blocks to keep it from moving or would lose power. Nice playground for kids. The trees around the grounds dropped a ton of sap in the morning," warns a camper about Lake Minden.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find camping in Nicolaus, CA?

While Nicolaus itself has limited camping options, several excellent campgrounds are located within a short drive. Beals Point Campground — Folsom Lake State Recreation Area offers lakeside camping with spacious sites surrounded by trees, though the lake level can be low depending on the season. For riverside camping, American River Resort provides easy access to the river and is just a half-mile walk from town amenities. Both locations are within reasonable driving distance from Nicolaus and make good base camps for exploring the region.

What amenities are available at Nicolaus campgrounds?

Campgrounds near Nicolaus offer various amenities to enhance your stay. Coloma Resort features beautiful riverside surroundings with easy access to hiking trails, plus shower facilities that are well-maintained though somewhat dated. Mineral Bar Campground — Auburn State Recreation Area provides access to swimming holes, fishing spots, hiking paths, and gold prospecting opportunities. Most campgrounds in the region typically include fire pits, picnic tables, and clean bathroom facilities. Some locations offer additional amenities like beach access, bear boxes for food storage, and proximity to local shopping and dining options.

Are there RV camping sites in Nicolaus?

Yes, there are several RV-friendly options near Nicolaus. Yolo County Fair RV Park offers drive-in access with water hookups and is big-rig friendly. Sacramento Shade RV Park provides multiple access options including drive-in for RVs, with water, toilets, and big-rig accommodation. Giant Gap also has sites large enough for RVs with the added bonus of lake views and access to lake trails. Most RV sites in the area typically charge around $30-45 per night, and many require reservations, especially during peak season.