334 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The foothills surrounding North San Juan, California feature a diverse camping landscape where the Sierra Nevada meets Gold Country. Within a 30-minute drive, campers find options ranging from developed lakeside facilities to primitive forest sites. Collins Lake Recreation Area offers full-service camping with boat access and amenities for RVs and tent campers alike, while South Yuba Campground provides a more rustic experience along the river from April through mid-October. Thousand Trails Lake of the Springs and Lake Francis Resort cater to those seeking more comfortable accommodations with cabins and glamping options, while several smaller campgrounds like Manzanita Rock Meadow provide more intimate settings with basic amenities.
Seasonal considerations significantly impact camping in this region. Many campgrounds operate only from spring through fall, with South Yuba Campground and Dark Day Campground closing for winter (typically October through April). Summer brings hot, dry conditions with fire restrictions often in place, while spring offers flowing rivers and wildflowers but potentially muddy access roads. As one camper noted about nearby areas, "The river was gushing when we were there in June, and we had a great view. We even saw a bear across the river, so don't forget to put your stuff in the bear boxes!" Bear awareness is essential throughout the region, with proper food storage required at most sites. Cell service varies significantly, with better coverage near Nevada City and Grass Valley than in more remote locations.
Water access represents a major draw for campers in the North San Juan area. The Yuba River provides popular swimming holes and kayaking opportunities, particularly in summer when snowmelt creates ideal conditions. "This river trail is the best in the state. Clear water, lovely pools," reported one visitor to South Yuba Campground. Fishing enthusiasts gravitate toward Collins Lake for its stocked waters. Campers seeking solitude should consider weekday visits, as one reviewer noted: "It wasn't too crowded since school had just started." Sites with proximity to water typically book first, especially during summer weekends. The region's Gold Rush history adds cultural interest, with some campgrounds located near historic mining sites and offering opportunities for gold panning activities in the rivers and streams.
"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."
"Just know that here on The Dyrt, the location on the map for some reason shows it as being many miles away from Kidder Ct: it’s marked as if it is at Higgins Corner, halfway to Auburn?"
"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."
"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"They said it would be okay as long as I had the gear to sleep outside in a tent as well. The place was quiet and we had no issues."
"Very nice campground, but cell coverage is nonexistent outside of one small area."
"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
"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."
"There's hiking access to the river, and almost never anybody at this campground. It's scenic privacy at it's best. Hike up or downstream for some really great swimming holes."
from $15 / night
Check Availability"We decided this time around to reserve one of their cabins. We stayed at the Diamond P cabin which has the best view of the lake within this group of cabins."
"Nice quiet lake. Good campsites. Good general store and even a little restaurant and ice cream shack."
from $40 - $100 / night
Check Availability"Dark Day is a drive up camp, but there's boat in camping available at the lake as well."
"One of our favorite Lakes"
from $24 - $72 / 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."
"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. "
"Price is a bit steep IMO but the site was nice, a quick walk to the lake to cool off."
from $39 - $51 / night
Check Availability
ScoutThis place is almost empty. It's gorgeous. The store on site doesn't sell alcohol or tobacco. They have everything else, not cheap but, not crazy overpriced.
ScoutEasy to find campsite, we arrived after hours on a Monday so drove around to find a spot and then paid using the collection box and envelopes, we couldn't get the QR code to work. Phone reception here is good. There is a constant hum of traffic but it is not loud and it is quiet around camp. Toilets and showers are clean and well stocked with toilet paper. We didn't stay long but saw some wildlife, coyote and squirrels mostly. A little bit of rubbish around from campers but overall very tidy. The sites are flat pull-in or reverse-in style, there are also some campsites marked with wheel chair access.
ScoutThe campground was clean and quiet
GuideSpent two nights in site 13, it was the site directly across from the camp host. Host was kind, very present and always cleaning and ensuring the camp was spotless! DO NOT take a trailer beyond the little gate to the “back” of the camp ground, the northern most part. We took our 32’ trailer through the gate because satellite images show a cul-dê-sac like turn around area. It is still present, however it is also a campsite and with people occupying the site, turning around is impossible. We had to back our trailer back down the road and into the main area again.
Bathrooms are clean! River nearby was refreshing and has a few small human made dams that allow for wading and safe play areas for kiddos. Chilly nights and hot days!
GuideThey let us check in early it is all paved but not level!
Scout5 stars for the campground itself. I've been camping at Lodgepole in Sequoia National Park since 1984, when I was just 20 years old. I have loved every camping trip since(at least 30 plus times)! The campsites are great, the grounds, and trails are well-maintained, and safe. I love that the general store is easy to get to and has ice and extras that we may have forgotten to bring. However, we have noticed over past few years that the restrooms in the campground have become increasingly filthy. I get that people walk in with dirt all over their shoes, so of course the floors will be dirty, but it's unacceptable to allow the toilets to be so gross! I will leave out the unpleasant details! I asked a young park ranger how often the restrooms are cleaned and he said every day. Apparently they source out the cleaning. It's obvious that all they do is sweep the floors, empty the trash and provide more TP. The sinks, and floors look like they haven't been scrubbed in a long time, and I noticed the toilets looked as bad the day we got there to the day they left. I remember in the 80's and 90's seeing rangers doing a very thorough cleaning each morning. We would walk in and could smell the cleaning chemicals, and the floor would be wet from mopping. Also, the showers are dirty too. They removed the benches in the individual shower stalls so there's no place to put your clean clothes. Do better Lodgepole!
TravelerWe got a pretty secluded site at Cabana 12 but the rest of the sites are kinda stacked on top of each other or out in the open right next to each other. If you want some more privacy then do C12. Being near the lake was great and having a camp store and bathrooms. Showers cost 50¢ for 5 min which isn’t bad but since the campsite is so expensive it would have been nice for them to be free.
Traveler6 was the best campsite by far
GuideAll grass with plenty of shade tress. A lot of spaces to choose from, they have a camp host who patrols the area. Gates are locked at night so some what secure. There is a dump station that you can use if you rent a space. Very nice !
Camping spots near North San Juan, California sit at elevations between 1,500-3,000 feet where the Sierra Nevada foothills transition to Gold Country. This transitional zone creates variable spring conditions with morning temperatures often 20-30 degrees colder than afternoon highs. Most camping options require advance planning during summer months when reservoir levels drop to 40-60% capacity by late August.
Boat rentals at Collins Lake: Full-day pontoon boat rentals start at $195 with fishing boats from $65. "The lake is beautiful too. Lake access is nonexistent from the campground but is a 2-3 minute drive to the dock," notes one camper at Schoolhouse Campground.
Hiking near Nevada City: The area features hiking trails connecting historic mining sites with river access points. A visitor to Inn Town Campground remarked, "We spent the days at Fuller Dam, and the Yuba River and Scotts Flat Reservoir are nearby too. Overall, this is a fantastic campground."
Paddleboarding on calm lakes: Several reservoirs offer no-wake zones perfect for paddleboarding. "We love Collins!! Very nice for paddle boarding and kayaking. Clean sites and pet friendly. We took the boat on our last trip here and had a great time."
Private sites with sunset views: The ridge locations provide remarkable evening light. At Manzanita Rock Meadow, one camper shared, "We arrived in the early evening just in time to take in a glorious sunset. The solar string lights blinking on at dusk added a cozy ambiance!"
Wildlife encounters: Many campgrounds feature regular deer visits and occasional bear sightings. "Had a great site big enough for a couple of tents. Nice clean site near lake. Hubby enjoyed fishing. Kids loved canoeing out onto the lake. Amazed to watch a bald eagle grab a fish and fly away," reported a camper at Collins Lake Recreation Area.
Camp amenities: Some campgrounds offer unexpected facilities. "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. We even had a heated mattress pad in our glamping tent to keep warm."
Bear awareness requirements: Bears actively visit campgrounds throughout the region. "We had a nightly visitor, the bear boxes are there for a reason so use them! We had site 10 and had family in all the rest of the sites around that circle and it worked out great!"
Campsite spacing varies significantly: Some sites offer privacy while others place you close to neighbors. A camper at Nevada County Fairgrounds noted, "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."
Limited cell service: Coverage gaps exist throughout the region, especially at lower elevations. "This campground to us is city camping. The spots are right next to each other and there are a ton of people. The only good thing it has is the lake."
Book lakefront sites early: The most desirable water-access sites fill 2-3 months in advance. "We stayed at site 60A Lake Front View, which had stunning water views and a spacious setup. The site gets a lot of sun in morning and afternoon, so bring a popup canopy for shade—it made a big difference for us!"
Consider off-peak timing: School schedules impact crowd levels significantly. "Our family has been coming here for years. We love it. Nice quiet lake. Good campsites. Good general store and even a little restaurant and ice cream shack," says a visitor to Lake Francis Resort.
Kid-friendly swimming spots: Water access varies dramatically between campgrounds. "The river was very steep. From the campground there is no easy access to the water. We were looking forward to spending some time in the water but learned that we could only do that by renting a boat."
Site levelness challenges: Many campgrounds require significant leveling adjustments. "Sites are not very level either. I needed to raise my front end 6 inches to get level. Power, water and sewer are good. Location is good."
Electrical reliability issues: Power fluctuations affect some campgrounds during peak season. "There wasn't a single day when some campsite didn't have electrical issues, in fact they turned a lot of their RV sites into Tent Sites because of electrical issues."
Narrow access roads: Some campgrounds have challenging entry points. "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."
Frequently Asked Questions
What amenities are available at North San Juan Park?
Based on information about campgrounds in the North San Juan area, typical amenities include picnic tables, fire pits, and vault toilets. Cal-Ida offers spacious campsites with room for activities, fire rings, and access to a nearby river. Tahoe National Forest Wild Plum Campground provides large campsites in a pine forest setting with good privacy. For more developed facilities, look at nearby options like Lake Francis Resort or Nevada County Fairgrounds which typically offer water hookups and additional amenities. Always check current conditions before your trip as amenities can change seasonally.
What camping is available near North San Juan, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, North San Juan, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 334 campgrounds and RV parks near North San Juan, CA and 14 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near North San Juan, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near North San Juan, CA is Collins Lake Recreation Area with a 4.6-star rating from 26 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near North San Juan, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 free dispersed camping spots near North San Juan, CA.
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