Best Campgrounds near North San Juan, CA

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.

Best Camping Sites Near North San Juan, California (320)

    1. Collins Lake Recreation Area

    22 Reviews
    Oregon House, CA
    12 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."

    2. Inn Town Campground

    12 Reviews
    Nevada City, CA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 265-9900

    "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."

    3. Manzanita Rock Meadow

    6 Reviews
    North San Juan, CA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 263-3656

    $40 - $55 / night

    "Situated on 25 acres, this gem is truly the best place to relax and unwind. With beautiful scenery and so many outdoor activities to enjoy, we know you'll be planning your next stay before you leave."

    "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. Don’t miss visiting the covered bridge at South Yuba State Park!"

    4. Schoolhouse Campground (CA)

    7 Reviews
    North San Juan, CA
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 478-6253

    $24 - $48 / night

    "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."

    5. Thousand Trails Lake of the Springs

    7 Reviews
    Oregon House, CA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "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."

    6. Laughing Buddha RV/Tent Camp

    4 Reviews
    North San Juan, CA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 263-3656

    $55 / night

    "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."

    7. South Yuba Campground

    4 Reviews
    Nevada City, CA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (916) 941-3101

    $15 / 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."

    8. Lake Francis Resort

    3 Reviews
    Oregon House, CA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 692-1700

    $40 - $100 / night

    "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."

    9. Nevada County Fairgrounds

    6 Reviews
    Grass Valley, CA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 273-6217

    "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."

    10. Dark Day Campground

    2 Reviews
    Camptonville, CA
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 478-6253

    $24 - $72 / night

    "Dark Day is a drive up camp, but there's boat in camping available at the lake as well."

    "One of our favorite Lakes"

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Recent Reviews near North San Juan, CA

739 Reviews of 320 North San Juan Campgrounds


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

    Grouse Ridge Campground

    My Favorite Spot near Truckee

    This is as isolated as it gets. There are a number of pullouts and sites along the road up to Grouse Ridge CG - they're all excellent. Don't expect water or cell reception or toilets. In this area, you're on your own. If the road is muddy, you may not want to take the risk as the mud is slick and getting stuck out here is a true disaster. Even in June, there was still mud, and it even snowed on me which was a thrill to wake up to a white wonderland. Did I mention that you're on your own? Have fun.

  • 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 :-)

  • H
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Cottonwood Campground

    Quieter Camp with Nice Trail Adjacent

    A two loop campground in a beautiful area. I stayed here in October of 2024. Aside from the host and a forest crew, I was the only camper. It was quiet and lovely. I walked the adjacent trail in the morning, which was very pretty. The pit toilets are old style and smelly, but clean.

  • D
    Oct. 5, 2025

    Movin' West RV Park

    Very nice place

    Clean and cute, rv sites are level and spacious

  • Shir S.The Dyrt PRO User
    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

  • HThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2025

    Bowman Lake Dispersed

    Awesome site for SUVs

    Awesome site, stayed in my van on the boat launch. There are tent sites above the boat ramp with bear boxes and fire rings. Left side of tent sites is very loud due to the rushing river. Very secluded from others, only 2 others on the boat ramp in vans. do not attempt to do this in anything smaller than an SUv sedans would definitely not be able to make it to this site. Road has lots of holes and rocks sticking up out the ground.

  • 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.

  • M
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Tahoe National Forest Salmon Creek Campground

    First time here

    What a great camp site. We used site 31, with a tent. While it was a little rocky the site was great. Located near the restroom but not to close (if you know what I mean). The site is while in five to 15 mins of several lakes and breathtaking water falls. The walking trails being the grounds are easy and shady for those hot summer days.


Guide to North San Juan

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.

What to do

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."

What campers like

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."

What you should know

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."

Tips for camping with families

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."

Tips from RVers

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 320 campgrounds and RV parks near North San Juan, CA and 11 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 4.5-star rating from 22 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near North San Juan, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 11 free dispersed camping spots near North San Juan, CA.