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Camping near Washington, CA

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    SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

    Washington, California sits in the Sierra Nevada foothills with several campgrounds offering diverse experiences along the Yuba River and surrounding forest areas. River Rest Resort provides full hookups for RVs and tent camping with amenities including electric, sewer, and water connections. White Cloud Campground in the Tahoe National Forest offers a more rustic experience with tent and RV sites but without hookups, operating seasonally from June to September. The region includes both established campgrounds and opportunities for more remote camping experiences, with most sites featuring fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets.

    Road conditions vary significantly throughout the area, with some campgrounds requiring travel on rough forest roads. Many sites in the Tahoe National Forest are only accessible during summer and early fall due to snow conditions at higher elevations. "This gem of a campground gives you quick access to a variety of activities. A quick 15 minute drive takes you to Nevada City/Grass Valley and wine tasting. And a quick jaunt up the road to Washington, CA gives you the Yuba River and excellent float sites," noted one visitor about White Cloud Campground. Bear activity is common throughout the region, and proper food storage is essential, with many campgrounds providing bear-proof storage lockers.

    Campers report high satisfaction with sites near the Yuba River, which offers swimming holes and gold panning opportunities. Camping near Washington provides easy access to Giant Gap Campground with its proximity to Sugar Pine Reservoir and scenic hiking trails circling the water. A review mentioned, "We hiked around the entire reservoir and it was gorgeous. It does feel like quite a good distance from the highways and also no stores that we found within a half hour drive, so we felt pretty disconnected (in a good way)." The Inn Town Campground, located just a mile from downtown Nevada City, offers a more accessible option with amenities including showers and drinking water. During summer weekends, campgrounds throughout the region fill quickly, especially those with water access, making advance reservations advisable for peak season visits.

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    Best Campgrounds near Washington (424)

    Filters    Tent onlyRVDispersedCabinGlampingPetsEquestrian

      1. White Cloud

      4.3(6)4mi from Washington45 sitesRVs, Tents

      "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."

      "The individual sites are distanced enough so it still feels private, bathrooms and water was available. Hiked the pioneer trail and then went swimming in the lake nearby."

      from $24 - $48 / night

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      2. Inn Town Campground

      4.8(13)14mi from Washington16 sitesRVs, Tents

      "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."

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      3. River Rest Resort

      4.8(4)1mi from WashingtonRVs

      "We stayed at campsite 24, which is right on the river and next to the main river pool access."

      "We had the park behind us, and we were right in between the 2 beach access. Kids would get on the top access and tube down to the 2nd one."

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      4. Lodgepole Campground

      4.9(7)11mi from WashingtonRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "Great place to stay. 1 hours drive from Reno. Lake with in 5 minutes of the campground. Spots for RVs, travel trailers and/or just tent camping."

      "The campsite was close to other campers, but not right on top of them. The location is ideal. Bathrooms were the least favorite part, only one bathroom (with 4 stalls?)"

      from $32 / night

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      5. Giant Gap

      4.5(11)15mi from Washington30 sitesRVs, Tents

      "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

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      6. Bowman Campground

      4.6(7)12mi from WashingtonTents

      "This lake and surrounding are beautiful. The drive in takes a long time over really rocky terrain. I traveled around 10 mph on the way in and out. At least three camps close to the water."

      "Awesome spot to camp, fish, off road, launch a kayak or paddle board"

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      7. Grouse Ridge Campground

      5.0(5)10mi from WashingtonTents

      "There were a lot of people parked around to backpack and camp along the trails bin the area. It took 30 minutes to drive the 5 unpaved miles of grouse ridge road. No issues in my ‘83 2WD Westy"

      8. Tahoe National Forest Onion Valley Campground

      4.4(5)9mi from WashingtonTents

      "Some friends of ours love North Fork Campground just off I-80 at Emigrant Gap, so we were going to try it on the way back from the California coast to Reno. "

      "Vault toilet near the entrance was in surprisingly good condition. The dump spot by the front was obviously not bear/raccoon proof enough and I assumed rangers hadn’t been through in a while."

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      9. Lake Spaulding Campground

      5.0(4)9mi from WashingtonTents

      "Quiet beautiful location"

      "We stayed here for a night before backpacking to Eagle Lakes, and it was a nice little wooded campground.  Very quiet, spacious sites.  Hiking along the lake is gorgeous. "

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      10. Rucker Lake Campground

      4.0(4)7mi from WashingtonTents

      "Got here on a Friday late afternoon and found a walk in spot close to the lake. Nice, quiet campground."

      "Definitely a gorgeous view all the way around! Lake was very warm and had a epic rope swing if you can find it."

      Check Availability
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    Recent Camping Photos near Washington, CA

    454 Photos of 424 Washington Campgrounds

    Recent Reviews near Washington, CA

    1178 Reviews of 424 Washington Campgrounds

    • Lawrence R.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 18, 2026

      Mount Rose Meadows National Forest

      National forest boondock

      It's a nice little spot for last minute stop on top of Mount Rose Highway Northeast of Lake Tahoe. Enough space for probably four or five rigs. It's quite busy during the day as it's a parking area for hiking National Forest land Northeast of Lake Tahoe. But after about 6:00 p.m. things calm down. I would call it semi-flat depending on what spot you're parked in. Road noise can be a bit of an issue until about 10:00 at night, and then things quiet down. The night we parked here there were four of us a Class A, Class C, and two vans. And it's very pleasant at night gets down into the 40s during the summer months. I would not attempt to park here during the winter time unless there is no snow.

    • Patricia N.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 16, 2026

      Rock Creek Campground (Ca) — Plumas National Forest

      Another great OHV site

      The 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.

    • VThe Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 16, 2026

      Tahoe National Forest Boca Campground

      A nice quiet campground, often with lake views.

      Boca 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.

    • Patricia N.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 16, 2026

      Deanes Valley Family Campground — Plumas National Forest

      Wonderful campground for OHV riding

      Deanes 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.

    • Patricia N.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 16, 2026

      Meadow Camp Campground — Plumas National Forest

      Equestrian and ATV allowed use

      This 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.

    • Dave G.
      Jul. 15, 2026

      Lime Saddle Campground — Lake Oroville State Recreation Area

      Nice campground with flush toilets and pay showers. The campground itself is hilly.

      We 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.

    • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 13, 2026

      Beals Point Campground — Folsom Lake State Recreation Area

      Lake fun near Sacramento

      General: 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!

    • Douglas S.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 9, 2026

      Sly Guard Cabin

      Typical of the campground you find in downtown Valdez Alaska

      I 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.

    Guide to Washington

    Camping spots near Washington, California range from 2,000 to 4,000 feet elevation in the Tahoe National Forest. The region experiences seasonal extremes with summer temperatures reaching 90°F during day and dropping to 30°F at higher elevations during spring and fall nights. Forest roads accessing many campgrounds close completely during winter months, with most sites operational only from May through October.

    What to do

    Hiking around lakes: Sugar Pine Reservoir offers a 5-mile loop trail circling the water at Giant Gap Campground. "We hiked around the entire reservoir and it was gorgeous," notes one visitor. The trail provides relatively flat terrain suitable for most fitness levels.

    Mountain biking: Access to Pioneer Trail makes White Cloud Campground popular with cyclists. "Pioneer trail is amazing for mountain biking and hiking," reports camper Deb P. The trail system connects to extensive networks throughout Nevada County with terrain suitable for beginners and advanced riders.

    Float trips: The Yuba River offers tubing opportunities during summer months. At River Rest Resort, one visitor explains, "Kids would get on the top access and tube down to the 2nd one." Water levels fluctuate seasonally, with late summer typically providing the calmest conditions for floating.

    What campers like

    Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds offer good separation between campsites. At Inn Town Campground, "The campsites are well maintained, there is water nearby all sites and they drive thru the campground once a day to pick up trash in case you don't want to haul it to the dumpster," notes Nicole G.

    Kitchen facilities: Some campgrounds provide cooking amenities beyond standard fire pits. Inn Town Campground offers "a fully stocked kitchen so you can camp without having to bring supplies," according to Amanda M., making meal preparation easier for families or groups.

    Seasonal wildflowers: Open meadows provide colorful displays during spring and early summer. At Tahoe National Forest Onion Valley Campground, Caroline B. observed "open fields of wild flowers. Those open spaces allow for some great star gazing night."

    What you should know

    Road conditions: Many campgrounds require driving on rough forest roads. For Bowman Campground, Christopher L. warns, "MAKE SURE YOU HAVE AN OFF ROAD VEHICLE. Great campsite but hard to get to. Not bad if you have a 4x4 that's lifted with some all terrain tires."

    Highway noise: Some campgrounds experience traffic sounds despite forest settings. White Cloud Campground sits close to Highway 20, with Rory R. noting it has "Awesome spots to camp, it's just insanely close to the 20 so you'll hear non-stop traffic."

    Wildlife considerations: Bear activity remains common throughout the region. Christopher L. reminds visitors to "Make sure you bring bear spray! Pack your trash too." Most established campgrounds provide bear-proof storage lockers, but proper food storage protocols remain essential.

    Tips for camping with families

    Swimming access: River Rest Resort offers designated swimming areas with varying policies. "At the other end of the site is a river access that's smaller and allows dogs (the main one does not)," explains Christina L., making it important to check specific rules for each water access point.

    Campground amenities: Some sites offer additional facilities for children. Inn Town Campground includes "a pool, outdoor movie area, and a lot of historic gold-rush elements," according to one reviewer, providing entertainment options beyond hiking and swimming.

    Off-peak timing: Weekday visits offer quieter experiences. "Lots of folks showed up after dark and were quiet and respectful," notes Allison M. about White Cloud Campground, though weekends typically see full occupancy at most sites from June through August.

    Tips from RVers

    Site selection: For optimal river views, Christina L. recommends: "We stayed at campsite 24, which is right on the river and next to the main river pool access. Lots of people coming by but everyone is respectful and there is some privacy from small trees planted along the path."

    Hookup availability: Lake Spaulding Campground provides limited RV facilities. "Trailers and RV are mostly kept to the boat launch," notes John and Trish N., indicating that larger vehicles have dedicated areas rather than being distributed throughout the campground.

    Road access warnings: When driving to Giant Gap Campground, Stephanie C. cautions: "Be warned though, Google maps will suggest driving up Iowa Hill. DO NOT. Follow the directions of the campground, that road is not for the faint of heart. And NOT for RVs or trailers."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where are the best campgrounds in Washington, California?

    Washington, California offers excellent camping options in the Sierra Nevada foothills. White Cloud is a gem providing quick access to the Yuba River with excellent float sites, plus it's just a 15-minute drive from Nevada City/Grass Valley. Another fantastic option is River Rest Resort near Washington, featuring drive-in access with reservable sites, water, and toilet facilities. The area's proximity to the Yuba River makes it perfect for water activities during summer months. These campgrounds offer a true escape into nature while still providing reasonable access to nearby towns for supplies or day trips.

    What amenities are available at Washington, California campgrounds?

    Campgrounds near Washington, California typically offer essential amenities for a comfortable outdoor experience. American River Resort provides fire pits and picnic tables at all sites, clean bathrooms with private showers, and is conveniently located close to the river with just a half-mile walk to town for shopping and dining. At Tahoe National Forest Wild Plum Campground, you'll find large campsites nestled in pine forests offering plenty of privacy. Many campgrounds in the area feature standard amenities including vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings, though water availability varies by location. Some sites also provide access to creek or river swimming.

    When is the best time of year to camp in Washington, California?

    The best time to camp in Washington, California is late spring through early fall (May through September). Summer offers warm days perfect for enjoying the Yuba River, with Gold Lake 4x4 Campground providing excellent access to fishing and hiking trails that showcase the Sierra Buttes. However, be prepared for typical California dryness during summer months, as noted at Beals Point Campground where the landscape becomes quite dry by mid-summer. Spring brings beautiful wildflowers but cooler temperatures, while fall offers comfortable camping weather with fewer crowds. Winter camping is generally not recommended due to snow and cold temperatures at higher elevations.

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