Penn Valley is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Penn Valley is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Find the best campgrounds near Penn Valley, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
"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."
$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!"
"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."
$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."
"This is such a beautiful piece of California."
"There is a boat launch, and a pretty county park is adjacent."
"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."
$42 - $53 / night
"This is a smaller but nice lake. It hasn’t ever been over crowded when I’ve gone. The reason I like this spot is because campsites C3-C10 have the most shade you can hope for!"
"They have a convenience store that is walkable distance to get supplies, food, candy from.
You should reserve a spot right on the lake. If you have a boat you can anchor it right in front."
$60 / night
"I got to know the owners at Oracle Oak and they have taken great steps to make this a unique place to stay, they also have kayaks and other water sport equipment available for campers to make your stay"
TravelerDuring 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
TravelerAwesome 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.
TravelerNo cell signal here - speed test is from starlink. Note google & garmin routing from Nevada City takes a bridge with a 4 Ton weight restriction.
ScoutWhat 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.
GuideI stopped by here to check out the campground and found it to be very nice quiet and clean. There is a nice river running along the side with a waterfall and a few nice deep swimming holes. I got the only FCFS site and it was nice.
GuideAwesome spots to camp, it’s just insanely close to the 20 so you’ll hear non-stop traffic.
GuidePaid $68 for a tent site with no hookups. Showers take quarters too. Price is a bit steep IMO but the site was nice, a quick walk to the lake to cool off.
GuideThis is our second time camping at Collins Lake, and we loved it just as much as the first! 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 the morning and afternoon, so bring a popup canopy for shade—it made a big difference for us! Overall, the campground is clean, peaceful, and perfect for a relaxing getaway. Highly recommend!
TravelerWe've camped at Webber for several years now and we make it an annual trip for so many great reasons. The lake itself is wonderful. The water can be on the cool side but not so much that you don't want to swim in it in August for sure. It's shallow through out most go the lake and much of it is a gravel bottom so water shoes are recommended.
There are two campgrounds - the old Northside campground and the new Westside campground. The Northside has more campsites with various views. The layouts can be sorta hodge podgie - it's not like a state campground where sites are clearly marked etc, but almost all are nice at both campgrounds. The north site has better views of the mountains overlooking the lake while the sites at the west one have better access to the lake. They do allow you to scavenge for firewood in the area - there's a lot of dead and down in the nearby forest so just drive around and pick up what you need. In June and into July the mosquitos can be horrific - I've heard of people leaving as they can be so bad!
They open up reservations usually in March and the website can be finicky and a few letters to ask them to improve it haven't helped. The sites go fast. Their cancelation policy is draconian so make sure you're able to go because getting a refund may not be possible.
The best improvement in the past couple of years is that they now have drinking water. There is no dump station or hookups. There is no cell service either although if you have 4 wheel drive you could drive up to one of the local mountain tops and get service there.
They do rent out one of the small cabins and also there's a big house that sleeps 10 - you have to rent it for 6 days mandatory. It has solar, generator, hot showers, bathrooms, etc., and books out very fast. We're going to be there for the first time in September so I'll try to report about it then.
Kayaking on the lake is the best but you need to sign the release that says you have cleaned your kayak of any possible mussels etc - there's a serious epidemic happening now so please make sure your boats are clean.
Nearby Webber Falls has some great swimming holes although the hike is on very unimproved trails and a bit steep so this is not for those folks who have walking issues.
The Tahoe Truckee Land trust owns the property. The camp hosts are good although there are new hosts this year but my interactions on the phone have been great.
Update - They are not allowing RV's to fill up with water anymore. I personally think this stinks. So there's a USFS campground about 10 miles away on highway 89 (Upper Little Truckee Campground) with hose bibs and the camp host is very nice.
Camping near Penn Valley, California, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Penn Valley, California, offers a variety of experiences for everyone. Whether you're in an RV or tent camping, there's something for everyone to enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Buck's Beach located in Penn Valley?
Buck's Beach is located near the Yuba River in Penn Valley. While not explicitly mentioned in available reviews, it's likely situated along Highway 49 near where Cal-Ida campground is located. Cal-Ida campers mention being able to walk across Highway 49 to access the river. For the exact location of Buck's Beach, you may want to check with local Penn Valley resources or the Nevada County Parks department for current access information.
What are the best camping spots near Penn Valley?
The Penn Valley area offers several excellent camping options. American River Resort provides riverside camping with fire pits and picnic tables at each site, plus it's only a half-mile walk to town. Beals Point Campground offers clean facilities, nicely spaced sites with trees, and easy access to lake swimming areas. For a more secluded experience, Inn Town Campground and the Nevada County Fairgrounds provide options closer to Grass Valley with full amenities.
What camping is available near Penn Valley, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Penn Valley, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 314 campgrounds and RV parks near Penn Valley, CA and 9 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Penn Valley, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Penn Valley, CA is Collins Lake Recreation Area with a 4.5-star rating from 22 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Penn Valley, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 free dispersed camping spots near Penn Valley, CA.
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