327 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping options near Penn Valley, California range from developed sites with modern amenities to more rustic experiences throughout the Sierra Nevada foothills. The area features several established campgrounds including Collins Lake Recreation Area, approximately 15 miles north of Penn Valley, which accommodates tents, RVs, and offers cabin rentals. Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley provides camping with hookups for RVs, while smaller private campgrounds like Manzanita Rock Meadow offer more secluded experiences on 25-acre homesteads with tent and RV sites.
Seasonal considerations affect campground availability, with most facilities open year-round due to the moderate climate of the lower Sierra foothills. Summer temperatures can reach the high 90s, making water-adjacent camping at Collins Lake and Rollins Lake particularly desirable during peak season. Several campgrounds require advance reservations, especially during summer weekends and holidays. Many sites feature fire restrictions during California's dry season, typically from late spring through fall. Travelers should verify current fire regulations before arrival as policies can change rapidly based on conditions. "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," noted one camper about accessing a private site.
The region's mixed-use campgrounds typically provide access to swimming, fishing, and hiking opportunities. Proximity to the South Yuba River State Park is frequently mentioned in reviews as a highlight, with campers appreciating the swimming holes and hiking trails. Campgrounds closer to Nevada City and Grass Valley offer convenient access to services and local attractions, while more remote sites provide greater privacy. One visitor remarked about Inn Town Campground, "The campground is exceptionally clean and meticulously maintained. We even had a heated mattress pad in our glamping tent to keep warm." Most campgrounds feature varying levels of hookups and amenities, with some offering full services including showers and laundry, while others maintain a more rustic atmosphere with limited facilities.
"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."
"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."
"This is such a beautiful piece of California."
"There is a boat launch, and a pretty county park is adjacent."
"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
"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."
"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."
from $42 - $53 / night
Check Availability"Lots of staff roaming around and helping. Bring your BBQ"
"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"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"
from $60 / night
Check Availability
LegendThe 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.
LegendDeanes 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.
ScoutWe 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.
LegendGeneral: 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!
LegendI 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.
GuideThere’s only a couple of spots to pull off the road, the boat ramp clearly states no camping. I found a spot but every few hours all night long a truck with flashing lights on the roof drove by. Kinda weird
GuideThis appears to be another roadside pullout in the Demonstration Forest area rather than a legal overnight campsite. Based on on-site clarification from CAL FIRE at a nearby listing, overnight camping is not permitted in this Demonstration Forest area. Only the campground run by PG&E is legal.
Guide--- Not a legal campsite: confirmed by CAL FIRE ---
I originally stopped here with an in-progress cargo trailer conversion because this looked like an excellent roadside pullout: large, easy to access, relatively level, and long enough to maneuver a truck and trailer without drama. As a short stop, turnaround, or day-use staging spot, it is genuinely useful. However, this should not be listed or treated as an overnight campsite. While I was on-site, I was contacted by Officer Steve Garcia with CAL FIRE, who advised me that overnight camping is not permitted at this location. I had interpreted the posted seasonal“no parking” signage as suggesting that public use might be allowed outside the snow-removal season, but he clarified that the signage relates to snow removal and does not authorize overnight camping in the Demonstration Forest area. For practical details: the pullout itself is easy to enter and exit, with enough room for a modest trailer rig to get fully out of traffic and turn around. Road noise drops off substantially overnight, though traffic begins again in the morning. The area may be useful for a brief rest stop, equipment check, turnaround, or day-use pause. But as a camping location, the important information is simple: Do not plan to camp here overnight. I’m updating this review so others don’t make the same assumption I did. This is a good pullout, but it is not a legal overnight campsite.
GuideIndian Valley. Site 5. I love this campground and this area of California. It is not directly situated on the Hwy, and abuts the Yuba River, which is clear and gorgeous and draws a lot of birds and wildlife. A small, quiet family campground with an excellent local host couple. Vault toilets are kept clean. Site 5 has a large open space to the right and a beautiful view to the scenery beyond the river. The vault toilet was close, and now and then I could smell an odor, but it was not constant, nor terrible.
Camping sites near Penn Valley, California range from secluded homesteads to lakefront properties throughout the Sierra Nevada foothills, with elevations typically between 1,000-2,000 feet. Most campgrounds stay open year-round due to the moderate foothill climate, though water levels at popular lakes like Collins Lake and Rollins Lake fluctuate seasonally. Local camping options include both public and private facilities within a 20-mile radius of Penn Valley.
Swimming in the Yuba River: South Yuba River access points provide popular swimming spots during summer months. "We spent the days at Fuller Dam, and the Yuba River and Scotts Flat Reservoir are nearby too. Overall, this is a fantastic campground and I highly recommend," notes a camper at Inn Town Campground.
Fishing at local lakes: Collins Lake is regularly stocked and offers shore fishing opportunities. "I love this camp ground. Really nice lake always stocked with fish. Quiet at night and not rowdy during the day. Great place for family camping. They also have boat rentals," shared a visitor at Collins Lake Recreation Area.
Kayaking and paddleboarding: Local waterways provide calm waters for paddling sports. "This is a fun spot that is not far from home, it's generally quiet, great for fishing and kayaking," mentions a camper at Collins Lake Recreation Area. Another visitor at Sycamore Ranch RV Park added, "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!"
Quiet natural surroundings: Many campsites offer peaceful settings with wildlife viewing opportunities. "This place is dark at night so really good for star watching," notes a camper at Sycamore Ranch RV Park. Another camper shared, "We saw a river otter playing in the creek, so there is life in it."
Clean facilities: Well-maintained campgrounds receive positive reviews. At Nevada County Fairgrounds, a visitor mentioned, "Really nice with the lake and quiet woods feeling. No hassle booking and really reasonable price. Huge sites like 150x18 or there abouts."
Wildlife encounters: Local camping areas provide opportunities for wildlife viewing. A visitor at Thousand Trails Lake of the Springs reported, "Each day a family of deer came thru our site and were so tame they ate fruit right out of the kids' hands. So cool!"
Site accessibility considerations: Some campgrounds have challenging access roads. "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," warns a camper about Manzanita Rock Meadow.
Seasonal crowding: Summer weekends can become busy at popular water spots. "Not a bad campsite, but was surrounded by RVs and people walking around. Can't bring dogs onto the beach area which was a bummer, but was too crowded anyways," shared a visitor at Collins Lake Recreation Area.
Limited cell service: Some campgrounds have poor connectivity. "Very nice campground, but cell coverage is nonexistent outside of one small area," notes a camper at Thousand Trails Lake of the Springs. At Inn Town Campground, visitors appreciate being disconnected yet close to amenities: "It's just outside Nevada City but you feel completely in nature thanks to all the big redwoods in camp."
Water activities for children: Lakes provide family-friendly swimming areas. "We were just happy to get out and camping. Kids loved fishing from the shore; quiet at night; deer had no problem hanging out with us as we had our meals," shares a camper at Thousand Trails Lake of the Springs.
Campgrounds with playgrounds: Some facilities offer recreational amenities for children. "We spent two nights doing a family and friends reunion. We loved our rv spot, the rest of the group had great tent site and glamping tents. Facilities were super clean and nice. Pool was small but the pool area was really nice," notes a visitor at Inn Town Campground.
Educational opportunities: The area offers opportunities to learn about local history. "Do not miss visiting the covered bridge at South Yuba State Park!" recommends a camper at Manzanita Rock Meadow. Another visitor at Inn Town Campground mentioned it's "Next to train museum. Great common area. Lots of places to explore."
Level sites: RV campers appreciate level parking pads. "We had spot in rear of facility. Lots of room uneven grass surface but auto leveled no problem. Small pond for kids only fishing. Easy freeway access can get to town on surface streets," shares an RVer at Nevada County Fairgrounds.
Full hookup availability: Some campgrounds offer complete RV services. "Both campsites, #66 and #116 had power, water and sewage. They were both lake front campsites, which meant the water or shoreline was right at our 'front door' from our 27' travel trailer," notes an RVer at Collins Lake Recreation Area.
Site spacing concerns: RVers mention varying site sizes across campgrounds. "Just can't recommend based on the very cramped conditions. Sites are not very level either. I needed to raise my front end 6 inches to get level," warns an RVer about Nevada County Fairgrounds. In contrast, at Grass Valley RV Resort, a visitor appreciated the "Concrete pads newer campground. Heated pool, friendly staff. Shopping 1.5 miles away."
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 327 campgrounds and RV parks near Penn Valley, CA and 10 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 4.6-star rating from 26 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Penn Valley, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 free dispersed camping spots near Penn Valley, CA.
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