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Jack D.
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GuideOroville-Feather Falls Casino KOA
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They let us check in early it is all paved but not level!
Camping near Penryn, CA
266 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Penryn, California serves as a base for exploring diverse camping options in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. The area encompasses established sites like Peninsula Campground at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, where campers find both tent and RV accommodations. Within a 30-minute drive, Ascension Ranch offers off-grid camping experiences with private sites set among oak savannas. The region includes a mix of state park facilities, private RV parks, and resort-style properties with varying levels of amenities. Most campgrounds provide fire rings, picnic tables, and restroom facilities, with several locations offering water recreation access.
Camping in the Penryn area varies seasonally, with early spring bringing green hillsides and fewer crowds at Peninsula Campground. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F, making waterfront camping locations particularly desirable. Many campgrounds require reservations through recreation.gov or private booking systems, especially during peak season from May through September. Folsom Lake's water levels fluctuate significantly through the year, affecting beach access and water recreation possibilities. Winter camping remains available at several locations with reduced services. One camper noted, "Weather in the Sierra foothills in early March is perfect for a couple day getaway from the colder temperatures and snow in the higher elevations where we live."
Mixed-use campgrounds dominate the area, with facilities like Auburn Gold Country RV Park catering primarily to RVs while still accommodating tent campers. Swimming and boating opportunities rank high in visitor reviews, particularly at Peninsula Campground where several reviewers praised the lake access. Wildlife viewing opportunities are abundant, with visitors reporting encounters with wild turkeys, deer, lizards, and numerous bird species. More remote campgrounds offer greater solitude but require longer drives on winding roads. A recent review highlighted, "Peninsula is about 45 minutes to an hour from Folsom depending on traffic. You have to drive down a long windy narrow road to get here, which is the worst part." Campgrounds closer to Auburn and Loomis provide easier access but experience more traffic noise and tend to fill quickly during weekends.
Best Campgrounds near Penryn (266)
1. Beals Point Campground — Folsom Lake State Recreation Area
"As with most of California everything is dry. The lake is very low and a half mile walk from park to get to. The sites are surrounded by dry tall grass and spaced out nicely."
"As full timers- we thought we hit the jackpot for the area in order to be near the towns we wanted to explore and also have service for good wifi."
from $33 - $58 / night
Check Availability2. Peninsula Campground — Folsom Lake State Recreation Area
"Very quite camping spot very clean.coin operated showers😭 lake is very close by."
"I wanted to find a spot somewhat close by and came across this one."
from $33 / night
Check Availability3. Coloma Resort
"Beautiful fall surroundings right adjacent to the South Fork of the American River. Easy walk or car ride to numerous hiking trails."
"If you ever want to experience the thrill of gold panning, and California history go here!"
4. Lake Clementine Boat In — Auburn State Recreation Area
"I’ve been here about 8-10 times and every time I love my stay, it’s a quiet getaway around 45 mins away from me and the sound of the river is amazing."
"Place the cash ($28 a night) in the envelope and put it in the post that’s on the parking entrance."
from $38 / night
Check Availability5. Auburn Gold Country RV Park
6. Ascension Ranch
"WELCOME TO ASCENSION RANCH Ascension Ranch is an off-grid paradise tucked away in an oak savanna along Folsom Lake with a unique and ever growing list of features and activities."
"Super relaxing and has a lake that is at the end of the trail. Super convenient. It was cool to experience the animals that were in the pastures as well. I'd definitely come back."
from $59 - $115 / night
Check Availability7. American River Resort
"Nice campground - close to river. .5 mile walk to town for shopping/eating. All sites have fire pit and picnic table. Bathrooms clean and private showers."
"It is right in the American River and next to a class 3 rapid called Trouble Maker. It was awesome watching rafters and kayakers go through it."
8. Thousand Trails Ponderosa
"It’s great for kids that want to ride bikes around the sites- but be careful of the river, it’s swift."
"Great spot if you can get in half of the camp got washed away from the rain this year though ."
9. Loomis RV Park
"This is an older park in a location close to shopping. However, the train is near by and can be heard in the park. It comes by about twice in a 24 hr period. Office staff very nice and helpful."
"There is a little store within walking distance. Overall a very nice park!"
from $65 / night
Check Availability10. Ruck-A-Chucky Campground — Auburn State Recreation Area
"Our site was next to the raft launch/pickup, so there were a couple of groups picked up during the day. Bathrooms were average and the site was maintained well."
"Small cars made it down ther without difficulty)
Once at the camp ground, right on the waters edge, grab up the 3rd site on the right. It is literally on the edge of the river."
Drive Time
- 23 min from Sacramento, CA
- 44 min from Yuba City, CA
- 1 hr 4 min from Stockton, CA
Recent Camping Photos near Penryn, CA
352 Photos of 266 Penryn Campgrounds
Chris D.
InTent Montauk
T L.
Peninsula Campground — Folsom Lake State Recreation Area
Fawad A.
Ascension Ranch
tan N.
Beals Point Campground — Folsom Lake State Recreation Area
Cooper L.
Lake Clementine Boat In — Auburn State Recreation Area
Kate A.
Thousand Trails Ponderosa
Rosina A.
Coloma Resort
Charity M.
Apple Grass Farm
April N.
American River Resort
Aariana N.
Camp Far West North Shore
Terri G.
Placerville RV Resort & Campground
Carly D.
Bear River Park & Campground
Recent Reviews near Penryn, CA
751 Reviews of 266 Penryn Campgrounds
- CCheryl G.
ScoutLodgepole Campground
Filthy restrooms and showers!
5 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!
- mmegan L.
TravelerGreenhorn Capground at Rollins Lake
Expensive but decent
We 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.
- MMike K.Scout
Jackson Rancheria RV Park
Wonderful Location
This place is awesome. Super clean, spaces are big and neighbors are not too close. The facilities are super clean and modern. We enjoyed the pool, spa and shower facilities. There’s a shuttle that shows up about every 40 minutes to the casino. The office staff was very friendly and knowledgeable about the different spaces and location of the afternoon sun.
Brook L.ScoutRancho Seco Recreation Area
Rancho Stinko
This park is completely understaffed, and the staff they do have are short and rude when talked to. Leaches in the water, goose poop all on beach area along with trash and dirty diapers. Management is never to be seen and the store they have is never open. Restrooms had poop on walls, birds in the bathroom, toilet paper everywhere. They constantly have water problems. They have an abundance of wasps also.
- Harry L.Guide
Yuba Sutter Fairgrounds
Very nice, Shade very where
All 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 !
- MMagicallyChris -.Traveler
Grouse Ridge Campground
Great Spot and Hikes, Challenging Road, AWD Recommended
Place was quite busy over the weekend but we were able to secure the last campsite Saturday afternoon. The drop toilets had a little remaining toilet paper but ran out during our stay (bring your own). I wouldn’t recommend the road without 4x4 or AWD, especially if the road conditions are wet/muddy. Our RWD car made it to the site, however it's the type of road that you could easily get stuck without off roading experience and careful navigation. There are sizable rocks, ruts, and potholes to navigate through. Under carriage scrapping will be unavoidable for lower clearance vehicles. Cell service available at campground. Bear box boxes available at campground, each site had one.
Amazing hikes and trailhead near campsite.
- DDiane V.Traveler
Pipi Campground
Wooded, set along a small river with a boardwalk along the entire length
The campsite is set along one side of the middle fork of the Cosumnes River and is quite lovely. It is a popular campground on weekends so reservations are recommended. There are outhouses and fresh water available. Cell service is very spotty (we have Verizon) but drive up the road a half mile and you'll get a signal. There are places to fish and swim in the river, with several day use areas in the campground.
V L.TravelerEl Dorado National Forest, off Cal Hwy 88
Decent site for first timers but better for dirt motor bike enthusiasts
We did two nights and left in the morning on the third day. The ranger drove by briefly both days but didn't stop to give us any feedback. We followed the coordinates using GPS out to this site just fine without losing signal. But once there, definitely no cell signal. We didn't see any posts labeled"8N54" or"8N55". We did see posts for Motorized Trailhead 13E33.
Overall this was a good little spot for first time dispersed campers like us. We did some light hiking and there was plenty opportunity for star gazing. Oddly enough there was rave music playing all night into the early morning hours. Unexpected, but distant enough that one of us was able to sleep through it ok, but not the best or most peaceful sleep. We're not really sure if it was coming from a nearby campsite or private property but, oh well. At times throughout the day time the rave music would come on briefly.
Also, this site is really well suited for folks who love dirt motor biking, driving ATVs and that sort of thing. We don't have anything like that but we chose this site because it was easy to get to and not too far from home and civilization. There were several folks riding around both days from about 9 am to 4 pm. We recommend using a copy of the MVUM Map for El Dorado NF Placerville area to see all of the trails and road types. During the peaceful quiet moments, we heard several woodpeckers, crickets, loud deer mooing. And there was even a small heard of cows that came into the campsite a little bit. For about 45 minutes we heard them clinking around with their cowbells on. But it was at night so it was pitch black and the bells were a bit distracting along with the music. One of them even decided to smudge our truck(see photo).
Also, be prepared to shake out your shoes and clothes often as this site featured dirt floor that was particularly dusty. Any time the riders would go by, a big cloud of dust would flow our way. Plenty of tree cover for shade. We didn't use the fire pit because of fire restrictions right now, but we got a fire permit anyway before heading out there. Instead we used a mini stove with butane canister. Definitely plan to pack everything out and clean up your trash. There were a few straggler pieces of debris clearly left behind by less mindful folks, but overall the site was clean in that sense. We were here in late July and it wasn't too hot or cold. We got a mix of warm and cool breezes that were really nice!
Guide to Penryn
Camping near Penryn, California stretches across the transition zone between the Central Valley and Sierra Nevada foothills, with elevations ranging from 400 to 1,500 feet. The region's Mediterranean climate creates distinct camping seasons with temperature swings of up to 40°F between day and night during fall and spring months. Access to water recreation varies dramatically through the year, with tributary streams to Folsom Lake often drying completely by late summer.
What to do
Explore river rapids: At American River Resort, campers can watch rafters navigate challenging water features. One visitor noted, "It is right in the American River and next to a class 3 rapid called Trouble Maker. It was awesome watching rafters and kayakers go through it."
Gold panning: The region's gold rush history offers opportunities for modern-day prospecting at Ruck-A-Chucky Campground. A visitor shared, "If you're lucky and know how to read the river, gold panning is a must!"
Educational nature trails: Peninsula Campground features interpretive walks with regional ecology information. "A shorter accessible trail (Oaks Nature Trail) is entirely contained within the campground and takes you through some great examples and educational signs regarding the riparian ecosystem," noted one camper.
Mountain biking: The area offers both technical and beginner-friendly trails, with Peninsula Campground providing direct access to the 8-mile Darrington Trail. As one review mentioned, "There is an 8 mile hiking trail (Darrington) that ends at the campground. Darrington is mountain bike accessible."
What campers like
Wildlife viewing: The foothills offer exceptional wildlife observation opportunities. At Peninsula Campground, one visitor described, "Wildlife is off the chain here... bears have been seen on occasion, cougars, Bobcats, and coyotes all stop by from time to time... I've seen some of the most beautiful emerald and sapphire colored lizards."
Shoulder season camping: Spring camping offers ideal conditions with fewer crowds. A Beals Point visitor shared, "Very green early in the season, lake extremely low, warm evenings already. GREAT cell service for working remotely. 5G with 5 bars."
Water access: Many campgrounds provide direct water access with varying amenities. One camper at Coloma Resort stated, "The River was not crowded at all and when people did get near by they would respect each other's boundaries and not crowd up. Our site was perfectly shaded and good sized right on the waterfront."
Clean facilities: Despite high usage, many campgrounds maintain above-average restroom conditions. A visitor noted about Beals Point, "Really nice camp hosts and attendants. Nice services; clean bathrooms and coin op showers."
What you should know
Water level fluctuations: Folsom Lake's water levels vary dramatically, affecting beach access. A Peninsula camper advised, "The lake is very low and a half mile walk from park to get to. The sites are surrounded by dry tall grass and spaced out nicely."
Road conditions: Several campgrounds require navigating challenging access roads. At Lake Clementine, "The access road is about six miles of curvy, hilly, and narrow (sometimes only one lane) pavement. There is a sign prohibiting trailers."
Cell service: Unlike many mountain destinations, most campgrounds maintain usable cell coverage. A Beals Point visitor confirmed, "GREAT cell service for working remotely. 5G with 5 bars."
Shower costs: Most campgrounds with shower facilities require quarters. A visitor mentioned, "Dyrt says that it has wifi but couldn't find one and the showers needs QUARTERS and we were out of coins. So remember to take quarters with you if you want to shower."
Tips for camping with families
Shade considerations: Summer heat requires planning for shade. A Beals Point camper warned, "The Sacramento area gets very hot in the summer, and this campground provides some but not a ton of shade."
Swimming options: Many sites offer safe swimming areas with varying amenities. At Coloma Resort, "Pool, playground, basketball and soccer - will definitely be back with the kids soon."
Educational opportunities: The region offers historical and nature learning experiences. One camper at Ascension Ranch shared, "Some of things you'll come across at Ascension Ranch include baby farm animals, sheep, goats, cattle, horses, more horses, ranch dogs, puppies, chickens, equestrian activities."
Terrain challenges: Camp sites often feature uneven ground that requires planning. A Lake Clementine visitor noted, "Many of the sites are more suitable for tent campers. The parking area is at the top of the hill, and you set up your tent below."
Tips from RVers
Leveling issues: Several campgrounds present challenges for level parking. At Auburn Gold Country RV Park, one RVer warned, "Our spot was not that great for our 40ft bus due to the tree limbs and the ground was very uneven, which made it difficult to level."
Size restrictions: Check campground limitations on RV length. Lake Clementine warns visitors with "a sign prohibiting trailers; our 18-foot camper van did fine but anything much larger would definitely be challenged."
Power reliability: Electrical service quality varies between campgrounds. American River Resort provides more limited options, as one RVer noted, "I asked if I would have 120 V access and told I would but there was only 30 amp 240 v. Totally useless for me."
Dump fees: Even when staying at RV parks, additional fees may apply for services. One camper mentioned, "If you don't have the premium hookup spots, you got to pay 20$ 'Service Fee' for dumping. Idk why because you end up doing it all by yourself as usual anyway."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Penryn, CA?
What camping is available near Penryn, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Penryn, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 266 campgrounds and RV parks near Penryn, CA and 12 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Penryn, CA?
Which is the most popular campground near Penryn, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Penryn, CA is Beals Point Campground — Folsom Lake State Recreation Area with a 4.2-star rating from 33 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Penryn, CA?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Penryn, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 12 free dispersed camping spots near Penryn, CA.
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