If you're looking for glamping near Portola, look no further. Glamping near Portola is a great way to travel off the beaten path. Find the right glamping site for you with our user-submitted photos, reviews, and tips. You're sure to find glamping for your California camping excursion.
Grasshopper Flat Campground (5,886 feet) is one of three family campgrounds located in the Lake Davis Recreation Area. Campground loops around in the hills overlooking the lake providing most campsites with sweeping views of the lake's crystal blue water. Pine forest gives most campsites plenty of afternoon shade. A boat ramp and RV dump station are nearby. A trailhead for 7 mile long Lake Davis Trail is less than half a mile away.
In addition to camping, the area offers a wide variety of popular water-related activities, including fishing, boating and swimming. Numerous fishing access points are located around the perimeter of the lake. Free trout fishing days are hosted by state agencies in June and September. Mountain biking, hunting and wildlife viewing are also available in the area. During winter months visitors enjoy ice fishing, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.
The 4,000-acre Lake Davis was created in 1967 for recreational opportunities, as well as to rejuvenate fish populations in nearby rivers and supply water to the town of Portola. The lake offers 32 miles of shoreline and is surrounded by tall pine trees. A variety of wildlife make its home near the campground. Tall mountain peaks offer backdrop to lake views.
The closest town is Portola, California, which is home to one of the largest railroad museums in the western United States. A state game refuge borders the lake to the east and the south.
For facility specific information, please call (530) 836-2575.
$38 - $100 / night
Sardine Lake Campground is located in the North Yuba River area, near the beautiful Sardine Lakes. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities in the area, including hiking, hunting, fishing, canoeing and gold panning. This facility is operated and maintained by the Tahoe National Forest.
Boating, fishing and swimming are available at nearby Sardine Lakes and Sand Pond. Sardine Lakes Resort offers boat rentals, lodging, and a restaurant. A large network of trails is available in the area, including Deer Lake and Tamarack Lakes Trails and the Pacific Crest Trail.
The campground stretches along a wet meadow at the base of the scenic Sierra Buttes. A forest of lodgepole pine offers partial shade. Beautiful high mountain lakes and rugged peaks can be found throughout the surrounding area.
For facility specific information, please call (530) 265-4531.
Lakes Basin offers many opportunities for boating, fishing and hiking. Boating, fishing and swimming are available at nearby Sardine Lakes, less than a mile to the west. Sardine Lakes Resort offers boat rentals. Anglers will find rainbow and brook trout in many of the lakes, streams, and rivers throughout the basin. A more developed boat ramp is located at Gold Lake and accomodates launching of larger boats. Over 30 miles of maintained trails for hiking, mountain biking, and motorcycle singletrack branch out across the area and the Pacific Crest Trail can be accessed at a few spots in the Lakes Basin area. The historic towns of Sierra City and Downieville offer historic and cultural attractions, restaurants, shops, churches, and vistor information.
No Show Policy A no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date (or for day-use facilities, by check-in time the day of arrival). * No-show customers are only recorded at staffed facilities. At most remote facilities, all customers are noted as automatically checked-in on the date of arrival. * It is recommended that staffed facilities hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date. * It is recommended that staffed facilities hold group day-use facilities until check-in time on the arrival date. There is no change fee if a customer extends or shortens a reservation if the change includes dates from the original reservation. If they choose to depart early, they may forfeit some or all of the recreation fees. There is no change fee if the customer changes campsites that are the same price and on the same reservation dates in the same campground. If the campsite the customer is changing to has a price difference, the customer will be responsible for any additional fees or be provided with a refund, based on the price difference. Where recorded, no-show customers are assessed a $20.00 no-show fee and forfeit the first night's recreation fee for a campsite or forfeit the entire day-use recreation fee for a day-use facility. We recommend customers contact the facility if they are en route to their reservation but cannot make it by the check-in date. In these cases, no refund will be issued, but the facility can ensure that a "no-show" fee is not assessed.
$24 - $48 / night
$39 - $47 / night
East Meadow Campground is located alongside the scenic Jackson Meadow Reservoir, in the Tahoe National Forest. Its location provides for a great base camp, allowing visitors to enjoy a wide range of recreational activities, including boating, fishing, hiking and hunting. East Meadow Campground is operated and maintained by the Tahoe National Forest.
The adjacent 1,000-acre lake offers excellent opportunities for boating, canoeing, water skiing, swimming and fishing. Anglers will find rainbow and brown trout. A boat ramp is located at Pass Creek Campground. A designated swim beach is nearby. The lake is an irrigation source, meaning its level will drop as the season progresses. A portion of the Pacific Crest Trail meanders along the east side of the lake. It is open to hiking and horseback riding and provides opportunities for viewing wildlife. Hunting and biking are popular activities in the surrounding area.
Jackson Meadow Reservoir is situated in a rolling forested valley, where visitors are awarded beautiful views of the Sierra Crest and English Mountain. The campground lies on the northeastern shore of the lake, in a forest of pine and fir trees. Some sites have a view of the lake, and boats can be moored nearby.
For facility specific information, please call (530) 994-3401.
$24 - $48 / night
Lake of the Woods is a nice small lake. It can be quite popular especially on weekends. There are approximately 15 camping spots with fire pits and picnic tables situated along the shoreline. There is no piped water available. This lake generally opens later in the spring as it sits at a high elevation and takes longer for winter snows to melt to gain access. Camping is free and on a first come - first served basis. The lake has both public and private property. Fire restrictions may be different depending on where you locate your camp.
Upper Little Truckee Campground is located on Highway 89, about 12 miles north of Truckee. Its location makes it a great base camp for a variety of recreational activities, including fishing, hunting, hiking and biking. This facility is operated and maintained by the Tahoe National Forest.
Fishing for rainbow and brown trout in the Little Truckee River is a popular activity enjoyed by visitors to the area. The surrounding area offers hiking and biking trails.
The campground is situated on the banks of the Little Truckee River, at an elevation of 6,200 feet. A forest of lodgepole pine, aspen and juniper trees covers the area, offering partial shade. A few sites overlook the river.
The town of Truckee, 10 minutes south, offers all the amenities of a year-round recreational mountain town including top notch restaraunts, resorts, hotels, grocery stores, gas stations, shopping, and historic sites. Lake Tahoe is located an additional 30 minutes south and offers excellent boating, kayaking, fishing, hiking and scenic driving opportunities as well as dining, shopping and lodging options. Stampede Reservoir and recreation area is a 35-minute drive southeast of the campground. Sardine Lakes, within beautiful Lakes Basin, is a 40-minute drive northwest, via the Golden Chain/Highway 49. Other recreational opportunities include Donner Camp Interpretive Trail, Donner Memorial State Park, Overland Emigrant Commemorative Trial, and numerous hiking, mountain biking, and OHV trails.
$20 - $66 / night
This dump station is located across from the Grizzly Campground in the Lake Davis Recreation Area.
Laufman Campground is a six unit campground located four miles southeast of the small town of Milford, California. Each campsite has a table and fire ring. A vault toilet is provided. There is no water or garbage service.
Long Point Campground is one of three in the Antelope Lake Recreation Area. It is situated on the lake's southwestern side, providing clear water views at nearly every location within the campground. Antelope Lake is one of the more remote, quiet lakes in the Sierra Nevada's Plumas National Forest, making it a popular destination for anglers and explorers of all abilities.
Due to its prime location on the lake, Long Point is known for great bass fishing. Sailing and other boating activities are also popular at Antelope Lake. Some sites are very near to shallow water and are ideal for wading near the campground; other sites are near deeper water, allowing visitors the opportunity to anchor their boats nearby.
The campground is situated at an elevation of 5,000 ft. and is shaded with plentiful pine and fir trees. It is nestled in the beautiful northern Sierra Nevada mountain range, offering forested woods and scenic vistas as far as the eye can see.
Campground is located about 30 miles from the small town of Taylorsville.
For facility specific information, please call (530) 927-7878.
$36 - $85 / night
$32 / night
Scout
This campground has it all. It’s clean, has great amenities (pool, showers, kitchen, bathrooms), and it’s a nice walk away from town. It has a spot for everyone - RVs, glamping tents, and the standard tent sites (my style).
Highly recommend!
TravelerWe 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. Great location for swimming in the Yuba river!
ScoutThe Inn Town Campground is unlike any other campground I’ve ever been to. We have stayed in one of the glampinig tents, and have also brought our RV. 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 😁 The owners, Dan and Erin Thiem, really have thought of everything. Staying with them is a must!
Guide
Had a great time here - terrific proximity to lake & decent sized camping sites. Nearby Portola, & easy drive from the Reno area.
Lots of generators in use during the day (the only reason I can’t give it 5 stars, since we were tent camping) , but all seemed to abide by hours posted for operation.
Already have reservations for this summer!
Guide
I am a member of Thousand Trails and that being said this is one of my favorite TT spots in California. Family friendly, great little Lake for swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding. RV sites have partial hook ups.  Thousand Trails does not reserve campsites so it can be quite a scene to find a site especially in the summer. Only one dump station was open (there are 3) so waited 30 + minutes to dump, hopefully management is working on that… they do offer a honey wagon service for $40.00 available 2 times a week.
GuideNot bad. Did not realize it was $15 for dump until in the queue for a single side, single point dump site. Has water points for spraying out dump hose (👍🏻), spigot for connecting to black tank flush (👍🏻) and a fresh water spigot to fill your fresh tank (if you’re into filling fresh water tank at a dump site). Worked as advertised, but would have driven an hour down the road to Reno where I could dump for cheaper (& saved myself a half-hour in queue) had I known.
TravelerWe stayed here after our Lost and found bike ride and it was great. There was tons of shade, common area bathrooms and no fees for adding a second vehicle to a site. We were able to share a site which helps with cost. Close to the lake but far from the road when you are down in the camp site sleeping so it's nice at night.
GuideBeautiful, quiet and clean campground. Gorgeous lake, great for swimming. Convenient launch for boaters. Easy to navigate and park in with an RV. The waterfront spots are amazing if you can score one!
TravelerAbsolutely delightful campground with flush toilets and potable water. Super close access to the water. Would be a perfect spot for tent camping if there weren’t so many trailers everywhere.
ScoutGreat, large sites that are well maintained. Sites are roughly 100 yards from the lake...Saw a Bald Eagle dive and grab a fish...Great fishing..Not so great for swimming. Opaque, green water from tall grass. A bit grimy..Great spot over all.
GuideUpgraded to a camper this year! Site 23 was shorter than expected which upped the parking challenge but squeezed in okay. Had a great time - large area to spread gear out in, easy walk to semi-private cove on lake. AWESOME for birding - Bald Eagles 🦅, Pelicans, woodpeckers, chickadees & ravens - this is the Sierra after all. Can’t wait for our next visit.
GuideWe were lucky to get a FF spot and spent three nights. Clean restrooms and campground. Super easy access to the lake from this site where you can paddle board and kayak in peace.
TravelerThe campground was very nice however the restrooms and showers were dirty on a Sunday through Tuesday morning.
Guide
First visit! Staff has been great. Very clean. Close to Graeagle, Ca. Lakes and fishing nearby.
ScoutI was actually a workamper in the summer of 2017 here at Little Bear. This park is absolutely beautiful! There is no special loyalty to this place, so I promise I am not biased. The grass is so green, dogs have an area to play, you are right next to a river that you can tube down, and shade from the trees is perfect on a hot day! The only complaint I could have is that there are too many old people 😂 but hey they were all so nice so I can’t even complain about that. The owner Todd is a genuinely great guy, and you will see him working most days. So much love and care goes into making this place beautiful every day, its worth a visit! A good stop to make if you come here is Upper Sardine Lake! By far the prettiest place on Earth, and only 20 minutes from this camground.
ScoutVery clean and well maintained! A quiet and relaxing place to stay. The staff was friendly. The bathroom/shower was closed and I wish there had been easier access to the river but other than that it was a great place to stay.
TravelerSurprised how well maintained and friendly staff assisting with set up. Nice dog large area without enclosed fencing. All short term campers are located in the center very cozy. Lots of families and kids and noisy. We were able to ride bike in the park and on the road that was safe with little to no traffic. Several grass areas for guest minus pets. The perimeter areas are for permanent residence with several for sale. So no chance of getting some nice sites. A number of tiny cottages to rent. The railroad tracks along side of park and loud in early hours you got use to it. Will return but off season when kids are back in school. Also no access to creek from park. Recommend very clean park
GuideIf the first place you think of when you hear “the Sierra Nevada mountains” is Tahoe or Yosemite, I would strongly encourage you to explore points north of Truckee/Tahoe in the Plumas National Forest. And, a great place to stay while exploring the area is Little Bear RV park. This clean, quiet, and very family friendly campground offers a mixture of full and partial hookup sites, plus cabins. It’s right on the Feather river, with a refreshing swimming hole walking distance from the campground. Plumas Eureka state park offers a number of hikes that even little ones can manage. It also has great picnic areas on the creeks that run through the park. Within a 30 minute drive are a number of gorgeous alpine lakes. Gold Lake is especially beautiful and peaceful. I spent 5 nights here and while I love the more “famous” Sierra attractions, I have to say: I didn’t miss the crowds. Plumas is what Tahoe was like in the 1950’s. Highly recommended.
Traveler
My family has been camping here since before I was born and we love it! It's definitely a gem of the Sierras. The lake is beautiful and Sand Pond is great for swimming. There is plenty of hiking and fishing around and it is such a peaceful place to relax and read a book. I would recommend hiking up to the Buttes if you're looking for a challenge. Be sure to stop at Bassett's for some icecream on your way out!
ScoutThis campground is one of my all time favorites! Shhhhh don't spread the word too much. The typical Sierra granite spires around the lake make for the scenery. There's a bar/shack on the water at the resort which is so cute and fun too. It's not open but for like a couple hours before each dinner seating but it's still fun none the less. Hiking around here is beautiful as well.
GuideGreat campsite at the bottom of lower sardine lake. Busy on the weekends. Booking advised.
Facilities are good.
Great fishing in the lower lake.
Trail to the upper lake is a nice steady incline. About an hour there and back. Little shade so wear a hat.
Upper lake is accessible by 4x4 but high clearance is necessary and good understanding of lines is recommended.
ScoutBeautiful location and good campground. Seems like it gets busy. Clean bathrooms, plenty of trash cans, and sinks for cleanup.
GuideFamily filled campground with many spots. Just down the road from Sardine Lakes and Sand Pond, which are great for fishing and swimming. Gets buggy in the summertime. Sites located very close to one another so not a ton of privacy. Road to access is easy for all cars. The campground can get trashed easily, so do your part to pack out your trash and leave it better than you found it.
ScoutI camped here often with my two sons and have fond memories of the Sierra Buttes
ScoutOur site was great, but didn’t have very much shade. It was nice to be hike up to volcano lake from our campsite as well as sardine lake and upper sardine lake.
TravelerCampground was situated nicely with perfect trees for our hammocks and bathrooms were tidy. Beautiful hiking within minutes of the campground with gorgeous views of the lake and boulders - and even waterfalls! There’s no cell service and no services at the campsite so pick up firewood from the one motel/cafe/gas/market on the way in.
GuideWe had great time at sardine lake campground. Great place for active families. Gorgeous view of sardine lake and sand pond in walking distance and lots of other lakes around the area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Portola, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Portola, CA is Grasshopper Flat with a 4.4-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Portola, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 27 glamping camping locations near Portola, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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