243 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Rancho Murieta, California encompass a range of options from developed RV resorts to tent camping areas along lakes and rivers. Rancho Seco Recreation Area provides year-round camping with water and electric hookups, tent sites, and cabin rentals along a scenic lake just minutes from Rancho Murieta. Lake Amador Resort and Lake Camanche offer additional waterfront camping experiences within a short drive. The Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, with campgrounds at Beals Point and Peninsula, provides established camping within 30 minutes of Rancho Murieta. Most sites accommodate both tents and RVs, while some locations like 49er Village RV Resort and Placerville RV Resort include cabin options.
Reservations are strongly recommended for all established campgrounds in the region, particularly during summer months when lakeside sites fill quickly. Most campgrounds maintain open status year-round, though facilities and services may be limited during winter. The terrain around Rancho Murieta features rolling hills and oak woodlands, with elevation variations that affect temperatures and weather patterns throughout the year. Full hookup sites are available at several locations including Rancho Seco Recreation Area and Placerville RV Resort, while more primitive options exist at Folsom Lake. A camper noted, "Rancho Seco is a small but lovely place. I pitched a tent in site 43 right next to the lake. Excellent place."
Waterfront access represents a significant draw for many campers visiting the Rancho Murieta area. Rancho Seco Recreation Area receives consistently positive reviews for its lakeside camping, fishing opportunities, and swimming areas. Reviews highlight the well-spaced RV sites and family-friendly amenities. According to visitor feedback, "It has free showers there and the campground are awesome and you can camp right on the water. They have boat rentals and a fishing derby every year too." Some visitors mention concerns about cleanliness in bathroom facilities during peak times, so travelers might want to plan accordingly. The region's proximity to Sacramento (approximately 25 miles) makes these campgrounds popular weekend destinations, with several visitors noting the area provides a convenient escape without requiring extensive travel time.
"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 Availability"The campsites are spacious and you don't feel over crowded if there is a family next to you. It's pet friendly."
"I pitched a tent in site 43 right next to the lake. Excellent place."
"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 Availability"Four swimming pools
- Three social pools
- Volleyball courts
- Pickleball
- Hiking/walking trails <-- our favorite.
- Tennis And others."
"Everything you could ask for as amenities go in a beautiful location. Don't forget your sun screen."
"There are trees throughout the park and although it is located right on the road, only the sites that back up to the road hear road noise. There is a small pond in the center and we saw some ducks."
"We enjoyed walking around with our pets and getting ice cream. The only annoyance was loud music past curfew, but it was only on the weekend."
"Fabulous lakeside camping.... We’ve been in March, May, July and September..... July, just too hot but we love being able to just get up and fish... The lake is stocked with Trout, Bass and Catfish."
"Lake water level was super low at end of summer & lake is hard to access. Unless you got a boat. Saw deer & wild turkeys. This park is huge."
from $25 - $45 / night
Check Availability"Easy access to the lake. Campground is well maintained. Bathrooms are always clean and with hot water. No shower at this site. But there’s one close by at the Riverview, walking distance."
"I come here with my family every year around 4th of July. I would book way ahead for busy holidays like that.
The water level really varies on the year."
from $50 / night
Check Availability"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!"
"I like the place pros would be doing just water and electric hook up so your away from the croud,clean and quiet, great wifi, cons next to freeway, expensive,no firepit but have a communal fire pit,but"
"Mini train ride around park, great playground, mini golf, showed movie and a lot more awesomeness. Was not cheap but kept the kids entertained. Will be going back."
from $75 - $107 / night
Check Availability"A good clean campground, popular in central California. Reasonably priced $20 per night."
"The lake has receded quite a but that one of the docks is about 100 yards from the actual lake now (California drought). The campsite was well maintained."
from $20 / night
Check Availability
ScoutThis location is perfect for people who are looking for the wind. Everyone is pretty respectful of one another. First come first serve $45/night. Not well maintained the road was flooded and it hadn’t rained in weeks in the area. Not well maintained. Must have self contained camper: van, rv, trailer. Tight quarters, it’s like a parking lot of vehicles camping right next to one another. There is a boat launch.
GuidePopped in and only a few campers there. A bridge away from towns. Hot showers. Squirrels galore. Ill be back.
GuideLook up this site’s history, it’s quite fascinating.
While there’s a no trespassing sign, this is indeed a Forest Service-managed site and confirmed as a dispersed location.
I pulled in just as this older gentleman was walking the area, and he started telling me all about the owner back in the 60s-70s (“a mean guy”) and what a cool ski resort it once was.
GuideVery warm weekend (as to be expected in July) bathrooms and showers were satisfactory. It’s a public campsite with lots of families and most are there for the lake. Sites were large enough but No hookups for RV. We just stayed at night and spent the days with family in the area. Met our needs.
ScoutI have stayed at Bear River Group Campground twice and plann to make it an annual trip. It is near a reservoir, but necessary to drive to get to the water. There is no road noise at all. It is fairly remote and very well set up for groups. Highly recommend it.
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
ScoutWe had been looking forward to this camping trip, but unfortunately our experience at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park in Lodi was very disappointing. Before our trip, I paid the Lock Fee($40) specifically to guarantee the campsite we had selected. However, when we arrived, we were assigned to a completely different site. After setting up our trailer, we went back to the office to ask about it. Instead of correcting the mistake, another employee told us that we didn’t even have a reservation and that we needed to leave the campground. We had to search through our emails, show our reservation confirmation, and even provide proof of payment from our bank before they finally found our reservation. Only then were we moved to the campsite we had originally reserved and paid extra to secure. Unfortunately, the worst part happened on our last night. We were camping with friends, and between us we had two electric bikes—one worth nearly$5,000 and another worth over$1,000. We went to bed around 2:30 a.m., and everything was still there. When we came out of our trailers around 8:30 a.m., both bikes had been stolen. We immediately called the police. The responding officer told us that just two weeks earlier, another camper had all of the sound equipment stolen from their vehicle at the same campground. What disappointed us most is that the campground doesn’t appear to have adequate security measures, such as surveillance cameras, and there was no warning at check-in that thefts had recently occurred. Had we known there was an increased risk, we would have taken additional precautions with our valuables. When families choose a campground like this, they expect a safe, relaxing environment where they can enjoy nature without worrying that expensive belongings will disappear overnight. The campground has great amenities and is a fun place for families, but our experience with the reservation issues and the lack of security left us extremely disappointed. I hope management takes these concerns seriously, improves security, and is more transparent with guests so other families don’t have the same experience we did.
Camping near Rancho Murieta, California offers options for outdoor enthusiasts within the rolling oak woodlands of the Sierra foothills, at elevations ranging from 400-1,000 feet. The region typically experiences hot, dry summers with temperatures frequently exceeding 90°F between June and September, while spring brings cooler temperatures with wildflower blooms across the terrain. Water levels at local lakes fluctuate seasonally, affecting beach access and fishing conditions.
Fishing opportunities: At Lake Amador Resort, anglers can target multiple species throughout the year. "The lake is stocked with Trout, Bass and Catfish. Tackle Box Cafe is really good, weekends only, and the staff is kind and helpful," notes a regular visitor who camps there multiple times annually.
Gold panning experiences: Historic sites near Coloma Resort let visitors try their hand at prospecting where California's gold rush began. A camper explains, "If you ever want to experience the thrill of gold panning, and California history go here! You will not get rich, but with a couple hours of effort you can get a nice little bottle of gold flakes to take home with you."
Wildlife viewing: The natural settings around these campgrounds support diverse wildlife observation opportunities. At Lake Amador, a camper reported, "I woke up with 4 deer casually strolling through our campsite, a huge group of turkeys were cruising around the whole weekend." Bird watchers often spot waterfowl at the lakes and raptors in the surrounding hills.
Free hot showers: Unlike many campgrounds that require quarters, Rancho Seco Recreation Area provides complimentary shower facilities. A camper notes, "The grounds are very attractive and very well maintained and all of the staff we encountered were friendly and accommodating. There is one marked hiking trail that follows the lake shore for the first mile then through a field with cattle."
Off-season tranquility: Winter and early spring visits offer significantly quieter experiences with fewer crowds. A visitor to Peninsula Campground shared, "Another mid-week quick adventure two weeks before spring... Peninsula campground on Folsom Lake is in the rolling hills and oak trees, remote from the more popular side of the lake. In the summer months the lake is very busy and the hills are brown with dried grass. But in the early spring it is quite, especially here, with green grass and wild turkeys."
Waterfront campsites: Several campgrounds offer sites directly adjacent to water bodies. A camper at Rancho Seco stated, "This is a small but lovely place. I pitched a tent in site 43 right next to the lake," while another noted, "Nice quiet campground good fishing lake to fish just make sure you put your food away at night raccoons will get your food and snacks."
Seasonal insect activity: Depending on the time of year, campgrounds may experience significant insect presence. A visitor to Lake Camanche warned, "It's an easy to navigate park with many sites on the water. But beware of the bees!"
Bathroom facilities vary widely: While some campgrounds maintain excellent facilities, others struggle during peak periods. At Beals Point, a camper observed, "Coin operated shower very nice and clean bathroom clean showers," while another noted, "The showers take quarters and have hot water most of the time. The showers are very big its actually quite peaceful and nice."
Water levels fluctuate significantly: Lake levels change dramatically throughout the year, affecting beach access. A visitor to Lake Camanche mentioned, "When the lake is down (like now) it's a bit of a haul to the water — cart/wagon recommended, as well as a shade pop-up AT water's edge." At Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, a camper reported, "Nice campground. As with most of California everything is dry. The lake is very low and a half mile walk from park to get to."
Playground amenities: 49er Village RV Resort offers family-friendly recreation areas. A repeat visitor shared, "The kids loved the stocked fishing ponds, and even better was the immaculate 2 swimming pools and playground! Everyone was busy having fun the whole time and the grounds were perfectly kept."
Farm experiences: Unique alternatives include ranch settings where children can interact with animals. At The Hirst Horse Ranch, a family reported, "My boys played on swings, trampolines, and forts. They also helped milk the cow, picked strawberries, fed the chickens and rode on a horse. We really got to be on the farm for the weekend."
Swimming areas: Designated swimming areas provide safer water access. One camper noted about Rancho Seco Recreation Area, "They have a beach and the lake is nice size," while another mentioned that Lake Amador has "a water hole with a fun slide, which is all kept nice and clean with tables you can sit at. I would recommend a pop up tent for shade if you go to the water hole."
Dump station access: Not all sites with hookups include sewer connections. A visitor to Placerville RV Resort warned, "If you are expecting a full-hookup site, make sure it has septic at your site! Many of the sites are water and electric only, and you have to use the one dump station at the camp entrance for dumping. Kinda inconvenient and not what I would expect for $106 a night!"
Cell service for remote work: Some campgrounds maintain excellent connectivity for those needing to stay connected. At Beals Point Campground, a camper shared, "Really nice camp hosts and attendants. Nice services; clean bathrooms and coin op showers. Very green early in the season, lake extremely low, warm evenings already. GREAT cell service for working remotely. 5G with 5 bars."
Weekend crowding concerns: RV sites fill quickly on weekends, especially during summer months. About Lake Camanche, a visitor advised, "Weekends are filled up and busy, but during the week days it's nice and quiet," while another noted, "This year has been very disappointing. The beaches are cluttered with tons of glass and garbage. Mostly because the low water is exposing more. No one answers the phones at the gate."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Rancho Murieta, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Rancho Murieta, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 243 campgrounds and RV parks near Rancho Murieta, CA and 11 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Rancho Murieta, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Rancho Murieta, 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 Rancho Murieta, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 11 free dispersed camping spots near Rancho Murieta, CA.
What parks are near Rancho Murieta, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 25 parks near Rancho Murieta, CA that allow camping, notably New Hogan Lake and New Melones Lake.
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