Camping near Rancho Cordova offers diverse options within a 45-minute radius, ranging from lakeside tent sites to RV parks with full hookups. The region sits at the junction of the Central Valley and Sierra foothills, with elevations ranging from 30 to 400 feet and summer temperatures regularly exceeding 95°F. Most campgrounds in the area require quarters for showers, and many sites need advance booking during peak season from May through September.
What to do
Hiking trails: Peninsula Campground at Folsom Lake features an 8-mile Darrington Trail popular with hikers and mountain bikers, plus the shorter Oaks Nature Trail with educational signs about the riparian ecosystem. As one visitor notes, "There is plenty to do with lots of great sites... You can fish, hike, or swim here. The campsites are spacious and you don't feel over crowded if there is a family next to you."
Water recreation: Rancho Seco Recreation Area offers affordable boat rentals for exploring its lake. A camper shares, "There's plenty to do with lots of great sites... You can fish, hike, or swim here. The campsites are spacious and you don't feel over crowded if there is a family next to you."
Wildlife viewing: The region hosts diverse wildlife, with Peninsula campground offering exceptional viewing opportunities. As one camper explains, "Wildlife is off the chain here. As others have said, if you don't love being surrounded by wild animals, this will probably be a bit much for you. Bears have been seen on occasion, cougars, Bobcats, and coyotes all stop by from time to time, and there are so many skunks it can get annoying."
Biking: Cal Expo RV Park provides direct access to extensive bike trail networks. A reviewer highlights, "Great Bike paths adjacent along the river into Downtown or up to Folsom. All Full hook up sites on gravel or asphalt, daily, weekly, monthly rates."
What campers like
Accessible amenities: SacWest RV Park & Campground offers facilities designed with accessibility in mind. One camper appreciated the "Wonderful ada bathroom/showers with a fold down bench" and noted the site is "clean. You can order food and they will deliver."
Natural beauty in spring: Peninsula Campground transforms during spring months. A visitor reports, "We visited this camp ground last year for a pre-spring getaway and really liked it. Tried it again this week, and it was great again. About 3 weeks later in March than last year so there were a few more people. The grass is green, and the leaves are out on all the oak trees which makes it more beautiful."
Riverside camping: Sherwood Harbor Marina & RV Park provides unique waterfront sites. A camper describes it as a "Largely undiscovered gem of a spot... Beautiful spaces to park your RV with a view of the river and small local marina. Everything you need to 'get away' is here and big city amenities a short drive away."
Cell service for remote work: For those needing to stay connected, Beals Point Campground offers exceptional connectivity. As one camper notes, "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."
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Water levels at Folsom Lake fluctuate dramatically throughout the year. Campers at Beals Point Campground should prepare for potentially long walks to the shore during dry periods, with one visitor noting, "Staff was very nice and friendly and let us pick a spot. Price was very reasonable for dry spot $28."
Wildlife precautions: Peninsula Campground — Folsom Lake State Recreation Area has diverse wildlife including deer, skunks, and occasionally larger predators. One camper warns, "One night I was woken up by a deer walking right into my tent which scared the crap out of us both."
Coin-operated showers: Most state recreation areas require quarters for showers. A visitor to Peninsula Campground notes, "The showers take quarters and have hot water most of the time. The showers are very big its actually quite peaceful and nice."
Poison oak awareness: Several campgrounds in the area have poison oak, particularly in wooded areas. Be cautious when gathering firewood or hiking off-trail, as one camper learned: "I did one summer go collecting wood for a fire and not knowing that poison ivy was common in this campgrounds ended up unknowingly collecting alot of it setting it in the fire pit and the combination of the poison ivy branches and smoke covered my entire body in a very itchy painful rash."
Tips for camping with families
Beach access: Several lakeside campgrounds offer swimming areas ideal for families. At Rancho Seco Recreation Area, a visitor shares, "Clear and beautiful water. Awesome views... You can fish, hike, or swim here."
Playground options: Laguna Del Sol offers extensive recreational facilities though it's important to note this is a clothing-optional resort. A camper describes, "Four swimming pools, three social pools, volleyball courts, pickleball, hiking/walking trails, tennis, and others."
Kid-friendly activities: Many campgrounds offer programming specifically for families. At SacWest RV Park, "Lots of things to do for kids: great playgrounds, swimming pool, more than 100 ducks going around! Beautiful place!"
Safety considerations: With high summer temperatures, shade becomes crucial for family camping. Watch for fish hooks at Rancho Seco, as one camper cautions, "In our campground we found multiple fish hooks and one happen to pierce my sandal. We have a 3 year old and brought our dog so imagine how dangerous that can be."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: At Loomis RV Park, leveling can be challenging for larger rigs. One RVer advises, "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. We would stay here again, however I would make sure it's in a spot that's level."
RV length restrictions: Some campgrounds have limitations on RV size, particularly at the older state recreation areas. Consider Sacramento Shade RV Park for larger rigs, where sites include "a privacy fence and small concrete pad."
Noise factors: Consider location within campgrounds relative to highways and truck stops. At SacWest, "Yes, we did end up by the Maverick Truck Stop side of the park, but the noise was not too bad."
Security awareness: At Cal Expo RV Park, some visitors have reported security concerns. One camper shared, "While here there were incidents of someone pulling on our grey/black tank valves to open them and another night hearing someone jostling with the main door handle. I then locked up the bay doors for sanitary and electrical and didn't have any problems after that."
