393 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
South Lake Tahoe's camping landscape encompasses both lakefront developed facilities and dispersed forest options. Established campgrounds like Fallen Leaf and Campground by the Lake provide proximity to Lake Tahoe's shoreline, while options such as Scotts Lake Road Dispersed Camping offer more remote experiences in Hope Valley. Most camping areas accommodate tent camping, with select locations like Tahoe Valley Campground supporting RVs with full hookups. The region includes both California and Nevada sites, with several campgrounds operated by California State Parks and federal agencies.
Seasonal considerations heavily impact camping availability near South Lake Tahoe. Most campgrounds operate from May through October, with only select sites like Tahoe Valley Campground remaining open year-round. "When I woke up in the morning there was a note outside of my rig to pay, and it was $17 more than it said online, so I ended up paying $52 for one night to park and no amenities accessible to me," reported one off-season visitor at Campground by the Lake. Snow levels typically restrict access to higher-elevation sites until late spring, while summer represents peak visitation. Advance reservations are essential during summer months, particularly for lakefront camping areas. Fire restrictions commonly impact summer camping, with regulations varying by jurisdiction and current conditions.
Campers consistently note the convenience of developed campgrounds near urban amenities. At Campground by the Lake, visitors appreciate the location across from the lake and within walking distance to town facilities. One review mentioned: "This campground is in the heart of South Lake Tahoe. It is right on Highway 50. There is loud traffic noise day and night." For those seeking quieter experiences, more remote options exist in surrounding national forest lands. The region's camping areas provide varying levels of amenities, from sites with full RV hookups and hot showers to primitive dispersed camping with no services. Wildlife encounters, particularly bears, remain common throughout the region, with proper food storage essential at all campgrounds regardless of development level.
"Fallen Leaf Campground is located on south lake Tahoe about a mile from the beach."
"The campground itself is beautiful, walking distance to Fallen Leaf Lake and short drive to South Lake Tahoe. My husband, my pup and I liked the campsite a lot."
from $47 - $128 / night
Check Availability"South Lake Tahoe had gotten 20 inches of snow in the 14 days prior to our arrival, then got four more inches while we were there."
"It was very crowded and we stayed in our site and away from public areas. Pool was open as well as restrooms/showers. They talked about bears visiting but we didn’t spot any there."
"4d-120.0849062) while exploring the Emerald Bay section of Lake Tahoe."
"Our site was #56 which had a partial view of the lake through the trees in the distance. It was also located directly across from the bathrooms and campground host who’s name was David."
from $25 - $45 / night
Check Availability"We've always like zephyr cove as it's a bit away from the south shore hectic crowds. Zephyr cove rv park has a ton of rvs, but rent camping as well."
"Short walk across the highway to the beach, which is nice, but couldn’t get over proximity to other campers. We enjoyed our night but likely won’t visit again."
from $64 - $407 / night
Check Availability"Lake tahoe is one of the most beautiful place in California. There are plenty of state parks and campsites around the lake, but D.L. Bliss is one of my favorite."
"We got a site right along the lake (stairs to the beach were just adjacent to our site) and there were only 2 other people in the entire campground."
from $35 - $165 / night
Check Availability"Close to the lake with water, electric, and limited sewer hookups. Though right off the highway, traffic sounds aren’t too bad."
"The sites toward the back, away from the road, are much quieter and more private. Easy walk to the beach. Campground is busy in the summer months."
from $80 - $97 / night
Check Availability"This large campground (which is run by the city) is right in the middle of South Lake Tahoe and across the highway from The Lake."
"Campground is right on the main drag through town and just across the street and a short walk to the lake, although the lake does not permit dogs in this area."
from $41 - $45 / night
Check Availability"It's right on the California-nevada state line near Lake Tahoe. In my opinion, this is one of the most beautiful places in the US. A lot of the campsites have a view of the lake."
"The absolutely best thing about camping here was being a short, short walk from the shore of Lake Tahoe. "
from $47 - $49 / night
Check Availability"Rocky and steep road access to Scott’s lake, but easy camping on the edge of the valley."
"come early for a spot. nice views around. lots and lots of bugs. i sleep in my car and crack the windows a little bit and i woke up to a shit ton of bugs that got in my car. even more surrounding the cars"
"Only $35 dollars, which is the cheapest you'll find north of South Lake Tahoe. Perfect for tent camping. Not busy at all during the non reserve season. Would go again for sure."
"You can drive and park over there or walk or ride a bike. The campground bathrooms and showers were so clean, the camp hosts were AWESOME and our site was huge!"
from $35 - $475 / night
Check Availability
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.
GuideI didn't stay, the sites are very close together
TravelerClean well maintained. Host and Rangers very likeable and helpful. Between Carson City, Reno, & Virginia City. $30 electricity & water.
TravelerSome sites trailer friendly some hosts are excellent others could be more friendly
GuideRanger explained you can't drive your vehicle to the campground
RangerI 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.
TravelerNice little Campground, not a lot of shade in the site that we were in. But we did have a Palapas, which was lovely. We cooked out everyday we had a fire several nights. The campground was pretty chill pretty quiet overall. Had water access directly across from us which was great. The dump station and water fill up on the exit was easy. Overall great first camping in our new RV.
GuideThis park is really beautiful and with good services. Good cell phone signal with Tmobile 7 days every 30. Some sites are reservation only and some others are first come first served No overflow camping
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
Campsites around South Lake Tahoe sit at elevations ranging from 6,200 to 7,400 feet, creating dramatic temperature fluctuations even during summer months. Nighttime temperatures can drop 30-40 degrees from daytime highs, requiring campers to pack layers regardless of season. Most lake tahoe campgrounds require bear-resistant food storage methods, with violations resulting in fines at established sites.
Lakefront paddling access: 10 minutes from Eagle Point Campground: The campground offers a private beach within a quarter-mile walk. "Can't beat the location. We had site 157 about 150 yards from the road. Road noise was not too bad and the ability to see the lake made up for anything we heard," notes a visitor. Several campers bring inflatable kayaks to paddle to Emerald Bay's island.
Mountain biking trails: Adjacent to Tahoe Valley Campground: Extensive trail networks connect directly from the campground. "We loved the bike paths all throughout the area. Rode in to south Tahoe and had a great experience," reports one camper. The campground maintains bike-friendly paths connecting to regional trail systems, allowing car-free access to town amenities.
Winter cross-country skiing: Available at Sugar Pine Point State Park: One of few South Tahoe campgrounds open for winter recreation. "Winter camping with RV. Easy to find in dark," notes one winter visitor. The park maintains groomed cross-country ski trails through the historic Olympic venue used during the 1960 games.
Secluded forest camping: 15 minutes from lake at Fallen Leaf Campground: Located on smaller Fallen Leaf Lake rather than Tahoe. "Sites have lots of space, table, fire ring and generally level drive pads. Water spigots are not too far," mentions one reviewer. Campers appreciate separation from Tahoe's main tourist corridor while maintaining lake access.
Beach access: Direct at Nevada Beach Campground: Offers dedicated dog-friendly beach section. "Great location with views of the beach. Walking distance to beach. Sites are spacious enough. Saw 2 falling stars while stargazing on the beach!" states one camper. The campground provides both standard and beach-view sites, with the latter commanding premium prices.
Affordable dispersed options: Available at Scotts Lake Rd: Free camping within 30 minutes of South Lake Tahoe. "Easy to drive into just be careful of potholes and large puddles from rain, even in summer," advises one camper. Another notes, "You follow a dirt road and have camping spots along the road. When I was here it was jammed packed with RV, vans and tents all set up along the road."
Bear activity: Bears actively patrol campgrounds throughout the region. At D.L. Bliss State Park, "A mom bear did appear around 10:30pm in our site but she left once she confirmed the bear vault was properly closed." Fallen Leaf campers report regular sightings: "You really need to pay attention to your food. Bears are not just possible here, they are likely."
Reservation challenges: Most lake-adjacent campgrounds fill immediately when reservations open. "It is hard to get a site. Be ready. Set alerts," warns a Fallen Leaf camper. Nevada Beach campers advise: "Reservation a must, get filled up quickly." Some campgrounds like Scotts Lake Road offer first-come options but fill rapidly on summer weekends.
Highway noise impacts: Roadside campgrounds experience traffic noise. At Campground by the Lake, "This campground is right on Highway 50. There is loud traffic noise day and night." Similarly, Zephyr Cove campers report, "It's right next to the highway - no trees, nothing between the site and the highway. Noise is unbearable."
Reserve lake-adjacent sites: Check D.L. Bliss State Park: Sites with lake views book 6+ months in advance. "If you love the mountains and the beach, this is the place to be! Once you've entered the campsite area there's plenty of sites to choose from and plenty of room for privacy," notes one family. The beach areas feature gradually sloped, sandy entries suitable for younger swimmers.
Bathroom proximity matters: Campgrounds vary widely in bathroom placement. At Eagle Point, "My site was quite far from the restrooms despite appearing close on the map." Others note, "Some of the bathrooms are in rough shape" while D.L. Bliss receives praise: "The showers were nice but pricey. Four U.S. Quarters for 3 minutes."
Find campground activities: Several campgrounds offer structured family programs. "They put on a ton of events like karaoke nights, live music, and smores nights," reports a Tahoe Valley camper. Camp Richardson provides similar programming: "Kids will have a fantastic time and be sure to enjoy a Rum Runner from the lakeside restaurant. Lots of fun activities."
Off-season values: Consider Campground by the Lake: Winter camping offers significant savings and availability. "When I woke up in the morning there was a note outside of my rig to pay, and it was $35 for one night," reported a winter visitor, substantially less than peak-season rates. However, services may be limited: "Not many hookups, but perfect location for visiting SLT."
Generator noise concerns: Engine noise affects campground experience. At Sugar Pine Point, "It's a little pricey at $35 a night" but some prefer it to generator noise experienced elsewhere. One camper at Fallen Leaf notes: "Great campground. Nice location. Only complaint would be generators running most of the day from all the RV's."
Dump station availability: Limited facilities exist for waste disposal. At Campground by the Lake, reviewers mention "extra charge to dump" beyond the base camping fee. Tahoe Valley receives praise for its infrastructure: "Easy to access, even for larger rigs. We stayed in 39 foot 5th wheel. Plenty of pull thru spots, full hookups, regularly spaced bathroom/showers."
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best campgrounds in South Lake Tahoe?
Lovers Leap Campground is highly recommended for its friendly hosts and respectful atmosphere, making it a great option not far from South Lake Tahoe. Meeks Bay offers a beautiful lakeside setting with a sandy beach on the western shore, about 20 minutes from South Lake Tahoe. For those seeking more seclusion, Kit Carson Campground provides spacious, tree-shaded sites along a river suitable for fishing and swimming, located about 20 miles from town. Each offers unique advantages depending on whether you prioritize lakefront access, proximity to town, or natural surroundings.
When is the best season for camping in South Lake Tahoe?
Summer (June through August) is the prime camping season in South Lake Tahoe, offering warm days perfect for swimming, hiking, and water activities. Late spring (May) and early fall (September) provide fewer crowds and pleasant temperatures, though nights can be chilly. Fallen Leaf Campground - South Lake Tahoe is especially beautiful in summer, with accessibility to both Fallen Leaf Lake and Lake Tahoe via bike trails. Winter camping is possible at select locations like Tahoe Valley Campground, which remains open year-round and can be magical after snowfall, though proper winter camping gear is essential.
What amenities are offered at South Lake Tahoe campgrounds?
Amenities vary widely across South Lake Tahoe campgrounds. General Creek Campground — Sugar Pine Point State Park offers affordable camping with basic facilities at $35 per night. For dispersed camping options, SNO Echo Lake provides a parking lot with a single toilet and T-Mobile service. Most established campgrounds include standard amenities like fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets. Water access is available at many sites, though not all. Proximity to recreational opportunities is a significant benefit, with many campgrounds offering direct access to hiking trails, beaches, and fishing spots. Some campgrounds feature additional amenities like showers, camp stores, and boat launches.
Are there RV camping facilities available in South Lake Tahoe?
Yes, South Lake Tahoe offers several RV-friendly camping options. Campground by the Lake, owned by the city of South Lake Tahoe, provides a gorgeous setting with beach access across the street, though it has limited hookups and charges extra for dump services. For more comprehensive RV amenities, Nevada Beach Campground and Day Use Pavilion offers big-rig-friendly sites. Winter RV camping is also available at select locations, with some campgrounds maintaining plowed access to sites during snowy conditions. Most RV parks require reservations, especially during peak summer months.
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