Tahoe National Forest is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Tahoe National Forest is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. Find the best campgrounds near Tahoe National Forest, CA. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.
"It is in the historic town of Benton hot springs and is adjacent to the Inn."
"Be prepared for quick changes in weather and mosquitoes as this is near water! Will absolutely be back! Super neat to walk back in time at this historic tiny town!"
"We were driving from Las Vegas to Yosemite > It’s a nice spot to spend the night, it’s almost halfway."
"Plenty of parking right next to the springs, but if you want a little more space you can take a dirt path right off of that parking lot up the hill a ways and have plenty of privacy."
$33 / night
"As I walked in to the head office, that situated in the entry of the camping grounds. I Lady greeted me with the biggest smile. I paid $36 for the cover. I got to choose wherever I wanted to camp."
"If you enjoy beautiful views, a campsite near the Owens river and fishing then this will be a paradise for you."
"Views on the other are rolling fields / foothills with lots of cutie vocal Moo Moos and Alkali Lake! You can see other hot springs in the distance. No shade. Lots of flies and red ants."
"Needless to say we had the hot springs to ourselves the majority of the trip, parking at the edge of the dirt road with only one other car in sight , which I was told was super lucky."
$35 / night
"It’s just a short drive from the highway and Mammoth Airport. The campground is very popular with a mix of reserved and non reserved sites."
"We recently stayed for 3 nights in July at convict lake. The lake is gorgeous and offers fishing, no wake boating sports, mountain biking and hiking trails."
"Access to trails. Wonderful views. Sites are
spaced apart to where it feels like you’re the only one in the area."
"We wanted something near Bishop. Hardly anyone around, but other vans helped us know we were in the right place. A bit windy and cold though!"
"Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is close by or take a drive down to the old mining area, but I would suggest a four wheel drive, mountain bike or good hiking shoes drive for this."
"With amazing views of the Sierra Nevadas, and lots of exploration potential in the Inyos, this is a wonderfully situated campground."
$14 - $108 / night
"There is Pleasant Valley Campground, and if you cross the street and drive a little bit in you can get to Pleasant Valley Pit. This place has no shade, no trees, but amazing view of the Sierras."
"Very quiet night for sleeping with the sound of a creek running behind our camper."
$32 / night
"We really enjoyed June Lake Campground! Stayed there for one night on our way out of Yosemite. The drive around the lake is beautiful and there are multiple camping areas."
"We were really tucked away from neighbors and were very close to the lake and bathrooms. We went in August and it was perfect weather, warm days and cool nights."
ScoutHung iut here for a few weeks. Awesome views. Quiet with only occasional road noise. Conveniences (gas, groceries, dump station, restaurant, etc.) within 10 miles. Excellent Verizon signal (for data).
TravelerEasy to drive in but don’t pass that sign that says “4 wheeled only” with an RV. We have a 24ft and had a perfectly leveled spot underneath a large tree. You can see the lake from there. We took a bicycle ride in to the “south Tufa” which is only 2 miles away. Watched the sunset there, magical!
GuideLake George was the perfect camp spot for our 4 night stay. It is first come first serve. We stayed in site 14 - the mountain side or tree side is better because it’s not windy at all! All the spots with lake view are very windy and it can be cold even in the summer! The bathrooms are super clean and have real toilets. No showers though! There is lots to do in the area and Lake George isn’t nearly as busy as Lake Mary/ Pine City camp. Although there is day use areas and it can be busy with fishing. Lots of wildlife in the area, so use the Bear box and keep food in containers. Even the chipmunks, birds, and mice will get into your stuff. I saw chipmunks trying to break into tents. This site is small RV/Trailer friendly - we stayed in our truck camper. This is NOT for big rigs or class A RVs. Also no hookups but they have a water spyket. Beware of elevation if you are not used to it - it’s at a whopping 9,250 feet and I was sick for 2 days. It’s $34 a night and quiet hours are 10pm-6am. Generators are aloud just not during quiet hours. Bring your paddle board or kayak and hit the water! It’s so beautiful here.
ScoutEasy access, remote without being too far, private and spread out
ScoutI spent a week here, making it worthwhile to unload the electric pop-up camper (w/ electric jacks) from my truck. My canopy @rear (facing west) was very welcome, as the dead scrub offers absolutely NO shade. It was charred from a recent burn, making for excellent campfires! The cab-over cantilever @front (facing east) also gave shade in the late afternoon heat! I brought two additional tanks of water, allowing for refreshing showers in this arid desert environment.
From Navy Beach Rd, I drove 3/4 miles east on FS-1N54, until I crossed into Inyo NF territory, @ a juncture. After another 1/2 mile on E Shore Rd, I found a clearing suitable for my camper, @1/2 mile from the shore. In another 3 miles, there is a very nice cul-de-sac turn-around, which, @50' x 100', looks large enough to accommodate a half-dozen vehicles. In another 5 miles, you cross from USFS into a local tract of land. While BLM territory surrounds the entire lake, it is more than 1 mile away from shore. Beware of very soft sand I encountered beyond my campsite. Some sections were like 'quicksand', forcing me to air-down to 15 PSI. It challenged my 'Limited Slip' Tundra, so an AWD car could get in serious trouble. The only people I saw were in two jeeps that passed-by my camp, backtracking out 1/2 hour later. From my bed, I heard (but did not see - new moon) several animal visitors. They only come out at night...
In spite of the seclusion, my camp was actually quite close to main roads, so I spent a lot of time out sight-seeing. I was also close enough to Navy Beach to launch my kayak @sunrise, when the water is dead-calm. Ocean-type squalls can flare up with no warning, because of the wide-open desert terrain. I got a permit to camp on Phoe Island from a Ranger @Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center. However, after he showed me photos of squalls & told of numerous drowned kayakers, I thought better of it...
TravelerCattle have been in the springs, fresh cow pies all over. They have trampled the pipe that fills the rock tub. Don’t camp here expecting a hot springs.
TravelerGreat location near all the hot springs but private enough. Only small group would fit here. I would not bring a trailer not this road, no real turn around point. Road to get here is short and easy. Great views into Hot Creek. You can walk to Sheep hot spring from here. Amazing views to wake up to. Some left several rolls of carpet and padding here :( otherwise pretty clean.
GuideThis place is beautiful and yes a hidden gem! Very quiet and peaceful! Must bring everything you need, there are no stores or food about an hour away! Generator can be ran 2 hours 8-10 pm and 5-7 pm! Be prepared for quick changes in weather and mosquitoes as this is near water! Will absolutely be back! Super neat to walk back in time at this historic tiny town!
ScoutWeather is beautiful, nights are dark. Great starscapes.
Camping near Tahoe National Forest, California, offers a fantastic escape into nature with stunning views and plenty of outdoor activities. Whether you're into fishing, hiking, or just soaking up the scenery, there’s something for everyone.
Camping near Tahoe National Forest, California, is a great way to enjoy the outdoors. With beautiful scenery, plenty of activities, and a variety of campgrounds, it’s a perfect getaway for families, anglers, and RVers alike.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Tahoe National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, Tahoe National Forest offers a wide range of camping options, with 160 campgrounds and RV parks near Tahoe National Forest and 45 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Tahoe National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Tahoe National Forest is the Inn at Benton Hot Springs with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Tahoe National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 45 free dispersed camping spots near Tahoe National Forest.
What parks are near Tahoe National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 22 parks near Tahoe National Forest that allow camping, notably Inyo National Forest and Devils Postpile National Monument.
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