Are you planning a tent camping trip to Truckee? We've got you covered. You can find tent campsites by type, including drive-in, walk-in, and even hike-in for a backpacking adventure. Each tent site offers quick access to one or more of Truckee, California's most popular destinations.
Donner Memorial State Park offers the summer vacationer opportunities for Donner Lake camping, picnicking, boating, fishing, water-skiing, and hiking. In winter, visitors can cross-country ski and snowshoe on trails and enjoy the season's beauty. Visitors are welcome year-round at the Donner Memorial State Park Visitor Center and at the Pioneer Monument, built to commemorate those who emigrated to California from the east in the mid-1800's. The Visitor Center features compelling new exhibits that tell the stories of the Emigrant Experience, the Donner Party, the Land of the Washoe, Chinese construction of the railroad, and early motoring adventures over Donner Pass.
$35 / night
Bowman Lake Campground is a very remote campground with limited services. There are 7 campsites with tables, fire rings and bear proof food lockers. There is no trash service. Bowman Lake is a large lake surrounded by rocky cliffs and scattered pines that are great for fishing and swimming. A few islands are found within the lake. Car top boat launch only. The road to access the campground is very rough, rocky, and narrow. A high clearance vehicle is needed, and towing boats or trailers is very difficult and dangerous. There are several stretches of the road where it is impossible for two vehicles to pass around each other and so if traffic is coming from both directions, someone will need to back up. Despite the difficult access, Bowman Lake is a popular, heavily used area.
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.
Kaspian Campground is located in a mature forest of pine trees overlooking the beautiful Lake Tahoe. Campers will be nestled in a sparse forest of pine trees and evergreen shrubs, just minutes from the bright blue water of Tahoe. The lake and its sandy beaches provides ample recreation opportunities.
Kaspian Campground is ideal for visitors planning a full day of biking around Lake Tahoe. Bike trails that traverse the western shores of the lake begin near the campground. Visitors enjoy water sports on the lake and relaxing on its sandy beaches.
The campground is situated in a former picnic area, across the street from the lake. Campsites are spaced for privacy and surrounded by tall ponderosa pine and white fir trees. Some sites offer spectacular views of Lake Tahoe through the trees.
Kaspian Campground is less than 10 miles from the popular Meeks Bay.
This location has limited staffing. Please call (530) 541-1537 for general information.
$30 - $32 / night
Enjoy the rustic beauty on this 130 acre working ranch, at the base of the Eastern Sierras, with a beautiful view of Washoe Lake. Interact with the free ranging alpacas, llamas, mini pot belly pig. Visit the paddock to feed the angora goats, hens and ducks.
$25 - $50 / night
Grouse Ridge Campground is located at the top of Grouse Ridge, spectacular vistas of granitic boulders, many alpine lakes, scattered pines, and wildflowers in the summer. Often late opening due to snow banks on access road. Hiking and biking trails lead off of ridge to the Grouse Lakes Area located at the base of the ridge. There are 9 campsites with tables and fire rings. 5 campsites have space for small trailers.There is a vault toilet, but no trash service; pack it in pack it out!
Woodchuck Campground is located on Rattlesnake Creek in a remote location. Campground is surrounded by a mixed conifer forest.
Bear Valley Campground is a remote, small campground with 10 campsites suitable for tents or RV's. It is popular with OHV enthusiasts wanting to use the nearby Bear Valley OHV area. The campground is located six miles east of Little Truckee Summit on the Cottonwood Creek Road. Elevation: 6700 feet. Non-potable water, treat before drinking.
Canyon Creek Campground is located on Canyon Creek in a mixed conifer forest, near Faucherie Reservoir. It is a remote campground with 20 campsites, vault toilets, bear proof food lockers, paved parking, and no trash service (pack it in, pack it out.) The road to the campground is very rough, rocky, and narrow, requiring high clearance; towing/trailers not recommended.
Guide
Typical casino RV site - showers, laundry and full hookups. Hardly anyone there so we got a nice site in the corner with some rare Nevada grass. The casino construction was not an issue for the campground. Exceptionally clean facilities.
Guide
Right across the road from the water, this campground was full of trees with amazingly large pinecones on the ground (crafter alert). Bathrooms and laundry facilities had plenty of hot water but could have been cleaner. No one was there in January so we were able to take the dogs for a decent hike into the back sites. If you are planning to walk in to a site with a tent the actual site location matters. Some along the edge were great with lots of space but others were very close together.
Guide
Newer showers and bathrooms than any other rv park in Reno. Very little foliage but that is the desert. Large and expensive laundry facility $4.50 for a load. Paid $59 for a back-in 30 amp site full service. Lots to do in the hotel other than gamble and as a camper you can use the hotel amenities - curling, pool, hot tubs, etc. We had fun in the Escape Room and Sensology games. Great views of the mtn range.
Scout
We went mid week in August and it wasn’t too crowded. The views were beautiful and the water was perfect. The road was much more technical than a standard forrest service road, but doable in most stock crossover vehicles or better. We had a borrowed AWD Transit van and did it with some patience and strategic line choice.
Ranger
Stayed here for a week. Full hookups. Not a bad park but there is constant public and trafic noise. You are right next to a strip mall. Otherwise a decent place for the price.
Guide
Just off of 80 @ the Mustang exit, east bound side. Industrial area, so trucks going by, mostly during the day, but occasionally throughout the night. Good, clean spot to rest for a night. Adjacent to the river
Scout
I am a 12 year old and I had tons of fun. Me and my friends were up there and there was conveniently a campground available in there same campsite. We went in the summer and the water was perfect! We went fishing and caught crawfish in a trap underneath the bridge near the front. Overall the staff were really nice and it was a great trip. I recommend it!
Guide
okay. let’s be real. the road is a beast. I would not drive it with any vehicle other than SUV/Truck. DO NOT bring up an RV/Trailer. you’ll regret it. we stayed and car camped. an awesome view of the lights of Reno. can be very windy but if you get between some of the trees it’s not to bad.
Scout
Came on a Saturday around 4pm, there were 2 other campers other than me so it wasn’t busy at all. No service for at&t. Overall had a good stay here with my 2 dogs
Ranger
Camped here for what we thought would be a couple of nights for an event. However, event was canceled due to massive wild fire (air quality index was horrible, so stayed 1 night and left ASAP next morning). 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. Nice walking/biking paths, but heavily commercial district means lots of traffic going by. Site (#E06) is huge with enough space for several RVs, but we parked sideways adjacent to the picnic table and had spot near to bathrooms/showers which are clean but a bit ragged around the edges.
Food aside: Dinner of Curly's pork with cheese and Hatch green chile tortillas. Good to come back here at some point when not high season and can stay more in camping zone, this is a pretty commercial district.
Guide
We were only after a night, so didn’t need much. Travelling this time of year when campgrounds are closed makes for desperate last minute decisions. BUT if you’re staying here, go across the road to Lake Tahoe Pizza Co. the best pizza!
Scout
Free camping
Ranger
The two closest roads coming in from the West are blocked off and labeled no unauthorized vehicles. This is due to the construction of the new neighborhoods and they probably annexed the area. You could probably access it from the East but I have no idea how many miles it would be in from where you would come in.
Ranger
It's sad where we have this public land to camp on and people just dump tons and tons of trash and abandoned cars and demolished cars on the property would not recommend going. There's some more BLM land about 15 to 20 minutes north on Red Rock road.
Traveler
We stayed one night on our way through the area. Spot was nice level and clean. We loved the bike paths all though out the area. Rode In to south Tahoe and had a great experience.
ScoutVery simple and clean park but it is right next to the highway with very limited amenities. Their “amenities” they list online are not accurate but again it’s nice and clean. Also make sure you have a secondary form of transportation since this place is secluded due to private neighborhoods so there is no access to town via bike or on foot.
Traveler
Nice peaceful spot. Few cars go by, but it’s tucked away enough.
Scout
Not really sure if we camped in the right spot. It isn’t great, but it got the job done to just crash for a night. Felt like we were in a construction zone
GuideTight spaces but close to the lake if you want to enjoy the water and beach. Toilets and showers where filty but okay. Lots of chipmunks to enjoy..
Scout
Great spaces next to lake. No cell service. Lots of places to enjoy on the shoreline.
Scout
Large sites very peaceful. Most sites close to the lake. We visited the last week of August. Expect to see bears. Hosts were clear about the need to keep campsites clear of food. Since you could not dump dish water on ground because of the bears it was more effort to wash up after meals. It would be nice if there was a dish washing station . We have seen this at other campsites we have been to. The have AT&A cell service had good service
Guide
Love our stay at Logger Campground, very clean vault toilets, and facility. Most of the spots are very tight, narrow spaces. Make some when you book, you get the right size spot. Pay dump just offsite.
Guide
All camp sites have a picnic table and a fire ring. Please ensure fires are permitted before starting a fire. The campground was clean and quiet. Pit toilets were clean and well stocked. Please note that I was there during the week. I imagine that during summer weekends it can get quite noisy with boat and jet ski traffic being so close to Reno. I would definitely stay again.
Traveler
FCFS OHV campground that can be approached from a couple of rough dirt roads, high clearance helpful, 4wd not needed. Not all sites are flat. People from the area (i guess) seemed to be "reserving" sites with styrofoam coolers and water jugs... they did not occupy their sites at night. I didn't use the vault toilet facility. Took a hike. Very pretty. No OHV noise, but a copter was circling the area in the middle of the night.
Ranger
My 1-star review is only because, sadly, a fire started at this campground and was out of control by the time we arrived. It grew to 1,500 acres and destroyed 6 structures. I was really looking forward to staying at this park. Sadly, it has likely been destroyed.
Guide
(September 28th, 2023) Got here after dark and found an empty clearing to park in for the night. The moon and the stars were so bright, it felt like we were on another planet. Got to explore the area in the morning, such a cool spot! Very quiet when we were there.
Guide
I thought this campground was pretty decent for being NPS run and due to its large size. The campsite was close to other campers, but not right on top of them. The location is ideal. Bathrooms were the least favorite part, only one bathroom (with 4 stalls?) for one large loop of campsites. Check-in was a breeze. Nearby visitor center and camp store was convenient. There were hiking trails nearby. Be bear aware!
Nestled in the stunning Sierra Nevada, Truckee, California, offers a variety of tent camping options that cater to outdoor enthusiasts looking for adventure and tranquility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Truckee, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Truckee, CA is Donner Memorial State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 18 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Truckee, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 79 tent camping locations near Truckee, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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