The West Sacramento area offers RV sites and camping options along the Sacramento River corridor within California's Central Valley. Most campgrounds maintain year-round operation due to the region's Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot summers. Summer temperatures frequently exceed 90°F while winter nights can drop into the 40s, making seasonal planning important for comfort.
What to do
Biking access from campgrounds: Cal Expo RV Park connects directly to extensive bike paths along the American River. "Great Bike paths adjacent along the river into Downtown or up to Folsom. All Full hook up sites on gravel or asphalt," notes one visitor at Cal Expo RV Park.
Fishing opportunities: Lake Minden offers stocked fishing areas that don't require licenses in some cases. "Last trip we caught 3 bass and 12 bluegills. This trip we caught a personal record size bass. Great place for fishing all day," reports a camper at Thousand Trails Lake Minden.
Swimming and recreation: SacWest RV Park provides structured water activities. "Lots of things to do for kids: great playgrounds, swimming pool, more than 100 ducks going around! Beautiful place!" shares one reviewer at SacWest RV Park & Campground.
What campers like
Riverside camping views: Sherwood Harbor offers waterfront spots with marina access. "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," according to a visitor at Sherwood Harbor Marina & RV Park.
Organized social activities: Many parks host regular community events. "Friday potlucks were the soul of the park. Easter weekend took it to another level. My toddler had the time of his life painting eggs and coloring puzzles. There's an ice cream social every Saturday," notes a camper at Thousand Trails Lake Minden.
Pet-friendly amenities: Dedicated dog facilities exist at multiple locations. "HUGE fenced area to walk your dog OFF LEASH," appreciates one guest at Flag City RV Resort.
What you should know
Varied site quality: Site conditions differ significantly between parks and even within the same facility. "The upper area which have the best views mostly longer term rentals. Having Canadian snow geese in our site upon waking up was a real treat," reports a Sherwood Harbor visitor.
Traffic noise proximity: Many RV sites near West Sacramento sit close to major highways. "Near freeway (lots of traffic noise). Quiet morning. Stayed for a quick night. If we come back will choose site 10 of 12," advises a SacWest visitor.
Tent camping limitations: Most facilities primarily accommodate RVs with limited tent options. "I stayed one night in one of the 2-3 tent sites, which was on the water. It was quite expensive ($55/night) for a tent site," shares a visitor at Sherwood Harbor.
Reservation restrictions: Some parks maintain specific vehicle policies. "Disappointed to be told they don't allow any buses unless they have the RVCIA sticker. There were some really old and knackered looking caravans and daggy RV's in the park," notes a visitor at Cal Expo RV Park.
Tips for camping with families
Age-appropriate activities: Look for campgrounds with structured recreation options. "Mini train ride around park, great playground, mini golf, showed movie and a lot more awesomeness. Was not cheap but kept the kids entertained," shares a visitor at Placerville RV Resort & Campground.
Bathroom facility distribution: Consider location of restrooms when booking sites with children. "The only thing I would suggest is to put in a few more bathrooms around the site. The main building are the only bathrooms," notes another Placerville visitor.
Seasonal allergen awareness: Tree pollen can affect sensitive individuals at certain times. "If you allergic to pollen, especially trees you should be careful at the moment. The campsites are directly located under mulberry trees. They triggered severe hay fever symptoms in me," warns a SacWest camper.
Tips from RVers
Level site selection: Many parks have uneven terrain that challenges larger rigs. "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," warns a visitor at Loomis RV Park.
Utility placement considerations: Connection locations may require extra equipment. "The utilities are on the back quarter of the pad. We needed 15' of sewer hose. The water pressure was okay at about 40 psi," explains a Flag City RV Resort camper.
Security precautions: Take measures to protect your valuables and equipment. "While here there were incidents of someone pulling on our grey/black tank valves to open them. I then locked up the bay doors for sanitary and electrical and didn't have any problems after that," advises a Cal Expo visitor.
