L
Landon R.
Traveler
TravelerBlue Oak Campground
Very cool views, but a lot of trash
Found a spot on the hill that had a sweet view, but was covered in trash and shotgun shells. A lot of dirt bikers so you hear that most of the day.
Camping near Williams, CA
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Several camping options sit near Williams, California along Highway 20. Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground draws many campers with its sites among oak and madrone trees. A short drive from Williams takes you to Bothe-Napa Valley State Park, which has campsites near hiking trails and a swimming pool that opens seasonally. Most vehicles can reach these campgrounds easily thanks to the well-maintained roads. Deer and various birds live in this area, so store your food properly to avoid animal problems. Most people camp here during spring and fall since summer gets quite hot. Rain often falls in winter, which can make trails muddy and harder to access. Always check if any areas are closed before you plan your trip. You'll find basic facilities like restrooms and drinking water at both campgrounds. Keep in mind that cell service works poorly in some spots. Many campers like that local wineries sit close by. Williams works well as a starting point for trips around the region because it combines natural settings with decent facilities. These campgrounds suit both quick trips and longer stays. Make sure you take all your trash with you and follow Leave No Trace practices to keep the area nice. The quiet atmosphere and things to do around Williams make it worth visiting.
Best Campgrounds near Williams (141)
1. Cache Creek Regional Park Campground
"There are plenty spots so we had our privacy, toilets were clean and it’s next to a road but there isn’t much traffic. Really calm and nice!"
"The site in in a valley between a small creek (that runs right next to the roadway) and a small mountain “range” on the opposing side."
from $35 / night
Check Availability2. Colusa-Sacramento River State Recreation Area Campground
"I enjoyed biking the path along the river and fishing in the evenings. There are stray cats around town and the park. I lured one in with some treats."
from $28 - $45 / night
Check Availability3. Loveys Landing RV Park and Marina
"It’s a lovely meadow next to an RV park. Perfect little trail that lead right to a beach on the river !!!"
4. Cowboy Camp
"Next to a stream and surrounded by hills. The only tough part is getting across the stream to some of the hikes."
5. Blue Oak Campground
"We went to this campground to hike the San Juan trail and ended up staying the night as well. Such as beautiful campsite. It was a quiet night with not such noise from people."
6. Colusa Landing
7. East Park Reservoir
"But, no worries, there were plenty of sites spread around - it is a large reservoir. We found one that had shade, wasn't too sloped and wasn't even next to anyone else. We are going again this year."
"It was relatively quiet, and nobody immediately near us. Amazing sunsets. The second time we went was June 2020. This time we stayed on the other side of the lake. "
8. Kelsey Creek Campground — Clear Lake State Park
"Having visited Lake County many times, I wasn't expecting much from this camp ground. I had intended to camp at Boggs Forest - my usual hangout for mountain biking when in the area."
"Had a nice spot that was semi-shaded in the afternoon, next to a lovely couple who I was able to share some beers with. The place was at capacity, but many people leave during the day."
from $30 / night
Check Availability9. Lakeview Dispersed Campground
"First time camping and going somewhat off road. If you’re worried about your vehicle making it up we saw a tesla and a nissan altima up there. My subaru made it up perfectly."
"Beautiful spot with some views of the lake. No services, but had cell service (CC). I drove in from the south access to High Valley rd. The road was challenging."
10. Letts Lake Campground — Mendocino National Forest
"National Forest pulled in officers from surrounding forests and Sheriff Depts. With a 35' Class A our options were limited. A Ranger suggested Letts Lake."
"The campground does not offer very much privacy between sites, but is right on Letts Lake, offering great views."
from $12 / night
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Drive Time
- 34 min from Yuba City, CA
- 52 min from Sacramento, CA
- 1 hr 49 min from Santa Rosa, CA
Recent Camping Photos near Williams, CA
165 Photos of 141 Williams Campgrounds
Sunshine M.
Loveys Landing RV Park and Marina
Melanie M.
Cache Creek Regional Park Campground
Julie D.
East Park Reservoir
Ann N.
Stonyford Recreation Area
Lisa
Clear Lake Campground
Heather A.
South Fork Campground Mendocino National Forest — Mendocino National Forest
Rebekah C.
Letts Lake Campground — Mendocino National Forest
Gabriella B.
Hidden Knoll Farm Glamping
Stacy L.
Lakeview Dispersed Campground
MarinMaverick
Snow Mountain Wilderness
Twindaddy
Kelsey Creek Campground — Clear Lake State Park
Recent Reviews near Williams, CA
383 Reviews of 141 Williams Campgrounds
Dave G.
ScoutLime Saddle Campground — Lake Oroville State Recreation Area
Nice campground with flush toilets and pay showers. The campground itself is hilly.
We stayed on a Tuesday night in July and we think there was only one other camper in the campground. We aren’t sure because we arrived at 10:00 pm and didn’t see anyone but then saw them the next morning while touring the entire campground. Paved pads that were somewhat level, concrete picnic tables that were pretty clean, clean bathrooms and showers that required tokens. Pretty nice overall with some campsites arranged for groups of campers while others had good spacing. We stayed in site 28. The fire pit was very tall(36”) and about 75% full of ashes but we did not have a campfire. Mid-July was pretty warm with a low at night of 72. Overall a nice campground that is on the hills and above the lake. Some sites have lake views.
Alan L.
GuideLake Pillsbury Resort and Marina
Nice dirt road drive!
Enjoyed our time at pillsburry. Water was warm, but too much clay and some areas had algae. Camp site was very spacious with fire pit. We fit our vehicles perfectly. Water spigot at camp site and bathrooms were across. There’s a store and token showers
- Alan L.Guide
Upper Bayview Campground — Clear Lake State Park
Spacious camp site!
Very spacious camp site. We got invited here by a relative. Stayed in the upper area, so you had to drive down to the lake. Park rangers were present. Can’t remember the camp site we stayed in but if you don’t mind taking a 5 minute drive,book the upper campground. Lake water was 7/10. Great temperature, but I’m more of a Christal clear water person. There was some algae/ weeds. I heard a lot of negative comments about the water. Overall we had a good time Bathrooms and showers were next to our site.
- CCarley C.Traveler
smittle creek
Definitely not a spot
Tons of signs that say no camping no parking no trespassing. There was a fence and it was locked. Definitely don’t come here
- TTwindaddyGuide
Calso - Boggs Mountain Demo Forest - TEMPORARILY CLOSED
Open to camping again!
Finally open again after a couple years of clearing storm damage.
https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/natural-resource-management/demonstration-state-forests/boggs-demonstration-state-forest
I was there the week prior to July 4 and expected a crowd. Instead I was one of only two campers until I left on the 3rd.
As in years past, the "no-see-ems" and bees get a bit thick. The bees absolutely LOVE water, so have a van with a shower on the rear door complicates things. Nonetheless, the stay was nice. The mountain biking, though tough, was super fun. I got lucky with the weather too - only hit about 82 at the warmest.
Vault toilets are reasonably well maintained. Don't be afraid to use them if you need to.
There continues to be a lot of forest recovery after the fire over a decade (wow!) ago.
The trees that were planted are now reaching an impressive height and providing shade on many of the trails. See the pic with the bike against the tree for a sense of scale.
Nice to have the option available again - I'll be back in the fall.
Oh... the pizza parlor in Cobb is also excellent. They have great pizza a great sleection of good beers on tap!
- EEllen C.Scout
Lakeview Dispersed Campground
Coyote Troubles
The good: Drive in was awesome. Beautiful view of the lake and sunset. Many spots to pull out into and choose from. Very quiet, minimal road noise.
The bad: pair of coyotes spotted stalking our campsite, did not respond to hazing and had to pack up dinner preparations quickly to ensure no bad encounters
*also note that cell service is okay for t mobile and barely existent for Verizon
Chris W.TravelerHigh Valley Rd Dispersed
These coordinates are on private land.
The coordinates for this location are located on property owned by Kevin S. Burdick and Mary Ann Jones. It is not National Forest or BLM land.
The parcel just to the South is also privately owned, by Marie Helen Pejcha.
All other adjacent properties are also privately owned. This location should be deleted from The Dyrt.
The nearest public lands where dispersed camping is actually allowed is a mile to the East along High Valley Road, in the Mendocino National Forest.
- gg B.Scout
Hidden Knoll Farm Glamping
Pet friendly glamping near Harbin Hot Springs
We love to visit Harbin Hot Springs near Middletown after wine tasting in Napa Valley, but Harbin doesn’t allow dogs. We discovered this great campground on private land. They have a very steep road up, but we made it up with our 24 foot Sprinter. They have a farm atmosphere with friendly chickens. Be aware that they do have a dog but she was friendly. You need to leash your dog around the chickens but they can go off leash around the property and they have a dog friendly hike with a great view. Harbin is less than 15 minutes, easy drive with no traffic.
Guide to Williams
Camping options near Williams, California extend beyond standard park campgrounds into the surrounding areas of Colusa and Lake Counties. The region sits at the western edge of the Sacramento Valley where flat agricultural lands transition to the foothills of the Coast Range. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F from June through September, while winter brings mild days and cold nights with occasional frost.
What to do
Water activities at Clear Lake: Kelsey Creek Campground at Clear Lake State Park offers swimming and fishing opportunities. "The lake is very nice for swimming," reports one visitor, while others note the "great camping, hiking, boating" available at this state park with numerous nature trails.
Hiking forest trails: Access multiple hiking routes at Letts Lake Campground in Mendocino National Forest. "There is an easy trail that surrounds the lake, but the surrounding area offers a wide variety of hiking," notes one reviewer. The complete loop around the lake covers just over a mile, making it accessible for most ability levels.
Wildlife viewing: Early mornings provide the best opportunity for wildlife spotting. At Cache Creek Regional Park, one camper reports "the elk come in the early morning," while at Letts Lake you'll find good bird watching opportunities. Morning and evening hours typically offer the most animal activity throughout the region.
What campers like
Accessible water features: Many campgrounds in the region provide direct water access. At Colusa-Sacramento River State Recreation Area, one visitor found it "a comfortable spot to settle in for the week and catch up on some writing. I enjoyed biking the path along the river and fishing in the evenings."
Affordability: Several free or low-cost camping options exist within an hour's drive of Williams. Cowboy Camp offers free dispersed camping with basic amenities. As one camper notes: "BLM land, can camp anywhere >500 feet from the parking lot. The site is in a valley between a small creek and a small mountain range on the opposing side."
Seasonal variety: The region offers different experiences throughout the year. At Cache Creek Regional Park, campers report "the days are hot nights cool off enough to sleep comfortably," making spring and fall the most popular seasons for visiting the area's campgrounds.
What you should know
Road conditions: Many campgrounds require driving on unpaved roads. For Lakeview Dispersed Campground, reviewers warn "the road getting to it was definitely a bit sketchy for my Rav4 AWD, probably wouldn't be able to do it if it wasn't dry. Large vehicles likely won't be able to make it up there."
Seasonal closures: Always verify operating dates before planning your trip. Several campgrounds close during winter months. One Cowboy Camp visitor noted in February: "The camp area is closed, as of 2/9/2024. No indication of that on the BLM website."
Variable facilities: Campground amenities vary widely across the region. At Blue Oak Campground, campers will find "bathroom (outhouse) was usable at the time" but limited other facilities. Sites range from fully developed with showers to primitive areas with no potable water or restrooms.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming locations: Clear Lake State Park offers child-friendly swimming areas. According to one visitor, "Great for kids of all ages" and "Large campground with many great options for activities. This park has lake access from a large sandy beach."
Shorter hiking options: Families with young children should consider East Park Reservoir where hiking trails accommodate various ability levels. A reviewer notes there are "a TON of great sites here - with shade, without shade; flat, hilly; etc." making it adaptable to different family needs.
Wildlife education opportunities: Several campgrounds feature educational components. One Clear Lake visitor mentions "a visitors center with many displays of the animals that are found within the park as well the cultural history," providing learning experiences for children during your stay.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: RV campers should arrive early to secure suitable sites. At East Park Reservoir, one camper advises: "There are 100+ campsites there, so it seems like always something available. Plus, not too far from the bay area."
Leveling challenges: Many campsites in the region require leveling equipment. One RVer at Cowboy Camp notes: "We always manage to level out in our 23" Winnebago View. There is lots of open space so no crowding."
Dump station availability: Only select campgrounds offer dump facilities. At Kelsey Creek Campground, RVers confirm the presence of a dump station and water fill, while noting, "This park was perfect except for the shower water." Always check for dumping options before arriving with a full tank.
Frequently Asked Questions
What RV parks are available near Williams, CA?
What RV parks are available near Williams, CA?
The Parkway RV Resort & Campground is a popular option for RV travelers near Williams with spacious sites, a pool for cooling off during hot summers, and wine tasting opportunities. It offers easy access to I-5 and serves as an excellent waypoint for travelers between Southern California and points north. Management communicates well with guests, including text messaging options. Another option is Sycamore Ranch RV Park, which is clean, well-maintained, and family-friendly with a welcoming atmosphere and plenty of space for kids to play.
Where can I find camping areas near Williams, CA?
Where can I find camping areas near Williams, CA?
Williams, CA offers several camping options within a reasonable driving distance. Cache Creek Regional Park Campground provides drive-in and walk-in camping with reservable sites, toilets, and big-rig-friendly spaces. For those willing to drive a bit further, Colusa-Sacramento River State Recreation Area Campground near Colusa offers reservable sites with water access. Both locations provide good access to I-5 for travelers passing through the area. The region also has several national forest camping opportunities to the west in the Mendocino National Forest.
Is there camping near lakes in the Williams area?
Is there camping near lakes in the Williams area?
Yes, there are several lake camping options near Williams. Clear Lake State Park offers camping at Kelsey Creek Campground with level, paved pads ideal for water activities. While some facilities may require maintenance, it's perfect for water enthusiasts. Buckhorn Recreation Area provides campsites with lake views and quick access to the water, though shoreline relaxation areas are limited. For those willing to drive further, East Park Reservoir near Stonyford offers drive-in camping with basic facilities and water recreation opportunities.
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