Best Campgrounds near Washoe Valley, NV

We’ve been traveling from Olympia and Bonanza Terrace has honestly been one of the nicest stops so far. The park is clean, quiet, and well-maintained, with full hookups that actually work—we were able to run the air fryer, toaster oven, air conditioner, and every light in the RV at the same time with zero power issues. That never happens!

But the real standout was the staff—one of the workers there was so, so sweet and genuinely helpful. You can tell they care about the guests and want people to feel welcome. It made all the difference after a long stretch of travel.

If you’re passing through and looking for a comfortable, reliable, and peaceful place to stay, this is it. Highly recommend.

We've camped at Webber for several years now and we make it an annual trip for so many great reasons. The lake itself is wonderful. The water can be on the cool side but not so much that you don't want to swim in it in August for sure. It's shallow through out most go the lake and much of it is a gravel bottom so water shoes are recommended. 

There are two campgrounds - the old Northside campground and the new Westside campground. The Northside has more campsites with various views. The layouts can be sorta hodge podgie - it's not like a state campground where sites are clearly marked etc, but almost all are nice at both campgrounds. The north site has better views of the mountains overlooking the lake while the sites at the west one have better access to the lake. They do allow you to scavenge for firewood in the area - there's a lot of dead and down in the nearby forest so just drive around and pick up what you need. In June and into July the mosquitos can be horrific - I've heard of people leaving as they can be so bad!

They open up reservations usually in March and the website can be finicky and a few letters to ask them to improve it haven't helped. The sites go fast. Their cancelation policy is draconian so make sure you're able to go because getting a refund may not be possible. 

The best improvement in the past couple of years is that they now have drinking water. There is no dump station or hookups. There is no cell service either although if you have 4 wheel drive you could drive up to one of the local mountain tops and get service there.

They do rent out one of the small cabins and also there's a big house that sleeps 10 - you have to rent it for 6 days mandatory. It has solar, generator, hot showers, bathrooms, etc., and books out very fast. We're going to be there for the first time in September so I'll try to report about it then.

Kayaking on the lake is the best but you need to sign the release that says you have cleaned your kayak of any possible mussels etc - there's a serious epidemic happening now so please make sure your boats are clean.

Nearby Webber Falls has some great swimming holes although the hike is on very unimproved trails and a bit steep so this is not for those folks who have walking issues. 

The Tahoe Truckee Land trust owns the property. The camp hosts are good although there are new hosts this year but my interactions on the phone have been great.

First time backpacking out here and it was such an awesome experience. I’m super excited to go back. I will say the hike up was a bit difficult with a heavy backpack due to all the rocks you have to climb over on the trail, but the view of the lakes at the top makes it all worth it. I’d start early in the day to make sure you get good parking as this is a very popular trail, and so that you can get a good campsite and enjoy the lakes for as much time as possible. Bugs there were virtually nonexistent as I don’t think I got bit by any. I did read though that last week there were some rattlesnake sightings, so just be cautious of snakes.

Date of Stay: July 31 – August 1, 2025 Location: Shamrock RV Park – Reno, NV Type of Site: Overflow lot, no sewer, limited shade, unusable Wi-Fi

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We are full-time RV travelers and Good Sam Elite members who chose this park based on its affiliation and proximity to the police department. We paid for a full week in advance and expected a safe, respectful experience.

Instead, we were met with aggressive behavior, bait-and-switch pricing, and verbal abuse from a staff member (appeared to be maintenance, not management). • We were quoted $490 over the phone, but in person, my disabled-veteran partner was told $790. • The park refused to honor both Good Sam and veteran discounts, even though both are listed. • We were charged $52 for propane that was never disclosed before the service. • When we calmly said we were getting the funds to pay, the staff member came to our RV yelling, then threatened to call the police—even after we paid. • He screamed in my face, called me names, and got physically close. Only when I pulled out my phone to record did he calm down. • Two other staff members began filming us, mocked us, and offered no support or apology. • We now feel unsafe staying the remaining 6 days we’ve paid for, but have no other options as all other parks are booked.

This was one of the most traumatizing experiences we’ve ever had while camping. We’ve filed a formal complaint with Good Sam and have video evidence of the staff member’s behavior shift once he realized he was being filmed.

I would not recommend this park to anyone—especially solo travelers, families, or veterans. You deserve to feel safe where you stay.