The best camping near Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit adventure.

93% (111 reviews)
93% (111 reviews)

Beautiful lakeside views and endless exploration on the Nevada/California border.  

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Top-rated campgrounds near Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

95%
(2109)

Finnon Lake Recreation Area

39 sites · RVs, Tents140 acres · Placerville, CA
ALL RV VEHICLES AND VEHICLES WITH TRAILERS MUST TAKE ROCK CREEK RD. (Even if your GPS says to use Mosquito Road). Mosquito Road CLOSED May 27 - August 3. These vehicles will not fit and can not cross over the single-lane suspension Mosquito Bridge. These vehicles and trailers will be forced to turn around or back up to take Rock Creek Road. Smoke on the Water diner is open weekends 530-622-1060. Hours are limited. Use caution - twisty, narrow country road If it's your first time, you might want to check out the route beforehand. From Sacramento on Hwy 50: At the second stop light, Spring St./Hwy 49, turn left, heading north about 1 block to the stop sign. Turn left, staying on Hwy 49, approximately 1 mile. Turn right on Hwy 193. Travel approximately 3.1 miles to Rock Creek Road. Turn onto Rock Creek Road and travel 8.9 miles to Finnon Lake/Diner on the Left. The campground is behind the Diner. The DINER "Smoke on the Water" is open only Saturday- Sunday. Traveling West on 50 from Tahoe: make a right on HWY 49 traveling north. Follow the above instructions. Welcome to Finnon Lake Recreation Area! Our lovely lake to discover. The night skies above Finnon Lake will reveal stars unseen in most parts of California. Enjoy searching for bullfrogs, and watch the flock of Canadian Geese fly in right at sunset as the horizon blends into the watercolor sky. This private lake supports the fire protection efforts of the Mosquito Fire Protection District and the firefighters of this community. Community volunteers manage the lake for the residents and the Fire Station. The primary funding source for the Finnon Lake Restoration is the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, which was signed into law in 2004 with a mission to support “efforts that improve the environmental, economic and social well-being of the Sierra Nevada Region, its communities and the residents of California,” according to its Website. Finnon Lake is also home to a popular 18-hole disc golf course and Mosquito’s only restaurant, Smoke on the Water Diner, which is open on weekends only 530-622-1060. During your stay, you can enjoy swimming, boating, fishing, paddling, hiking, or biking. Sites are from post to post. Our property is located in Placerville, California.
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$40
 / night
95%
(701)

Harris Family Farm and Forest

7 sites · RVs, Tents125 acres · Pollock Pines, CA
Immerse yourself in the tranquility of our cherished historic family farm, spanning 160 years and 7 generations. Nestled in the serene surroundings of an Apple Hill™ Grower farm, our property offers an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Choose to camp amidst the lush woods or in our enchanting apple orchard. Spend your days engaging in farm activities, exploring scenic hiking trails, or simply unwinding in this idyllic setting. During the harvest season, delight in the experience of hand-picking a variety of fruits and vegetables at their peak of ripeness. Participate in our popular jam making classes held in August, and September for $55 per person, or indulge in a delightful High Tea in the Orchard, hosted on Mother’s Day weekend and June spring afternoons for $45 per person. Be sure to secure your spot early for these sought-after activities, as they tend to fill up rapidly. Our farm is conveniently located near picturesque mountain lakes and charming historic towns, offering ample opportunities for further exploration and discovery. We eagerly anticipate welcoming you to our farm, where you can enjoy invigorating woodland hikes, lend a hand with farm chores, and partake in our weekend bonfire gatherings featuring s'mores and delectable treats from our pie shop. Don't miss the chance to harvest blackberries, apples, and pumpkins during their respective seasons, adding a touch of seasonal magic to your visit.
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$43.20
 / night
96%
(489)

Cosumnes River Somerset Camp

11 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents23 acres · Somerset, CA
This land was home to the Miwok, then European and Chinese miners, then a cattle rancher. It was also home to a former nun who quit the dominican order to purchase this land for inner city kids to have a chance to ride, swim, hike and fish. We moved here in 2017 and purchased this land with the main goal to raise our large family here, but we have found that good things must be shared! There is NOTHING like being in the wilderness of this area for a good re-centering of the soul! We have found it to be a true blessing for our family, and we hope you can experience this blessing as we share this space with you. We feel certain you will not be disappointed with our beautiful river canyon. Our property is situated right on the middle fork cosumnes river. We have 2 sleeping cabins and several tent sites (can be rented separately). The cabins offer a rustic/minimalist type vibe - bring your own bedding/pillows to sleep on the comfy futon. A table and chairs are provided for the cabins. Tent sites each have a wood table (bring your camp chairs) and a fire pit when the season is open for burning. The swimming is awesome and the stars at night will put you into a state of awe! In the area there are many family owned wineries in the area, most of them offering free tasting! It’s a short drive to Tahoe and the Marshall gold discovery site as well as the historic hangtown Placerville. We are happy to make suggestions for local hiking areas, like the Devil's Slide "Gorge" only a 15 minute drive but like a trip to mini Yosemite. The Caldor Fire was VERY close to our property and a back burn was initiated nearby the cabins (litererally 200' away!). It is still as beautiful as ever but please know there are lots of slash piles. Falling trees and burned up stump holes are also a risk and it is presumed campers will be cautious and use at their own risk. We ask campers to use our property only for land use and river access, NO up or down river access is permitted AT ALL. Please don't hesitate to shoot us a message if you have any questions!
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$40.50
 / night
Booked 1 time

VIEWS! Pine View Lodge *Jetted Tub*

1 site · Lodging2 acres · Camp Connell, CA
Welcome to the cabin with the best views in all of Arnold. Many guests return year after year. A generator ensures that power outages do not affect your ability to enjoy your stay. Every room is light and bright. We back up to open forest where you get a sense of privacy. A private hillside with provided sleds allows kids many hours of fun. The large kitchen is well stocked. A complimentary bottle of wine awaits you. We are very close to Spicer SNO park and Bear Valley Ski resort. The space The home contains three bedrooms (2 bedrooms + loft) and sleeps 6 comfortably. NO STAIRS! The driveway pulls right up to the front door. We are one of only a few properties that have no stairs to navigate to the front door. HANDICAP-FRIENDLY Our property is handicap and elderly friendly! There is a queen room on the entry-level floor making it easy for handicappe or elderly to enjoy the house without climbing stairs. Access to the great views from the backyard deck also requires no stairs or steps. Elderly individuals will find the home easy to navigate and vacation in. THE KING ROOM (UPSTAIRS) The large upstairs bedroom features a California king bed, sitting area, walk-in closet, and a private balcony to enjoy an early morning coffee while looking out over the 50-mile view. Be sure to leave time to admire the one-of-a-kind 4' X 6' stained glass window, a centerpiece decoration of distinctive beauty created by a locally-renowned artist. As you drift off to sleep, enjoy the streaming-in moonlight from the two skylights that adorn the pine-covered ceiling. The large upstairs bathroom contains a two-person jetted tub looking out on the forest view, dual-sinks, a make-up vanity, and a large walk-in shower. LOFT In the loft area, you will find two twin beds, a private work-station, a custom bench along the window, a new 9' shuffleboard, and a 4-person card table to enjoy family games together. We also have a plethora of games to choose from. THE QUEEN ROOM (DOWNSTAIRS) The downstairs bedroom features a queen-sized bed with a Tempurpedic plush pillow top mattress. Lots of windows contribute to a light and bright atmosphere. The lower bathroom is equipped with a bathtub-shower combo.
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$172
 / night
98%
(1082)

Camp Nauvoo

24 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents86 acres · Placerville, CA
Camp Nauvoo was originally bought by the LDS church in the 1960's for a girl's camp. The camp was owned by the Boy Scouts from 2011-2015. The Rose family bought the property in 2016 with the intent to continue the tradition of tent camping as well as creating opportunities for exclusive events i.e., group/family reunions, weddings and corporate events. We are a small privately owned small campground (20 sites only) located on the outskirts of Placerville. The property features 86.5 secluded Tahoe like acres with beautiful year-round Weber Creek. The camp sites are placed along the creek or the bluff overlooking the creek. We have traditional dirt camping, canvas tents on platforms, teepees and glamping tents for those that want the comforts of home. We are tent camping only with only one site that allows a small travel trailer or van. (#14) . We are dog friendly and allow dogs in all but 5 glamping sites. We do enforce camp rules especially our quiet time between 10 PM and 7 AM (please review). We’ve been told that we have a “family camp” vibe. We are a great place for families wanting a safe environment for their kids but also several group sites for those that want to hang out together with multiple families. We are also a great base site for those wilderness enthusiasts with access to all the El Dorado National Forest including Desolation but want a hot shower at the end of the day. We have a lodge that is stocked with games and a ping pong table. The lodge has a microwave, Keurig machine and a hot water kettle for those hot drinks (BYO Cups).We have several tables set up for those that want to eat inside as well as multiple picnic tables along the side of the lodge with overhead protection. We have electricity at the at the lodge for small appliances and charging phones. We have a compressor on site to blow up your air mattresses or float toys. We’ve been told that our bathrooms are the “cleanest” ever and have changing tables and diaper pails. We offer nice flushing toilets and hot showers! We have many extra amenities including a compressor to use for your air mattresses, For outdoor activities we have basketball, volleyball, pickleball and cornhole not to mention the playground with swing sets, seesaw and tractor play. We have hiking trails throughout the property. Our highlight is a camp fire bowl with bench seating with a stage to display camper talent which is perfect for the evening fire and roasting s’mores (bring the fixings). The creek starts out in spring looking like a rushing river featuring many fishing and swimming holes. As the summer progresses the water level falls but is still great for water play and fishing. We have propane BBQs (we provide the propane for BBQs) located throughout the property. We also have a propane grill and charcoal BBQ located in the common area for all to use. There is a dutch oven pit also in the fire bowl area. We do not allow wood fires at the individual sites but each site has a propane firepit for ambiance (not cooking) that requires you to purchase a 20 lb. propane cannister on site (add in extras) or pay cash on site. No internet service. There is limited internet only available for purchases at the setore. We require a 3 night minimum for the major holidays - Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day. We do not do checkins on Sunday but do allow camping over Sunday night. We do exclusive events so you may need to explore multiple weekends to find the right reservation. We are located in the foothills so we are a short hop to many local attractions that include river rafting, gold mines, wineries and historical towns with great eating establishments. Tahoe is less than an hour away and there a many hiking trails within 20-30 minutes. We have a limited number of items to rent i.e, tents, cots, camp stoves, etc. We rent a battery pack for those that use a cpap. We also have a small store on site for those items you forgot and a good selection of ice cream and ice. We take venmo or cash. CHECKIN IS BETWEEN 4 AND 8. IF YOU ARE COMING FROM THE BAY ALLOW 4 HOURS - YOU MUST LEAVE BY 3:00 IN ORDER TO ARRIVE DURING CHECKIN. IF YOU GET DELAYED, FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE OTHER CAMPERS YOU MAY CONSIDER WAITING AND ARRIVING THE NEXT MORNING. THERE ARE NO CHECKINS AFTER 9:00.
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$80
 / night
97%
(293)

Camp 🏕 Gold Dust Vineyard

6 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents6 acres · Somerset, CA
A six acre organic vineyard & natural winery on 21 acres awaits you at Gold Dust Vineyard. A working natural winery and cidery, come enjoy a glass, relax in the breezes at 2’700 feet. Decomposed granite soils and high elevation make for sweeping views and even better natural wine and cider! We welcome guests year round! Surrounded by nature, there is so much to do! Up in the Foothills, we experience all four seasons! Come relax☮️ March - May 🌸Don’t miss the wildflowers & babbling brooks, steams & rivers June - September 🏞Swimming in the Consumnes River or paddle boarding at Jenkinson Lake September - December 🍂🍁Fall foliage, wine harvest, apple picking and alpaca petting December - March ❄️⛷Snowy hikes, mushroom hunting and quick trips to South Lake Tahoe We accept reservations for wine and cider tastings and typically host guests between the hours of 11 am and 5 pm. Occasionally, during very hot and busy holiday weekends, we will host an evening tasting. We have running water on the side of the winery building. Please note, we are a mom and pop shop with just two of us and our young son running the show. We live on site in a tiny house and use the tasting area as our 'back yard' during off hours. We ask that guests please respect our area and off hours requests. We do not permit live fires or generators.
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$31.50
 / night
100%
(51)

Strange Ranch - River and Gold

4 sites · RVs, Tents117 acres · Wilseyville, CA
Secluded private river camping in a forest and oak woodland on the South Fork Mokelumne River. The site boasts incredible views with a pristine private gold-bearing trout stream with mining history and wildlife preserve located in the gold country of the Sierra Nevada foothills of northern Calaveras County. This unique property is adjacent to over 900 acres of public land and 2 miles of private stream for exploring. With a total of only 4 campsites, it is a great location for a group to reserve the entire campground. All campsite have potable well water spigots. Guests will enjoy the privacy while swimming, stream exploring, hiking, spelunking, forest immersion, fishing for wild trout, gold panning, or simply relaxing in a breathtaking environment – come fall in love with this special private ranch. After one stay, you will be a repeat guest. PLEASE NOTE: An All-Wheel Drive or 4-Wheel Drive vehicle is needed to access 3 of the 4 campsites due to the road incline and rock and gravel road surface. One campsite is accessible with a 2-wd vehicle, and has both potable well water and power. All sites have beautiful open views of the property and river canyon with natural shade in the morning and late afternoon. Sounds of the river will lull you to sleep. Although partially shaded, please plan to provide your own portable shade structure(s) during late morning and afternoon as the direct sun can be an inconvenience. The Stranges are professional fish and wildlife biologists and have decided to share this special place for others to enjoy. The property hosts a diversity of plant and wildlife species that might be observed during your stay. Prehistoric and historic cultural resources can be observed along the river corridor. Please be aware that some wildlife species including rattlesnakes, bears, and mountain lions have been observed on the 117-acre property and could potentially be observed near the campsites. The Ranch's northern portion of the property supports a leased farming operation. No portions of the farming operations interfere with camping operations. The property and amenities will evolve over time. Day trips are possible to Tahoe, Yosemite National Park, Calaveras Big Trees State Park, caverns, and wine tasting, and local historic gold towns.
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$63
 / night
94%
(70)

Sugarpine Slopes at Grouse Ridge

6 sites · RVs, Tents40 acres · Nevada City, CA
It is on this property that I saw my first grouse. Also look for warblers-notably Audubon's and the Hermit Warblers- along with the White-headed Woodpecker. You will likely hear a Pileated Woodpecker and if you are lucky you will see one Learn more about this land: Welcome to Sugarpine Slopes. The Sugarpine has the longest cones in the world and many birds and mammals like the pine nuts and use the tree for habitat. This is a spring through fall place only. There is no winter access. The property is at 5800 feet.  Depending on the weather the road may close from Nov 15th to May 15th.  The road on the property is a dirt road.  All wheel drive or 4WD vehicles recommended although the lower section could be accessed by most vehicles. Shorter trailers allowed at Site A. Site 3 can also accommodate a small teardrop-style trailer The property is totally undeveloped at this time. It is a wildlife corridor for deer and bear (keep all food contained), the mountain quail and the blue grouse. Keep your eyes open for the Hermit Warbler, Audubon's Warbler, and our gorgeous visitor from the tropics the Western Tanager. You are likely to hear the Pileated Woodpecker and if you are lucky you will see it and its red crest in an undulating flight through the trees. The property has a lovely west facing slope which climbs gradually at first then more steeply to the top of the property. We have drive-in camping on the lower section.  There is one walk-in site at the top of the property. There is wonderful hiking nearby with several trailheads in the area within approximately 4 miles.  More information can be provided upon request.
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$24
 / night

The best camping near Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit guide

Overview

About

The national forest lands surrounding Lake Tahoe are an explorer's dream year-round. Tahoe is the largest mountain lake on the continent and easily among the most beautiful.

On the road with your honey? This area offers a remarkable array of romantic options among its recreational activities. Take a scenic dinner cruise on a paddle boat on Lake Tahoe. Or see it from above on a hot air balloon tour from Lake Tahoe Balloons. Or hit one of the many beautiful wildflower meadows found near the water. Meiss Lake and Winnecmucca Lake are especially known for their colorful flora.

If you've got an architectural bent, take a tour of Emerald Bay's 38-room Vikingsholm "castle." It's a sprawling lakeside mansion built as a summer home in 1929. These days, it's considered one of the finest combinations of architecture and nature ever designed.

93%
111 ratings · 27 reviews

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