Camping in Tahoe means waking up to fresh mountain air, spending the day on the lake, or resting on the beach while sleeping beneath the canopy of the alpine forest.
These campgrounds are typically open from mid-May to mid-October and offer a cost-effective opportunity to stay and kick up your feet while rejuvenating yourself in the way that only camping can!
Summary
| Guide | Camping in Tahoe |
|---|---|
| Things to bring | Torch, Tent, etc. |
| Best places near | General Creek Campground, and more |
| Campgrounds | Tallac Historic Site, and more |
| Situated | U.S. |
Camping In Tahoe
1. Eagle Point And Upper Eagle Point Campgrounds
There are 100 rustic campsites along the south side of the bay’s mouth at Eagle Point within Emerald Bay State Park.
These locations are only available during the summer, starting in mid-June.
Although there are no RV hookups at this Tahoe campsite, it does provide restrooms with flush toilets and coin-operated showers, so RV guests should not overlook it.
Address: 11001 S Highway 89, Tahoma, CA 96142
2. General Creek Campground
Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park on Lake Tahoe’s western beaches provides campers two miles of coastline and 175 gorgeous Tahoe campsites in a lush pine-forested setting.
On a beach day, take a short walk through the woods to see if you can spot one of the bald eagles who make this region home!
Address: 7360 CA-89, Tahoma, CA 96142
3. Kaspian Recreation Area Campground
This walk-in, the tent-only campsite, is among the towering pines on the western beaches of Lake Tahoe.
There are no hookups at the campground’s nine sites, which each contain a picnic table, fire ring, and food locker.
The campground has flush toilets but no showers and drinkable water and a trash station. The campsite is only available from the middle of May until October.
Address: 3255 CA-89, Tahoe City, CA 96145
4. Nevada Beach Campground
Nevada Beach Campsite is a Lake Tahoe Basin Management campground and one of the most gorgeous in Tahoe. Camp near the beach or within a short walk of the sandy shoreline in Tahoe.
The 49 sites may not have hookups, but they have plenty of other facilities to compensate.
Grills, picnic tables, and campfire rings are available at these Tahoe camping areas.
Address: Stateline, NV 89449
5. Tahoe State Recreation Area Campground
The Tahoe State Recreation Area Campground is a small campground with a beautiful lake view with 23 campsites seven tents.
There are no hookups, but each site has a picnic table, fire ring, and food locker. RVs maybe 21 feet long, and trailers can be 15 feet long.
Coin-operated showers, flush toilets, and tap water are available throughout the campground.
Address: 1100 N Lake Blvd, Tahoe City, CA 96145
6. William Kent Campground
The William Kent Campground on the western shores of Tahoe’s North Shore has 81 campsites with tables, food lockers, fire rings, and cooking grates.
Firewood is available for purchase from the Campground Host. There is running water in the restrooms, as well as flush toilets.
You are welcome to bring your four-legged friends to the campsite.
Address: 1995 W Lake Blvd, Tahoe City, CA 96145
7. Zephyr Cove RV Park And Campground
Many seasoned Tahoe campers like the Zephyr Cove RV Park and Campground as a popular Tahoe camping area near the southeast Lake Tahoe shoreline.
Guests may enjoy beach access, horseback riding, a general store, and various marina activities at the award-winning park.
Address: 760 Hwy. 50, Zephyr Cove, NV 89448
8. Fallen Leaf Campground
Fallen Leaf Campground is one of the most popular campgrounds in the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.
Many people believe it to be the greatest camping in Tahoe. It is easily accessible, as it is at 6,400 feet and is just two miles off Highway 50.
The park has 206 campsites, many of which have Fallen Leaf Lake and Taylor Creek views.
Address: 2165 Fallen Leaf Rd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
Best Places To Visit Near Tahoe
Alpine Skiing
Tahoe is a world-renowned alpine skiing destination in the winter and early spring.
The Sierra Nevada Mountains are renowned for their vast geography, sunny climate, and powdery slopes.
Squaw Valley, site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, and Heavenly, with 4,800 acres of magnificent ski terrain and breathtaking lake vistas, are the most popular of Tahoe’s ski resorts.
The spectacular 2.4-mile Heavenly Gondola ride, which finishes at an Observation Deck at 9,123 feet and offers stunning views of Lake Tahoe, Carson Valley, and the Desolation Wilderness, will appeal to even non-skiers.
Tallac Historic Site
The Tallac Historic Site contains the Pope, Baldwin, and Valhalla properties, which are all on the National Register of Historic Places.
The entire property is available to the public from Memorial Day through September, and visitors are welcome to tour the grounds for free.
Guided tours and special activities are also available on the site.
The historic estates conduct a two-day Gatsby Festival every August, attracting thousands for glamorous Roaring Twenties parties, jazz concerts, and other 1920s theme activities that recreate the estates’ peak social gatherings.
Visitors may join a docent-led tour of the Pope House to learn more about how Tahoe’s wealthiest people lived at the turn of the century.
Checklist Before Camping In Tahoe
When you are going somewhere new, it is hard to pack for it as you do not know much about it, especially the weather conditions and what you might encounter during your camping.
Here is a small checklist to help.
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
- Clothes
- Headlamp
- First aid
- Sunscreen
- Stove
- Cooking pot
- Utensils
FAQ
What is the best time for camping in Tahoe?
June through August is considered one of the best times for camping, mainly because nearly all of the campgrounds are closed during winter.
Do we have to make reservations for camping in Tahoe?
Even though nothing blocks you from just going there and picking a spot, in the peak times of the camping season, you might not be able to find a spot, so it is better to make a reservation.
Are pets allowed for camping in Tahoe?
This depends on which campground you are visiting as the rules might change.
Shefali Jain is a Content Writer & Editor at USWorkforce.org
After completing her graduation in hospitality, Shefali decided to follow her passion and started writing. Shefali has been writing for two years now and contributes to our website as a skilled editor and content writer with strong research skills. Writing product and service reviews, biographies, and book reviews are some of her key areas, among many others in which she specializes. In her time at the organization, she has written and edited content on a range of topics, including employment law, human resources, and business management.
ARTICLE SOURCES
The US Workforce has a policy of producing high-quality content that follows industry standards by using primary sources, such as white papers and government data, alongside original reporting from reputable publishers. We also follow an editorial style where appropriate information about the topic can be found with due credit given when applicable.