Beach Camping Near Carnelian Bay, California, US: 12 Best Beach Campsites 2025

Looking to go camping near Carnelian Bay, California? Hipcamp has over 1,100 options for you to choose from, with accommodations starting as low as $20 per night. Whether you prefer a tent, RV, or cabin, there's something for everyone. Explore the top campsites in the area, such as Finnon Lake Recreation Area (780 reviews), Camp Nauvoo (546 reviews), and Walden Ranch (418 reviews). Enjoy popular amenities like trash disposal, showers, and campfires, while engaging in activities such as swimming, off-roading, and paddling. Start planning your camping adventure today!

98% (1.5K)

Top-rated campgrounds

Looking to go camping near Carnelian Bay, California? Hipcamp has over 1,100 options for you to choose from, with accommodations starting as low as $20 per night. Whether you prefer a tent, RV, or cabin, there's something for everyone. Explore the top campsites in the area, such as Finnon Lake Recreation Area (780 reviews), Camp Nauvoo (546 reviews), and Walden Ranch (418 reviews). Enjoy popular amenities like trash disposal, showers, and campfires, while engaging in activities such as swimming, off-roading, and paddling. Start planning your camping adventure today!

98% (1.5K)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Finnon Lake Recreation Area

95%

(2328)

47mi from Carnelian Bay · 39 sites · Tents, RVs · Placerville, CA

ALL RV VEHICLES AND VEHICLES WITH TRAILERS MUST TAKE ROCK CREEK RD. (Even if your GPS says to use Mosquito Road). These vehicles will not fit and cannot cross 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 and 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 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.

2. Water front on Topaz Lake

95%

(88)

48mi from Carnelian Bay · 7 sites · Tents, RVs · Topaz, CA

Learn more about this land:Beautiful lake front property on Topaz Lake , we have 6 rv sites to choose from on 4 acres .First come first serve . Bring your Rv or pitch a tent . Bring your whole family. We have kayaks and paddle boards . Fishing boat available to rent . Life jackets available and a peddle boat too ! Lots of float toys !!

3. Rollins Lake Retreats Decorated 🎄

96%

(110)

47mi from Carnelian Bay · 3 sites · Lodging · Colfax, CA

Our property is lakeside at Rollins Lake In Colfax. We live on over 30 private, beautiful acres with footpath access to Rollins Lake. (3 minute walk from the dome or house, and 10-15 minutes from the cabin) where most summer days here are spent swimming, paddle boarding, kayaking, fishing ect., down at the water. Please note the Cabin is set on a seasonal CANNABIS garden. All three sites are vacation spots with AC and WIFI, not just simple accommodations, but experiences. The remarkable property is very hilly with pines and oaks. You can follow our driveway to the bottom and access the beginning of The Bear River which has a nice hiking trail alongside it or drive 8 minutes to the nearest boat ramp and 10 minutes to the town of Colfax where you will find gas, groceries, and restaurants. We have a beautiful spot where you will not see any neighbors so it is peaceful and private with gorgeous 360-degree views. It is also very safe! Bask in nature, quiet, and privacy! In summer there is a 3-night minimum for the cabin and dome. Occasionally a two day midweek will pop up on the schedule last minute. To see correct pricing, enter your dates as they can fluctuate with holidays, weekends. Prices are decreased midweek. We have 3 accommodations on the property -A GUEST SUITE (lakeside), up to 5 people. -A CABIN (15 min walk or 3 min drive/5 min walk, up to 4 people. -A GLAMPING DOME with an additional teepee tent site (lakeside)! Up to 6 people. We have fishing boat, kayaks, and paddle boards for rent. If you want an epic stay in the forest, private and away from others, this is your place. Also close to Grass Valley (15min), Nevada City (20 min), Colfax (less than 10).

4. Creek-Front Cabin, 8 Acres +Hot Tub

100%

(2)

48mi from Carnelian Bay · 3 sites · Lodging · Nevada City, CA

The best vacation rental in Nevada City! Creekfront designer cabin on 8 acres with hot tub. The private creek is year-round and perfect for dipping on a hot day. There is a large fire pit, horseshoes, and a hammock by the creek. Seclusion and quietude in nature yet 4 minutes to downtown Nevada City, 15 min to rivers & lakes, and 45 min to ski resorts. This is the place for people who are tired of rentals that lack amenities or aesthetic quality. This is also a non-toxic, eco-friendly sanctuary. There are four bedrooms in the main house and an optional separate studio to rent. The main house has two bedrooms with king beds, one bedroom with a twin bed and a twin air mattress (if needed), and an enclosed den with a queen murphy bed. This allows 8 people to sleep comfortably. There are 3 bathrooms, one with a lux freestanding soaking tub with forest views. For 9-11 guests, or if you just want extra space for a smaller party, you can rent the separate studio for $125/night plus $99 cleaning fee. This is discounted from our regular rates of $210 for 3 people and $188 for 2 people, and our regular cleaning rate of $140. The studio is beautifully renovated with a queen bed, full kitchen, bathroom, and living area with sofa for a child or young adult to sleep on. The main house kitchen is fully equipped-- this is not like other rentals that lack wine glasses or cooking pans! We have a Ninja blender, instant pot/slow cooker, toaster, French press coffee maker, coffee grinder, lots of dishes and utensils, state of the art drinking water filtration system, gas oven and stove, baking dishes and pans, and more. You'll also be provided with organic cooking oil and organic spices. The owner specializes in non-toxic home design so everything from the mattresses and bedding to the soap & shampoo are non-toxic, eco-friendly, and/or organic. You have complete reign of the 8 acre property, including the hot tub, and private creekfront park with gazebo, fire pit, and horseshoe pit. Sometimes we rent out a studio on the property (or you can rent it-- see details above), but studio guests do not have access to acres of the property that are just for you, so the hot tub, fire pit, gazebo, horse shoe pit, and more is yours. If you want total privacy, we can block out the studio from being rented for an additional $75/night, or you can rent it for $125/night plus $99 cleaning fee (see details above). Pack and play, twin air bed, and dining table booster seat with tray are available! Please just request them before you arrive, and bring your own sheet for the pack and play. Air bed is usually needed if 8 guests are staying in the main home (if studio is not rented). It can snow in Nevada City in the winter (beginning in December or January and through March). If staying here when it snows, you will need snow chains and/or a 4WD vehicle to access the home. No parties or events, and please ask if you want to invite anyone to the home who is not in the guest count at booking. We love dogs and do not discriminate against breeds! Please just confirm at time of booking that your pup will not go to the bathroom in the house or chew any items in the house.

Public campgrounds near Carnelian Bay

100%

(5)

Silver Creek Campground

6.8mi from Carnelian Bay · 23 sites · Tents, RVs · in Tahoe National Forest

Had some trouble getting our tent up but still had an amazing time!

Goose Meadows Campground

7.3mi from Carnelian Bay · 21 sites · Tents, RVs · in Tahoe National Forest

96%

(12)

William Kent Campground

7.9mi from Carnelian Bay · 73 sites · Tents, RVs · in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Granite Flat Campground

8.1mi from Carnelian Bay · 65 sites · Tents, RVs · in Tahoe National Forest

100%

(4)

Kaspian Campground

9.5mi from Carnelian Bay · 9 sites · in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

94%

(9)

Creek Campground

10mi from Carnelian Bay · 136 sites · Tents, RVs · in Donner Memorial State Park

83%

(3)

Ridge Campground

10mi from Carnelian Bay · 46 sites · Tents, RVs · in Donner Memorial State Park

100%

(5)

Splitrock Campground

11mi from Carnelian Bay · 41 sites · Tents, RVs · in Donner Memorial State Park

Prosser Ranch Group Campground

11mi from Carnelian Bay · 1 site · Tent, RV · in Tahoe National Forest

100%

(2)

Prosser Family Campground

11mi from Carnelian Bay · 23 sites · Tents, RVs · in Tahoe National Forest

Incredible views, the water was a little low but still had a great time with the kids!

100%

(4)

Boca Campground

11mi from Carnelian Bay · 23 sites · Tents, RVs · in Tahoe National Forest

95%

(21)

General Creek Campground

13mi from Carnelian Bay · 122 sites · Tents, RVs · in Sugar Pine Point State Park

Stories from the community

M

Michael

2 weeks ago

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Finnon Lake Recreation Area

Beautiful. Clean restrooms. Perfect for families. Perfect size grounds. Easy bookings. Can even have a hammock.

J

Jorge

3 weeks ago

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Finnon Lake Recreation Area

Great layout, clean and well run. One of the best hidden gems in California.

The van is facing out. The tent is set up on the flat spot.

H

Hebe

November 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Finnon Lake Recreation Area

The lake front campsites are simply beautiful. We have a Ford transit van and also a sedan. A huge tent and we still have a lot of space on the site. The campsite has a downward slope just like described but we found a flat spot for our tent. The lake is beautiful for boating and fishing. How peaceful the campground is solely depending on how other campers are especially your neighbors, because the campsites are very close to each other. We didn't have a great night the first night because our neighbors arrived at 2 am and were setting things up and talking, laughing pretty loudly. So we essentially did not sleep at all that night. While the quite time is listed on the rules but seems like it is not enforced at all. So while I love this campground, I highly recommend going during the weekdays. The bathroom is a very nice addition. Again, it's clean majority of the time but it depends on how the campers take care of it. They are dogs friendly. They need to be on leash. We got a tie down which works amazing. There's also a lot of wildlife. I didn't hear frogs but a lot of birds. We saw eagles and their nest which is so beautiful. There is a restaurant called Smoke on the water. The food is AWESOME. They also have firewood for sale. Just need to double check their business hours. The drive up there was good. Remember to pay attention the detours. The last 15 minutes was really twisty. We will be back for sure!

B

Berlynn

November 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Finnon Lake Recreation Area

Nice and maintained spot to camp at. I love the views from my tent and the bathroom is very clean. It was super easy to access

T

Tetiana

October 2025

Tent

2 nights at Finnon Lake Recreation Area

This is our second time at this camp. This time, the weather was a bit disappointing. But overall, everything was wonderful. Hospitable hosts, safe stay, clean grounds and bathrooms.

K

Kaitlyn

October 2025

Tent

1 night at Finnon Lake Recreation Area

I loved staying here, it’s really easy to find. Make sure to follow the host’s instructions on driving there. Overall it was a beautiful, friendly, calm yet lively, experience. I’m already planning on another trip. It was wonderful to see a campground actually really close to home. Their bathrooms are really nice too

F

Faith

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Finnon Lake Recreation Area

We had a great time at Finnon lake I can hardly wait til the next time.

C

Chris

September 2025

With pets

Weekend Trip to Rollins Lake Retreats, A/C & WIFI

We had a great stay. Erin’s spot was perfect for our little weekend get away.

Kelli

September 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Finnon Lake Recreation Area

The camp ground and lake were beautiful. The bathroom were clean. Toilet paper, paper towels and soap to wash your hands. Also lights in the bathroom. No shower which was very hard to do. But we all enjoy the time spent at Finnon lake. We will be coming back next year.

M

Michael

September 2025

Tent

1 night at Finnon Lake Recreation Area

Very clean bathroom. Clean clear water lake. Drive is scenic but narrow roads.

A

Ashley

September 2025

Tent

3 nights at Finnon Lake Recreation Area

This is our second time camping at Lake Finnon. It’s definitely one of our new favorite spots. Always peaceful and well kept.

T

Tetiana

September 2025

Tent

Group trip

2 nights at Finnon Lake Recreation Area

We had a wonderful time at this wonderful camp. We enjoyed the stunning scenery, the quiet, and the enchanting starry sky. We watched eagles and other birds in flight. Roe deer and wild turkeys visited us. We spent wonderful evenings around the campfire. Our deepest gratitude and appreciation go out to the camp owners for their help and support, and to the staff for keeping the place clean. We will definitely come back here again.

T

Terri

September 2025

16 ft car

With pets

1 night at Finnon Lake Recreation Area

It is a beautiful, peaceful campground. Very well kept, and quiet. I was very impressed with the clean bathroom! Fully stocked with TP, liquid handsoap in a dispenser, and paper towels.

T

Tim

September 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Finnon Lake Recreation Area

My family has camped here for many years and we always have a great time. The lake is great for kayaks and paddle boards and the fish are always biting. The multiple water taps around the campground and the flush toilets are nice conveniences.

B

Brandy

September 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Finnon Lake Recreation Area

Pros: Quiet; nice partial views; sites were not crowded, each site had plenty of space to set up; limited number of camp sites, clean bathroom's, plenty of shade, close to potable water station, nice walking trail around lake, onsite restaurant (did not eat there however). Cons: Being close to restrooms you do hear everyone going late at night and in the early morning (some walk and some drive to restrooms). I used ear plugs but others did not and this was one complaint from my party. Not huge.

M

Melissa

September 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Finnon Lake Recreation Area

Amazing, quaint campground. Waking up to the sun rising over the reservoir was magical. Family friendly, lots of shade. Most campsites are sloped which makes sleeping in a tent tricky. We loved it and would come back!

B

Brandon

August 2025

Tent

3 nights at Finnon Lake Recreation Area

We had such a wonderful time camping at Finnon’s land! The area was peaceful, the views were beautiful, and everything was easy to find with clear directions. The water was absolutely gorgeous perfect for swimming and we had a blast fishing for bass. The campground was well-kept and had plenty of space to feel private while still being close to everything we needed. It was the perfect mix of relaxation and fun already looking forward to our next trip back!

M

Megan

August 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Finnon Lake Recreation Area

Beautiful location, campground and bathrooms were clean.

K

Kevin

August 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Finnon Lake Recreation Area

Nice campsite right next to the water. Easy access for swimming and paddling. Big oak trees to provide some shade midday was nice. Nice quick escape if you live anywhere between Reno and the Bay area.