Beach camping in Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe beach camping gets you close to the crystal-clear waters and ready for adventure.

96% (1324 reviews)

United States
—
California
—
Lake Tahoe

96% (1324 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Lake Tahoe

Public campgrounds in and near Lake Tahoe

100%

(9)

Stories from the community

Weekend Trip to Finnon Lake Recreation Area

Awesome water front site, tons of shade, only downside is that the ground isn't as leveled for tents

2 nights at Finnon Lake Recreation Area

Beautiful, peaceful setting. Well-maintained campsites. Clean restrooms. Loved hiking around the lake and watching the eagles nest across the lake from the campsites.

1 night at Finnon Lake Recreation Area

Beautiful setting overlooking the water. Lots of bird watching, including an eagle nest across the lake.

1 night at Finnon Lake Recreation Area

Beautiful location. Helpful host even for a last minute reservation.

Weekend Trip to Finnon Lake Recreation Area

Location is amazing and peaceful everyone is so friendly and welcoming

Weekend Trip to Finnon Lake Recreation Area

This has become one of my favorite campsites within an hour of Sacramento. Peaceful, clean, beautiful views of the lake. Each site is decent size with a fire pit and grill and not to close to the neighbors. Nice little hiking and exploring for the dogs. Can’t wait to come back and paddle board.

Weekend Trip to Finnon Lake Recreation Area

2nd time there, great quiet spot with flushing toilets and a small lake for kayaking, fishing, and paddle boarding. We’ll be back.

Weekend Trip to Finnon Lake Recreation Area

We have stayed at Finnon Lake several times and deeply appreciate that our camp fees and our meals at Smoke on the Water (aka Frank's Diner) go towards supporting a volunteer fire district. My family has been personally impacted by wildfire, so more than happy to embrace any chance I get to support those involved in fighting wildfires. Got rained out of our second night, but that's what I get for booking in April! Will be back in August with my kayak.

2 nights at Finnon Lake Recreation Area

The campground was amazing. The restrooms were nice and clean, everything was great. Would definitely come back.

2 nights at Finnon Lake Recreation Area

This place was beautiful and clean. The animal calls going on all day where so much nicer than the typical road noise or noisy campers at most places. This place was a relief for a kayak fishing trip, I didn't have to worry about someone in a boat not paying attention, so I was able to peacefully fish and enjoy it. Would definitely come back. I was also pleasantly entertained every evening as 2 goose couples fought over land rights for a good hour or 2.

Weekend Trip to Water front on Topaz Lake

This place is absolutely amazing! Very clean, beautiful views, sites right on the water. We booked over Easter weekend and were the only ones there. It was heaven! Perfect weather and they provided fire wood, complimentary.

1 night at Finnon Lake Recreation Area

Such a beautiful spot! The lake was perfect, calm and serene with a bald eagle nest right across the water. The bird activity is stunning. Such a perfect retreat from this chaotic world Thank you I will be back!

2 nights at Finnon Lake Recreation Area

My campsite was nice, level and private. the volunteer fire department folks who run the camp are very friendly, efficient and helpful.

1 night at Finnon Lake Recreation Area

Pleasant small lake with lots of fish, a bald eagle and plenty of other birds to see, pretty clean toilets, disc golf course (hard to see some of the targets because of if the dense growth)

Weekend Trip to Finnon Lake Recreation Area

Camping is always so much fun at Finnon. Clean sites, the bathroom is centrally located, friendly people, hiking, fishing, and we brought our paddle boards. Usually we’d be swimming but it was a bit too cool just yet.

Weekend Trip to Water front on Topaz Lake

This site was amazing! The views and access were wonderful and clean bathrooms were very much appreciated! Thank you for hosting such a great place!

Weekend Trip to Water front on Topaz Lake

Great location, great campground and an awesome host!

3 nights at Finnon Lake Recreation Area

The site was clean and the views were perfect. Loved watching the bald eagles hunt and fish on the lake as they tended to the their babies. The recent work done to the restrooms was amazing.

3 nights at Finnon Lake Recreation Area

One of the best camping spots I’ve been to! Extremely well kept, and even more so beautiful.

Weekend Trip to Finnon Lake Recreation Area

It’s a quiet campground in a sense that not a lot of people are there. Bathrooms are clean. Campgrounds are clean. Very well maintained. Beautiful view. Trails to hike and ride your bike.

4 top beach campgrounds in Lake Tahoe

95%

(2076)

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.

98%

(79)

Rollins Lake Retreats with A/C!!!

3 sites · Lodging31 acres · 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, not just simple accommodations. 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).

95%

(76)

Water front on Topaz Lake

7 sites · RVs, Tents4 acres · 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 !!

Beachside Cabin Lake Tahoe

1 site · Lodging1 acre · South Lake Tahoe, CA

This two-story cabin has been in our family over 50 years. It is located in a private community right next to one of the largest resort/marina's in South Lake. Also, right next door, is the famous Beacon Restaurant, one of only two restaurants located on the water on Tahoe. The cabin is rustic in design. 6 bedrooms, 3 downstairs and 3 upstairs. 3 bathrooms, 2 downstairs and 1 upstairs. 1 large open living room and kitchen. We have a large lake side deck that is where most people spend the majority of their stay, overlooking the vast beauty of Lake Tahoe and having easy access to the water. So much to do in Tahoe in both of our long seasons. We are located three minutes from an awesome sledding hill that mostly locals know about, eight minutes from Heavenly Ski Resort, ten minutes from state line, and 25-30 minutes from Tahoe City where the family can go white-water rafting in the summer. Within a walking distance you will find all manners of FUN.... physical activities to theatre and art shows. There is the famous Valhalla Estate available for weddings. Learn about the Indians and history of Tahoe in the various museum installations at the Three Historic Estates to the west. This is a great, family-owned, rental cabin that wants to make our renters feel like family and keep coming back to beautiful South Lake Tahoe. **Insurance requires renters to be over 25** Thank you! ELDORADO REQUIREMENTS: VHR: #072960 5BDS - MAX 12 OCCUPANCY 3. Notification that quiet hours must be observed between 10 PM and 8 AM. 4. Notification that occupancy is limited during 10 PM and 8 AM.

Nearby parks

Explore the area’s public lands.

93%

(253)

Tahoe National Forest

Graniteville, California

92%

(135)

Eldorado National Forest

Kirkwood, California

93%

(110)

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

South Lake Tahoe, California

100%

(50)

D.L. Bliss State Park

Tahoma, California

97%

(16)

Donner Memorial State Park

Truckee, California

100%

(14)

Emerald Bay State Park

South Lake Tahoe, California

100%

(1)

Washoe Lake State Park

Washoe Valley, Nevada

100%

(14)

Grover Hot Springs State Park

Markleeville, California

95%

(20)

Sugar Pine Point State Park

Tahoma, California

93%

(165)

Stanislaus National Forest

Strawberry, California

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Beach camping in Lake Tahoe guide

Overview

Straddling California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe is a beach lover's paradise, with more than 40 beaches around its 72-mile shoreline, and no matter what shore you're on, you'll find plenty of Lake Tahoe beach camping options, spanning tent sites, RV sites, yurts, and cabins. On the North and West shores, several public Lake Tahoe campgrounds offer tent camping and RV campsites near Tahoe City—try Sugar Pine Point State Park or D.L. Bliss State Park. Nearby, Emerald Bay State Park features epic views, access to waterfalls, and a boat-in campground on the water. Meanwhile, campgrounds near South Lake Tahoe, like Camp Richardson, offer even more amenities, including wifi, RV hookups, and cabins within walking distance to sandy beaches. On the Nevada side of the lake, Nevada Beach Campground and Zephyr Cove Resort are your best bets. Although Lake Tahoe is a year-round destination, with ski resorts and snow play in winter, lakeside beach camping spots are more limited then, when private lakeside cabins are the best option.