The best great views campgrounds near Truckee, California

Only 12 miles north of beautiful Lake Tahoe, charming Truckee is ideally situated for year-round outdoor adventures. Stroll along the vibrant Main Street in the Historic Downtown or float or fish the Truckee River as it winds its way through the town. Several lakes and reservoirs are just a short drive away, while miles of trails and mountains beckon to be hiked, biked, and climbed. In the winter, Truckee offers easy access to several world-class ski resorts. Plenty of nearby camping options will suit every type of camper, from RV parks and camping resorts to campgrounds near mountains, lakes, and in the forest and wilderness.

97% (2.1K)

Top-rated campgrounds

Only 12 miles north of beautiful Lake Tahoe, charming Truckee is ideally situated for year-round outdoor adventures. Stroll along the vibrant Main Street in the Historic Downtown or float or fish the Truckee River as it winds its way through the town. Several lakes and reservoirs are just a short drive away, while miles of trails and mountains beckon to be hiked, biked, and climbed. In the winter, Truckee offers easy access to several world-class ski resorts. Plenty of nearby camping options will suit every type of camper, from RV parks and camping resorts to campgrounds near mountains, lakes, and in the forest and wilderness.

97% (2.1K)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. L.Davis Ranch and Olde LYFE Alpacas

96%

(255)

20mi from Truckee · 4 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Carson City, NV

We sit on 130 acres of primarily pasture over looking Washoe Valley and Washoe Lake. Olde LYFE Alpacas offers visits with the animals, including an organized 60 min Peaceful Walk with an alpaca where you’ll experience them up close. There is a small retail store on site with a variety of products made with alpaca fiber, including the most delightful alpaca socks!! The ranch store is self serve mostly. There are price sheets and payment methods listed!

2. Flyte and Sparrow natural interlude

97%

(199)

22mi from Truckee · 13 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Reno, CA

Please note: We have two 'Overnighter' sites these are instant book for weary travelers and not meant as full on camping sites. Site 1 and site 2 or Antelope please refrain from booking unless you are traveling through - All other camp sites require a minimum of 24 hours notice this allows for getting the sites ready - so if you want to camp here please note this requirement If you are traveling w a bumper pull of any type you need to book Big Rig ( soon to be named Art Camp) this is our only pull through camp site all others only tiny teardrops, cassettes, tents, vans, cars, or cab overs. Bobcat is great for tents, cars, vans, small trucks, no bumper pulls Camping here is low activity experience as in there is hiking up in the National Forest or just hanging out in your camp site, or bring your camera, notebook and binoculars, or road bike. When you come to camp here you are on a farm in transition. Girlfarm has been a local food go to for restaurants, farm family members, and regenerative agriculture interests. Today, the farm is looking forward to a new course in agri tourism as we begin planning walking gardens, art installations in the landscape, and interactive classes. If you would like fresh veggies contact Prema Farm one day BEFORE arrival - Please come visit in April May and June it is some of the most green and lush times in the high desert. It can also bring snow, winds, and rain. Be prepared- look at the forecast and contact me directly if you have concerns We are looking for a seasonal self contained camper to do campground maintenance and upkeep. trade Only NO PETS SELF CONTAINED and background check Its been a huge water season so SKEETERS are around we also recommend tents have a rain fly and ground cloth. Welcome It was important to choose a partner like Hipcamp to invite like minded individuals who respect both the natural environment and the idea of less is more. At any time you may encounter farming activities, building out of tiny houses, gardens in the process of creation, snakes, bugs, ticks, and wild animals. As we move toward offering the land as a place to both find solitude or chosen participation our Flyte and Sparrow experience will hopefully be a place you will want to return to as your own tradition.

3. 160 Acres amidst National Forest

98%

(95)

45mi from Truckee · 3 sites · Tents, RVs · Placerville, CA

Welcome to Slate Mountain where you have access to 160 acres of gated, private wilderness with 360 degree mountain views and exclusive waterfront on Slab Creek. There are two choices of sites to camp: At Site 1 you can park an RV or pitch a tent where you have access to a picnic table, fire pit, vault toilet, and amazing sunset views. At Site 2 you can pitch a tent and have access to a picnic table, fire pit, rocking chairs, and a hammock. Bring your hiking boots or your off-road toys and explore 160 acres of secluded forest filled with wildflowers, butterflies, ancient Pines and Cedars, wild berries, and wild game. Spend the day relaxing, picnicking, and try your luck at gold panning on pristine Slab Creek where not a single human or road exists for miles. Bring your paddle boards and kayaks and spend an afternoon at Stumpy Meadows, a beautiful mountain reservoir a 25 minute drive from the property. Apple Hill wineries and farms are a 40 minute drive. If you bring the off-road toys you also have access to miles of trails throughout hundreds of acres of national forest. Don’t feel like cooking? Smoke on the Water restaurant at Finnon reservoir in Swansboro is a quick 20 minute drive from the property. If you need supplies, a nice restaurant, or a day of wine tasting to break up the grit, downtown Placerville and Georgetown are both a 45 minute scenic drive. IMPORTANT NOTES: 1) To get the most out of your experience, we highly recommend a 4WD or vehicle, ATVs or eBikes. 2) The creek is at the bottom of the canyon, 1.5 miles from the gate at the entrance, and the road down is very steep and lined with blackberry bushes. We highly recommend an off-road vehicle/ATV or eBikes for easy access to creek. 3) Be aware you are in the middle of the forest and wildlife such as bear, mountain lions, rattlesnakes, and tics have been spotted on the property. Poison Oak is also common. 4) The property has cell service in the upper quadrant, however once you drop below the tree line toward the creek there is no service. 5) We highly recommend bringing a chainsaw or hatchet. There is an abundance of dead wood on the property that can be gathered for camp fires. Trees also occasionally fall on the trail which can impede access to the creek.

4. TerraSol~ "Earth Under the Sun"

99%

(355)

47mi from Truckee · 3 sites · Lodging · Nevada City, CA

I’ve had the pleasure to be the “caretaker” of this special land once inhabited by the Maidu Indians for the past 43 years. This is SPECIAL ground here and I’m sure you will feel the MAGIC!!! This 40 acres sits on the Yuba River Ridgetop. At the "Platform of Pleasure" you will enjoy 100,000+ acre views of protected land looking North to the High Sierra, minutes away from downtown Nevada City and 15 miles from Yuba River Trailheads. Firewood bundles are $1 per stick per stick, (when campfires 🔥 are allowed). There is a $15.00 dog fee per dog/per stay. You can add the dog fee to your booking or pay cash when you arrive. On our property like anywhere in the woods there are mosquitos, so you should bring bug spray. We offer a tent platform, as well as a canvas tent listing. Guests love staying here: "From the moment we arrived Chris was nothing but amazing. He helped us get settled in and even recommended some beautiful spots to hike/sight see. They are both so generous! The campsite beautiful and they did a very nice job supplying us with any materials we may need. Definitely coming back during the summer!"

5. Peace in the Pines

100%

(143)

48mi from Truckee · 1 site · Lodging · Nevada City, CA

Peace in the Pines is a quiet oasis located 5 minutes from Nevada City and less than 10 minutes from the Yuba River. The pictures speak for themselves. We have one campsite that includes a place for a tent, and there's an outside shower, the trailer has a stove, refrigerator, cooking equipment, a bed and flush toilet. If you're looking for a place to escape and relax with beautiful views, this is the place for you.

6. Finnon Lake Recreation Area

95%

(2328)

48mi from Truckee · 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.

Stories from the community

M

Michael

1 week ago

15 ft Class B

1 night at L.Davis Ranch and Olde LYFE Alpacas

Amazing property and very friendly host! Would Highly recommend

D

David

2 weeks ago

With pets

4 nights at Peace in the Pines

Very private and peaceful. Renee is a fabulous host she even provided my dog with baked treat and made us feel very welcomed. There's a nice ladybug trail just out back that is worth exploring! It was unfortunate that rain hit during our time here so outdoor activities were limited, but we hope to come back again soon!

S

Sean

2 weeks ago

18 ft campervan

With pets

Weekend Trip to Flyte and Sparrow natural interlude

Hard to beat the price and convenience of this site. Plus it's quiet and in a pretty area to boot. It was easy to find and communicate with our very helpful and friendly host.

CHAD

2 weeks ago

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to 160 Acres amidst National Forest

Very remote. Loved the isolation. Be prepared for rocky ground. The drive up was kind of gnarly, but that added to the adventure. Bring lots of your own water!

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.

D

Daniel

2 weeks ago

16 ft car

Weekend Trip to Flyte and Sparrow natural interlude

The camp host came out to meet each arriving party and guide them to their spot (as most of us rolled in after dark). Later she started a bonfire, and for the next couple of hours folks congregated in small groups talking about where they had been and where they were going. Very enjoyable social experience. Cooking facilities were excellent. They are outdoor, but it does not often rain here. Wind was moderate the night I was there. Two bathrooms (flush toilets and running water) quite close to the campsites.

K

Kathleen

2 weeks ago

Tent

Weekend Trip to Flyte and Sparrow natural interlude

The tent site was perfect; it was very peaceful, with wonderful views in all directions. Wendy was super and offered to get us extra wood for the fire since the wood on site was a bit moist from recent rain. We would definitely camp here again!

Kara

3 weeks ago

With pets

2 nights at L.Davis Ranch and Olde LYFE Alpacas

Lovely, quiet place to camp, and of course the alpacas made it even more special. The heater made the tent plenty warm even though it was early November. Close to Carson and Virginia City, so we were able to explore. We would definitely return!

F

Frankenstein

3 weeks ago

16 ft car

1 night at Finnon Lake Recreation Area

Amazing! My stay was so relaxing, pretty much no one else at the lake. There were deer that came through camp once in a while. The bathroom was clean and a great amenity to have, water spigots all over the property. Self check in type situation, easy to find my spot and get myself situated even arriving after dark!

F

Frankenstein

3 weeks ago

16 ft car

With pets

1 night at L.Davis Ranch and Olde LYFE Alpacas

A safe and fun place to rest and recovery during an adventure. I enjoyed all the alpaca friends I made during my stay, all very curious to see what I was cooking up. There is a lovely little shop for you to browse while staying there and you are able to feed the alpacas! The community who help tend the land and care for the animals are lovely people and gave me quite the education on alpacas.

J

Jack

3 weeks ago

With pets

2 nights at TerraSol~ "Earth Under the Sun"

What an amazing spot! Chris and Rebecca are delightful and everything was clean and comfortable. The surrounding, Nevada city and south yuba river are also great spots that should be on anyone’s must visit list. Highly recommend staying here!

A

Angela

3 weeks ago

13 ft travel trailer

2 nights at Finnon Lake Recreation Area

Beautiful, quiet spot great for a very relaxing time!

L

Laurel

3 weeks ago

1 night at Flyte and Sparrow natural interlude

This is an incredible property with an incredible host! I camped at Willow springs, and really enjoyed the lushness of the willows, the privacy, and watching the Beavers, Owls and Hawks. I also stayed a week in Tiny Blue which was a little slice of heaven!! I loved all the books, the view and it was super comfy! The tiny kitchen and bathroom nearby were absolutely perfect and I didn't need to leave the property for anything for many days. Wendy is so enthusiastic and hands on, you can really tell she loves what she does and has built a beautiful sanctuary for artists, writers, creative types and those that are in need of some sanctuary. I Especially encourage women who are Solo camping to spend some time at this beautiful location! I can't wait to come back next year!🌀

M

Mariah

3 weeks ago

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Finnon Lake Recreation Area

I spent my first trip there and highly recommend Finnon lake campground! I was very impressed with how clean the campsites were and how clean the bathrooms were as well! The drive and scenery was beautiful and relatively easy. I absolutely loved this campground and will be going back for future stays!

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.

L

Laurel

3 weeks ago

Tent

6 nights at Flyte and Sparrow natural interlude

This is the most incredible property, with the most incredible host! A peaceful sanctuary that allows one to get back in alignment with their own self in a lovely natural setting. I HIGHLY recommend for women on a healing journey, artists and writers needing to clear out blocks, or spiritual seekers in need of some sanctuary! This place has all the "magicalness" of Sedona & Mt. Shasta! A yearly visit is now on my calendar in order to give myself a much needed retreat! Camping at Willow woods was beautiful and private and I loved watching the Beavers, Owls, and Hawks. I also stayed at Tiny Blue, which was so comfortable, had beautiful views, and lots of cool outdoor sitting areas. The tiny kitchen had everything I needed and gave me the luxury of staying for an entire week! You can tell that Wendy loves being a host and believes in the sanctity of what she has created here, and it's reflected in every detail of the property itself and within her personal enthusiasm! This truly is a "choose your own adventure" experience!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars!

A

Amanda

3 weeks ago

20 ft travel trailer

2 nights at L.Davis Ranch and Olde LYFE Alpacas

Wonderful place to camp! Beautiful location and so fun to have the alpacas roaming around.

Christopher

November 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Finnon Lake Recreation Area

This is our second time camping at this spot and it’s a hidden gem. The Lake is beautiful to watch on si rise and sunset time. Site A7 was perfect for our car camp set up. Not too far from the Lake and spaciouse enough as well.

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!

R

Ricardo

November 2025

Weekend Trip to TerraSol~ "Earth Under the Sun"

Chris and Rebecca’s place is the perfect gateway for relaxation and amazing views! They are also super responsive and kind. For a little extra comfort, we definitely recommend adding the little house to your stay! We love it there. Second time we visited and hope to go back again soon!

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The best great views camping near Truckee guide

Where to go

Truckee and Tahoe National Forest

Just west of Truckee, Donner Memorial State Park offers access to Donner Lake, trails, campgrounds, and a museum where you can learn more about the ill-fated Donner Party. Truckee is surrounded by the 850,000-acre Tahoe National Forest, which offers more than 70 designated campgrounds. Camp alongside the Truckee River south of town at the Granite Flat, Goose Meadow, and Silver Creek campgrounds. For lakeside camping and water recreation, head to Prosser, Boca, or Stampede reservoirs.

Lake Tahoe

Truckee is just 12 miles north of Lake Tahoe’s crystal-clear water and 72 miles of shoreline. Dozens of beaches and parks surround the lake, and offer great camping options close to the lake. Camp by the beach at Tahoe State Recreation Area, at Meeks Bay, or at D.L. Bliss State Park. Or spend the night overlooking Emerald Bay at Eagle Point. For proximity to amenities and the lake, stay at historic Camp Richardson or the Campground by the Lake, in the heart of South Lake Tahoe. On the Nevada side, Nevada Beach and Zephyr Cove offer campsites for tents and RVs near the lake.

Eldorado National Forest

South of the Tahoe National Forest, the Eldorado National Forest offers nearly 600,000 acres of wilderness, and more than 50 developed campgrounds, plus plenty of dispersed camping options in a backcountry dotted with lakes and rugged peaks. Escape the crowds and find a remote campsite in the Desolation Wilderness or Mokelumne Wilderness. Several lakes and reservoirs, including Union Valley Reservoir, Wrights Lake, and Silver Lake, offer easy lakeside camping and water recreation.

When to go

Summer is the most popular time for hiking, mountain biking, and camping. Most campgrounds are open from May to September or October. Campgrounds open over the winter will not have water or garbage collection. Look for wildflower displays in the spring and golden aspens in the fall. Winter is also a popular time for winter activities, especially downhill skiing, with half a dozen ski resorts nearby.

Know before you go

Public transportation is available around Truckee and to select areas on the north and west shore of Lake Tahoe. You’ll want a vehicle to easily explore the area. In the winter, opt for an AWD/4WD drive vehicle and carry chains.
Campfire permits are required outside of developed campgrounds. Fire restrictions may limit or prohibit fires entirely.
Be bear aware, especially when camping. Store food and other attractants in a bear-proof container away from your tent.
Fishing licenses are required for anyone 16 or over.