Top 6 Lake Tahoe Campgrounds for Your Campervan Trip

Lake Tahoe is the ultimate escape for anyone seeking a mix of outdoor adventures and natural beauty. And, with its stunning crystal-clear waters and towering pines, the area around Lake Tahoe has countless camping options that cater to all types of explorer. But with so many amazing places to camp, narrowing down your choices can feel like a tricky task.

That’s where we come in to help! Below, you’ll find details on six of the best Lake Tahoe campgrounds, including information on the amenities and nearby activities that will add even more excitement to your camping trip.

Are you ready? Join us as we dive into Lake Tahoe’s top campgrounds.

Tahoe Valley Campground

Tahoe Valley Campground sits on the southern end of Lake Tahoe and it strikes that perfect balance between outdoor living and modern conveniences. Here, you will find full hookups, along with restrooms, hot showers, laundry facilities, and even WiFI, which is perfect for anyone who struggles to fully disconnect while they’re on vacation.

The campground also has a playground, swimming pool, and organized activity schedule for kids, making it an ideal campground for a family getaway. There’s a camp store, too, which is stocked with supplies, snacks, firewood, and all the other essentials you need to camp comfortably in your RV.

Reservations are recommended at Tahoe Valley Campground and it’s open all year round. Just keep in mind that there are a couple of rules you’ll need to abide by, including quiet hours from 10 pm to 7 am and fire restrictions in certain seasons. On that note, summer is the busiest season here, but winter camping brings its own beauty with heavy snowfall transforming the area into a winter wonderland.

You’ll never be bored at Tahoe Valley Campground, given its close proximity to some of the best attractions around Lake Tahoe. The campground is a short drive from Emerald Bay State Park, home to one of the most photographed areas in Lake Tahoe, and for a great day hike, try the Eagle Head Trail. Or, if water activities are your thing, you are just a few miles from the South Lake Tahoe Marina, where you can rent kayaks, paddleboards, and boats.

Coachland RV Park

Located slightly north of Lake Tahoe in Truckee, Coachland RV Park caters primarily to RV campers, with full hookups at every site. On-site amenities here include restrooms, hot showers, laundry facilities, and WiFI, and it is also a pet friendly resort with designated walking areas and waste stations for your furry friends. Also, if you need to stock up on supplies, you’re in luck, as the campground is just a short drive away from the center of Truckee, where you’ll find grocery stores, restaurants, and local shops.

Coachland RV Park is open year-round, but the seasons drastically affect the camping experience here, with harsh winters bringing heavy snowfall that blankets the region. However, the campground is well-equipped to handle these conditions, and many campers actually come here in winter to take advantage of skiing and snowboarding opportunities at nearby resorts like Northstar California and Sqauw Valley.

While this campground is popular in winter, its peak season is summer, and part of the reason for this is that it is located near some of the best outdoor recreational spots in the Truckee and Tahoe area. Truckee River offers incredible rafting experiences, especially during the late spring and early summer when the water levels are high. And if you’re looking to hike, Donner Memorial State Park and the nearby Tahoe Rim Trail provide you with stunning views over Lake Tahoe and the surrounding wilderness.

Camp Richardson Resort

If you’re looking for a campground right on the shore of Lake Tahoe, Camp Richardson Resort is perfect and, here, you can find tent camping spots, RV hookups, and even cabins for campers who are looking for a night or two of ultimate comfort. In terms of amenities, there are hot showers, restrooms, laundry facilities, and several on-site restaurants serving a range of cuisine. WiFi is pretty patchy here, but while some may see this as a bad thing, it does make it more appealing to people who are looking to unplug.

During summer, Camp Richardson transforms into a lively hub of activity, with a marina offering boat rentals, paddleboarding, and parasailing. This campground is also open all year round, and the activities don’t cease in the winter, with opportunities to explore groomed cross-country ski trails just steps from your campsite.

In fact, no matter what time of year you’d like to stay at Camp Richardson, one of the best things about it is its close proximity to incredible outdoor activities. The Tallac Historic Site is located right next to the resort and is a must for history fans, and from here, you can also access the Mount Tallac Trail. The nearby Pope Beach is another favorite, particularly for swimming and picnicking in the summer, while winter campers can snowshoe around Fallen Leaf Lake.

Silver City RV Resort

Just a short drive from the southern edge of Lake Tahoe, Silver City RV Resort is a full-service, modern RV park with a huge number of awesome amenities to take advantage of. Each site comes with a full hookup, and there are clean restrooms, showers, a laundry room, a heated pool, and even a spa, which is ideal for unwinding in after a long day of exploring.

There’s a playground, too, which kids will love, and the pet-friendly policy means you can bring your canine companion along on your camping adventure!

This campground is open all year round, but the summer months are the busiest and reservations are highly encouraged. Because of the fair amount of snow that falls here during the winter, these months are quieter, but the excellent facilities mean that you’ll still have a comfortable stay – just remember to pack some warmer clothing for your expeditions around Lake Tahoe.

Silver City RV Resort is a bit further up from the lake itself (around 25 minutes in your campervan), but it’s still in a prime location for outdoor adventures. The Carson River is close by, where you can fish or raft, and you can also get easy access to hiking and biking trails in the surrounding mountains. While you’re on the road, you can also take a scenic drive up to Kingsbury Grade or Heavenly Mountain, both of which are ideal if you’re looking to take some amazing photos of Lake Tahoe.

Gold Ranch Casino and RV Resort

If you’re looking for a campground that combines outdoor adventure with a bit of luxury, Gold Ranch Casino and RV Resort offers both. Let’s start by looking at the RV sites themselves here, which are spacious and come with full hookups, while the resort’s amenities include restrooms, showers, a heated pool, a spa, and a laundry facility. Everything you need for a comfortable stay!

As the name suggests, there’s also a casino on-site, which means you’ll have an added layer of entertainment when you’re not exploring Lake Tahoe. There’s a convenience store here, too, which has been reviewed as being very well stocked, and you can enjoy a meal at one of several restaurants within walking distance.

Along with the first-class amenities and additional entertainment options, one of the biggest advantages of staying at Gold Ranch is its easy access to both the natural beauty of Lake Tahoe and the nightlife of nearby Reno. During the summer months, the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail is a very popular hiking spot with views of the Truckee River, and if you’re visiting in winter, Mount Rose Ski Resort is the closest spot for snow sports.

Meeks Bay Campground

One of the best Lake Tahoe campgrounds located on the western shore, Meeks Bay is a good choice if you’re craving that rustic, back-to-nature camping experience. Don’t fret too much about there being a lack of facilities, though – Meeks Bay Campground is still very well-equipped to ensure you get a comfortable stay and has amenities including flush toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. There aren’t any hookups, but what it lacks in modern conveniences, it more than makes up for with its incredible lakeside views.

Unlike many Lake Tahoe campgrounds, Meeks Bay isn’t open all year round, and you can only camp here from late May through early October. However, this seasonal window makes it an ideal summer camping spot, but you will still need to be prepared for some chilly nights as temperatures can drop quite low, even in the height of summer.

With beach access just steps away, most campers at Meeks Bay Campground spend their days enjoying the water or relaxing on the shores, and you can rent kayaks or paddleboards from the marina. Of, if you’re looking for hiking opportunities, the Desolation Wilderness offers miles of backcountry trails that are just begging to be explored, while the Meeks Bay Trailhead is the gateway to some of the best hiking in the area.

Final Thoughts

Whether you want to lounge on a beach, hike through the alpine forests, or hit the ski slopes on a winter camping trip (which you can enjoy in our heated campervan model), these Lake Tahoe campgrounds each bring something unique to the table. And at Travellers Autobarn, we understand that the journey is just as important as the destination, which is why we offer campervans with unlimited miles. This makes it possible to enjoy your trip around Lake Tahoe (and beyond) with zero stress and allows you to pack as much adventure in as you can handle!