Written by Brad Lane Updated Mar 21, 2023 Campgrounds extend in all instructions from Sacramento. There’s outdoor camping near to the city and a number of more options within a one -or two-hour drive. These close-by landscapes consist of the similarity Folsom Lake, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and two national forests. Other places to camp near Sacramento include Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe. And just like the different places to travel to, the kind of camping also varies considerably within a two-hour radius of the city. There’s lake camping, recreational vehicle outdoor camping, and outdoor camping near California’s very first gold find, all within a brief drive.
Bookings are suggested when readily available. Popular campsites in the area tend to reserve out quickly throughout the long summer season. Camping features likewise differ, varying from personal hot shower stalls to only pit toilets at some camping spots near the capital city. Strategy ahead and pack accordingly, and discover your next spot to spend the night with our list of the best campgrounds near Sacramento.
On This Page:
- 1. Beals Point Campground, Folsom Lake Recreation Area
- 2. Ice House Campground, Eldorado National Park
- 3. Mineral Bar Camping Area, Auburn State Leisure Area
- 4. Sly Park Recreation Area
- 5. Coloma Resort
- 6. Rancho Seco Entertainment Area
- 7. Peninsula Camping Area, Folsom Lake Entertainment Area
- 8. Eagle Point Camping Area, Emerald Bay State Park South Lake Tahoe Camping Site
- 9. Northwind Camping Area, Eldorado National Park
- 10. Satisfaction Cove Resort & Marina, Lake Berryessa
- 11. Cal Expo RV Park
- 12. Horizon Wilderness Park
- 13. Hampshire Rocks, Tahoe National Park
- Map of Campgrounds near Sacramento, CA
- Sacramento, CA – Climate Chart
1. Beals Point Campground, Folsom Lake Entertainment Area
Folsom Lake Entertainment Area Beal’s Point is one of 3 camping sites within the massive Folsom Lake State Recreation Location. It’s on the lake’s western shore, near the Folsom Dam, and has 49 family sites with picnic tables and fire pits. Beal’s Point likewise deals with Recreational vehicles with an extra 20 full connection websites readily available. Alongside easy access to a day-use location that juts into the lake from the campground, the Beal’s Point Camping area likewise gets in touch with the Jedediah Smith Memorial Path along the American River Parkway. For those originating from Sacramento, it’s simply over a half-hour drive from the city or a 32-mile bike trip on the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail.
All over night guests at the camping area have access to potable water and coin-operated showers, and reservations can be made ahead of time online or over the phone. It’s the only camping site open year-round at Folsom Lake. Bookings aren’t needed in the winter season.
South of Beal’s Point on the nearby and smaller reservoir within the entertainment location, Lake Natoma, the Negro Bar Camping area includes group websites that accommodate big parties.
Place: Beals Point, Granite Bay, California
Main website: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=500
2. Ice Home Camping Area, Eldorado National Park
Ice Home Campground|Picture Copyright: Brad Lane The Ice Home Camping area is a popular camping area 80 miles northeast of Sacramento within Eldorado National Park. It’s on the banks of the beautiful Ice Home Tank and is terrific for activities like fishing, paddle sports, and swimming. And the ponderosa pine forest surrounding the campground is absolutely nothing but postcard perfect.
Ice Home Camping area accommodates camping tents and Recreational vehicles with over 80 websites readily available. Safe and clean water and pit toilets are offered at the campground, and the surrounding Ice House Resort features a basic shop and café. The campground normally runs between Memorial Day and mid-October.
The national forest also operates the Northwind Campground and Strawberry Camping Site on the Ice Home Tank, east of Ice Home Campground. Both function primitive camping areas and more economical camping rates. A scenic treking path links all 3 camping areas in the area.
Other fantastic hiking trails are a brief drive from the camping area, consisting of the toppling Bassi Falls trail less than 10 miles away.
Address: Ice House Reservoir, Wrights Lake Roadway, Pollock Pines, California
Official site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/eldorado/recarea/?recid=71013
3. Mineral Bar Camping Area, Auburn State Recreation Area
Auburn State Recreation Area|Picture Copyright: Brad Lane Auburn State Entertainment Location includes amazing beauty surrounding the North and Middle Forks of the American River, available from Sacramento with an hour-long drive. Over 100 miles of treking trails span this long, linear entertainment location, in addition to three camping areas.
The most popular of Auburn’s camping areas, Mineral Bar Camping site, features 18 sites offered on a first-come, first-served basis. The narrow roadway resulting in the Mineral Bar camping area usually deters Recreational vehicles and trailers from accessing the websites. All websites have picnic tables, fire pits, and pit toilets available. Visitors require to bring their own drinking water or purification technique.
Auburn State Entertainment Area also includes a camping area only available by boat on Lake Clementine, where visitors discover a boat launch, marina, and day-use swimming location. Auburn’s 3rd camping area, the Ruck-a-Chucky Campground, features five popular websites also readily available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Main site: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=502
4. Sly Park Leisure Location
Sly Park Recreation Location|Photo Copyright: Brad Lane Sly Park Entertainment Location is on the edge of the Eldorado National Forest, an hour’s drive northeast of Sacramento. Owned and operated by the El Dorado Irrigation District, it has nearly 200 websites
readily available. The camping site is centered around the beautiful Jenkinson Lake, where activities like fishing, boating, and paddle sports prevail. Other popular activities at Sly Park Leisure Location consist of hiking, barbecuing, and having bonfires in the designated fire pits.
The 190 camping areas at Sly Park are spread out between 10 different campground locations. The camping areas cater to tent campers and RVs approximately 40 feet in length. Special websites at the leisure location include waterside websites and a “Pine Cone Strip” location that books up fast for summer weekends.
Sly Park is a preferred family campground on the weekends. Bookings are readily available and some websites are understood to schedule a year ahead of time. All over night users have access to running water and washroom facilities.
Address: 4771 Sly Park Roadway, Pollock Pines, California
Official site: https://www.eid.org/recreation/sly-park-recreation-area-spra-at-jenkinson-lake
5. Coloma Resort
Coloma Resort|Photo Copyright: Brad Lane Coloma Resort offers high-end camping and high end outdoor features beside the South Fork of the American River, under an hour from Sacramento. This personal campground is near the Marshall Gold Discovery Website and functions camping tent and recreational vehicle camping. The resort likewise provides roomy cabins and a reservable country home.
Glamorous features at Coloma Resort include unique riverfront gain access to, a pool, and kids’s play grounds, in addition to a basic shop with all the necessary sundries. And the close-by Argonaut Coffee shop in Coloma uses farm-fresh entrees and a range of espresso drinks.
Across the American River via a historic bridge, the Marshall Gold Discovery Site is the area of the first-ever gold found in California. This website generated an entire movement of people and culture and has been traditionally protected. It now includes numerous interpretive exhibits and details about this monumental find.
Address: 6921 Mount Murphy Roadway, Coloma, California
Official site: https://colomaresort.com/
6. Rancho Seco Leisure Location
Blackbird and angler on Rancho Seco Lake|Eric Sonstroem/ photo customized Rancho Seco Leisure Location is focused around the 160-acre Rancho Seco Lake, less than an hour southeast of Sacramento. It’s popular for water activities like boating, fishing, and swimming. The entertainment location offers boat leasings throughout the summertime, and several treking routes near the coast.
The campground at Rancho Seco Lake has 32 camping tent camping sites and 18 areas to park a RV, with electrical hookups readily available. It’s a popular family destination throughout the year, and appointments are readily available online.
Address: 14960 Twin Cities Road, Herald, California
Official site: https://www.smud.org/en/In-Our-Community/Visit-our-Recreational-Areas/Rancho-Seco
7. Peninsula Camping Area, Folsom Lake Recreation Area
Peninsula Campground|Photo Copyright: Brad Lane The Peninsula Camping area is among 3 campgrounds surrounding the Folsom Lake reservoir. It includes 100 family-friendly camping sites in a remote setting. The camping site is simply over an hour drive from Sacramento, including a curvy nine-mile road from the small neighborhood of Pilot Hill.
Another popular approach to the Peninsula Campground is boating throughout the lake and mooring on the shore. The camping area accommodates trailers and motor homes, though no hook-ups are offered. A number of the camping areas are widely accessible, as are the shower and washroom centers. Potable water is likewise offered.
Two boat launches and an expansive day-use location lie near the camping site, and campers can easily access the coast from their camping site. Depending on the water levels, campers also have an opportunity to explore the driftwood-laden beach and exposed lake flats.
Even with a lot of sites offered, it’s not uncommon for the campground to fill up entirely on warm-weather weekends; bookings are readily available online.
Main website: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=500
8. Eagle Point Campground, Emerald Bay State Park South Lake Tahoe Campground
Emerald Bay Lake Tahoe is a sensational body of water and a glittering destination in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It lures countless visitors each year with sandy beaches, elegant resorts, and crisp air at an elevation of over 6,200 feet. And this first-rate getaway location is less than a two-hour drive from Sacramento.
Numerous camping sites surround the southeast side of the lake. One such campground, the Eagle Point Camping Area, is within among the best state parks in California; Emerald Bay State Park. This spectacular state park showcases the elegance of this Sierra Nevada hot spot.
Eagle Point Camping area includes nearly 100 websites able to accommodate tents and Recreational vehicles. It likewise includes access to a special undersea maintain and shipwreck, fabulous hiking tracks, as well as the historic Vikingsholm vacation home. All overnight users have access to flushing toilets and coin-operated showers.
Straight north of Emerald Bay, D.L. Happiness State Park offers over 160 comparable areas to spend the night. Other camping areas at South Lake Tahoe include the close-by Fallen Leaf Camping site and Meeks Bay Resort and Marina.
Address: 138 Emerald Bay Road, South Lake Tahoe, California
Official site: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=506
9. Northwind Camping Area, Eldorado National Forest
Northwind Camping area|Image Copyright: Brad Lane This primitive camping site is on the Ice Home Reservoir within the Eldorado National Forest and provides more inexpensive camping sites than the neighboring Ice Home Camping area. Campers from Sacramento can reach Northwind Camping area in 90 minutes by vehicle, making this beautiful area terrific for casual or prolonged weekend outdoor camping,
The nine large sites at Northwind Camping site provide to a sensation of privacy. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are often totally full during weekends throughout the summer. Vault toilets are readily available, and visitors require to bring their own drinking water.
Main site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/eldorado/recarea/?recid=71022
10. Satisfaction Cove Resort & Marina, Lake Berryessa
Lake Berryessa Lake Berryessa is the biggest lake in Napa County and an extremely scenic location to spend the night. It’s simply over an hour’s drive west of Sacramento, and various camping sites and resorts line the coasts of this massive tank, consisting of the aptly called Satisfaction Cove Resort & Marina.
Alongside over 90 tent outdoor camping sites and an additional 20 websites particularly for Recreational vehicles, Satisfaction Cove also features lakeside cabins and houseboats for rent. Appointments are offered at this private camping area and are recommended during the summer season.
Farther west along Lake Berryessa, the Steele Canyon Camping site includes 80 campgrounds that accommodate tents or Recreational vehicles. Camping sites at both Steele Canyon and Pleasure Cove feature picnic tables, fire rings, and access to potable water.
Heading north along the lake, Putah Canyon Camping area features an extra 100 sites with comparable lodgings.
Official site: http://lakeberryessacampgrounds.com/
11. Cal Exposition Recreational Vehicle Park
Cal Exposition RV Park is among the closest places to park a RV near Sacramento’s city center. It remains in the Cal Expo community, west of downtown, home to the popular California State Fair. This location is home to several other events throughout the year.
Cal Exposition RV Park is solely for RV outdoor camping and tents are not permitted. The park has 65 pull-through websites that all have full connections, including complimentary cordless web. Other features at the campground include an utility room, private hot showers, and a pet park.
The RV Park uses low daily, weekly, and monthly rates. Campers are just permitted to stay 1 month within a 60-day period. Appointments are suggested throughout the summer season, particularly throughout big occasions at Cal Expo, consisting of the California State Fair.
12. Skyline Wilderness Park
In the Central California city of Napa, an hour drive from Sacramento, Skyline Wilderness Park is a popular place to park a RV. It has nearly 40 sites with full and partial hookups readily available. Skyline Wilderness Park also uses activities like disc golf, mountain biking, and treking on over 25 miles of routes.
Tent outdoor camping is likewise readily available at Skyline Wilderness Park. All over night users have access to shower facilities and flushing toilets.
Address: 2201 Imola Ave, Napa, California
Official website: https://skylinepark.org
13. Hampshire Rocks, Tahoe National Park
Tahoe National park ignore Tahoe National Forest provides a welcome break from the heat and low elevations of Sacramento with a 70-mile drive northeast of the city. Numerous places to camp are spread throughout the 850,000-acre national forest, including numerous opportunities to primitive camp for free.
For established outdoor camping chances and access to drinking water and vault toilets, the Hampshire Rocks Camping area is a popular location to pitch a camping tent. It’s easily available through Interstate 80 and nearby to the swimmer-friendly South Yuba River. All 31 sites at Hampshire Rocks can be scheduled ahead of time, and many are hectic during summer season weekends.
Alongside delighting in the banks of the South Yuba River, other popular activities at the campground consist of day hiking and backpacking on the nearby Pacific Crest Trail. Other Forest Service campgrounds like Woodchuck Camping area and Indian Springs Camping area are discovered within a 10-minute drive of Hampshire Rocks.
Address: 15924 CA-49, Camptonville, California
Main site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/tahoe/recarea/?recid=55504
Map of Campgrounds near Sacramento, CA
Sacramento, CA-Environment Chart
| Average minimum and maximum temperature levels for Sacramento, CA in ° C | |||||||||||
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
| 13 5 | 17 7 | 19 8 | 23 10 | 28 12 | 32 14 | 34 16 | 34 16 | 32 15 | 26 12 | 18 8 | 13 4 |
| PlanetWare.com | |||||||||||
| Typical regular monthly rainfall totals for Sacramento, CA in mm. | |||||||||||
| 106 | 96 | 80 | 30 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 25 | 66 | 70 |
| Typical minimum and maximum temperature levels for Sacramento, CA in ° F | |||||||||||
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
| 55 41 | 62 45 | 67 47 | 74 50 | 82 54 | 89 58 | 94 61 | 93 61 | 89 59 | 79 54 | 64 46 | 55 40 |
| PlanetWare.com | |||||||||||
| Typical month-to-month rainfall overalls for Sacramento, CA in inches. | |||||||||||
| 4.2 | 3.8 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 2.8 |
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More to Explore in Sacramento: Alongside many great campgrounds, the city of Sacramento is near daring hiking trails that trip historical cash cow, picturesque river canyons, and shimmering lakeshores. After exploring the natural charm around Sacramento, you can go to the city’s premier tourist attractions, including the State Capitol, the California State Railway Museum, and the Crocker Museum of Art.
Camping in California: Enabling totally fledged Sierra Nevada Mountain adventures, the camping sites at Yosemite National Park deal unlimited access to activities like treking, rock climbing, and cross-country snowboarding. Another wonderfu location to invest a night under the stars is in the camping sites at Sequoia National forest. For an overview of the camping and experience options in California, our guide to the best state parks in California also features a few of the very best locations to pitch a tent or park a recreational vehicle.