Lake Tahoe’s Best Campsites

Somebody had to do it. We walked every campground and photographed every campsite in search of the best campsites in the campgrounds around Lake Tahoe. This is our list (by campground) of Lake Tahoe’s best campsites!

Our criteria for choosing Lake Tahoe’s best campsites is that we look for those with better views, closer to water, away from high-traffic areas (i.e. restrooms, trails, parking lots), are relatively flat, large and have some decent privacy. Our favorite campsites reflect a mixture of tent and trailer/RV sites in campgrounds around Lake Tahoe.

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Camp Richardson Resort

Camp Richardson Resort is located in South Lake Tahoe (next to Lake Tahoe) and has approximately 210 campsites located in three campgrounds. There is also a hotel and cabins available for overnight lodging. Our favorite campsites are: Badgers Den: 25, 26, 44-49, 53, 54, 72, 77 and 80; Eagles Nest: 94, 95, 98, 109, 109, 111 and 112: RV Camp/Village: 40-42, 52, 53, 55, 57, 62, 63, 66, 68, 74, 77 and 82.

Camp Richardson Beach

Eagles Nest #112

Badgers Den #44

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Camp Shelly

Camp Shelly has 25 campsites and is located just a few miles from South Lake Tahoe. It’s also in between (about 1/2 mile from) Fallen Leaf Lake and Lake Tahoe. Campsites can accommodate tents, trailers and RVs. Most sites are relatively small, but a few can handle a trailer or RV up to 24 feet in length. Our favorites sites are 6, 9, 14 and 20.

Campsite #9

Campsite #14

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Campground By The Lake

Campground by the Lake has 177 campsites and is located in the city of South Lake Tahoe and across the street from Lake Tahoe. There are also 6 tent cabins and 1 standard cabin available. Check in time is 1pm and check out is 11am. Campsites can accommodate tents, trailers and RVs (from 23 to 43 feet). Loops A and B also have water & electric hookups. Campground By The Lake best campsites: B20, B22, B24, B28 C5, C7, C8, C10, C11, C13, C19, C21, C30, C32, C38 D1, D3, D4, D5, D8, D10, D11, D19, D20, D21, D22 E8, and E11.

Campsite #D4

Campsite #E8

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D.L. Bliss State Park

D.L. Bliss State Park Campground is adjacent to one of the best beaches on Lake Tahoe and has 165 campsites. Campground roads and campsites are on the small side (including the parking spurs). Campsites can accommodate tents, trailers (up to 15 feet) and RVs (up to 18 feet). There are no hookups. D.L. Bliss State Park best campsites: 149, 151, 153, 156, and 158.

D.L. Bliss Beach

Campsite #149

Campsite #158

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Emerald Bay State Park

Emerald Bay State Park (Eagle Point Campground) has 97 campsites and overlooks Emerald Bay and beautiful Lake Tahoe. Campsites can accommodate tents, trailers and smalls RVs (up to 18 feet). The campground is set up in two loops – Upper Eagle Point (campsites 1-33) and Lower Eagle Point (campsites 34-100). Our favorite Emerald Bay State Park campsites include: 10-14, 22, 24-29, 30, 39-51, 53-56, 58, 59, 61, 65-70, 72, 74-79, 81, 82, 86-88, and 90-97. The Eagle Point campsites with a view of the water include: 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 34p, 35p, 36p, 37p, 38p, 39p, 40p, 41-50, 56p, 58, 59p, 61, 62p, 63, 65-70, 71p, 72, 73p, 74-79, 80p, 81p, 82p, 86. Sites with a ‘p’ indicate ‘partial’ view.

Emerald Bay

Campsite #29

 Campsite #76

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Fallen Leaf

Fallen Leaf Campground is nestled among towering native pine trees in a peaceful alpine canyon about 1/2 mile from Fallen Leaf Lake and a few miles from Lake Tahoe. It’s also a large campground with 206 campsites. Six of the campsites have yurts with electricity, a heater, lights and comfy mattresses. Fallen Leaf best campsites: 21, 23, 26, 29, 39, 40, 49, 52, 55, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66-68, 70, 76, 78, 86-94, 96, 101, 105, 111, 118, 119, 120, 122, 133A, 137, 140-142, 144-144A, 146, 148, 162, 165, 166, 169, 177, 184, 188, 189, and 194-204.

Fallen Leaf Lake

Campsite #39

Campsite #86

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Kaspian

Kaspian Campground has 9 single-family campsites (tent only) and is right across the road from Lake Tahoe. It can get a bit noisy (cars passing by), but the views of the lake are outstanding. You’re also just a few steps from the beach. Campers can parking one car in the parking lot and must walk to their site (75 – 150 feet). All gear must be packed in and out. Our favorite Kaspian campsites are 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8.

Campsite #5

Campsite #6

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Lake Forest

Lake Forest Campground is a municipal campground located in Tahoe City, CA. The campground has 20 single family campsites available on a first-come first-serve basis. Be advised, that we don’t give this campground very high marks. Most campsites are small, primitive and not well maintained.  Campsites 9, 11, 19 and 20 are the best at this campground.

Lake Forest Docks/Marina

Campsite #19

Campsite #20

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Meeks Bay

Meeks Bay Campground has 40 campsites and is just a few hundred feet from the shores of Lake Tahoe and open from mid-May to mid-October. The campground is on the west shore of Lake Tahoe and is mostly flat with paved roads and parking pad. The campsites also have good shade from the Ponderosa pines that tower above. Meeks Bay best campsites: 24, 25, and 26.

Campsite #25

Campsite #26

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Nevada Beach

Nevada Beach Campground has some prime real estate next to a beautiful mile-long beach. The campground is generally open mid-May to mid-October and has 54 campsites with some among the trees and others with views of the lake.Campsites can accommodate tents, trailers and RVs (maximum size from 30 to 60 feet). Nevada Beach best campsites: 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26

Nevada Beach Picnic Area

Campsite #4

Campsite #22

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Sugar Pine Point State Park

Sugar Pine Point State Park Campground (also known as Ed Z’berg or General Creek) has 175 campsites located in a Ponderosa pine forest about 1/2 mile from Lake Tahoe. All campsites are available from about mid-May to mid-September, but there are also 24 sites open year-round for snow camping. There are no hookups available.The Park has one of the best natural areas on Lake Tahoe with almost 2 miles of lake frontage. Our favorite Sugar Pine Point campsites are: 79-81, 83, 84-96, 101, 104, 105, 107, 108-111, 113-116, 118-124, 131-140, 148, 149, 151, 153-159, 161, and 163-168.

Campsite #90

Campsite #166

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Tahoe State Recreation Area

Tahoe SRA Campground is a nice little campground located 1/4 mile from Tahoe City on Highway 28. The campground has 28 campsites and each also has a paved parking pad, table, fire ring/grill, and food storage container. Campsites can accommodate tents and small trailers/RVs. The campground is right on the highway (a bit louder for sites 1-6 and 20-27), but it is also right on the bike/walking path and a stone’s throw from the lake and downtown Tahoe City. Tahoe SRA best campsites include 13, 15, and 16.

Campsite #115

Campsite #116

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William Kent

William Kent Campground has 81 single-family campsites and is located on the west shore of Lake Tahoe, just a few miles south of Tahoe City. Most sites are small, not very level, and best for tent camping. Some are trailer/RV friendly (sites 72-79). Campsites 2, 10 and 80 are Yurt sites. FYI – there are also many private homes and cabins surrounding the campground. William Kent best campsites: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 28, 31, 33, 36, 38, 42, 46, 48, 49, 50, 52, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 60, 62, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, and 81.

Beach Near William Kent

Campsite #6

Campsite #119

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Zephyr Cove Resort

Zephyr Cove Resort Campground is a short walk to the shores of beautiful Lake Tahoe and offers a total of 150 campsites. There are 93 campsites with full RV hookups, 47 walk-to tent sites and 10 drive in tent sites. The RV sites can accommodate rigs 40 feet or larger. Our favorite Zephyr Cove campsites are 171-175, 179, and 184-192.

Zephyr Cove Beach

Campsite #186

Campsite #189

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We hope this article will help you find a great campsite at one of the campgrounds around Lake Tahoe. Let us know if we missed one of your favorite campsites.