Camp Richardson vs Zephyr Cove: South Shore RV Camping
Full hookups vs electric hookups · RVs to 40 ft vs 50 ft.
Verdict: Pick Camp Richardson RV Village for full hookups; pick Zephyr Cove for room for a longer rig (50 ft longest listed site vs 40 ft longest listed site) and a lower nightly rate (from $29 a night listed vs from $50 a night listed).
Public-agency campground vs public-agency campground. Official facts link to their source; listing facts say so; anything nobody publishes is marked as not listed. Distances are straight-line.
| Attribute | RV Village at Camp Richardson Resort | Zephyr Cove RV & Campground |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | USDA Forest Service (Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit; Camp Richardson Resort under permit) | USDA Forest Service (Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit; Zephyr Cove Resort under permit) |
| Official RV limit | Not listed — no official limit published | Not listed — no official limit published |
| Guest rating | 4.0 (91 reviews, Recreation.gov) | 4.0 (123 reviews, Recreation.gov) |
| Price | Lowest listed rate $50/night (live price once you pick dates) (listing) | Lowest listed rate $29/night (live price once you pick dates) (listing) |
| Max rig length | Longest RV site listed: 40 ft (98 of 98 RV sites list a length) (listing) | Longest RV site listed: 50 ft (91 of 93 RV sites list a length) (listing) |
| Hookups & power | 21 full-hookup, 77 electric sites (listing) | 92 electric sites (listing) |
| Electric service | 20 full-hookup RV sites and 78 water/electric RV sites (amps not listed) (Recreation.gov) | Not listed — check with campground |
| Pull-through / back-in | Not listed — check with campground | 30 pull-through, 55 back-in (listing) |
| Road & site access | 98 gravel site driveways (listing) | 47 hike-in sites (listing) |
| Water | Flush toilets and showers in peak season; restrooms and dump station close in winter (Recreation.gov); Water at 98 sites (listing) | Water at 93 sites (listing) |
| Generators | Not listed — check with campground | Not listed — check with campground |
| Pets | No (listing) | Pets allowed in the campground on a leash at all times; not on the beach (USDA Forest Service); Allowed (listing) |
| Bear & food storage | Forest Order 19-24-03: all food and refuse not personally attended must be in a bear-resistant container; use the campground's bear boxes and wildlife-resistant dumpsters (USDA Forest Service) | Forest Order 19-24-03: all food and refuse not personally attended must be in a bear-resistant container; use the campground's bear boxes and wildlife-resistant dumpsters (USDA Forest Service) |
| Season | RV campground open year-round; no restrooms or trash service in winter (USDA Forest Service) | Open year-round (Forest Service LTBMU camping page) (USDA Forest Service) |
| Cell signal | Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 2 (30 reports), AT&T 2 (26 reports), T-Mobile 1 (17 reports) (listing) | Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 2 (48 reports), T-Mobile 3 (27 reports), AT&T 3 (27 reports) (listing) |
| Shade | 75 of 98 sites that report shade are listed as shaded (listing) | 57 of 57 sites that report shade are listed as shaded (listing) |
| Stay limits | 14 nights max (listing) | Not listed — check with campground |
| Getting there | 11.2 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe · 3.8 mi to Emerald Bay (straight-line, not driving) (listing) | 7.8 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe · 3.3 mi to Stateline & Heavenly Village (straight-line, not driving) (listing) |
Questions campers ask
Which is closer to the middle of Lake Tahoe, Camp Richardson RV Village or Zephyr Cove?
Zephyr Cove is closer: 7.8 miles from the middle of Lake Tahoe versus 11.2 miles for Camp Richardson RV Village (straight-line distances, not driving).
Which has hookups for an RV?
Camp Richardson RV Village: 20 full-hookup RV sites and 78 water/electric RV sites (amps not listed) (Recreation.gov). Zephyr Cove: 92 electric sites (listing).
How long an RV fits at Camp Richardson RV Village vs Zephyr Cove?
Camp Richardson RV Village: Longest RV site listed: 40 ft (98 of 98 RV sites list a length) (listing). Zephyr Cove: Longest RV site listed: 50 ft (91 of 93 RV sites list a length) (listing). Always confirm the specific site's length before booking.
Is there water at Camp Richardson RV Village and Zephyr Cove?
Camp Richardson RV Village: Flush toilets and showers in peak season; restrooms and dump station close in winter (Recreation.gov); Water at 98 sites (listing). Zephyr Cove: Water at 93 sites (listing).
Is there cell service at Camp Richardson RV Village or Zephyr Cove?
Camp Richardson RV Village: Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 2 (30 reports), AT&T 2 (26 reports), T-Mobile 1 (17 reports) (listing). Zephyr Cove: Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 2 (48 reports), T-Mobile 3 (27 reports), AT&T 3 (27 reports) (listing). Signal varies by carrier and site.
How do guests rate Camp Richardson RV Village and Zephyr Cove?
Camp Richardson RV Village is rated 4.0 from 91 reviews on Recreation.gov; Zephyr Cove is rated 4.0 from 123 reviews on Recreation.gov.
Go to the campgrounds
- RV Village at Camp Richardson Resort: live availability, sites and rules
- Zephyr Cove RV & Campground: live availability, sites and rules
Related guides
- Campgrounds near Camp Richardson
- Campgrounds near Zephyr Cove
- Full-hookup RV parks at Lake Tahoe
- Big-rig-friendly campgrounds (40 ft+)
Other comparisons for RV Village at Camp Richardson Resort
- RV Village at Camp Richardson Resort vs Fallen Leaf Campground — RVs to 40 ft vs 187 ft
- RV Village at Camp Richardson Resort vs Meeks Bay Resort — Listed from $50 vs $33/night · 11.2 vs 6.3 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe (straight-line)
- RV Village at Camp Richardson Resort vs Nevada Beach Campground — RVs to 40 ft vs 45 ft
- RV Village at Camp Richardson Resort vs Hope Valley — RVs to 40 ft vs 45 ft · listed from $50 vs $32/night
Other comparisons for Zephyr Cove RV & Campground
- Zephyr Cove RV & Campground vs Nevada Beach Campground — RVs to 50 ft vs 45 ft · listed from $29 vs $47/night
- Zephyr Cove RV & Campground vs Hope Valley — RVs to 50 ft vs 45 ft · 7.8 vs 14.8 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe (straight-line)