Donner Memorial State Park vs Goose Meadows: side-by-side comparison
State park campground vs public-agency campground · listed from $35 vs $22/night.
Verdict: Pick Goose Meadows for a lower nightly rate (from $22 a night listed vs from $35 a night listed).
State park 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 | Donner Memorial State Park | Goose Meadows |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | California State Parks (Donner Memorial State Park) | Recreation.gov |
| Official RV limit | 28 ft (California State Parks) | Not listed — no official limit published |
| Guest rating | No reviews listed | 4.0 (124 reviews, Recreation.gov) |
| Booking | Reservable on reservecalifornia.com (listing) | Reservable on Recreation.gov (listing) |
| Price | Lowest listed rate $35/night (live price once you pick dates) (listing) | Lowest listed rate $22/night (live price once you pick dates) (listing) |
| Max rig length | Official limit 28 ft max camper/motorhome; 24 ft max trailer (California State Parks) (California State Parks) | Longest RV site listed: 30 ft (20 of 20 RV sites list a length) (listing) |
| Hookups & power | Hookup type not listed for RV sites (listing) | Hookup type not listed for RV sites (listing) |
| Pull-through / back-in | Not listed — check with campground | 6 pull-through, 18 back-in (listing) |
| Road & site access | 118 paved, 9 gravel site driveways (listing) | 24 gravel site driveways (listing) |
| Generators | Not listed — check with campground | Not listed — check with campground |
| Pets | Pets allowed (listing) | Allowed (listing) |
| Season | Summer camping; the park itself stays open year-round for trails and winter recreation (California State Parks) | Not listed — check with campground |
| Cell signal | Not listed — check with campground | Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): AT&T 3 (42 reports), Verizon 3 (38 reports), T-Mobile 3 (17 reports) (listing) |
| Shade | 0 of 125 sites that report shade are listed as shaded (listing) | 24 of 24 sites that report shade are listed as shaded (listing) |
| Stay limits | 15 nights max (listing) | 14 nights max (listing) |
| Getting there | 18.8 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe · 1.7 mi to Donner Lake (straight-line, not driving) (listing) | 14.6 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe · 4.4 mi to Palisades Tahoe (straight-line, not driving) (listing) |
Questions campers ask
Which is closer to the middle of Lake Tahoe, Donner Memorial State Park or Goose Meadows?
Goose Meadows is closer: 14.6 miles from the middle of Lake Tahoe versus 18.8 miles for Donner Memorial State Park (straight-line distances, not driving).
Can I reserve a site at Donner Memorial State Park and Goose Meadows?
Donner Memorial State Park: Reservable on reservecalifornia.com (listing). Goose Meadows: Reservable on Recreation.gov (listing).
Which has hookups for an RV?
Donner Memorial State Park: Hookup type not listed for RV sites (listing). Goose Meadows: Hookup type not listed for RV sites (listing).
How long an RV fits at Donner Memorial State Park vs Goose Meadows?
Donner Memorial State Park: Official limit 28 ft max camper/motorhome; 24 ft max trailer (California State Parks) (California State Parks). Goose Meadows: Longest RV site listed: 30 ft (20 of 20 RV sites list a length) (listing). Always confirm the specific site's length before booking.
Is there cell service at Donner Memorial State Park or Goose Meadows?
Donner Memorial State Park: Not listed — check with campground. Goose Meadows: Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): AT&T 3 (42 reports), Verizon 3 (38 reports), T-Mobile 3 (17 reports) (listing). Signal varies by carrier and site.
Go to the campgrounds
- Donner Memorial State Park: live availability, sites and rules
- Goose Meadows: live availability, sites and rules
Related guides
- Truckee & Donner campgrounds
- Tent camping at Lake Tahoe
- Campgrounds near Donner Memorial State Park
- Van & truck camper camping at Lake Tahoe
Other comparisons for Donner Memorial State Park
- Donner Memorial State Park vs Tahoe State Recreation Area — RVs to 28 ft vs 18 ft · 18.8 vs 7.7 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe (straight-line)
- Donner Memorial State Park vs Silver Creek-Truckee — State park campground vs public-agency campground · listed from $35 vs $20/night
Other comparisons for Goose Meadows
- Goose Meadows vs Silver Creek-Truckee — Booking, water, access and rig fit side by side
- Goose Meadows vs Granite Flat — RVs to 30 ft vs 65 ft
- Goose Meadows vs Boca Campground — RVs to 30 ft vs 40 ft · 14.6 vs 20.9 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe (straight-line)
- Goose Meadows vs Alpine Meadow Campground — Booking, water, access and rig fit side by side