Fallen Leaf vs Camp Richardson (RV Village)
RVs to 187 ft vs 40 ft.
Verdict: Pick Fallen Leaf for room for a longer rig (187 ft longest listed site vs 40 ft longest listed site); pick Camp Richardson RV Village for full hookups.
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 | Fallen Leaf Campground | RV Village at Camp Richardson Resort |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | USDA Forest Service (Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit) | USDA Forest Service (Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit; Camp Richardson Resort under permit) |
| Official RV limit | Not listed — no official limit published | Not listed — no official limit published |
| Guest rating | 5.0 (1363 reviews, Recreation.gov) | 4.0 (91 reviews, Recreation.gov) |
| Booking | Recreation.gov: individual sites up to 6 months ahead, group sites up to 12 months (Recreation.gov) | Not listed — check with campground |
| Price | Lowest listed rate $47/night (live price once you pick dates) (listing) | Lowest listed rate $50/night (live price once you pick dates) (listing) |
| Max rig length | Longest RV site listed: 187 ft (187 of 187 RV sites list a length) (listing) | Longest RV site listed: 40 ft (98 of 98 RV sites list a length) (listing) |
| Hookups & power | Hookup type not listed for RV sites (listing) | 21 full-hookup, 77 electric sites (listing) |
| Electric service | Not listed — check with campground | 20 full-hookup RV sites and 78 water/electric RV sites (amps not listed) (Recreation.gov) |
| Pull-through / back-in | 23 pull-through, 173 back-in (listing) | Not listed — check with campground |
| Road & site access | 190 paved site driveways (listing) | 98 gravel site driveways (listing) |
| Water | Not listed — check with campground | Flush toilets and showers in peak season; restrooms and dump station close in winter (Recreation.gov); Water at 98 sites (listing) |
| Generators | Not listed — check with campground | Not listed — check with campground |
| Pets | Allowed (listing) | No (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 | Typically open mid-May through mid-October; 2026 opening May 22 (Recreation.gov) | RV campground open year-round; no restrooms or trash service in winter (USDA Forest Service) |
| Cell signal | Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 1 (486 reports), AT&T 1 (386 reports), T-Mobile 1 (230 reports) (listing) | Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 2 (30 reports), AT&T 2 (26 reports), T-Mobile 1 (17 reports) (listing) |
| Shade | 195 of 196 sites that report shade are listed as shaded (listing) | 75 of 98 sites that report shade are listed as shaded (listing) |
| Stay limits | Most National Forest campgrounds at Lake Tahoe: 14-day limit per calendar year and six people per campsite (USDA Forest Service); 14 nights max (listing) | 14 nights max (listing) |
| Getting there | 11.8 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe · 3.7 mi to Emerald Bay (straight-line, not driving) (listing) | 11.2 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe · 3.8 mi to Emerald Bay (straight-line, not driving) (listing) |
Questions campers ask
Which is closer to the middle of Lake Tahoe, Fallen Leaf or Camp Richardson RV Village?
Camp Richardson RV Village is closer: 11.2 miles from the middle of Lake Tahoe versus 11.8 miles for Fallen Leaf (straight-line distances, not driving).
Can I reserve a site at Fallen Leaf and Camp Richardson RV Village?
Fallen Leaf: Recreation.gov: individual sites up to 6 months ahead, group sites up to 12 months (Recreation.gov). Camp Richardson RV Village: Not listed — check with campground.
Which has hookups for an RV?
Fallen Leaf: Hookup type not listed for RV sites (listing). Camp Richardson RV Village: 20 full-hookup RV sites and 78 water/electric RV sites (amps not listed) (Recreation.gov).
How long an RV fits at Fallen Leaf vs Camp Richardson RV Village?
Fallen Leaf: Longest RV site listed: 187 ft (187 of 187 RV sites list a length) (listing). Camp Richardson RV Village: Longest RV site listed: 40 ft (98 of 98 RV sites list a length) (listing). Always confirm the specific site's length before booking.
Is there water at Fallen Leaf and Camp Richardson RV Village?
Fallen Leaf: Not listed — check with campground. 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).
Is there cell service at Fallen Leaf or Camp Richardson RV Village?
Fallen Leaf: Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 1 (486 reports), AT&T 1 (386 reports), T-Mobile 1 (230 reports) (listing). 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). Signal varies by carrier and site.
How do guests rate Fallen Leaf and Camp Richardson RV Village?
Fallen Leaf is rated 5.0 from 1363 reviews on Recreation.gov; Camp Richardson RV Village is rated 4.0 from 91 reviews on Recreation.gov.
Go to the campgrounds
- Fallen Leaf Campground: live availability, sites and rules
- RV Village at Camp Richardson Resort: live availability, sites and rules
Related guides
- South Lake Tahoe campgrounds
- Campgrounds near Camp Richardson
- Campgrounds near Emerald Bay
- Campgrounds near D.L. Bliss State Park
Other comparisons for Fallen Leaf Campground
- Fallen Leaf Campground vs Badger's Den at Camp Richardson Resort — Booking, water, access and rig fit side by side
- Fallen Leaf Campground vs Eagle's Nest at Camp Richardson Resort — Booking, water, access and rig fit side by side
Other comparisons for RV Village at Camp Richardson Resort
- RV Village at Camp Richardson Resort vs Zephyr Cove RV & Campground — Full hookups vs electric hookups · RVs to 40 ft vs 50 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