Adventure
Cottonwood Creek
California · Nearby: north of Truckee & Sierraville (CA)
Cottonwood Creek is in Sierraville, CA, listed on Recreation.gov. It has tent and RV sites.
SIERRAVILLE RANGER DISTRICT
34.8 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe15.9 mi to Donner Lakestraight-line
Quick facts
| Agency / operator | Not listed |
|---|---|
| Booking | Recreation.gov [Recreation.gov] |
| Max RV / trailer length | Not listed |
| Bear storage | Not listed |
| Season | Not listed |
| Hookups | Not listed |
Sources: Recreation.gov — Cottonwood Creek. "Not listed" means no source we use states it.
This weekend (Fri, Oct 23 – Sun, Oct 25): Book online. Reservations online on Recreation.gov — open dates and rates come from the booking site.
Key facts
- Max rig length
- Longest RV site listed: 45 ft (48 of 48 RV sites list a length) Listing
- Hookups & power
- Hookup type not listed for RV sites Listing
- Pull-through / back-in
- 0 pull-through, 48 back-in Listing
- Booking
- Reservable on Recreation.gov Listing
- Getting there
- 34.8 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe · 15.9 mi to Donner Lake (straight-line, not driving) Listing
- Drinking Water
- Self Pay Station
- Vault Toilets
Why stay here?
- RV sites listed for rigs up to 45 ft.
- Rated 4.0★ across 80 guest reviews.
- Public-land campground run by a federal or state agency.
Choose a site
Your dates & setup
Checking 2 nights (your saved dates or this weekend). Showing options for: 35-ft RV.
Sites that match your setup
No recent availability data on Recreation.gov: availability may have changed, so check availability with the provider. Rates are listed rates, not an offer.
Standard Nonelectric
11 sites like thisUp to 6 peopleRVs up to 35 ftNo hookups
✓ Fits your setup
Check availabilityEnter your dates on Recreation.gov, then choose “Standard Nonelectric”.
$20/night
Continue to Recreation.gov ↗Standard Nonelectric
11 sites like thisUp to 6 peopleRVs up to 40 ftNo hookups
✓ Fits your setup
Check availabilityEnter your dates on Recreation.gov, then choose “Standard Nonelectric”.
$20/night
Continue to Recreation.gov ↗Standard Nonelectric
Up to 6 peopleRVs up to 45 ftNo hookups
✓ Fits your setup
Check availabilityEnter your dates on Recreation.gov, then choose “Standard Nonelectric”.
$20/night
Continue to Recreation.gov ↗Compare booking options
You book with the provider. Each row shows that provider's lowest open option that fits your setup for your dates, and which provider our main button uses.
Recreation.govMain booking button
No recent availability data — check availability on the provider's site
Check availability
Pick your dates again on this provider's site.
Other nearby options
Closest stays by type. Distances are straight-line from Cottonwood Creek, not driving.
- Closest public campgroundCold Creek0.5 mi away (straight-line) · PublicCheck availabilityCheck availability on Recreation.gov ↗
- Closest private full-hookupVillage Camp Truckee16.3 mi away (straight-line) · PrivateAvailable for your dates79 - Economy Pull Through: from $80/nightCheck availability on Hipcamp ↗
- Closest public / first-comeUpper Little Truckee5.5 mi away (straight-line) · PublicCheck availabilityCheck availability on Recreation.gov ↗
- Next closestLower Little Truckee6.1 mi away (straight-line) · PublicCheck availabilityCheck availability on Recreation.gov ↗
View calendar · night-by-night from Recreation.gov
No recent availability data on Recreation.gov: this grid may be out of date, so check availability with the provider. Showing 40 of 47 sites.
| Site | Fr 23 | Sa 24 | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 036 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 009 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 019 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 023 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 016 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 011 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 020 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 033 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 049 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 003 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 034 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 041 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 046 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 013 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 031 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 008 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 015 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 040 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 017 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 045 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 047 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 004 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 026 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 035 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 029 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 027 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 028 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 042 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 043 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 039 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 044 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 021 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 014 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 007 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 025 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 022 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 037 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 048 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 018 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
| 032 standard nonelectric | – | – | $20 |
✓ available · R reserved · X not available · C closed · W first come, first served · N not yet released
Before you go
CA California rules for campers
- Booking
- California State Parks book on ReserveCalifornia up to 6 months before arrival. Forest Service campgrounds book on Recreation.gov (individual sites up to 6 months ahead, group sites 12). California State Parks Recreation.gov
- Bears
- State park campgrounds: food, drinks, toiletries and scented trash go in the site's metal locker; ice chests may not be left in vehicles; bear-proof coolers must be locked (up to $1,000 fine). National Forest land: Forest Order 19-24-03. California State Parks USDA Forest Service
- Chains
- Caltrans chain controls R-1, R-2 and R-3 apply on CA-89, US-50 and I-80; check Caltrans QuickMap for live status. Caltrans Caltrans QuickMap
Longest RV site listed: 45 ft. Unsure if your rig fits? Check it in the Lake Tahoe Rig Fit tool
Cottonwood Creek: questions answered
- What is the maximum RV length at Cottonwood Creek?
- Longest RV site listed: 45 ft (48 of 48 RV sites list a length) (per the listing)
- Does Cottonwood Creek have RV hookups?
- Hookup type not listed for RV sites (per the listing)
- How do I reserve a site at Cottonwood Creek?
- Reservable on Recreation.gov (per the listing)
- Are pets allowed at Cottonwood Creek?
- Allowed (per the listing)
Recent guest reviews
Jessica R ★ 5 · Oct 2025It was beautiful and we were able to do a senior photoshoot near our campsite.
Jason B ★ 5 · Sep 2025What a nice, quiet and clean little camp area. No cell service was the best part. Great trails nearby, beautiful little creek and swimming hole. Highly recommend.
Ian R ★ 5 · Aug 2025very quite and nice camp grounds, not super private but far enough away so you cant overhear others. roads are maintained other than a few potholes. defiantly going again.
Location
SIERRAVILLE RANGER DISTRICT
34.8 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe (straight-line)
15.9 mi to Donner Lake (straight-line)
Open in Google Maps ↗
Policies
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Max stay
- 14 nights
- Pets
- Allowed (per listing)
- Campfires
- Allowed (per listing)
About
Cottonwood Creek Campground sits directly on Highway 89 about four miles south of Sierraville and roughly a 20-mile drive from Truckee, making it an easy roadside base for exploring the northern reaches of Tahoe National Forest. The facility contains exactly 48 campsites, and each site is designated for both RVs and tents and comes with a picnic table and a campfire ring; vault toilets, potable water and trash collection are available within the loop. Sites are set among stands of Jeffrey pine and red and white fir along the creek, which gives campsites shade and a sense of separation from nei…
Amenities
Drinking WaterSelf Pay StationVault Toilets
Nearby activities
Wildlife ViewingHuntingHikingCampingBiking
At a glance: all 15 facts with sources
At a glance
Official facts link to their source; “Listing” facts come from the Recreation.gov listing. Anything we can't source says so.
- Max rig length
- Listing Longest RV site listed: 45 ft (48 of 48 RV sites list a length)
- Hookups & power
- Listing Hookup type not listed for RV sites
- Pull-through / back-in
- Listing 0 pull-through, 48 back-in
- Road & site access
- Listing 48 paved site driveways
- Pets
- Listing Allowed
- Cell signal
- Listing Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): AT&T 0 (24 reports)
- Water
- Listing Drinking water listed
- Shade
- Listing 48 of 48 sites that report shade are listed as shaded
- Booking
- Listing Reservable on Recreation.gov
- Price
- Listing Lowest listed rate $20/night (live price once you pick dates)
- Stay limits
- Listing 14 nights max
- Getting there
- Listing 34.8 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe · 15.9 mi to Donner Lake (straight-line, not driving)
- Generators · Quiet hours · Starlink / satellite
- Not listed — check with campground
Check availability
For your RV
- Longest RV site listed here: 45 ft.
- No dump station listed — check with the provider.
- No hookups listed.
Build around it
Things to do near Donner Lake
Compare Cottonwood Creek with alternatives
Public-agency campground
vs Lower Little Truckee
34.8 vs 29 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe (straight-line)
Read comparison →Public-agency campground
vs Cold Creek
RVs to 45 ft vs 20 ft
Read comparison →Public-agency campground
vs Upper Little Truckee
RVs to 45 ft vs 70 ft · 34.8 vs 29.5 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe (straight-line)
Read comparison →Where Cottonwood Creek fits
- By rig & style
- Tent camping at Lake Tahoe
- Nearest alternatives
- Lakeside (Truckee) (13.8 mi) · Boyington Mill (14.3 mi) · Prosser Family (14.4 mi)
Other stays nearby
Cold Creek
Tent sites · RV sites
Check availability
Rates & availability from Recreation.gov · Continue to Recreation.gov ↗
Upper Little Truckee
Tent sites · RV sites
Check availability
Rates & availability from Recreation.gov · Continue to Recreation.gov ↗
Lower Little Truckee
Tent sites · RV sites
Check availability
Rates & availability from Recreation.gov · Continue to Recreation.gov ↗