Adventure
Tahoe State Recreation Area
California · North Shore (CA)
Tahoe State Recreation Area is in Tahoe City, CA, run by California State Parks. It has tent and RV sites, with an official RV limit of 18 ft.
Hwy 28 (Next To Mcdonalds)
7.7 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe0.8 mi to Tahoe Citystraight-line
Quick facts
| Agency / operator | California State Parks |
|---|---|
| Booking | ReserveCalifornia — Up to 6 months to the day before arrival; new dates open daily at 8 a.m. PT [California State Parks] |
| Max RV / trailer length | 18 ft camper/motorhome; 15 ft trailer (official) [California State Parks] |
| Bear storage | Metal bear-resistant food locker at each campsite (inside 36" D × 43" W × 22" H); food, drinks, toiletries, scented trash and ice chests go in it day and night [California State Parks] |
| Season | The campground has closed for the 2026 season [California State Parks] |
| Hookups | None — No hook-ups or dump stations; best for tents, small trailers and small RVs [California State Parks] |
| Dogs | Dogs are allowed only at the Truckee River Outlet ("Gatekeepers") within the day-use area along the shoreline [California State Parks] |
| Lake access | Lakeside loop by the lake in Tahoe City; the Hillside loop is across Highway 28 [California State Parks] |
Sources: California State Parks — ReserveCalifornia FAQ (rolling window examples) (checked 2026-10-18); California State Parks — Tahoe State Recreation Area (checked 2026-10-18). "Not listed" means no source we use states it.
This weekend (Fri, Oct 23 – Sun, Oct 25): Closed for season. Tahoe SRA campground has closed for the 2026 season (California State Parks); California State Parks hasn't posted 2027 camping dates on the park page yet. Source: California State Parks — Tahoe State Recreation Area
Key facts
- Max rig length
- Official limit 18 ft max RV/camper; 15 ft max trailer — a small, historic campground with small turns and parking pads (California State Parks) Official
- Hookups & power
- Hookup type not listed for RV sites Listing
- Pull-through / back-in
- Not listed — check with campground
- Booking
- Not listed — check with campground
- Getting there
- In Tahoe City; Lakeside loop by the lake and Hillside loop across Highway 28. No extra parking and no day use Official
- Fire Ring
- Food Locker
- Grill
- Pets Allowed
- Picnic Table
- Shower
Why stay here?
- 0.8 mi from Tahoe City (straight-line).
- Official RV length limit: 18 ft.
- 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 reservecalifornia.com: availability may have changed, so check availability with the provider. Rates are listed rates, not an offer.
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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.
reservecalifornia.com (via UseDirect feed)Main booking button
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Other nearby options
Closest stays by type. Distances are straight-line from Tahoe State Recreation Area, not driving.
- Closest public campgroundLake Forest Campground1.0 mi away (straight-line) · PublicFirst come, first servedCheck availability on tcpud.org ↗
- Closest private full-hookupVillage Camp Truckee11.6 mi away (straight-line) · PrivateAvailable for your dates79 - Economy Pull Through: from $80/nightCheck availability on Hipcamp ↗
- Closest public / first-comeWilliam Kent Campground2.7 mi away (straight-line) · PublicCheck availabilityCheck availability on Recreation.gov ↗
- Next closestWatson Lake Campground3.4 mi away (straight-line) · PublicFirst come, first servedCheck availability on fs.usda.gov ↗
View calendar · night-by-night from UseDirect
No recent availability data on UseDirect: this grid may be out of date, so check availability with the provider.
| Site | Fr 23 | Sa 24 | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 tahoe campground | – | – | $10 |
| 1 tahoe campground | – | – | $35 |
| 3 tahoe campground | – | – | $35 |
| 7 tahoe campground | – | – | $35 |
| 8 tahoe campground | – | – | $35 |
| 11 tahoe campground | – | – | $35 |
| 13 tahoe campground | – | – | $35 |
| 15 tahoe campground | – | – | $35 |
| 16 tahoe campground | – | – | $35 |
| 18 tahoe campground | – | – | $35 |
| 19 tahoe campground | – | – | $35 |
| 21 tahoe campground | – | – | $35 |
| 22 tahoe campground | – | – | $35 |
| 23 tahoe campground | – | – | $35 |
| 24 tahoe campground | – | – | $35 |
| 4 tahoe campground | – | – | $35 |
| 6 tahoe campground | – | – | $35 |
| 9 tahoe campground | – | – | $35 |
| 10 tahoe campground | – | – | $35 |
| 12 tahoe campground | – | – | $35 |
| 14 tahoe campground | – | – | $35 |
| 20 tahoe campground | – | – | $35 |
✓ 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
Official limit 18 ft max RV/camper; 15 ft max trailer — a small, historic campground with small turns and parking pads (California State Parks). Official road and access notes apply. Unsure if your rig fits? Check it in the Lake Tahoe Rig Fit tool
Tahoe State Recreation Area: questions answered
- What is the maximum RV length at Tahoe State Recreation Area?
- Official limit 18 ft max RV/camper; 15 ft max trailer — a small, historic campground with small turns and parking pads (California State Parks) Official
- Does Tahoe State Recreation Area have RV hookups?
- Hookup type not listed for RV sites (per the listing)
- When is Tahoe State Recreation Area open?
- The campground has closed for the 2026 season. Official
- What are the food storage rules at Tahoe State Recreation Area?
- Food, beverages, toiletries and scented trash must go in the campsite's metal food locker except while eating or cooking; ice chests may not be stored in vehicles. Bear-proof coolers must be locked (up to a $1,000 fine) Official
- Are pets allowed at Tahoe State Recreation Area?
- Pets allowed (per the listing)
Location
Hwy 28 (Next To Mcdonalds)
7.7 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe (straight-line)
0.8 mi to Tahoe City (straight-line)
Open in Google Maps ↗
Policies
- Max stay
- 30 nights
About
Park is located in Tahoe City, near shopping malls and restaurants. Picturesque views of Lake Tahoe from the campground nestled in groves of Ponderosa and Jefferey pine. Sugar Pine Point SP, (11 miles south on State Highway 89), is suggested if more secluded campsites are desired. Alternate park phone number is 530-525-7982.
Amenities
Fire RingFood LockerGrillPets AllowedPicnic TableShowerToilet
Nearby activities
BicyclingBoatingBody SurfingCampingFishingHikingMuseumPicnic AreaSurfingVisitor Center
At a glance: all 17 facts with sources
At a glance
Managed by California State Parks (Tahoe State Recreation Area). Official facts link to their source; “Listing” facts come from the reservecalifornia.com listing. Anything we can't source says so.
- Max rig length
- Official limit 18 ft max RV/camper; 15 ft max trailer — a small, historic campground with small turns and parking pads (California State Parks) Source: California State Parks
- Hookups & power
- Listing Hookup type not listed for RV sites
- Road & site access
- Listing 20 paved site driveways
- Pets
- Listing Pets allowed
- Water
- Showers and restrooms for registered campers Source: California State Parks
- Shade
- Listing 0 of 15 sites that report shade are listed as shaded
- Price
- Listing Lowest listed rate $35/night (live price once you pick dates)
- Stay limits
- Listing 30 nights max
- Getting there
- In Tahoe City; Lakeside loop by the lake and Hillside loop across Highway 28. No extra parking and no day use Source: California State ParksListing 7.7 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe · 0.8 mi to Tahoe City (straight-line, not driving)
- Bear & food storage
- Food, beverages, toiletries and scented trash must go in the campsite's metal food locker except while eating or cooking; ice chests may not be stored in vehicles. Bear-proof coolers must be locked (up to a $1,000 fine) Source: California State Parks
- Season
- The campground has closed for the 2026 season Source: California State Parks
- Pull-through / back-in · Generators · Quiet hours · Cell signal · Starlink / satellite · Booking
- Not listed — check with campground
Nearby parks (straight-line): Sand Harbor 11 mi · Emerald Bay 15.3 mi
Closed for the season
For your RV
- Official RV length limit: 18 ft.
- No dump station listed — check with the provider.
- No hookups listed.
Build around it
Things to do near Tahoe City
Compare Tahoe State Recreation Area with alternatives
State park campground
vs Sugar Pine Point State Park
RVs to 18 ft vs 32 ft
Read comparison →State park campground
vs D.L. Bliss State Park
Booking, water, access and rig fit side by side
Read comparison →State park campground
vs Donner Memorial State Park
RVs to 18 ft vs 28 ft · 7.7 vs 18.8 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe (straight-line)
Read comparison →Where Tahoe State Recreation Area fits
- Booking & agency
- Booking California State Parks at Lake Tahoe
- By rig & style
- Tent camping at Lake Tahoe · Van & truck camper camping at Lake Tahoe · Lakefront campgrounds at Lake Tahoe
- Near landmarks
- Campgrounds near Sand Harbor
- Nearest alternatives
- Lake Forest Campground (1 mi) · William Kent Campground (2.7 mi) · Watson Lake Campground (3.4 mi)
Other stays nearby
William Kent Campground
Tent sites · RV sites · Cabins / glamping
Check availability
Rates & availability from Recreation.gov · Continue to Recreation.gov ↗
Kaspian Campground
Tent sites
Check availability
Rates & availability from Recreation.gov · Continue to Recreation.gov ↗
Silver Creek-Truckee
Tent sites · RV sites
Check availability
Rates & availability from Recreation.gov · Continue to Recreation.gov ↗