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Campground By the Lake
Overview
Campground By the Lake offers a classic mountain camping experience within the vibrant city limits of South Lake Tahoe. This city-owned facility provides a forested alpine setting that allows travelers to feel secluded while staying remarkably close to modern conveniences and entertainment. Shaded by towering Jeffrey pines, the park serves as an accessible and welcoming basecamp for exploring the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains and the crystal-clear waters of the High Sierra.
Location & Surroundings
The park is situated directly across Highway 50 from the popular El Dorado Beach, making lakefront access just a short walk away. Its central location on Rufus Allen Boulevard means guests are within minutes of local eateries, shopping centers, and grocery stores. Despite its urban proximity, the surrounding 56-acre park complex ensures plenty of green space and a genuine connection to the natural landscape of Northern California.
Amenities & Park Features
With 178 individual campsites available, the park accommodates a wide range of setups from tents to large motorhomes. Many sites feature electric and water hookups to ensure a comfortable stay, while every spot includes a traditional picnic table and fire ring for classic evening gatherings. Guests also benefit from the neighboring South Lake Tahoe Recreation Complex, which offers a year-round swimming pool, a fitness center, and an ice arena for additional recreation options during their stay.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Visitors are perfectly positioned to enjoy the best of Lake Tahoe. You can spend your days kayaking or paddleboarding on the lake or head to the nearby Heavenly Village for gondola rides and high-end dining. For those who enjoy the trails, numerous hiking and mountain biking paths are just a short drive away. The campground is also adjacent to a public boat ramp, making it an ideal choice for watercraft enthusiasts and fishing fans.
Who This Park Is Best For
This destination is ideal for active families who want easy access to both nature and city amenities. It is a fantastic choice for RVers who prefer a social atmosphere and don't mind being near the heart of the action. If you enjoy waking up under the pines but want the option to walk to dinner or the beach, this park provides the perfect balance of rustic charm and urban accessibility.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- Internet
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Chris Giddings
Great Camping across from Lake Tahoe, centrally located, near beaches, food, sporting rentals.
JD
Great camp ground. Location is good Has showers and restrooms. Can get a little packed during peak season. Camp host are great. Watch out for tree branches and pine cones with your Rv
Erin Woolen
Centrally located in Tahoe, feels less like a campground and more like a very expensive parking space. For the price you’d think the showers would be free, but those are also coin operated. There are lots of sites and it’s well maintained, but I would not spend my money here when there are better campgrounds nearby
K S
Campground in the center of town. Great location for traveling around Lake Tahoe! Not too many amenities but has clean bathrooms and an affordable dump station (free for guests!).
Nath R
Good place to stay while you explore nearby tourist destinations but the ants sure are a problem though. Also, remember to put your food somewhere that the bears can’t get it because they’ll scavenge here all right.
Kyle Westerlund
We got there in the middle of the afternoon on a Saturday. The camp host’s were nowhere to be found. We called multiple times and knocked on the office door. Two other guests tried the same thing. We ended up following the late arrival payment instructions and left cash in an envelope.
Steve Robenalt
This is a great location in South Lake Tahoe! Close to the lake, has showers and flush toilets, and a short walk to restaurants and grocery stores. The campground can be a bit noisy due to proximity to Hwy 50 and the occasional blasting stereos in the campsites, but is pretty quiet at night. Note that this campground is only open for the summer months and requires reservations. There may not be on-site staff when you visit, but site permits are checked every day to verify that all visitors are valid.
Veronica H
Do not camp here if you have kids or by chance are allergic to ants. This place is infested with them. They are EVERYWHERE! You can't even sit outside and enjoy your campfire without them crawling all over you. Also they charge for showers, so if you do come make sure you bring plenty of quarters only because that's all they take. Also, if you need to contact the person that runs this place you'll be waiting more than 2 days for a response. For $50 a night you're better off spending an extra $50 somewhere comfortable where you don't have to worry about being bitten by ants.
Stephanie Newcomb
My parter and I recently spent 2 nights camping here. This campground is conveniently located, spacious, and pretty. The camp host was nice and helpful. The bathrooms (which have flushing toilets) where clean but missing seat covers and hand soap. This campground is surrounded by city so be aware that you'll hear city sounds. I would definitely stay here again!
amanda kohan
Let's start off by an outlandish amount of money, eveninthe off season, for what you get. I've lived in the basin for three seasons and this place has definitely upped their prices to make Tahoe a less desirable place. It will cost you $100 a night to be smashed in next to people and $35 if you just need to dump a 10 gallon tank, personally I would head to Nevada beach or zephyr cove.