William Kent Campground

Campground · Sunnyside-Tahoe City

William Kent Campground

Campground · Sunnyside-Tahoe City
1995 W Lake Blvd, Tahoe City, CA 96145

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William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null
William Kent Campground by null

Highlights

Nestled near Lake Tahoe, this chilled-out campground boasts over 80 shaded sites for tents and RVs, plus cozy yurts and handy fire rings, all within a stone's throw of the lake.  

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1995 W Lake Blvd, Tahoe City, CA 96145 Get directions

recreation.gov
@recreation_gov

Information

Static Map

1995 W Lake Blvd, Tahoe City, CA 96145 Get directions

+1 530 583 3642
recreation.gov
@recreation_gov

Features

wheelchair accessible parking lot
wheelchair accessible entrance

Last updated

Mar 8, 2025

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Guy Harrington

Google
I spent 3 nights here in site 46 with a tent. Good location and the sites are surprisingly big with lots of room to separate away from neighbours. A bear was chased out at 9pm from a nearby site on my first night but the camp hosts had it under control and the bear didn't show up again during my stay. I didn't have a problem and made full use of the bear locker for food and other smelly stuff. A bigger issue was the falling pine cones! It's a good site and I would stay again despite the lack of showers (I swam in the lake instead).

Bob English

Google
We just got home yesterday from 3 days at this hidden gem of a campground. We rented a yurt that was well appointed and extremely clean. Even our fire pit and camp table were raked down to bare dirt. Camped in site 2 right across from camp hosts Rich and Elma. They were very friendly and accommodating to us. Our grandchildren befriended them and their cute little dog Rex. We also enjoyed the gratitude extended to us by hosts Ed and Julie as they too showered our grandchildren with trinkets from the kiosk. Would highly recommend this campground to anyone looking to camp close to Tahoe City.

Bo Luan

Google
The campground is full of shades and the facilities are well maintained. The only complaint is that there is no light in the restroom so it's pretty dark even in the day. Also bears are quite common, so please do store your food properly.

Daydream787275

Google
Second time staying here, we tent camp so we had no problems, we try to get space 69, and will continue to do so in the future. Camp hosts are fantastic, we appreciated the attention they gave us. There are no showers at the campground, guests need to find alternate ways to get clean. We did see a bear last time but not this time, however we saw several bears in Tahoe City during our stay.

mary mitchell

Google
Really nice campground in a great location. Most of the sites are a good size, but some can only fit smaller rigs. I did a full walkthrough showing each site on my YT channel outdoormary, check it out so you can find the best campsite for your needs.

Ana Aparicio

Google
Walk across the street, and you can access a small little beach. The bear boxes are bigger than usual here, and the views on your way here are amazing! The store is about 10 minutes away. I wish they had showers here, and their restrooms are kind of meh.

Chris

Google
The staff managing William Kent C.G. is awesome. This is such a beautiful campground tucked back just enough that you don't hear any road noise from the lake traffic. And its within walking distance to the lake. The spots are wide, mostly level and paved with large picnic tables and fire rings and flush toilets. Staff sells firewood too!

Dylan J

Google
the lady made my girlfriend cry - they discriminate against you if you DIY your own camper, maybe they only let the super nice campers in but it was the worst experience ive seen from a camp host and bizarre. real bad vibes from the hosts, go find a different spot if you're not in the 1%.

Constance L.

Yelp
Convenient location, walking distance from the lake. There are flushable toilets and potable water, but the water spouts aren't all labeled and some of the water from the spouts were murky. The camp sites near the entrance will hear road traffic, but it's a bit better further into the camp you go. Although 2 cars can fit at each campsite, you'll need to pay $9/day for the second car. Sites are spaced a bit further apart than other sites I've been to, but noise still travels really easily.

Mama B.

Yelp
Great spot to camp! Close to everything but still feels and looks like the wild. The hosts were all very nice too! Super close to the lake. The designated lake for the campsite was a little small but still very nice. No sand just rocks, very clean. Quiet time is 10pm which also means no generators on. We learned that the next day. Whoopsie. Definitely would come here again.

Allegra G.

Yelp
This is a decent campground but it's definitely made for tourists. There were lots of families that were not very respectful of the forest or fellow campers. When I tried to say "Hi" to some of our neighboring camp mates, some of them were pretty rude. As other reviewers mentioned, there are many sites that back up to other people's houses. We stayed at site 14 which didn't have a picnic table or a fire pit which was odd. The most concerning part was, despite the fire ban, the campground hosts had a huge campfire! After many campers saw that, they also started fires despite the extreme fire danger. It was very concerning considering we are in an extreme drought. I wish that the campground hosts would set an example for other campers by following the rules.

Jon C.

Yelp
Great campground in Tahoe with friendly hosts. Beware there's no showers at this campground, but the lake is walking distance to go rinse off in!

D.wight L.

Yelp
Camped here for 4 nights early summer 2021. Though not quite what I really look for in a camping trip, this place still delivered in terms of what they can offer. First let me rebut some of the complaints this place gets from reviewers, who in my opinion, should not be out camping with a mindset like that. Lol Yes, this is a small campsite right off the rural highway that goes around the entirety of the lake. If you choose to camp in any of the sites closest to the road (I'd say sites 1-27) then yes, the sounds from road traffic will be in play. I did stay within these sites, and honestly it didn't affect my experience. The key is that road isn't a high speed road, so cars aren't revving at loud rates. I've stayed in other parks where the sound of roaring vehicles ruined the trip. Not here, it was so feint, that it was easily ignored. Yes, the bathrooms don't have electric lights nor hand paper towels. There's natural light but as soon as it gets dark, you will need a flashlight or lamp. Yes it would be nice if those things were in place, but for a camping trip, those are "luxury" amenities. And one can choose any level of luxury one wants, you just have to do your research and choose accordingly. But even as a kid being raised in a camping culture, to lug your own bag/supplies into a restroom was no big deal. If you choose any sites on the back side of this campsite (sites 34-47 then sites 51-63) then you will be furthest from the road, so no road noise. But now your site will literally be right next to houses/cabins on the other side of a 4 foot fence (and I use the term 'fence' very loosely here). So if those cabins are occupied, you'll be able to see/hear most things that happen in those back yards. I specifically didn't choose a spot back there just for that reason. That would totally take away from the nature and peace that I want to immerse myself in. But to each their own, and each party can choose which area they want to be in. Now I did find the sites to be too close together, so neighbors were always in full view. But when the campers are respectful (the case on my entire stay), then the noise was never an annoyance or issue. I found the camp host/workers quite fair and diligent. They roamed often in quiet golf carts making sure everything was in order, from early morning to quiet time at 10pm. This may seem quite strict to some loose cannons but I found the order to be comforting. I also want to note the fact that this place happens to be in the same environment that bears have always lived in. So the campsite takes good measure in communicating what one should do, in order to not lure the bears to linger or scavenge. Each site has the most secure bear locker I've ever encountered, and their trash bins are no joke to open and close. I even saw 2 bears on 2 different mornings, walking across the campgrounds while most were still asleep. I was in my vehicle and trying to get out to the main gate, when I saw this big black bear just moseying across the campground in between tents. It wasn't sniffing anything, just got caught walking through. I was amused, and wanted to snap a pic. But it was in and out of sight in no time. The final props I'm giving this place, and is the main reason why I chose it ultimately, is their location. Sure it's next to a road and you may have to hear it. But when you're that close to the road, it is so easy to get in and out. I value mobility. Then within a 6 minute walk from my tent, I can be at the shore of the lake to take in the views or activities. There's a small beach but not the sandy type...the small rocks type. It's not the same, so you do have to adjust. But during early mornings or almost sunset, the crowd thins out and the lighting on the lake will speak for itself. It beckons me to return.

Jayde L.

Yelp
BEST CAMPGROUND EVER!!! I mean I'm a little biased because our family has been going there for years, have created a friend group that goes there often, not to mention I got engaged there! It is the perfect location directly across the beach with pretty much their own private beach. There are yurts for $70 a night or regular campgrounds for $30 a night. It's a small campground but the spots are very expansive. There are bathrooms but NO showers! But you got the lake so what do you need showers for right? Haha. Very close to a general store and they a drive or bike ride away from a little town with tons or restaurants and stores.

Jane E.

Yelp
Stayed for one night and it was great. Bathrooms weren't smelly and it was a nice walking distance to the water. Basic but that's all you need sometimes!

Michael W.

Yelp
The best of the William Kent Campground is it is very close to Tahoe City. The campground is not very big. Close to the road. Easy in and out. They have a lot of trees too! What I don't like about this campground is no or very weak cell phone services (T-Mobile is okay, But not AT&T or Verizon). The parking in most of the campsites is too short. The campground has the restrooms, but no shower. You can use the shower in the sister campground in the area, but very inconvenient! This is not a bad campground, but it can be better!

jonny s.

Yelp
Loved the camp site and the Hosts (Ed and his wife were awesome and made us feel at home).VERY Clean bathrooms. Nice campsite that was clean, a lot of space, and felt good. we had great neighbors, but you never know. Good deal. Great Location - right across from Sunnyside resort and restaurant right on the beach.

Brittney H.

Yelp
Planning my summer roadtrip, and everyone said it was impossible to get a campsite in Tahoe, CA during the summer. Rec.gov makes booking easy and 3 days before I left, I scanned sites near the lake and booked my campsite using their phone app for Android. The campground is directly across the street from the West Shore Market (great for snack gathering & outdoor people watching) and the bike path that circles the lake, perfect for an afternoon walk. Arriving on Sunday, I followed the weekend crowds and still had a pretty mellow site with a large tent spot #42. By late afternoon, a friendly group of 12 year old boys and their families began the time -occupying tradition of dead tree chopping and I lost any hope of seeing a bear. The campground has over 80 sites and is very family friendly. RVs, campers, tents, and even a few hammocks - everyone can make this land by the lake their home. Thanks Ed - no bear sighting this time!

Chris D.

Yelp
Really nice spot and the host are courteous. Restrooms are clean and few restaurants around. Great walking disatnce to a breakfast place, plus right across the lake. Definetly coming back arpund summer

Cynthia J.

Yelp
Hosts let campers run their generators until 1am. Tents & campers are cramped together so you will fall asleep to the sound of generators. Also, the hosts rushed us out of our site at 10am! We were packing up our truck and had them come in complaining by we didn't through away our water bottle? I replied that we weren't even leaving for 30 minutes because we're still packing up. The lady came out of her golf cart and told us she's going to start raking our site up while we're there. Excuse you, check out is at 12pm - I don't want to enjoy my morning coffee with a rude camp host. I reiterated that we were not done and wouldn't be for a while. The man got the hint and told the lady to get back in the golf cart. Annoying pushy nosey hosts here!!! That won't let you enjoy your experience peacefully.

Evan V.

Yelp
We camped in sites 7 and 8, which are probably some of the closers sites to the road. Noise was not an issue. In fact, if it wasn't for the bears opening car doors and setting off alarms, it was dead silence at respectable hours. The convenience of being right across the street from the lake is awesome . The staff was friendly and informative. Circling back to the bears - if any of read this: Put everything in the bear box! Food, hygiene materials, anything with scent. They are not smart enough to get in there, yet smart enough to know they can't and will then leave you be. If you don't... well you're in for a night or waking up to a mess. I would highly recommend your car is food and scent free. These bears aren't here for you so don't freak out and start honking your horn... they simply do not care. There are many people who camp here often because of how nice it is. We will be back!

Cathy H.

Yelp
Thoroughly enjoyed our stay in site #57 at William Kent Campground! This site was *almost* perfect for our family. The pluses were many: Our site was located in the interior of the campground (ie: didn't back up to - or sit across from - the backyard of neighboring homes Good privacy - Separated from neighboring sites by trees, bathroom and a slight downhill embankment behind site. Shade comes in nicely to cool off the tent from about 3:30 on. Since we're camping with our kids we really enjoyed having the bathroom right next to our site - very convenient for late-night trips, and made it feel like it was our own private bathroom. (We really lucked out, as our bathroom was one of a few that was open during our stay.) The bathroom issues others mentioned had no bearing on our stay what-so-ever. Don't think we've ever stayed at a campground when you didn't have to bring your own soap and towel into the bathroom -- this isn't the Hilton, folks - we are camping. ;) And as far as no lights in the bathrooms, again, not a big deal. Skylights provide more than enough light til dusk. Lanterns with large carabiners to hook to stall walls did the trick after dark. The lack of interior lights -- and very faint exterior motion light -- meant we were never really disturbed when others used it at night. The bathrooms are kept immaculate by the camp hosts, so there were no foul odors. Lack of showers? Go jump in the lake! Or for longer stays, drive up the road to Meeks Bay campground and use their showers. Other pluses: Liked that the bear box is right next to the picnic table. Most of site (especially tent area) is well-treed and private Didn't have the noise issues others spoke of, but we were camping midweek, so there were quite a few empty sites. It's nice to be just 2 miles in from Tahoe city -- less traffic & quicker to get in/out off. Campground is a short walk (feet, not miles) to the Lake, restaurants, and a little general store with ice. Only complaints were: 1) wish there was a couple more shade trees near the picnic table. The hours from 1:00-3:00-ish are a bit brutal (a great time to head to the lake!) 2) wish the tent area was a yard or two wider (our tents barely fit and brushed against the bushes front and back 3) in the bathroom, wish there was a hook for towels and a small shelf to set stuff on All minor stuff - a great time was had by one and all! Keep in mind: This isn't the spot to choose if you have more than one tent and more the one car. Our midsize SUV took up most of the parking pad, and there's really only one place for one tent to go. That said, it suited our family of 4 just fine! Can't wait to return to this campground next summer!

Lauren F.

Yelp
Site 81 | Quiet | Popular so book fast $ Tahoe is incredibly packed and every campground is almost always booked during the summer months. So, if you happen to see one spot left on the reservation site, book it fast before it goes! That's what happened with us. After a couple of failed attempts to find a campground online weeks before staying here, I fortunately found ONE site left on the reservation site and booked it. I honestly didn't know where on the campground map it was, or what amenities the site provided. I just knew it would be better than Campground By the Lake and Granite Flat. Both campgrounds are right next to a hwy/main road, so that's why I wasn't stoked on camping there again, if they were available. Site 81 was our site. PERFECT -- quiet, shade, right across from the bathroom hut, close to water spigot, next to garbage/recycle containers, had picnic table, and had a legit fire ring. Site had one good flat area to put our 4-man tent. Site is able to park two cars comfortably. Checking in was no problem. Fast. 1 car comes with the paid site. 2 car MAX -- you pay $7 per day to have the second car parked at the spot. (That's Tahoe for ya) They sell firewood for $8 at camp host 1, I believe. Dog friendly. Bottom line: nice campground, wouldn't mind staying here again. Quieter and cheaper than some other campgrounds in Tahoe.

Sara B.

Yelp
Remote and quiet. Plenty of room on each site. Bathrooms a little dated and unlit but clean. Staff at the gate is friendly, charming and helpful in navigating the campsite and local area. Would camp here again.

Deanne M.

Yelp
We camp often in our tailer and felt this campsite was very small in terms of proximity to other campers. The sites are close together and we would see/hear our neighbors while we were outside-felt very close to their section. I did like that if felt like we were in the wilderness while being among the huge trees. The location was convenient due to it being walking distance to the lake, a lakeside restaurant and local market- despite the busy road between us. Probably wouldn't recommend or stay again.

Justin w.

Yelp
The Bears here are absolutely out of control we've been going here for years and this year there's more than ever all-time is all day... The campground hosts do nothing to warn other than one flyer by the front and on the bathroom doors in the past they would come through and try to wrangle them out but they're their day and night tormenting the campground... I understand we are in Tahoe I've lived there for a long time and once again the camp posts are extremely rude... We had left firewood for the next camper and they yelled at us that we left the place a disaster when our campsite was spotless other than the box of wood we left for future campers or the host I actually had asked one of the four other people who are the hosts if they would like it and they said to leave it but then they yelled at one of our other people who had a site as well that we left it a mess not true whatsoever... We've been coming here for years and until they get new house we probably won't go back again nor recommend it very disappointing and their management here

E S.

Yelp
We stayed our first day and last day here. Site 30 was huge and fit both truck and boat perfectly. Site 40 fit tent only. There are no showers at William Kent. Overflow parking was used to park our boat and it fit just fine, also there were no additional fees, two vehicles per site. We made sure boat was covered as there are many pines. Next door is the lovely Fire Sign Cafe! How lucky were we!

Jay P.

Yelp
This is the worst camp ground. The bathroom is narrow, uncontrolled, and above all, there are no lights. Of course there's no shower, and the host is very unkind.

Peter S.

Yelp
Meeks Bay Trail AND Genevieve Lake Trail CLARIFICATION Since the "Meeks Bay Trailhead" is NOT YET LISTED on Yelp, I'm putting this review under "Meeks Bay Campground", where the Meeks Bay Trailhead is located close by across HWY 89. - At this trailhead, one can park in the small lot off the street or in the area behind the fence by the trailhead sign. 1. Trail-1: The Meeks Bay Trail (1.5mi, Easy) - This 1.5mi beautiful trail is an EASY, flat and wide dirt path along the meadows. The path is only partially shaded; lined with small trees and brushes. It's an easy, pleasant hike, We saw young families with babies in strollers enjoying the walk. We also spotted older folks hiking along with walking canes! At the end of this trail is an open area lined with tree trunks and big rocks, perfect for taking a rest or having a picnic. Here one will see ANOTHER TRAILHEAD sign leading to the small charming Genevieve Lake. Trail-2: Genevieve Lake Trail (3.5 mi, Moderate) This small, charming "Genevieve Lake" is located some 3.5mi uphill, via a mostly tree lined, rocky trail (with some Rock steps at some places). One would also see a couple of beautiful, quiet, wide open meadows and occasional, running streams along the way...! This lake is located in a wooded area, some vertical 1200ft above the trailhead. It's a perfect place to relax in over snacks and drinks, under the tall trees by the tranquil beauty of the lake! Our Experiences that you can SKIP In one of our quiet, slow hikes, we heard a sudden whooping boom sound from above, only a few yards from us, followed by the shadow of a diving hawk in a blur and some flying fur in the air! Then we saw the hawk flying away slowly with his prey (perhaps a squirrel) in its falcons! Near the top by the lake, a group of friendly forest rangers were passing us by. They stopped to say hello AND asked us pleasantly to show them the stub of the Wilderness Hiking Permit, which one needs to fill out at the 1st Trailhead. Later at the lake, we'd run into them again. They told us that they were doing routine maintenance inspection. Along the trail, every now and then we'd hear the rapid drumming of woodpeckers in the woods. We also saw a few anglers fishing quietly in the streams, as well as in Genevieve Lake above. Heavenly! In our return trek from the lake around 4pm, we ran into a group of Boy Scouts just starting their climb, each carrying a full load of camping gear and supplies for overnight camping by the lake, and hiking farther up beyond the lake the following day! Oh yes, indeed, the stronger and more adventurous hikers (no, I am NEITHER) can continue on from Genevieve Lake to Phipps Pass, all the way up to the Phipps Peak (1400ft vertical from the trailhead). Go enjoy the hike! Bring lots of water, snacks, sun screen, a hat...! Oh, do fill out the Wilderness Hiking Permit at the first Trailhead by the highway. :-) July 2014

Liz K.

Yelp
In theory, this campground is great. It's steps from the quiet Meeks Bay in Lake Tahoe... The sites are wooded and flat making for easy tent setup... Big bear boxes are provided, which come in handy when a big brown bear wanders onto your site... and that happens frequently... Large fire rings and BBQ charcoal grills... And the site hosts could not be friendlier. So why do I say "in theory"? It's literally 15 feet off of highway 89 and next to a fire station - that's why!!! Beware campers, the map of this place is deceptive - you *think* you're a good ways off the road, but oh no, you're practically on it. All the good things about this campground cannot eliminate the fact that I felt like I was camping out in Grandma's backyard... for $23/night. Oh, and with other crazy inconsiderate people 20ft away. No fun. I suppose if I were in a pinch and REALLY did not want to sleep in my car, I might come here again... but there are plenty of other scenic areas, further off the road, minus the annoying people, where I could park the car.

MonicA S.

Yelp
#PassUpOnThis There are bunch of campsites that are way better than this one. I LOVE camping, and I am pretty easy going when it comes to camping.. but damn... No bathroom lights, one of only two toilet stalls were broken.. AND they don't give a damn about quiet hours. My friend and I couldn't sleep because there were rowdy guests up the campsite that would not be quiet, even after we told them to lower the volume. I ended up getting sick and left early, but i think i still would've left early if I hadn't gotten sick because I was so done being there. Pros: -close to tahoe city -close to food cons: -not well maintained -nobody answers the phone when you call -not organized -surrounded by housing -NO SHOWERS (you have to go to meeks bay campground to shower--like 10 min away) -

Alfred A.

Yelp
The management on willian Kent campground is the worst management I have ever seen I have been traveling for almost 10 years. They need to change management because they do not know what the f**** they're doing. I will not stay at this price even if it was free.

kim b.

Yelp
One of the worst camping experiences ever. We booked site 42 which is supposed to accommodate up to 26' trailer, which is the exact size of our trailer. They fail to mention this site will ONLY fit a trailer, (no room for our truck) and it's facing the opposite way on a very narrow one-way road...so u can't back in and no place to turn around. The hosts here were terrible, there was literally no one to help us. We arrive and realize there is absolutely no way to back in our trailer. The one way road is VERY tight, narrow and lots of turns...very difficult to drive through. We finally find the host and she say tells us we will need to wait for her husband to escort us in the opposite way on the one way road. Fine. We get settled in have to park our truck in the front of campground which is 10 min walk, super inconvenient. The problem with this is that almost everyone in the camp has to park at front meaning there is non stop traffic going thru the campsite of people coming/going and driving around/dropping off stuff at their camp. Sooo many cars going thru at all hours of the nite. The camp backs up into a neighborhood where is literally feels like your camping in someone's backyard. The "beach" across the street is about 10' of solid rock beach. Zero sand. Not great for kids. Only good thing was sunny side restaurant was great across the way. We will not go back, will wait for opening at sugar pine instead.

Deanna M.

Yelp
Booked for 2 nights. Sites are not as advertised. Got there and were told that the sites were 2 feet smaller than advertised. Bathrooms were not clean and you literally camp in the backyards of local residents, some don't even have full fences to keep it private. The camp hosts are on a definite power trip and to be honest, downright rude! So, the rule is basically lights out at 10pm or they will drive around in their golf cart watching every move you make until you go to bed. We were approached at 9:45 (not even 10 pm yet) and was told that it was time to turn our music off (it was not loud, only members in our camp could hear it) they parked their cart on the edge of our street and watched us (we found it odd and a little bit eerie) we were then approached by them at about 10:15 pm told that we were laughing too loud. ?? We are, in no way, a rowdy group and were in no way disrespectful to anyone, but when we camp, talking and laughing around the campfire is something we enjoy (as most people do) We will NEVER camp here again. If you are looking to camp with friends and have a good time...this is not the place! I truly felt like a kid being reprimanded by an adult. So sad!

Janet L.

Yelp
This campground is in a very handy location in Tahoe City. It is right across the street from William Kent Beach. Getting across the street can be tricky because the cars tend to speed on West Lake Boulevard. You can ride your bike from the campground along the paved bike trail to the transit center and North along along the Truckee river, which I highly recommend! The sites are fairly close to one another but there was enough privacy for us we were in spot number 13 and it was fine. The only problem with that spot was that it was hard to fit both are Teardrop trailer and our two wheel drive truck on the pavement. Some of the sites are not even, but it seems like most of them were. Of course there is no hot water and no showers, so if you do strenuous outdoor activities, be prepared. Not sure about some of the comments regarding water. There are water spigots that you can you use 2 fill your bottles and bring it back to your campsite. The restrooms were clean. We were able to have campfires. They do allow generators for people that have them, so at 8 AM as soon as quiet time ended, our neighbor had his generator on. Not cool. He also had a puppy that whined much of the weekend. These aren't really a reflection of the campground however.

Georgia H.

Yelp
We stayed in campsite 4 right by the entrance and it was lovely. We were also right by the host, which was a God send. Our car battery went out and we were frantic. Went to the front check in area and told them our problem - one of the hosts (Who also has the same kind of car, a Honda Element) immediately jumped in to help (pun intended ;)). He grabbed his jumper cables and got us up and running. He was even kind enough to patiently teach me how to do it as it was my first time. So A+ for the lovely, helpful hosts! Our site was great and a 3 minute walk to west shore market, which has groceries and a cozy deli/cafe attached. We'd walk over and warm up playing scrabble while it rained. Bathrooms are standard. I see many people complained in other posts about the bathrooms not having lights but no lights isn't an issue for me (flashlights are a good call while camping regardless and add to the experience :)). They had TP and were clean - that's what I care about. No showers but it clearly states that on the website. Dumpsters available, big spacious sites. I did notice some sites are up against people's back yards but one of the perks is that this campground is literally right in the thick of things so hard to have the super rural feel and also be nearby civilization - par for the course. Big beautiful trees, nice campsites, TP in clean bathroom, across the street from the lake, helpful hosts, and super close to groceries/restaurants - doesn't get much better!

Michael G.

Yelp
My experience this past weekend at Meeks Bay National Forest was quite horrible. The grounds keeps overcharged me and my friends, would sneak up on us, and enter the campgrounds when we were at the beach. They took loose expensive items such as the generator, fishing poles, and demand that they be paid new charges before they returned these items. This was Illegal and disrespect full. While we might have been loud, and messy, stealing items from our campground and sneaking up on people in the pitch dark is not the experience I would want to protray. This being done when poeple are likely to get reviewed on the internet. Expesecially when people have limited time to accually take time off and go spend money on camping, these poeple are not the only campgrounds in the area and need to get checked.

KC B.

Yelp
This campground is not one I'd usually choose however searching the web for a last-minute weekend camping spot I saw two spots still open at this campground. Looking at Google Earth, I chose site 62, and we headed up to the Lake fully expecting to be underwhelmed. We checked in with some of the great staff they have there- friendly, helpful, and funny- and drove the loop to our site. The campground is built amidst vacation homes, and if you are on the exterior in the loops chances are you are looking at someone's back yard. Judging by the bathroom architecture and the layout and size of the spaces, I'd guess that the campground was there before the majority of the homes, but it still is sort of awkward. Our site was on the interior side of the loop, so we had some good privacy and a pretty setting. The size of the parking space wasn't very big- we have a small (13') trailer and had to park our towing Pilot sideways to fit both in. This is a campground where it would very much pay to scout it out beforehand. On the plus side, even though it was full, the campground wasn't noisy and it felt like you had some space to yourselves. The bathrooms were very clean, and like I said the park resident workers really were friendly and helpful. The best thing about the campground is its location. Although you aren't on the water, a small stony beach is just across the street (highway). A short drive will get you to better beaches and a slightly longer drive allows you to take in the beauty of Emerald Bay in one direction or the shops or Gatekeeper's Museum in the Tahoe City direction. If you wanted to minimize cooking, this would be the perfect campground. There are several restaurants within a block of the campground. A breakfast place, a lunch place and several dinner options are within walking distance- the best being directly across the highway from the campground, Sunnyside. Sunnyside isn't all that cheap- but you can dine outside with a fantastic bar menu pretty reasonably and the cocktails are mixed with some panache. It is a sister restaurant to Duke's in Waikiki so the fish and drinks are top-notch. It's nice to have a great meal at sunset on the deck, with multiple adult beverages and then just walk across the street to your campsite. Not a bad way to camp :) So if you go, don't worry so much about cooking, get an interior spot, and if you don't like walking a long way through the darkened campground after some cocktails, get a spot closer to the entrance. Maybe you'll be pleasantly surprised like we were.

Glenn C.

Yelp
pro: convenient location store and beach across street , comfortable yurt, large campsite, can be reserved online,friendly staff on duty. con: a lot of people going wrong way within the campground road, direction indication can be better. max people only 5 even camp site is big enough to set up another two family size tents

Devon B.

Yelp
I am so glad I decided to ignore the previous negative Yelp reviews because this campground was awesome. We reserved site 31 through recreation.gov and called to confirm our reservation with the campground and the woman who answered was very friendly and helpful and gave us all the information we needed for checking in. When we got there the campgrounds were almost empty so it was very quiet and peaceful. The campsites were very well maintained and clean as were the restrooms. We were in good proximity to the restrooms and water which is important to us because we have two small children. From our campsite you could see the lake through the trees. The beach was a very short walk from our site (1-2 minutes with a two year old). We asked the host what trails he recommended and he told us about Meeks trail which was beautiful and easy enough to bring children on. Both of the hosts (husband and wife) were very friendly and helpful our entire stay. Tahoe City is a pretty short drive if you're looking to check out downtown and so is the bike trail at Sugar Pine (highly recommend). Our campground neighbors were very respectful and polite and it was nice to see other families out camping. The only reason I'm not giving a five star rating is because of the proximity between the campground and the highway. It kind of threw off the "surrounded by nature" feel you usually look for when going camping. Other than that I would definitely come back year after year. Meeks Bay is truly beautiful.

Love L.

Yelp
Booked a tent site over the weekend. Our site comfortably fit 3 tents. Two 4 person tents and one 1-3 person tent. The site comes with a picnic table, fire pit and a food storage locker to prevent bears from the site. Our site did not have any electrical hookup. Restrooms are clean and kept stocked however there aren't any showers at this campground. There is a host on site who can assist you and you can also purchase items from them as well

Jasmine S.

Yelp
We had a lovely stay at this campground. We were at #79, It wasn't near any homes and the bathroom was just up the pavement. The bathroom did have toilet paper provided. There wasn't lights inside the bathroom but a flood light outside the door that lit up the bathroom. There isn't any showers at this site. I was weary when booking this site due to the negative reviews but I must say I would definitely stay here again. The quiet time did start at 10 pm and it did get significantly quieter around that time but we were still able to stay up around the camp fire and enjoy ourselves. The check in personal was friendly and informative. I didn't have any negative experience.

Kate C.

Yelp
This is not camping. It reminds me of a combination of sleeping in my parents' backyard in NJ where they take down every tree that grows and a Phish festival in a sandy parking lot where you can hear exactly what song your neighbor is playing...AND they stay up all night tripping and talking loudly with 400 of their infants and barking puppies in accompaniment. The only benefit of camping here versus the free black wood canyon spots is that there are better toilets and you can have a fire. I am sure the beach is nice, but I would totally camp anywhere else and drive to the beach.

Roxy E.

Yelp
If you like camping, but still like all the amenities of civilization within walking distance-this is the place for you. No showers-no problem. The beach is a short walk away (Yes it is cold-stop whining) and they do have actual restrooms with running water. Need beer? The store is right around the corner. Feeling too lazy to cook or better yet, pour your own drink? Take your bad self over to the Sunnyside resort and enjoy the sublime satisfaction of having someone else take care of it. Hotel rooms in Tahoe during the summer can be outrageously expensive. If you have a tent-this is a way decent alternative for $20 a night. Then you can take all that cash you saved and blow it on an evening out at the Sunnyside or Tahoe City (only like 3 miles away). By the time you are done with that, you won't really care where you are sleeping anyway. Nuff said!

Jeff G.

Yelp
Great campground in a top notch location to the plus side. To the negative, you'll need to hop in the car to get to a decent beach or hiking trails. Larger than it may seem from the road, some of the sites are really nicely sized while others are realtively small. Bathrooms were adaquit. We really enjoyed as we had a great site (#32) and the kids, of course, had a blast. Also, this place seems quieter than most of the state parks or Camp Richardson. For those looking for a quality place to camp and the other parks are already full, this is a super go-to!

Jen B.

Yelp
This campground is a lot bigger than it appears to be from the entrance on the road...you could drive by the sign a million times and not really pay attention. Its a great campground as far as proximity to Tahoe City while still being a campground. There is only one other campground closer to Tahoe City, actually IN Tahoe City (right between the lake and the highway), and both this one and that one pack in the sites. Driving thru William Kent you have little room on either side of the road to each of the sites and there is little protection between sites...so plan on getting cozy with the neighbors. The sites at the top of the campground feel a little more spread out it than others, but it's pretty packed most of the summer. The last thing is that there are houses on all sides of the campground which really takes away from the point of most camping trips. But if you're trying to get away from it all, don't camp this close to town...Silver Creek and Goose Meadows are over on 89 between Squaw and Truckee and are right on the river, but William Kent has the proximity to town going for it.

Lara B.

Yelp
Great service !!!! Would definitely recommend. The hosts are very kind and friendly. The spots are not too close from each other

Bruce L.

Yelp
Good place to stay .. Not too far from the beach or a great restaurant, Sunnyside. Why 4 stars? No shower. And watch out for a baby bear .. where there is a baby, there is a mama right behind him

Emily W.

Yelp
We went during the week in July and found this to be a nice spot. It was confusing because Meeks Bay Resort is to the north and the first campground you come upon (if headed south), and the two campgrounds are next to each other. I didn't find there to be an overcrowding issue, we could have easily fit two more tents on our site. It does boarder the road, which isn't bad if you get a site further in. I would have felt uncomfortable with a site by the road, worrying what would happen if a car left the road. The bathrooms were well kept up, but did lack soap or a dryer or paper towels (there are no soap dispensers, so make sure to bring a bottle). The hosts were pleasant and no one was loud after hours. The beach is nice, but does not allow dogs. This is a bummer for us because we bring our dog camping and had to go to Kiva Beach 20 minutes away. It would have been nice to be able just to hang out in one spot. I would recommend this spot and will go back.

M G.

Yelp
This place was great. We went camping for the first time and stayed here. The campground was clean and centrally located. Many of the reviews said they did not like that you are in somebody's "backyard" but to be honest, as a rookie camper, I felt safer being close to civilization. Additionally, there were many stores very nearby so we didn't have to pack a giant cooler but could run to Safeway to get what we needed. As a mom with three kids, from the suburbs, this was great for us. The bathrooms were sparse. Two stall bathrooms, no soap or paper towels provided. No interior light but a motion sensor light outside. One sink, no shower. But they were kept clean. I saw one of the toilets clogged once and reported it to the ranger. It was fixed the next time I went back. It is right across the street from Sunnyside so an easy walk to the beach. Dogs were allowed at the campground but not at the beach at Sunnyside. Our site, #53 was THE WORST SITE EVER!!!!! We went with 9 other families and they all had beautifully shaded spots, on soft bark. We were in the glaring sun, no trees to shade us, on a sand pit, full of ant holes. It was terrible! When we arrived I spoke to the homeowner in the house behind us (which yes, was basically in his backyard) and he said our site was probably the worst one in the campground, and rarely rented unless all other sites were full. I had no way of knowing that so bummer for us. Luckily since we were with so many other families we could hang out with them until the sun set. DON"T STAY AT #53. Overall a great campgound, if you don't mind being in somebody's backyard. I didn't mind it at all and our backyard buddy was very nice. One of our friends brought an extension cord and chatted up the neighbor who allowed her to use some of their electricity for her CPAP machine and our coffee maker in the AM. Yeah! I was tempted to ask the neighbor to chill my champage for me but didn't want to overstep. ;) It would have gotten 5 stars if they had soap and preferably towels in the bathrooms. I think they are concerned about bears but I think unscented soap would be ok. I also suggested there should be a way to rate/review individual campsites so you know where to stay.

Nick l.

Yelp
reviewing one star because they allow generators, this is insanity by a lake in the mountains. The noise is truly awful and INCREDIBLY selfish, wtf are you needing power for when camping ? so you can blow dry your air or you dumb kid can watch TV????

CT P.

Yelp
For anybody from Norcal with an RV who is looking to be a tourist and soak up "Tahoe," - this is a good place. Dog friendly, basics on site, and everything else is a walk away. Great pit stop. I wouldn't stay here to camp, per se, but to rest. Probably not where you want to tent.

Alexandra B.

Yelp
The hosts made the campground for me. As a young female camping alone, I appreciated them making sure I was set up in a prime spot and had everything I needed. The location was closer to the road and had more visibility between other tents than I usually prefer, but I was there to dive in Meeks Bay and couldn't beat the convenience for beach access. The fire pits had grates for cooking that were in good condition, and each site had a large bear box for food items.

Andrew B.

Yelp
The campgrounds here are simply wonderful. 13 years ago while sailing in the bay I dropped to one knee and proposed to my soon to be wife. We try and come back at least once a year... Recently, their marina closed, which is a huge bummer but we just go 5 minutes to Obexer's up the highway instead. Curious with all the poor reviews? This place is ridiculously beautiful, well maintained, and has a million amenities!

Rachel V.

Yelp
Agree with other reviews. Sites are close to eachother, no showers, flushing potties and running water a plus - no lights in bathrooms though. Also, campground surrounded by residential houses, which is odd. The best part of the camping was walking my dog all around and hiking nearby. Tahoe is pretty dog friendly with the trails. Host seems nice & helpful. Overall the camping was just OK., but I wouldn't want to be there when it was crowded or full.

Ann H.

Yelp
Camp was good pretty nice and clean. Drawback is camp hosts are crabby and don't know how to treat people especially disabled. Would not come back because of that

Mimi J.

Yelp
We camped there. We stayed in space 30. A little steep hard to level a 36 foot motorhome. Nice place a bit tight for the road going into the park. Great for camping and convenient for Tahoe exploring. However there are two groups of camp host. One couple is super friendly, super patient, super kind, looks like Col Sanders. Both a beautiful couple for camp hosts. The other couple are not so nice. Be aware. Jerks. The campground was in the middle of a residential area. But I never saw the neighbors. So I guess it was all good. Great location great walking to Sunnyside Bar. Loved the entire area.