Camping & Cabins

There are over a dozen campgrounds and three resorts with cabin rentals in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Most are open from mid-May through mid-October, conditions and weather permitting. Sugar Pine Point, Tahoe Valley and Zephyr Cove campgrounds are open year-round. 

• National Forest Reservations
• California State Park Reservations
• Nevada State Park Reservations

Camping and Campfire Restrictions

National Forest lands at Lake Tahoe are under year-round fire restrictions which prohibit campfires (wood, charcoal and any other solid fuels) in any location except open, designated campgrounds with permanently installed metal campfire pits and/or barbeque grills. More

Most National Forest campgrounds have a 14-day limit per calendar year and a limit of six people, per campsite. Camping is only allowed in designated campgrounds and in the following backcountry areas: Desolation Wilderness, Meiss Country, and along the Pacific Crest or Tahoe Rim trails. Dispersed camping, also known as vehicle camping or overnighting, is not permitted. More 

Bear Canisters

Lake Tahoe is bear country. Hard-sided bear canisters are required in Desolation Wilderness and bear-resistant containers are required in all other areas. More 

Firewood

Campers should be aware that firewood can harbor insects and diseases that threaten valuable forest resources. Transporting firewood can move these pests to new locations. More

Campgrounds and Resorts

East Shore

• Nevada Beach Campground
  (USFS/Tahoe Recreation)
  530-541-1537
• Zephyr Cove Resort
  (USFS/SUP)
  800-238-2463

North Shore

• Lake Forest Campground
  (TCPUD)
  530-580-6279
• Tahoe State Recreation Area
  (CSP)
  530-583-3074

South Shore

• Campground by the Lake
  (City of SLT)
  530-542-6096
• Camp Richardson Resort
  (USFS/SUP)
  530-494-2228
• Camp Shelly
  (USFS/LARPD)
  925-373-5700
• Fallen Leaf Campground
  (USFS/Tahoe Recreation)
  530-544-0426
• Tahoe Valley Campground
  (PRIV)
  530-541-2222

West Shore

• D.L. Bliss State Park
  (CSP)
  530-525-7277
• Emerald Bay State Park
  (CSP)
  530-541-3030
• Meeks Bay Resort and Campground
  (USFS/SUP)
  530-525-6946
• Sugar Pine Point State Park
  (CSP)
  530-525-9528
• Kaspian Campground
  (USFS/Tahoe Recreation)
  530-541-1537
• William Kent Campground
  (USFS/Tahoe Recreation)
  530-541-1537

Operated By

City of SLT: Campground is managed by the City of South Lake Tahoe.
PRIV: Campground is privately owned and managed.
TCPUD: Campground is managed by Tahoe City Public Utility District.
USFS/LARPD: Campground is on National Forest land and is managed by Livermore Area Recreation and Park District through a special use permit.
USFS/SUP: Campground is on National Forest land and is managed by a concessionaire under a special use permit.
USFS/Tahoe Recreation: Campground is on National Forest land and is managed by Tahoe Recreation under a special use permit.