Camp Richardson Resort

Camp Richardson Resort is the classic Lake Tahoe campground: towering pines, a historic resort complex and a lakeshore ten minutes' walk away on the southwest shore along Highway 89 in South Lake Tahoe, California. It is run as a Forest Service concession within the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and suits RVers who put lake proximity and forest atmosphere first, plus anyone who wants a marina, bar and grill, general store and the famous ice cream parlor on the property.

Camp Richardson Resort at a glance

Hookups	Full on 20 sites; water and electric on 78 sites
Sites	98 RV sites (20 full hookup, 78 water/electric)
Max RV length	Confirm at booking — some sites are tight for rigs over 30 feet
Cost	$50–60/night
Reservations	Recreation.gov — book early, especially for the 20 full-hookup sites
Season	Approximately June through September (weather dependent)
Location	Highway 89, South Lake Tahoe (southwest shore)
Amenities	Bar and grill, general store, marina, ice cream parlor, bike path to lake, fire pits

Why RVers stay here

The RV Village has 98 sites, 20 with full hookups and 78 with water and electric only, each with a paved pad, picnic table and fire pit. Rates run about $50 to $60 a night. Reservations go through Recreation.gov, and the 20 full-hookup sites disappear first, so treat them like a scarce commodity. Some sites are tight for rigs over 30 feet, so confirm fit at booking. The season is roughly June through September and shifts with snowpack. It is also the ideal base for Emerald Bay, a few miles north, where the campground only takes tiny rigs. The trade-off is that most sites lack sewer and you will be managing tanks between dump-station visits.

✓Closest lake access of any RV-friendly Tahoe campground: a ten-minute walk on a paved bike path

✓Historic resort complex with a marina, bar and grill, general store, deli and ice cream parlor

✓Paved pads, picnic tables and fire pits under big pines

✓The best RV base for day trips to Emerald Bay a few miles up Highway 89

✓Twenty full-hookup sites for those who book early

!Only 20 of 98 sites have sewer; the other 78 are water and electric, so plan tank capacity

!Some sites are tight for rigs over 30 feet; confirm fit before booking

!Short season, roughly June to September, and summer weekends book months ahead on Recreation.gov

What our guides say about Camp Richardson Resort

Excerpts from the RV Parks Guide articles that cover this campground. Each links to the full guide.

Regional guide

Lake Tahoe RV Parks: Where to Camp on California's Alpine Jewel

Camp Richardson is the campground that people think of when they picture Lake Tahoe camping — towering pines, a short walk to the lake, a historic resort feel that dates back decades. It sits on the southwest shore along Highway 89, managed as a Forest Service concession within the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. The resort complex includes a bar and grill, a general store with deli, a full-service marina, and an ice cream parlor that draws a line on summer afternoons.

The RV Village at Camp Richardson has 98 sites — 20 with full hookups and 78 with water and electric only. Sites have paved pads, picnic tables, and fire pits with cooking grates. The lake is about a ten-minute walk along a paved bike path — close enough to hear the water but far enough to have some forest buffer.

This is the campground to book if lake proximity and forest atmosphere are your top priorities and you can live without sewer hookups on most sites. The full-hookup sites book early — treat them like Furnace Creek's 18 hookup sites in Death Valley. The water/electric sites are a solid option for rigs with holding tank capacity for a few days between dump station visits.

Reservations for 2026 go through Recreation.gov, with the full year's availability opening November 1, 2025. The campground operates seasonally, typically June through September, though exact dates shift with snowpack and weather.

Read the guide →

Camp Richardson Resort: frequently asked questions

Does Camp Richardson Resort have full hookups?

Partly. 20 of the 98 RV Village sites have full hookups; the other 78 have water and electric only. A dump station is available for registered campers.

How much does Camp Richardson Resort cost per night?

Our Lake Tahoe guide lists roughly $50 to $60 per night. Confirm the current rate for your site type on Recreation.gov.

What is the max RV length at Camp Richardson Resort?

There is no single published limit; our guide notes some sites are tight for rigs over 30 feet and advises confirming at booking. Check the individual site record.

Do you need reservations at Camp Richardson Resort?

Yes. Reservations go through Recreation.gov, and for 2026 the full year opened on November 1, 2025. Full-hookup sites and July and August weekends go first; midweek is much easier.

Is Camp Richardson Resort open year-round?

No. It operates seasonally, typically June through September, with exact dates shifting with snowpack and weather.

How far is Camp Richardson Resort from Lake Tahoe?

About a ten-minute walk along a paved bike path from the RV Village to the beach, close enough to hear the water but with a forest buffer.