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    William Kent Campground

    3.3 (71 reviews)

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    Constance L.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    Campground entrance
    Michael W.

    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!

    Tent camping at William Kent
    Brittney H.

    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!

    Jayde L.

    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.

    Tent area site 57 - our 6 person tent (maybe 20' long?) fit fine lengthwise, but was a tight squeeze on the width
    Cathy H.

    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!

    Site 81 -- photo taken in the morning // view from the bathroom
    Lauren F.

    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.

    Trailhead to Genevieve Lake and...It'd be a nice 3.5+mi steady climb, up to 1100ft vertical, on a narrow, rocky trail. 07.14.14.
    Peter S.

    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

    The beach is lovely.
    Liz K.

    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.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - William Kent Campground

    Review Highlights - William Kent Campground

    Campground is a short walk (feet, not miles) to the Lake, restaurants, and a little general store with ice.

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    Tahoe SRA

    Tahoe SRA

    3.8
    (15 reviews)
    2.7 mi

    Great way to stay in pricey Tahoe City for cheap! The campground is adjacent to the town (a…read moreSafeway, CVS) and a few steps to a walking path along the lake. It's nice to be able to go out downtown and walk home to your campsite. The only walk-able beach isn't dog-friendly and will likely be always pretty crowded. We biked to a nearby dog-friendly beach when we stayed here, so I'd definitely recommend bringing bikes. There are endless biking and hiking trails around the area. I'd highly recommend staying here if you're not a *huge* camper, but want to try it out because there are great amenities (walking distance to town / restaurants, hot showers, flushable toilets, and running water). My biggest gripes about this campground were the pollen (uncontrollable) and the road noise. There are some sites where you're seemingly camping on the road, so watchout.

    Nice campsite. A paved walking path leads to the lake, with beautiful views. The campsite is woodsy…read moreenough to feel like you're camping, but close enough to the town to enjoy local sites and eateries. (A coffee shop [Coffee Connexion] is just up the way, an easy walk in the morning.) That said, the site is very close to the road, so it's noisy, even at night. Earplugs recommended for a good night's sleep. The road quiets down considerably in the middle of the night, but that doesn't mean the occasional cargo truck won't come roaring by. The facilities are good, with restrooms and showers conveniently located. The men's restroom ran out of paper towels by Sunday evening, but was restocked by Monday afternoon. The showers cost quarters: minimum 50 cents for 5 min (although I times it twice, and it goes closer to 6 or 6 1/2 minutes). There are no lights at the site, except for at the restroom, so have flashlights or headlamps. There are bear boxes to stow food and smellies overnight and while you're away (bring a lock for when you're away). You can't wash dishes at the site spigots or the bathroom, so have an alternate dishwashing plan. The spigot provide good drinking water. Overall, nice campsite. I'd be willing to return.

    Photos
    Views from the lakefront at Tahoe Campground
    Views from the lakefront at Tahoe Campground
    The squirrels are everywhere, but in a friendly way. Caught this one munching a pine cone like it was Thanksgiving dinner!
    The squirrels are everywhere, but in a friendly way. Caught this one munching a pine cone like it was Thanksgiving dinner!
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    Kaspian Campgrounds

    Kaspian Campgrounds

    3.8
    (18 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    We got visited by a real live bear! Bears visit sites 1-3, which happen to be the best sites for…read moreparking nearby to set up. 4 has a great view, but is up a trail. 5 has an okay view. 6-9 don't really. I love this site. It is real camping because you can't park near your site, so no RVs or generators. Unfortunately, the sound of the road is constant. The views are amazing. 4 stars because there is only one sink and no shower.

    I loved it, but it's not for everyone. What I loved:…read more No RV's Very few campsites Campsites were spread out Site was 100% cleaned up from the last campers Running water near our site Bathrooms (one flushing with sink) Close to bike trail/lake/grocery store We went during the week in mid-summer - there was only 1 other camper there both nights (although several sites said they were reserved) What I did not care for (but it was still ok): You have to walk up stairs and a hill if you reserve sites 4-9. Traffic noise - mostly during the day - it dies down and night and did not disturb my sleep at all. Bathrooms are far - especially for middle of the night trips to the bathroom! You should know: The website map has the sites marked in the wrong locations - so I reserved a site that I would not have preferred. The lower sites are 1-3, they have views of the lake, close to bathrooms, but the most traffic noise. Sites 4 & 5 have decent views of the lake - they require walking up stairs and will still have more traffic noise. Site 7 has views of the lake through trees - close to the top of the stairs. Sites 6, 8 & 9 don't really have lake views - they are farthest from the road with the least traffic noise, but also have the furthest to haul your gear from your car.

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    Bear
    Bear
    Postcard perfect
    Postcard perfect
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    William Kent Campground - campgrounds - Updated June 2026

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