Walk from your site to the beach in minutes
Camp Richardson Resort
✓ Sites AvailableHistoric lakefront resort — direct beach access, bike paths, marina
About
The crown jewel of South Lake Tahoe camping. Camp Richardson sits directly on the southwest shore with paved bike paths running along the lake to multiple beaches. Restaurant (The Grove), ice cream parlor (summer), marina with parasailing and boat rentals, and bike rental shop all on-site. RV hookups are limited and haphazardly placed — bring long extension cords. Best pure lakefront camping at Tahoe. No dogs allowed.
Best For
Site Types
Amenities
Complete Campground Guide 🧠
Site Guide — Pick the Right Spot 🗺️
How to actually get a site
Recreation.gov window opens 30 days ahead at 7am PST. July and August weekends go in under 2 minutes. Midweek (Tue–Thu) has better odds. Set a specific site alert on Campnab.com.
Available Activities
💡 Pro Tips from Real Campers
- 🚲 Rent bikes at the resort — ride Pope Baldwin Bike Path south, flat and gorgeous along the lake
- 🍦 Ice cream parlor is summer only and legendary. Lines get long — go before noon
- 🛶 Book marina activities weeks ahead — parasailing and Emerald Bay boat tours sell out in July/August
- 🔌 RV hookups limited and awkwardly positioned. Bring 50ft water hose and 30ft electric extension
- 🐕 No dogs allowed — this is the main gotcha. Plan accordingly
- 📅 Last-minute cancellation openings happen daily — check at 7am when prior-day bookings expire
What Campers Are Saying 💬
This is the best campground at Tahoe for families who love the outdoors. Rented bikes, rode the Pope Baldwin path along the lake, had ice cream after — perfect Tahoe day. We've come back three summers in a row.
Got a last-minute cancellation site here. Could not be happier. Extensive activities, beach right there, restaurant on site. Limited full hookups but they have water and electric. Bring long extension cords — hookups are haphazardly placed.
We've stayed here multiple times and love it — BUT they turned away our dog at the gate. No dogs allowed. Zero exceptions. Would be 5 stars otherwise. If you have a dog, check Tahoe Valley instead.
Woke up, walked 2 minutes to the lake, watched the sunrise over the Sierra. Ice cream parlor later. Kayak rental from the marina. Smores at the fire pit. This is everything Tahoe camping should be.
Reviews sourced from Yelp, Google, Tripadvisor, Reddit, Campendium, The Dyrt, and KOA — paraphrased. All opinions belong to original authors.
Known Issues
No dogs allowed. RV hookups limited and awkwardly positioned. Books months in advance. Summer-only.
Nearby
Cancellation Policy
Full refund 30+ days before. 50% refund 15–29 days. No refund within 14 days.
2:00 PM
12:00 PM
May - October
6 people
Location
Camper Posts 🏕️
No fees added by CamperWatch.