Kit Carson Campground

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Headquarters — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: Markleeville, NV, NV

Price: From $29.64 per night

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (51 reviews)

Season: May through October

Nestled in a forest of Jeffrey pines and aspens, Kit Carson campground is perfect for tent camping and smaller RVs. The west fork of the Carson River is located next to the campground, with several sites right next to the water. Kit Carson is exceptionally beautiful in the fall.This campground has drinking water, garbage containers, and vault toilets.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Bear Boxes, Camp Host, Fishing, Firewood for Sale

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/kit-carson-campground to be notified when sites open up.

Kit Carson Campground is nestled in a forest of Jeffrey pines and aspens with several sites right next to the west fork of the Carson River, offering excellent fishing and scenic views. The location is exceptionally beautiful in the fall with colorful foliage displays.

Wildlife alert: Great Basin Rattlesnake, Coyote, North American Porcupine, and Gray-headed Pika present in the area. Western Pond Turtle and Northern Rubber Boa also verified nearby.

Insider tips for Kit Carson Campground: Book early — this is a popular federal campground Request spots 5 or 2 if you want direct river access Bring a self-contained RV or tent; no hookups available Purchase firewood on-site rather than bringing your own

Skip Kit Carson Campground if: You need RV hookups — none are available. You prefer maintained access roads — reviewers noted the campground road needs tending. You require privacy bathroom facilities — vault toilets are open pit style with no sinks. You visit outside May-October — campground is seasonal.

Best time to visit Kit Carson Campground: September-October — Fall foliage displays are exceptionally beautiful according to RIDB description. May-October — Full campground operating season.

Nearby campgrounds: Crystal Springs (Bridgeport, CA), Indian Creek Campground (Ca) (Carson City, CA), Silver Lake East- Eldorado (Markleeville, CA), Markleeville (Markleeville, CA).

Cell Phone Coverage at Kit Carson Campground

Cell signal at Kit Carson Campground (Markleeville, NV): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

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Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Headquarters — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Kit Carson Campground

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Markleeville, NV, NV★ 4.5 (51 reviews)From $29.64/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Nestled in a forest of Jeffrey pines and aspens, Kit Carson campground is perfect for tent camping and smaller RVs. The west fork of the Carson River is located next to the campground, with several sites right next to the water. Kit Carson is exceptionally beautiful in the fall.This campground has drinking water, garbage containers, and vault toilets.

Best for:AnglersHikersFamiliesSites:TentRV
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
Max RV45 ft
HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsDrinking WaterFishing
Recreation
Picnic TablesBear BoxesFirewood for Sale
Family & Pets
Vault ToiletsCamp Host

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need RV hookups — none are available✕ You prefer maintained access roads — reviewers noted the campground road needs tending✕ You require privacy bathroom facilities — vault toilets are open pit style with no sinks✕ You visit outside May-October — campground is seasonal

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a popular federal campground

Request spots 5 or 2 if you want direct river access

Bring a self-contained RV or tent; no hookups available

Purchase firewood on-site rather than bringing your own

Best: September-October

Fall foliage displays are exceptionally beautiful according to RIDB description

Best: May-October

Full campground operating season

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Great Basin Rattlesnake, Coyote, North American Porcupine, and Gray-headed Pika present in the area. Western Pond Turtle and Northern Rubber Boa also verified nearby.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
530-694-1002· Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Headquarters
Getting there →

From South Lake Tahoe, take Hwy 89 over Luther Pass to the 88/89 interchange. Turn left on 88; go approximately 1 mile to campground entrance on your left. From Gardnerville, Carson City or Minden, Nevada, take Hwy 395 to Hwy 88. Head south on Hwy 88 for approximately 19 miles to the campground entrance in Woodfords Canyon on north side.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Headquarters fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Headquarters before arrival — seasonal closures common.
  • Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Kit Carson Campground cost per night?+
Kit Carson Campground costs $29.64 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Kit Carson Campground open?+
Kit Carson Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Kit Carson Campground have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Kit Carson Campground?+
Kit Carson Campground can accommodate RVs up to 45 feet.
How do I make reservations at Kit Carson Campground?+
Kit Carson Campground is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Kit Carson Campground?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Kit Carson Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Kit Carson Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Kit Carson Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Forest Service ConcessionairePrint Facility Map
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$29.64 /night★ 4.5 (51)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Kit Carson Campground cost per night?+
What season is Kit Carson Campground open?+
Does Kit Carson Campground have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Crystal Springs

Bridgeport, CA

From $27.36/night

Indian Creek Campground (Ca)

Carson City, CA

From $14/night

Silver Lake East- Eldorado

Markleeville, CA

From $36/night

Markleeville

Markleeville, CA

From $29.64/night

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Kit Carson Campground — Humboldt-Toiyabe National | CamperWatch