Tahoe’s Best Bike-In Campgrounds
One of the great things about Lake Tahoe is its biking culture. With more than 50 miles of paved bike paths around the basin (not counting the 100-plus miles of dirt singletrack mountain bike paths up in the mountains), there are quite a few campgrounds nestled between Tahoe’s safely paved paths meandering through the trees and Big Blue that you can get to without having to deal with traffic. Here are a few of Tahoe’s most accessible bike spots to pitch a tent and stay for the night:
- Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park, West Shore*
The West Lake Tahoe Bike Path connecting Tahoe City to Meeks Bay goes right up to Sugar Pine Point State Park, where the historic Hellman-Ehrman mansion and navigational light post sit on the lake. Across the street (Highway 89) from the main estate, the state park has a campground with 175 sites each equipped with a bear box, fire ring, picnic table, and nice big parking pad. The campground is sectioned off in six loops on the mountain side of the park and is one of the only campgrounds in the Tahoe area open in the off-season.
- Camp Richardson, South Shore*
Accessible via the Pope-Baldwin Bike Path, Camp Richardson is the best place to start or end your two-wheeled overnight camping trip because it really does have it all. The path brushes right up to the general store and 100-site campground or go down Jameson Beach Road to spend the day at the beach (or the night at its lakeside inn). The Grove restaurant is a great place to grab lunch at the beach; a coffee shop, ice cream parlor, and Mountain Sports Center (with bike rentals) are all clustered around Highway 89.
- Nevada Beach, Stateline*
About 2.5 miles north of Stateline at the end of Elks Point Road, the Rabe Meadows trail follows Burke Creek to Nevada Beach and continues to Round Hill Pines. Open mid-May through mid-October, this US Forest Service-managed campground has 56 sites tucked in the pines and is close to a long sandy beach with flush toilets and drinking water available. Traveling by bike is the best way to explore this slice of paradise with your friends and family.
- William Kent Campground, Tahoe City*
On the east side of Tahoe City right next to the main road and Tahoe City Lakeside Bike Path, this US Forest Service-managed campground has 80 tent sites and easy access to the beach, Tahoe City Marina, and town center. Each site comes with a table, campfire ring, and grill; a few yurts are also available.
- Meeks Bay Resort, West Shore*
Open mid-May through mid-October, Meeks Bay Resort is at the southernmost point of the West Lake Tahoe Bike Path seven miles north of Emerald Bay, so that when you get to the end of the trail you can just stop and pitch a tent. This USFS-managed campground has 54 non-electric campsites, 23 RV sites with full hookups, the 7-bedroom Kehlet Mansion, and 3-bedroom Washoe House perfect for hosting special events. The main lodge has souvenirs and sundries while the Wa She Shu Grill next to the beach serves breakfast, lunch, and snacks.
- Lake Forest Campground, Tahoe City*
Just a few miles east outside of Tahoe City on the Tahoe City Lakeside Bike Path, Lake Forest keeps a 20-site campground within walking distance to the boat launch ramp, Lake Forest Beach, and Pomin Park. The campground is first-come first-served, and a short bike ride away from Skylandia Beach and the Sugar Pine Cakery on Lake Forest Road.
* Mentioned in my Moon Travel Guides’ Best of California State Parks and/or Northern California Road Trips.
- Kaspian Campground, West Shore
An easy pull-off along the West Lake Tahoe Bike Path on Highway 89, the Recreation.gov website has it right on its website that “Kaspian Campground is ideal for visitors planning a full day of biking around Lake Tahoe.” This former picnic area now has campfire rings with grills and ample space for pitching a tent, with flush toilets, drinking water, and bearproof trash boxes nearby. Its nine tent-only sites are tucked in the trees right across the street from Lake Tahoe.
- Fallen Leaf Campground, South Shore
As part of the smattering of paved pathways between Baldwin Beach, Taylor Creek, and Camp Richardson, a bike path, roadway, and dirt hiking trails all lead down to the Fallen Leaf Campground. Reservable via Recreation.gov, this campground has 206 sites which includes six yurts with ample space to park your two-wheeled whip close by. If you want to relax from the bike for the day and walk around instead, there’s a popular trail that leads around the lake and up to the 9,735-ft. peak. It takes around 5-7 hours to climb up there and back, but the views from the top are worth it. Bring lots of water.
Notable mentions:
Northstar California- While this mountain bike resort doesn’t offer camping, there are plenty of condos in and around the village that allow you to sleep in a warm bed, bike to the gondola, and take chairlifts up to access the rest of its trails.
River Ranch Lodge- While Truckee’s other ski resort doesn’t have chairlift accessible bike trails in the summer, the Historic Truckee River Bike Path connects Palisades Tahoe to Tahoe City, going right by the 19-room River Ranch Lodge.
Emerald Bay Boat Camp*- Emerald Bay State Park isn’t necessarily bikeable, but you can get there by boat. It has 97 sites at its Eagle Point campground on the south side of the bay, but on the north side, you can find a 22-site Boat Camp for those coming in via the water. Boaters have access to a pier, kayak rack, and a site with a fire ring, picnic table, bearproof box, and solid ground to sleep on.
Watson Lake, North Lake Tahoe- Found in the backcountry off the Fiberboard Freeway (Forest Road 16N50), which existed before Highway 28 was built, this campground is a good stop for those hiking the Tahoe Rim Trail. The Fiberboard Freeway connects Brockway to Tahoe City up in the forest at a 7,759-ft. elevation, with little Watson Lake offering a secluded stop-off in the middle of this 15.3-mile route. Despite the Fiberboard Freeway being semi-paved, this small campground with minimal amenities is more appealing to mountain bikers since it connects so many singletrack dirt trails.
Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the Summer 2026 edition of Tahoe Magazine.
