Is Washoe Lake Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Washoe Lake Campground accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

Can I see photos of campsites at Washoe Lake Campground before I book?

Yes! Washoe Lake Campground has 20 campsite photos on Outdoorithm, contributed by campers who've stayed there. Browse real photos of individual sites to see what to expect before you reserve.

What is the best time to visit Washoe Lake Campground?

Washoe Lake Campground is open The campground is open year round and available by reservation.. The best time to visit depends on your preferences—summer offers the warmest weather and most activities, while spring and fall provide fewer crowds and milder temperatures. Check current conditions before your trip.

Are there showers at Washoe Lake Campground?

Washoe Lake Campground does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

How many campsites does Washoe Lake Campground have?

Washoe Lake Campground has 18 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Check availability online to find the best site for your needs.

Are dogs allowed at Washoe Lake Campground?

Pets are not allowed at Washoe Lake Campground. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

What amenities are available at Washoe Lake Campground?

Washoe Lake Campground offers: Dump Station, Water Hookups. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

Washoe Lake Campground

4.42

257 reviews

Top 14% in NVFall

Seasonal ranking by Open-Meteo.com, licensed under CC BY 4.0, processed by Outdoorithm.

C+Report Card

Quick Facts

5,052 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

18 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

RV Friendly

Book on NevadaStateParks Official Website

Get Directions

Elevation by Open-Meteo.com, licensed under CC BY 4.0, processed by Outdoorithm.

Quick Facts

5,052 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

18 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

RV Friendly

Book on NevadaStateParks Official Website

Get Directions

Elevation by Open-Meteo.com, licensed under CC BY 4.0, processed by Outdoorithm.

Washoe Lake Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Camping: $15.00 per vehicle, per night (Non-NV Vehicles: $20.00 per vehicle, per night) + $10.00 for sites with utility hook ups

No campsite fee categories listed.

Get Notified When Available

We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.

Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans

263,000+ sites monitored · Email alerts to start; SMS and in-app with an account

Learn more about alerts →

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Nevada State Parks

Provider

(775) 684-2770

I manage this campground

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Campground Map

Washoe Lake Campground

39.2391, -119.7685

Weather at Washoe Lake Campground

Best Time to Camp at Washoe Lake Campground

Best

Fall(Sep-Nov)

4.5 / 5

Top 14% in NV

Large aspen grove implies strong fall color viewing; described as scenic and secluded.

Planning Tips

Operating Season: The campground is open year round and available by reservation.

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com, licensed under CC BY 4.0, processed by Outdoorithm.

About Washoe Lake Campground

Loop A sits in a large aspen grove at 6,770 feet elevation, part of Lookout Campground in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest near the California-Nevada border. This small, remote loop holds 18 sites. One host site, one group site, and 16 standard nonelectric sites. The 7.2-mile access road is rough and washboarded, passable for 2WD vehicles but not recommended for low-clearance cars.

Sites 01 (host) and 02–18 are standard nonelectric sites; the loop includes one designated group site. Sources do not explicitly state whether sites are designated tent, RV, or primitive camping.

Natural Features and SceneryMature aspens surround the loop, their white trunks filtering sunlight onto the forest floor. At this elevation, the air stays crisp and the shade runs deep. The grove creates a sense of seclusion uncommon in more accessible campgrounds. You're in the national forest proper here, not a developed park with manicured clearings.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are not allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsReserve Nevada (reservenevada.com). Reservations can be made from 3 days to 11 months in advance; inventory opens at 8:00 a.m. PT on a rolling 11-month window.

Total Campsites18 campsites

Best CampsitesSites 01 through 18 make up the loop, with site 01 reserved for the host. All standard sites lack electricity. One group site is available. No specific site reviews exist to recommend one over another.

Need help booking Washoe Lake Campground?

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When to Book

Find your booking window

Cancellation Alerts

Free alerts for this campground

Amenities available

Water hookups

Dump station

Group Sites

I manage this campground

Not sure what to pack?Our complete camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

No Electric HookupsElectric hookups are not available at this campground. RV campers should arrive with a full battery and plan for off-grid power (generator hours/quiet rules permitting).

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Good to know

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, and timing, compiled by Outdoorithm from public reviews and operator information.

Reviews

Rate Washoe Lake Campground

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From Booking Sources

4.4

257 reviews

Recommended

Washoe Lake Campground is recommended, placing it in the top 40% of campgrounds based on reviews

Limited web-sourced descriptions characterize Loop A as a remote, quiet spot; no formal user ratings are available in the provided sources.

Review Summaries

Based on 257 reviews

What Campers Love

Described in available secondary sources as a remote 'secret hideaway' within a large aspen grove at approximately 6,770 ft; small loop with a host site and one group site (sites 01–18).

Based on 257 reviews

Reviews on Outdoorithm

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Washoe Lake Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Camping: $15.00 per vehicle, per night (Non-NV Vehicles: $20.00 per vehicle, per night) + $10.00 for sites with utility hook ups

No campsite fee categories listed.

Get Notified When Available

We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.

Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans

263,000+ sites monitored · Email alerts to start; SMS and in-app with an account

Learn more about alerts →

Share this campground

Nevada State Parks

Provider

(775) 684-2770

Go if

Tent campers and van-dwellers who want shade and solitude west of Reno without paying resort prices, $15/night buys you deep forest cover and crips high-elevation air that most Nevada campgrounds can't match.

Skip if

Low-clearance cars and anyone needing hookups will hit problems fast: the 7.2-mile access road is washboarded, sites are nonelectric, and specific amenity details like showers and potable water aren't confirmed in any official source.

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From Cloudcroft, NM, take US Rt. 82 east 0.5 miles to State Rt. 244. Turn left onto Rt. 244 and go 1.9 miles to campground sign. Turn right at sign and go 0.9 miles to the Apache campground sign. Turn left at sign into campground.

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Aspen Campground sits at 7,490 feet in Inyo National Forest near Lee Vining, where aspen groves meet pine forest along Lee Vining Creek. The 45 sites accommodate tents, RVs up to 40 feet, and primitive camping, with fees ranging from $10 to $28 per night. Trees surround most sites, providing solid privacy in what reviewers call a 'magnificent serene and peaceful' setting.

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Hilltop sits at 8,400 feet in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, about an hour northwest of Las Vegas. This high-elevation alpine campground offers a cool summer escape with spacious sites, fire rings, and picnic tables spread across tent, RV, and primitive areas. Hikers and mountain bikers use it as a base for exploring surrounding trails, and the elevation delivers clear stargazing and relief from desert heat.

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Located off NM 130, 1.4 miles south of the village of Cloudcroft

Sleepy Grass Campground sits at 9,000 feet in Lincoln National Forest, 15 sites tucked into a grassy valley where the Sacramento Mountains meet stands of Douglas fir, Ponderosa pine, and aspen. The campground includes 10 single-family sites, two doubles, and three triples, with fees running $30-47 per night. Cell service reaches here from nearby Cloudcroft.

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Campgrounds

Washoe Lake State Park Group Area

Washoe Lake Campground

C+

Camper Report Card

How campers graded it

Rated higher than 37% of graded campgrounds

Graded on what 123 campers actually wrote - graded on 14 things that make or break a trip. Each topic is graded against every other campground on it - A is among the best, C about average. No star ratings.

Strengths

Grade A-.Value
Grade B+.Safety
Grade B.Crowds & noise

Watch-outs

Grade D.Booking
Grade C-.Things to do
Grade C.Rules & policies

Every grade - tap to see what campers said

Each topic is graded against every other campground on it; a topic campers liked never grades below C−. ± shows the 95% confidence range from the sample size.

How we grade →See how Nevada grades overall