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RVParks.com lists RV parks and campgrounds across the United States. Bookings are completed on each park's or partner's own site; we may earn a commission from partner links. Availability and prices come from partner feeds, can change at any time, and should be confirmed when you book.

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Quick facts

LocationSierra City, California
Nightly rate (listed)$24–$48/night
Guest rating4.0 / 5 (105 reviews)
Maximum RV length48 ft (longest listed site)
HookupsNone listed
RV sites26
Pets allowedYes
Book onRecreation.gov

Amenities

  • Big rigs Big-rig friendly: the longest listed site is 48 ft. Check your site's length when you book.
  • Pets allowed Pets allowed, per the listing. Restrictions may apply.
  • Public land Public campground: National Forest (USFS).
  • Primitive No hookups and vault toilets, per the listing.

From the park's listing on Recreation.gov. Confirm details with the park before you book.

More California RV parks with: Big Rig Sites

Other RV parks near Sardine Lake

  • Salmon Creek Sierra City, CA · 0.4 mi straight-line
  • Diablo Sierra City, CA · 1.4 mi straight-line
  • Berger Sierra City, CA · 1.6 mi straight-line
  • Packsaddle Sierra City, CA · 1.8 mi straight-line
  • Wild Plum Sierra City, CA · 3.7 mi straight-line
  • Lakes Basin Blairsden, CA · 3.9 mi straight-line
  • Chapman Sierra City, CA · 3.9 mi straight-line
  • Sierra Skies RV Park Sierra City, CA · 3.9 mi straight-line
  1. Home
  2. California
  3. Nevada City
  4. Sardine Lake
Add an RV

RVs near this campground

Picks are 48 ft or shorter: the longest RV site listed here. Pickup area: Reno (Reno-Tahoe International (RNO)), about 46 mi straight-line from Sardine Lake. RV rentals in Reno

All RV rentals near Sardine Lake →
Pick up in Truckee

Tahoe Campervan- Ram Promaster High Roof/Long Wheelbase

Camper vanSleeps 3 5

Where Sardine Lake fits

Nearest alternatives
Salmon Creek (0.4 mi) · Diablo (1.4 mi) · Berger (1.6 mi)

Other nearby options

Closest stays by type. Distances are straight-line from Sardine Lake, not driving.

Not confirmed open for your dates

  • Closest public campgroundSalmon Creek0.4 mi away (straight-line) · PublicUnavailable for your datesCheck availability on Recreation.gov ↗
  • Closest private full-hookupSierra Skies RV Park3.9 mi away (straight-line) · PrivateCheck availabilityCheck availability on Campspot ↗
  • Closest public / first-comeDiablo1.4 mi away (straight-line) · PublicCheck availabilityCheck availability on Recreation.gov ↗
  • Next closestBerger1.6 mi away (straight-line) · PublicCheck availabilityCheck availability on Recreation.gov ↗

Other stays nearby

Check dates on Recreation.gov

Diablo

1.4 mi from Sardine Lake (straight-line) 4.0 · 35 Recreation.gov reviews
Tent sites · RV sites
Check dates on Recreation.gov
Rates & availability from Recreation.gov · you book on their site
View Campsites
Check dates on Recreation.gov

Berger

1.6 mi from Sardine Lake (straight-line) 4.0 · 23 Recreation.gov reviews
Tent sites · RV sites
Check dates on Recreation.gov
Rates & availability from Recreation.gov · you book on their site
View Campsites
Check dates on Recreation.gov

Packsaddle

1.8 mi from Sardine Lake (straight-line) 4.0 · 46 Recreation.gov reviews
Tent sites · RV sites
Check dates on Recreation.gov
Rates & availability from Recreation.gov · you book on their site
View Campsites

Sardine Lake

Private campground · Nevada City

This weekend · Check dates on Recreation.gov

4.0 on Recreation.gov · 105 reviewsBook on Recreation.gov
YUBA RIVER RANGER STATION
Saving doesn't reserve a site.
SitesAmenitiesReviewsLocationPolicies

About this campground

Sardine Lake is a Recreation.gov campground in Nevada City. It lists 26 RV or RV/tent sites for rigs up to 48 ft. Pets are allowed per the listing.

Highlights

  • Rigs up to 48 ftLongest RV site on the Recreation.gov site list
  • Pets allowedListed on Recreation.gov

Good for

Big rigs (up to 48 ft)Tent campingDogs

Know before you go

  • No hookups are listed.
  • Longest listed RV site is 48 ft; individual sites vary, so check the site length when booking.
  • Host
  • Interpretive Trails
  • Paved Roads
  • Pets Allowed
  • Self Pay Station
  • Shade
All amenities

Amenities

HostInterpretive TrailsPaved RoadsPets AllowedSelf Pay StationShadeTrash CollectionVault ToiletsWater

Nearby activities

HuntingHikingFishingCampingBoatingDay Use AreaHotel Lodge Resort Privately OwnedMountain BikingPhotographySwimmingBackpackingNon Motorized BoatingScenic DriveWater Activities

Find your campsite

Checking 2 nights (your saved dates or this weekend). Tell us what you're staying in to see matching sites and prices.

Sites open for your whole stay

Check dates on Recreation.gov. Rates are listed rates, not an offer.

Site 001 · Standard Nonelectric
Area Sardine LakeUp to 6 peopleSite length up to 44 ftNo hookups
Check availability

Opens site 001 on Recreation.gov; re-enter Oct 30–Nov 1 there.

$24/night
Site 002 · Standard Nonelectric
Area Sardine LakeUp to 6 peopleSite length up to 43 ftNo hookups
Check availability

Opens site 002 on Recreation.gov; re-enter Oct 30–Nov 1 there.

$24/night
Site 003 · Standard Nonelectric
Area Sardine LakeUp to 6 peopleSite length up to 30 ftNo hookups
Check availability

Opens site 003 on Recreation.gov; re-enter Oct 30–Nov 1 there.

$24/night
Site 004 · Standard Nonelectric
Area Sardine LakeUp to 6 peopleSite length up to 28 ftNo hookups
Check availability

Opens site 004 on Recreation.gov; re-enter Oct 30–Nov 1 there.

$24/night
Site 005 · Standard Nonelectric
Area Sardine LakeUp to 6 peopleSite length up to 28 ftNo hookups
Check availability

Opens site 005 on Recreation.gov; re-enter Oct 30–Nov 1 there.

$24/night
Site 006 · Standard Nonelectric
Area Sardine LakeUp to 6 peopleSite length up to 28 ftNo hookups
Check availability

Opens site 006 on Recreation.gov; re-enter Oct 30–Nov 1 there.

$24/night
Site 007 · Standard Nonelectric
Area Sardine LakeUp to 6 peopleSite length up to 38 ftNo hookups
Check availability

Opens site 007 on Recreation.gov; re-enter Oct 30–Nov 1 there.

$24/night
Site 008 · Standard Nonelectric
Area Sardine LakeUp to 6 peopleSite length up to 23 ftNo hookups
Check availability

Opens site 008 on Recreation.gov; re-enter Oct 30–Nov 1 there.

$24/night

Book with Recreation.gov

You book with the provider. Each row shows that provider's lowest open option for your dates, and which provider our main button uses.

Recreation.govMain booking button
Check dates on the provider's site
Check availability
Book with Recreation.gov ↗
Pick your dates again on this provider's site.
View full availability calendar · night-by-night from Recreation.gov

Check dates on Recreation.gov.

SiteFr
30
Sa
31
Price
016
standard nonelectric
––$24
008
standard nonelectric
––$24
017
standard nonelectric
––$24
007
standard nonelectric
––$24
006
standard nonelectric
––$24
027
standard nonelectric
––$24
023
standard nonelectric
––$24
003
standard nonelectric
––$24
014
standard nonelectric
––$24
021
standard nonelectric
–

What guests say

Verbatim from guest reviews on Recreation.gov ↗ (105 reviews, ★ 4.0). Not written or edited by us.

“The location is beautiful, but the road leading to the site is very narrow. They should also take care of the landscaping maintenance. ”

Susana H 4 · Oct 2025 · Recreation.gov

“Amazing views and well kept site, great launch spot for so many adventures ”

Dahlia N 5 · Oct 2025 · Recreation.gov

Location & access

This weekend (Fri, Oct 30 – Sun, Nov 1): Book online. Reservations online on Recreation.gov — open dates and rates come from the booking site.

Longest RV site listed: 48 ft.

Location

YUBA RIVER RANGER STATION
Open in Google Maps ↗

Policies

Check-in
2:00 PM
Check-out
12:00 PM
Max stay
14 nights
Pets
Allowed (per listing)
Campfires
Allowed (per listing)

About

Sardine Lake Campground sits in the North Yuba River area at the base of the Sierra Buttes, stretching along a wet meadow framed by a stand of lodgepole pine that provides partial shade and easy access to high mountain lakes and rugged peaks. Operated and maintained by Tahoe National Forest, the site contains 26 total campsites; all 26 are configured to accommodate both RVs and tents, with most sites intended for single-family use and one double site for larger groups. Each campsite includes a picnic table, a campfire ring, and a food storage locker; vault toilets and a potable water source are available on site. The road approach is straightforward from Sierra City a short drive north on Highway 49 and then west on Gold Lake Highway onto Packer Lake Road puts you within a mile of the campground entrance but check current road and seasonal conditions with the Forest Service before you go. The campground is a practical base for Lakes Basin recreation: Sardine Lakes and Sand Pond are less than a mile to the west for boating, fishing and swimming, and Sardine Lakes Resort nearby rents boats and provides lodging and a restaurant. Anglers can expect rainbow and brook trout throughout the basin, and a more developed ramp at Gold Lake handles larger boats. A robust network of trails including routes to Deer Lake and Tamarack Lakes and access points to the Pacific Crest Trail offers day hikes, mountain biking, and motorized singletrack in the broader area, while gold-panning, hunting, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing are available across the forest. Reservations and fees are managed under Tahoe National Forest policies: you can change reservation dates without a fee when the new dates fall within the original booking, and switching to a same-price site carries no change fee; recorded no-shows are assessed a $20 fee and forfeit the first night's fee, so contact the campground if you're delayed. For current fees, seasonal openings, and more detailed access information, consult Tahoe National Forest or the campground's reservation page before traveling.

Policies & rules

Key facts

Max rig length
Longest RV site listed: 48 ft (26 of 26 RV sites list a length) Listing
Hookups & power
Hookup type not listed for RV sites Listing
Pets
Allowed Listing
Booking
Reservable on Recreation.gov Listing
Getting there
YUBA RIVER RANGER STATION (map in Location below) Listing
All 15 facts with sources ↓
Why stay here and common questions

Why stay here?

  • RV sites listed for rigs up to 48 ft.
  • Rated 4.0★ across 105 Recreation.gov reviews.
  • Public-land campground run by a federal or state agency.

Sardine Lake: questions answered

What is the maximum RV length at Sardine Lake?
Longest RV site listed: 48 ft (26 of 26 RV sites list a length) (per the listing)
Does Sardine Lake have RV hookups?
Hookup type not listed for RV sites (per the listing)
How do I reserve a site at Sardine Lake?
Reservable on Recreation.gov (per the listing)
Are pets allowed at Sardine Lake?
Allowed (per the listing)
At a glance: all 15 facts with sources

Quick facts

Agency / operatorNot listed
BookingRecreation.gov [Recreation.gov]
Max RV / trailer lengthNot listed
Bear storage
Check availability

View campground on Recreation.gov ↗

Rates & availability from Recreation.gov.

You book each site directly with Recreation.gov. Prices and availability can change until booked.

Check dates
(1)
Truckee, CA · 28 mi from Reno (straight-line)
Drivable — no tow vehicleDelivery up to 50 miPets OK
to see if it's open
from $179/nightvia Outdoorsy
Pick up in Truckee

2022 Bush wacker light weight travel trailer

Travel trailerTowable 5 (1)
Truckee, CA · 25 mi from Reno (straight-line)
Towable — needs tow vehicle or deliveryDelivery up to 100 miPets OK
to see if it's open
from $100/nightvia RVshare
Pick up in Reno

2022 Forest River Cherokee Wolf Pup *SUV TOWABLE*

Travel trailerTowableSleeps 5 5 (7)
Reno, NV · 17 mi from Reno (straight-line)
Towable — needs tow vehicle or deliveryDelivery up to 150 miPets OK
Availability not connected · to estimate
from $90/nightvia RVshare
–
$24
004
standard nonelectric
––$24
001
standard nonelectric
––$24
025
standard nonelectric
––$24
010
standard nonelectric
––$24
005
standard nonelectric
––$24
026
standard nonelectric
––$24
009
standard nonelectric
––$24
013
standard nonelectric
––$24
012
standard nonelectric
––$24
024
standard nonelectric
––$24
022
standard nonelectric
––$24
002
standard nonelectric
––$24
019
standard nonelectric
––$24
018
standard nonelectric
––$24
011
standard nonelectric
––$24
020
standard nonelectric
––$48

✓ available · R reserved · X not available · C closed · W first come, first served · N not yet released

Not listed
SeasonNot listed
HookupsNot listed
Max stay14 nights max

Sources: Recreation.gov — Sardine Lake. "Not listed" means no source we use states it.

At a glance

Official facts link to their source; “Listing” facts come from the Recreation.gov listing. Anything we can't source says so.

Max rig length
Listing Longest RV site listed: 48 ft (26 of 26 RV sites list a length)
Hookups & power
Listing Hookup type not listed for RV sites
Pull-through / back-in
Listing 0 pull-through, 27 back-in
Road & site access
Listing 1 paved, 26 gravel site driveways
Pets
Listing Allowed
Cell signal
Listing Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 0 (42 reports), AT&T 0 (35 reports)
Shade
Listing 27 of 27 sites that report shade are listed as shaded
Booking
Listing Reservable on Recreation.gov
Price
Listing Lowest listed rate $24/night (live price once you pick dates)
Stay limits
Listing 14 nights max
Getting there
Listing YUBA RIVER RANGER STATION (map in Location below)
Generators · Quiet hours · Starlink / satellite · Water
Not listed — check with campground