Meeks Bay Campground
96158 Meeks Bay Ave, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, United States
Overview
Meeks Bay Campground is located on Lake Tahoe's west side, 10 miles south of Tahoe City and 8 miles north of Emerald Bay. From the campground, you can access hikes into the Desolation Wilderness, the sandy beaches along Lake Tahoe's west shore, and a new bike route.
Meeks Bay Campground has 36 campsites in total. 16 of the campsites at Meeks Bay Campground are reserved exclusively for tents while the rest allow tents, RVs, or trailers, with a maximum vehicle length of 20 feet.
Some sites provide panoramic views of the lake. Most of the campsites are near each other, with some even sharing parking spots, which means minimal privacy.
Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, and grill. There are restrooms with flush toilets, showers, and drinking water available.
Food storage lockers are provided at each location to keep food away from the animals. A maximum of two pets are permitted and must be kept on a leash at all times.
Meeks Bay is open from mid-May to mid-October, weather permitting.
Best Campsites at Meeks Bay Campground
Below are Power Camper’s recommended sites if you want to have the best experience at Meeks Bay Campground.
Sites 29 to 35
- Closest to the beach
- Lake views
Unique Experiences
Water lovers will enjoy the crystal blue seas and sandy beaches of Lake Tahoe located only steps away from the campsite!
Go boating at the nearby Meeks Bay Marina to the north.
Rent paddleboards and kayaks from Tahoe City Kayak and make your way down the coastline for a treat in the Lake's lovely waters.
Pack a camera and a picnic lunch and go up the Eagle Falls route to see the magnificent alpine lakes.
Relax on South Lake Tahoe's beaches or visit a casino in neighboring Nevada and try your luck at the table.
Take everyone on a lovely gondola trip to Heavenly Valley or Palisades Tahoe.
Hike or take their water taxi across the lakes and into the Desolation Wilderness from Echo Lakes.
Adrenaline junkies can take waterskiing lessons at Sunnyside or High Sierra Waterski School.
Splurge on a helicopter ride for a bird’s eye view of Lake Tahoe and Emerald Bay. Tickets cost approximately $110 for a 12-minute ride.
Take a Wild West day trip which includes a tour from Tahoe to Virginia City and a 6.5-mile train ride on the Virginia and Truckee Railroad.
Meeks Bay Campground Campground Rules
Pet Friendly
YesMax Trailer/RV Length
20 feetMax Length of Stay
Not sureMax People per Site
6 (including children)Max Vehicles per Site
2 ($7 per night fee for un-towed 2nd vehicle)Fires Allowed
YesMeeks Bay Campground Reservation Information
Reservations Allowed?
Reservations Required?
Reservations are accepted whenever the campground is open.Reservations for camping dates are accepted whenever the campground is open. Reservations can be made from the moment until 6 months before the arrival date. You must have at least three nights to arrange a visit that includes a Friday or Saturday night during a holiday weekend. Columbus Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, New Year's Day, President's Day, Veterans Day, and Christmas are all holiday weekends. The reservation fee for any Standard Nonelectric or Tent Only Nonelectric campsite is $33 plus an additional $2 during a holiday. Reservations can be made online at Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
Group Camping Reservations
Group camping is not available at Meeks Bay Campground, but each site allows a maximum of 6 people including children, so you can reserve multiple sites.
Campsite Reservation Cancellations
Reservation arrival and departure dates cannot be changed once the booking window has closed for that reservation after 18 days.
If a customer cancels a reservation on the day of arrival or the day before, they will be charged a $10 service fee and will forfeit the first night's use fees. The service fee of $10 will be deducted from the refund amount.
Reservations can be canceled or changed online at Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
Meeks Bay Campground Campground Cost
Standard
$33 per night ($2 more per night over holidays)Fee
$10 reservation feeActivities
Backpacking
Bike Trails
Photography
Fishing
Swimming
Hiking
Canoeing / Kayaking
Boating
Amenities
RV/Trailers
Hookups
Pull Through Spots
Pet Friendly
ADA Sites
Showers
Campfire Rings
Picnic Tables
Recycling
Wood for Sale
Potable Water
Storage Lockers
Campground Host
Cell Service
Grills
Directions
FAQs
Nearby Campgrounds to Meeks Bay Campground
Sugar Pine Point Campground
Sugar Pine is a way more extensive campground with 175 campsites compared to Meeks Bay’s 36. Sugar Pine also has ten group campsites, while Meeks Bay doesn’t have any group camping.
The maximum RV length in Sugar Pine is 32 feet while Meeks Bay can accommodate only 20 feet. Both campgrounds don’t offer any hookups, but Sugar Pine has a dump station while Meeks Bay doesn’t.
Sugar Pine has a loop that is open all year round, while Meeks Bay is only open from May to Oct. Sugar Pine allows for eight people in each site, while Meeks Bay allows only six. Sugar Pine also has about 10 sites that are accessible, while Meeks Bay doesn’t have designated accessible sites.
West Ridge Campground
Perched on a ridge with only 18 sites, West Ridge Campground is way smaller than Meeks Bay’s 36. West Ridge only allows one vehicle and every additional vehicle must be parked in the overflow parking lot. The maximum RV length is 18 feet while the max trailer length is 15 feet, which is less than Meeks Bay’s 20-foot limit.
West Ridge charges $35 a night which is similar to the $33 fee at Meeks Bay. Like Meeks Bay, West Ridge doesn’t have any hookups but has a dump station for registered campers.
Lower Eagle Point Campground
Lower Eagle Point Campground is located at Emerald Bay State Park. With 66 campsites, this campground is way larger than Meeks Bay’s 36 sites.
Both campgrounds have no hookups, and at Lower Eagle Point, pets are permitted at the campsite but not on the Emerald Bay trails or beaches. All sites are $35 at Lower Eagle Point while at Meeks Bay they are $33.
Upper Eagle Point Campground
Upper Eagle Point Campground, located inside Lake Tahoe's picturesque Emerald Bay State Park, is a hugely popular campground with 33 sites, about the same size as Meeks Bay’s 36.
Both campgrounds have no hookups or dump stations. Eagle Point campground typically opens in June, while Meeks Bay opens in mid-May. Upper Eagle Point is located slightly back from Lake Tahoe’s southern shores while Meeks Bay is nearer the water on Tahoe’s western shores.
