Campgrounds and RV parks near El Dorado Hills, CA

Folsom Lake drives most outdoor activity in the area. The lake and recreation area offer hiking, biking, picnicking, horseback riding, water skiing, boating, and fishing for trout, catfish, bass, perch, and kokanee. Beals Point has a wide beach used for swimming and paddling on hot afternoons. Cyclists can ride the paved trail that connects Folsom Lake with Sacramento County parks before reaching Old Sacramento. Boat launch ramps are spread around the lake, with rentals and slips at Folsom Lake Marina. East of El Dorado Hills, Highway 50 climbs into the Sierra toward Apple Hill orchards, Placerville's historic main street, and the South Fork American River for whitewater rafting. Old Sacramento and the state capital are roughly a half-hour drive west.

El Dorado Hills follows a Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and cool, wet winters. Summer is the busiest camping season at Folsom Lake. Daytime highs frequently reach the mid-30s Celsius, and shoreline campsites with shade fill quickly on weekends. Water levels are typically highest in late spring and recede through summer and fall as the reservoir is drawn down for water supply and downstream flows. Spring brings green foothills, wildflowers, and comfortable hiking weather, with occasional rain. Fall offers warm days, cool nights, and lighter crowds, making it a strong window for RV travel. Winter is the wet season, with most rainfall arriving between November and March. Beals Point is open year round and subject to reservations, while Peninsula is a remote campground which can be subject to winter and/or road closures, with reservations made only during the on-season and first-come, first-served availability in the off-season. Wildfire season in the surrounding foothills generally peaks from mid-summer into early fall, and fire restrictions can affect campfires.

Sites at Beals Point accommodate a mix of tents, trailers, and motor homes. Beals Point has 69 family campsites that will accommodate tents, trailers and motor homes up to 31 feet long, full hookups are provided in the RV loop of the campground (sites 50-69), and a sanitation dump station is available. All campsites have fire rings and picnic tables, shade is limited at some sites, and restrooms have flush toilets with showers available. Cell coverage is generally reliable near Beals Point and weaker at Peninsula. Summer days are dry and hot, and oak woodlands provide some cover. Pets are allowed on leash. Private parks in El Dorado Hills, Placerville, and Loomis tend to offer full hookups, Wi-Fi, and laundry, with closer spacing between sites than the state-park loops.