U.S. Forest Service · Tahoe National Forest · Nevada City, CA

Hampshire Rocks

Hampshire Rocks Campground is located in the Tahoe National Forest on the banks of the South Yuba River, near the Rainbow/Big Bend exit along Interstate 80. Visitors enjoy the area for its cool temperatures, access to the South Yuba River, fishing, and nearby trail opportunities, as well as its historic significance along the California Emigrant Trail. This facility is operated and maintained by the Tahoe National Forest.

More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
South Yuba RiverSouth Yuba RiverHampshire Rocks EntranceHampshire Rocks Campground
Photos courtesy of TNF · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups29
Tent-only1
Host/management3
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 45 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

30 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFires
02StandardBack-in39PavedPartialRiverfront6 / 2Yes
03StandardBack-in35PavedPartialRiverfront6 / 2Yes
04StandardBack-in36PavedPartialRiverfront6 / 2Yes
05StandardBack-in30PavedPartialRiverfront6 / 6Yes
06StandardBack-in40PavedPartialRiverfront6 / 2Yes
07StandardBack-in35PavedPartialRiverfront6 / 2Yes
08StandardBack-in40PavedPartialRiverfront6 / 2Yes
09StandardBack-in38PavedPartialRiverfront6 / 2Yes
11Standard40PavedPartialRiverfront6 / 2Yes
12StandardBack-in35PavedPartial6 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length45 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

The campground offers single-family campsites, a few of which are designated for tent camping only. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

SeasonMay 23 to October 15
ForestTahoe National Forest
BookingThis site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) or on-line at www.recreation.gov
Fees$24 per site $5 for extra vehicle

Tahoe National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Hampshire Rocks30°40°50°60°70°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 34.5°F averageFebruary: 36.0°F averageMarch: 38.9°F averageApril: 43.2°F averageMay: 50.5°F averageJune: 58.8°F averageJuly: 65.2°F averageAugust: 64.3°F averageSeptember: 60.1°F averageOctober: 50.8°F averageNovember: 40.4°F averageDecember: 34.0°F averageTemp °F
The line is the average temperature at Lake Spaulding, 7 miles from the campground at 5,156 feet, station USC00044713 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. The shaded span is the published season, May 23 to October 15.

Getting there

From Truckee, Calif. take Highway 80 west 17 miles. Take the Rainbow/Big Bend exit. If westbound, turn left under the freeway to the campground entrance. If eastbound, turn right at the stop sign.

Nearest townNevada City, California
Coordinates39.3108° N, 120.5000° W · Directions ↗

Charges and cancellations

No Show Policy A no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date (or for day-use facilities, by check-in time the day of arrival). No-show customers are only recorded at staffed facilities. At most remote facilities, all customers are noted as automatically checked-in on the date of arrival. It is recommended that staffed facilities hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date. It is recommended that staffed facilities hold group day-use facilities until check-in time on the arrival date. There is no change fee if a customer extends or shortens a reservation if the change includes dates from the original reservation. If they choose to depart early, they may forfeit some or all of the recreation fees. There is no change fee if the customer changes campsites that are the same price and on the same reservation dates in the same campground. If the campsite the customer is changing to has a price difference, the customer will be responsible for any additional fees or be provided with a refund, based on the price difference.

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Tmu Rx Support

    39 mi from the campground

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗5.5 mi
Outdoor gearUpcycled Adventures ↗11.4 mi
RV sales & serviceDeMartini RV Sales ↗29.9 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Hampshire Rocks Campground: Campsite Tour (Pre-Season Sneak Peek)

Worth a stop

Donner Lake is located 14 miles east of the campground via Historic Route 40/Lincoln Highway, known as the nation's first transcontinental highway. Many points of interest lie along Route 40, including China Wall, Rainbow Bridge, Sugar Bowl, Lake Van Norden and Ice Lakes. Other attractions include Donner Summit PCT, Loch Leven, and Castle Peak Trailheads, Fordyce 4x4 jeep trail, and Grouse Ridge Non-Motorized Area.

  • 0.9 mi
    Loch Leven
    4.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1 mi
    Big Bend Interpretive ↗
    0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.7 mi
    Salmon Lake Tie Trail
    0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2 mi
    Sterling
    4.2 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
  • 2.1 mi
    Cherry Point
    3.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.1 mi
    Salmon Lake Trail
    1.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Tahoe National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The campground is situated on the north bank of the upper South Yuba River in a forest of lodgepole pines. Some sites are adjacent to the river, which flows gently through this particular area.

Recreation

The South Yuba River offers swimming, and rainbow trout fishing. The surrounding area offers hiking, road biking, mountain biking, and off-road vehicle trails. The historic California Emigrant Trail passes through the campground.

Guidebooks for California

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Hampshire Rocks?

Sites at Hampshire Rocks are reservable on Recreation.gov. This site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) or on-line at www.recreation.gov Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Hampshire Rocks?

$24 per site $5 for extra vehicle

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Hampshire Rocks?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Hampshire Rocks have?

33 sites, including 29 standard sites without power and 1 tent-only site.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Hampshire Rocks?

The longest site here provides 45 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are pets allowed at Hampshire Rocks?

Yes, pets are allowed at Hampshire Rocks. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Hampshire Rocks?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.

Source: Fire nearby

Is there cell service at Hampshire Rocks?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Hampshire Rocks?

The South Yuba River offers swimming, and rainbow trout fishing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Hampshire Rocks?

Nevada City, California. Donner Lake is located 14 miles east of the campground via Historic Route 40/Lincoln Highway, known as the nation's first transcontinental highway.

Source: Getting there

What if Hampshire Rocks is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Big Bend Group (1.1 mi), Indian Springs (3.9 mi), and Meadow Lake Shoreline Campground (7.4 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby