Lake Tahoe KOA

One the worst campgrounds I’ve stayed at. There was a party of about fifteen guys partying next to us that was loud. The workers don’t really care enough about other campers concerns about quiet time. Their answer is to just keep calling the police. So, there was a lot of different campers being loud, making a mess, and walking through our campsite. Will never stay here again.

First time here place was nice and clean. Host are very nice. A bit pricey, we had full hook ups, cable and wifi. The wifi wasn’t the best. They have did rent levels witch is kind of confusing. Free for one hour, free for 24 hours or pay for more. But it don’t work well so I didn’t want to pay. Besides at 94.00 a night wifi should be included. Verizon cell signal was terrible for those of you that need to be in touch. I kind of like it when phone doesn’t work, then I can relax. No work to do or calls to take. Lol. Isn’t that what camping is for anyway. Be aware that it is close to hey 50. You can here it. It woke me up as a big rig used there engine break on the decent in to Meyers. Traffic slows about 2am. But woopie! I like to sleep when I camp. It is a nice place but close to road. We may return. There are other choices in town.

Update: at this point it’ll sound as if I never plan, but alas I was driving to Tahoe without reservations and called this KOA as a last resort. This time we were in a small class C RV and got a beautiful creek side site and had a good experience overall.
On the negative side, She did overcharge us $ 10 and then gave us store credit. I used $ 6 of it for wifi that never worked and we left in the morning. Debated about complaining but we were running late.

This review is for camping with a 19 foot trailer. This was our first time staying at KOA Lake Tahoe. We originally booked at Camp Richardson for the week but due to the severe bear problem, trash bins left open, and no ranger patrol we left and found this campground. The owners (??) were very accommodating and gave us a great site. We stayed from Monday through Thursday so it was pretty empty and we were told that the weekends are always booked so we were lucky to get a great site during this week in August. They let us walk to the site to make sure we really like it before we booked it. We found the campgrounds and bathrooms/​showers to be very clean. Hand soap is provided by the owners. The pool was very clean and yes it has a lot of chlorine but it’s a pool so that’s expected. Our two kids loved it (as did we!!) and we spent an entire day lounging and swimming. We liked that the owners/​helpers patrolled on a golf cart and kept the campgrounds clean and checked on the trash bins. The general store has everything you might need (or forgot). There is a religious overtone but that did not bother us and they were not preachy. Our camp site was near Hwy 50 and we did hear some traffic noise but after a day it just blended into the background. We drove to Pope Beach and to Harrahs Forest Buffet (hey sometimes you gotta take a break from camp cooking right?!). I’m still giving this KOA 5 stars even though when I used the bathroom near the pool while one of the employees was cleaning (I didn’t see him when I walked in) he rudely reprimanded me for not reading the sign that shows the cleaning hours are from 11:30 — 12:30pm. We will definitely return to this KOA. Love love loved it.

When I made the reservation they were very nice and accommodating. However when I got there they were rude and very «unaccommodating». I was so close to the street it sounded like I was camping on the freeway. It was «very overpriced for what you get. $ 77.00 a night with a AAA discount. They advertise they have wi-​if but they don’t mention it’s only free for 1 hour, then $ 8 a day. They also claim to have cable hookups but come to find out only «some» of the sites have them and mine did not. When I questioned this the manager tells me, with an attitude, «You get what you get!» If I knew these facts before hand I would of found other accommodations. But I had already paid and they don’t offer refunds, just credit, but why would I want to go back there? Moving on… I had a friend that was was staying there also. We asked to be next to each other and they said they didn’t have availability but the spot next to them was not reserved the entire time we were there. Also we were listening to music one afternoon and at 6:00 the park manager came by to tell us that other campers may not like our music. First off the one group of neighbors we did have said they enjoyed our music. It’s was country and rock nothing crazy… we needed something to drown out the traffic noise. Never again!

They were nice about us arriving at our cabin in the middle of the night and they left the door unlocked for us. Store staff was nice and the store had some convenient items for people who don’t have their own stuff.
The pushing of religion really irked me. They say they have a library of DVDs available (it stormed the entire weekend so this sounded like a nice amenity) but EVERY SINGLE DVD was Christian. I remember a lot of them having something to do with Kirk Cameron. They also had all kinds of churchy signs hanging inside the cabin. When you get on their Wi-​Fi, it immediately brings up a page of Christian sites you should visit. It was just a bit overkill, even to someone who’s open to people expressing their religion.
Oh, and the cabin supposedly «sleeps six» but it was really only appropriate for one couple, especially if you have to spend most of the time inside. The foldout couch was actually a futon with a very thin padding and an uncomfortable frame that digs into your butt when you sit on it (I would NEVER want to sleep on that), there are a set of bunk beds that may be appropriate if you’re under 5 feet tall and they were very stiff like prison beds, and then there was the bed in the main bedroom which was also a thin padding that allows you to feel the very hard framework underneath you. It was very hard to get comfortable either sitting down or trying to sleep.

Office and grounds staff so helpful! Gentleman on a golf cart came right over to help us back our RV in. Staff friendly, loved that they were easy to spot in their yellow T’s as they patrolled grounds with a wave as they passed. Grounds well kept. It was a crowded 3 day weekend but we got a great site. Appreciate that they have home cooked/​BBQ dinner for sale on certain days, maybe even breakfast? It is close to FWY but traffic calmed down as the evening came. Pet friendly. Not the best cell phone reception for keeping in contact with house sitter if need be… but ok. I think 1 hour free wi fi if you can get signal… would definitely return. Close to the Y for groceries or shopping.

This was the worst camping experience ever. The campground is right by the freeway so it’s like staying on the road. The cleaning guy was so rude and opened the ladies door to kick my mom out of the bathroom. Then he almost jumped on me when I called him rude to a 70 yr old woman. When I complained to the office they gently kicked us out. Then he refused bathroom entrance to my 6 yr old niece. The price is ridiculous expensive for a rocky spot on the road. we were there for not even 12 hrs and were happy to leave and went back to camp Richardson. RUDE STAFF AND MANAGER, TERRIBLE LOCATION, AND EXPENSIVE. Also if you are tall you need to lean down to be Able to take a shower built only for kids. Don’t go to this koa! Not even a star.

The rv sites are super small and hard to get into with a truck and trailer. And that’s a pull thru. There were so many people there we felt packed in like sardines! And to top it off it’s right next to the highway so it not peaceful at all! I gave 2 stars cause they have the amenities (store ect) needed for a good camp ground. I use to love koa camps as a kid but now it seems they are the most expensive with the least space and privacy. We’ve had better times at the smaller privately owned campgrounds

Adequate/​OK campsites, clean bathrooms
But, $ 70 + per night and NO cell or internet? Oh, you can BUY internet.
And, I was told, if you stand inside the store, in front of the marshmallow rack, you can sometimes get a cell signal… LOL.
Not that internet is a key camping feature but we found the facilities — right under a major and noisy highway, less than ideal. For $ 30– $ 35 per night nearby you can have better location, no highway noise. Would not go back.

I just returned from a week in Lake Tahoe, and my visit to KOA could not have been better. The staff is warm and friendly, and the facilities are cleaner than my house!
A very nice surprise was the lovely church service at the pool the Sunday we were there.

This was my first time at a KOA campground. It was great! The tent site we were in was the best site on the grounds. It was beautiful! Everyone was extremely nice and friendly! There was no one going around preaching like other people were saying. The river that runs by it was really cool! My girlfriend and her two sisters had never gone camping before and they loved it! It’s not far from the lake. We visited emerald bay which was beautiful, it only took about 20 minutes to get there because of all the curvy roads. We are definitely planning on going back to this campground. The staff were really helpful with anything we needed. Dogs are allowed here which was great! The employees make sure everyone is well accommodated as far as noise and any other problems go. They’ll only say something if you or your dog was noisy or violent otherwise I’m pretty sure you and all the dogs, even Pitbulls, are perfectly safe and sound. It is a campsite in the mountains so I wouldn’t go expecting everything to be perfect and clean, if so then stay in a hotel. I would definitely recommend this campground to everyone!

We stayed at this facility and rented the Château cabin for a 2 night stay. For the expensive price tag on this unit, I expected far greater service and quality. Upon arrival the facilities appeared nice, but it quickly became apparent that the bare minimum was done in regards to maintenance. The refrigerator was not turned on for our arrival, even though they knew to expect us for over a month in advance. The BBQ was out of gas and extremely dirty, and didn’t stay lit long enough to cook a meal. The showers would not reach adequate temperatures. The dishes and pans looked like they had never seen a proper cleaning. There was mold under the cabinets and sink, and a room smelled musty as if there was water damage.
When we made the staff aware, it seemed like they did not consider this a priority. We had to wait hours for ice to keep our food cold, and had to make 2 trips to request the grill was fixed so we could eat our meal. To top it off it was advertised that the facilities were fully stocked, however, no one ever made a trip over to assure we had the supplies we needed or to ask if we needed anything.
Also, be aware that this facility caters heavily to the religious. This isn’t a problem, but it seems pushy to have bible quotes and religious slogans/​movies displayed everywhere and could be offensive to some.
I would suggest finding somewhere else to spend your stay in Tahoe, as this facility is definitely not up to the standards that they charge for.

This was my first time staying at a KOA campsite. We were in the tent area. This is about as close to not camping as you can get. There’s a store, a pool, a playground, and they serve BBQ on Saturdays. There’s also a sink provided for to wash dishes in. They’re kind and provide soap and dishwashing liquid. Plus, you’re 5 min away from all the convenient stores in South Lake Tahoe. My boys and I had an awesome time. It was just me and a friend of mine with all 5 of our kids. We were able to fit two small tents onto the camp site.
This place is not for the claustrophobic. The bathroom stalls and showers are tightly packed and this place has been around for awhile so it doesn’t have a new feeling to the buildings. But the facilities are decent, everyone who camps here is very kind and polite, and the kids will absolutely love the atmosphere. There’s a small creek that runs along the bottom of the campsite. But not enough to get wet in. The beach shore to Lake Tahoe is about 10 min away. We stopped by after our camping trip. I’d totally come here again.

Nice place with the perks of wifi, laundry and showers. Staff was very helpful and allowed me to do an early check in without any strings attached. Stayed next to the creek at a tent site, really peaceful and furthest away from the highway… Little or no noise. Highly recommend for anyone.

My review is for the tent sites. This was my first time camping at a KOA campsite, and I was pleasantly surprised at the cleanliness of the facility. They seem to run on a first-​come first-​serve basis for picking your tent site, but it was fairly empty on the day we arrived. On a crowded day, don’t expect too much privacy because the tent sites are pretty close together.
Pros:
— Very clean bathroom and showers! Who thought showering would even be possible when you’re camping?
— Sink for washing your dishes. Even comes with dish soup and brush!
— Dog friendly with a grassy area designated for dogs
— A small playground for children
— The campire area and stove seems to be cleaned after the guests leave
— Friendly staff
— Clean campground, so you won’t be sleeping on small rocks at night
Cons:
— Close to the highway, you can hear some traffic noise
— Tent sites a bit too close together, loss of privacy on crowded days
Finally, be careful of parking and hitting rocks…

This was the first KOA my husband and I had stayed at on our two week trip, and we were very impressed. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful. One lady at the desk gave me laundry cleaner when my clothes got stained with something I’d put in the laundry. They also provide dish soap at their outdoor washing station, which none of the other KOA’s we stayed in on our trip did.
Our space was very pretty, and seemed more like camping than other KOA’s also. At least we were surrounded by trees! Don’t get me wrong, we liked all the KOA’s we stayed at during our trip (3 of them), but this was our favorite.
The only thing my husband didn’t like was the height of the shower head. He is 6’1″, and hand to squat to get water over his head. This was a relatively minor issue though.
We will definitely stay here again if we come to Tahoe to camp.

**Do NOT stay here without a tow vehicle!**
The facilities here are fine (showers, laundry, hookups, playground), but the location is pretty lousy. There are no recreation facilities accessible via bike or public transit from this location. There is a small town close by with a good grocery store and some restaurants, but that’s it unless you drive.

We love it here. We can hook up and they usually let us pick which space we want within reason and the staff is accommodating. It’s clean and quiet. It’s kid and dog-​friendly. Yes, it’s in Meyers but we have a jeep we take with the RV and it’s only about an 8 minute drive to the Y. No biggie for us.
It’s true, the owners are very religious. I have read that some campers have been preached to while staying but I never have. Perhaps it’s because I have a pentagram tattooed on my arm? Ha ha, who knows, but what I do know is if you don’t like it, just don’t read the signs on the walls and you should be «safe.» After all, you’re there to camp and enjoy your family in Tahoe, not sit in the office and discuss religion with the owners all day, right?

We still have not figured what possessed a couple of sixty somethings to take up camping again for the first time since the 1960s but here we were in beautiful Lake Tahoe. We had resisted the lures of less expensive rates at State Park camps because they do not have showers. God knows how, in the 60s, I survived camping for weeks on end with nothing but a pup tent, a sleeping bag, some basic utensils and soap. Now though I look on a morning shower as a necessity, not a luxury.
The online site where we booked said that signage was minimal and they were not kidding. We would never have found it it were not for our GPS device, something else they did not have in the 60s. How did we survive? What they should have said in their web site (and I have suggested that they do) is that the entrance is about twenty feet before South Upper Truckee Road on 50 East. THAT is well signed. Anyway, thanks to Oskar (the GPS) we found it and proceeded to the office and our reservation was right there. We were asked if we had AAA and earned an unexpected 10% off. We found out later that the $ 10 that saved us (for two nights) would actually buy us a couple of craft beers at Whiskey Dick’s saloon and leave money over for a more than 20% tip. I was a bit mystified when our receipt for this simple transaction was about 10 inches only to find that most of it was given over to an invitation to know God. No harm done. They gave us a map of the campground showing us our site along with some stuff on things to do and we were off. We got to our site and an employee who just happened to be there made it his business to welcome us and show us everything we needed to know. In particular he showed us how to open and to secure the dumpster, very important as we probably would not have figured it out.
Compared to the KOA in Manchester CA (our only point of comparison) this is very small but who cares. We just wanted a place to to pitch our tent and we were very glad to find restrooms and showers almost as close to our site as if we were home. There was a picnic table, a charcoal grill and a place to set a campfire, all as promised. I was slightly dismayed at seeing bare earth on which to pitch the tent rather than grass. Still the tent went up, the stakes encountered no stones, the air bed (we had not forgotten it this time) inflated and we were happy. We took note of all the signs about bears and how not to attract them. There was a fast running stream close by. That drowned out the sounds of nearby Rt 50 and acted as an effective lullaby.
When we were checking in I overheard the owner (I think) tell a prospective customer that it was a very well maintained campground and he did not lie. Everything was as it should be and the only problem we had was that the smoke from our fire was blown directly at our tent, hardly anything that was controllable.
It will be a while before we go camping again as our next three weeks of vacation time are ear marked for my native land, Ireland. Still, this is a place to which I would return, ideally for more than a couple of nights.