U.S. Forest Service · Tahoe National Forest · CA

William Kent Campground

2Heads up2 fires, nearest 35 mi
Wildfire
Rock fire · 35 mi away · 0 acres · updated Oct 17, 2026
Wildfire
Old fire · 43 mi away · 0 acres · updated Oct 16, 2026
Closedrecreation.gov lists every site closed this weekend, read 14:58 UTC
Right now
Closedrecreation.gov lists every site closed this weekend, read 14:58 UTC
A night
$42When it reopens, per site
Sites
81In the agency’s record
57 ftLongest rig
6,240 ftElevation
644 ftWater · Lake Tahoe
In townSunnyside-Tahoe City, CA
57%Tree cover

The place

the agency’s own description · what’s there · 14 notices

In the agency’s own words

William Kent Campground is conveniently located on Lake Tahoe's west shore, a few miles south of Tahoe City. It straddles the highway and features not only a large area in which to camp, but also a day-use area that is popular among visitors. Keep reading

Recreation

Just minutes away from the campground, 22-mile-long Lake Tahoe provides sunbathing, swimming, boating and water skiing. Anglers can look forward to healthy fish populations of kokanee salmon and mackinaw, rainbow and brown trout. The campground is also ideal for people planning a full day of bike riding around Lake Tahoe. Bike trails that traverse the western shores of Lake Tahoe begin near the campground.

Facilities

The campground offers dozens of campsites, available for tent and RV camping. Each is equipped with tables, campfire rings and grills. Flush toilets and drinking water are provided. Each yurt provides a cabin-like space for a family of five or six people. The yurts sit on a wooden platform interior furnishings include a futon and bunk beds with mattresses. Cooking supplies and bedding are not provided. The tent and RV sites have paved parking aprons. Each yurt and standard site has a bear-proof food storage locker, campfire ring, pedestal grill and picnic table.

Natural Features

William Kent Campground is situated in a residential area, alongside a busy highway. The campground has more than 80 sites, each surrounded by tall pine, cedar and fir trees. Many of the sites are secluded with evergreen shrubs and the terrain, with its shallow gullies and low ridges, helps to keep each site separate from neighboring sites. Contact Info This location has limited staffing. Please call (530) 541-1537 for general information.

Nearby Attractions

A day-use area is located across the street from the campground for lake access and other water activities. Tahoe City is less than 5 miles away.

Charges & Cancellations

Rules & Reservation Policies As you make travel plans that include reservations on Recreation.gov, there are standard policies that apply to most locations of which you should be aware. Do keep in mind, however, that there are many exceptions, so it is best to review reservation information listed on individual facility pages for those policies and procedures that pertain to your specific locations. Any location or activity requiring a permit or lottery will have unique requirements and policies. Please check individual facility pages for pertinent information for those sites. Booking Window For most locations, you can reserve six months in advance of your stay for individual sites and 12 months in advance for group sites. There are some exceptions, so it is best to check with each facility. Change and Cancellation Policies and Fees Overnight and Day Use Facilities: To ensure fairness, reservation arrival or departure dates may not be changed beyond the booking window until 18 days after booking the reservation. Camping / Day Use: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation (including campsites, cabins, lookouts, group facilities, etc.). The $10.00 service fee will be deducted from the refund amount. You can cancel or change reservations through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Tours & Tickets: You may request changes to tour dates at no cost before the arrival date. If you cancel before your tour date, you may be eligible for a refund. Cancellation fees apply. Please check the tour facility description details page for cancellation policies. Permits: Varies by location. Please check the permit details for the permit location. Late Cancellations Overnight and Day Use Facilities: Late cancellations are those cancelled between 12:01 a.m. (Eastern) on the day before arrival and check out time on the day after arrival. Individual Campsites: If a customer cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival they will be charged a $10.00 service fee and will also forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a single night's reservation will forfeit the entire use fee but no cancellation fee will apply. Cabins / Lookouts: Customers will be charged a $10.00 cancellation fee and forfeit the first night's use fee if a cabin or lookout reservation is cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee. Group Facility: If a customer cancels a group overnight facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date they will be charged the $10.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's use fee. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee. Group Day Use Area: If a customer cancels a group day use facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date, they will forfeit the total day use fee with no service fee charge. No-Shows Camping / Day Use: A camping 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. Reserved campsites and group overnight facilities will be held until check-out time on the day following your scheduled arrival. Group day-use facilities will be held until check-in time on your scheduled arrival date. If a customer does not arrive at the campground or group facility by check-out time the day after arrival or does not cancel the reservation by the times listed under "Late Cancellations" above, the customer may be assessed a $20.00 service fee and forfeit use fees. Tours: A tour or ticket no-show is one who does not cancel a ticket before arrival and does not arrive for the tour. Tour no-shows are not entitled to a refund. Refunds Customers must request refunds no later than 14 days after the scheduled departure date. Recreation.gov will not grant refund requests after 14 days of departure. Reservation Fee: For some facilities, tours or permits an additional reservation fee is charged. For some overnight and day-use facilities, an additional non-refundable reservation fee may apply. The non-refundable reservation fee for tours and tickets is $1.00. The non-refundable reservation fee for permits varies by location. Refunds for Bankcard Purchases: Refunds for bank card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank card. Refunds for Check or Cash Purchases: Refunds for Recreation.gov payments made by check or money order, and cash payments at selected campgrounds will be issued a check refund. A refund will be processed within 30 days of receipt and approval. Please Note: Refund requests made during or after departure can only be processed when approved by the facility management staff based upon local policy. Refunds for Emergency Closures: In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team will attempt to notify users and offer alternate dates (as appropriate). If this is not possible, reservations will be cancelled and all fees paid will be refunded. Reservation fees for free tickets are non-refundable in the event of an emergency closure. Recreation.gov Billing Information Reservation transaction will appear on customer's credit card statements as "Recreation.gov 877-444-6777." Changes to Policies and Procedures Recreation.gov reserves the right, when necessary, to modify reservation policies. These policies were last updated July

What the agency tells you

Rule

Please Note: One vehicle per single site. Most sites can accommodate 1 extra vehicle that is not included with the reservation fee. Extra vehicles will be charged a per night fee and collected at the campground. Yurt fee includes one vehicle.

Rule

All campers must register with camp host. Using the pre-check in will require you to check in with the campground office upon arrival.

Rule

Forest Order No. 19-15-01: Prohibits camping for a combined total of no more than 14 days during a calendar year (January-December), forest-wide. Visitors may book campsites annually but the maximum stay may not exceed a total of 14 days each calendar year (January-December).

Everything else this campground posts · 11
Rule

Bears frequent the area; use appropriate food storage containers

Rule

Off-road vehicles are prohibited in the campground

Rule

Chainsaw use and hunting are prohibited in the area

Rule

Limit of two pets per campsite; pets are not allowed on the beaches. Pets are not allowed inside Yurts.

Rule

Please keep boats clean, drained and dry, to avoid transport or introduction of aquatic invasive species

Rule

Maximum of six people per site and 1 RV per site.

Rule

Using the pre-check in will require you to check in with the campground office upon arrival.

Rule

Fire restrictions may be imposed at any time due to hot, dry weather conditions, at which time campfires and charcoal fires may not be allowed. For current fire conditions or weather closures click here Fire Information

Rule

Reserved Sites will be held until check out time (NOON) the day following your arrival date. Sites must be occupied by the checkout time of that following day to hold a reservation or the site will be forfeited and released to other guests.

Rule

Don't Move Firewood: Protect California's forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. For more information visit firewood.ca.gov.

Rule

Click here to learn more about the Lake Tahoe Basin

Read them on the agency’s own page →

Tents and rigs

Sites
81 · 3 cabin
Hookups
None
Longest rig
57 ft
Paved pads
78 of 81
Accessible sites
4
Pets
Allowed at 78 of 81 sites
Campfires
Allowed, barring fire bans
Shade
Every site
Source: Recreation.gov campsite records · Aug 23, 2026

Facilities

Toilets
Flush Toilets
“…with tables, campfire rings and grills. Flush toilets and drinking water are provided. Each yurt provides…”
Drinking water
Yes
“…rings and grills. Flush toilets and drinking water are provided. Each yurt provides a cabin-like space…”
Bear boxes
Yes
Stay limit
14 nights
recreation.gov facility rule maxStay
Source: Stated in the agency description · Aug 23, 2026
Water, toilets and showers: read from the agency description, shown above · Sep 12, 2026

Around the campground

On the water
Lake
Biking
Boating
Fishing
Ranger programs
Swimming
Visitor center
Water sports
Night sky · 938th darkest of 1,201 in CA
Bortle 4
Fall color · reported 11 days ago, 3.4 km away
Patchy color
Source: Recreation.gov activity records · Aug 23, 2026
Fall color: More Than Just Parks foliage tracker, joined to this campground by distance (3.4 km) · Oct 6, 2026

Nothing to book until it reopensread 14:58 UTC

recreation.gov lists every site closed this weekend

Every one of the next thirty nights is in recreation.gov’s record and not one site is being offered on any of them. That’s a campground closed or not yet released for booking, not a sold-out one.

Max stay14 nightsthe facility record
A night, when it reopens$42plus $8 to reserve, once per bookingthe agency’s rate schedule
If plans change$10 to cancel$10 to change a reservation; this campground publishes its own terms toorecreation.gov’s schedule
Runs itVista RecreationA private concessionaire under permit from U.S. Forest Servicethe operator link
What’s open near here
Tell me when it reopens

Watch for it to come back

One email when the agency reopens it, plus More Than Just Parks dispatches. Unsubscribe any time.

We check the agency’s own record once an hour, at 40 minutes past, and write the first time it stops saying closed.

Scanners that check every few minutes exist, and most of them charge. This one is free, it reads the same calendar, and it won’t always be first.

We’ll write once, when the agency reopens it.

Free forever, no booking kickbacks.
Every line of the receipt · 11

What you actually pay

The sign priceU.S. Forest Service
A night, when it reopens$42
Standard Nonelectric$42
Group areas, a night$116
Rates for the season the campground is in now, May 22, 2026 to Oct 12, 2026.
The booking feerecreation.gov
Reservation fee, booked online$8
One fee per reservation, however many nights you book, and it’s non-refundable. $9 if you book by phone, $3 in person.
Pass discounts only apply to the recreation (or use) fee for the facility. Other charges such as electricity or water hookups, reservation or other fees are not eligible for a discount.
If your plans changerecreation.gov
Change fee, moving to dates outside your booking$10
Cancellation fee$10
Cancelling the day before, or the day of$10 + your first night
No-show$20 + your first night

“Camping / Day Use: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation (including campsites, cabins, lookouts, group facilities, etc.). The $10.00 service fee will be deducted from the refund amount.” · this campground’s own no-show terms

Who keeps the booking fee

The agency’s own policy text says the reservation fee and the cancellation processing fee are “retained by the reservation service contractor”, and that a campground concessionaire will decline to refund them because “they did not receive these fees”. Recreation.gov is run under contract by Booz Allen Hamilton. What share of your booking fee the contractor keeps isn’t published in any federal dataset we can read, so we print no number for it. Our reporting on the contract →

How we know this receipt · 5
Why this page can’t say why

recreation.gov lists every site at William Kent Campground closed this Friday and Saturday night. The U.S. Forest Service has published no closure notice we hold, so this page can’t say why, and it won’t fill the gap with a guess. A closed night isn’t a sold-out one: the reservations its record still carries were taken before the sites were closed.

Closure: U.S. Forest Service status record · Oct 17, 2026

There’s no notice to quote and no reason to argue with, so this page offers you the watch and the list below, and no letter.

Open within 60 miles · 4

The agency’s own word that these are open, not our reading of a season.

Open near here: Agency-published status, in the CAMPANAC campground index · Oct 17, 2026

recreation.gov availability, read 14:58 UTC · rules read Sep 9, 2026 · rates Sep 10, 2026 · How we know all this

Seen something wrong here? Tell us.

The sites

81 sites · which ones have room · the site map

The sites, ranked

from 79 mapped sites
66 ftbetween you and the next site, typically
Least room025 33 ft026 33 ft049 41 ft

All 81 sites

79 of 81 sites located
Standard76Cabin or shelter3
SleepsTakes aUp to

Toilet distances are OpenStreetMap’s, measured for 79 of the 81 sites listed. A site with no reading is unknown, never far.

The price is derived by CAMPANAC, not published per site: the per-night rate this campground publishes for each site’s own site type. 81 of the 81 sites listed carry one, and a site whose type has no published rate sits out of the price rather than being called free.

AREA WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND020standard nonelectric43 ftyes68 ft1,359 ftWard Creek284 ft$42
HOST001standard nonelectric53 ft$42
HOST003standard nonelectric50 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND004standard nonelectric40 ft80 ft889 ft172 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND005standard nonelectric25 ft80 ft962 ft144 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND006standard nonelectric40 ft80 ft883 ft226 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND007standard nonelectric23 ft73 ft1,042 ft131 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND008standard nonelectric38 ft73 ft1,038 ft204 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND009standard nonelectric24 ft58 ft1,147 ft132 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND011standard nonelectric20 ft57 ft1,289 ft76 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND012standard nonelectric38 ft66 ft1,284 ft31 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND013standard nonelectric22 ft57 ft1,347 ft113 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND014standard nonelectric39 ft56 ft1,357 ft104 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND015standard nonelectric48 ft56 ft1,412 ft160 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND016standard nonelectric44 ft75 ft1,482 ftWard Creek335 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND017standard nonelectric37 ft75 ft1,456 ftWard Creek391 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND018standard nonelectric44 ft63 ft1,416 ftWard Creek320 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND019standard nonelectric40 ft63 ft1,422 ftWard Creek258 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND021standard nonelectric47 ft76 ft1,310 ftWard Creek230 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND022standard nonelectric36 ft65 ft1,316 ftWard Creek156 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND023standard nonelectric46 ft65 ft1,251 ftWard Creek175 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND024standard nonelectric46 ft81 ft1,192 ftWard Creek185 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND025standard nonelectric37 ft33 ft1,184 ftWard Creek180 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND026standard nonelectric44 ft33 ft1,170 ftWard Creek201 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND027standard nonelectric39 ft85 ft1,096 ftWard Creek284 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND028standard nonelectric42 ft104 ft1,282 ftWard Creek136 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND029standard nonelectric32 ft58 ft1,363 ftWard Creek127 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND030standard nonelectric45 ft66 ft1,319 ftWard Creek160 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND031standard nonelectric50 ft58 ft1,398 ftWard Creek81 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND032standard nonelectric38 ft70 ft1,415 ftWard Creek91 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND033standard nonelectric49 ft50 ft1,493 ftWard Creek14 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND034standard nonelectric35 ft50 ft1,487 ftWard Creek52 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND035standard nonelectric30 ft71 ft1,564 ftWard Creek85 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND036standard nonelectric29 ft54 ft1,582 ftWard Creek136 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND037standard nonelectric26 ft54 ft1,636 ftWard Creek178 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND038standard nonelectric25 ft60 ft1,595 ftWard Creek187 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND039standard nonelectric25 ft57 ft1,654 ftWard Creek221 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND040standard nonelectric21 ft65 ft1,643 ftWard Creek281 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND041standard nonelectric25 ft65 ft1,698 ftWard Creek297 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND042standard nonelectric26 ft72 ft1,696 ftWard Creek339 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND043standard nonelectric21 ft72 ft1,752 ftWard Creek361 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND044standard nonelectric23 ft98 ft1,685 ft260 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND045standard nonelectric27 ft60 ft1,588 ft178 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND046standard nonelectric24 ft60 ft1,574 ft145 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND047standard nonelectric27 ft91 ft1,477 ft122 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND048standard nonelectric26 ft51 ft1,379 ft95 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND049standard nonelectric40 ft41 ft1,330 ft137 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND050standard nonelectric46 ft41 ft1,289 ft171 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND051standard nonelectric26 ft49 ft1,271 ft215 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND052standard nonelectric50 ft66 ft1,198 ft195 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND053standard nonelectric27 ft70 ft1,157 ft203 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND054standard nonelectric50 ft66 ft1,138 ft131 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND055standard nonelectric31 ft86 ft1,213 ft141 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND056standard nonelectric25 ft82 ft1,092 ft84 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND057standard nonelectric20 ft74 ft1,018 ft29 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND058standard nonelectric23 ft74 ft1,092 ft49 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND059standard nonelectric39 ft76 ft1,023 ft146 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND060standard nonelectric27 ft76 ft953 ft143 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND061standard nonelectric45 ft57 ft937 ft230 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND062standard nonelectric40 ft54 ft891 ft201 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND063standard nonelectric22 ft60 ft801 ft172 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND064standard nonelectric40 ft54 ft838 ft162 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND065standard nonelectric38 ft96 ft1,513 ftWard Creek310 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND066standard nonelectric40 ft79 ft1,464 ftWard Creek206 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND067standard nonelectric50 ft68 ft1,453 ftWard Creek132 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND068standard nonelectric45 ft65 ft1,425 ftWard Creek71 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND069standard nonelectric26 ft46 ft1,486 ftWard Creek124 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND070standard nonelectric26 ft46 ft1,459 ftWard Creek100 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND071standard nonelectric40 ft74 ft1,390 ftWard Creek113 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND072standard nonelectric44 ft66 ft1,676 ft245 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND073standard nonelectric57 ft66 ft1,622 ft200 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND074standard nonelectric47 ft81 ft1,507 ft127 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND075standard nonelectric49 ft80 ft1,428 ft118 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND076standard nonelectric51 ft74 ft1,381 ft73 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND077standard nonelectric41 ft61 ft1,336 ft146 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND078standard nonelectric47 ft64 ft1,264 ft178 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND079standard nonelectric40 ft61 ft1,277 ft199 ft$42
WILLIAM KENT CAMPGROUND081standard nonelectric41 ft67 ft1,500 ft73 ft$42
Yurts002cabin nonelectric35 ftyes84 ft806 ft137 ft$116
Yurts010cabin nonelectric40 ftyes58 ft1,140 ft115 ft$116
Yurts080cabin nonelectric41 ftyes67 ft1,462 ft39 ft$116

25 of 81 listed

Getting there

the map and the coordinate · the agency’s directions · the phone number

The weather

the next four days · the thirty-year normal

Next four days, and the thirty-year normal

Forecast

This Afternoon69°Sunny
Tonight41°Clear
Sunday66°Sunny
Sunday Night42°Clear

NWS forecast for Sunnyside-Tahoe City, CA

Typical weather

Typical October night 33°F, day 59°F.

Coldest month of the year: typical January night 21°F, below freezing. Bring a bag rated colder than that, and expect ice in the water bottle.

90°32°10°

Daily high and lowDays with 0.10 in or more

A normal is the 1991-2020 average for the month, not a forecast: about half of all Julys are colder than the July line. The seven-day forecast above answers the other question.

Measured at: TAHOE CITY, CA (USC00048758), 2 miles away and at about the same elevation

The land, and who answers for it

what threatens it · who answers for it

Roadless country, and what’s coming for it

Roadless
Granite Chief N593 acres · 4 mi · inventoried roadless area
Roadless
Granite Chief S567 acres · 6 mi · inventoried roadless area
Roadless
Granite Chief6,546 acres · 9 mi · inventoried roadless area

You’re camping on ground somebody wants. We track the threats and the comment deadlines.

Who answers for this land

Kevin Kiley, official portrait

William Kent Campground is in California’s 3rd congressional district. Its representative, Kevin Kiley (I), votes on the laws that decide what happens to this land. Public-lands grade so far: F. See every public-lands vote →

Seen something wrong here? Tell us.

How we know

every fact on this page, and where it came from
Right now: recreation.gov lists every site here closed on Friday and Saturday night (read 14:58 UTC). U.S. Forest Service has published no closure notice we hold, so the reason isn’t on this page. A closed night isn’t a sold-out one, and the reservations the record still carries predate the closure. That reading is ours, off the agency’s own booking record.
Fall color: More Than Just Parks foliage tracker, joined to this campground by distance (3.4 km) · Oct 6, 2026
Cell signal: the Forest Service’s own campground description, read as text by CAMPANAC. None of this is a measurement. It’s what the land manager published about the place, and phones, carriers and weather all disagree with each other; treat it as a warning, not a promise.