Collins Lake Recreation Area

OK place. They screwed up our bit rental. No full hook ups. Showers cost extra. WiFi costs extra. No satellite reception though we were given a site that supposedly had it. No cell reception. Extra WiFi only allowed 2 devices and only the two first you signed up with so beware. And extenders were not allowed. Sites were very dusty and dirty. We were here mid week. Weekends very crowded. No shopping nearby. No restaurants. We couldn’t catch a fish in 3 days. Lake water very very very low. Boats did not have all coast guard required equipment like an anchor or a throw rope. Someone in out party nearly drowned because of the lack of a throw rope. Very hilly access to sites.

When I called they said I needed to pay upfront to reserve, ok. When we got there, our site was nice, very cramped with a bunch of other people. When we walked around the next morning there was a whole other huge area where people could camp during Covid could be more spread out. I think they were just trying to bunch everyone together so they didn’t have to maintain as many areas. Won’t be returning

With over 190 sites, and with all the rigs stored near the lake/CG, I can see where this place would be a zoo in the peak seasons. I go during the off-season, and it's fantastic. The prices are a bit high, but the proximity to cities like Sacramento, and the easy drive to get there make it a nice place for a getaway. People seem to pull big fish out of the lake, and I did get a 2.5 lb'er myself, but that was about it. But the hiking, biking - as well as the CG's amenities are excellent. You can get wifi at the office (45 minutes are free). I could not get a Verizon or Sprint signal at my site, but I usually stay at the very southern end of the CG.

Some of the sites are extremely close together, esp the ones with hookups. My neighbor on this trip was in a Class A (I have a Class C) and was dry camping next to me...I asked them why they didn't use the hookup sites. They responded that the hookup sites were too close together - and I agree. So, they had their solar panel and generator out.

On my last stay I had very noisy neighbors (different than the Class A couple) but everything quieted down when it should have. There are CG employees buzzing all over the place - a good sign.

Pros: Very friendly staff, very nice store with an ice cream parlor and espresso bar, large playground for kids, nice sandy beach area, lots of picnic tables near the beach, shallow/clear water and a dock you can swim off of. The beach is walking distance from just about every campsite (although there are some large hills to walk up).

Cons: Rocky, dusty soil, mountainous terrain, some sites are on the edge of cliffs and not safe for children, some sites are quite small but I've seen smaller. The paths are mostly gravel so it's not really a good place for kids to bring bikes. Fire rings are more like small bbq pits.

Overall I would recommend it and plan to go back. We had site 5 and I would not recommend it for a camping trailer. It might not be bad for an r.v. Since I have small kids I would like to try to get a site closer to the beach and playground next time, although the walk wasn't too bad. I had AT&T and did not have any service but I didn't mind.

Collins Lake opens at sunrise all year round. You have lakefront RV sites with or without hook ups. Tent camping, fishing, boating, picnics or just enjoying the beach. I was there for 3 nights, seem like everyone comes to the store for there monstrous ice cream. Our group went there twice. There is also a boat launch marina and boat rentals. A large sandy beach where you can swim. A children's playground, beach volleyball, shady picnic area, general store, laundry and hot showers. Every site has a fire ring and picnic table. We were there in Sept. No phone service. My wife has Sprint and had 1 bar for texting :) There is free wifi by the store. A hiking trail around the whole lake.

We spent one night here when the campground was half full and how peaceful it was! Friendly staff who made it easy to select our site, which had a nice view of the pretty lake. They’ve done a great job giving each campsite plenty of space, a level spot, view & amenities of electric, water, new picnic table & firepit under black oak trees. I can imagine how busy this campground is during summer with the lake’s boating, fishing & swimming areas, beach, playground and movie night. Nice store & delicious ice cream!