William Kent Campground

We originally planned to stay for just one week, but we decided to stay two weeks in part due to this great campground. We booked a site that was big enough for our big rig, but the super narrow road enforce with trees and rocks made it impossible to get into the spot. The hosts were super helpful and found a spot where we could get in. For big rigs, sites 70+ are easier to get into.

Pros: Beautiful with tall pines everywhere.
Cons: Narrow roads, campers parking in a way that crowds the road, and poorly trimmed trees that make navigating the campground with a big rig difficult.

We spent a few nights here in summer 2021 in a small trailer + truck that fit plenty fine on our site. Spigots everywhere. Flush toilets, but the bathrooms had no lights at night (weird). Lovely camphosts. Bear boxes at every campsite, which we used since a bear had come through just a day or so before we arrived.

The good:
Convenient to a small pebble beach on the lake (walk across the street and you're there)
Sites are a good size so you're not on top of your neighbor
Great access to all the bike trails, including the Truckee River trail
Lots of restaurants within walking distance and a convenience store right across the street
Beautiful big trees that shaded the campground
Site was almost level and very easy to back into

The meh:
Very shaded sites which is good to keep cool, but we had to 'chase the sun' to use our solar system
You're literally looking into residential backyards in most of the sites. There wasn't even a solid fence at our site- it was a half falling down picket fence that was waist high. One of the neighborhood dogs would simply walk through the fence and wander around the campsite. Not ideal.

Would we return again? Probably, just because this CG is conveniently located.

We were winding down our weekend trip in the Sierras and came here on our last night. We only had an afternoon and the night to enjoy the place. We'd have stayed longer if we hadn't had to return home to the city. Quiet, clean, fresh air, and friendly volunteers running it. Walk out the entrance and across the road -- and you're right on Lake Tahoe. There are bears, but the volunteers will brief you. Bear boxes at every site. Be smart about bears, and it's not a problem. Wish I was there back tonight, actually. Soon...

Good location, across the street from the lake and a deli/store. The northwest side of the lake is less crowded and not as much traffic as other parts (specifically South Lake Tahoe). The campground was clean, hosts were very helpful, quiet. Bears are active in the park so lock up food in the bear boxes or your car. The only negative thing about the park is the road through the park is very narrow and lots of tight spaces. There is also a $7 fee to dump at the dump station which is in a horrible location and bigger rv’s can block the road so you have to wait until they are finished to drive by. Our site was in the back corner of the park, it was one of the bigger ones and a straight shot to back the trailer into. There are houses right behind the site but you didn’t really see anyone.

Although the CG has no amenities most of the sites are spacious. We started out in site 67 which we had reserved but moved to site 6 which was a walk in site and stayed over the weekend. Most sites are in the trees and we generated little solar power.
You have to cross the road to get to a postage stamp beach with all small peebles. The parking is nonexistent since employees from the restaurant and hotel called Sunnyside park there early. We went down at 7 am so we could park our truck and unload our kayaks. We did leave the kayaks and paddle board locked on a small piece of shoreline where a drain emerges. We did have all our batches opened but nothing was stollen as nothing of value was in them. No dogs on the beach.
Bathrooms were clean and multiple water spigots were around the CG. The camp hosts were awesome and knowledgeable about other beaches.
You can hop right on the bike path and travel 9 miles south or north. You can connect with the bike path that runs all along the Truckee River. Lots of hiking close and mountain biking.
There is a nice farmers market on Thursdays in Tahoe City.
Cell service was non existent neither AT&T or Verizon. It would say you had one or two bars and LTE but nothing would load. Even across the street service was hit or miss.

I'll echo the generator sentiment. Do I have one? Yes. Do I run it? Yes, but only to recharge the batteries. I'll NEVER understand why people fire up the generator at 8am and run it until 10pm!! WHY?

Other than that, check in staff is always helpful, the southern side has the bigger spots for bigger rigs and you get that far away feel even though you're sandwiched by neighborhoods of houses. Go eat breakfast at Fire Sign, but get there when it opens at 7am. Lake access is close, everything is close actually, which make this a great spot to stay in Tahoe.

Another thing to note, the dump spot is in the WORST spot and if you are dumping, you're pretty much blocking cars and rigs from getting through. Plan to dump somewhere else if you're not willing to be patient. The road through the campground is tight in some spots and you'll get some rub from tree branches, but nothing awful.

Mixed feelings on this campground, it’s a super handy spot for Sunnyside marina and restaurant etc. West Shore market too, is a very nice upscale deli and market. Great beer and wine selections.
Campsites are fairly well spaced, but easy to hear your neighbors conversation too!
The HUGE downside is they allow generators from 7:00am - 10:00pm!😩 the noise will drive you nuts. Based on this alone, I’d not return. Maybe for a quick stopover but if you’re tent camping,AVOID!! and head to DL Bliss.
Campground designers we kinda cruel by deliberately placing large rocks & 4"x4" wood stumps along the roadside and at every campsite. If you have a big trailer and new to backing up and navigating, this campground is like an obstacle course. There are millions of acres of national & state forests in the Sierra, yet state officials who run these parks are determined to keep vehicles and campers "on the paved area" ... good grief, it's a campground folks, let humans use the space, it's ok !!!
Verizon access very spotty at my site, 029. These sites back up to housing ! Very hard to get data but calls ok.
Campground has no showers or wash-stations and one small RV dump area and water fill. If another trailer was using, you’d have to block the road to wait your turn. Very poorly designed. Friendly camp hosts escorted to my site, as we had go against the flow of traffic to back in.