About Kit Carson Campground
Number of accommodations: 7
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Sites & Availability
7 Sites Available
No sites found matching your criteria.
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Site Details
Select a site to view details
7 Sites Available
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews (57)
What Guests Are Saying
Kit Carson Campground is praised for its cleanliness, beautiful setting among pine and aspen trees, and excellent camp host, Mark, who provides valuable information and maintains the facilities well. While some reviews mention highway noise and the presence of ants, the campground offers good-sized sites, easy access to fishing in the Carson River, and a cozy atmosphere. Overall, visitors recommend it as a hidden gem for a peaceful getaway.
What Guests Are Saying
Kit Carson Campground is praised for its cleanliness, beautiful setting among pine and aspen trees, and excellent camp host, Mark, who provides valuable information and maintains the facilities well. While some reviews mention highway noise and the presence of ants, the campground offers good-sized sites, easy access to fishing in the Carson River, and a cozy atmosphere. Overall, visitors recommend it as a hidden gem for a peaceful getaway.
Review Summary
Mike C
VerifiedJune 8, 2025 • Stayed at: 05, Loop: Lower Loop
Cozy campground with access to amazing fishing spots and beautiful meadows. We stayed at spot 5, which is isolated and near the river. The highway is close, but hardly noticeable at night - especially when it’s tent time. Bathrooms are pit, but really clean and actually smell great. Camp host is very friendly and gave some local knowledge about where to fish (which worked out). There is also a neat little spot across the street that has food and good beers on draft. Would definitely stay here again. The place isn’t isolated or sprawling, but for a convenient spot in one of the most beautiful locations in the Sierra I’d recommend it.
Donna F
VerifiedMay 29, 2025 • Stayed at: 08, Loop: Upper Loop
I was lucky enough to stay in site 8. Beautiful site. The campground was quite and clean.
Philip K
VerifiedAugust 23, 2024 • Stayed at: 11, Loop: Upper Loop
Great campground! Very helpful host and great location near everything the Carson pass area has to offer.
Dave Johnson
August 20, 2024
Only used the campground for the night as a stopover, but we liked it. Spots 5 and 2 are by the river. The bathrooms have open pit toilets with no sink, but the one by us was clean and didn’t smell. The road is just over the river and had a lot of noise in the day time, but was surprisingly quiet at night. There were ppl fishing on the other side of the river.
Gary B
VerifiedJuly 4, 2024 • Stayed at: 11, Loop: Upper Loop
In beautiful aspens with a fork of the Carson River running through it. Quiet and well maintained. Camp host Chuck keeps everything extremely tidy and clean, even the dreaded pit toilets!
Norman B
VerifiedJuly 2, 2024 • Stayed at: 10, Loop: Upper Loop
The overall condition of the campground was good. However, the bathroom had a lot of flies. The location is very close to the highway as well as being on a steep hill. Overall, it was a good campground to stay for a night.
Paul H
VerifiedFebruary 25, 2024 • Stayed at: 10, Loop: Upper Loop
My wife and I camp here a few times a year, which is easy for us as it is only about a 45 minute drive from home. Small and somewhat hidden campground which is close to the road so you do get some road noise. The upper loop is definitely not for larger trailers of RV's, and is quieter than the lower loop. We can fit our 22' Mini Lite in most of the spots in the upper loop. If you have anything larger there are a few spots on the lower loop that can accommodate larger trailers but the tradeoff is more road noise. Some spots in the lower loop are first come first served, and are usually open when we are there. Pit toilets are generally clean, and potable water available throughout the campground. The Carson River runs between the campground and the road providing a nice spot for afternoon meanderings. Kit Carson has become one of our favorite getaways in the summer and fall.
Michael W
VerifiedSeptember 5, 2023 • Stayed at: 05, Loop: Lower Loop
We have visited this wonderful campsite many times over the years. It sits right by the river (plus!) and right next to the river is Hwy 88 (minus). The traffic noise isn't too bad and at night there is almost NO traffic but currently there is construction on the bridge right by the camp and crews can start very early there. Access to the river is very nice. Camp condition: Good but not great. The restroom near our site was out of toilet paper for our entire stay (but was clean otherwise). Never saw the camp host.
John S
VerifiedAugust 17, 2023 • Stayed at: 05, Loop: Lower Loop
Great campground with a good caretaker.
gael R
VerifiedAugust 16, 2023 • Stayed at: 09, Loop: Upper Loop
The campground is poorly maintained.
There was garbage on the sites and they were not cleared of underground.
The site 09 was way too steep to install even a small tent (maybe a one person tent would fit).
I won’t recommend this campground.
Location Kit Carson Campground
Address:
P.O. Box 104
Markleeville, CA, 96120
United States
From South Lake Tahoe, take Hwy 89 over Luther Pass to the 88/89 interchange. Turn left on 88; go approximately 1 mile to campground entrance on your left. From Gardnerville, Carson City or Minden, Nevada, take Hwy 395 to Hwy 88. Head south on Hwy 88 for approximately 19 miles to the campground entrance in Woodfords Canyon on north side.
Latitude & Longitude: 38.7768 / -119.895
Elevation: 2092 feet
Policies & Rules
| Category | About |
|---|---|
| General |
Caution: this bear country. Be prepared to keep your camp clean and food stored in appropriate storage containers. |
| General |
This campground has small parking spurs. Please verify your vehicle size before making your reservation. |
| General |
A per day, per site, daily fee will be collected for extra vehicles on-site. |
| General |
Opening and closing dates are subject to change due to existing weather conditions. |
| General |
Don't Move Firewood: Help prevent the spread of tree-killing pests in our national forests by obtaining firewood near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org. |
