For three summers, RVers heading to Lake Tahoe had to cross D.L. Bliss State Park off their camping wish list.
Now the campground is finally open again.
California reopened the popular Tahoe campground May 21 after a lengthy construction project that kept the park closed for three years. The reopening returns 165 campsites to one of the most scenic stretches of shoreline around the lake. It gives RVers another option in a region where campsites can be notoriously hard to find.
The good news is that the campground is back.
The less-good news is that many campers have been waiting years for that moment.
There’s a catch
“Midweek openings can still appear. Cancellations happen. Travelers with flexible schedules often have much better luck than those locked into specific dates.”
If you’re hoping to book a prime summer weekend, you may be late to the party.
California State Parks allows reservations up to six months in advance, and many campers snapped up sites as soon as they became available. Reports from the Tahoe area indicate that much of the summer inventory is already reserved, particularly on weekends.
That doesn’t mean RVers are shut out.
Midweek openings can still appear. Cancellations happen. Travelers with flexible schedules often have much better success than those locked into specific dates.
If Tahoe is on your summer travel list, it may pay to check reservation availability frequently rather than assuming everything is gone.
Why the campground stayed closed so long
The closure started as a major infrastructure project but stretched into a three-year effort.
California State Parks folks say crews replaced nearly three miles of aging water lines, improved water capacity throughout the park, installed 22 fire hydrants and completed road improvements.
Officials say the upgrades will improve both water reliability and wildfire preparedness.
The project reportedly ran into challenges along the way, including contractor issues and the difficulty of working through granite bedrock beneath portions of the park. Those delays pushed the reopening much farther out than many campers originally expected.
What RVers can do if camping is full
Even if campground reservations prove hard to find, D.L. Bliss can still be worth a visit.
The park offers access to Lester Beach, Balancing Rock, the Rubicon Trail and some of the best lake views anywhere around Tahoe. Day-use access remains available for visitors arriving by vehicle.
For many RVers, the easier approach may be to camp elsewhere around the Tahoe Basin and visit D.L. Bliss during the day.
That’s not a bad consolation prize.
Many visitors come primarily for the hiking, shoreline scenery and swimming opportunities, anyway.
A few RV considerations
Like many older campgrounds in California, D.L. Bliss was built long before today’s larger RVs became common.
Some sites can be tight, so RVers should check site dimensions carefully before booking. Also note, the campground includes a dump station but does not offer hookups.
That’s fairly typical for public campground camping around Tahoe, but it’s something first-time visitors will want to know before making plans.
The campground may be open again, but getting a reservation could still require some persistence. If you’ve been waiting for D.L. Bliss to return, keep an eye on cancellations and don’t overlook weekday stays.
After three years behind construction fencing, one of Tahoe’s classic campgrounds is finally back in the camping rotation.
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RVT1264b
Thank you for the news, Russ and Tina. Seems a rather difficult campground in which to both get a reservation and to get ones rig into the site. Have a great week and safe travels!