Tahoe-Area Campground Set for Big Upgrade Into a Family Adventure Resort

One of the first campgrounds many travelers pass on their way to Tahoe is about to look very different. Placer County has signed off on a large scale renovation of the Cisco Grove Campground, a long running site tucked along I 80 near the tiny mountain community of Cisco Grove, roughly 20 miles west of Truckee.

The facelift will shift the aging campground toward a more resort style experience while still preserving all 144 existing campsites. Instead of expanding capacity, the project focuses on adding new activities and updating old infrastructure.

Planned features include a refreshed general store and check in area, a swimming pool, pickleball and miniature golf, a snow tubing hill, paddle boats, a crafts pavilion, and several other amenities designed for families spending multiple days on site. None of the new additions will be open to day visitors; only overnight guests will have access.

The campground, which first opened in the 1970s as Rivers Edge, once housed a motel and restaurant but has slowly fallen into disrepair over the years. The upcoming overhaul aims to restore the property’s appeal while maintaining its rustic setting along the South Yuba River.

Seasonal camping will continue from mid May through mid October, with some limited RV availability in winter. Plans also call for on site employee housing and updated fire safety measures developed alongside Cal Fire.

Although the property extends into Nevada County, all construction will take place on the Placer County side at 48415 Hampshire Rocks Road, an area that already sees around 47,000 visitors each year.