Donner Lake, CA

Donner Memorial State Park Camping

Mileages From Sacramento

  • Colfax - 50 miles
  • Yuba Gap - 74 miles
  • Soda Springs - 89 miles
  • Donner Summit - 91 miles
  • Donner Lake - 98 miles
  • Truckee - 101 miles





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Donner Memorial State Park

Donner Memorial State Park is located at the east end of Donner Lake, near Truckee. From the lake you can look up at rugged Donner Pass where emigrants struggled to haul their wagons up the granite cliffs. You can see the tunnels of the Transcontinental Railroad. Few locations in the Sierra are as beautiful and historic as Donner Lake. It's no wonder that the campsites fill quickly during the summer months.

Donner Memorial State Park offers boating, picnicking, water-skiing, fishing, and hiking. A public boat ramp is available at the northwest corner of the lake. At the Visitor Center explore exhibits about overland emigrants, the Donner Party, and the Land of the Washoe. The Center also tells about the Chinese contribution to building the transcontinental railroad and the early motor roads over the pass.

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Photo of Donner Lake

Donner Memorial State Park

Location: 12593 Donner Pass Road, Donner Lake, CA
On the southeast shore of Donner Lake
(530) 582-7892
The campground is usually open from Memorial Day until mid-September.

The campground is divided into three sections:
Ridge, sites 1-59, in the middle of the park, closest to the amphitheater.
Creek, sites 50-107, on the east side of the park, between Michael's Pond and the nature trail.
Splitrock, sites 108-152, west of the other two campground sections, closest to the lake.

Campground Amenities

  • 138 campsites for tents. Most accommodate trailers or RVs up to 24 feet, no hook-ups
  • Sites 19, 31, 41, 51, and 111 are tent-only sites
  • Picnic tables, stoves, bear lockers
  • Restrooms, hot showers
  • Museum, amphitheater


Online Reservations at ReserveCalifornia:
Donner Memorial State Park Campground Reservations
or call (800) 444-PARK (7275) between 8 AM and 6 PM
Fees: $35 per night


map of Donner Memorial State Park campgrounds, Truckee, CA

Campground and Park Activities

The Sierra State Parks Foundation works with the state parks to fund important programs in the Sierra District State Parks, including nature talks, history walks and Junior Ranger programs. They also fund interpretive and educational programs and preservation work.

During the summer at Donner Memorial State Park they offer Junior Rangers, 1-2-hour nature and history walks (meet at 10:00 AM at the museum), and campfire programs.

Park Attractions

  • Hiking Trails along the lake shore and up Coldstream Canyon
  • Emigrant Trail Museum featuring information on Native Americans, the Donner Party, and the Transcontinental Railroad
  • Pioneer Monument and the Donner Party's Murphy cabin site

For more information, visit our Donner Memorial State Park page.