American River Resort

We had a great time at American River Resort. They have everything to include a great location near Sutter’s Mill. The facility has everything from tent camping to large RV sites. Hookups are plentiful and no issues with utilities. Walking can be challenging since the site is very hilly. The fishing pond was a huge success with granddaughter and the dogs enjoyed the open space. We’re going back soon!
The staff was great—check-in took 5 minutes.

I really liked staying at this resort. The campsites are spread out and no one is on top of one another, it's quiet, and resides along the American River. Once you get set up you can walk down to the river and watch the rafters come down. Great place for kids, pets, and all people who enjoy a slower pace.

The sites are not level so be prepared to level your rig. Some of the hookups are far away from where you set up your rig, so make sure you have long extensions with you. The cell service is hit or miss depending on your site, which made it easy to disconnect. The roads were narrow but saw a few larger rigs fit into some spaces.

My only complaint is the price. They advertise at $60/night but that is only for two people. They charge $25 for each additional person and $10 per dog (max 2 dogs). Our total for two nights came to $280 because we have five people and one dog. If you don't mind the price, it's a great place to unwind for the weekend.

Nice campground, especially if you are tent camping. There aren't a lot of RV sites, and most would be a challenge to get into unless you have a smaller rig. Their website describes the various sites well, so check that out before heading booking an RV. The roads into most of the sites are steep and narrow.

Driving into the park from the north on Hwy 49 from Auburn is a challenge. Two-lane road, narrow, some very sharp turns, little to no shoulder in many spots. We did it towing our Lance 1995, not knowing what to expect. I'm glad we did it on a Sunday; we didn't come across any trucks going in the opposite direction. On one of the tight curves that would have been "interesting," to say the least. We left via Lotus Road, which was a much easier drive.

Amenities at the campground were okay. There's a store where you can purchase some camping items and t-shirts. Wi-fi is available there but it drops off quickly outside the store. There are two sets of showers/restrooms which were pretty good but not great. Sand on the floor, paper towels around the sinks, various other bits of trash laying around. They need to clean more often. The showers themselves were good; nice high showerhead with a good amount of water.

The river was really flowing when we were there (May 2023) and you could hear it easily. Not an issue for us, and certainly much better than highway noise, but if you're sensitive to noise it could be an issue. The staff was nice and helpful. In all, a decent place, but if you're in an RV, be careful what site you select.