Video still thanks to all.in.overland
Beehive Dispersed Area
Dispersed shoreline camping on the Sacramento Arm of Shasta Lake, free from mid-September to mid-May, a few minutes off I-5 at Lakehead.
Shasta Lake, California · Sacramento Arm near Lakehead
Season
Free mid-Sept to mid-May
Fee season in summer
Elevation
About 1,100 ft
Lake level varies a lot
Hookups
None
Pack it in, pack it out
Big rigs
About 30 ft
Listings; bigger rigs stay in the open area
Updated October 7, 2026 · Details checked against Recreation.gov and the Forest Service
Free lakeshore camping, off-season
The Beehive experience
An open shoreline area on Shasta Lake’s Sacramento Arm with no designated sites and no services: just you, the red-dirt shore and the water. It’s free from mid-September to mid-May; in summer a per-vehicle fee applies.
Lakeshore campingNo designated sites
Portable toiletsIn season only
Trash pickupIn season only
Boat ramp nearbySugarloaf, about a mile
FishingFrom the shore
Pets allowedPer listings
Life at camp
What guests say
The report card
We don’t recycle other sites’ reviews, but the published scores are worth reading together: campers love the quiet and the lake views, while poison oak, changing lake levels and a rutted entrance road come up again and again.
How RVers rate it
Category scores from Campendium reviewers, out of 5
Field notes from RVers
Longest rig RVers report30 ft listed
Cell signal reportedT-Mobile 4G/5GAT&T 4G/5G
Last reported nightly rate$0 Apr 2025
As reported by Campendium users. Lake levels, fees and fire rules change by season; confirm with Recreation.gov and the Forest Service before you go.
Off I-5 at Lakehead
Getting there
Beehive is off Lakeshore Drive in Lakehead, about 25 miles north of Redding. Take I-5 Exit 702 (Lakeshore Dr / Antlers Rd), turn left at the stop sign and left again on Lakeshore Drive; the entrance is on the left.
From Redding: I-5 north to Exit 702, then Lakeshore DrFrom the north: I-5 south to Exit 702, then Lakeshore Dr
EXIT 702 · I-5
Set your GPS
Lakeshore Dr, Lakehead, CA 96051
To Lake Shasta Caverns*About 25 min
To Shasta DamAbout 40 min
To downtown ReddingAbout 40 min
From SacramentoAbout 3 hr
14-day stay limit. Pack out everything; there are no services from mid-September to mid-May.
About 1,100 ft elevation. July highs average about 97° at Shasta Dam.
*Drive times are approximate, from Google Maps and OpenStreetMap routing. Locator map is approximate, not for navigation.
Out the gate
Around Beehive
Lake Shasta Caverns is about 25 minutes away and Shasta Dam about 40; downtown Redding is 40 minutes south.
Photo thanks to Bureau of Reclamation (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Shasta Dam
The huge concrete dam that holds back Shasta Lake, with views of Mount Shasta on clear days; walk the crest road and check the visitor center for tours.
Photo thanks to Little Mountain 5 (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Lake Shasta Caverns
A catamaran ride across the lake, then a bus up the mountain to guided tours of the limestone caverns. Check the site for tour times.
Photo thanks to Chad K (CC BY 2.0)
Sundial Bridge & Turtle Bay
Redding’s glass-decked pedestrian bridge over the Sacramento River, with Turtle Bay’s museum, gardens and river trail around it.
Photo: National Park Service (public domain)
Whiskeytown Lake
Clear water, beaches and waterfall hikes in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area; a park pass is required.
More places to stay
Other parks worth a look
The three closest RV parks and campgrounds we’ve reviewed around Redding, by drive time.
Photo thanks to Mountain Gate RV Park
Mountain Gate RV Park
Shady cement-pad sites, a saltwater pool and a fenced dog park off I-5 at Exit 687, 10 minutes from Shasta Lake.
Photo thanks to Boulder Creek RV Resort
Boulder Creek RV Resort
Long pull-thrus, two dog parks, a seasonal pool and yurts just off I-5 at Lake Blvd.
Photo thanks to Redding RV Park
Redding RV Park
Paved 20/30/50 amp sites right off I-5 at Lake Blvd, with a pool, laundry and easy late check-in.
Before you book
Plan your stay
Everything that decides whether Beehive fits your rig, your dates and your budget, in one place.
Our take: a free, quiet off-season spot right on Shasta Lake, minutes off I-5. There are no hookups, water or dump, toilets and trash only in summer, lots of poison oak, and lake levels that change everything, so come self-contained, keep rigs around 30 ft and check conditions first.
FeesRecreation.gov · checked Oct 7, 2026
Mid-September to mid-MayFree
Mid-May to mid-SeptemberFee per vehicle
Stay limit14 days
ReservationsNone first come
In season you pay on site with Recreation.gov Scan & Pay or cash or check at the iron ranger. The in-season fee isn’t published on Recreation.gov; recent reports range from $15 to $17 a night.
Prices are subject to change at any time and may vary by date, season and availability. For the latest pricing, check the Recreation.gov page or call (530) 275-8113.
Typical July afternoon
Shasta Lake97°
Phoenix107°
Hot summers: 10° cooler than Phoenix in July.
Is it right for you?
Who it suits, what to consider, and why campers come.
Open
Site types
Free in the off-season; a per-vehicle fee in summer.
Open
Rates & policies
Stay limit, fires, water, dump and access.
Open
Before you book
Questions to check before you go.
Open
Beehive is a Shasta-Trinity National Forest dispersed area on the Sacramento Arm of Shasta Lake, listed on Recreation.gov. It’s shoreline camping with no designated sites, run by a concessionaire in summer.
Best for
- Free off-season camping: no fee from mid-September to mid-May.
- Self-contained rigs around 30 ft that are happy without hookups.
- Lake lovers: you camp right on the shore, with fishing and a boat ramp nearby.
- I-5 travelers who want a quiet night a few minutes off the freeway.
Consider this
- No water, hookups or dump; toilets and trash only in season.
- Poison oak is everywhere, and there’s broken glass in places.
- Lake levels swing a lot: some years the water is a steep walk away.
- Fire permits are required, and summer fire orders may ban fires entirely.
Summer at Shasta Lake
Typical July afternoon
97°
Shasta Lake
Shasta Dam (NOAA station)
107°
Phoenix
Phoenix Sky Harbor
10 degrees cooler than Phoenix, but still hot. Normal July highs, 1991–2020.
Beehive has no designated sites and no hookups. Camping is first come, first served, and you must be there to pay in season.
Off-season Free
No fee and no services; bring everything and take it all home.
Summer Fee/vehicle
A per-vehicle fee applies; pay on site with the Recreation.gov app or the iron ranger.
Day use Feein season
Day visitors pay a per-vehicle day-use fee in season.
Stay limit 14 days
A 14-day limit applies, per Campendium and Forest Service rules.
Off-seasonFreeMid-September to mid-May
SummerPer-vehicle feePay on site; amount not posted
Stay limit14 daysThen move on
ReservationsNoneFirst come; be present to pay
ServicesIn season onlyPortable toilets and trash
Water & dumpNone on siteLakeshore Inn, 0.4 mi (fee)
FiresPermit requiredCalifornia Campfire Permit; 2026 orders apply
Rig lengthAbout 30 ftPer listings
HazardsPoison oakAnd changing lake levels
RefundsNoneNot for rain, smoke or low water
Checked against Recreation.gov on October 7, 2026. Fees and dates change by year; see Recreation.gov or call the concessionaire at (530) 275-8113. There are no refunds for rain, smoke or low lake levels.
Good to know before you pull in
Five things that change your booking
Ask these on the phone before you reserve.
- Is it fee season? Fees apply roughly mid-May to mid-September.
- Where do I dump and fill water? Lakeshore Inn, 0.4 mile away, has a paid dump and water.
- What’s the lake level? Low water can mean a long walk to the shore.
- Can I have a fire? You need a California Campfire Permit, and 2026 orders limit fires.
- Will my rig fit? Listings say 30 ft; bigger rigs should stay in the open area.
Know before you go
Frequently asked questions
A few details before you hit the road.
Season: Free mid-Sept to mid-May
Ready for a night on the shore?
Pull onto the shoreline, listen to the lake and watch the sunset over the Sacramento Arm. Check Recreation.gov for fees, dates and conditions before you go.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. We couldn’t find free-licensed photos of Beehive itself, so the photos are stills from verified videos by all.in.overland and Flash3477 on YouTube, plus area photos of Shasta Lake from Deborah Carlisi, U.S. Forest Service (public domain). Video: all.in.overland. Area photos via Wikimedia Commons: Bureau of Reclamation (Shasta Dam; CC BY-SA 2.0), Little Mountain 5 (Lake Shasta Caverns; CC BY-SA 3.0), Chad K (Sundial Bridge; CC BY 2.0) and the National Park Service (Whiskeytown Lake; public domain); the images were resized. Other-park photos: Mountain Gate RV Park, Boulder Creek RV Resort and Redding RV Park. Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the parks we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Beehive Dispersed Area unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the Forest Service’s published materials and publicly available sources. Pricing, availability, rules, policies, regulations, amenities and other details are set by the Forest Service and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel or book, please confirm all details directly with Beehive Dispersed Area at Recreation.gov or (530) 275-8113. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
We will always do our best to keep this page up to date. Thank you to everyone who contributes; we truly appreciate your help and support.