Area photo: Brandy Creek Beach · not the RV campground
Brandy Creek RV Campground
Fifteen self-contained RV sites in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, half a mile from Brandy Creek Beach, for $20 a night.
Whiskeytown NRA, California · 14 miles west of Redding
Season
Year-round
Water may shut off in winter
Elevation
About 1,300 ft
Hot, dry summers
Hookups
None
Water & dump station on site
Big rigs
About 35 ft
No official limit; tight lot
Updated October 7, 2026 · Details checked against NPS and Recreation.gov
Lake days in Whiskeytown
The Brandy Creek experience
A small, self-contained-only RV loop in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, half a mile from Brandy Creek Beach and a quarter mile from the boat launch. There are no hookups or restrooms, but there’s water and a dump station, and the lake is right there.
15 RV sitesAsphalt, self-contained only
Potable waterMay shut off in winter
Dump stationMay shut off in winter
Brandy Creek BeachHalf a mile away
Boat launchAbout a quarter mile
Waterfall trailBrandy Creek Falls
ReservationsRecreation.gov, 6 months ahead
Leashed petsNot on swim beaches
Life at camp
What guests say
The campground report card
We don’t recycle other sites’ reviews, but the published scores are worth reading together: campers love the quiet and the beach and lake access, while the parking-lot layout, tight sites for longer rigs and the lack of restrooms come up most often. Few RVers have reviewed it.
How RVers rate it
Category scores from Campendium reviewers, out of 5
Field notes from RVers
Longest rig RVers report36 ft 2020
Cell signal reportedVerizon 4G
Last reported nightly rate$46 2024 · NPS fee is $20
As reported by Campendium and RV LIFE users; only a few RVers have reviewed it. Confirm rules and site lengths with the National Park Service before you go.
CA-299 west of Redding
Getting there
The campground is off Brandy Creek Drive on the south shore of Whiskeytown Lake: 10 miles west of Redding on CA-299, then left on JFK Memorial Drive for about 5½ miles.
From Redding: CA-299 west, left on JFK Memorial DrFrom Weaverville: CA-299 east to JFK Memorial Dr
CA-299 · JFK MEMORIAL DR
Set your GPS
Brandy Creek Dr, Whiskeytown, CA 96095
To Brandy Creek Beach*About 5 min
To the visitor centerAbout 15 min
To downtown ReddingAbout 25 min
From SacramentoAbout 2 hr 55 min
Entrance pass required. Buy a Whiskeytown pass ($25 for 7 days or $55 a year) in addition to the $20 site fee.
About 1,300 ft elevation. Summers are hot and dry; Redding’s July highs average about 100°.
*Drive times are approximate, from Google Maps and OpenStreetMap routing. Locator map is approximate, not for navigation.
Out the gate
Around Brandy Creek
Brandy Creek Beach is a few minutes’ walk; the visitor center is 15 minutes away and downtown Redding about 25.
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
The visitor center on CA-299 sells entrance passes and has maps and trail tips; Whiskeytown Falls and Oak Bottom are short drives away.
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 Marina RV Park
Marina RV Park
A budget riverside park near the Sundial Bridge with a pool; 30-amp sites and mostly long-term guests.
Photo thanks to Green Acres RV Park
Green Acres RV Park
A small, spotless park with concrete pads, a seasonal pool and a fenced dog park on Redding’s quiet west side.
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.
Before you book
Plan your stay
Everything that decides whether Brandy Creek fits your rig, your dates and your budget, in one place.
Our take: the cheapest way to sleep next to Whiskeytown Lake in an RV: $20 a night, a short walk to the beach and the boat launch. It’s a small asphalt loop with no hookups, tables or restrooms, so bring a fully self-contained rig of about 35 ft or less and buy your entrance pass.
Campground feesNPS fees · checked Oct 7, 2026
RV site$20 /night
With Senior or Access pass$10 /night
Entrance pass, per vehicle$25 /7 days
Whiskeytown annual pass$55 /year
The entrance pass is required in addition to the camping fee. Reserve on Recreation.gov up to six months ahead.
Prices are subject to change at any time and may vary by date, season and availability. For the latest pricing, check the NPS fees page or call (530) 242-3400.
Typical July afternoon
Redding100°
Phoenix107°
Hot summers: 7° cooler than Phoenix in July.
Is it right for you?
Who it suits, what to consider, and why campers come.
Open
Site types
$20 a night plus a park entrance pass.
Open
Rates & policies
Stay limits, quiet hours, fires, pets and rig rules.
Open
Before you book
Questions to check before you reserve.
Open
Brandy Creek RV Campground is one of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area’s two RV camping areas, run by the National Park Service. It reopened after the 2018 Carr Fire and is open all year.
Best for
- Lake days: Brandy Creek Beach is half a mile away and the boat launch a quarter mile.
- Budget trips: $20 a night, or $10 with a Senior or Access pass.
- Self-contained rigs that don’t need hookups, with water and a dump on site.
- Hikers: Brandy Creek Falls and Whiskeytown Falls are nearby.
Consider this
- No hookups, restrooms, showers, tables or fire grates; showers at the beach run Memorial Day to Labor Day.
- It’s a parking-lot-style asphalt loop; longer rigs may struggle.
- Tents aren’t allowed, and you can’t sleep in a car or boat.
- Water and the dump station may shut off in winter.
Summer in Whiskeytown
Typical July afternoon
100°
Redding
Redding Municipal Airport
107°
Phoenix
Phoenix Sky Harbor
7 degrees cooler than Phoenix, but still hot. Normal July highs, 1991–2020.
All 15 sites are asphalt, back-in style, with no hookups. The National Park Service sets the fees below.
RV site $20/night
Every site is the same: self-contained RVs, cab-overs, pop-ups and fifth wheels only.
Senior or Access $10/night
Half price with an interagency Senior or Access pass.
Entrance pass $25/7 days
Required for every vehicle on top of the camping fee.
Annual pass $55/year
Also valid at Lassen, Crater Lake and Lava Beds.
Nightly fee$20Half price with Senior or Access pass
Entrance passRequired$25 for 7 days or $55 a year
ReservationsRecreation.govUp to 6 months ahead
Stay limit14 daysApr 1–Oct 31; 30 days a year in total
Check-in1 p.m.Check-out noon
Quiet hours10 p.m.–6 a.m.No generators during quiet hours
FiresNoneNo ground fires or portable fire pits
Pets6 ft leashNot on beaches or swim areas
RigsSelf-contained onlyNo tents; no sleeping in cars
FoodIn your vehicleBears: keep food out of sight
Checked against nps.gov and Recreation.gov on October 7, 2026. Fees are subject to change; see the NPS camping page or call (530) 242-3400. A Whiskeytown entrance pass is required on top of the camping fee.
Good to know before you pull in
Five things that change your booking
Ask these on the phone before you reserve.
- Will my rig fit? Listings say 35 ft, but there’s no official limit and the lot is tight.
- Is water on? In winter the water and dump station may be shut off.
- Do I have a pass? You’ll need a Whiskeytown entrance pass as well as the site fee.
- Can I bring my dog to the beach? No: pets are banned from Brandy Creek Beach and swim areas.
- Are fires allowed? No ground fires, portable fire pits or chimeneas.
Know before you go
Frequently asked questions
A few details before you hit the road.
Season: Year-round
Ready for a Whiskeytown lake day?
Park the rig, walk to Brandy Creek Beach and paddle the clear lake. Reserve on Recreation.gov and buy your entrance pass 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 photos of the RV campground itself, so the photos show the surrounding area: Brandy Creek Beach and Brandy Creek Falls from the National Park Service (public domain), and Whiskeytown Lake from the National Park Service on Wikimedia Commons (public domain). Video: Scott Bernardi on YouTube (the creek, not the campground). 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: Marina RV Park, Green Acres RV Park and Boulder Creek RV Resort. 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 Brandy Creek RV Campground unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the National Park Service’s published materials and publicly available sources. Pricing, availability, rules, policies, regulations, amenities and other details are set by the National Park Service and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel or book, please confirm all details directly with Brandy Creek RV Campground at nps.gov/whis or (530) 242-3400. 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.