Family Camping, Reunions and Celebrations at ARR: Meaningful, Memorable and Fun!

One of our favorite things here at American River Resort is seeing extended families come together for a reunion filled with meaningful and exciting times. Family reunion memories last a lifetime!

Reconnecting with loved ones in a beautiful outdoor setting can be fun in itself, but families come to ARR because there’s so many things to do!

We’ve got play areas for games such as volleyball and horseshoes, a swimming pool, a fishing pond stocked with trout, campfire areas, and group cooking facilities. Here, it’s easy to plan activities for kids, teens and adults.

Want a unique bonding experience with the people you love? We’ve got world-class whitewater rafting right here. River trips depart several times a day; we offer the best and most affordable rafting trips for families, including special midweek pricing!

Minutes away are many other local sights and attractions. Grab your walking shoes and explore James Marshall Gold Discovery Historic Park just 5 minutes away. There’s plenty of hiking and biking trails nearby. Through it all runs the magnificent American River, just a short walk from spacious group and family campsites.

Other things families appreciate: clean facilities with free hot showers, plenty of free parking with any reservation, and friendly staff.

Call us to learn more. We’re ready to help make your family reunion a super success!

Ten reasons families LOVE camping at the American River Resort

  1. Clean, generously sized campsites
  2. Clean bathrooms
  3. Free hot showers
  4. Picnic tables and firepits in every site
  5. Riverside campsites
  6. River access
  7. Open play areas
  8. Catch-and-release fishing pond
  9. Swimming pool
  10. 10:00 PM quiet time and controlled entrance gate

American River Resort Family Camping Story

To your family’s relief, you finally spot the American River Resort sign signaling the end of a 3-hour drive. You pull into the lot and head to the registration office for a fast and easy sign-in. You get directions for finding your family’s campsite and return to the car where excitement is running high.

Entering the campgrounds you notice it’s beautiful here! You’re camping in one of the region’s most beautiful oak-forested valleys.

Driving to your site for unpacking, you hear the sound of rushing water; it’s the American River flowing past the resort. As soon as the kids glimpse it through the trees, they want out. “After we set up camp,” you promise.

Keeping your promise (as if you had a choice), you take the kids on the short walk to the river’s edge. You kick off your shoes and sit on a sunny rock while they splash each other and search for little fish to annoy.

Some kayakers arrive from upstream. They expertly traverse the famous Troublemaker rapid, just yards from where you sit, and continue on downstream. This keeps the kids mesmerized for a time, and you notice little fish making a run for it.

Later, you all play some frisbee in one of the resort’s grassy play areas. The kids notice some campers enjoying the swimming pool on the other side of the fishing pond. “Maybe tomorrow,” you repeat half a dozen times.

Everyone’s hungry by now, and you’ve decided to “rough-it” for your first dinner at camp. You build a fire and teach the kids how to roast sausages and biscuits on sticks. Then you flame-broil some marshmallows.

After S’mores, the sun has set and the stars shine down through the trees. The valley grows cool, and it’s bedtime. Everyone falls asleep to the calming sound of the American River’s flowing water. Eventually.

Classic Family Camping at American River Resort

American River Resort is a private campground on 30 private acres in beautiful Coloma Valley. We’re easy to find, our rates are good and reservations are easy.

Family Camping is Our Specialty!

Many campers have been coming to ARR since they were kids; some are now bringing their own children! Family camping is our most valued tradition at ARR. We appreciate and are honored by your trust in sharing this experience with us.

Everything families like about camping is here, plus a few extras, like free hot showers, a fishing pond and a small convenience store in our reception area.

Families also like that we have campground rules and that we actively help our guests follow them, providing a safe environment for kids and for everyone.

Anniversaries

Celebrate your wedding anniversary in style at our Resort. Whether it’s your 1st anniversary or your 50th, we want to share this special occasion with you. Our beautiful grounds and natural setting offer you and your partner the space and privacy you desire and plenty of natural gifts. If you’re celebrating your 5th year together, enjoy the traditional gift of wood by snuggling up around a campfire in a secluded tent space, or look for a unique piece of driftwood as a special keepsake along the shores of the river which runs on our property.

If you’re celebrating your 10th year and challenged with what type of aluminum gift to get your partner, consider renting an Airstream and glamping with us in our river view RV sites with full hookups! You’ll have plenty of space to enjoy a nice slow dance together while getting privacy from the surrounding oak trees and enjoying the soothing melody of the river in the background.

For your Silver (25) anniversary, enjoy a getaway at our fully functional and private river front cabins, equipped with all the luxuries of home. Cook and enjoy a candlelit meal inside your cabin or out on the large deck while the river rushes by. For your Golden (50) anniversary, take your chances at finding gold in our section of the South Fork American River and celebrate with all your friends at our one of our outdoor event venues.

Birthday Parties

Looking for a place to host your outdoor birthday party? Bring your family and friends to our Resort grounds for an event to remember! You can reserve any of our event venues for large parties that will provide space for water balloon fights, outdoor games, food vendors or sit-down catered meals in an outdoor setting. Share even more excitement with your friends by adding one of our rafting trips to the agenda. Celebrate all day and drift off to sleep under the stars with your closest friends and family, sharing campfire stories, laughs and maybe a few s’mores!

Wedding Party Showers / Baby Showers

Host your bridal party, baby shower or any other special event at one of our outdoor venues. The venues can accommodate up to 300 guests. If you need tables and chairs for dining, displays, or for any other reasons, we can provide tables and chairs rentals for your event.

Retirement Parties

Throw a “Retirement Rocks” party at our riverfront venue naturally landscaped with river rock and granite boulders. The riverfront venue site is large enough to host a band, a catered and private meal or even a dance floor. Take a thrilling whitewater rafting trip down the South Fork American River with your colleagues. It’s your retirement, GO BIG!

Holiday Parties

If you are looking for a place to celebrate a specific holiday with your friends and family, look no further! Our grounds offer the perfect outdoor venues for any celebration! Feel free to hire vendors for decoration, catering and organization of your holiday events.

Availability

Campsite availability is best if you make reservations early. Weekends are great, but we encourage you to come a day early or stay a day longer to get the most out of your camping experience. Midweek stays are really the best! Things quiet down around here, and you’re likely to nab the best sites.

Need help?

Read answers to common questions or email us. You are welcome to call us at 530-622-6700 during regular business hours.