Clear Lake Campground — Hotel in Clearlake

I don't typically write reviews, but I feel compelled to write one for Clear Lake Campground as what we saw on google was simply NOT what we saw in person. It also reviews at over 4 stars (4.6 when I checked two weeks prior to arrival!) We did not check yelp so shame on us, as I think some of the reviews there are more in tune with what Shady Acres is really offering.

First off this is not a campground if you own a tent and like to go hang out in nature. We arrived with a truck and camping gear and found that out of our 4 "camping" spots 2 of them were big enough for a prius and a 2-3 man tent, and the other two were bordered nicely by a UHaul owned by one of their "semi-permanent" residents. The campground is asphalt and dirt, there is little to nothing in the form of trees for shade cover. The spots are very close to each other, or very close to nothing you would want to camp around. U-Haul's, trailers, etc. The restroom/shower amenities were dirty and kind of eww.

As mentioned, Lisa is very nice, but Lisa should be a little more forthcoming. As she said when I explained to her why we could not stay here, they are trying to figure out how much to disclose on the web about their place. It is NOT for everyone. It is definitely NOT for a family coming up to tent camp at Clearlake. There were several phone calls with Lisa prior to our trip where some of this could have been disclosed. Then again with the cancellation policy maybe it is more lucrative to not disclose and still collect "camping" fees from all those that cancel upon arrival.

Pay attention to the reviews that mention how much Lisa is doing in the form of renovations and realize that means there is a lot of stuff to fix around Shady Acres. The restroom/shower area was not clean and not nice. I would not recommend this as family-friendly or for those looking to tent camp. Try the Clear...

Clear Lake Campground: A hidden gem with a wonderful host

We recently had the pleasure of staying at Clear Lake Campground, a charming campground established in 1950 and owned and operated by the wonderful Lisa. The campground has 38 total spots, including 10 pull-throughs, 3 canvas bell tents, and 2 boat launches with available kayak and canoe rentals. The back-in spots are right on the river and offer great fishing or bird watching opportunities, as the property butts up to a nature reserve.

We were immediately impressed by the campground's clean and well-maintained facilities. Our campsite was spacious and shaded, and the restrooms and showers were spotless. We also appreciated the availability of free Wi-Fi and $5 firewood.

Lisa is a fantastic host who goes above and beyond to make sure her guests have a pleasant stay. She was always happy to answer our questions and provide recommendations for activities and restaurants in the area. She even helped us book a kayaking trip on Clear Lake.

We spent our days kayaking on the lake, fishing in the river, and exploring the nearby nature reserve. In the evenings, we enjoyed relaxing around the campfire and roasting marshmallows.

Overall, we had a wonderful time at Clear Lake Campground. The campground is clean and well-maintained, the location is beautiful, and the host is fantastic. We highly recommend this campground to anyone looking for a relaxing and enjoyable camping experience.

Pros:

Clean and well-maintained facilities Spacious and shaded campsites Riverfront campsites with great fishing and bird watching opportunities Free Wi-Fi and firewood Fantastic host who goes above and beyond for her guests Beautiful location

Cons: None that we can think of!

Overall: We highly recommend Clear Lake Campground to anyone looking for a relaxing and enjoyable...

The staff are nice and accommodating. One of the staff, her name is Moriah, was specially helpful in finding the best spot for our needs. It is good to have both water and electricity for each spot and free shower for all registered campers. The weather just so happened to be particularly hot during this weekend that it could have been more bearable using the shower and/or restroom (mural building) if there are more windows open to circulate the air. Although it is NOT a reflection of the camp, it is important to mention here that some campers can be more considerate and not play their music too loud. One group of campers have been playing Mexican music most of the day (through Saturday afternoon of Sept 3) until it is going sundown that I was tempted to call the Police. Hot weather and loud music does not go well together for those who went to this place to relax for some peace and quiet. On top of the heat and loud music, the lake was not clear and that the fish may not be good for eating due to the algae. Although Clearlake may not be a good destination next time, but if we do need to come back, Clear Lake Campground will still be a choice for us due to the nice staff. I sure hope to find the same nice staff at other campgrounds...