Camping region
Around Riva del Garda, Torbole and Arco, Lake Garda meets the mountains at close range. Camping here is especially attractive for travellers who want to combine the lake with cycling, hiking, climbing and water sports.
Lake meets mountains
Northern Lake Garda and the immediately adjoining Garda Trentino area have a very different character from the large holiday resorts farther south. Mountains rise close to the water, outdoor activities strongly shape the holiday and lake, rock and alpine valleys change within short distances.
For campers, three bases are especially distinct: Riva del Garda combines immediate Lake Garda access with town life and a promenade. Arco sits inland in the Sarca Valley and is particularly strong for climbing, mountain biking, road cycling and hiking. Ledro lies around 15 kilometres from Riva on the smaller Lake Ledro and adds a much quieter mountain-lake camping style.
Torbole remains an important water-sports town and excursion destination on the northern shore, but does not have a separate place page in the portal. Our regional recommendations instead represent Riva, Arco and Ledro with different camping profiles.
Northern character
The region is at its best when a camping holiday is about more than just beach and pool time.
At the northern end of Lake Garda, the landscape rises quickly from the water into the mountains. This makes the region especially attractive for campers combining swimming with hiking, climbing, cycling or panoramic trips.
Riva combines Lake Garda, an old town and waterfront; Arco is the outdoor base in the Sarca Valley; and Ledro represents a smaller, quieter mountain lake. Torbole remains part of the northern shore as a water-sports and excursion destination.
Useful cycle connections link Riva, Torbole and Arco. Around Lake Ledro, compact waterfront routes and mountain trails add further car-free options.
The range extends from traditional Lake Garda camping to Sarca Valley sites and quieter mountain-lake camping in Ledro, supporting very different active and nature-focused holidays within one region.
Our selection
The recommendations deliberately cover direct Lake Garda access, Riva, outdoor camping near Arco and family/nature camping on Lake Ledro.
Small campsite directly on Lake Garda in Riva with traditional pitches, mobile homes and glamping accommodation – ideal when both the lake and town should be easy to reach without daily car trips.
Camping Al Lago combines exactly what makes northern Lake Garda distinctive: the campsite sits directly by the water, Riva del Garda is easy to reach and the mountain scenery begins almost at the doorstep. For a holiday built around the lake in the morning, cycling or mountain activities during the day and Riva in the evening, the location is exceptionally versatile.
At the same time, the site feels more compact than many of the large holiday resorts farther south. The emphasis is on location, traditional camping and selected rental accommodation rather than a huge resort programme. That makes Camping Al Lago our top recommendation for campers who choose the north for its landscape and short distances.
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Four-star family campsite directly on Lake Ledro with around 200 pitches, a heated pool with slides and wellness – the quieter mountain-lake alternative in the north.
Four-star campsite in the Riva area with a pool, pitches and mobile homes, around 500 metres from Lake Garda and well suited to a longer stay in the north.
Three-star campsite by the Sarca near Arco with a large number of pitches, a pool, wellness facilities and a clear focus on outdoor and active holidays.
Places in the north
Riva del Garda, Arco and Ledro are our three fully developed camping bases in the north. Torbole remains an important water-sports and excursion destination but is not presented as a separate place page.
Camping base in the north
Riva del Garda combines camping by the water with a real town, large lakeside areas and direct access to some of the best-known outdoor routes in northern Lake Garda. It is especially practical for campers who want to leave the car, motorhome or caravan parked as often as possible.
Explore place
Camping base
Arco is the camping base for travellers who mainly want to experience northern Lake Garda actively. Climbing cliffs, the Sarca cycle route, old town and castle are close together while the lake remains easy to reach.
Explore place
Camping base
Only around 15 kilometres from Riva del Garda, Lake Ledro offers a much quieter camping world: turquoise water, forested mountains, small villages and campsites directly on the lake or in the green Ledro Valley.
Explore placeExperience the north
The appeal of northern Lake Garda comes from switching easily between water and mountains.
Early start
Before the day becomes busier, the northern shore is especially impressive: soft light on the water, steep mountains around the lake and the long waterfront between Riva and Torbole. Walking or cycling here is an ideal start to the day.
Afternoon wind
In the afternoon, the Ora often shapes the scene at northern Lake Garda. Whether you head onto the water yourself or simply watch from the shore, the sails and boards are among the most characteristic sights around Torbole.
By bike
From the lakeshore, cycle routes lead through the broad Sarca Valley towards Arco. Between rock faces, olive groves, vineyards and the River Sarca, it quickly becomes clear why the north is as much an outdoor region as a lakeside destination.
Plan well
Your exact base, the wind and local mobility influence a northern-shore holiday more than in many other parts of the lake.
If immediate access to the water matters most, prioritise Riva or Torbole. Arco lies several kilometres inland but is especially useful for climbing, cycling and trips through the Sarca Valley.
The regular winds are a major advantage for sailors and windsurfers, but they also change the character of a beach day. Families and travellers focused mainly on swimming should consider the time of day and exact shoreline location.
Good cycle connections link the most important places. Bringing a bicycle or e-bike can replace many short car journeys and makes campsites slightly outside the town centres much more flexible.
Spring and autumn can be excellent for active days in the north, but campsites, pools, restaurants and other facilities operate on different seasonal schedules. Always check the dates for your specific stay.
Our conclusion
If you want to start the morning by the water, spend the day cycling, hiking or climbing and choose between town life, rock and quieter mountain-lake nature, the north is one of the most versatile camping regions around Lake Garda. Riva represents Lake Garda and town life, Arco outdoor sport and Ledro a much calmer nature-focused stay.