San Diego Camping

San Diego Camping can be a fun year round activity. Sleep in a tent under the stars for a romantic outdoor adventure. San Diego is fortunate to have a variety of camping destinations all just a short distance away. You will find great places to camp in the desert, the mountains, and along the coast. These campgrounds also welcome families and some allow RVs as well .

Agua Caliente Regional Park
Address: 39555 County Route S-2
Telephone: (760)765-1188
Online Reservations: San Diego Parks Office
Open: Labor Day through Memorial Day; located in the desert, it's too hot for camping during the summer months.
Amenities: Indoor and outdoor hot springs swimming pools, children's play area, and showers.
Activities: Shuffleboard, hiking, horseshoes, shuffleboard.

All Season RV Park
Address: 30012 Highway 395, Escondido, CA 92026
Telephone: (760) 749-2982
Online Reservations: Make Reservations
Amenities: Resort style pool, spa, many lakeside and lakeview sites, RV and tent sites, restrooms, showers, tables, BBQ, grocery store, laundry.
Activities: "Catch and release" fishing (no license required), hiking, swimming
Directions from San Diego: Take I-15 north to 8 miles past Escondido. Exit at Gopher Canyon Rd. turn right in 100 feet to traffic light. Turn left to the park entrance on the left.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Address: 200 Palm Canyon Dr., Borrego Springs, CA 92004
Telephone: (760) 767-5311
Online Reservations: Camping
Amenities: Fire rings, ranger station, convenience store, restrooms, shower, visitor center, nature trails. This is the largest state park with over 600,000 acres with 500 miles of dirt trails and 12 wilderness areas. Perfect San Diego camping during the Fall, Winter, and Spring.
Activities: Hiking, bird watching
Directions:Take I-15 north to the Poway. Exit at S4.Go left on 67 north to Ramona, which turns into 78 east, to Santa Ysabel. Turn left on 79, right on S2, and left on S22.

Burnt Rancheria
Address: Cleveland, CA
Telephone: (619) 473-0120
Online Reservations: Camping
Elevation: 1000 feet
Capacity: 8 people/2 vehicles per site
Amenities: Restrooms, coin showers, table, fire ring, amphitheater, ranger station
Directions: Take I-8 East. Exit at Sunrise. Go approximately 11 miles to Milepost 23.

Butterfield Ranch
Address: 14925 Great Southern Overland Stage Route, Julian, CA 92036
Telephone: (760) 765-1463
Online Reservations: Make Reservations
Amenities: Activities: Swimming, biking, bird watching, horseshoes, and volleyball.
Directions from San Diego: Take I-8 east toward El Centro to Ocotillo. Exit at Imperial Hwy./S-2. Turn left onto the Imperial Hwy. Continue 36 miles to the campground.

Champagne Lakes RV Resort
Address: 8310 Nelson Way, Escondido, CA 92026
Telephone: (760) 749-7572
Online Reservations: Make Reservations
Amenities: 3 lakes, RV and tent sites, laundry, restrooms, showers, lakeside playground, swimming pool, mini-market, deli, ice and soda machines.
Activities: Swimming, Catch and Release" fishing, hiking
Directions: From Interstate Highway 15 exit and go east on Old Highway 395. The Park entrance is on the left side at the corner of Nelson Way & Old Highway 395.

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
Address: 12551 Hwy. 79, Descanso, CA 91916
Telephone: (800) 444-7275
Online Reservations: Camping
Elevation: There are 2 campgrounds in this state park: Green Valley Falls at an elevation of 4000 feet and Paso Picacho at 5000 feet
Amenities: This San Diego camping destination is located in a heavily wooded mountainous area covered with evergreen trees making it difficult to believe you are less than an hour’s drive from San Diego. Enjoy the forest, meadows, and creeks. Bathrooms, showers, table, fire pit/grill, ranger station.
Activities: Drive a few miles north to the lake for fishing, swimming, and paddle boat rentals. Hiking.
Directions: Take I-8 east to Highway 79. Turn left and go under the freeway. Just past Descanso, turn left again onto 79.

Doheny State Beach
Address: 25300 Dana Point Harbor Dr., Dana Point, CA 92629
Telephone: (949) 496-6172
Online Reservations: Camping
Amenities: 5 acre lawn area, volleyball courts, fire rings, restrooms, showers, telephone, visitors center, beach.
Activities: Swimming, surfing, surf fishing, volleyball. Music Festivals in May and September. Halloween Haunt in October.
Directions: Take I-5 North. Exit 79 for State Hwy. 1/Camino Las Ramblas, Merge onto CA-1. Turn left on Del Obispo street. Continue on Dana Point Harbor Drive. Turn left on Beach Road. Continue on Beach Road and watch for signs to for this San Diego camping location.

Guajome County Park
Address: 3000 Guajome Lake Rd., Oceanside, CA 92057
Telephone: (760) 941-1791
Online Reservations: San Diego Parks Office
Amenities: Restrooms, fire rings, playground, small lake, pavilion that can be reserved for group meetings or meals while enjoying San Diego camping.
Activities: Hiking, fishing, tours of historic Rancho Guajome Adobe, bird watching
Directions: From Hwy. 76 turn south on Guajome Lake Rd.

Lake Jennings
Address: 10108 Bass Rd., Lakeside, CA
Telephone: (858) 565-3600
Elevation: 700 feet
Online Reservations: Camping
Amenities: Showers, restrooms, fire rings.Activities: Hiking
Directions: Take I-8 east to Sunrise Hwy. exit. Continue on Sunrise approximately 13 miles to the campground which is 50 miles east of San Diego.

La Jolla Indian Reservation Campground
Address: 22000 Hwy. 76, Pauma Valley, CA 92061
Telephone: (760) 742-1297
Amenities: Restrooms, showers, fire rings, barbecues, inner tube rentals, camp store
Activities: Hiking, inner tubing down the San Luis Rey River
Directions: Take 15 North. Exit at Via Rancho Parkway. Turn right on Via Rancho Parkway. Via Rancho Parkway will become Bear Valley Parkway. Take a slight right onto E. Valley Parkway. Turn right on Lake Wohlford Rd. Turn right on Valley Center Rd. Turn right on CA 76. Continue approximately 8 miles to the campground.

Palomar Mountain State Park
Address: 19952 State Park Road, Palomar Mountain, CA 92060Telephone: (800) 444-7275
Online Reservations: Camping
Elevation: 5500 feet
Amenities: Fire rings, ranger, table, restrooms, showers, lookout towerActivities: Fishing at Doane Pond, hiking. Visit Palomar Observatory 8 miles to the east on this San Diego camping trip.
Directions: From State Route 76 take county road S6 north. Turn left onto county road S7 at the junction near the mountaintop.

San Clemente State Beach
Address: 3030 Avenida Del Presidente, San Clemente, CA 92672
Telephone: (949) 492-3156
Online Reservations: Camping
Amenities: showers, telephone, restroom, nature trails, 1 mile of beach
Activities: Surfing, skin diving for lobsters, hiking, body surfing, swimming, fishing
Directions: Take I-5 North. Exit at Avenida Magdalena. Turn right and drive to the stop light. Turn right on Avenida Mendocino. Go over the freeway to the next stop sign. Turn left on Avenida Del Presidente to Avenida Calafia to reach this destination for San Diego camping.

San Elijo State Beach
Address: 1600 S. Highway 101, Cardiff by the Sea, CA 92007
Telephone: (760) 753-5091
Online Reservations: Camping
Amenities: Showers, restrooms, beach access, table, grill magnificent ocean view
Activities: Swimming, surfing, snorkeling, diving.
Directions: Take I-5 north. Exit at Encinitas Blvd. and turn left onto Encinitas. Turn left on Hwy. 101. Drive through the town of Encinitas until you reach the campground and begin your San Diego camping experience.

San Onofre State Beach
Address: 3030 AVENIDA DEL PRESIDENTE, San Clemente, CA 92672
Telephone: (949)492-4872
Online Reservations: Camping
Amenities: 3 miles of sandy beach, ranger station, convenience store, ranger station, showers, restrooms, fire rings, telephone.
Activities: Hiking, swimming, surfing, fishing
Directions: Take 5 north. Just south of San Clemente take the Basilone exit. Follow Basilone Rd. until it ends at the campground entrance.

South Carlsbad State Beach
Address: 7201 Carlsbad Blvd., Carlsbad, CA 92008
Telephone: (760) 438-3143
Online Reservations: Camping
Amenities: South Carlsbad State Beach is a large bluff-top campground overlooking the Pacific Ocean with stairs down to the beach, table, grill, restrooms, showers, laundry, store.
Activities: Swimming, surfing, skin diving, fishing
Directions: Take I-5 North. Exit at Poinsettia Avenue. Turn right onto Carlsbad Blvd. Make a U-turn. Enter the campground on the right.

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