Idyllwild Campground Mount San Jacinto
You dont have to leave San Diego county to stay in a peaceful, quaint mountain town.
Relax beneath the trees in Idyllwild!
Distance from San Diego: 2 hours | | Destination Website | Amenities: RV hookups, potable water, showers , toilets
Why Camp Here: Idyllwild offers the sense of peace and tranquility unique to charming mountain towns. The town is nestled in the alpine forest high up in the San Jacinto Mountains where nature lovers can take advantage of the trails and wildlife spotting.
Idyllwild Campground is an ideal location right in town, with access to trailheads within the grounds. The sites are nestled within the trees which provide privacy and shade.
Pro Tip: I never go camping without my solar charging Luci light.
Guadalupe Canyon Oasis Hot Springs And Nature Reserve
How does your own private hot spring sound? At this campground nestled in the mountains of Baja, every campsite has its own attached hot springs pool with temperatures up to 125 degrees. Each site also has a palapa, grill, and place to set up tents and the campground has flush toilets, showers, and a camp store. Some sites accommodate groups as big as 14 with four cars, making them perfect for a getaway with friends. While staying at the campground, you can hike to see caves with ancient petroglyphs, use the giant mud bath, or do some rock climbing. There are also cool pools for swimming and rock jumping. The road to the campground is long and bumpy, but thats the price you pay for a hot spring at the finish line.
Distance from downtown San Diego: 140 miles
Fees: Starting at $40 a night, larger sites are $125 on weekends
Best campsites: For a big group, go for El Indio or La Playita, which can house up to 14. For a romantic trip, El Mirador is more secluded and has beautiful views.
How early to book: You can reserve a week in advance at guadalupecanyonoasis.com, but the campground recommends doing so much earlier.
Drive Time: 45 Minutes
Its probably no surprise that the first killer camp spot on our list is a beautiful beachside campground. Less than an hour outside of San Diego, San Elijo State Beach Campground is something straight out of a Cali surfers dream, where you can park your car or van, hop out, and hit the waves.
But if you think this campsites only for serious surfers, think again. San Elijo is a great family beach too, with its mellow breaks and shallow water near the shore.
Theres also boogie board and stand up paddle board rentals, showers on site, and family activities so not everyone in your family has to be subject to the beach bum life .
This is a popular spot, but if youre lucky and reserve early, some campsites offer incredible views of the sunset over the coastline. Regardless, all sites come with a picnic table and fire pit, so you can top off an amazing day at the beach with a round of smores and campfire stories.
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San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Address: 15500 San Pasqual Valley Rd, Escondido, CA 92027Phone: 747-8702Website
While this is obviously not a San Diego campground, it is a camping adventure too fun not to mention here. When our grandchildren visited a few years back, we surprised them with an out-of-the-ordinary camping adventure at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park called Roar and Snore.
Our Classic sleepover at this incredible animal park featured a 9 x 14-inch tent and sleeping pads for up to five campers. Vista tents include bunk cots and the Premium tent, a queen bed, and two cots with wooden floors. Yes, there are glampers even among zoo-goers.
A Safari Park admission ticket or proof of membership is required. The adventure package park offer includes tent accommodations, dinner, breakfast, and smores along with a visit to nearby animal viewing areas and a host of other camp activities.
Its one thing to fall asleep to the sounds of birds and other animals roaming freely within the park. Adding in the sounds of roaring lions and clear, star-studded sky makes for a truly unforgettable experience.
Sycamore Canyon Campground Point Mugu State Park
Get all the natural beauty associated with the Malibu hills without the opulent price tag.
Beautiful Point Mugu Beach is just a short walk from the campground.
Distance from San Diego: 3 hours | | Destination Website | Amenities: RV access and dump stations, no RV hookups, flush toilets, hot showers , fire pits, picnic tables
Why Camp Here: Located in the rugged Santa Monica Mountains, Sycamore Canyon Campground offers access to the rolling hills and is also within walking distance to Point Mugu beach. The campground, dotted with sycamores and oaks, is a quiet and less crowded camping option than the more popular Malibu campgrounds farther south.
Pro Tip: Head down to Point Mugu beach for sunset and bring firewood to take advantage of a fire pit on the beach.
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Best Places To Go Camping Near San Diego
Camping is such a unique and wonderful way to experience a place! Often campgrounds are in prime locations for access to the best hiking, views, and sites in natural areas. Plus, theres something so fulfilling about eating outside around a campfire, stargazing before bed, and waking up to nature sounds.
Im a San Diego local and, to help you find the best San Diego area campsites, I rounded up my 15 favorite places for beachside, mountainous, and desert camping near San Diego. So all thats left to do is pick your favorite and pack your camping gear!
Disclosure: Travel Lemming is an independent reader-supported blog. You can support us by purchasing via the affiliate links on this page, which may earn us commissions. Thank you!
Our Top 7 Spots For Beach Camping In San Diego
This article about beach camping in San Diego is brought to you by Midland their wide variety of great walkie-talkies will keep connected and safe no matter where you roam.
Beach camping in San Diego is the best way to enjoy fun in the sun. With more than 70 miles of coastline, beach camping in San Diego is a hotspot of activity. Whether youre tent camping or staying in your RV, theres a beachfront campground waiting for you. San Diegos beaches have some of the best surfing spots in California. If the ocean isnt your bag, there are several peaceful bays to enjoy. Youll love these seven options for beach camping in San Diego.
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Camping In Socal: Mesa Campground Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area
Reserving a camp site in the Mesa Campground is one of the best ways of ensuring that you get to enjoy all the recreational activities in the very popular Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area . Your campsite at Mesa Campground is suitable for tents or RVs and includes a picnic table, grill, and fire pit and you can have a hot shower at the nearby restrooms. The recreation area offers a wide range of water activities, including boating, water-skiing, swimming, fishing, hiking, and cycling. From January to March you can join a Bald Eagle Barge Tour, and wildlife watching is a popular activity all year round.
Mesa Campground, 14651 Cedar Circle, Hesperia, CA 92345, Phone: 760-389-2303
25 Best Camping Spots in Southern CaliforniaBack to Top or Romantic Getaways, Wedding Ideas close to me this weekend, honeymoon, anniversary Ideas, fun places near me
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Chula Vista Rv Resort
The Chula Vista RV Resort is a luxury RV resort on the beautiful shores of San Diego Bay. The campground is right next to Bayside Park, the Chula Vista Marina, and many restaurants. There are fun activities for the whole family and youll have plenty of amenities, like laundry, cable, and a fitness center.
This is a very clean well-maintained place to stay. The bay view spots have a great view of the water. The bay and the marina are within walking distance and there is a restaurant at the marina. There is water electric sewer and cable at each site. This campground is close to downtown San Diego, Sea World and the Botanical gardens. The Dyrt camper Ray S.
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Best For Romance: Point Reyes National Seashore
Located in ritzy Marin County , Point Reyes National Seashore is where you will spot elephant seals rolling on the beach. Something about the salty air, crashing breaking waves and shoreline pastel sunsets also makes this a perfect romantic park to visit with someone special. If you decide to make a night of it, cozy Coast Campground is a perfect place to pitch a tent nestled in a grassy hillside.
Top 8 Places To Camp In San Diego
San Diego’s outdoor beauty makes it a perfect region for car camping, tent camping, RV spaces, and cabin rentals. What makes it even more unique is you don’t have to venture any farther than a few minutes from downtown to find yourself enjoying the great outdoors.
Whether it’s on a picture-perfect beach shoreline or nestled in the foothills within city limits, camping in San Diego can be a very “city” thing to do. Here are some campground suggestions that are all within 30 minutes of the San Diego city limits.
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Palomar Mountain State Park Campground
Are you looking to camp while avoiding summer hot temperatures? Palomar Mountain is located within the Cleveland National Forest at a 5,000 feet average altitude. Temperatures here are 20 to 25 degrees lower than coastal temperatures. Plus, it is a crowd-free zone.
I recommend accessing the area through CA-76 to take a look at the Mission San Luis Rey and the Pala Asistencia. Once at the park, you can hike, fish at the Doane Pond, drive to the Boucher Lookout Tower and visit the Palomar Observatory
Campground amenities include restrooms, showers, water, and a camp host.
Distance from San Diego: 70 Miles
Camping Region: Mountain
Type of Camping: Tents, RVs, Trailers
Number of Sites: 31
Reservations: Yes, check availability here
Notes: Chains are required during winter
Is Car Camping Legal In San Diego
Car camping is illegal on San Diego city streets. Different from temporary camping, the city has a “vehicle habitation ban,” meaning it is illegal to sleep overnight or live in a car in San Diego. Itâs also illegal to park an oversized vehicle or RV overnight on public San Diego streets without a permit. Your safest bet for car camping in San Diego is in designated camping areas, like a private Hipcamp campsite just outside of town.
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What People Are Saying About Fiddlers Cove Mari & Rv Park
Beautiful Park with a great view of the mari, hills and Corodo Bridge. Can hear the military nearby. Laundry and shower facilities with a convenience store on site are great. Beaches and shopping within minutes. Close to U.S.-Mexico border. Would stay here again. insalt54
Location
Learn more on the locationswebsite!
Amenities
- Daily/Weekly/Monthly Rates: $55-$238/$434-$1
- 548/Not offered # of RV Sites: 582 Full Hookups: Yes 30/50 Amp: Both Back-in/Pull-through Sites: Both Pool/Hot tub: Yes Showers: Yes Pets Allowed: Yes Cell Reception: Strong signal Free Wi-Fi Skatepark Waterpark
Best Camp Spots An Hour From San Diego
in Camping / by Roofnest Team
When most people think of San Diego, they think of palm trees and beaches of petting giraffes at the San Diego Zoo and shopping in La Jolla. But the San Diego area is also home to an incredibly dynamic landscape that offers an escape for every type of outdoor enthusiast.
Fly fishing, kayaking, standup paddle boarding and of course surfing can be found within an hours drive of this bustling city. And from hiking the 5-peak challenge to tearing up the trails on your mountain bike at Mission Trails Regional Park, adventure addicts are in good hands in southern California.
But we cant forget our most prized way to spend time outdoors sleeping under the stars with our favorite people. And with year-round temperate weather, nature lovers would be remiss not to take advantage of the incredible camp spots around San Diego County.
With a population of almost 1.5 million, the last way you want to kick off your camp trip is with a bumper-to-bumper slog down the highway. Thats why weve put together a list of our favorite local tent camping spots that are less than two hours away from the heart of San Diego.
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Joshua Tree National Park
Distance from SD: 164 miles There are a couple of ways to experience Joshua Tree. One way is to book a room at a hotel in town, then drive through the park to ooh and aah at the scenery from the comfort of your air-conditioned car. The other way is to camp out in the desert to experience the total darkness of a starry desert night or a glorious J-Tree sunrise first-hand. There are nine campgrounds throughout the park where you can do just that. During the scorching summer months they are mostly first come, first served, but in the busier fall-spring season youre better off making a reservation. If everything fills up, there is always the alternative to pitch your tent on the BLM land outside the park.
The Best Rv And Tent Camping Near The Coast
If youre looking for the sound of crashing waves, breezes blowing in through the open windows of your camper, and unbelievable sunsets over the mighty Pacific Ocean, there are a few options near San Diego. Being right on the water in SoCal is tough to do. Thats some prime real estate, and you arent the only one who wants to be there.
Silver Strand State Beach is located across San Diego Bay from downtown on a slender strip of land surrounded by water. Here youll have the ocean at your doorstep and all the big attractions only a short drive away. Just be aware that it can be crowded and the gates to the park close early.
For access to the beach with a little less chaos, youll need to venture further from the city. In North San Diego County, San Elijo State Beach offers oceanside camping and access to the beach. For those who dont mind swapping the ocean for the bay, check out Campland by the Bay, located on the shore of Mission Bay.
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Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Campground
This mountain park has two campgrounds: Paso Picacho and Green Valley.
Two of the most notorious trail in the park, Cuyamaca Peak and Stonewall peak, start from the Paso Picacho campground. A creek runs through the Green Valley Campground, making it a great option for those who want to cool off on hot days.
Cuyamaca Lake is located a few miles away from the park. The California Wolf Center and Julian, the apple pie capital of Southern California are located nearby too.
Campground amenities include restrooms, showers, campfire center and picnic tables. Group and horse campgrounds can be reserved as well.
Distance from San Diego: 54 Miles
Camping Region: Mountain
Type of Camping: Tents, RVs, Trailers
Number of Sites: Paso Picacho 85, Green Valley 81
Reservations: Yes, check availability here
Notes: Chains are required during winter
South Carlsbad State Beach For Rv And Tent Camping
This beach extends throughout three miles along the Carlsbad waterfront. The camping areas possess a series of stairs to get to the beach that could get narrower depending on the tides. The rugged cliffs overlooking one of the beaches in this area intensify the beauty of this place to the fullest. The 223 camps spots present may accommodate both tents as well as RV camping. The best time to come here is during summer, though this place remains crowded from October through April.
Amenities: Firepits, showers, restrooms, hot tubs, swimming pools, game room, laundry facilities, market, and camp store
Activities: Surfing, hiking, scuba diving, fishing, picnicking, swimming, and bird watching
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Best Beach Tent Camping In San Diego Ca
Published July 19th, 2022 by Allen Campbell
San Diego is a renowned tourist destination, home to world-famous beaches and incredible camping opportunities. If youre exploring the best beach tent camping in San Diego then you have come to the perfect place! Whether you are interested in camping on the beach or want your RV to have a direct view of the water, I have the perfect spot for you.
I know it can be a little confusing to find the perfect spot with so many beautiful beaches and great camping spots, but dont worry because my list of the best beach camping spots in San Diego will help you out.
Best Beach Tent Camping in San Diego, CA: Summary
Lake Cuyamaca Recreationand Park District
This is the place for families who love to fish, Brianne enthuses. The oasis sits at an elevation of 4,600 feet in the oak and pine forests of Julian and is home to trout, bluegill, crappie, bass, catfish and sturgeon. In addition to fishing, Brianne recommends doing partor allof the Stonewall Mine/Lake Cuyamaca hike, an easy 3.3-mile loop.
15027 CA-79, Julian, 760-765-0515, lakecuyamaca.org
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