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.
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!
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.
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Tent Rentals San Diego
San Diego Tent Rentals For Parties & Events
When you choose us for your tent rental in San Diego, you will quickly discover that we offer a wide array of options for you to choose from. Our tents are ideal for just a few people, or hundreds of people. This means that you can continue on with your event or party, regardless of what the weather does. If you have invested a lot of money to ensure it happens, then this is essential. After all, you dont want to have to cancel because of rain, right?
Why Rent a Tent from Us?
As a savvy consumer, you may wonder why you should invest in our services offering tent rental in San Diego, over others. The fact is, our professional staff takes pride in going above and beyond when it comes to making sure that our customers have exactly what they want and need. We dont offer sub-par tents and we never make you set up your own tent that you have rented. This is what makes use different from the competition in the San Diego area. Some of the other reasons to choose us for your tent rental needs include:
- We are dedicated to your complete satisfaction
- We allow you to adjust or cancel your order if necessary
- We offer affordable rental prices
- We have flexible rental terms
The Bottom Line
Your Convenience Is Our Priority
When you Rent an RV from us you can rest assured that we will provide the convenience and comfort you need for a perfect vacation.
The following items are available upon request, some comes at no additional cost and some other provided for a small fee that helps with the cost of maximizing hygiene for you and your loved onesâ:
- Kitchen: pots, pans, cooking utensils, coffee pot, silverware, dishware, drinking cups, kitchen towel and coffee mugs.
- Linens, bedding, blankets, sleeping bags, pillows and large towels for shower use only.
- Cleaning supplies that will assist on keeping the trailer clean and have what is necessary to return it to us as clean as provided.
- Outdoor rug, outdoor table and 2 camping chairs
- Restroom hand towel and TP.
We firmly believe that our customers should sleep like a rockandwake up fully restedâ¦
This is why we have upgraded most of our RVs mattresses with 3â³ memory foam toppers, high thread count on all our linens as well as mid firm pillows.
Hygiene is our TOP PRIORITY!!
REVIEWS
Also Check: National Park Service Rv Camping
Popular Poi Activities In San Diego California
La Jolla Sea Caves – The La Jolla Ecological Reserve is home to sea caves that are great to explore on a kayak. You will have the chance to see diverse marine life, including sea lions, dolphins, and seals.
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve – Hike the trails in this reserve and get great views of the Pacific Ocean and an up-close look at the Torrey pine trees, which only grow in San Diego and the Channel Islands.
San Diego Bay – Take to the water here on a rented boat or explore the coast of the bay via the ocean-view bike paths that extend for miles.
Popular Rv Storage Facilities Near San Diego California
You won’t have a problem finding RV storage in San Diego either. Life Storage Costa Mesa has a wide variety of RV and truck sites available. The facility can store RVs up to 40 feet in length and has storage space for multiple vehicles. RCMC RV & Boat Storage is located in San Diego’s beautiful Mission Bay Park. This storage facility has RV storage and boat storage and offers great security. It has storage spaces and self-storage units that are available throughout the year. Express RV & Boat Storage offers self-storage units, secure RV storage, and boat storage. The facility has large RV storage spaces and offers several additional amenities, including Wi-Fi and on-site security.
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Where Can I Rent A 4
4-person camping tent rentals available via Cloud of Goods in San Diego now. We have a range of 4-person camping tent rental models from popular brands to fit to your needs. Simply make a reservation online on CloudofGoods.com and one of our local rental shop partners in San Diego will meet you with your San Diego4-person camping tent rental.
Camping Near San Diego: 13 Best Campsites Close To The City
From beaches to mountains, primitive camping to glamping, these are the best campsites near San Diego.
Situated on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, San Diego, also known as Americas Finest City, is simply a lovely vacation spot .
San Diego is known for both its natural beauty and non-stop exciting city atmosphere.
With miles of white sand beaches and marine preserves on one side, to forested mountains and freshwater lakes on the other, theres no shortage of trails to meander and peaks to bag here.
If youre planning a San Diego camping adventure I have all the info you need to pick the perfect campsite for you.
From beach vacations and jet ski rentals to forest retreats and desert vibes, theres something for everyone in San Diego.
Note: this post contains affiliate links, which help run this site at no extra cost to you so I can keep providing free travel advice and tips.
Get your FREE California Travel Planner including printable checklists and my favorite two-week itinerary for the state.
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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.
Rv Campgrounds In San Diego
To find the best RV parks in San Diego, youll need to head towards the coast. Campland on the Bay has waterfront RV sites with views of Mission Bay. This family-friendly campground features a playground, activities for kids, equipment rentals, and a skateboard park. Sites have a picnic table and a fire pit and options for dry camping and partial or full hookups. Campland on the Bay is within walking distance from Sea World and next to the Mission Bay bike path.
Silver Strand State Beach Campground faces the Pacific Ocean and the San Diego Bay and permits campers who have self-contained trailers, vans, and motorhomesâ¦
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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
Want To Get Outdoors New Program Offers Free Gear Rentals And Training To Explore County Parks
If youre curious to try mountain biking or need tips on pitching a tent, San Diego County will help you get started and provide the gear you need to explore the countys parks.
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On Wednesday, county officials launched Experience the Outdoors, a program that offers free outdoor activities, training, equipment loans and even transportation to help San Diegans get to know natural spaces in their community.
The goal of this program is simple: It is to get more San Diegans out into the incredible resources that are available to you, often resources that people are completely unaware exist in their own backyards, San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair Nathan Fletcher said at a press conference at Los Penasquitos Canyon County Preserve Wednesday morning.
The program will include an introduction to parks, guided mountain biking and youth nature hikes. These events are open to anyone but target people who havent participated in outdoor recreation and lack the resources to do so.
The Parks 101″ series of activities provides hands-on training in hiking, camping, birdwatching and other outdoor activities, with events ranging from a few hours to overnight campouts.
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Put Your Rv Or Camping Gear To Work: You Can Rent Them Out
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With the COVID-19 pandemic still in full swing, an increasing number of vacationers are avoiding airlines and hotels this summer. But RV rentals are red hot. That inspired National Geographic to recently dub 2020 the year of the camper.
Acknowledging the pent-up desire to leave the house, but to do so safely, an RV rental becomes the best solution to get out quickly and not have to worry about crowds, confinement, or going stir-crazy, says Jen Young, co-founder of RV rental marketplace Outdoorsy.
For people with an unused camper in the driveway or camp stoves, tents, cots and other seasonal equipment gathering dust in the garage this sudden demand for camping gear can provide a way to make a few bucks when jobs are scarce.
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Silver Strand State Beach
Silver Strand SB
If you want to camp right on a flat, sandy beachfront, Silver Strand State Beach is for you. Silver Strand offers extensive beaches on both the Pacific Ocean and San Diego Bay.
Camping, swimming, surfing, boating, water-skiing, volleyball, and picnicking are popular activities. Anglers can fish for perch, corbina, grunion and yellow-fin croaker.
Camping is available only for self-contained vehicles, motor-homes, or trailers. Vehicles that are not fully self-contained will be turned away. There is no tent camping available.
The beach is located 4.5 miles south of the city of Coronado on Highway 75. The park is located on the sand spit that forms the outer edge of San Diego Bay between Coronado and Imperial Beach.
If you don’t mind a densely packed campground, Campland on the Bay gets you outdoors without leaving the city core. Located on the shores of Mission Bay and part of Mission Bay Park, Campland has been a vacation spot for families since 1969.
The property campsites range from primitive to full hookup RV. The campground is well-appointed and well-maintained with lots of amenities to keep the family occupied, including a marina with 124 slips plus watercraft and bicycle rentals.
The campground is located at 2211 Pacific Beach Drive, on the northern shores of Mission Bay.
Each site contains picnic and food preparation tables, a firebox, tent pad, and parking space. Water, bathrooms and hot showers are provided nearby.
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Jucy Usa Campervan Rentals
Rental Locations: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Point Roberts WA
Jucy camper van rentals include a fridge, two stoves, and even a kitchen sink! Their vans seat up to 5 people and sleep 2 inside on a double bed, with another option that includes a rooftop tent to sleep 4 total. Jucy rentals start at $22/day, not including mileage fees . The longer you rent, the lower the rates are. A one or two-nighter will be around $45/day. Jucy RV rentals offer a variety of add ons so you can get everything you need for your trip, including camping gear, sheets, and towels. While this post focuses on rentals in the United States, Jucy campervan rentals are also available in New Zealand and Australia.
Best Free Camping Near San Diego
Free camping near San Diego is possible to find, but prepare to do a little extra planning if you want to snag free tent sites.
Often, an outdoor enthusiast looking for free camping will search for land thats administered by the Bureau of Land Management .
Unfortunately, San Diego doesnt have a lot of BLM land nearby, just the McCain Valley Resource Conservation Area where dispersed camping isnt even allowed.
With that said, the Cottonwood Campground is only $6/person, if youre willing to go for cheap instead of free.
One of the best areas near San Diego for dispersed camping is Cleveland National Forest.
You can camp for free at Corte Madera Mountain, which is a strenuous hike in, and Pine Creek Road, which allows for car camping.
Otherwise, if youre looking for more dispersed camping in San Diego County check out Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, which has eight primitive campgrounds. These primitive campgrounds also have the luxury of pit toilets .
These are the eight campgrounds that allow dispersed camping at the state park:
Get your FREE California Travel Planner including printable checklists and my favorite two-week itinerary for the state.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Meredith Dennis
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Rv And Camping Gear In Demand
Three peer-to-peer rental marketplaces specialize in recreational vehicles: Outdoorsy, RVshare and RVnGo. All three allow RV and trailer owners to sign up free of charge and set their own rental rates. When your vehicle is rented, owners generally pay a commission to the site in exchange for providing the marketing platform and collecting payment from the renter.
Over the last three months, bookings have jumped 4,300% at Outdoorsy, the company says. RVshare reported an 81% rise in Fourth of July reservations.
Travelers are choosing the freedom and inherent safety of social distancing in a fully self-contained rig in pursuit of outdoor adventures, said David Kosofsky, co-founder of GoRVRentals, a site that helps people find local RVs, pop-ups and trailers.Not all campers require an RV. And several sites, including Loanables, RentNotBuy and FriendWithA, will help you rent out simpler camping equipment such as sleeping bags, tents, lanterns and camp tables.