Established Camping
Doane Valley Campground — Palomar Mountain State Park
About
State Park
There are 31 campsites in the Doane Valley Campground, three of which have accessible features. Each site has a table and fire ring, and most have a food locker. Piped drinking water is available. The campground also has restrooms with flush toilets and hot showers which are usable for campers, including those with disabilities.
The beautiful forest and mountain meadows of Palomar Mountain State Park are in northern San Diego County, high atop the west side of Palomar Mountain. Large pine, fir and cedar trees make the park one of the few areas in southern California with a Sierra Nevada-like atmosphere. The park features camping, picnicking, hiking, and fishing (trout) in Doane Pond. Coniferous forests cover much of the 1,862 acres, in contrast to the dry lowlands surrounding the mountain.
Elevation within the park averages 5,000 feet above sea level, making evenings cool even during the summer. A number of vista points offer spectacular panoramic views both westerly toward the ocean and inland toward the desert, particularly from Boucher Hill Summit, which has been listed in the Sierra Club's "Hundred Peaks Section" since first published in 1946. There, you'll also find the historic Boucher Hill Fire Lookout.
The park is open from dawn 'til dusk daily. Reservations are highly recommended for camping during peak season. Day use fees are $10.00 per vehicle, cash or check only. Trails are open to foot traffic only, and dogs and mountain bikes are not allowed on trails. Please note that there are no gas stations on Palomar Mountain.
Reservation Info
Visitors will be able to reserve campsites and lodging six months in advance from the current date. Bookings may extend from the arrival date to the desired departure date – based on availability and the park’s maximum stay rules.
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonUnknown
- AT&TUnknown
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
- Tent Cabin
Features
For Campers
- Market
- ADA Access
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Reservable
- Showers
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Big Rig Friendly
TravelerBeautiful campground
This is a well-maintained campground. It really is a beautiful area. There’s blue jays, wild turkeys, woodpeckers, and at night there’s the sound of frogs, and lots of stars. We stayed 9/22-9/24 but the weather was mild during the day, mid to high 60s. The nights were getting chilly. (We stayed nearby at Bailey’s a couple years ago in late October and it was freezing.) So, one word of caution. MOSQUITOS. Tons of mosquitos and little flies. I used mosquito incense sticks that I happened to have in my camping supplies, which helped a lot but we needed bug spray. The general store nearby has some but holy moly. I highly suggest the incense. I kept them lit around our site and when they burned off, the swarm returned. We also had the unfortunate experience of a large group that took over the four sites across from us that had in total ten kids. They were so loud and mean. No supervision. It really ruined what was supposed to be a relaxing family trip. Just a reminder to be mindful of other campers. Also, a lot of the sites have a small incline, some did not. There’s stone steps up to or down into most of the sites. Each site comes with a fire ring, bbq, and its own water spigot. Site 15 is steps of the rest rooms, both a blessing and a curse. There’s token-operated showers, with a token machine that takes dollar bills. No cell service (T-Mobile.) Don’t forget to visit the observatory, but go early. It closes at 3:30. (Bummer).
ScoutNice
Nice
TravelerEasy, safe, and clean!
This was my first time camping ever. My partner is more experienced, and we chose this campground because it has modest amenities, small wildlife, and temperate weather for this time of year.
Most of the sites are on slopes, or require walking up/down a series of steps to access. Some are very close together and with little even ground, so consult other reviews or site photos if that's a concern. We stayed at site 14, which had a small flat for our tent and light slope near the table and firepit. Each site has a spigot which was nice for cleaning. We kept mosuitos, flies, and ants at bay by burning natural repellants and packing away food diligently. Walked away with only one bite!
Neighbors were pleasant, sound travels like crazy, bathrooms are close by and extremely well maintained. No reception unless you drive closer to the general store at the base of campground (~10 min away).
The birds are loud, but if you don't care about that they're very fun to watch! The largest critter we saw was a wild turkey. We didn't hike much because we brought our pet, but the rains this year produced out a lot of beautiful native flowers.
In all, a very chill and easy site to learn how to camp.
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Location
Doane Valley Campground — Palomar Mountain State Park is located in California
Directions
From Highway 76, either of two roads can be used to reach the park. The one from Rincon Springs (County Road S6) is scenic but rather steep and winding. County Road S7 from Lake Henshaw is longer, but its gentle grade makes it more suitable for heavily loaded vehicles and those pulling trailers. Please note that there are no gas stations on Palomar Mountain. If you're using GoogleMaps or MapQuest, the park's physical address is: 19952 State Park Rd. Palomar CA 92060.
Address
19952 State Park Road
Palomar Mountain, CA 92060
Coordinates
33.34308163 N
116.90144218 W