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Camping

Verified

Established Camping

Kumeyaay Lake Campground

Kumeyaay Lake Campground, near San Diego, is a solid choice for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. This spot is perfect for a weekend camping trip, especially if you enjoy hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing, all of which are abundant in the nearby Mission Trails Regional Park.

The campground is simple but functional, featuring clean bathrooms and hot showers that visitors appreciate after a long day outdoors. Campfires are allowed after 7 PM, making it a cozy place to unwind in the evenings. As one camper noted, “It’s perfect for a little urban getaway!”

Open only Friday through Sunday, the campground can get busy, but it rarely feels overcrowded. Many campers have enjoyed the friendly atmosphere and the beautiful views, especially when the nearby stream is flowing. If you’re into fishing, you’ll find that the lake is just a short hike away, and you can fish for free with the proper license.

While the campground has its quirks—like the lack of hookups and the no-alcohol policy—it's a great spot for families and those looking to connect with nature. Just remember to reserve your site early, as it’s a popular weekend destination. Whether you're a solo adventurer or camping with family, Kumeyaay Lake Campground offers a refreshing break from the everyday grind.

Description

County

The Kumeyaay Lake Campground is open for Friday and Saturday night camping. The 46 campsites are available for reservation on a first-come, first-serve basis and the is $22.66 per night. On the reservation website page, go to the "Location" drop-down menu at the top of the page and select Kumeyaay Lake Campground. All cancellations must be made 14 days in advance.

Location

Kumeyaay Lake Campground is located in California

Detail location of campground

Directions

Two Father Junipero Serra Trail San Diego, CA 92119 From Interstate 8 - Take 8 to the Mission Gorge Road/Fairmount Avenue exit. Turn north onto Mission Gorge Road, then east at the Friars Road junction, to stay on Mission Gorge Road. Proceed east on Mission Gorge Road for 6.5 miles, passing both Father Junipero Serra Trail and Golfcrest Drive. Continue east and turn left onto Father Junipero. The entrance to the campground is located two-tenths of a mile at the stop sign on the right. From Highway 52 - Take the Mast Blvd. exit. Driving from the west, turn left onto Mast Blvd., go under the freeway to the second traffic signal at West Hills Parkway, and turn right. Driving from the east, turn right onto Mast Blvd. and turn right at the first traffic signal onto West Hills Parkway. Continue 2/3 mile to Mission Gorge Rd. and turn right. Proceed down Mission Gorge Road for two-tenths of a mile, then merge right onto Father Junipero Serra Trail. The entrance to the campground is located two-tenths of a mile down the road on the right, at the stop sign. From Highway 125 - Take 125 north to Mission Gorge Road and turn left. Proceed west on Mission Gorge Road for two miles and merge right onto Father Junipero Serra Trail. The entrance to the campground is located two-tenths of a mile down the road on the right, at the stop sign. From Route 15 - Take Route 15 to the Friars Road exit and head east. Friars Road will turn into Mission Gorge Road, which you then follow for about 6.5 miles. After you pass the light at Golfcrest Dr., turn left onto Father Junipero. The entrance to the Kumeyaay Lake Campground is located on the right, at the stop sign.

Coordinates

32.84005825 N
117.03355175 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Good
  • Verizon
    Good
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • Equestrian

Features

For Campers

  • ADA Access
  • Reservable
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump

Reviews

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4.5

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20 Reviews

Reviewed May. 11, 2023

great weekend camping

only open to camping Friday and Saturday night, great little campground to get away from the city…best to camp here in winter, early spring, gets hot in the summer months….amazing hiking Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing all around at Mission Trails Regional Park…

Site8, 12, 15
Month of VisitJanuary
  • Review photo of Kumeyaay Lake Campground by Jere D., May 11, 2023
  • Review photo of Kumeyaay Lake Campground by Jere D., May 11, 2023
  • Review photo of Kumeyaay Lake Campground by Jere D., May 11, 2023
Reviewed Mar. 13, 2023

Weekend Camping

This campground is only open Friday-Sunday. Most of the sites were occupied but didn’t feel packed or overcrowded. Bathrooms were clean and had hot showers. Nice trails nearby and within the campground. The city of Santee was only 10 minutes away with plenty of stores and restaurants. Only complaint is the person next to us came back to their site at 4am and was loud. Overall great place to camp for the weekend!

Site9
Month of VisitMarch
  • Review photo of Kumeyaay Lake Campground by Sandra S., March 13, 2023
  • Review photo of Kumeyaay Lake Campground by Sandra S., March 13, 2023
  • Review photo of Kumeyaay Lake Campground by Sandra S., March 13, 2023
Reviewed Sep. 12, 2021

Kumeyaay Lake Campground

Great simple campsite for a quick solo camp, very close to home so it’s nice just to pop in without having to plan out to much, but would advise making a reservation, nice clean bathrooms and showers, so many hiking / MTB trails in Mission Trails Regional Park so lots to do…it can get extremely hot this time of the year so plan to hike early, also fishing is assessable at the nearby lake, very short hike from campsite, free to fish just need to have proper fish license… campground is only open Friday and Saturday night, about $22 a night, it’s a state park so no smoking, no alcohol, campfires are currently allowed after 7:00pm, overall it’s perfect for a little urban getaway! ✌🏼🧡

Site14
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Kumeyaay Lake Campground by Jere D., September 12, 2021
  • Review photo of Kumeyaay Lake Campground by Jere D., September 12, 2021
  • Review photo of Kumeyaay Lake Campground by Jere D., September 12, 2021
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Nov. 11, 2020

Beautiful views

At the right time of year there is a stream which is really pretty. The hikes around here are beautiful and mostly uphill.

Reviewed Oct. 27, 2020

Good spot with lots of hiking

The only place you can camp in Mission Trails which is a huge nature area with five peaks and many networks of trails. There's something for everyone. The camp itself is good and has standard facilities

  • Review photo of Kumeyaay Lake Campground by Jonathan G., October 27, 2020
  • Review photo of Kumeyaay Lake Campground by Jonathan G., October 27, 2020
  • Review photo of Kumeyaay Lake Campground by Jonathan G., October 27, 2020
Reviewed Aug. 28, 2019

Close and Friendly

No hookups here but they have great clean bathrooms and hot showers. Lots of hiking/biking straight from your campsite. This place is a jem, being so close to most parts of San Diego. The two biggest drawbacks are 1) overnight camping is only Friday and Saturday nights, but they’re looking to extend that in the future. 2) Leave the booze at home; since this is a SD park there is no alcohol allowed. Great family camping though!

Reviewed May. 19, 2019

Good for multi family camping

When I went there were children everywhere and all campsites were right on the main road. Everyone was super friendly and trails are beautiful

  • Review photo of Kumeyaay Lake Campground by Morgan C., May 19, 2019
Reviewed Jul. 26, 2018

decent, close, nature

this is a good spot for close to town camping. you can only camp on weekends tho. the park, Mission Trails, has a TON of hiking and mountain biking trails with some great views. restrooms/showers are alright, most sites have zero shade. reserve early. lots of obnoxious "campers" with radios, drones, kids on hoverboards playing on their phones, noisy generators and all the usual BS that goes with RV people. but, once you get out into the trails and areas out of earshot of the campground, Mission is really great.

Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Kumeyaay Lake Campground by Mateo J., July 26, 2018
Reviewed Jul. 14, 2018

Great location

Perfect campground located right in San Diego. Great for families with small kids and there are many close trails. There is something for everyone. bring a picnic to eat by the dam and let the kids explore. but beware of rattlesnakes. they are everywhere during the summer.

Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Kumeyaay Lake Campground by Katie O., July 14, 2018
  • Review photo of Kumeyaay Lake Campground by Katie O., July 14, 2018
  • Review photo of Kumeyaay Lake Campground by Katie O., July 14, 2018
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jun. 1, 2018

Wilderness of San Diego “city”

Great location for prepping someone prior to “roughing” it. There’s showers, and toilets, but no electricity. Boy/Girl Scouts and families with kids and dogs are here often. It’s only open on the weekend. Great hiking trails - people start running before dawn

SiteSite 7
  • Review photo of Kumeyaay Lake Campground by KENNEE M., June 1, 2018
Reviewed May. 21, 2018

Good weekend spot

We camped there on a Friday and Saturday. It was pretty easy finding a spot and the bathrooms are clean. There were lots of families, especially on Saturday so it was a bit noisey. Still it was a good get away in the city.

  • Review photo of Kumeyaay Lake Campground by Melissa O., May 21, 2018
  • Review photo of Kumeyaay Lake Campground by Melissa O., May 21, 2018
  • Review photo of Kumeyaay Lake Campground by Melissa O., May 21, 2018
Reviewed Sep. 16, 2017

First time visitor

we stayed for one night and there was plenty of room at our site. The site was great and the showers and bathrooms were a big plus Reservations were easy to make.

Site1
Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Sep. 16, 2017

Nice Campground

The campgrounds were very clean and we were surprised with the high sanitization of the bathrooms!

SiteSite 7
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Kumeyaay Lake Campground by Taylor E., September 16, 2017
Reviewed Sep. 16, 2017

Lovely urban camping environment

Campground was close to freeway exit and nearby local neighborhoods. Despite that, it still felt quiet and comfortable. Sites were clean snd a good size. Bathrooms were nice and clean.

Site4
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Kumeyaay Lake Campground by Tina W., September 16, 2017
Reviewed Sep. 16, 2017

Beautiful campground!

Really beautiful camp ground with some lovely trails, and great folks. Will be back for a staycation soon!

SiteSite 31
Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Sep. 16, 2017

COTOPAXI SUCCESS

We came here to stay overnight on our Cotopaxi adventure abs loved this place! You are away from the city, but not too far. The facilities were nice and the only scare was the GIGANTIC spider seen outside the bathroom. We'd for sure come pack...the price is right too :$

Site19
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Kumeyaay Lake Campground by Denise E., September 16, 2017

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much does it cost to camp at Kumeyaay Lake Campground?

    Camping at Kumeyaay Lake Campground can cost between $24.00 and $25.00 depending on the site.

  • Are fires allowed at Kumeyaay Lake Campground?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Kumeyaay Lake Campground, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Kumeyaay Lake Campground?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is good, AT&T is unknown, and T-Mobile is unknown.