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Best Glamping near Alpine, CA

575 Reviews

Several glamping options near Alpine feature distinctive accommodations that blend outdoor adventure with comfort. Lake Morena County Park provides both yurts and glamping tents with electric hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings. Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve offers cabin-style glamping units along the waterfront with kitchenettes and private decks. One visitor noted, "We enjoyed a full hair washing session with hot showers that are NOT coin operated, and the views of the lake at sunrise and sunset were amazing from our site." Dos Picos County Park houses upscale glamping accommodations with partial hookups in a wooded setting while William Heise County Park features yurts with comfortable bedding and climate control systems, positioned for optimal mountain views.

The surrounding landscape creates perfect conditions for stargazing from private decks at several glamping locations. A recent visitor mentioned, "We watched surfers and played in the waves until the kids tired out. Fires are permitted and firewood available onsite." Hiking trails connect directly to the glamping areas at William Heise County Park, with some offering views extending to the Anza Borrego desert. Most boutique camping sites maintain year-round availability, though summer weekends often book months in advance. Lake Jennings provides eco-friendly glamping with preferred lake view sites featuring privacy screening and convenient access to clean individual bathrooms with hot showers. Morning Song Farm Glamping incorporates farm experiences with alpacas and peacocks into their upscale tent cabin stays.

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Best Glamping Sites Near Alpine, California (40)

    1. Lake Jennings

    33 Reviews
    Lakeside, CA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (619) 390-1623

    $35 - $140 / night

    "Lake Jennings Campground is a great campsite tucked away in Lakeside, CA. There are a good amount of campsites, and plenty with great views of the lake (“Preferred View” sites)."

    "Just 30 minutes from San Diego, with friendly staff and partial or full hookups. We were in a preferred lake view site#96 which had water and electric hookups."

    2. William Heise County Park

    46 Reviews
    Julian, CA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 765-0650

    $24 - $34 / night

    "Table and fire pit at each site. 

    Hiking available walking distance from camp, trails leading out of camp. Family friendly environment."

    "The drive up was amazing. They had plenty of water to wash and drink with a lot of bathrooms as well.

    You can walk trails, stargaze, take your bikes around and so much more!"

    3. Dos Picos County Park

    34 Reviews
    Poway, CA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 789-2220

    $24 - $100 / night

    "Pets welcome. Fire pits and picnic tables at each site. Tent camping available as well."

    "The missus and I decided to do a midweek overnight escape and chose Dos Picos Park due to its close proximity.

    Great little campground with partial (electricity & water) hookups."

    4. Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve

    16 Reviews
    Santee, CA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (619) 596-3141

    "Set up our 16’ travel trailer at a lakeshore full hookup site #27 (no fire pit though). Kids loved the convenient fishing right behind our trailer and the swimming pools a short drive away."

    "I wish they would stock a little more fish. Great areas of campgrounds. Great water park for kids and everyone. Full hook ups. Small supply store on site."

    5. El Prado Campground

    22 Reviews
    Mount Laguna, CA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (619) 473-2082

    $35 / night

    "We hiked in and got the last walk in spot, so keep in mind that it can be busy on the weekends. The spots are fairly large and include parking, fire pits and picnic tables."

    "This was a great place to disconnect and was close to SD. It was an easy and scenic drive up."

    6. Burnt Rancheria Campground

    23 Reviews
    Mount Laguna, CA
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (619) 473-0120

    $35 / night

    "And others felt much more secluded in the forest. Also, there was a great difference in the amount of shade and flatness available."

    "Bathrooms were clean; some are pit toilets and others are flush and even have showers. All sites have a picnic table and fire pit, plus there are lots of potable water spigots throughout."

    7. Lake Morena County Park

    15 Reviews
    Campo, CA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (877) 565-3600

    $24 - $34 / night

    "Our site had electricity and water, a fire pit, and a picnic table. There were plenty of sites to go around. The rangers were helpful and the facilities were very well maintained."

    "Stayed in space 10, a partial hookup with a view of the lake. They have full and partial hook up spaces and "primitive" tent only sites."

    8. San Diego Metro KOA

    32 Reviews
    Bonita, CA
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (619) 427-3601

    "Heated pool, jacuzzi, bike rentals, and more. They loan you fire pits if you don’t have one. And deliver wood to your site. There is even a cafe if you don’t feel like firing up the grill."

    "Neighbors' campfires are 10 ft away from your trailer and makes your camper smell like smoke the whole next day when they start a campfire."

    9. Thousand Trails Pio Pico

    13 Reviews
    Dulzura, CA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "Heck, someone even built a track for RC cars to race on, and there is a laundry center as well. Showers were nice and warm, and not coin operated - a rarity given the water droughts around CA."

    "Locations near Jamul Casino. Staff is kind and professional. Full hookups sites. Fill propano available. Spot are very big. The pool and kid playground are great."

    10. Thousand Trails Oakzanita Springs

    6 Reviews
    Guatay, CA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "I at Oakzanita a little after noon, got my space, and was all set up in an hour. The drive getting here is wicked, if you’ve never been here before."

    "Great staff and friendly campers"

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Recent Glamping Photos near Alpine, CA

30 Photos of 40 Alpine Campgrounds

Glamping Reviews near Alpine, CA

575 Reviews of 40 Alpine Campgrounds

  • Brian N.
    Apr. 25, 2015

    South Carlsbad State Beach Campground

    Carlsbad culvert

    South Carlsbad is another Cali jem set up on a bluff overlooking the pacific. It is long and thin so it has a nice thinly populated feel. All bathrooms are clean. I was here during week of 4/20/15 and it was as nice as always. Like San Elijo it has a private feel at your site with the mature growh btw each site. You are along the rr tracks but that's a small price to access the sick beach and the incredible view. There is a nice hilton with a pool across the street. In. Are your kiddies need some creature comforts(I didn't say pool 'hopping' just using facilities as a client of the restaurant...), or daddy wants a bottle of red and a crisp flatbread without driving anywhere. There are nice a frames north and south, plenty of waves for all.

  • Moriah M.
    Nov. 24, 2020

    Lake Jennings

    Great Campsite

    Lake Jennings Campground is a great campsite tucked away in Lakeside, CA. There are a good amount of campsites, and plenty with great views of the lake (“Preferred View” sites). We stayed in site 91 for 4 nights from Monday to Thursday night while the campground was pretty empty. I imagine it would be a little louder when it’s at full capacity, but we had no noise issues from fellow campers. However, there was plenty of random noise from the military helicopters that randomly flew overhead. It wasn’t disruptive, just unexpected. This campground is not secluded by any means, so the air traffic shouldn’t be a surprise. Honestly, it’s hard to go anywhere in San Diego County without air traffic interruptions.

    We chose Site 91 because it was at the top of a moderate hill at the end of the road, in an attempt to experience reduced traffic from other campers. The site was a Preferred View site and it did not disappoint! Views of the lake at sunrise and sunset were amazing and made for the perfect vista from our RV bed. An added benefit of the Preferred View sites is the privacy since no one is camped behind you. Our particular site even had useful shrubbery on each side to create a quasi sense of privacy between sites. Each site has a nice little fire pit and picnic table, and there was plenty of room for a second vehicle in addition to our van.

    There are plenty of restroom facilities sprinkled throughout so nothing is inconvenient. The restrooms are individual bathrooms with showers that are hot and NOT coin operated, so enjoy a full hair washing session if there’s not a line. The only caution: pincher bugs. Just brush them off and go about your business. But like everything, check the toilet seat and your clothes before proceeding.

    Finally, internet service was great for Verizon. We got 23 Mbps with 3 bars of 4G LTE unboosted, and 69 (!!!) Mbps with 5 bars using a simple MIMO antenna. We live and work in our RV (20’ Class B) full time, so this was crucial. The staff was also great. They were regularly driving by, cleaning or maintaining the grounds. In the end, we will definitely camp here again.

  • Alicia F.
    May. 2, 2020

    Oceanside RV Resort

    Ocean 🌊 side

    We camped here on a trip up the coast and found this spot at the end of the day. There are 5 spots where you can walk your stuff and camp right on the beach. Each spot was secluded and had a picnic table and a good size area for your tent. It’s a newer retro campground with spots for RV’s, tents, cabins and yurts. There are a lot of option and facilities with showers, bathrooms and laundry.

  • cal K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 20, 2023

    Agua Caliente County Park Campground

    Large campground with lots of amenities

    Lots going on here but felt peaceful midweek in Jan. 3 spring-fed pools, hot showers quarter operated, clean flush toilet bathrooms, water, hiking trails and ample roads to walk the dog on. Mountain lion country - be alert. Friendly rangers. Clean facilities and well-kept grounds. Horseshoe pits and large group picnic areas. Cute cabins for rent - no pets allowed in those. Will definitely visit again. Many of the tent sites are close together - if the campground was full you’d have little privacy but it’s a large place and there were hardly any tent campers when I was there, though more RVs and vans in the hookup section. Tent site 106 is very private. I liked 109 it was in a kind of bird thicket with privacy from the road etc.

  • E
    May. 20, 2019

    Borrego Palm Canyon Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

    Stars galore!

    This campground is one of my favorites. My practical side enjoys the clean bathrooms with hot showers and proximity to markets for refills on ice and beer. My adventurous side enjoys the hikes, coyotes singing and clear skies to observe the night sky. This campground has been enjoyable every time I’ve gone. I’ve been to many campgrounds where neighbors keep you up late, but something about this location demands quiet enjoyment. Don’t get me wrong, my friends and I stay up laughing around the campfire well after sunset but everyone seems to respect the quiet hours. The sites are spacious, each with a shade ramada, grill and fire-ring. The visitors center is a must see and there are numerous hiking trails near the campground. As beautiful as the wildflowers are during a super bloom, the crowds are super distracting. March is the best time of year to go, if there is a super bloom you’ll enjoy that, if not, you’ll enjoy the solitude.

  • Alana H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 25, 2018

    El Prado Campground

    Nice getaway

    This is a fairly large campground in the Laguna mountains. We hiked in and got the last walk in spot, so keep in mind that it can be busy on the weekends. The spots are fairly large and include parking, fire pits and picnic tables. Wood is available for purchase on site and kindling is easy to find. This is a nice alpine getaway with pine trees, meadows, a small lake and nearby views of the Anza Borrego desert. Located just off the PCT and other hiking trails.

  • Matthew D.
    Jun. 26, 2017

    William Heise County Park

    Fire pits too close to eachother

    Stayed in site #73 this past weekend. I wouldn't recommend that spot. It is too close to #74. They are both large spots but the actually fire pits are too close to eachother. Luckily there was a nice family staying next to us so we hardly noticed them. Had they been too loud it could have ruined the trip. Also this spot had very little shade in the afternoon when the sun was the hottest.

    The bathrooms were shut down for maintenance in that loop so they offered portable toilets which got full quick. The hand washing station ran out of water the second day and was never refilled so you had to go back to your site to wash your hands. The running water coming from the spigot was orange and frothy and had a sign saying not to use it for drinking.

    The hiking trail that was near by was the best part. Tons of wildflowers everywhere and beautiful views.

    I probably won't come back to this campground next time I got camping. There are campgrounds closer to San Diego that are have bigger sites.

  • Shainna M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 3, 2023

    Dos Picos County Park

    Gorgeous!

    Great county park. Quiet and well maintained. Pay showers. $29/ night. Pets welcome. Fire pits and picnic tables at each site. Tent camping available as well.

  • K
    Jun. 23, 2021

    El Prado Campground

    Great short stay

    This was a great place to disconnect and was close to SD. It was an easy and scenic drive up. Each camp site was large and had privacy but since it was hilly, some sites may have few flat spaces to pitch a tent.

Guide to Alpine

Alpine's mountain setting at 1,800 feet elevation creates a moderate microclimate that's ideal for year-round yurt camping with temperatures typically 10-15 degrees cooler than coastal San Diego. The surrounding Cleveland National Forest provides a backdrop of pine, oak, and sycamore trees with campgrounds that transition from chaparral to dense forest as elevation increases.

What to do

Hiking near camp: El Prado Campground offers direct access to the Big Laguna Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail. "We absolutely loved staying at this campsite that was tucked away in the San Diego mountains. There is so many trials to hike. A little local downtown that had a great BBQ spot!" shared one visitor who stayed during summer.

Wildlife viewing: William Heise County Park features regular wild turkey sightings throughout the campground. A camper noted, "We love this campground away from the main roads. All spots outside of the R.V. loop are spread out and pretty secluded. Very friendly and helpful rangers. About a 10 minute drive from Julian pie co. Nice well maintained trails, easy to moderate level."

Stargazing: Burnt Rancheria Campground sits at 6,000 feet elevation providing exceptional night sky visibility. "Only an hour from San Diego, this is accessible but feels so far away. At 6,000 feet, the pine and oak trees provide great shade in almost all sites, but there's still plenty of sun," reports one camper who appreciated the balance between forest cover and open sky.

Desert views: At William Heise County Park, several trails offer views extending to the Anza Borrego desert. "Wooded beautiful county campgrounds a couple miles from sweet town of Julian. Hiking and biking trails. Spacious campsites. Great facilities," shared a visitor who enjoyed the contrast between the forest camping area and desert vistas.

What campers like

Clean, modern restrooms: Lake Morena County Park maintains well-serviced bathroom facilities. "Clean bathrooms!! Flush toilets & 2 shower stalls. The Rangers were kind & helpful! Fire wood is $6/bundle that is purchased from the ranger station. Cash only. Showers are pay showers. .50/4mins," reported a camper who stayed in February.

Spacious, level sites: Dos Picos County Park offers well-maintained camping areas. "The well-maintained campground boasts paved pads for most sites, making setup a breeze. Each site comes equipped with a fire ring and picnic table, perfect for cozy campfires and outdoor meals. The facilities are clean and convenient, including coin-operated showers and a dump station," noted a recent visitor.

Family amenities: Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve provides multiple recreation options. "There's lots for kids to do here! Feed the ducks, fish, ride the pedal boats. It's an awesome place for a day outside!" shared one enthusiastic visitor who appreciated the variety of activities.

Yurt camping comfort: Lake Morena County Park's yurts include amenities that elevate the camping experience. "Really enjoyed the Tipi camping so fun! Totally worth spending a bit more. Very roomy," shared a visitor who opted for the alternative accommodation option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Alpine, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Alpine, CA is Lake Jennings with a 4.6-star rating from 33 reviews.

What is the best site to find glamping camping near Alpine, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 40 glamping camping locations near Alpine, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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