The Springs at Borrego RV Resort includes large and small dog parks, distinguishing it from other pet-friendly campgrounds near Borrego Springs. Pets are allowed at several established campgrounds in the area including Palm Canyon Hotel & RV Resort, William Heise County Park, and the primitive campsites throughout Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Most campgrounds enforce standard leash requirements, though the spacious dog parks at The Springs allow off-leash exercise in designated areas. The sites at Palm Canyon RV Resort have level concrete parking and picnic pads that accommodate pets and their owners comfortably. The grounds are immaculate with mature landscaping between sites providing some separation when camping with dogs. Campers have access to full hookup RV sites, tent camping areas, and pet-friendly cabin rentals depending on the facility.
Hiking trails throughout Anza-Borrego Desert State Park provide excellent opportunities for exercising dogs on leash, with the Palm Canyon trail directly accessible from Borrego Palm Canyon Campground. Extreme desert temperatures during summer months can be dangerous for pets, making winter and spring the optimal seasons for camping with dogs in this region. The town of Borrego Springs offers basic services for pet owners, though bringing adequate supplies is recommended as options are limited. Many campers find the wide-open desert landscape perfect for morning and evening dog walks when temperatures are cooler. Stargazing opportunities are exceptional in this Dark Sky community, making evening dog walks particularly enjoyable. The campgrounds are generally quiet and respectful, providing a peaceful environment for pets who may be sensitive to noise or disruptions.
$35 - $125 / night
"themselves are just on flat sand with cactus so beware. it is the desert so that's to be expected. this site feels more primitave than most others and I've never seen it busy but there are some great hiking trails"
"We hiked the Borrego Palm trail. We did the cool slot canyon trail as well. Cruised around the state park, doing some off-road driving (all appropriate roads)."
"Came here to have a place for my popup camper while we checked out the flowers blooming 40 minutes away in Borrego Springs and it was perfect."
"Some areas say not to walk there/ keep dogs out to protect plants and wildlife. I felt safe solo camping - there were a few other van and rv campers."
"Great views on the trail nearby. Starry night and gorgeous sunrise. Campground was quiet and good location at a higher elevation from Borrego Springs."
"I’ve hit bottom coming out of California business driveways more often. It’s located well up the mountain from Borrego Springs on a scenic highway."
$24 - $34 / night
"It was great and super dog friendly but WOW so much dirt created so much dust in the air and it got on everyone and everything. With that being said… TONS to do! Such beautiful sights to see!"
"Nice 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."
"Great place to go get off grid if you don’t mind off road vehicles. Plenty of open space to get away from the crowds."
"Great place to camp and offroad. Maps are easy to get and trails are well posted. Avoid big weekends and pack 3 times the amount of water that you think you would need."
"This is in the "badlands" part of the park, leaving Borrego Springs and heading toward Salton City, which happens to be the cheapest place to get gas in these parts."
"Super primitive but heavily used campground tucked among red rocks along a wash. I camped here in Spring and the wash was full of wildflowers. We drove back at least a mile in a sedan to set up camp."
"The grounds sit nestled next to big rock formations with a wash going through that if you have a capable car - power + not too big - you can go exploring to the cool world hidden back there. "
"We have stayed at the site twice now: 1st time - October 2019; 7 person group The weather was still pretty warm and the wash was in good condition to drive through."
"This is a beautiful luxury RV resort in Borrego Springs, a desert community in San Diego County that's known for its unique metal sculptures, golf resorts, and beautiful hiking trails."
"Very spacious resort in the center of a gorgeous 9 hole golf course/driving range."
"We just purchased our RV and were looking for something close to home that had easy access and amenities."
"Well-maintained amenities, community activities, and gorgeous natural beauty surrounding a full-service RV park."
$35 - $70 / night
"_Tamarisk Grove Campground is about 20 minutes south of Borrego Springs. It sits next to the highway but there’s minimal traffic so it isn’t terribly loud."
"Tamarisk is a nice campground in a central location. It's about halfway between downtown Borrego Desert and Julien, there are some nice hikes nearby like the Cactus Loop. Nice showers and bathrooms."
TravelerI was impressed with how clean this campground was. Great views on the trail nearby. Starry night and gorgeous sunrise. Campground was quiet and good location at a higher elevation from Borrego Springs.
GuideI stayed there the night of March 2nd, 2019. It was very windy and fairly cold. I think the actual temperature would have been fine if not for the windchill and spitting rain from the clouds stuck on the mountain a few miles away. The wind blew the moisture across.
Free primitive campground with clean and stocked pit toilets (depending on who went before you anyway). The road in is rough but can be navigated with a passenger vehicle (I drove a Prius on them). I’ve hit bottom coming out of California business driveways more often.
It’s located well up the mountain from Borrego Springs on a scenic highway. Borrego Springs is a Dark Sky community, so there’s good stargazing.
You are supposed to use a metal container for fires, but the site where I camped had a fire ring that had been used. I don’t think I’d have had a fire even if I’d had a metal container. The wind was that strong (and I’m a Kansas boy, I know strong winds). I also saw discarded gas cylinders that I was going to pack out but got distracted. I’ll never be able to wrap my head around people go want to be in nature but have no problem trashing it out or burning it down. That said, it was only my campsite where I saw these issues.
All in all, a very picturesque stay, but the wind will rock you.
ScoutMy girlfriend and I camped here on a Friday night, at the recommendation of a ranger in the Visitor's Center. Overall, I was happy with our stay as we could only see one other party (far away enough to where we couldn't hear them) and it was quieter than I thought it would be, considering it runs parallel to a highway. I wasn't expecting so many planes; I'm not sure what flight path runs over it, but there was an ongoing stream of planes (but not enough to be disruptive; just not as quiet as I'd like). There were vault toilets, but we just opted to do our business in nature. The campground is a mile or two from a developed campground and we navigated our 2WD minivan on the dirt road without any issues. Yaqui Well hiking trail runs through part of the grounds, which is a nice hike leading to a natural spring. It's far enough away from Borrego Springs to feel like you're "out there" but close enough to be convenient if needed without having to drive too far. I'd stay here again!
Rangerpalm trees in the middle of the desert with water is just a short hike away. the campsites themselves are just on flat sand with cactus so beware. it is the desert so that's to be expected. this site feels more primitave than most others and I've never seen it busy but there are some great hiking trails and the sunset views are amazing. no dogs are allowed. Just a short drive away from the many desert statues in borrego springs.
GuideOn the outer southern edge of Borrego Springs is this private yet free camp area.
A few dozen sites exist, each some five hundred feet or more apart. All have views of the surrounding mountains, and the wide open skies.
Borrego Springs is a dark sky community, which means lights are kept to a minimum, thus enabling great star viewing.
The area is renowned for its hiking and other outdoor activities. It is also known for its iron sculptures, which many exist within this camp area.
TravelerEasy access and near the main highway. Disperse camping, pack in and pack out! Very windy. Close to the town of Borrego Springs. One night is plenty, because of the windy conditions.
LegendThe best feature of this free camping area is the awesome metal sculptures right near this campground.
Near the cute town of Borrego Springs, just a little off Borrego Springs road. Not secluded by any means. Please use existing pull outs. Keep it clean so we can continue to enjoy this free spot.
It's one road in. The further back you go, the more privacy. I stayed fairly close to the front as I was only there one night.
GuideAnza borrego state park has a lot of room to explore. The park has campgrounds near borrego springs that are easily accessible. Visiting the mud caves you’ll need 4x4 or an AWD car with high clearance. Anza borrego has been my wife & I go to camping area for over 5 years. Camping is allowed away from main trails and we typically sleep near the mud caves or within the slot canyons. Perfect place to star gave and wander around & explore. Bring plenty of water/ off road safety (enough fuel/ shovel/ traction boards) as towing out of this area is extremely expensive. (Pictures are from fonts point/ random hikes near camping spots).
TravelerFather-son-grandson camping trip in the middle of the week in my Pop-up so we opted for a site with electricity. Best site ever! Nice Visitors center to see. We hiked the Borrego Palm trail. We did the cool slot canyon trail as well. Cruised around the state park, doing some off-road driving (all appropriate roads). Had an awesome protein smoothie from Center Market. Take lots of water..once you leave the city of Borrego Springs, water is not available generally at hike locations.
Situated in the Colorado Desert region of California at approximately 775 feet above sea level, Borrego Springs offers diverse terrain for pet owners seeking desert camping experiences. The area features unique badlands formations, slot canyons, and desert washes that provide natural exploration opportunities for campers with dogs. Winter temperatures typically range from 40°F at night to 75°F during the day, making it an optimal camping season for pets.
Explore slot canyons: Fish Creek Wash Primitive Campsite provides access to distinctive canyon formations where pets can join adventures. "We drive a lifted Subaru Crosstrek with KO2 tires... We had a bit of difficulty driving through the wash to get to the Wind Caves and had to clear a few large rocks so that we could get through. A high clearance vehicle and/or AWD is definitely necessary," notes Allana B.
Visit the metal sculptures: Take your leashed dog to view the large metal sculptures scattered throughout the desert near Palm Canyon Hotel & RV Resort. Julie B. explains, "Borrego Springs is completely surrounded by Anza Borrego Desert State Park where there's tons of options for hiking, off roading, other camping, and general exploring."
Stargaze with your pet: The clear desert skies provide exceptional viewing conditions. "Being a dark sky community, we were able to see so many stars and constellations. We saw shooting stars nearly every minute," reports E. at Blair Valley Primitive Campground.
Clean facilities: Many pet-friendly locations maintain well-kept bathrooms. At Borrego Palm Canyon Campground, Jay C. found, "It's well taken care of and clean. Plus it has token showers with hot water, a dish washing area, flush toilets, fire pits, grills, and cell signal."
Varied terrain for morning walks: The desert landscape provides diverse walking experiences with pets. "I found the perfect spot tucked up against the rocks. I had my own private rock garden with so many variety of cacti and lots of birds," describes Kathy B. about her stay at Blair Valley Primitive Campground.
Off-season solitude: Camping during weekdays or off-peak periods offers more privacy when traveling with pets. "When in early January. 65-70 during the day. ~45 at night. The quiet was my favorite part," shares Mack Daddy Van L. about his Blair Valley experience.
Watch for cactus hazards: Desert plants can injure pet paws. "Cholla cacti are everywhere so watch your pets paws (my poor dog kept getting them in between her paw pads)," warns Dani K. about Culp Valley Primitive Campground.
Bring your own fire container: Many primitive sites require contained fires. Carlos B. notes at Culp Valley, "We had to bring a dish in order to have a campfire, and the toilets were pit - but hey, at least there were toilets."
Plan for wind: Desert conditions include frequent strong gusts. "It does extremely windy here, especially in early fall with the Santa Ana winds. Hot during day, frigid at night," reports Jen D. about Culp Valley. Secure pet supplies and enclosures accordingly.
Prepare for temperature swings: At Arroyo Salado Primitive Campground, Edwin M. advises, "This Is a dry camp spot (no water) that has pit toilets and a fire ring with built in grill. We took full use of it."
Choose shaded sites: With pets and children, temperature management is crucial. At William Heise County Park, Nancy L. found, "Julian, CA. Wooded beautiful county campgrounds a couple miles from sweet town of Julian. Hiking and biking trails. Spacious campsites."
Look for wildlife viewing opportunities: Kids and pets enjoy animal sightings. "Great trees, privacy between sites and wild turkeys wandering through the sites," reports Kathy B. about William Heise County Park.
Plan shorter hikes: For families with pets, brief trails work best. "The Cactus Loop and Yaqui Well trail heads. We recommend the short Cactus Loop hike over the Yaqui Well hike. Go at sunset to catch the cholla cacti backlit by the sunset," suggests Trip Over Life at Tamarisk Grove Campground.
Site selection matters: At pet-friendly campgrounds, consider site placement. Brendan O. shares about Palm Canyon Hotel & RV Resort: "We paid $289 for 5 nights. Clean, well maintained and full of families. Spaces are good size, no problems fitting our 30' toy hauler towed by F250, and the park is well laid out and easy to drive."
Electrical needs for climate control: When camping with pets, power access enables comfortable temperatures. "Plenty of solar. Primitive camping--no amenities," notes Kathy B. about her stay at Blair Valley, highlighting the need to plan power sources for pet comfort.
Road conditions impact accessibility: Patrick J. explains about The Springs at Borrego: "The concrete pads are really long. This allowed us to have both the trailer and the truck on the pad. Not the perpendicular park job we are all used to. It raining all day the following day and we were getting emergency alerts on the phone for dangerous flooding. The RV park has no drainage problem at all."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Borrego Springs, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Borrego Springs, CA is Borrego Palm Canyon Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 36 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Borrego Springs, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 201 dog-friendly camping locations near Borrego Springs, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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