Best Equestrian Camping near Vista, CA

Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park offers equestrian camping with private corrals positioned directly next to each campsite in the dedicated Star Mesa Equestrian Campground. The park maintains clean vault toilets and provides water access for horses and riders. Dripping Springs Campground features horse corrals for overnight equestrian use, with running water available for both dishes and campfire safety. The equestrian loop at Dripping Springs receives positive feedback for its well-maintained facilities and helpful camp hosts. Both campgrounds accommodate large rigs and horse trailers with pull-through sites designed for easy access. Sites are clearly marked with arrival and departure dates to prevent confusion among campers.

Extensive trail systems connect both parks to miles of riding opportunities through diverse Southern California terrain. Sweetwater Summit Regional Park provides several campsites with horse stalls for equestrian campers approximately 45 minutes south of Vista. The trail network at O'Neill Regional Park connects riders to nature paths suitable for various skill levels, with both short loops and longer routes available. Lake Skinner Recreation Area includes equestrian-friendly camping options with access to boating and fishing activities when not on horseback. Horse owners should bring their own feed and secure storage containers as these are not provided at most campgrounds. The diatomaceous earth treatment available at Sweetwater Summit helps control ants around horse areas and camping spaces.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Vista, California (24)

    1. Rawhide Ranch

    1 Review
    Fallbrook, CA
    8 miles

    "The perfect spot for family, childrens, or scout horse camps! My father and I both went as kids (40 years a part) and remember and treasure our experience."

    2. Kumeyaay Lake Campground

    20 Reviews
    Santee, CA
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (619) 668-2748

    $24 - $25 / night

    "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."

    "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 :$"

    3. Dripping Springs Campground

    15 Reviews
    Aguanga, CA
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 788-0250

    $25 - $50 / night

    "well ran, all sites were marked open or reserved with the arrival and departure date on it, bathrooms are the cleanest vault toilets we have ever seen (and we camp all over), there is a fire station located"

    "Equestrian sites up the hill. Saw a few rabbits and lizards, not too loud, it’s peaceful and good distance between some sites."

    4. Lake Skinner Recreation Area

    25 Reviews
    Temecula, CA
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (951) 926-1541

    $25 - $45 / night

    "This is a great family campground right around the corner from Temecula, Murrietta, and Menifee."

    "The charge $10 per person per day to fish in their Lake. And you can’t swim or let the kids play in the lake because it’s a reservoir."

    5. Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park

    22 Reviews
    Coto de Caza, CA
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (949) 923-2210

    $20 - $25 / night

    "Great hiking and equestrian trails. Excellent equestrian camping with a private corral right next to each campsite in the equestrian area."

    "Casper is a great park located 15min from the city. It has three main camping areas that cater to campers, RVs and horses. There are a number of hiking trails around that range from a 1 to 12 miles."

    6. Sweetwater Summit Regional Park

    33 Reviews
    Bonita, CA
    37 miles
    Website
    +1 (619) 472-7572

    $34 - $38 / night

    "The campground also has some nice amenities: good trail system, a splash pad (open in spring and summer months), a playground, some areas to have a group picnic, even a large event room."

    "The campground is east of Chula Vista in a county park near a reservoir. Full hookup in part, water and electric in others. Well managed and clean. Allows open fires in fire rings."

    7. O'Neill Regional Park

    30 Reviews
    Trabuco Canyon, CA
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (949) 923-2260

    $20 / night

    "Rv sites, tent sites and equestrian (horse) sites. Paved road is good for bike riding. Behind my Camp site was a few different hiking paths. Restroom buildings have water, toilets, and showers."

    "It has several restrooms, showers, equestrian areas, nature trails and picnicking for day use too."

    8. Lake Perris State Recreational Area Campground

    38 Reviews
    Moreno Valley, CA
    48 miles

    $25 - $300 / night

    "It is right next to the lake which has a swimming area, bike path, climbing area, Hiking trails, along with a camp store which has boat rentals and much more!  "

    "Paved full hookup sites right next to each other but quiet neighbors. Campground is just 5minutes from busy town."

    9. Sweet Oaks Winery - Temporarily Closed

    1 Review
    Cleveland National Forest, CA
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (951) 414-5178

    $50 / night

    "It’s pretty close to grocery stores and big box stores just in case you forgot some gear/supplies. They have a beautiful well-kept property with super-clean restrooms (no showers)."

    10. Paso Picacho Campground — Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

    23 Reviews
    Descanso, CA
    41 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 765-3023

    $40 - $250 / night

    "The only downside to this site is that it was very close to the bathrooms. That actually bummed me out a bit when we first arrived, but it ended up not being much of an issue at all."

    "The trash cans were just a few feet from the site and the bathrooms were a short walk just a couple spots away."

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Vista, CA

4 Photos of 24 Vista Campgrounds


Equestrian Camping Reviews near Vista, CA

281 Reviews of 24 Vista Campgrounds


  • j
    Apr. 6, 2021

    O'Neill Regional Park

    Great family friendly safe campground

    Giant oval loop with camp sites all along both sides. Rv sites, tent sites and equestrian (horse) sites. Paved road is good for bike riding. Behind my Camp site was a few different hiking paths. Restroom buildings have water, toilets, and showers. It says to bring quarters for the showers but they were free. Each site is typical... Picnic bench, fire pit, and metal grill. No gathering fire wood, gotta buy it at local grocery or gas station. $20 a night. Lots of families with kids. Feels really safe here. Saw the park rangers driving around and the front has a gate guard who checks you in. Also only 10 minutes away from city.

  • K
    Sep. 27, 2022

    Dripping Springs Campground

    Very relaxing

    I was so excited to check this campground out. When my hubby and I arrived we automatically were happy. The campground was very clean, well ran, all sites were marked open or reserved with the arrival and departure date on it, bathrooms are the cleanest vault toilets we have ever seen (and we camp all over), there is a fire station located close to the campground which was good to know in case of fires. The host is very nice and helpful. If you have any questions or concerns he is happy to help! There is running water for dishes and campfires as well as horse corrals for your horse. Pull through sites for trailers. Everyone that was staying on the equestrian loop was amazing. Site 31 did have a problem with ants.

  • Steve C.
    Sep. 10, 2021

    Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park

    Caspers Wilderness Park

    Lovely campground in the Orange County foothills. Great hiking and equestrian trails. Excellent equestrian camping with a private corral right next to each campsite in the equestrian area.

    Room for large rigs and good space for tents with flat pads.

  • B
    Jul. 8, 2017

    Sweetwater Summit Regional Park

    Good urban Experience

    This is a San Diego County Park/Campground. It offers everything from tent/car camping to full hook-up for large RVs. The campground also has some nice amenities: good trail system, a splash pad (open in spring and summer months), a playground, some areas to have a group picnic, even a large event room. There are about 60 camping spaces, mostly partial hook-ups (electricity and water) and a few full hook-ups (electricity, water, and sewer) in the original campground. These sites, 1-60 offer a bit more shade than the newer campsites which are all full hook-up. The newer sites (61 and higher) are on a hill and offer some good views of Bonita Valley. 61 and higher all are all full hook-ups - but you can put a tent on 'em.

    The campground is freeway close and only a few miles away from grocery stores and restaurants.

    This campground has a nice feel. It is a good place to unwind and enjoy a campfire and the whole camping experience. Good place for kids. There are several campsites with horse stalls for the equestrian campers.

    Sweetwater is perched near a Freeway/Toll Road (not a terribly busy one) and it is under the San Diego Airport glide path for incoming flights. So yeah, a little more city than some other campgrounds.

    At this time sites cost between $26 and $36 (?) per night. That gets yo one motor vehicle. Additional vehicles are $4 per night. There is a $1 pet fee, per pet.

    http://www.sdparks.org/content/sdparks/en/park-pages/SweetwaterSummit.html

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 21, 2023

    Tijuana River Valley Regional Park Campground

    So Close to Mexico!

    Nice basic county campground, everything is nice and new and clean. I think once the trees and bushes and things start to grow in, there will be a little bit of separation between the sites, but for now most sites are wide open. 

    The playground area is really cool, all the structures are made of wood and are all natural. Decent showers, you buy tokens from the ranger. There are nice trails and walking paths right from the campground. We didn’t walk to the beach because the area was flooded when we were there, but it appears that you can easily walk to the beach from the campground, it’s about 1.5 miles away. 

    Sites are all dry camping, no power or water at sites, and no dump station at campground. There are water spigots throughout the campground though to fill your jugs. There are yurts to rent, and some equestrian sites as well. The little loop off to the side is tents only. 

    You can see the border wall from the campground, and Verizon thought I was in Mexico when we arrived, haha. Good cell service with ATT and Verizon (not sure if Verizon switched me to the international plan during our stay there).

  • S
    Aug. 3, 2022

    Sweetwater Summit Regional Park

    Very pleasant full hookup sites

    The campground is east of Chula Vista in a county park near a reservoir. Full hookup in part, water and electric in others. Well managed and clean. Allows open fires in fire rings.

    Two drawbacks to consider if you seek placidness: the park is under the final approach to SAN (Lindbergh Field) and you will hear jets coming down to land from roughly 6a to 11pm. Second concern is ants - not just ants, but strategic and determined ants (spray any points in contact with the ground and ask camp staff to treat your site with diatomaceous earth to deter the bugs. It’s a free service.

    Sites are very clean, level, have fire rings and higher numbered sites have water, power, and sewer. There are showers, restrooms, an amphitheater, water playground and sites with horse pens. It’s mostly sunny, with shrubs and smaller trees.

  • MomentoMori C.
    Nov. 30, 2020

    Sweet Oaks Winery - Temporarily Closed

    Great camping for newbies

    Sweet Oaks winery campgrounds has 16 sites available for both tent camping and RV’s (no hook-ups). It’s pretty close to grocery stores and big box stores just in case you forgot some gear/supplies. They have a beautiful well-kept property with super-clean restrooms (no showers). They do have a water hose for you to fill up your tanks or Jerry cans. They didn’t allow campfires due to high fire danger though. You’ll have to bring your own fire pit setup if they ever allow them in the future. It was a beautiful walk around the vineyards but there are also hiking trails nearby. It’s off a road suitable for road bikes but there are also mountain bike trails nearby. They have equestrian activities also available for guests. We were able to get our tin top Eurovan to fit on one of their tent sites which offered a beautiful view of Temecula valley. The wine tasting room was closed due to the pandemic but you can order wine online and they will deliver to your site. One more thing, we counted about 8 hot air balloons as we had breakfast!

  • Berton M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 12, 2019

    Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park

    Hidden Gem

    Casper is a great park located 15min from the city. It has three main camping areas that cater to campers, RVs and horses. There are a number of hiking trails around that range from a 1 to 12 miles. On Saturdays there’s a nature walk.

  • Steve H.
    Apr. 17, 2024

    O'Neill Regional Park

    Beautiful area and lots of hiking/biking trails

    My 3 dogs and I stay here often, as it's the lowest cost in Orange County and allows dogs. It has several restrooms, showers, equestrian areas, nature trails and picnicking for day use too.


Guide to Vista

Horse camping in California offers a unique way to explore the great outdoors while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With a variety of campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to saddle up and enjoy nature.

Equestrian campgrounds include ample facilities for horses

Campers appreciate these amenities for horses

Tips for equestrian camping near Vista, California

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Vista, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Vista, CA is Rawhide Ranch with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Vista, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 24 equestrian camping locations near Vista, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.