Del Mar is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Del Mar, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Del Mar and user-submitted reviews.
$50 - $650 / night
"South Carlsbad SB is a gem ~ it sits on a bluff right over the Pacific Ocean and is just a few steps down to beach. 👣
Each site has a large iron fire pit and picnic table ~ btahrooms and showers are"
"If you’re headed to San Diego, be sure to stop and check out Carlsbad just off of the 5. this awesome beach town is quintessential Southern California beach awesomeness and it is absolutely gorgeous."
$50 - $520 / night
"If you wanna go on a surfside southern california adventure and keep it fun and cheap then this place is great."
"It's classic California beach camping. Spots are fairly close together, and it's more like a parking lot than a campground. That said, the beach is great, and the river mouth is great for surfing."
$60 / night
"It sits next to the bay, which is calmer and the beach. I've seen people jet ski, sail, paddle boat, play beach volleyball, and swim, and there are even bonfire pits on the beach!"
"We had 4 campsites all next to each other. The camp hosts were all very nice, they drove around quite a bit making sure all was good. For how many sites they have it didn’t seem too crowded."
$24 - $100 / night
"The creek eventually flows into a pond located on the other end of the campground. The pond is actually pretty large! Lots of space to walk around and explore."
"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."
$35 - $65 / night
"Really beautiful beach very clean with large bathrooms hot showers food nearby first come first serve shade structures."
"The campsites are small but it is clean and family friendly also located right on a big beautiful beach. You must have a military ID to camp here, you can have alcohol on the beach but no glass."
$24 - $25 / night
"Campground was close to freeway exit and nearby local neighborhoods. Despite that, it still felt quiet and comfortable. Sites were clean snd a good size. Bathrooms were nice and clean."
"You are away from the city, but not too far. The facilities were nice and the only scare was the GIGANTIC spider seen outside the bathroom. We'd for sure come pack...the price is right too :$"
$39 - $50 / night
"Dixon lake is a perfect spot for my nephews to fish and play in the dirt. The campsites look really nice and ideal for tents. The walks around the lake are definitely worth doing!"
"I grew up in Oceanside and people talked about camping at Dixon lake in Escondido and I thought it was lame and not “real” camping. Having never been there, I based this off nothing."
$87 - $245 / night
"We did a monthly stay… about $500 less than the campground right next to it. Quiet neighborhood at night, but a lot of families which makes it feel homey. Kids playing and people walking their dogs!"
"We enjoy this park because of its proximity to the beach and boardwalk area. The park is clean, staff has always been helpful. We have had no issues."
$35 - $140 / night
"This location is a hidden gem in the outskirts of the city."
"We had scoped this out as a wintering location for my snowbird dad, and I always remembered how powerfully silence of that hillside had impacted me... finally camped there- it was lovely!"
"Being a native San Diegan The east county location allows for easy access to San Diego sites from two freeways."
"Kids loved the convenient fishing right behind our trailer and the swimming pools a short drive away. Also was able to rent paddle boats to cruise around the lakes."
ScoutWe’ve stayed here before in their Airbnb camper, this time we brought our own camper and it did not disappoint! The free range animals, creek and play area was all we needed to get back to nature. Like the listing says, sometimes it’s quiet sometimes it’s loud. We always enjoy the sounds of nature so it never bothers us.
ScoutVery cool spot near the harbor. It is a little chaotic trying to find a spot as it’s a first come first serve situation with a lot of people vying for spots and trying to save them for friends. The beach is very crowded but still enjoyable.
They have also raised overnight parking to $50 per night. For me it’s still worth it for proximity to the harbor, but your experience may vary.
GuideThis is a nice place to camp- we stayed one night. stopped at the laguna recreation area visitor center before hand to pick up a free permit. the road was recently paved so it’s easy to drive on, there’s a handful of spots just along side the road, as you go further in the road the views get better- we parked on the side of the road and then walked uphill about 8 minutes to a campsite we liked but there are definitely more where you just camp next to your car. there are more campsite further down the road when it goes back down in the valley but the views end there. we only saw 3-4 other cars the whole time.
ScoutHello, and blessings! I came here with my family for a quick getaway. Campgrounds are clean but tight, we have a 32’ Rv with two slides. Took up most of our hang out room/ porch area. We had to park our second car in the overnight parking lot next to the campground. Costed 20 bucks. If traveling with a shorter rig you can park in front of your rig. Back in only. Water and power hookups only. Dude comes around in the mornings and will clean out your waste tanks for 25 bucks. Or you can dump yourself inside the campground dump station on the way out for 10 bucks. Atmosphere is great, however my neighbors were awesome. Steps away from the beach but was told by a few locals not to swim at the state beach because of sewage contamination from Tijuana in the water. But it’s still beautiful and doesn’t smell and will actually have you guessing if it’s really contaminated. I took the locals word for it. Rainy season is absolute no for water play. Summer, just don’t get the water in your eyes or mouth. But collect as many sand dollars on the beach after high tied as you can carry. Surf fish up to knee high but watch out for the jelly fish. Normal beach play, balls, kites or anything you like to set up on the sand. Ride bikes, eat good food and relax. Swimming is allowed about short walk north in the bay. I would definitely come back for a visit. I came Father’s Day weekend 2025.
TravelerGreat pull thru sites on level concrete pads. Full hookups. Many hiking trails and bicycle trails.
GuideThe good things about this place is, relatively cheap compared to most RV places in the area around San Diego; decent bath/shower rooms + no coins; pool/hottub/gym/gameroom/laundry available; you can walk to some restaurants and a dollar tree Cons on this place would be terrible “dog park” there’s a bit of space but nowhere will you find actual grass for any of the many dogs that are here with their campers; every site is covered in gravel (just not my favorite); a lot of sites are fully exposed to sun throughout the hole day; very little to no privacy here
TravelerI stayed for 2 nights recently. Nice location. The rangers are very attentive here. Couple hosts you can buy firewood from. The shower was out of tokens but a ranger on a golf cart gave me some. Everyone comes here with their dogs and the coyotes are insane. They are everywhere. I wish they could/would do something about it. They are not afraid of humans at all. You’ll wake up to them chasing rabbits literally in your campsite. Bit scary since I have a small dog. Pretty much the reason I haven’t returned.
TravelerPaved. Crowded. Polluted ocean, no swimming allowed at this time. Expensive. But you are on an uncrowded beach.
ScoutI love it here but this is indeed a parking lot. You can camp in a morothome, van, travel trailer or rooftop tent as long as the fit in the parking spots. There are no hookups. You are right next to every neighbor. There are no quiet hours. Generators are fine. No tents, awnings, slide outs, etc. Nothing that encroaches on the parking spot next to you. Pay the parking machine. Up to 5 days in a month.
Camping near Del Mar, California, offers a fantastic mix of beach vibes and nature experiences. With several campgrounds in the area, you can enjoy everything from ocean views to hiking trails.
Camping near Del Mar, California, has something for everyone, whether you're looking for beach fun, family activities, or peaceful nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, Del Mar, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 173 campgrounds and RV parks near Del Mar, CA and 7 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Del Mar, CA is South Carlsbad State Beach Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 77 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 free dispersed camping spots near Del Mar, CA.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 parks near Del Mar, CA that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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