Best Tent Camping near San Jacinto, CA
Tent campsites in the San Jacinto mountains offer multiple backcountry options at elevations up to 9,100 feet. Mount San Jacinto State Park provides several tent-focused campgrounds including Round Valley Campground with 28 tent sites and Little Round Valley with more secluded options. These backcountry tent sites require hiking in from trailheads, with Round Valley accessible via a moderate 2-mile hike from the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Thomas Hunting Grounds Yellow Post Sites and Tool Box Springs Yellow Post Campground offer more primitive tent camping experiences on Forest Service land, with sites spaced far apart for privacy.
Tent campers should note that most backcountry sites require permits, which can fill quickly during peak seasons. At Round Valley, permits become available 8 weeks before arrival dates and cost $5 per person plus tram fare. According to one visitor, "Reservations go fast so you need to submit your permit starting 8 weeks before your trip, however waiting until 4 weeks may be too late." Higher elevation campgrounds experience cold nights even in summer months, with temperatures potentially dropping to single digits. Most tent sites lack amenities—no running water, electricity, or showers—though some like Round Valley provide pit toilets. Fire restrictions are common, with complete fire bans at several Mount San Jacinto State Park campgrounds.
The tent camping experience in the San Jacinto area varies significantly with elevation and season. Lower elevation sites near Thomas Mountain offer views overlooking Lake Hemet, while higher sites provide alpine forest settings. A camper mentioned that Little Round Valley's sites are "spread out right off the trail" and visitors should "be sure to follow the path one or two hundred feet off the main trail" to find the best spots. Dry Lake Backpacking Campground, another tent-only option, features primitive sites "tucked in the woods" with "lots of nooks and crannies." Wildlife sightings are common across the area, with deer frequently spotted near Halfway Camp. Winter camping brings special challenges, as snow can remain on the ground well into spring, and temperatures can drop dramatically after sunset even when days are warm.
