Best Glamping near La Mesa, CA

Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve and San Diego Metro KOA host upscale glamping accommodations near La Mesa, combining urban convenience with outdoor luxury. Both locations feature climate-controlled yurts and deluxe canvas accommodations equipped with comfortable beds, electricity, and private outdoor spaces. One guest shared, "This place is AWESOME! Very clean and quiet. Internet and cable worked great." The Preserve's glamping sites offer lakefront views where visitors can fish directly from their private decks, while KOA's luxury tent options include full linens, kitchenettes, and access to the heated pool and hot tub facilities for a resort-like experience.

Several miles from downtown, these eco-friendly glamping destinations serve as perfect basecamps for San Diego exploration while providing on-site recreation. The Preserve maintains seven interconnected lakes with paddle boat rentals, bird watching, and fishing opportunities. According to a camper, "Beautiful preserve yet close to amenities. If you like bird watching and/or fishing you can do both right from your campsite." San Diego Metro KOA supplements its luxury accommodations with family-focused amenities including organized activities, bike rentals, and a café serving fresh meals. Both locations maintain stringent cleanliness standards and offer delivery services like firewood brought directly to accommodations. Reservations should be made 6-8 months in advance for premium glamping units, particularly for weekend stays during peak summer months.

Map showing campgrounds near La Mesa, California

Explore the Map

Best Glamping Sites Near La Mesa, California (40)

1. Lake Jennings
33 Reviews
Lakeside, CA
10 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. San Diego Metro KOA
32 Reviews
Bonita, CA
9 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."

3. Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve
16 Reviews
Santee, CA
7 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."
4. Dos Picos County Park
35 Reviews
Poway, CA
16 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."

5. Thousand Trails Pio Pico
13 Reviews
Dulzura, CA
13 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."
6. South Carlsbad State Beach Campground
77 Reviews
Carlsbad, CA
29 miles
Website
+1 (760) 438-3143
$50 - $650 / night
"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."

"The breeze kept the bugs and beach heat at bay. Bathrooms were fairly clean and non-pottable water spickets also available for rinsing after the beach visit."

7. San Elijo State Beach Campground
38 Reviews
Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA
23 miles
Website
+1 (760) 753-5091
$50 - $520 / night
"If you wanna go on a surfside southern california adventure and keep it fun and cheap then this place is great."

"Some sites are: big, medium and small; right next to each and a little distance; and beach side or inland."
8. William Heise County Park
46 Reviews
Julian, CA
31 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!"

9. Tijuana River Valley Regional Park Campground
5 Reviews
Imperial Beach, CA
16 miles
Website
+1 (619) 428-2146
$24 - $90 / night
"The showers and bathrooms were clean and the staff working were very friendly and welcoming."

"There are nice trails and walking paths right from the campground."
10. Dixon Lake Campground
24 Reviews
Escondido, CA
27 miles
Website
+1 (760) 839-4045
$39 - $50 / night
"Make sure you bring a shower caddy and some water proof laundry bags because there aren't many wall hooks to hang your towels or clothes.

**Flushable toilets with drum roll SEAT COVERS!!"

"They clean the fire pits out etc. Some of the 40 series sites are very secluded and have excellent lake views."

Showing results 1-10 of 40 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented by

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Enter to Win

Recent Glamping Photos near La Mesa, CA

30 Photos of 40 La Mesa Campgrounds

Glamping Reviews near La Mesa, CA

577 Reviews of 40 La Mesa Campgrounds

Brian N.
Traveler
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.
Alicia F.
Legend
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.
Moriah M.
Guide
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.
cal K.
Ranger
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
Elly A.
Guide
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.
Matthew D.
Scout
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.
Guide
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
Kyle C.
Guide
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.
Ashley L.
Traveler
Sep. 7, 2018
South Carlsbad State Beach Campground
Family of 4 Tent camping 1 night at site 195 (beachside)
Beautiful view of the ocean with access stairways. The sandy shore is littered with rocks washed out from the hillside. We watched surfers and played in the waves until the kids tired out. Fires are permitted and firewood available onsite. The breeze kept the bugs and beach heat at bay. Bathrooms were fairly clean and non-pottable water spickets also available for rinsing after the beach visit. It was our first time camping beachside and we enjoyed it thoroughly. Only drawback is tents and campers were intertwined so you might hear generators running outside of quiet hours.