Best Tent Camping near Mount Laguna, CA

Tent campers can choose various campgrounds near Mount Laguna, California, including both established and dispersed options. Pine Creek Road Camp offers free dispersed camping with several sites along a paved mountain road, while Kitchen Creek Road provides tent-friendly sites with walk-in access. Corte Madera Mountain in Cleveland National Forest requires a permit for backcountry tent camping, which can be obtained by calling the ranger station. These areas provide alternatives to the more developed campgrounds in the region.

Sites may be set on dirt, gravel, or forest duff with minimal grading. Most dispersed tent camping areas near Mount Laguna lack basic amenities such as drinking water, toilets, or trash service. Pine Creek Road Camp features packed dirt sites that accommodate tents, though some spots are limited in size. A high-clearance vehicle is recommended for accessing certain areas, particularly after rain when dirt roads become difficult to navigate. Fire restrictions are common, especially during dry seasons, with complete bans in some locations. Campers should obtain the required free permits before setting up at designated backcountry tent sites.

Areas farther from town offer deeper seclusion and less noise for tent campers seeking solitude. Corte Madera Mountain provides a 7.5-mile out-and-back trail to tent camping at the summit, surrounded by large granite boulders with views of Lake Morena and the desert. Pine Creek Road features separated tent sites, some tucked back from the road with tree coverage providing privacy. According to one visitor, "Some spots were tucked back from the road with lots of trees. I barely saw or heard any cars, even though I was probably only ~15ft from the road." Tent campers should be prepared for variable conditions, including potential for high winds at exposed sites and limited shade in some areas.

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Best Tent Sites Near Mount Laguna, California (21)

    1. Pine Creek Road Camp

    6 Reviews
    Mount Laguna, CA
    4 miles

    "Great area--it's just close enough to some expensive campgrounds and a few connecting trails, so it's awesome to camp here for FREE. "

    "I drive an Acura RDX and had no problems (I actually had a lot of fun driving the road). 

    There were way more flies than we were expecting. Prepare to get swarmed."

    2. Kitchen Creek Road

    4 Reviews
    Mount Laguna, CA
    2 miles

    3. Bow Willow Primitive Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

    5 Reviews
    Mount Laguna, CA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 767-5311

    "We set up quickly and enjoyed ourselves a walk around the site. Not too many trailheads around and it was very hot and dry but we enjoyed it."

    4. Corte Madera Mountain

    2 Reviews
    Guatay, CA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (619) 445-6235

    "If you’re looking for a nice hike, in the wild, with few people around, this is the one. Corte Madera Mountain in Cleveland National Forest, just east of San Diego."

    "You will need a permit, but you can get a free permit emailed to you if you call the rangers station. The Trail is a 7.5 mile out and back trail near Morena Village."

    5. Corral Canyon Campground

    2 Reviews
    Potrero, CA
    14 miles
    Website

    "All other public campgrounds nearby are booked solid, but there are only 3 other groups here beside me. 1 camper told me the CG is always empty. Why?"

    "This is a beautiful area to off-road, it is closed temporarily due to covid so hopefully that opens back up here pretty soon. I’ve never camped here but have always wanted to."

    6. Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area

    16 Reviews
    Borrego Springs, CA
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 767-5391

    "This is a great open camping area, you can camp near others or find a secluded spot of your own. There are fire rings, picnic tables, toilets and even showers."

    "Season starts around Halloween and ends in May for Red stickers. They have public restrooms spread through the grounds. It's great for tent camping and RVs/campers, tents."

    7. Horse Heaven Group Campground

    Be the first to review!
    Mount Laguna, CA
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (619) 445-6235

    $60 - $150 / night

    8. GoodVibes Ranch & Farm

    2 Reviews
    Dulzura, CA
    21 miles
    Website

    $50 - $175 / night

    "Gorgeous oaks shading our camp site. Loved the kitties & the ranch doggies. Went for a hike. Saw lots of flowers, a seasonal creek, sage, views of the valley & nearby mountain."

    "Plenty of room for beautiful hikes on their many acres of land packed with some great views a few decks scattered around the property.  "

    9. Yaqui Wash

    1 Review
    Borrego Springs, CA
    18 miles

    "It is well vegetated and allows for fairly easy hikes up the soft slopes."

    10. Kumeyaay Lake Campground

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

    $24 - $25 / night

    "This campground is located in the Mission Trails Regional Park, and we absolutely loved it. There are clean bathrooms with flushable toilets and showers, and sinks to wash off things."

    "No hookups here but they have great clean bathrooms and hot showers. Lots of hiking/biking straight from your campsite. This place is a jem, being so close to most parts of San Diego."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Mount Laguna, CA

879 Reviews of 21 Mount Laguna Campgrounds


  • Trip Over Life
    May. 28, 2018

    Tamarisk Grove Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

    Anza-Borrego campground with primitive cabins and tent sites

    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. There are tent sites as well as primitive cabins. Each site has a fire ring and table. There are also flush toilets and paid showers. There is no potable water at this campground - be sure to bring your own. The cabins are simple structures with platforms for sleeping. There are no amenities in the cabins - no electric, no water, no mattress, no linens, etc.

    The campground is across the street from both 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.

  • Ryan W.
    Jul. 14, 2016

    El Prado Campground

    Mount Laguna Campground is the Bee's Knees.

    Mount Laguna Campground is 60 minutes east of San Diego and 5500+ feet of elevation. It is a big, big campground that is wooded and adjacent a large meadow, recreational area and lake (when not dried out, drought sucks). Despite it's size, the campground is split up into several loops that make it feel much more intimate in size.

    I strongly recommend the sites inside the campground to the East (#005, 006, 008, 010, 012). This loop is a little smaller and quieter than the other loops and the campsites face back to the corner of the meadow where endangered butterflies sometimes float around and the sites are huge. These sites have more tree covering than the ones immediately next to them, are close to the bathroom (but not too close) and you can easily access the meadow trailhead.

    There are vault toilets that can be hit or miss depending on heat. We bring wet wipes and antibacterial soap. There is a ton of hiking, mountain bike and even horseback riding in the recreational area. The size of the lake is somewhat dependent on rain and drought. We've seen it full and completely dry.

    At the local rec store you can buy a hiking trail map for about $2. You can download it for free from the internet too, but theirs is printed on a waterproof paper and really nice quality print.

    Tips:

    1. There is often downed wood piled up in the meadow loop near the bathroom for use in campfires. It's first come first serve, and bringing a hatchet or handsaw makes a world of difference on your pocket book.

    2. Whatever the temperature is listed at on the weather sites subtract 10-15 degrees at night. The temperatures are based on the minor town at a lower elevation.

    3. In the morning if you walk out of camp to Sunrise HWY, turn left a 1/4 mile you find an overlook with a great view of the sunset and views out to the Salton Sea.

    4. Walk 1/2 mile and get on the trail to Garnett Peak.

    5. In the town of Mount Laguna is one convenience store with just about everything you'll need last minute, but expect to pay a convenience surcharge.

    6. There is a gear & rec store in town too that is a must visit. Fair prices and just an overwhelming experience. They are very hiker friendly if passing through on the nearby PCT.

    7. There are a lot of nearby peaks and day hikes.

    8. Julian has great pie.

    9. The fire pits are brand new in 2016. Jury is still out. Kind of liked the old ones.

  • Elise F.
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Kumeyaay Lake Campground

    Perfect weekend getaway

    This campground is located in the Mission Trails Regional Park, and we absolutely loved it. There are clean bathrooms with flushable toilets and showers, and sinks to wash off things. The rangers even supplied Dr. Bronners Castile soap in each bathroom. We stayed in site number 17 and it was lovely. Each camp site has a picnic table, fire ring, and tent pad. Online says you can buy firewood but they no longer provide that service, so make sure you bring your own firewood! You can’t swim in the lake, but you can fish and it’s very pleasant to walk around and bird watch. There is so much to do in this urban park, you could spend many days here. P.S. the Mission Trails visitor center is spectacular.

  • Javier L.
    Oct. 31, 2020

    Palomar Mountain State Park Campground

    Southern California- Quick Getaway

    This park is great for all Southern California natives to get away for the weekend. Has clean facilities and the campgrounds have ample space between them. This area has a ton of beautiful landscape, during the fall/winter wonderful foliage appears. Leave no trace & enjoy our lands!

  • Ryan W.
    Jul. 16, 2016

    Culp Valley Primitive Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

    The Desert in Spring is beautiful and terrifying.

    We went to Culp Valley in April just in time to explore the Anza-Borrego State Park during an especially rainy desert season. There were wildflowers everywhere and despite high heat during the day it was so bad you felt like you were in the desert. It's a beautiful time to explore. There is a small city just outside the park where you can get any need supplies, lunch or do some antique/thrifting.

    The campground is just West of the state park and at a higher elevation. The sites are first come first serve, and best of all they are FREE! The ground is sand and rock, and outside of clean vault toilets there are no amenities. We had a decent spot with three tents set up and brought our own fire ring. No fires allowed outside a fire ring/pit you bring along. It's a smaller campground and is well known in SoCal but if you arrive before afternoon you'll usually find a spot.

    Because of it's location on hill it is subject to gusty winds. Keep that in mind. You will get dusty and check the weather so you set up camp facing away from the wind or you'll get a full tent of sand. The night we were there most recently they broke wind gust records which was unexpected. It was a long night of whooshing wind coming up and over the desert hills before slamming into our tent at speeds nearing tornado strength. That sucked but that was more our fault than the campgrounds.

    It's less of a leisure camping spot and there were no big RVs the times we visited. There is a reservable state park campsite nearby if you need more amenities.

    This area is know for it's stargazing and the night sky in the desert is incredible. The lights from the nearest town are blocked by the rock.

  • j
    Jan. 12, 2023

    Dos Picos County Park

    Quiet, dark skies, scenic

    We came in January so we had the entire upper camping loop to ourselves. The rangers were very helpful. This Campground has partial hookups with electricity at sites but no water. Level well spaced sites. Firepit and picnic table. Nice clean grounds, restrooms and showers (pay).They also have tent sites and cabins. County Park with playground is adjacent . 

    Beautiful scenery, great star gazing, at least on our upper loop. There's only a small light on restrooms. We saw F16s practicing overhead. Very cool.

    Good Verizon reception.

  • Sita B.
    Aug. 8, 2018

    La Jolla Indian Campground

    3.5 Stars

    La Jolla Indian Reservation Campground is located 30 mins south of the Observatory on Palomar Mtn, and 60 mins north of San Diego. There are ~38 reservable RV sites with hook-ups. Half of them are along the river front. There are multiple group tent sites and even more first come first serve, get in where u fit in, no hookup RV and tent sites. There is a gas station/convenience store just before the entrance, where a 20lb bag of ice is $4. Load up, you’ll need it. There are very few campgrounds that are near the water AND you’re allowed to play in the water. There are only two in SoCal, that I know of, the other is Yucapai.

    We reserved RV space 10, for our tent trailer. The 30’ site was a tight fit for out 22’ trailer and two cars. But we’re able to put up out shade tent, tarp, and seating.

    The good… RV Park area had a lot of trees that provided shade in the 100 degree heat. The hookups were easy and we had no problems with neighbors. The river cooled things down once it got going, you can rent or bring your own tube/river rat to ride down the river, at your own risk! Bring water shoes. Kids loved swinging on the make shift swings along the water. Propane grills recommended, not every site has a charcoal grill and depending on weather and fire conditions will determine if fire pits will be allowed.

    The bad… the river only runs Friday to Sunday. However, Lake Henshaw turns the water on Friday at 7:30 am and it doesn’t make it down to the res until 4:30 pm. It was a long hot wait for water. Saving grace was the hose we brought to water down the dirt. Only one bathroom and multiple port-o-potties (sp?) and I don’t recommend those. Bring TP. The lines are long in the morning. There’s no grey water disposal. Keep track of your valuables. The first come first serve camp area tents to be more rowdy than the RV area, though both are loud (music & kids).

  • Jen D.
    Oct. 23, 2018

    Culp Valley Primitive Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

    Free Desert Camping!

    Free camping! Located off the S22, border of Anza Borrego,just 3.5 miles past the town of Ranchita. If you keep going down the hill you'll hit Borrego Springs. Keep an eye out for the Culp Valley Camp sign because otherwise there isn't much indication. Barely any service so make sure you prepare well for an extended stay. It does extremely windy here, especially in early fall with the Santa Ana winds. Hot during day, frigid at night. It's primitively camping so No water, picnics tables, fire rings, and charcoal grills, but vault toilets and ground to put a tent on are available. In Culp Valley there is TONS of boulders to climb; varying from beginner v0's to advanced bouldering. Check out mountain project to check out some routes or just go spot out some of your own! This is place is definetly worth a weekend trip, but Shhh try to keep it a secret. ;) 

    Campground coordinates: 33.220541, -116.458858 (33° 13′ 13.94″N 116° 27′ 31.88″W)

  • S
    Feb. 21, 2022

    San Diego County Potrero Regional Park

    39 RV sites, 7 Tent Sites; Spacious sites, Great staff of Rangers

    68-year old, still tenderfoot tent camper. This was my first experience in California after three prior stays in Texas and Arizona. The San Diego County system centrally handles reservations of its campgrounds, which was fortunate for me. I mistakenly reserved one campground thinking it was another (my preferred, Potrero), but it was 30 miles away. Even though I paid for two nights in advance, their phone reservations help was superb and got me transferred without any hiccups. Big shout-out to the ranger at Potrero for suggesting. I interacted with several and they were all professional, friendly and helpful.

    There's one central plumbed restroom and shower facility. Further out along the tent sites there was a hand portapotty. When you first drive in you'll go past a very large day-use area with its own facilities before you get to the overnight camping sites. Alcohol is permitted if alcohol content < 20%.

    My site #7 was the last in the row of tent-only sites and appeared to be the largest with plenty of shade and flat pad site. Without seeing other tents it's a little hard to gauge size, but I'd guess walking by the other sites that there's probably at least 80-100 feet between tent pads, or even more. Lots of open spaces. The seven tent sites shared a couple (maybe more) of water spigots.

    The primary annoyance was with the park's neighbors who seemingly had a whole pound of dogs who barked loudly through the nights. Given how otherwise silent it was, it was the barking was noticeable and to be distinguished from the coyotes, birds and owls. I think I also heard roosters crowing each morning as early as 3am.

    The major event of my stay was the arrival of, as Steely Dan sang, "Here come those Santa Ana winds again …" At 5 a.m. the first morning, it was still and quiet as can be (sans the neighborhood dogs). A few minutes later, the winds hit. For the next 11 hours, surviving the wind 30-40 mph sustained winds, gusts over 50 was the only concern – both for my little tent and my car and myself due to the wind effects on the large trees surrounding us. In the end, there was no noticeable damage but seldom have I spent a full day out in the weather like that.

    All in all, I'm not sure you could ask for more at about $25/night. Although I would've paid double if there were a no-wind option. I also had two great tent parties my second night, a couple about my age who were returning to California after summering in Baja, and a young woman from Germany traveling by herself around the world. Interesting neighbors to say the least.

    At site #7 I had zero T-Mobile signal. Outside the Ranger Station I could get at most, 2 bars LTE.


Guide to Mount Laguna

Tent camping near Mount Laguna, California, offers a unique blend of stunning landscapes and outdoor adventures, perfect for nature enthusiasts looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Tent campers should check out Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area

  • This area allows for tent camping and features amenities like picnic tables and nearby restrooms, making it a convenient choice for families and friends.
  • With its expansive desert views and opportunities for off-roading, the Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area is a favorite among adventure seekers.
  • Campers can enjoy the freedom of having fires allowed, enhancing the outdoor experience under the stars.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities at Bow Willow Primitive Campground

  • Located in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Bow Willow Primitive Campground offers drinking water and well-maintained vault toilets for a more comfortable stay.
  • The campground is known for its serene environment, making it an ideal spot for those looking to unwind and connect with nature.
  • With its picturesque views and easy access to hiking trails, this campground is perfect for those who enjoy exploring the great outdoors.

Local activities for tent campers at Kitchen Creek Road

  • Nestled in a beautiful wilderness area, Kitchen Creek Road provides a peaceful setting for hiking and exploring the surrounding nature.
  • Campers can enjoy the tranquility of the area, with opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography amidst the stunning landscapes.
  • The site is accessible for both drive-in and hike-in camping, catering to various preferences for outdoor adventures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Mount Laguna, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Mount Laguna, CA is Pine Creek Road Camp with a 4.8-star rating from 6 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Mount Laguna, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 21 tent camping locations near Mount Laguna, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.