Looking for the best campgrounds near Ocotillo Wells, CA? There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that California camping has to offer. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your California camping adventure.
"If you are unfamiliar with Ocotillo Wells it is total boon-docking."
"Great place to go get off grid if you don’t mind off road vehicles. Plenty of open space to get away from the crowds."
"This site is located in anza borrego, the only dark sky community in California, so you will see more stars here than anywhere else in California (unless there’s a full moon then there won’t be stars)."
"This place is tucked away off the S-2 with camping along a dry lake bed. Beautiful spring blooms here, the lake bed is a protected space, so admire from a distance."
$35 - $125 / night
"Activities: numerous hiking trails, accessible from the campground. The most popular one is the Borrego Palm Canyon Trail which leads to the oasis of California Fan Palms."
"Very clean, well-maintained, and nice location. Very strict check-in time. However, you can tell they are cleaning the sites and making sure the sites are in order."
$29 - $75 / night
"A lot of RVs are in the center and seem set up as full-timers, but along the perimeter are some great, tucked-away sites. There are also a number of "cabins" in a row. "
"Waking up to a gathering of big horn sheep atop a ridge with a bright colorful sunrise set behind as backdrop as they stand there stoic against it all, was by far one my favorite ways to wake up ever!"
"From the 'Campground' there are trails that lead to Ocotillo Wells and Fonts Point."
"Super primitive but heavily used campground tucked among red rocks along a wash. I camped here in Spring and the wash was full of wildflowers. We drove back at least a mile in a sedan to set up camp."
"I don't think this map pin is correct for Yaqui Wells Primitive Camp, the location according to Google Maps is a little further south just off Yaqui Pass Road off Highway 78."
"Overall, I was happy with our stay as we could only see one other party (far away enough to where we couldn't hear them) and it was quieter than I thought it would be, considering it runs parallel to a highway"
"Giant RV park with many entrances, it looks free but don’t quote me on that. We camped here off the dirt road and didn’t see anyone to pay."
"It’s mostly quiet although there are off road vehicles around they’re not too irritating. There are occasional fireworks. It feels very safe here. Lots of shade."
"Make your campsite anywhere, restrooms near by, driving distance to a few stores & gas station. Great camping & 4x4 in truck haven, cool off-road in event for Tierra Del Sol/TDS-in March"
"Beautiful spot we stopped at on our way to Arizona , gas station / food really close by as well !"
"I’ve hit bottom coming out of California business driveways more often.
It’s located well up the mountain from Borrego Springs on a scenic highway."
"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."
$24 - $34 / night
"Nice campground away from the main roads. All spots outside of the R.V. loop are spread out and pretty secluded. Very friendly and helpful rangers. About a 10 minute drive from Julian pie co."
"Lots of flat areas for pitching tents well away from the fire pit."
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.
ScoutGreat area--it's just close enough to some expensive campgrounds and a few connecting trails, so it's awesome to camp here for FREE. Pine Creek Road itself is paved, and the camping spots are packed dirt so it's easy to get around even in a FWD. Warning though: if you're nervous about driving on single lane mountain roads, this is not the place for you! Pine Creek Road is several miles long, with some sections that are on sheer cliff edges with very few turn-off spots to allow for passing.
Additional word of warning: the camping spots are not close together and there seemed to be very few of them. Even driving slowly, I counted only 6 or 7 sites total, separated by up to a mile. I saw only 1 other spot with campers, at least 2.5 miles from my site. Some of the sites are fairly large--could easily fit 2 cars and a couple tents--but others seemed to be just large enough to pull off the road and sleep in the car (no tent space). 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); but some were barely more than a shoulder with no trees for coverage. I stayed in the same spot two nights in a row, though I packed up during the day because I assumed I'd find another spot down the road. At least in the site I picked, there was very little trash from previous campers.
Suggestion for the permit: make sure you apply for the free permit a few days in advance especially if you plan to go on the weekend. List the place you're going as "Pine Creek dispersed camping," and keep a printed copy in your car. I didn't have trouble with any rangers, but it's better to be safe than fined. Very spotty service (Verizon), which makes navigation and planning difficult if you don't pre-download trail maps.
ScoutHad a great time here and the staff were amazing. Highly recommend. Has a pool, park for the kids, and a little shop to get any of your necessities.
TravelerGreat spot for camping , if you have a big rig it’s a little tight to move around on the roads but definitely nice for sprinters / trucks / suvs or even cars ! Roads are PAVED , I think thats new because I don’t remember that last year when i went !
RangerVery nice campground. Camping spots are spacious and clean. They do offer showers, but they are pay showers and only take quarters. They were doing some construction on a playground while we were there, but it didn’t bother anything. Overall a nice campground
GuideWe stayed the night of a new moon, the stars were gorgeous, and there was SO much room between campsites! The entrance from the south does take a little longer, but is much less crowded!🫶
RangerCamp host there was very nice and friendly, there’s a few sites on this campground. They allow you to stay 7 days and the camp host will take your information down. Right next to the airport. You can barely hear any highway noise!
TravelerIt was kind of funny. The roads very bumpy, but my sedan made it no problem. Just pay attention to the ground because there are some anthills. Stayed out of their way and they’ll stay out of your way. Not really noticing any bugs, light breeze, I went a mile off of the road so I can barely hear the highway. I like that the mountains will block the sun in the morning so I can do some yoga and meditation. Got up to 105 today so I’ll probably be out of here by seven. Up at four or five in the morning. I can’t tell if this is a good place for hiking, but there’s lots of places to camp and it’s all free. You could show up here in the middle of the night and you’d probably find a campsite, although it’s dark and I would not recommend it. If you’re planning to go here, get here when it’s light out so you can have an easy time of set up, etc.. and you don’t wanna get any surprises. I thought I might see a snake or two, but I haven’t seen anything. I’ve had my shirt off and there’s been no bugs so for me, avoiding a hotel and paying a fee to campsite, this was a winner.
GuideQuiet, far enough from the highway, great view and sunset
Camping near Ocotillo Wells, California, offers a unique blend of desert landscapes and outdoor adventures. Whether you're looking to explore the rugged terrain or just relax under the stars, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Ocotillo Wells, California, offers a fantastic escape into nature, with plenty of activities and beautiful scenery to enjoy. Just remember to plan ahead and be prepared for the unique desert environment!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, Ocotillo Wells, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 196 campgrounds and RV parks near Ocotillo Wells, CA and 38 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Ocotillo Wells, CA is Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area with a 4.4-star rating from 16 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 38 free dispersed camping spots near Ocotillo Wells, CA.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 parks near Ocotillo Wells, CA that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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