Searching for the best camping near Ocotillo, CA? Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Ocotillo is surrounded by family-friendly activities. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Ocotillo camping trip.
$35 / night
"This is the closest campground to the lakes. Just a couple steps away from the beautiful meadow it overlooks. Lots of trees for hammocking!!"
"It is a big, big campground that is wooded and adjacent a large meadow, recreational area and lake (when not dried out, drought sucks)."
$40 - $250 / night
"The only downside to this site is that it was very close to the bathrooms. That actually bummed me out a bit when we first arrived, but it ended up not being much of an issue at all."
"The trash cans were just a few feet from the site and the bathrooms were a short walk just a couple spots away."
$40 / night
"Headed back to the ranger and they gave us an open disabled spot (we have a placard) in the horse camp. It was AMAZING. Large flat pad that had the sweet water river right behind."
"While both have their positives, I personally love this one for its close proximity to the waterfalls that are a short trail from the campsites."
"There are two halves, one for RV’s, horses, and a few tent sites and the other half is all tents. In the center are the restrooms/showers, a few parking spots, and camp host’s RV."
"Around the Stagecoach building there is poster telling you of the history of the area. There's also a small cemetery.
There's water but no power hookups. The bathrooms are clean."
$20 - $50 / night
"Nice big sites and an entire loop with equestrian sites.
Pit toilets. One dumpster. Water.
I was there May 5, 2024 and the fee was $14."
"Found this spot after being turned away from lake Moreno campgrounds. Plenty of room for our trailer and enough space between sites to feel like we were alone out here."
"The entrance is a hair-pin turn (from the south) and you'll need to go a little further north to turn around."
"The drive getting here is wicked, if you’ve never been here before. In my scooter club, the San Diego Pharaohs, we’ve ridden up here in the mountains plenty, so I knew what I was in for."
"Membership costs us around $2000 And have access to / 3000 different camp sites nationwide At any time of the year a drop of a dime essentially"
"Great location and beautiful scenery in the mountains. The resort has lost of activities to participate in. Also, great hiking trails."
$45 - $9999 / night
"Beautiful location, secluded, lots of space to get a big trailer in. It's off the beaten path, staying here for a few days, really like it!"
"Had alot to offer at this location."
"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."
"Showers were nice and warm, and not coin operated - a rarity given the water droughts around CA."
$60 - $150 / night
TravelerSuper cute area, and much cooler since it’s a little higher altitude. Nice big sites and an entire loop with equestrian sites.
Pit toilets. One dumpster. Water.
I was there May 5, 2024 and the fee was $14.
GuideWas able to score a site that fit our 28’ trailer- joke was on us... there was NO way it could’ve worked, not to mention there was not a single other trailer, only tents. Headed back to the ranger and they gave us an open disabled spot (we have a placard) in the horse camp. It was AMAZING. Large flat pad that had the sweet water river right behind. Lots of area for the kids to play and ride bikes on the paved loop around the sites. The walk to the waterfall “hike” was manageable and another day we hiked to the airplane monument (don’t get your hopes up lol) and that was a solid moderate hike. Also drove out to hike to stonewall mine Beautiful weather and the falls were super fun to see, and splash in the top most parts (take a left at the split in the trail just at the bottom of the dirt little hill from the entrance)
GuideThis is my favorite out of the two campgrounds in the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. While both have their positives, I personally love this one for its close proximity to the waterfalls that are a short trail from the campsites. Depending on what campsite you are in, you can walk to the trail and down to the falls which are perfect for swimming around when it is hot outside. I love this campground for a quick weekend getaway from San Diego that has minimal preparation. Every site is a drive up site, most have shade and there are plenty of bathrooms. Most sites also have a fire ring and picnic table to use as well. A perfect, lower cost campsite that is great for families and people who want an easy camping experience with some water involved!
TravelerMy wife and our two dogs (small chi mixes) stayed at this campground over Veterans Day weekend. There are two halves, one for RV’s, horses, and a few tent sites and the other half is all tents. In the center are the restrooms/showers, a few parking spots, and camp host’s RV. The sites are pretty small and very close together but even on a busy holiday weekend where nearby Agua Caliente was full, here were plenty of sites available. Camp host was very active driving around welcoming everybody and was helpful with any questions you might have. Tons of coyotes! They’re tricky and smart, so stay sharp at night on walks with furry ones.
There are fire rings and tables at every site with water sources every few sites. The stage coach station is a historical landmark and sits in the center near the facilities. Pretty cool small cemetery and children’s playground available as well. It was definitely a safe, accessible, and incredibly clean campground. Lots of flies between late morning/afternoon but I’m sure citronella and a cooler period would have solved that problem. We would stay again!
ScoutTucked away from the city lights of San Diego. Very nice camp ground with multiple trails climbing up Mt. Cuyamaca.
GuideThis campground provides everything a happy camper needs. Fire wood is available for purchase. Sites will have a picnic table, potable water, toilets( vault and flushing). There are also showers. This is the closest campground to the lakes. Just a couple steps away from the beautiful meadow it overlooks. Lots of trees for hammocking!! A LOT of trails to hike or bike for people of all skill levels!
LegendMount 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:
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.
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.
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.
Walk 1/2 mile and get on the trail to Garnett Peak.
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.
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.
There are a lot of nearby peaks and day hikes.
Julian has great pie.
The fire pits are brand new in 2016. Jury is still out. Kind of liked the old ones.
GuideThis place is tucked away on Kitchen Creek Rd and is the perfect spot to get away from all the noise and people. Plenty of trees for shady areas during the day, no bugs, and very quiet. I wish there was a body of water around. That would make it perfect!
GuideI’m new to RV’s, and the lifestyle. I’ve been planning on full time RV living for the last 10 months. Pio Pico is the 1st RV park I’ve stayed at. I was enjoying my quite solitude, when my closest neighbor told me, one of the workers has tested positive for Covid-19, so I hauled ass out of there. Luckily, I didn’t have any human contact whatsoever with anyone there during my stay. I have bronchial asthma, so I wasn’t taking any chances.
Too bad, because it felt remote, quiet, and was only a nice 7 mile drive from grocery stores, retail stores, food, gas, etc., if you needed anything. 30 amp, and water at site. Dumping area with two stations. Nice paths to hike, or walk your dog. Laundry was open, but only facility I used was the dump station.
I didn’t get any TV reception, but others did. I didn’t have a powered antenna, but I do now. The internet was slow and iffy. They said they were working on it. I got to see a few shows on Netflix, Hulu, YouTube... No cell service at all, but I did get a little with my WeBoost. I wasn’t expecting much with mountains all around. I would have given another star, but keeping something like a worker testing positive for covid-19 from customers is not a good business idea. I’d probably give them another try though, since it had the seclusion I was looking for.
Horse camping in California offers a unique opportunity to explore the great outdoors while enjoying the companionship of your equine friends. With a variety of campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to saddle up and hit the trails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Ocotillo, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Ocotillo, CA is El Prado Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 22 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Ocotillo, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Ocotillo, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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