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Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Ocotillo, CA

531 Reviews

Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park offers free dispersed camping with no restrictions on pets. The primitive sites accommodate both tents and RVs with high clearance vehicles recommended for access. Campers note the area features beautiful caves that maintain approximately 60°F temperatures year-round regardless of desert heat. Several pet-friendly camping options exist throughout Anza-Borrego, including Bow Willow Primitive Campground and Mountain Palm Springs Primitive Campground where leashed dogs are permitted on all sites. These areas provide basic amenities like vault toilets but no drinking water, requiring visitors to pack in supplies for themselves and their pets.

Dog owners should prepare for desert conditions when camping near Ocotillo. The terrain contains broken glass and debris in some areas, particularly at Smuggler's Gulch Dispersed camping area. Temperatures fluctuate dramatically between day and night, with summer highs regularly exceeding 110°F, making spring and fall the optimal seasons for pet camping. Mountain Palm Springs features a trail leading to a desert oasis popular with hikers and their dogs. For those seeking more amenities, Rio Bend RV & Golf Resort provides full hookups, a restaurant, swimming pool, and designated dog exercise areas with grass, though water for pets is limited. Most primitive campgrounds require pets remain leashed and owners pack out all waste, as no disposal facilities exist in the backcountry areas.

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Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Ocotillo, California (91)

    1. Agua Caliente County Park Campground

    21 Reviews
    Mount Laguna, CA
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 765-1188

    $29 - $75 / night

    "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."

    "Shuffleboard and Horseshoes courts, lots of hiking trails and things to see. The campground / pools are all fed from natural mineral springs."

    2. Smuggler's Gulch Dispersed

    3 Reviews
    Ocotillo, CA
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 337-4400

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

    5 Reviews
    Mount Laguna, CA
    15 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. Burnt Rancheria Campground

    23 Reviews
    Mount Laguna, CA
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (619) 473-0120

    $35 / night

    "This campground is a great little hidden gem of a getaway tucked into the Laguna mountains just 50 or so miles from San Diego."

    "It was super kid friendly and for pets as well, but never too loud. The hikes are gorgeous and easy for small ones to manage. I would highly recommend this campground ⛺️⛺️⛺️⛺️⛺️"

    5. Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

    6 Reviews
    Mount Laguna, CA
    17 miles
    Website

    "The park has campgrounds near borrego springs that are easily accessible. Visiting the mud caves you’ll need 4x4 or an AWD car with high clearance."

    "This is the perfect area for off-roading and great views! It’s easy to spend a whole day here."

    6. Mountain Palm Springs Primitive Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

    3 Reviews
    Mount Laguna, CA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 767-5311

    "You can scavenge firewood around the area."

    "There is a trail head that leads to a short hike to an oasis that is pretty popular."

    7. El Prado Campground

    22 Reviews
    Mount Laguna, CA
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (619) 473-2082

    $35 / night

    "It was easy to get a walk up site, the campground hosts are helpful, and there is super easy access to all of Mount Laguna hilling trails."

    "This is the closest campground to the lakes. Just a couple steps away from the beautiful meadow it overlooks. Lots of trees for hammocking!!"

    8. Blair Valley Primitive Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

    35 Reviews
    Julian, CA
    32 miles
    Website

    "We did have a huge gust of wind pick up around 3am and took one of our tents out, but a little adjustment and new placement the next day and it didn’t happen again."

    "Coyotes came right by the van in the night though so watch your pets if you’re camping with them! Follow the road all the way back for two great hiking trails."

    9. Rio Bend RV & Golf Resort

    5 Reviews
    El Centro, CA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 352-7061

    "Nice dog park area with grass, could use water for the pups. Laundry and bathrooms were very clean. Pool area and restaurant, bar area is nice."

    "It’s close to the Navy base so fly overs of the Super Hornets are frequent but not loud. You can actually take side roads and get right to the runway if you want … Blue Angles practice in Jan!"

    10. Mountain Palm Springs Camp

    1 Review
    Mount Laguna, CA
    15 miles
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Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Ocotillo, CA

60 Photos of 91 Ocotillo Campgrounds

Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Ocotillo, CA

531 Reviews of 91 Ocotillo Campgrounds

  • Chad C.
    Oct. 8, 2022

    Loomerland

    Excellent little getaway with animals!

    Our family of 3 just left the campground this morning, and we had a great time during our 1 night stay.  To find it, just plug the GPS coordinates into Google maps and follow the instructions.  It’s fairly primitive (outhouse and water spigot), but the sky is clear and the whole place is very serene with trees and nature. They have several protective, very human-friendly dogs on the property.  They also open the barn around 0800 and allow campers to pet the rabbits, chickens, cats, pigs, turkey, ducks, and even feed the goats.  Sites have campfire rings (bring your own wood), picnic table, and a couple Adirondack style chairs.  The staff is also very friendly and informative.  We will certainly be back.

  • Sherrie R.
    Jan. 10, 2021

    The Springs at Borrego RV Resort

    Great winter destination.

    Very spacious resort in the center of a gorgeous 9 hole golf course/driving range. Check-in packet was prepared & ready along w/an escort to our space, which has level concrete parking and picnic pad with table. 50/30/110, water, sewer, wifi and cable included. Catch and release fishing pond, pool, hot mineral spas, tennis, lawn bowling, big and little dog parks. The stargazing is amazing! Very clean and well maintained. Quiet respectful guests. Great area to bike. You can drive to the sculptures, Salton Sea, downtown Borrego and Julian.. you Will be driving through curvy mountain ranges to get to this destination. Stayed 1/4-8/2021

  • Karen B.
    Jan. 15, 2023

    Rio Bend RV & Golf Resort

    Convenient and clean, nice park

    We only stayed one night in a pull through but enjoyed the facilities. Park is very clean and has a good restaurant. They do have a lot of mobile homes but most are newer and well kept. Some RV’s look abandoned which is a shame. Nice dog park area with grass, could use water for the pups. Laundry and bathrooms were very clean. Pool area and restaurant, bar area is nice. We had dinner, wing’s were great burger was good but not great. Service was very good. Pull through site was narrow but had all we needed for one night. Looks like the workout facility is nice.

  • Dani K.
    Oct. 20, 2020

    Culp Valley Primitive Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

    Nice camp, Very desert

    The campsite itself is very well maintained. Metal fire pits are available and bathrooms. The last place I camped was $30 and had neither.

    The scenery is beautiful but very desert. Cholla cacti are everywhere so watch your pets paws (my poor dog kept getting them in between her paw pads). Also didn’t get very cool in the evening, but had a beautiful night sky.

    There are trails; no dogs allowed.

    Did see a tarantula.

  • Heather L.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 23, 2020

    Blair Valley Primitive Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

    Fantastic Campground!

    I will definitely be here again! We camped as a group in the more remote part, towards Little Blair Valley. We came in March during the super bloom and it was still very cold at night. We did have a huge gust of wind pick up around 3am and took one of our tents out, but a little adjustment and new placement the next day and it didn’t happen again. It was pet friendly, we had 2 little dogs that loved their stay as much as we did. No running water, or bathrooms (except for a 10 min drive back to the entrance), we were allowed a ground fire at the time. Campsite itself was really great, boy, could you see some stars! Found a trail at some point that led to a rock with petroglyphs and i hope I can find that trail again! Forever in love with Anza!

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 6, 2022

    Burnt Rancheria Campground

    Perfect Local Mountain Getaway!

    This campground is a great little hidden gem of a getaway tucked into the Laguna mountains just 50 or so miles from San Diego. At alt 6000 feet in mountain forests, you feel like you are far away from it all. The camp sites are generously spaced adding to the seclusion. It is a family campground, so just know the weekends are going to be full of kids and pets, but weekday camping will present the peace of wind and birds. Bathrooms are clean and water is available everywhere. Not many spaces for big rigs, but lots if you’re in the 20’ range. One whole section is fir first-come, first-serve.

    Access to the PCT for a stretch of very easy hiking right out of the campground. A cafe at the entrance and a general store up the road a couple of miles.

    Advise stopping at a local grocery for firewood, tho. Is expensive ($8/bundle) at the campground and it’s not even local. They have it shipped in.

    Lastly the price here is not $25/ nite as listed. At yhe time of this writing (4/2022) it is $29/nite

  • cal K.The Dyrt PRO User
    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.

  • O
    Sep. 4, 2023

    Loomerland

    Awesome place

    Great place and had a great time. We book an overnight trip and rented the RV spot as we were taking a small trailer. The place was fantastic, we had the opportunity to interact with the animals, (Goats, chickens, rabbits, pigs, dogs, cat). No worries, there is no foul smell, it is kept very clean and even got a chance to meet a couple of former PCT hikers that were super nice helping us with our stay. The dogs were super sweet and keep the farm protected. It was amazing to see Bonnie (one of the dogs) notice a hawk far away in the distance and scare it immediately. 

    The spot that I rented was next to the kitchen area and not far from the barn. There are tent spots a bit farther too.

  • Ashlie F.
    Jul. 25, 2019

    El Centro NAF Campground

    Military Campground

    This campground is located on a military facility. You must have base access/privileges in order to utilize this campground. 

    The sites near the gym are back in only with full hookups on an asphalt lot. There is a small strip of grass behind each site. 

    Pets are allowed. Leash rules are established. 

    Great location for the annual air show in March. This campground is popular with “snowbirds”. Winter months stay pretty busy, while excessive heat in the summer keeps it pretty empty. 

    The base has a large pool with water slides, gym, bowling alley, exchange/commissary, and movie theater.

Guide to Ocotillo

If you're looking for pet-friendly camping options near Ocotillo, California, there are several great spots where you can enjoy the outdoors with your furry friends.

Dog owners appreciate ample amenities for their pets

  • At Agua Caliente County Park Campground, pets are allowed, and the campground features drinking water and sanitary dump facilities, making it convenient for pet owners.
  • Rio Bend RV & Golf Resort offers spacious sites with electric hookups and a clean environment, perfect for a comfortable stay with your pet.
  • Bow Willow Primitive Campground provides a serene atmosphere with picnic tables and vault toilets, allowing you to enjoy nature with your pet by your side.

Dog-friendly activities while camping near Ocotillo

Pet owners like the welcoming atmosphere

  • Sunbeam Lake RV Resort is known for its friendly staff and well-maintained facilities, creating a welcoming environment for both you and your pet.
  • Smuggler's Gulch Dispersed provides a scenic spot to relax and enjoy nature, perfect for a peaceful getaway with your furry companion.
  • Lark Canyon Campground is ideal for larger gatherings, allowing you to camp with friends and their pets in a beautiful setting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Ocotillo, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Ocotillo, CA is Agua Caliente County Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 21 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Ocotillo, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 91 dog-friendly camping locations near Ocotillo, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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