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Palomar Mountain State Park Campground's dog-friendly sites include fire pits, picnic tables, and drinking water facilities across its tent, RV, and glamping sites. Observatory Campground and Fry Creek Campground, both located within two miles of the famous Palomar Observatory, also welcome pets with spacious campsites in shaded areas. Campground lots are well-maintained with most providing sufficient room for multiple tents, pets, and equipment. Pets must be leashed at all times in all Palomar Mountain campgrounds. Some campgrounds get swarmed with flies and mosquitoes during summer months, with several campers noting nets and bug spray as essential pet equipment during warmer weather. Lake Henshaw Resort, Oak Grove Campground and Temecula-Vail Lake KOA offer additional pet-friendly options in the surrounding area.
Dog-friendly trails surrounding Palomar Mountain provide excellent exercise opportunities, though hikers with dogs should prepare for moderate elevation changes on paths like the Observatory Trail. Many campgrounds have natural areas for pet exploration, but wildlife encounters require vigilance as coyotes are bold in this region and pose a danger to dogs, especially at night. Pet owners camping in tents should take extra precautions compared to those in RVs or cabins. Morning and evening are ideal times for dog walks due to summer heat, with temperatures reaching 85 degrees in peak season. Campsites with cement pads at ADA-compliant locations offer practical advantages for containing pet activity around camp. Water access is limited in drier months when Fry Creek may be completely dry despite the name, so bringing extra water for pets is essential.
"We stayed here for a few days with some friends and our four children and dog! Very cheap! We did not have any hookups for our back in spot. We camped with a 19/26 Trailmanor Camper."
"Went hiking in the palomar mountains and even drove down to Borrego Springs and hiked Palm Canyon. camp ground was nice with lots of spaces, clean toilets, and nearby water spigots."
from $15 - $30 / night
Check Availability"We drove up for an impromptu camp trip, it was only about an hour drive. I've never been up to Palomar Mountain although I've lived here for 30 years!"
"We chose Palomar Mountain for our first camping trip, first it was close to home, about 2 1/2 hours away and if something went wrong."
from $40 - $130 / night
Check Availability"Palomar Mountain Observatory Campground is one of the prettiest spots I've seen to camp close to San Diego in Southern California."
"I brought my family with our 2 dogs for Thanksgiving and unfortunately we left early because it was a major danger for our dogs with the very bold and brave coyotes."
from $20 - $40 / night
Check Availability"Just south of Palomar Mountain Observatory (a must visit) Fry Creek is a heavily wooded (oak, fir, pine) campground in a narrow valley surrounded by steep forested banks."
"It was a nice large site next to the bathrooms (which were very clean and well maintained) and close to a water spigot and trash can. This campground is definitely a birder’s paradise."
from $15 / night
Check Availability"This campsite is definitely kid and dog friendly! My kind of campsite. Pool was clean and open. My son loved the bmx bike trails."
"We enjoyed a 6 night stay at the Temecula/Vail Lake KOA over New Years. "
"You can drive right up and park and camp! Nice beautiful lake to look at and fish. You must purchase a license, which they sell there for a few bucks. Bon fires allowed as well."
"We come here to hike all the time, our dog especially loves this trail! The campsites looks dispersed and absolutely beautiful! The views are worth taking in."
from $39 - $50 / night
Check Availability"One of the water faucets with potable water was on the outskirts of our space, not at all bothersome. The toilets and dumpster were conveniently close, but not too close to be noticed."
"Dripping Springs is a great campground for those looking to hike, mountain bike and take your dogs with you."
from $25 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Lake Henshaw is not the most scenic or well maintained campground, but we enjoy going there."
"Camped and fish there for 3 days it was perfect, got away from the fires and smoke of L.A. to a quiet and private camp ground. No one around us and it was perfect."
from $10 - $30 / night
Check Availability"My family owns a 1987 VW Vanagon Westfalia since 2020 and use The Dyrt to find hidden gems near our home for weekend camping."
"There is a lot to do near by, a very convenient store about 5-10 minutes away called valley center foods! Employees were sooo sweet and friendly! DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!"
"South Carlsbad State Beach is extremely crowded (like many coastal campsites in Southern California), but has very easy access to your own space on the beach below the cliffs."
"If you’re headed to San Diego, be sure to stop and check out Carlsbad just off of the 5. this awesome beach town is quintessential Southern California beach awesomeness and it is absolutely gorgeous."
from $50 - $650 / night
Check Availability
LegendAshley here with The Dyrt! I wanted to give a warm welcome to these hosts, Ben & Daniel. We're thankful to have this gorgeous property on our platform. Very private with tons to explore on the property. 20 miles from Palomar Mountain State Park, San Clemente State Beach, Casper Wilderness Park, and more! Check them out and leave them some love here!
GuideWe decided to stay at a campground closer to home (Oceanside) coming back from Palomar Mountain. We were just looking for a place to stay for one night. We showed up and every campsite was stacked on top of each other. We asked if there were any other options so we circled the entire campground and ALL the sites were super close to each other. The RV section didn’t look like camping, people live there! With that said, most of the RV’s look like junkyards. So much stuff/junk everywhere. The lake isn’t pretty or swim-able. Don’t let the pictures on their website fool you, it’s crowded. I didn’t take pics myself, but I got them from their website and circled in red where people would be camping. We decided the 45 minute drive home would be better than staying there even for one night. The receptionist was late coming back from her lunch break & wasn’t helpful when we wanted our money back when we didn’t even stay there. One of the worst campsites I’ve ever seen & I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who knows real camping.
LegendPalomar Mountain Observatory Campground is one of the prettiest spots I've seen to camp close to San Diego in Southern California. When coming from the south it's 7 miles up the twistiest-turniest road into a forest of oak, fir and pine. The campground itself is a loop with sites that are pull in, back-in and park and hike.
The sites are 50/50 well shaded and open air for some of the best star-gazing SoCal can offer. The inner loop is mostly open air but still has shade and trees surrounding the sites. #27 a first come-first serve site in particular was epic with a perfectly clear sky above the camp but also a huge oak tree for shade if you want it.
The campground has three bathrooms. Two set of pit toilets and one with flushing toilets and showers (peak season only). There are also some pre-set concrete slabs for telescopes or cameras. There are two listed hikes that leave the campground. Both are listed as "Easy to Moderate" but in my opinion are closer to moderate (but short) or at the very least, a challenging middle ground.
The hike to Palomar Mountain is 2.2+ miles with 700 ft of elevation. That doesn't account for all the ups and downs which really makes the elevation change feel more like eleventy billion feet. The path itself is well maintained with hairpin turns and a viewpoint over the valley. At the top you'll find the Palomar Observatory. The doors are open most days from 9am-3pm, and it's worth the hike.
Heading across the road the other hike is a loop around Fry Creek Campground. It's shorter at 1.7 miles but prettier and just as up and down as the first. You should really just do both. Take two days to make it leisurely. Seriously.
Campsites at Palomar have a grill, a fire pit with a grate and a picnic table. When we were there they did not have firewood for sale. About a mile away is a general store that does. We just picked up wood from the trail and some leftovers from other campsites. It really just depends on how much effort you want to put into it.
Our only complaint was the campground host. None of the bathrooms had been cleaned and one was covered in what looked like blood from a bloody nose gone wrong. About once a day she'd walk the loop chain-smoking cigarettes with two dogs who would bark incessantly. She'd ask each campsite if they were the "reservation holder" since she hadn't updated them in over a week. Then she'd explain she was sick so she couldn't change the signs or clean. Then she'd light another cigarette and yell at the dog for barking.
Host aside, Palomar Mountain is a great facility, and I'm stoked to go back for some summer camping.
TravelerWe stayed here for a few days with some friends and our four children and dog! Very cheap! We did not have any hookups for our back in spot. We camped with a 19/26 Trailmanor Camper. Lots of space, not very busy during weekdays but the manager said it gets full on weekends. It was so empty on the weekdays that the kids could ride their bikes all over without much worry of running into vehicles or other campers! Next to wineries, trails, Palomar Mountain and observatory, Julian, a huge nature preserve and more! Absolutely loved this campground! Come with most of what you need though or stop at Walmart in south Temecula because the only stores are 15+ minute drives and don’t have a lot of necessities.
LegendJust south of Palomar Mountain Observatory (a must visit) Fry Creek is a heavily wooded (oak, fir, pine) campground in a narrow valley surrounded by steep forested banks.
The campsite is really an extension of the Palomar Observatory Campground across the site with a shared camp host (who pretty much sucked during our visits). That site is much better for stargazing, but this one is just as pretty especially in the fall with changing oak leaves. All of the sites are heavily wooded and in a valley with steep walls. That's important because it seems to amplify sounds from the other campsites. No matter if you have good camp neighbors but if your camp neighbors starts setting up a portable chainlink fence for a cadre of dogs they are training...There are some more segregated sites near the back of the camp loop.
There are bathrooms and showers (peak) and even though the sites are near each other they are really private. They each have fire-pits and picnic tables. The sites are decent sized with nice flat spots for at least two tents.
There is a decent hike that loops around the camp with plenty of elevation changes and incredible forest smells. The trail is fairly easy to follow and despite being short is moderately challenging. It takes about an hour at normal pace. Head across the road and you can take the trail all the way to the Palomar Mountain Observatory. It's meandering and plenty of elevation changes. At the top the Observatory Museum has nice bathrooms open to visitors. The museum is free.
Campsites are $15/night.
GuideWe drove up for an impromptu camp trip, it was only about an hour drive. I've never been up to Palomar Mountain although I've lived here for 30 years! It's a very picturesque drive with lots of twists and turns and watch out for those motorcycles.
The campground is situated within lots of trees so there is shade. We stayed at Doane Valley Family Camp loop. There are trails and a pond very close by, it's stocked with fish, but it's tiny.
The sites are really cool and private, lots of tall trees and shade. Only downside was the bugs. There were a lot of flies, but we went in July so go figure. Will definitely camp here again, but will likely wait for it to cool off a bit. There is snow up here in the winter months so I would recommend camping in the fall.
LegendAshley here from The Dyrt! It was great to add this property with several mountaintop accommodations. Historic old cabins, luxury yurts, upscale safari tents, modern cathedral cabins, or the restored ‘Old Palomar Mountain Hotel’. Check them out and then come back here to leave them some love!
ScoutCamped here with my wife and a couple friends over a weekend in March during the Anza Borrego super bloom and was very suprised. Went hiking in the palomar mountains and even drove down to Borrego Springs and hiked Palm Canyon. camp ground was nice with lots of spaces, clean toilets, and nearby water spigots. Only complaint is that you cant buy firewood from the host.
GuideAmenities isn’t all that great when they’re not maintained well. Gym has damaged equipment, pool has lose hand rails and heated pool is filthy. Pool furniture is outdated, broken and dirty. They will only play country music at the pool. The shower house looks like it has recently been updated but smells and has mold growing already. They do not allow any kind of camper except big rigs/trailers. They have a “dog park”, which is very small and smell horrendous due to there only being fake plastic grass. Most owners will also not clean up after their pets, so you or your dog may step into feces quite often there. RV park is between highway and main road - no quiet found here. Rules on what you’re allowed to put up for shade will vary depending on how much management likes you there. All in all an Ok place if you aren’t actually spending you time there.
Current update 12/13/25 The road is being repaved and resealed. They are also doing movie nights in the weekends for kids and have the occasional arts and crafts for them. For that I have added an extra star since there isn’t much for smaller children in general.
Located at an elevation of 6,000 feet, Palomar Mountain offers cooler temperatures than surrounding areas, often 10-15 degrees lower than valley floors in summer months. The mountain's mixed conifer forest provides natural shade at many campsites, though temperatures can drop below freezing between November and March. Several campgrounds operate seasonally due to winter conditions, with the main camping season running April through October.
Hiking Observatory Trail: Observatory Campground offers access to a moderately challenging trail leading to Palomar Observatory. "There is a hike off of the campground. About a 1/2-1 mile in our Frenchie was not having it so unfortunately we had to turn around because it was already heating up quite a bit," notes one visitor at Fry Creek Campground, adding that "the top was totally worth it" according to their companions.
Fishing Dixon Lake: Located about 40 minutes from Palomar Mountain, this lake offers rental boats and shore fishing. "You can rent a 'motor' boat (really a trolling motor attached) for all day rate or half day. If it's summer and weekend, you'd have to get down there early to rent though, they'll sell out," advises a camper at Dixon Lake Campground. No California fishing license is required, just a $7 lake permit per adult.
Stargazing: The mountain's elevation and distance from city lights creates ideal stargazing conditions. A camper at Observatory Campground reports: "Great campsite for stargazing. We stayed in campsite 22, which required to walk up a hill to get to, but was actually very nice because you get sort of a cliff to look over... If you have a telescope would recommend you bring it."
Spacious sites: Many dog friendly campgrounds near Palomar Mountain feature generously sized sites. "We were in the oak loop site at site 15 which was a huge space that could've easily fit 3 medium sized tents! Super close to the water source and bathrooms," reports a visitor at Oak Grove Campground.
Bird watching opportunities: The mountain hosts diverse bird species, making it popular with wildlife enthusiasts. A visitor to Fry Creek Campground noted: "By quiet I mean not a lot of human noise, but the birds! So many talkative and beautiful birds to enjoy. We stayed here during the second weekend of July and while it was pretty hot, it was only about 1/3 of the way full and still very quiet."
Reliable camp hosts: Multiple reviews mention helpful staff. At Oak Grove Campground, a camper shared: "Camp Host Rick is an awesome host and was so helpful when we ran into reservation issues through recreation.gov" while another noted "Rick the camp host is very kind and knowledgeable. Can't wait to go back."
Seasonal insect activity: Beyond flies and mosquitoes, several campgrounds report significant insect presence during warmer months. At Dripping Springs Campground, one camper cautioned: "I did see a baby scorpion in the bathroom once, so beware."
Water availability varies: Despite some campground names suggesting water features, they can be seasonal. "The creek was completely dry but plenty of bugs abound," reported a July visitor to Fry Creek Campground, while another mentioned: "Fry Creek may be completely dry despite the name."
Cell service limitations: Reception is spotty across most pet-friendly campsites near Palomar Mountain. One camper at Observatory Campground noted: "The only cell service is about two miles away at the local store. This is where you can buy firewood and supplies."
Choose the right campground loop: Some pet-friendly campgrounds have sections better suited for families with children and pets. At Temecula-Vail Lake KOA, a visitor shared: "We spent the weekend up in the 'Rincon' loop, it was nestled up away from the main group of RVs. It was a perfect spot for the kiddos to ride their bikes and goof around, there is a big loop of about 20+ sites in that area and was loaded with mostly younger families like ours."
Prioritize accessibility: For families with pets and young children, consider sites with easier access. At Palomar Mountain State Park Campground, a camper noted: "Most of the sites are on slopes, or require walking up/down a series of steps to access. Some are very close together and with little even ground, so consult other reviews or site photos if that's a concern."
Wildlife safety measures: Bring appropriate containment for pets due to local wildlife. An Observatory Campground visitor warned: "I brought my family with our 2 dogs for Thanksgiving and unfortunately we left early because it was a major danger for our dogs with the very bold and brave coyotes. We tent camped but I feel like if we had an RV it would have been safer for the dogs."
Consider site location carefully: At Lake Henshaw Resort, a unique approach to site selection exists: "Lake Henshaw is not the most scenic or well maintained campground, but we enjoy going there. It is unique in that the campsites are not designated or even clearly defined, you basically pay an entry and set up camp wherever you like."
Water and power access: Unlike many forest service campgrounds, some private campgrounds offer full hookups. "We have solar so choose Arroyo Secco at first. We moved up to Chardonnay Bluff and were able to work with no issues. There is a huge difference in how much love KOA puts into each section. The top is beautiful with green grass and lovely well cared for trees, and full hookups."
Dump station availability: RVers should note that not all campgrounds offer on-site dumping. At Dos Picos County Park, a reviewer mentioned: "You have to drive to the RV dump to dump. It's close but you don't have the convenience to dump at your site."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Palomar Mountain, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Palomar Mountain, CA is Oak Grove Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 21 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Palomar Mountain, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 238 dog-friendly camping locations near Palomar Mountain, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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