431 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping near Perris covers a range of options, from tent sites and cabin rentals to RV hookups with electric, centered around Lake Perris State Recreational Area approximately 65 miles east of Los Angeles. Campgrounds in the area include locations like Lake Perris State Recreational Area Campground and Palm View RV Park, with additional options at nearby recreation areas such as Lake Skinner Recreation Area and Launch Pointe Recreation Destination for water-based activities combined with overnight stays.
Developed campgrounds throughout the region typically offer amenities including drinking water, picnic tables, and restrooms, with many sites providing electric hookups for RVs. Summer temperatures frequently reach into the 90s, making shade trees a valuable commodity at campsites. Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly during peak summer months when lakeside locations attract visitors seeking water recreation. Most campgrounds remain open year-round with milder temperatures in spring and fall providing more comfortable camping conditions. One camper noted, "Temperatures reached low 90s but there was always a nice breeze. Find a site with good trees."
Camping near Perris varies significantly across the area's developed campgrounds. Lake Perris State Recreational Area offers fishing, swimming, hiking trails and boat rentals, making it popular despite sometimes crowded conditions on weekends. Several campgrounds feature full hookups for RVs alongside tent camping areas, creating diverse camping environments. Visitors frequently mention the clean facilities and generous site sizes, though some campgrounds can become noisy during peak periods. According to one reviewer, "Friday/Saturday is a heck of a party... held strong until 2:30am." For quieter experiences, campers recommend weekday visits when campgrounds are less crowded. The multiple recreation areas with swimming access provide family-friendly destinations during summer months, though sites with shade trees tend to book quickly.
"It is right next to the lake which has a swimming area, bike path, climbing area, Hiking trails, along with a camp store which has boat rentals and much more! "
"Good experience at lake perris we had our travel trailer plugged in with electrical and water, grey tank empty only on site."
from $25 - $300 / night
Check Availability"In the back of a small town 2 miles behind a stater brother's. Most sites are near level on gravel and close together. Laundry uses quarters or a third party app to pay."
"I had a reservation at Wilderness Lakes, and I was a day early, so they let me in! Off to a good start! Full hook-ups, laundry and showers about 50 yards away, no matter which way you go."
"This is a great family campground right around the corner from Temecula, Murrietta, and Menifee."
"The charge $10 per person per day to fish in their Lake. And you can’t swim or let the kids play in the lake because it’s a reservoir."
from $25 - $45 / night
Check Availability"Canopy Court area has easy and close access to the splash pad, the playground, a large grass area, and even the pool. The boat launch is very near by too but we had no use for that."
"I had site 126 in the fields, corner site and lake view. This campground has a pool, splash pad, park, dog park and access to the lake. They also have a band on Saturday nights."
from $55 - $140 / night
Check Availability"We were able to find a spot tucked away off one of the loops to the left after a small hill. Neighbors played loud music but we didn’t mind at all."
"clean restrooms and sites. large campground with paved roads was nice for strolling through. pretty far off the beaten path above lake elsinore. the views near by were fantastic. the staff was fairly friendly"
from $20 / night
Check Availability"Nice level grounds to walk around. Lakeside has gravel roads / pads... other side has asphalt roads / concrete pads. Restrooms are clean and acceptable."
"The lakeview area has dirt roads, sparse grass and a few spots close to the lake. The Cottonwood campground has concrete pads and well maintained grass throughout."
from $40 - $55 / night
Check Availability"Tons of hiking trails and within 30 min drive of major shopping/grocery stores. Big Bear is about an hour away with and awesome drive up the mountain."
"Close to the city but far enough away from the lights. There is a ton of stuff to do here. Fishing, kayaking, hiking, water slides, disc golf, bike trails. The RV spots are beyond huge!"
"Behind my Camp site was a few different hiking paths. Restroom buildings have water, toilets, and showers. It says to bring quarters for the showers but they were free. Each site is typical..."
"This is a nice little campground tucked away amidst the hustle and bustle of South Orange County."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"The campground was right off the highway, cost affective ($15/night), and there were no reservations needed. There were 24 sites tucked in the woods. A few water faucets & bathrooms throughout."
"Albeit it’s just off the road and Ortega highway is fairly busy at all hours of the night, so road noise was a little annoying but not bad. Self pay was easy and quick."
from $15 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $25 - $35 / night
Check Availability
ScoutLoved the beach and loved the wildlife and shops. The bathroom got dirty around closing time and people were loud and shooting fireworks late at night….its cool they have water sports and felt safe. However, for camping it was not easy to sleep cars playing loud noise and people fishing and running around…weather was great
GuideIf you like camping in a Walmart parking lot or on the streets, this place is for you.
No rangers working after the park close for day use. Didn't see one going through the campground. If you like to party all night and you have a loud system no problem. NO RAGERS AROUND. Be prepared keep your food in your car lot of rats, mice, skunks and coyotes. THE LAKE SUCKS, hard to launch your boat on and off, docks will mess up your boat. Fishing no fish they don't stock the lake. Marina is very over priced and out in the sunny parking lot. I live in LA I now got to SILVERWOOD LAKE, just as close as this place, and nicer, if you like to stay up all night Perris Lake is for you. If you want to work hard to get you boat on and off lake so you don't damage your boat, this place is for you.
GuideCampground,restrooms area very clean. Lots of paths to ride or hike. Lot of friendly rangers and staff. The lake is Very easy to use your boat and jet skis. Nice ramps and docks. I live in LA I was going to Perris Lake a crap hole, this place a lot nicer and just as close as driving to Perris. COME HERE YOU'LL LOVE IT.
TravelerThis is not for most RVs. It probably wasn't even for mine but I didn't do enough research and just jumped in. That being said, I lost my stairs and took a lot of the paint off. You'd think that I would hate this spot given how much damage I did. I love it. It was amazing. Totally worth the stairs. This place can keep it. The views. Oh my goodness the views. You can enjoy the view, taking an off-road vehicle or hiking. This was just so amazing! It was totally worth the difficult road in and all the damage. Two thumbs up!!
TravelerThis was my first solo camping trip. The campground fees were $8 per night for single vehicles. Since I have an Access Park Pass, I was able to pay half the amount. So I paid $4 per night. I stayed two nights, so paying $8 for two days was great on my wallet. There are only 18 sites in this small, quiet campground. I picked campsite #7. I chose that campsite because it was quite roomy and had a trail leading to the bathroom, although I brought my own potty tent and set-up. The site had a huge cement picnic table right under a tall tree. There was a campfire ring, but fires weren't allowed at that time because of recent fires in the area. I chose to visit the Santa Rosa Visitor Center before I drove to the campground so I could get information on bears, coyotes, and other dangerous predators. You can also check online for that information. I brought plenty of protection with me. The sites were fairly clean. I always pick up any trash before setting up my camp. Please leave no trash behind. There are trash cans along the main road, and potable water at each campsite. I had such a good time. The only drawback was I couldn't have a campfire, so I had to go inside my SUV because I could hear Coyotes coming closer. I would definitely recommend this campground for anyone wanting to get away from the noisy city. I will be back!
ScoutBooked this last minute on Rec.Gov and didn't do a lot of background research. Took me a while going around to find my site, there are private roads within the campsite. Also the entrance of the site is a City sized hospital which threw me off.
Next day the nice and quiet little campsite was awaken by the roaring sounds of motorbikes. I found out the site was next to a trail hike which is also next to a moto-dirt bike trail.
Not so bad overall since all I needed was to sit in front of my little campfire in the quiet evening listening to crickets and howls.
Coming from Long Beach, the traffic wasn't so bad compare to going to San Bernardino area.
TravelerKOA probably has the best app that indicates availability and precise grand total price. There are bargains under "deals." I've been a Rewards member since June 2024 when I transitioned from a stucco house to a tiny travel trailer fulltime. All my KOA stays were through the app, never a telephone call that is precarious with other RV parks that have hidden charges and deposits seldom refunded.
The Temecula KOA panders to campers with varying finances, but is far from free. While the fluffy class A crowd stays on a picturesque hill-with-a-view under shade, the Lower Merlot section where I docked is a treeless dusty ghetto that has a dilapidated but functional 18th century bathroom. It beats the boondocking bush toilets, and better than an outhouse vault. In fact, it has plumbing and showers that Beethoven probably appreciated.
But still not cheap. During summer Temecula is cooler at 90°s f than Palm Springs at 118° f, but unlike the coast at 70°s f with very high summer site rates and limited availability because of travelers from everywhere. Tent camping and non-air-con RVs in Temecula could be unbearable for the meek in summer.
TravelerBe sure to come early. Great location for families and small groups. Peaceful close to a city within 40min small town with church ect 15 minutes away.
ScoutIts a good campground love the nature.
Lake Perris and surrounding areas offer a range of camping experiences within 65-80 miles east of Los Angeles. The region sits at an elevation of about 1,500-2,000 feet, creating a dry desert-like climate with temperature swings between day and night. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F while winter nights can drop into the 40s. Water conservation rules affect campground operations during drought periods.
Fishing at Lake Perris State Recreation Area: Purchase a daily fishing permit and try for catfish or bass. "Lake Perris was a fun and clean place to camp at! We did some fishing, bike riding, the water was clear, and my kids loved it. There is a cool museum were the amazing staff provided us with interesting history about the lake and Indian tribes," notes Lauren R.
Hiking trails from El Cariso: Access the 1.4-mile loop trail behind the visitor center. "Directly behind the visitor center was a 1.4 mile looped trail we took our six year old and dog on around 3:00pm. The trail ended at the Firefight Memorial. Pretty cool," shares a El Cariso Campground visitor.
Water activities at Launch Pointe: Use the boat launch facilities or enjoy the pool and splash pad. "Launch Pointe was a great stay for our family and dog! The campground was clean as can be... our kids loved the playground, we enjoyed taking walks through the park," writes Stephen H. at Launch Pointe Recreation Destination and RV Park.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept bathrooms and shower areas. "The bathrooms are clean and there is a designated area for setting up tents. The only downside is that the staff starts cutting trees at 8 a.m., making a lot of noise," explains Hanjun W. at Lake Perris State Recreational Area Campground.
Proximity to wineries: Several campgrounds sit near Temecula's wine country for day trips. "Very conscientious to Temecula Wine Country, shopping and Orange County just over the Ortega hey," mentions Betty K. about Thousand Trails Wilderness Lakes RV Resort.
Water features for hot days: Splash pads and swimming areas provide relief during summer heat. "Great park. It may not seem nice when you are passing through town to get in, but once you enter the gates it's beautiful. Large concrete pads, easy backing in and hooking up. Lots of grass, great place to camp in groups," says Paul C. about Rancho Jurupa RV Park.
Weekday versus weekend experience: Campgrounds can become crowded and noisy on weekends. "This campground is ok. Everything about it is just mediocre. It's easy to find, and close to Orange County. We enjoyed Ortega Falls which is about a 10 minute drive from the campground, and there are a few other hikes nearby," notes Lindsey B. about Blue Jay Campground.
Noise considerations: Road noise affects campgrounds near highways. "We didn't particularly care for the area, it was not far enough out to feel like in serene nature but still far to drive to anything. Well kept campground, enjoyed the mini golf but weren't too majorly impressed overall."
Algae blooms: Lake conditions vary seasonally and algae can affect water activities. "This is probably the nicest thing in lake elsinore along with the bowling alley. We stayed there for a weekend and had a great time taking the kids to the pool, and slaps pad. The restaurant has great food and cold drinks."
Water park features: Several locations offer splash pads for children during hot months. "Beautiful yucaipa been twice so far are favorite place so peaceful and beautiful a lil bummed lakes were closed but still had a fun week," reports a camper at Yucaipa Regional Park.
Playground access: Look for campsites near play areas for easier supervision. "If you're camping with kids, it doesn't get much better than this! We stayed at campsite #58 which we felt was very large are private. Will definitely come back."
Educational opportunities: Some campgrounds offer nature programs or historical exhibits. "Lake Perris was a fun and clean place to camp at! We did some fishing, bike riding, the water was clear, and my kids loved it. There is a cool museum were the amazing staff provided us with interesting history about the lake and Indian tribes."
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds have uneven pads requiring leveling equipment. "The sites are all uneven. Every camper we saw had to do major leveling efforts," notes Brian C.
Hookup limitations: Check specific site utility offerings before booking. "They don't have enough 50amp sites and not all of them are always working. This park is first come / first served and they don't prohibit a 30amp rig from taking a 50amp site, so you can see the problem," explains david N. at Lake Skinner Recreation Area.
Internet considerations: WiFi availability varies widely between campgrounds in Perris CA. "Internet was great but it had bandwidth restraints that would turn your internet off after very small amounts of data used. There was no option to upgrade so you had to use your own hotspots."
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best camping options at Lake Perris?
Lake Perris State Recreational Area Campground offers excellent camping opportunities with diverse amenities. The campground features sites near the lake with swimming areas, bike paths, hiking trails, and a camp store that provides boat rentals. For those seeking alternatives near Perris, Launch Pointe Recreation Destination and RV Park provides drive-in access with water, toilets, and is big-rig friendly. Lake Perris can get crowded on weekends and holidays with a lively atmosphere, so weekday visits are recommended for a quieter experience. The campground also offers educational opportunities with an on-site museum featuring local history and Native American exhibits.
Is RV camping available at Lake Perris and what are the facilities?
Yes, RV camping is available at Lake Perris with good facilities. The campground offers sites with electrical and water hookups for travel trailers and RVs. There are no sewer connections directly at the sites, but dump stations are available near the park exit. For those seeking a more luxurious RV experience near Perris, Pala Casino Spa Resort offers upscale RV accommodations. Rancho Jurupa RV Park is another nearby option with reservable sites that are big-rig friendly with full hookups. Lake Perris campground has varying site sizes that can accommodate medium to large RVs, though it can get crowded during peak times with limited privacy between sites.
Can you camp at Lake Perris with beach or lake access?
Yes, camping with beach and lake access is available at Lake Perris. Visitors can enjoy multiple water activities as the campground is situated right next to the lake with designated swimming areas. The lake offers clear water for swimming, fishing, and boating opportunities. For those seeking alternative beach camping experiences in Southern California, Bolsa Chica State Beach Campground provides beachfront camping with concrete/asphalt sites featuring water and electric hookups. The campground is steps away from great sand beaches adjacent to Pacific Coast Highway. Serrano is another option where you can camp just a few steps away from the water, offering an immersive lake experience.
What is the campground map layout at Lake Perris?
Lake Perris State Recreational Area Campground features a layout with multiple camping loops and numbered sites. The campground is situated adjacent to the lake, with some loops offering more direct lake views and access than others. Sites are numbered (examples include 203-220, 283-317, and 293), allowing for specific reservations. The layout includes sites with varying levels of shade and privacy, though many are exposed to the sun. Lake Skinner Recreation Area offers a similar layout with multiple access options including boat-in, drive-in, and walk-in sites. The Lake Perris campground layout includes designated areas for RVs with hookups, centralized facilities like restrooms, and convenient access to the lake's recreational areas including swimming beaches and boat launches.
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