Best Campgrounds near Rancho Santa Fe, CA

Searching for the best camping near Rancho Santa Fe, 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. Find the best campgrounds near Rancho Santa Fe, CA. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.

Best Camping Sites Near Rancho Santa Fe, California (196)

    1. South Carlsbad State Beach Campground

    77 Reviews
    Carlsbad, CA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 438-3143

    $50 - $650 / night

    "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."

    "One of best beach campgrounds in California. Beach is right there next to camping. Restroom and shower are clean even though too many people there"

    2. San Elijo State Beach Campground

    38 Reviews
    Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 753-5091

    $50 - $520 / night

    "If you wanna go on a surfside southern california adventure and keep it fun and cheap then this place is great."

    "It's classic California beach camping. Spots are fairly close together, and it's more like a parking lot than a campground. That said, the beach is great, and the river mouth is great for surfing."

    3. Dos Picos County Park

    35 Reviews
    Poway, CA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 789-2220

    $24 - $100 / night

    "The creek eventually flows into a pond located on the other end of the campground. The pond is actually pretty large! Lots of space to walk around and explore."

    "The missus and I decided to do a midweek overnight escape and chose Dos Picos Park due to its close proximity. Great little campground with partial (electricity & water) hookups."

    4. Dixon Lake Campground

    24 Reviews
    Escondido, CA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 839-4045

    $39 - $50 / night

    "Dixon lake is a perfect spot for my nephews to fish and play in the dirt. The campsites look really nice and ideal for tents. The walks around the lake are definitely worth doing!"

    "I grew up in Oceanside and people talked about camping at Dixon lake in Escondido and I thought it was lame and not “real” camping. Having never been there, I based this off nothing."

    5. Del Mar Beach Cottages

    10 Reviews
    Encinitas, CA
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 725-4640

    $35 - $65 / night

    "The campsites are small but it is clean and family friendly also located right on a big beautiful beach. You must have a military ID to camp here, you can have alcohol on the beach but no glass."

    "But being that close to the ocean was wonderful! You just can’t beat falling asleep to ocean waves!"

    6. Escondido RV Resort

    12 Reviews
    Escondido, CA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 239-5273

    "Location near I-15 and Gas stations. Staff is kind and professional. Full hookups. Fill propane avaible. Resort-style amenities. Heated outdoor Pool. Nice dog park. Access to a park for walking."

    "The site itself is simply stunning, nestled in a peaceful and beautiful location that provided the perfect backdrop for a relaxing getaway."

    7. Campland on the Bay

    21 Reviews
    Coronado, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (858) 581-4205

    $60 / night

    "It sits next to the bay, which is calmer and the beach. I've seen people jet ski, sail, paddle boat, play beach volleyball, and swim, and there are even bonfire pits on the beach!"

    "Right next to the beach, large campgrounds! Fire pits and dog friendly!"

    8. Kumeyaay Lake Campground

    20 Reviews
    Santee, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (619) 668-2748

    $24 - $25 / night

    "Campground was close to freeway exit and nearby local neighborhoods. Despite that, it still felt quiet and comfortable. Sites were clean snd a good size. Bathrooms were nice and clean."

    "You are away from the city, but not too far. The facilities were nice and the only scare was the GIGANTIC spider seen outside the bathroom. We'd for sure come pack...the price is right too :$"

    9. Lake Jennings

    33 Reviews
    Lakeside, CA
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (619) 390-1623

    $35 - $140 / night

    "This location is a hidden gem in the outskirts of the city."

    "We had scoped this out as a wintering location for my snowbird dad, and I always remembered how powerfully silence of that hillside had impacted me... finally camped there- it was lovely!"

    10. Guajome Regional Park

    19 Reviews
    Oceanside, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 724-4489

    $29 - $35 / night

    "For the price of full hook up ($35) in a location so close to the beach, I call it a win. It was beautiful with a pond and walking paths. There were many dogs and we saw horses on the paths too."

    "Flush toilets available and a nice nature walk around a lake. The park was a great/affordable base camp for nearby Legoland amusement park."

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Recent Reviews near Rancho Santa Fe, CA

1420 Reviews of 196 Rancho Santa Fe Campgrounds


  • s
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Oak Grove Campground

    Quiet, small and dark... simple camping.

    A great little hidden site with not much to offer but stargazing, fresh air and nice campers. My 2nd trailer camping trip was 1 night and it was awesome, plenty of stars and the Milky Way was so clear... years since I've seen it. Non hook ups but there is water throughout the grounds, plenty of wildlife birds, I had a bluejay sing for me all day. Clean restrooms... and red ants. Loved my space so I'll be getting it again.

  • s
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Dos Picos County Park

    A family fun zone site.

    Nice site I stayed 1 night with W/E hook ups, my first time with my new camper trailer. It was ok, trailer spaces were tight but have plenty of tall trees, not much privacy. My space was next to a rec center to have a security light on all night, more stars than the city and the moon looked good in my telescope. Overall decent site, didn't have time to enjoy the hike, fishing or park.

  • s
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Borrego Palm Canyon Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

    Open Desert Fun

    October 4th stay was new to me, my 3rd trailer camping trip from San Diego. It was nice and warm at arrival and cool by the moonlit night with the gnats going away until morning. No one was next to me so I had it good, most were tent camper and quiet by 10pm... great views. Shack guard was nice and helpful... I liked this site.

  • Karen C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2025

    San Clemente State Beach Campground

    Ant Infestation !

    If they would simply notify campers upon check in of the SIGNIFICANT SEASONAL ANT INFESTATION, it could have alleviated us waking up with ants crawling on our faces in the morning. They sell diatomaceous earth for $10. And we carry it already, but all we could do was go to WAR with the ants to contain the outbreak in our camper. BTW, we carry NO food inside the camper. Had to go to 2 hardware stores to get supplies and spend significant time eradicating only 95%. SO Disappointed. Our site was near a “coyote corridor”, so maybe why we didn’t have so many squirrels! Ha Ha!

  • C
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Granite Springs

    Little Known Gem

    Primitive camp site with chemical bathrooms. Has 3 areas to set up tents. First come first serve, but you must check in at the ranger station before you go. $5 per camper. We comfortably fit 3 tents on one site.

  • M
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Mission Bay RV Resort

    Trashy park

    Several issues here. First the most obvious the connections are at the front of the space on the drivers side. If you back in you better have 100 feet of hose sewer and power cord. Reservations failed to tell me while on the phone that the power was out but they’re still charging full price. Most of the lots are dusty dirt lots well over half of the park is not in use and in disrepair. There is trash everywhere and the staff could care less if you’re enjoying yourself. Do yourself a favor and spend the 20 extra dollars to stay at Campland Overall a waste of money and beach front property

  • HThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Sweetwater Summit Regional Park

    Great camp

    Close to the city, camp is clean and staff is friendly and helpful.

    Showers were clean, and partial hookups are only $35 a night. Cheapest I've found in California.

  • j
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Lake Henshaw Resort

    My stay review

    This place is pretty cool The staff is nice and not too strict. The place can definitely use a lil tlc but for the price per day its nothing too complain about. The pool is cool the showers and bathroom are all functional. Wich is a good thing. I was told to pick any spot i liked wich made my stay even better. No hookups at all i had my rv/camper but that was no problem i took my generator. Place is definitely recommended if you're a not too picky person.😉

  • D
    Aug. 31, 2025

    San Elijo State Beach Campground

    Cool spot

    Difficult to book. 6 months in advance but if you do. The full hookup spots are located in the middle of the campground. Don’t feel like you missed anything if you can’t get beachfront. Bushes, fences block any views unless your in dry camping down toward south end of park. Camp store is permanently closed so that Convenience is no longer here. Bathrooms and showers are clean and somewhat nice.


Guide to Rancho Santa Fe

Camping near Rancho Santa Fe, California, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a beachside retreat or a peaceful forest escape, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Beach Access: Enjoy the sun and surf at South Carlsbad State Beach Campground. Campers love the easy beach access, with one reviewer saying, "Great little restaurant serving pizza and snacks overlooking the ocean."
  • Biking and Running: The area has fantastic bike lanes and running paths. One camper mentioned, "Great if you want to ride along PCH. This stretch has good bike lanes that take you into Oceanside or Encinitas."
  • Fishing and Hiking: At Lake Jennings, you can fish and hike. A visitor shared, "The campground had a ton of bonuses, close to town if you need things but far enough away to feel the full camping experience."

What campers like:

  • Scenic Views: Campers rave about the stunning views at Moro Campground — Crystal Cove State Park. One happy camper said, "Almost every site has an ocean view of some kind."
  • Clean Facilities: Many campers appreciate the cleanliness of the facilities. A reviewer at William Heise County Park noted, "The park was clean and well-maintained, and the staff was friendly and helpful."
  • Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Campgrounds like San Mateo Campground — San Onofre State Beach are great for families. One reviewer mentioned, "The campground is set up as a bunch of loops with a large common area between the rear of every campsite."

What you should know:

  • Crowded Conditions: Some campgrounds can get busy, especially during peak seasons. A visitor at Lake Hemet Campground mentioned, "It is super busy, a lot of people around."
  • Limited Privacy: Campers at Doheny State Beach Campground noted that sites can be close together. One camper said, "The middle sites are small and tight, offering little privacy."
  • Noise Levels: Be prepared for some noise, especially near busy campgrounds. A camper at San Clemente State Beach Campground shared, "Music way too loud... I'm just not going there."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for spots like Lake Jennings, which has a playground and plenty of space for kids to play. A reviewer said, "Bathrooms, playground, hikes, 360 views."
  • Plan Activities: Bring bikes or plan hikes to keep everyone entertained. One family mentioned, "There are so many trails to explore with signs throughout."
  • Pack Snacks: Having snacks on hand can make a big difference. A camper at South Carlsbad State Beach Campground enjoyed the "great little restaurant serving pizza and snacks."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure to check the size of the sites before booking. A reviewer at San Mateo Campground noted, "Sites are quite large with bushes/trees between sites."
  • Be Mindful of Noise: If you're sensitive to noise, consider choosing a site further from common areas. A camper at Lake Hemet mentioned, "There’s not a lot of campground etiquette either."
  • Plan for Hookups: If you need hookups, check which campgrounds offer them. A visitor at William Heise County Park appreciated the "full hookup, partial hookup, no hookup" options available.

Camping near Rancho Santa Fe, California, has something for everyone, whether you're a family looking for fun or an RVer seeking a peaceful getaway.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Rancho Santa Fe, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, Rancho Santa Fe, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 196 campgrounds and RV parks near Rancho Santa Fe, CA and 11 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Rancho Santa Fe, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Rancho Santa Fe, CA is South Carlsbad State Beach Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 77 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Rancho Santa Fe, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 11 free dispersed camping spots near Rancho Santa Fe, CA.