Best Campgrounds near Fallbrook, CA

Camping spots surround Fallbrook, California, with options ranging from mountains to beaches. William Heise County Park has good hiking trails and nice views for campers who like to walk. Crystal Cove State Park sits closer to the coast, with basic facilities including bathrooms and shower buildings. Many campers head to Lake Hemet Campground where the sites have decent shade and you can fish nearby. If you want to camp by the ocean, San Clemente State Beach Campground puts you right near the water. Each place has its own feel - some campgrounds have sites spaced far apart while others pack them in closer together. The weather around Fallbrook can change quickly, often cooling down a lot at night even after hot days. Watch out for local wildlife and store your food properly so animals don't get into it. Besides your campsite, you'll find hiking paths, fishing spots, and great lookout points in the area. Make sure to check the rules for each campground before you go. Fallbrook works well as a base for camping trips since you can reach mountains, beaches, and lakes without driving too far. Pack for different conditions and double-check what each campground actually has before you leave. A little planning makes camping around Fallbrook much better.

Best Camping Sites Near Fallbrook, California (262)

    1. South Carlsbad State Beach Campground

    77 Reviews
    Carlsbad, CA
    19 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. Guajome Regional Park

    19 Reviews
    Oceanside, CA
    9 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."

    3. San Mateo Campground — San Onofre State Beach

    53 Reviews
    San Clemente, CA
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (949) 492-4872

    $45 - $250 / night

    "San Mateo is one of the better beach campgrounds in California, some sites have some great privacy."

    "Another beautiful gem along the California Coast. Although not on or too near the beach, this campground is truly a lovely spot. All or most of the campsites boast a bit of privacy."

    4. Temecula-Vail Lake KOA

    20 Reviews
    Cleveland National Forest, CA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (951) 303-0173

    "Bike trails are right next to the park. Fun trails watch out for rattle snakes. Only downside is the kids racing around in golf carts at night."

    "She told me that it had been around for decades under a different name, Buttercup I think. It has an established rotation of regular guests that come for access to wine country."

    5. Pala Casino Spa Resort

    8 Reviews
    Fallbrook, CA
    7 miles
    +1 (844) 472-5278

    "The Pala RV Park is located on the premises of the Pala Casino. The RV park is well maintained and has all the enmities of any RV park; including a pool."

    "Very well kept up resort. 5-8 minute walk from your camper to a slot machine. They allow early checkin and late checkout."

    6. Dixon Lake Campground

    24 Reviews
    Escondido, CA
    17 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."

    7. Pechanga RV Resort

    8 Reviews
    Temecula, CA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (951) 587-0484

    "Very nice facilities, newer, walking distance to casino, pool, world renown golf course, restaurants, sports park facilities… take an Uber to the amazing wineries approx 5 min drive."

    "Close to freeway and golf courses. Lots of places to eat close by."

    8. Lake Skinner Recreation Area

    25 Reviews
    Temecula, CA
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (951) 926-1541

    $25 - $45 / night

    "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."

    9. San Clemente State Beach Campground

    38 Reviews
    San Clemente, CA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (949) 492-3156

    $45 - $300 / night

    "California beach camping can be very hard to come by. Unlike some other campgrounds in Southern California this one gives you ample room to move around and set up camp."

    "The hardcore surfing nomads stealth camp in their bubble-top vans outside of the park on the streets. Walking distance to Cottons point for surfing and to hangout among the beach huts."

    10. Dripping Springs Campground

    15 Reviews
    Aguanga, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 788-0250

    $25 - $50 / night

    "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."

    "It's close proximity to Temecula makes it easy to get to. Also, because it is small there were no issues with noise or traffic."

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Recent Reviews near Fallbrook, CA

1652 Reviews of 262 Fallbrook Campgrounds


  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    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. The staff is nice and not too strict. The place can definitely need a lil tlc but for the price per dayits nothing too complain too much. 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.

  • Elise F.
    Aug. 25, 2025

    Fry Creek Campground

    Loved it

    We absolutely loved Fry Creek. It might be our favorite place to camp so far. Our site was removed from others so we weren’t bothered by neighbors. 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. We were constantly surrounded and graced by the sounds of woodpeckers, pigeons, mountain quail, bluebirds, jays, and more. One important note though is this entire area is swarmed with flies. We brought nets to put around our faces and without these, I don’t think I would have survived. So definitely bring nets for your face, bug spray, and citronella. Despite this, it was a lovely place. Will be returning one day.

  • Julie
    Aug. 12, 2025

    Bogart County Park

    Bogart Regional park

    It was okay for a last minute camping idea.

  • Julie
    Aug. 12, 2025

    Bogart County Park

    Yucaipa Regional park

    Great customer service, easy access, restrooms, fishing, swimming and paddle boats.

  • Elise F.
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Kumeyaay Lake Campground

    Perfect weekend getaway

    This campground is located in the Mission Trails Regional Park, and we absolutely loved it. There are clean bathrooms with flushable toilets and showers, and sinks to wash off things. The rangers even supplied Dr. Bronners Castile soap in each bathroom. We stayed in site number 17 and it was lovely. Each camp site has a picnic table, fire ring, and tent pad. Online says you can buy firewood but they no longer provide that service, so make sure you bring your own firewood! You can’t swim in the lake, but you can fish and it’s very pleasant to walk around and bird watch. There is so much to do in this urban park, you could spend many days here. P.S. the Mission Trails visitor center is spectacular.


Guide to Fallbrook

Camping near Fallbrook, California, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a beachside retreat or a mountain 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."
  • Hiking and Biking: Explore the trails around San Mateo Campground — San Onofre State Beach. One visitor noted, "Great if you want to ride along PCH. This stretch has good bike lanes that take you into Oceanside or Encinitas."
  • Fishing: Head to Lake Hemet Campground for some fishing. A reviewer mentioned, "The campground is clean and the fishing is good, most of the time."

What campers like

  • Scenic Views: Campers rave about the stunning views at William Heise County Park. One happy camper said, "Definitely was a nice stay and will be going back."
  • Clean Facilities: Many appreciate the cleanliness of the campgrounds. A visitor at San Mateo Campground — San Onofre State Beach remarked, "Clean bathrooms and showers, but we stayed midweek and the place was very, very minimally occupied."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often mention the helpful staff. At Moro Campground — Crystal Cove State Park, one reviewer said, "The people are lovely and nice, the views are stunning."

What you should know

  • Crowded on Weekends: Many campgrounds can get busy, especially on weekends. A camper at Doheny State Beach Campground noted, "The middle sites are small and tight, offering little privacy."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Lake Hemet Campground, may have limited amenities. One visitor mentioned, "Toilets and shower were not very nice, you do not get much privacy as the sites are quite close to each other."
  • Noise Levels: Be prepared for some noise, especially near highways. A camper at San Clemente State Beach Campground said, "Music way too loud... I'm just not going there."

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for spots like William Heise County Park, where families can enjoy spacious sites. One reviewer said, "The campsites were spacious and well-equipped with fire pits, picnic tables, and access to clean restrooms and showers."
  • Plan Activities: Make sure to have activities planned. A visitor at San Mateo Campground — San Onofre State Beach suggested, "Great running. You can lap the campsite, which is almost 1 mile, end to end."
  • Pack Snacks: Having snacks on hand can keep kids happy. Campers at South Carlsbad State Beach Campground enjoyed the nearby restaurant, saying, "Great little restaurant serving pizza and snacks overlooking the ocean."

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure to check the size of the sites before booking. A reviewer at Doheny State Beach Campground mentioned, "If you are in an RV, you will be fine. As a tent camper, the spots are tiny."
  • Be Prepared for Crowds: Expect busy weekends at popular spots like San Clemente State Beach Campground. One camper noted, "The campground is huge and there aren't many staffers to maintain it."
  • Bring Your Own Shade: Some campgrounds may not have enough shade. A visitor at Lake Hemet Campground advised, "Bring your own shade for this campsite, your own water too."

Camping near Fallbrook, CA, has something for everyone, from beach lovers to mountain adventurers. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best campgrounds in Fallbrook, CA?

While Fallbrook itself has limited camping options, the surrounding area offers excellent campgrounds. Just a short drive away, Guajome Regional Park provides a peaceful setting with drive-in and walk-in sites, reservable spaces, and essential amenities like water and toilets. Another top option is Dripping Springs Campground, which features large, flat sites with nice shade from trees. Campers particularly enjoy site #8 for its spaciousness. The campground offers potable water and is known for being excellent for first-time tent campers. Both locations provide a convenient base for exploring Fallbrook and the surrounding Southern California attractions.

What camping options are available near Fallbrook for Southern California visitors?

Southern California visitors have several excellent camping options near Fallbrook. San Mateo Campground — San Onofre State Beach is one of the better beach campgrounds in California, offering sites with great privacy and walking distance to Trestles Beach. For a wilderness experience, Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park provides an oasis of green grass and Coastal Live Oak trees that feels miles away from suburban sprawl. Other nearby options include O'Neill Regional Park for hiking and biking enthusiasts, Green Valley Campground with its proximity to waterfalls, and San Clemente State Beach for ocean views and spacious campsites.

Are there RV parks available in Fallbrook?

While Fallbrook itself has limited RV-specific facilities, there are excellent RV parks in the surrounding area. Pechanga RV Resort offers newer facilities within walking distance to a casino, pool, golf course, restaurants, and sports facilities. It's also just a short drive from Southern California wine country. Another option is Pala Casino RV Resort, which provides full hookups and convenient access to casino amenities. For those willing to drive a bit further, Thousand Trails Wilderness Lakes RV Resort and Temecula-Vail Lake KOA offer additional RV camping experiences with various amenities and are within reasonable driving distance of Fallbrook.