The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near San Diego. San Diego is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near San Diego and user-submitted reviews.
$34 - $38 / night
"This is a San Diego County Park/Campground. It offers everything from tent/car camping to full hook-up for large RVs."
"Beautiful Campground just outside San Diego. Busy but is well maintained. Not the most quiet, but we enjoyed watching the planes fly over and people watching!"
$24 - $25 / night
"Perfect campground located right in San Diego. Great for families with small kids and there are many close trails. There is something for everyone."
"This place is a jem, being so close to most parts of San Diego."
"I was looking for a place to camp that wasn't too far from San Diego and offered some hiking in the desert landscape. The grounds are quite large - there's 2 pools and rec centers."
"Locations near Jamul Casino. Staff is kind and professional. Full hookups sites. Fill propano available. Spot are very big. The pool and kid playground are great."
$40 - $250 / night
"This Is a really fun family friendly campsite that is a short drive from San Diego. There are convenient market within a 10 minute drive of the site for extra supplies."
"Nearby to San Diego, quick drive and you are there. Nice shady areas, plenty of hiking / biking trails around. Bathrooms are a plus."
$40 / night
"While both have their positives, I personally love this one for its close proximity to the waterfalls that are a short trail from the campsites."
"Tucked away from the city lights of San Diego. Very nice camp ground with multiple trails climbing up Mt. Cuyamaca."
$35 / night
"We absolutely loved staying at this campsite that was tucked away in the San Diego mountains. There is so many trials to hike. A little local downtown that had a great BBQ spot!"
"It’s got great hikes, biking trails (one of the best in San Diego county), and views nearby. The group site books up early but off season this is a good place for quiet among the pines."
"The drive getting here is wicked, if you’ve never been here before. In my scooter club, the San Diego Pharaohs, we’ve ridden up here in the mountains plenty, so I knew what I was in for."
"The entrance is a hair-pin turn (from the south) and you'll need to go a little further north to turn around."
"Membership costs us around $2000 And have access to / 3000 different camp sites nationwide At any time of the year a drop of a dime essentially"
"Great location and beautiful scenery in the mountains. The resort has lost of activities to participate in. Also, great hiking trails."
$24 - $90 / night
"There are nice trails and walking paths right from the campground."
"There are walking trails walking distance from the campground and the playground in the park was very cool! If you have kids it would be a fun spot for them to play."
$20 - $50 / night
"Nice big sites and an entire loop with equestrian sites.
Pit toilets. One dumpster. Water.
I was there May 5, 2024 and the fee was $14."
"Found this spot after being turned away from lake Moreno campgrounds. Plenty of room for our trailer and enough space between sites to feel like we were alone out here."
GuideThis is my favorite out of the two campgrounds in the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. While both have their positives, I personally love this one for its close proximity to the waterfalls that are a short trail from the campsites. Depending on what campsite you are in, you can walk to the trail and down to the falls which are perfect for swimming around when it is hot outside. I love this campground for a quick weekend getaway from San Diego that has minimal preparation. Every site is a drive up site, most have shade and there are plenty of bathrooms. Most sites also have a fire ring and picnic table to use as well. A perfect, lower cost campsite that is great for families and people who want an easy camping experience with some water involved!
ScoutThis Is a really fun family friendly campsite that is a short drive from San Diego. There are convenient market within a 10 minute drive of the site for extra supplies. The state park visitor center is just up the road, and that is a fun visit for people curious about the area, or for kids to be involved in junior ranger activities.
On our last visit to this side, we did a very fun day hike with our floor-year-old and six-year-old. We also participated in a junior ranger event that was put on at the campsite. The campsite some cells are very well-maintained. The majority of the other people staying at this site word families, and everybody was veryrespectful Of each other’s campsites, and the bathroom facilities are very well-maintained. :-)
All and All, one of our favorite sites for a quick get out of town, and get into nature sites in the San Diego area.
LegendI was looking for a place to camp that wasn't too far from San Diego and offered some hiking in the desert landscape. The grounds are quite large - there's 2 pools and rec centers.
One rec center is designed more for kids with a pool table, air hockey, shuffleboard, and games. The other, more main center has TV, shuffleboard, ping pong, and a built in cafe. You can also rent out sports equipment from the main center, including golf putters for the mini golf course, baseball bats and balls for the diamond, and a few lawn games. There is WiFi access from this building and it appears they even do movie nights plus a few more community-related events, which is nice considering most people who stay here appeared to be doing so long term and having those options keeps the boredom at bay.
Heck, someone even built a track for RC cars to race on, and there is a laundry center as well. Showers were nice and warm, and not coin operated - a rarity given the water droughts around CA.
Since you're in the desert, having pools to cool off in was something I appreciated the longer I was in the heat. I did a hike in the area (TAKE LOTS OF WATER AND WATCH FOR RATTLESNAKES) and a dip in the pool was a great way to finish it off.
I gave this place 4 out of 5 for the following:
The price tag. $41 for a tent site it too much, even for private campgrounds. I presume this is because even the most primitive sites still offer electric hook ups, and $40ish is usually what you pay for those features - I just wish for a place that offers 500+ spots that some should be available without the hookups and for a lower price.
The other reason is because some of the amenities need upkeep. It's great to be able to offer things like mini golf and to have the land for a baseball diamond, but both were well overdue for maintenance.
ScoutThis is a San Diego County Park/Campground. It offers everything from tent/car camping to full hook-up for large RVs. The campground also has some nice amenities: good trail system, a splash pad (open in spring and summer months), a playground, some areas to have a group picnic, even a large event room. There are about 60 camping spaces, mostly partial hook-ups (electricity and water) and a few full hook-ups (electricity, water, and sewer) in the original campground. These sites, 1-60 offer a bit more shade than the newer campsites which are all full hook-up. The newer sites (61 and higher) are on a hill and offer some good views of Bonita Valley. 61 and higher all are all full hook-ups - but you can put a tent on 'em.
The campground is freeway close and only a few miles away from grocery stores and restaurants.
This campground has a nice feel. It is a good place to unwind and enjoy a campfire and the whole camping experience. Good place for kids. There are several campsites with horse stalls for the equestrian campers.
Sweetwater is perched near a Freeway/Toll Road (not a terribly busy one) and it is under the San Diego Airport glide path for incoming flights. So yeah, a little more city than some other campgrounds.
At this time sites cost between $26 and $36 (?) per night. That gets yo one motor vehicle. Additional vehicles are $4 per night. There is a $1 pet fee, per pet.
http://www.sdparks.org/content/sdparks/en/park-pages/SweetwaterSummit.html
ScoutTucked away from the city lights of San Diego. Very nice camp ground with multiple trails climbing up Mt. Cuyamaca.
GuideNearby to San Diego, quick drive and you are there. Nice shady areas, plenty of hiking / biking trails around. Bathrooms are a plus.
TravelerGreat weekend camping close to San Diego. Clean, plenty of bathrooms and showers, water, and drive in parcels. Even though there are a lot of camp sites it feels private. It can get really loud with groups of campers but it is worth it. Every camp site has a fire ring. There is a big store 5 miles away if you forget anything. Falls are close by and family friendly. Loved the experience!
GuideWe absolutely loved staying at this campsite that was tucked away in the San Diego mountains. There is so many trials to hike. A little local downtown that had a great BBQ spot! Our site was shaded which was great while staying over the summer. The lake isnt really a lake given the high temps was more of a pond. But it was nice to walk out across the meadow.
ScoutOakzanita is 4000 ft elevation up in the San Diego Mountains. Sites are mainly off roads that are narrow and may be hard to maneuver. Many sites are without sewer however on certain days a honey wagon may be available for $25.00. Park is about 40 minutes from Jillian. Park is okay but nothing to write home about.
Horse camping in California offers a unique opportunity to explore the great outdoors while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With a variety of campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to saddle up and hit the trails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near San Diego, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near San Diego, CA is Sweetwater Summit Regional Park with a 4.4-star rating from 32 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near San Diego, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 17 equestrian camping locations near San Diego, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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