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Best Dog-Friendly Camping near San Diego, CA

1,163 Reviews

Pet-friendly camping around San Diego covers options from lakeside RV resorts to mountain campgrounds with hiking trails. Campland on the Bay sits directly on Mission Bay and includes an off-leash dog park called Dogwood Park, though dogs aren't allowed on the adjacent beach areas. The resort accommodates up to three dogs per site with a nightly pet fee and provides waste bags throughout the property. Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve offers 300 full-hookup sites spread across seven stocked fishing lakes, with leashed pets welcome on the five miles of walking trails. Lake Jennings Campground near Lakeside allows up to three pets per site and features spacious sites overlooking the reservoir, plus hiking trails that connect to the broader trail system.

For mountain camping with pets, William Heise County Park near Julian provides sites at 4,200 feet elevation with access to hiking trails and wildlife viewing opportunities. Mission Bay RV Resort keeps campers close to downtown attractions while allowing leashed pets throughout the property. Most campgrounds require dogs to stay on leashes no longer than six feet and prohibit certain breeds including pit bulls and rottweilers. Summer temperatures often exceed 90 degrees, so bringing extra water for pets becomes essential during warmer months. Coastal campgrounds like Silver Strand State Beach allow pets but can get crowded and noisy near highway areas. Reservations fill quickly for weekend dates, especially at lakefront sites and during peak season from March through October.

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Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near San Diego, California (132)

    1. Lake Jennings

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

    $35 - $140 / night

    "Just 30 minutes from San Diego, with friendly staff and partial or full hookups. We were in a preferred lake view site#96 which had water and electric hookups."

    "Tennis courts dog parks. The list just goes on and on"

    2. Sweetwater Summit Regional Park

    33 Reviews
    Bonita, CA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (619) 472-7572

    $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."

    "This campground is very close to downtown and beaches in San Diego. I paid $36 a night for electricity and water hookups plus my pet."

    3. Dos Picos County Park

    34 Reviews
    Poway, CA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 789-2220

    $24 - $100 / night

    "General: A mix of partial hook-up and tent sites plus six cabins about an hour from San Diego. "

    "Second time here, booked to be close to the San Diego zoo safari park. This is a very well run county park."

    4. Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve

    16 Reviews
    Santee, CA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (619) 596-3141

    "Nice campground just 20’ from San Diego city. Set up our 16’ travel trailer at a lakeshore full hookup site #27 (no fire pit though)."

    "Being a native San Diegan The east county location allows for easy access to San Diego sites from two freeways."

    5. San Diego Metro KOA

    32 Reviews
    Bonita, CA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (619) 427-3601

    "Great place if you’re in the San Diego area. Every amenity, wonderful customer service, and close to all the sites that most people enjoy visiting out this way."

    "This particular area of San Diego isn't my favorite, but it does the trick as a base for touring the area."

    6. Circle RV Resort

    9 Reviews
    San Diego, CA
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (619) 648-1966

    "Short walking distance to numerous stores, fast food joints, and to make you feel safe, a Highway Patrol office is right across the street."

    7. William Heise County Park

    46 Reviews
    Julian, CA
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 765-0650

    $24 - $34 / night

    "The drive up here from San Diego is quick and picturesque. You'll pass through a couple quaint and historic little mountain towns, but Julian is the best stop."

    "William Heise is one of the hidden camping Gems in San Diego. It's located about 5 miles from the rustic town of Julian. There's over 100 camping spots ranging from RV to tent."

    8. Silver Strand State Beach

    23 Reviews
    Coronado, CA
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (619) 435-5184

    $65 - $85 / night

    "Can’t beat the proximity to the beach! Spots next to the road are loud and the campground is busy with small parking lot style areas, but if you can get a spot backing on to the beach, A+."

    "This is our go-to spot when we want to camp as close to the beach as possible."

    9. Thousand Trails Pio Pico

    13 Reviews
    Dulzura, CA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "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."

    10. Campland on the Bay

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

    $60 / night

    "The place is built like a mini city right on Mission Bay with views of downtown San Diego. It's definitely a different type of camping."

    "We wandered into San Diego, and despite the challenges with Covid19 and Social Distancing, we had a fantastic time. "

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Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near San Diego, CA

112 Photos of 132 San Diego Campgrounds

Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near San Diego, CA

1163 Reviews of 132 San Diego Campgrounds

  • Cha C.
    May. 13, 2019

    Burnt Rancheria Campground

    Quick getaway

    Quick drive from San Diego, some shady sites, some open sites. Nice hiking / biking near meadows. Can be windy at times. Compost toilets. Temp can get pretty hot in the summer.

  • Katie R.
    May. 8, 2017

    Burnt Rancheria Campground

    Weekend Getaway

    This campground is an easy weekend getaway slot, just 1 hour away from San Diego. Sites and facilities are clean amd well maintained. The campground back up to the Pacific Crest Trail which makes for some cool hikes. All sites are also dog friendly, a plus for us. The only downside is that some sites are small and the campground can get crowded during summer season and holidays.

  • Alexa B.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 15, 2025

    Laguna Campground

    My favorite local sd campground

    My favorite spot to come up from san diego (only and hour away) and escape to some pine trees and meadow wilderness. So many hikes behind this campground I definitely recommend checking out

  • Andrea R.
    May. 8, 2017

    Observatory Campground

    Peaceful

    A friend brought me here to take a break from San Diego. The stars the wild sounds was just perfect. The drive there was beautiful. It a nice break from the city.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 6, 2022

    Burnt Rancheria Campground

    Perfect Local Mountain Getaway!

    This campground is a great little hidden gem of a getaway tucked into the Laguna mountains just 50 or so miles from San Diego. At alt 6000 feet in mountain forests, you feel like you are far away from it all. The camp sites are generously spaced adding to the seclusion. It is a family campground, so just know the weekends are going to be full of kids and pets, but weekday camping will present the peace of wind and birds. Bathrooms are clean and water is available everywhere. Not many spaces for big rigs, but lots if you’re in the 20’ range. One whole section is fir first-come, first-serve.

    Access to the PCT for a stretch of very easy hiking right out of the campground. A cafe at the entrance and a general store up the road a couple of miles.

    Advise stopping at a local grocery for firewood, tho. Is expensive ($8/bundle) at the campground and it’s not even local. They have it shipped in.

    Lastly the price here is not $25/ nite as listed. At yhe time of this writing (4/2022) it is $29/nite

  • Krystle L.
    Jun. 26, 2023

    Burnt Rancheria Campground

    Mountain Solitude in the city

    Mount Laguna is a wonderful destination if looking for some fresh mountain air without a long commute being just 30-45min drive from San Diego. We really enjoyed our time at this campground. Lots of wonderful trails right from the campground. Sites are nice with lots of tree for more privacy. Restroom facilities were pretty nice. Would come back again!

  • K
    May. 21, 2018

    Green Valley Campground — Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

    Close and Perfect for Weekends

    This 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!

  • Jerry H.
    Jul. 2, 2019

    Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve

    Great local campsite!

    Nice campground just 20’ from San Diego city. Set up our 16’ travel trailer at a lakeshore full hookup site #27 (no fire pit though). Kids loved the convenient fishing right behind our trailer and the swimming pools a short drive away. Also was able to rent paddle boats to cruise around the lakes. Only problem was the ants we encountered (first time ever) and had to run over to the local Lowe‘s to purchase some DE to spread around the anchor points and connections. Facilities were clean and well maintained though and will definitely return for our local weekend getaways.

  • Jonathan G.
    Oct. 25, 2020

    Burnt Rancheria Campground

    Great campground!

    Only an hour from San Diego, this is accessible but feels so far away. At 6,000 feet, the pine and oak trees provide great shade in almost all sites, but there's still plenty of sun. Bathrooms were clean; some are pit toilets and others are flush and even have showers. All sites have a picnic table and fire pit, plus there are lots of potable water spigots throughout. The Mt Laguna store is only half a mile up the road, the Desert View hike goes right out from camp (plus the PCT), and there are many other hikes along the highway.

Guide to San Diego

Discovering pet-friendly camping spots near San Diego allows you to enjoy the great outdoors without leaving your furry friends behind. Here are some excellent options that cater to both you and your pets.

Pet owners like spacious sites and amenities

  • At William Heise County Park, campers can enjoy clean campsites equipped with picnic tables and fire pits, perfect for family gatherings with pets.
  • Lake Jennings offers a peaceful environment with spacious sites surrounded by trees, providing a great retreat for both pets and their owners.
  • Sweetwater Summit Regional Park features well-maintained facilities, including restrooms and showers, ensuring a comfortable stay for you and your pet.

Dog-friendly activities while camping near San Diego

  • Enjoy hiking trails at Dos Picos County Park, where you can explore the beautiful surroundings with your dog.
  • Dixon Lake Campground provides opportunities for fishing and scenic walks, making it a great spot for outdoor adventures with your pet.
  • At Campland on the Bay, you can take your dog for a stroll along the beach and enjoy various recreational activities available on-site.

Tips for camping with dogs near San Diego

  • Always check the specific pet policies at San Diego Metro KOA to ensure a smooth experience for you and your furry friend.
  • Bring plenty of water and snacks for your pet when visiting Lake Morena County Park, as some areas may not have immediate access to supplies.
  • Keep your dog leashed and clean up after them at Fiddlers Cove RV Park to maintain a pleasant environment for all campers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best dog-friendly campgrounds in San Diego?

San Diego offers several excellent dog-friendly camping options. Burnt Rancheria Campground in the Laguna Mountains is a standout choice, with all sites welcoming dogs and access to the Pacific Crest Trail for hiking with your furry friend. Located just an hour from San Diego at 6,000 feet elevation, it offers a mountain escape with plenty of shade. For campers seeking a lakeside experience, Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve provides full hookup sites just 20 minutes from the city, with convenient fishing opportunities and swimming pools that the whole family can enjoy. Both campgrounds offer clean facilities and are easily accessible for weekend getaways with your dog.

What are the pet policies for camping in San Diego campgrounds?

Pet policies at San Diego area campgrounds typically require dogs to be on leashes no longer than 6 feet at all times. William Heise County Park near Julian and Paso Picacho Campground in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park both allow pets but require them to be restrained and never left unattended. Most campgrounds limit pets to developed areas only—not on trails or in wilderness areas unless specifically designated as pet-friendly. Owners must clean up after their pets and keep them quiet. Many sites charge an additional pet fee, especially RV parks. It's always best to check specific campground regulations before arrival as policies may vary regarding number of pets allowed and restricted areas.

Are there any pet-friendly beach camping options in San Diego?

Campland on the Bay is one of San Diego's premier pet-friendly beach camping destinations, offering waterfront sites where you can camp with your dog while enjoying Mission Bay. The campground features designated pet areas and easy access to dog-friendly sections of the shoreline. For those with RVs, Oceanside RV Resort is another option, located across the highway from a beachy play area in Oceanside. While not directly on the sand, it's just a short walk to beach access where you can enjoy the ocean with your pet following local leash regulations. Both locations provide the unique experience of camping near the coast with your furry companion.

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