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.
$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"
$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."
$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."
"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."
"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."
$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."
"Short walking distance to numerous stores, fast food joints, and to make you feel safe, a Highway Patrol office is right across the street."
"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."
$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."
$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. "
GuideThis 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.
GuideQuick 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.
TravelerMy 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
GuideA 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.
ScoutThis 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
GuideMount 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!
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!
ScoutNice 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.
RangerOnly 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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near San Diego, CA is Lake Jennings with a 4.7-star rating from 32 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 128 dog-friendly camping locations near San Diego, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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