Looking for the best tent campgrounds near San Diego? Finding a place to camp in California with your tent has never been easier. Each tent campsite offers quick access to one or more of San Diego's most popular destinations.
The Kumeyaay Lake Campground is open for Friday and Saturday night camping. The 46 campsites are available for reservation on a first-come, first-serve basis and the is $22.66 per night. On the reservation website page, go to the "Location" drop-down menu at the top of the page and select Kumeyaay Lake Campground. All cancellations must be made 14 days in advance.
$24 - $25 / night
“Discover the Joy of Nature at GoodVibes Ranch & Farm: Your Ultimate Mountain Escape!” At GoodVibes Ranch & Farm, we offer a variety of camping options to suit your preferences. Whether you prefer traditional tent camping, glamping units, or eco-friendly trailers, we have something for everyone.
Our campground is nestled in the breathtaking mountains of Jamul, California, providing a serene and picturesque backdrop for your camping adventure.
In addition to camping accommodations, we offer a range of activities to keep you entertained. Explore the surrounding hiking trails and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature. Challenge your friends to a game of disc golf or unwind with a friendly game of billiards.
We pride ourselves on providing an affordable camping experience, making it the perfect choice for families or friends looking to gather and create lasting memories.
Come and discover the joy of nature at GoodVibes Ranch & Farm, your ultimate mountain escape!
At GoodVibes Ranch & Farm, we provide a range of amenities to ensure your comfort and convenience during your camping experience. With 74 Acres you have ample space around your individual campsites to enjoy with friends and family. To utilize amenities such as disc golf or billiards check in at front desk to access. Hiking or Disc Golf maps are also at front desk. Our campground offers separate men's and women's bathrooms, as well as a shower area where you can freshen up after a day of outdoor activities.
For those who prefer to cook their own meals, we have a fully equipped kitchen available for your use. Stay connected with our WiFi access and enjoy the convenience of well water throughout the campground.
We also prioritize sustainability and have implemented a waste management system. You will find designated bins for garbage, recycling, and compost, allowing you to dispose of your waste responsibly.
To enhance your camping experience, we have fire pits where you can gather around and enjoy a cozy campfire. Additionally, we provide a BBQ grill and picnic areas for you to enjoy outdoor meals with your loved ones.
We strive to provide all the necessary amenities to make your stay enjoyable and hassle-free at GoodVibes Ranch & Farm.
$50 - $175 / night
Corral Canyon CampgroundDistance1.2 miles with connecting optionsCampfiresCampfires are not allowed when elevated fire restrictions are in effect. Please see our current fire restrictions page for more details.FeesAdventure Pass RequiredHike/Ride TimeHalf dayDifficultyEasy to ModerateBest SeasonsSpring, WinterLocationOff the I-8 at Buckman Springs Rd. Turn right on Buckman Springs rd. to Morena Stokes Valley rd, travel 10 miles to reach Four Corners Staging area and continue to the campgroundRanger DistrictDescanso Ranger District - (619) 445-6235 Corral Canyon Campground is located within the Corral Canyon OHV Area and provides a secluded camping opportunity for those using the surrounding trails. Campsites are nestled amongst an Oak grove with views of chaparral and desert for miles. Trails can be accessed from just outside of the campground, linking many to__the greater OHV Area for more options. Each parking sport was designed to accommodate vehicles towing up to 27ft. trailers.20 sites are available and OHV use is allowed with a Green Sticker (required). Please note that there is no potable water in the campground or within the local Corral Canyon and Bear Valley area.
We're an organic farm homestead. Springtime sees the field lush and green from the rains. Summer is hot and dry, but the cool evening breeze is nice. We have Red-tailed Hawks at their nest, hummingbirds, songbirds, and our own quail, chickens, turkeys and ducks to mingle with.
Campsites are in our open back pasture, "Oat Prairie at Eyrie Farm." You'll probably hear coyotes at night.
It's your responsibility as campers to be aware of our policies, including all rules, cancellation policy and check in/out times (which are local PST). These policies are FIRM.
Be advised at this time there is no toilet, it is Pack-It-Out. We will be adding a bathroom shed shortly.
Every person-- adults and kids of ALL ages-- count toward party size. Children are not free.
No RVs, trailers, or campers. No exceptions. Truck pop-up tents are fine. Additional cars after the first 2 are charged $10 each, cash on site. Carpool when possible!
NO PETS. Guests with assistance animals must sign our assistance animal contract to stay. Be advised that assistance animal fraud is a crime, and we must protect ourselves and our animals.
We are strictly unavailable after 9pm. It's best to arrive before nightfall as it's easier to fine. Once you get on our road you must LOOK for our number and signage on the LEFT side of the road (you'll receive address in your booking confirmation). Make sure you go to "Eyrie Farm" and no other place!
Follow us on FaceBook! Search for "The Eyrie Farm":)
We also sometimes host on Hipcamp, at the listing here:
$30 / night
Legend
General: A mix of partial hook-up and tent sites plus six cabins about an hour from San Diego.
Site Quality: All the sites have paved pads except 64-68 and 70-75; these have gravel pads. These sites also have a curb which can be a bit challenging when backing in an RV. A fire ring and picnic table complete the site. Some have better separation/privacy than others. This area had a lot of recent rain so the creek that meanders through the park was very high. Sites 74 and 75 were flooded and unoccupied when we were there.
Bathhouse: The one closest to site 73 was very basic (no hooks, shelves, or mirror); there was also one handicap-accessible separate bathroom. Although there were showers in other parts of the campground, there were not any in the bathhouse closest to our site.
Activities/Amenities: Campfire program, horseshoe pit, short nature trail, dump station. There is also a large, enclosed picnic pavilion. This park seemed to attract family groups (at least on a Friday) and it was great to see so many kids around the campground not on their devices! Appreciate the dishwashing sink and the propane canister recycling.
We had to change our plans at the last minute so we were fortunate to secure a site at this park on a Friday night in late March and it was fine for an overnight.
Guide
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.
Guide
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.
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 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.
Legend
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.
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.
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.
Scout
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. 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.
Guide
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. Make sure to grab some pie and hard cider before you leave, apples grow everywhere in Julian. As for the campgrounds, they are located at an elevation of 4,200 ft and feature rolling hills with deer and wild turkeys! We were able to see both, as well as a pack of 20 raccoons when we were about to go to sleep. Most sites have trees, but you can't tie anything to them FYI. Bathrooms and showers were close and very clean...bring quarters for the showers.
Guide
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!
Scout
I loved how accessible this campsite was, especially if you're coming from San Diego. Our site had electricity and water, a fire pit, and a picnic table. There were plenty of sites to go around. The rangers were helpful and the facilities were very well maintained. You can buy firewood from the front entrance or get some from the local general store down the street. There were coin operated showers available and bathrooms at each end of the campground. It did get pretty hot during the day, so I would bring a canopy if you have one. My boyfriend and I hit the trails in the afternoon and at night. We saw wild turkeys and the stars were endless. Overall, I loved staying here. This was a perfect escape from the madness going on right now.
Legend
Overall I’d rate this park a“meh.” It’s an okay location, across the highway and a short walk from a “beach” (more like a little beachy play area), though it’s also right up against the train tracks. Oceanside as a town is pretty cute, depending on which part you're in. You’re also a very close drive to Lego Land and not too far from San Diego and such. Since campgrounds in Southern California tend to be very, very expensive, this one falls about in the middle.
The spots were okay. Not too tight, but not cute. There's some fences and scrub-trees in-between the spots, so that helps a bit. There’s also a dog area, which is helpful. Bathrooms okay. Nothing special. Like I said, mostly a “meh.”
When we were there, there was also a bit of construction and such going on. In reading other reviews online it looks like there’s a new owner as of some time in 2019, so it may end up nicer in the future. But as it was, I’d try somewhere else first if you can find other options more to your liking.
Guide
Located at Lake Cuyamaca in Julian. Gorgeous views of the lake!!!! Picnic area, tent camping sites, and also cabins and condos as well. This place is so serene and peaceful as you are tucked in adjacent to the 110 acre lake. Only lake in San Diego that has stock trout all year. Other fish include Florida bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, bluegill, and sturgeon. Sits at over 4,000 elevation with Mt Laguna right up the road. Huge bathrooms here with running water. Fee is rarely cheap. Great campground for families or just as a day escape 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
Guide
Sweet Oaks winery campgrounds has 16 sites available for both tent camping and RV’s (no hook-ups). It’s pretty close to grocery stores and big box stores just in case you forgot some gear/supplies. They have a beautiful well-kept property with super-clean restrooms (no showers). They do have a water hose for you to fill up your tanks or Jerry cans. They didn’t allow campfires due to high fire danger though. You’ll have to bring your own fire pit setup if they ever allow them in the future. It was a beautiful walk around the vineyards but there are also hiking trails nearby. It’s off a road suitable for road bikes but there are also mountain bike trails nearby. They have equestrian activities also available for guests. We were able to get our tin top Eurovan to fit on one of their tent sites which offered a beautiful view of Temecula valley. The wine tasting room was closed due to the pandemic but you can order wine online and they will deliver to your site. One more thing, we counted about 8 hot air balloons as we had breakfast!
Guide
This place is truly a hidden gem. 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. There was a play area that had ladder golf, tetherball, and ping pong. Have extra guess? Have them reserve a Tipi that has a max of 6 people. We had thee bars on our Version service and the campground WIFI is one of the best I have seen camping. Lake Jennings has some supplies available as well such as ice, propane, firewood, etc. at reasonable prices. Bathrooms and showers are clean. There is a dump station in the campground, and I suggest checking out the best way to get into the dump station before taking your rig. there are several roads around the dump station but only one that takes you in straight without having to make a sharp turn and possibly having to back up. The lake is drinking water for the local town and therefore no swimming allowed but they do stock the lake with fish. Just a long walk or short drive to the other side of the Lake and you can go fishing or boating. I would not suggest checking in early. The road in is very narrow and if you arrive before the noon checkout time you may find yourself falling into the lake while trying to squeeze by another on coming RV or trailer.
ScoutPros:
easy to get to, nice amenities
right next to Julian (perfect for day trips into town)
there are a few campsites where you can create some privacy (much more so than many other San Diego park campgrounds)
cool, easy trails to hike nearby
Cons:
most campsites are right on top of each other, many don't provide shade. One occasion, a family with a giant RV parked in the middle of the tent campground area, their generator/other RV components were extremely loud, and they brought two power wheel cars that their young children promptly began to drive around (adding to the sounds of other battery-powered crap) at 6am. My solace came when the batteries finally died.
rangers are constantly patrolling and there are A TON of rules for the campground ("quiet hours", no ropes or anything else tied to the trees)
the area is ridden with flies at certain times of the year- i believe it was late summer
Traveler
La Jolla Indian Reservation Campground is located 30 mins south of the Observatory on Palomar Mtn, and 60 mins north of San Diego. There are ~38 reservable RV sites with hook-ups. Half of them are along the river front. There are multiple group tent sites and even more first come first serve, get in where u fit in, no hookup RV and tent sites. There is a gas station/convenience store just before the entrance, where a 20lb bag of ice is $4. Load up, you’ll need it. There are very few campgrounds that are near the water AND you’re allowed to play in the water. There are only two in SoCal, that I know of, the other is Yucapai.
We reserved RV space 10, for our tent trailer. The 30’ site was a tight fit for out 22’ trailer and two cars. But we’re able to put up out shade tent, tarp, and seating.
The good… RV Park area had a lot of trees that provided shade in the 100 degree heat. The hookups were easy and we had no problems with neighbors. The river cooled things down once it got going, you can rent or bring your own tube/river rat to ride down the river, at your own risk! Bring water shoes. Kids loved swinging on the make shift swings along the water. Propane grills recommended, not every site has a charcoal grill and depending on weather and fire conditions will determine if fire pits will be allowed.
The bad… the river only runs Friday to Sunday. However, Lake Henshaw turns the water on Friday at 7:30 am and it doesn’t make it down to the res until 4:30 pm. It was a long hot wait for water. Saving grace was the hose we brought to water down the dirt. Only one bathroom and multiple port-o-potties (sp?) and I don’t recommend those. Bring TP. The lines are long in the morning. There’s no grey water disposal. Keep track of your valuables. The first come first serve camp area tents to be more rowdy than the RV area, though both are loud (music & kids).
Legend
I thought I would hate Campland. It is the opposite of what I imagine camping to be. There are two swimming pools and hot tubs. A stage for music, grocery, arcade, pizza cafe, marina, beach with water rentals and lots of people (it fills up all summer). Instead I loved it. The same you might love Coney Island. It's perfect for being what it is.
Campsites for RVs are well shaded and they have mini privacy walls separating every couple of sites. Tent sites are a little more hit or miss with shade and you can see they have a large population of car-campers taking the less shaded sites. They have clean bathrooms and showers.
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. According to the employees at the desk a lot of the RV sites are reserved years in advance by the same families who come the same week every year. You definitely will see plenty of kids running around and 50 foot rvs towing jeeps and golf carts. There is a big "meadow" near the beach for napping and there is a full stage for music events which they hold weekly in the summer. It is the best spot to watch the nightly fireworks from the nearby Sea World.
They have enforced quiet hours which makes a huge impact with all the families. It is dog friendly. It is a great spot for staying if you want to visit San Diego and be right on the water. The marina has boats, kayaks, surf, etc for rent.
But...It's not really camping! You can walk from there to the main drag of Pacific Beach/Mission Beach or even to the ocean (just over a mile.)
Guide
68-year old, still tenderfoot tent camper. This was my first experience in California after three prior stays in Texas and Arizona. The San Diego County system centrally handles reservations of its campgrounds, which was fortunate for me. I mistakenly reserved one campground thinking it was another (my preferred, Potrero), but it was 30 miles away. Even though I paid for two nights in advance, their phone reservations help was superb and got me transferred without any hiccups. Big shout-out to the ranger at Potrero for suggesting. I interacted with several and they were all professional, friendly and helpful.
There's one central plumbed restroom and shower facility. Further out along the tent sites there was a hand portapotty. When you first drive in you'll go past a very large day-use area with its own facilities before you get to the overnight camping sites. Alcohol is permitted if alcohol content < 20%.
My site #7 was the last in the row of tent-only sites and appeared to be the largest with plenty of shade and flat pad site. Without seeing other tents it's a little hard to gauge size, but I'd guess walking by the other sites that there's probably at least 80-100 feet between tent pads, or even more. Lots of open spaces. The seven tent sites shared a couple (maybe more) of water spigots.
The primary annoyance was with the park's neighbors who seemingly had a whole pound of dogs who barked loudly through the nights. Given how otherwise silent it was, it was the barking was noticeable and to be distinguished from the coyotes, birds and owls. I think I also heard roosters crowing each morning as early as 3am.
The major event of my stay was the arrival of, as Steely Dan sang, "Here come those Santa Ana winds again …" At 5 a.m. the first morning, it was still and quiet as can be (sans the neighborhood dogs). A few minutes later, the winds hit. For the next 11 hours, surviving the wind 30-40 mph sustained winds, gusts over 50 was the only concern – both for my little tent and my car and myself due to the wind effects on the large trees surrounding us. In the end, there was no noticeable damage but seldom have I spent a full day out in the weather like that.
All in all, I'm not sure you could ask for more at about $25/night. Although I would've paid double if there were a no-wind option. I also had two great tent parties my second night, a couple about my age who were returning to California after summering in Baja, and a young woman from Germany traveling by herself around the world. Interesting neighbors to say the least.
At site #7 I had zero T-Mobile signal. Outside the Ranger Station I could get at most, 2 bars LTE.
Legend
It's a fine campground. There is a check-in kiosk that was well run and you can pay for an extra car or an open site with a credit card.* The sites are set up in two main loops. One for big campers and one for the rest of us. There is no real separation between sites.
This is convenience based campground. You're at the jump-off for some challenging yet accessible hikes into the desert. Close enough to town to ride a bike for ice cream. The camp has flush toilets and token based showers.** Each site has a deep fire pit, a picnic table under a shade pergola, and access to a nearby water source. Oh yeah, and it's less than two hours from San Diego.
The outer ring sites look out towards the desert. You'll always know you're in civilization, but they offer the illusion of solitude...if you can tune out the generators. There will be generators, and probably unattended kids riding e-bikes or kicking balls at you as your try to use the bathroom. Site 75 is a great site because in addition to looking out away from inner loop, the fire place is set further away from driveway and picnic table. Site 56 is fine. It's just fine.
Temper your expectations for desert solitude, appreciate the conveniences for what they are, and this becomes a four star site. The site is mostly, always, definitely full, but cancellations offer last chance drive up opportunities. The park rangers said that most sites were booked through the entire season which ends at the end of April, and we couldn't find a site when searching online for a second night (Saturday), but there were at least three open sites whose reservations had been canceled we could have stayed in.
Notes:
Anza is particularly great for star gazing and spring flowers. There are often big horn sheep along the Palm Canyon trail leaving camp. We met one we named Barnabas.
Extra vehicles are an additional $10.
*Pro-tip: Fire wood is cash only. It's not bad 3 bundles for $20. If you don't have cash, you can find wood in town for cheaper without the convenience of it being at camp.
**Pro-tip: Showers require tokens which are purchased from a machine. 2 tokens for $1. 1 token = 2m in the shower.
ScoutTent camping overnight!
Scout
Tent site
GuideGreat county park. Quiet and well maintained. Pay showers. $29/ night. Pets welcome. Fire pits and picnic tables at each site. Tent camping available as well.
Scout
Went camping in August, during a heatwave, and had Covid restrictions. Even with all of that, we had a good time! We were in spot 21 right by the pond. Camped in a tent trailer and had plenty of room to set up an outdoor sitting and cooking areas. The only issue was “meat bees” that came around when we were trying to eat. Bathrooms were clean and stocked with supplies. Pool was nice and refreshing but had little shaded areas. We definitely would camp there again when it isn’t so hot!
Traveler
This is totally a great place to go tent camping it's peaceful and quiet during the week. It's clean and just a fun place to camp.
Guide
There has never been tent camping allowed here. There is RV or trailer camping but no tent and no bathrooms here. Make sure you check the water quality since it can be an issue at times since it is near the Mexico border.
San Diego offers a variety of tent camping options that allow you to escape the city and immerse yourself in nature. From scenic views to outdoor activities, there’s something for every camping enthusiast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near San Diego, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near San Diego, CA is Kumeyaay Lake Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 20 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 15 tent camping locations near San Diego, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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