Rachel M.
Traveler
TravelerNorth Shore Campground - Lake Arrowhead
DogWood Ca
Beautiful, well maintenance, great experience. So clean.
Camping near San Dimas, CA
229 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Camping near San Dimas, California ranges from full-hookup RV parks and lakeside campgrounds within city limits to primitive tent sites in the San Bernardino Mountains. The area features campgrounds like Bonelli Bluffs and Fairplex RV Park within city limits, as well as more rustic options in the surrounding mountains. Both tent and RV sites are available at mixed-use campgrounds like Crystal Lake Recreation Area, which operates seasonally from April to December. Many campgrounds offer fire rings, picnic tables, and access to hiking trails, with varying levels of amenities from primitive tent sites to full-hookup RV parks.
Camping availability fluctuates with the seasons, particularly at higher elevations in the mountains where sites like Table Mountain Campground only operate from May to November. Lower elevation campgrounds such as Bonelli Bluffs and Prado Regional Park remain open year-round. Reservations are recommended for weekend camping, especially during summer months when temperatures at lower elevations can exceed 90°F. Mountain campgrounds provide cooler alternatives but may require navigation of winding mountain roads. Cell service varies significantly throughout the region, with better coverage at developed campgrounds closer to urban areas. As one visitor noted, "Crystal Lake would be a great spot to camp for the night if you don't have the time to drive out of the city."
Campers report that the developed campgrounds close to San Dimas balance proximity to urban amenities with natural settings. Bonelli Bluffs offers lake views and hiking trails while remaining close to shopping and dining options. More remote mountain campgrounds provide greater seclusion and cooler temperatures during summer months. Several visitors mentioned the contrast between busy weekends and quieter weekdays at most campgrounds. A review of Bonelli Bluffs described it as having "beautiful views, great hiking/biking, friendly staff." Most campgrounds provide vault toilets or flush restrooms, with shower facilities available at more developed sites. Fire restrictions commonly apply during dry summer and fall months, particularly in the national forest campgrounds where wildfire risk is heightened.
Best Campgrounds near San Dimas (229)
1. Bonelli Bluffs
"San dimas is a really nice city full of shopping, and eating. The papa's best sandwich shop is a great place to eat as well!"
"Our experience at Bonelli Bluffs Campground was mostly positive, but there were a couple of aspects that could be improved."
from $76 - $88 / night
Check Availability2. Crystal Lake Rec Area Campground
"We’ve done Crystal Lake probably 6 dozen times or more in our time in California and it never disappoints on the spectacular views."
"Whenever I need to get away from LALA Land, I head up here. I grew up in the mountains of western Pennsylvania, so , sometimes , I need to kick back and recharge."
from $20 / night
Check Availability3. Coldbrook Campground
"We left LA (Hollywood) on a Friday afternoon around 3, and were setting up camp by 5! Luckily a friend got to the campground before us though, as he snagged the last of the 20 or so sites there."
"Coldbrooke is a excellent campground that is relatively close to the city. The camp host was super helpful in explaining the fire restrictions and overall questions."
4. Prado Regional Park
"I grew up around in the area so I have been to this park quite a few times for a few different reasons. It is a very expansive and versatile area."
"It's a nice park great for long walks and trail riding on bikes great for the dog 🐕 also a bit windy so you need to keep a eye on your awning, great cell service with at&t ."
from $47 - $120 / night
Check Availability5. Buckhorn Campground
"Beautiful trails near by, next to a stream, gorgeous views, and of course that mountain air! Trees are perfect for hammocks."
"It is set back from the road a little giving you a quieter experience away from the 2. This would be a good first car camping spot for families with young children."
from $20 / night
Check Availability6. Manker Campground
"Close by Hobit trails clear and inviting trails .rivers and in the winter snow....lots of campsites.... seen deer..rabbits and a multitude of squirrels. ..."
"Top of mt Baldy road.. almost as far as you can drive. Not many sites, about 20. One giant loop. No reservations needed."
from $20 / night
Check Availability7. Rolling M. Ranch Campground — Chino Hills State Park
"This is a nice, small campground with easy access to many freeways. "
"That probably makes sense since a side entrance is only a mile down the road from us. We hike this several times a month."
from $30 - $120 / night
Check Availability8. Chilao Campground
"Campground We had been driving around the campground loops for more than an hour, and had just about given up, when we say the sign for overflow camping near the exit of the Chilao campground loop"
"Great spot to get away from the big city being only a 45min drive from the Downtown, couldn’t ask for more"
from $20 / night
Check Availability9. Table Mountain Campground
"If you have a chance after - drive the whole Angeles crest highway! Worth the trouble. You are also located close to the PCT, take a hike!"
"We got a campsite that was on the outside of the loop. We were in Cherokee loop in campsite #87."
from $30 - $500 / night
Check Availability10. Fairplex RV Park
"car there in the parking lot can seem like it's a mile away even though it's not that far away very pleased with it very noisy with the traffic going by if that's where your spot is by the road but away from"
Drive Time
- 38 min from Los Angeles, CA
- 1 hr 20 min from Oxnard, CA
- 1 hr 46 min from San Diego, CA
- 1 hr 48 min from Bakersfield, CA
Recent Camping Photos near San Dimas, CA
373 Photos of 229 San Dimas Campgrounds
TO T.
Bonelli Bluffs
Frances D.
Camp Williams Resort
Les R.
Heaton flats
Sam J.
Coldbrook Campground
Anthony K.
Hoegees Trail Camp Campground
Brittany N.
Spruce Grove Trail Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED DUE TO FIRE
William S.
Rolling M. Ranch Campground — Chino Hills State Park
Forest G.
Crystal Lake Rec Area Campground
johnathon
Manker Campground
Tim J.
China Camp State Park Campground
Freddy L.
Angeles National Forest Deer Flats Group Campground
Dan T.
Prado Regional Park
Recent Reviews near San Dimas, CA
1234 Reviews of 229 San Dimas Campgrounds
Pamela A.
GuideColdbrook Campground
Awesome place, reasonable price
We have been to this campground quite a few times in the last couple of years and I really love it, personally because it’s really close to home. I also love that it’s first come first serve, which allows us to spontaneously go and enjoy without having to make reservations. I also like the fact that all the campsites have a fire pit and a picnic table, which were very recently replaced so they look very new. They installed metal storage boxes for saving your food overnight, this is super helpful. I love the creek even though the water is freezing cold but it’s truly a favorite. This place is wonderful and even though right now there is no water access until further notice, as long as you know you need to take lots of water for cooking and cleaning up you are good.
Marbly 2.
ScoutGolden Shore RV Resort
Great for campers looking to unhook their campers and explore the area
The place is simple, well maintained and extremely clean. There’s back in sites that accommodate smaller 20ft campers and bigger 30ft campers, with there being some pull through sites that are big enough for RV’s, however no camping with tents allowed. Would recommend against bringing in campers with damage or DIY repairs as they “have to maintain sightly appearance”. Overall great for the price. Extremely clean bathrooms with free showers with a pool and jacuzzi plus a short walk to the beach. Only about a 45 min drive to LA with no traffic. The only bad is the constant noise from the port that doesn’t go away at night.
Trash M.GuideLake Perris State Recreational Area Campground
A CRAP HOLE
If you like camping in a Walmart parking lot or on the streets, this place is for you.
No rangers working after the park close for day use. Didn't see one going through the campground. If you like to party all night and you have a loud system no problem. NO RAGERS AROUND. Be prepared keep your food in your car lot of rats, mice, skunks and coyotes. THE LAKE SUCKS, hard to launch your boat on and off, docks will mess up your boat. Fishing no fish they don't stock the lake. Marina is very over priced and out in the sunny parking lot. I live in LA I now got to SILVERWOOD LAKE, just as close as this place, and nicer, if you like to stay up all night Perris Lake is for you. If you want to work hard to get you boat on and off lake so you don't damage your boat, this place is for you.
- Trash M.Guide
Mesa Campground — Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area
GREAT Time 👍👍👍👍👍
Campground,restrooms area very clean. Lots of paths to ride or hike. Lot of friendly rangers and staff. The lake is Very easy to use your boat and jet skis. Nice ramps and docks. I live in LA I was going to Perris Lake a crap hole, this place a lot nicer and just as close as driving to Perris. COME HERE YOU'LL LOVE IT.
Rebecca C.TravelerThomas Hunting Grounds Yellow Post Campites
Wow!! The views
This is not for most RVs. It probably wasn't even for mine but I didn't do enough research and just jumped in. That being said, I lost my stairs and took a lot of the paint off. You'd think that I would hate this spot given how much damage I did. I love it. It was amazing. Totally worth the stairs. This place can keep it. The views. Oh my goodness the views. You can enjoy the view, taking an off-road vehicle or hiking. This was just so amazing! It was totally worth the difficult road in and all the damage. Two thumbs up!!
Gary L.ScoutNorth Shore Campground Lake Arrowhead
Not so bad
Booked this last minute on Rec.Gov and didn't do a lot of background research. Took me a while going around to find my site, there are private roads within the campsite. Also the entrance of the site is a City sized hospital which threw me off.
Next day the nice and quiet little campsite was awaken by the roaring sounds of motorbikes. I found out the site was next to a trail hike which is also next to a moto-dirt bike trail.
Not so bad overall since all I needed was to sit in front of my little campfire in the quiet evening listening to crickets and howls.
Coming from Long Beach, the traffic wasn't so bad compare to going to San Bernardino area.
- johnathonTraveler
Manker Campground
Relatively BA good for climbers and repealing check out San Antonio fall about 85ft drop/climb
Be sure to come early. Great location for families and small groups. Peaceful close to a city within 40min small town with church ect 15 minutes away.
Lee D.
LegendDockweiler Beach RV Park
Beachfront camping but you'd better like the sound of jet planes!
General: Two sections: RV camping and dry camping
Site Quality: If you have a larger RV and/or need hookups, you will be in a parking space with ZERO privacy between spaces (it is literally a parking space!). If you have a small RV or van conversion (smaller than 19 feet), there is dry camping. Concrete driveway; minimal privacy but a direct view of the beach. You must have a bed, dinette, sink, and small water supply to be in these spots. A concrete picnic table is included in each site.
Bath/Shower: Six-digit codes (that change regularly) needed to enter (and a different one for each bathroom). One all-in-one with a sink, toilet, urinal, and diaper changing station. The other has two shower stalls, two toilets, and one sink. The shower in the one closest to the dry camping area left much to be desired. I couldn’t get the ADA-accessible shower to work, and the other one had a push-button flow that took some time to get warm and had to be repeatedly pushed to complete the shower. Hooks and bench are outside the shower stall, compromising privacy. My biggest disappointment, however, was that there were NO electrical outlets. I took a chance and walked to the other end of the campground (by the entrance and full hookup sites) where I discovered the bathroom was much nicer. Not only did it have electrical outlets, but it looked like the showers were much nicer.
Activities/Amenities: You are right on the beach! There is a paved path for walking, running, or bicycling. Laundry was temporarily out of order when we were there.
There are very limited options for camping in this area, and the price was $55/night for dry camping. You are in the direct flight path of LAX, so have earplugs at the ready if the sound of jet planes overhead is not your thing!
Guide to San Dimas
San Dimas camping areas sit between 900 feet and 5,700 feet elevation, creating distinct climate zones within a short driving distance. Lower elevation campgrounds near San Dimas maintain temperatures between 50-90°F year-round, while mountain options like Crystal Lake Recreation Area can drop below freezing during winter months. Campgrounds on the eastern side of the Angeles National Forest typically receive less rainfall than western locations, making them drier but more accessible during winter months.
What to do
Horseback riding at Bonelli Bluffs: Just 10 minutes from downtown San Dimas, this campground offers equestrian trails with lake views. "I brought my horses one time and it was amazing the best time of my life," writes Jessica P. about Bonelli Bluffs.
Hiking from Buckhorn Campground: Located at 6,300 feet elevation, this campground connects directly to multiple trails in the Angeles National Forest. "There's hiking trails right out of the campground. A stream runs through the campground in the spring," explains Lauralyn J. about Buckhorn Campground.
Wildlife observation at Chilao Campground: Situated in a transitional zone between desert and forest, this area supports diverse wildlife. "We sat in the darkness and took in the stars with the sound of the creek below us," reports Alexis S., adding that "the campgrounds are beautiful with the natural vegetation mix of what seem to be some sort of large succulent with an abundance of beautiful trees and shrubs."
What campers like
Easy access to hiking trails: Many San Dimas camping areas connect directly to trail systems. "This is a great campground and it was only an hour drive for us from San Bernardino area," says Troy L. about Table Mountain Campground, noting it was "right next to the trail head."
Mid-week solitude: Weekday camping offers a completely different experience than weekends. "We arrived on a Wednesday afternoon in May and got my pick of sites. There were only 4-6 other campers each night so it was very quiet," writes Michelle W. about Manker Campground.
Year-round options: Unlike many mountain campgrounds that close for winter, Prado Regional Park remains open all year. "The campgrounds have more than enough privacy with each one being about 15 to 20 yards apart. A ton of recreational things to do. Quiet at night," notes Troy A.
What you should know
Fire restrictions vary by location and season: Higher elevation camps often have stricter rules. "We camped during a no fire period so no campfires or outdoor propane gas stove fires," reports Alexis S. about Coldbrook Campground, although another visitor noted that "park ranger said it was okay to have fire within the pit" at Chilao Campground.
Water quality issues: Not all water sources are reliable for drinking. "Water is available but bring your own, there were boil signs everywhere," warns Jordan R. about Chilao Campground.
Insects can be problematic: Several campgrounds report seasonal insect challenges. "Lots of gnats! They swarm your face but then after you sit still for about a minute they leave you alone," reports Lizzie B. about Coldbrook Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Splash pad access: Some campgrounds offer water features specifically for children. "Playground and splash pad kept the youngins entertained," mentions Wilbur L. about Prado Regional Park.
Bear-safe camping: Wildlife encounters require proper precautions. "We have camped here a few times. Had an encounter with a bear both times. Lost our marshmallows," reports Kat M. about Coldbrook Campground, highlighting the importance of proper food storage.
Easy first-time camping: For new camping families, select campgrounds with basic amenities. "Great place for first time campers or families," states Jordan R. about Chilao Campground, which has "clean vault toilets and facilities, very well maintained."
Tips from RVers
Site selection matters: RV sites vary greatly in quality and amenities. "Not every site has a fire pit," mentions Veronica P. about Bonelli Bluffs, adding that "the C9 RV spot was very spacious, I also liked the A & B area."
Space limitations at some campgrounds: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger RVs. "Spaces are very tight. Good for 1 nite only stay," cautions Lawrence P. about Fairplex RV Park, adding it's "not much room to maneuver a lg. rv. in."
Better cell service at lower elevation sites: Mountain campgrounds often have limited connectivity. "No AT&T service," reports Michelle W. about Manker Campground, while campgrounds closer to town like Bonelli Bluffs typically maintain consistent cell service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find campgrounds in San Dimas?
Where can I find campgrounds in San Dimas?
The primary camping option in San Dimas is Bonelli Bluffs, which offers beautiful views and great hiking/biking trails in a convenient location. Just a short drive away, you'll find Little Jimmy Trail Campground in the Angeles National Forest, a backcountry hike-in site about 2 miles off Angeles Crest Highway with first-come, first-served sites and vault toilets. For more options, explore the nearby San Gabriel Mountains or head toward nearby Chino Hills for additional camping opportunities.
Is overnight camping allowed at San Dimas Lake?
Is overnight camping allowed at San Dimas Lake?
Overnight camping isn't permitted directly at San Dimas Lake (Puddingstone Reservoir). However, you can camp right next to the lake at Bonelli Bluffs, which provides sites with lake views and access. If you're looking for other lake camping alternatives in the region, consider Lake Perris State Recreational Area Campground or San Bernardino National Forest Green Valley Campground near Big Bear for tent camping with lake access.
Can you swim at North Shore Beach in San Dimas?
Can you swim at North Shore Beach in San Dimas?
Yes, swimming is allowed at North Shore Beach on Puddingstone Reservoir in San Dimas during designated swimming seasons, typically summer months when lifeguards are present. The beach offers a designated swimming area with sandy shores. For alternative swimming options in Southern California, consider Doheny State Beach Campground or Bolsa Chica State Beach Campground, both offering excellent beachfront camping with swimming access to the Pacific Ocean.
What RV facilities are available in San Dimas?
What RV facilities are available in San Dimas?
For RV camping in the San Dimas area, Fairplex RV Park in nearby Pomona offers full hookups and big-rig-friendly sites. A short drive away, Thousand Trails Wilderness Lakes RV Resort provides level gravel sites with hookups, laundry facilities, and amenities for RVers. Other nearby options include Prado Regional Park with water, toilets, and big-rig accessibility for a more natural setting while still having necessary RV amenities.
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