Join the fun near Santa Ysabel. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Santa Ysabel is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Santa Ysabel. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
$24 - $34 / night
"Nice campground away from the main roads. All spots outside of the R.V. loop are spread out and pretty secluded. Very friendly and helpful rangers. About a 10 minute drive from Julian pie co."
"Lots of flat areas for pitching tents well away from the fire pit."
"This site is located in anza borrego, the only dark sky community in California, so you will see more stars here than anywhere else in California (unless there’s a full moon then there won’t be stars)."
"This place is tucked away off the S-2 with camping along a dry lake bed. Beautiful spring blooms here, the lake bed is a protected space, so admire from a distance."
$40 - $250 / night
"The only downside to this site is that it was very close to the bathrooms. That actually bummed me out a bit when we first arrived, but it ended up not being much of an issue at all."
"The trash cans were just a few feet from the site and the bathrooms were a short walk just a couple spots away."
$24 - $100 / night
"The creek eventually flows into a pond located on the other end of the campground. The pond is actually pretty large! Lots of space to walk around and explore."
"The missus and I decided to do a midweek overnight escape and chose Dos Picos Park due to its close proximity.
Great little campground with partial (electricity & water) hookups."
$35 - $125 / night
"Activities: numerous hiking trails, accessible from the campground. The most popular one is the Borrego Palm Canyon Trail which leads to the oasis of California Fan Palms."
"Very clean, well-maintained, and nice location. Very strict check-in time. However, you can tell they are cleaning the sites and making sure the sites are in order."
$32 - $45 / night
"Located at Lake Cuyamaca in Julian. Gorgeous views of the lake!!!! Picnic area, tent camping sites, and also cabins and condos as well."
"Proximity to the lake was great for the kids. The view was also amazing. Bathrooms were clean but lots of bugs (but expected). No showers on this West Shore section of the campground."
"I’ve hit bottom coming out of California business driveways more often.
It’s located well up the mountain from Borrego Springs on a scenic highway."
"The ground is sand and rock, and outside of clean vault toilets there are no amenities. We had a decent spot with three tents set up and brought our own fire ring."
"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."
$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."
$40 - $120 / night
"You can camp next to it as well and get in! It’s $35 per car they do have military discount. The total of $32 with discount. They also have porta potties every few 500 feet."
"The spot we initially reserved was located on the little river, but once we got there, we realized we were a little too packed in with the rest of the visitors, so we requested to move to a more open spot"
ScoutHad a great time here and the staff were amazing. Highly recommend. Has a pool, park for the kids, and a little shop to get any of your necessities.
TravelerGreat spot for camping , if you have a big rig it’s a little tight to move around on the roads but definitely nice for sprinters / trucks / suvs or even cars ! Roads are PAVED , I think thats new because I don’t remember that last year when i went !
ScoutLots of things to do! Right next to the beach, large campgrounds! Fire pits and dog friendly!
GuideVery nice campground. Camping spots are spacious and clean. They do offer showers, but they are pay showers and only take quarters. They were doing some construction on a playground while we were there, but it didn’t bother anything. Overall a nice campground
GuideThis is a unique spot to camp, because you’re met with people backpacking the summit and people going through the PCT! There is plenty of space along the trail and it is just a GORGEOUS area to wake up to. Can’t believe it’s in southern California
ScoutOverall the campground / park is very nice and has all of the amenities (toilets, showers, water, etc.). The view overlooking the water is nice!
It is a very populated area, the campsites are close to one and other. That said, we had a nice space. There is a highway (the 101) and active railroad adjacent to the park.
LegendOur friends just bought a camper van and wanted to test the systems on it while having a weekend getaway and this was a great spot for it! All hookups PLUS dump out in each spot (so convenient, loved this!). It’s right in the middle of the city but they did a great job making it feel like you were out in nature. Great walking around the trails and lake. 8 minutes from a super Walmart if you need anything. Other campers are next to you, but not right on top of you. The camp hosts were friendly and do a great job of keeping the sites and bathrooms super clean! Fire pits and picnic tables in each spot as well. One of the hosts offered us some leftover firewood, but we had a propane pit we were using. It’s not a “must come back to” spot but great for a last minute camping experience!
ScoutI've camped at Burnt Rancheria for about 15 years. The hosts that were there in 2024 were ATROCIOUS, unfriendly, intrusive and homophobic. I'm thrilled to say that a new company was hired to run the campground for 2025 called WesTrek- and what a difference! Our camping trip was WONDERFUL last weekend.
We had hosts that were helpful, friendly, the restrooms were stocked/clean, they brought firewood around, and were just good people. Big shout-out to the hosts Dax, Lane, Nick,& Sara-- we will happily start camping here regularly again! So relieved that we can actually*relax* in nature and not have camp hosts driving by every five minutes glaring at us!
One other thing to note- the campground is divided into two parts. The south half(more chapparal) can be reserved online. It has the showers and flush toilets. The north side(more pines!) is first-come/ first-serve only and close by the overflow parking, vault toilets only. Potable water available throughout whole campground. 10/10 one of my fave spots in southern california!
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
Camping near Santa Ysabel, California, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, this area has something for everyone.
Camping near Santa Ysabel, California, is a great way to enjoy nature and create lasting memories. Whether you're with family or friends, there's plenty to explore and enjoy in this beautiful area.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, Santa Ysabel, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 284 campgrounds and RV parks near Santa Ysabel, CA and 26 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Santa Ysabel, CA is William Heise County Park with a 4.5-star rating from 46 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 26 free dispersed camping spots near Santa Ysabel, CA.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 parks near Santa Ysabel, CA that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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