Join the fun near Santee. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Find the best campgrounds near Santee, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
For many, once the sun comes out and summer rolls around, it can be hard to resist the urge to get outside and soak up some fun. If you relate, and you just need to unplug for a minute, Carlsbad camping offers some of the state’s best camping sites around. When your work has stacked up and you’re overloaded, it’s time to gather your camping gear, and head to Carlsbad State Beach camping for solitude and relaxation.
This San Diego beach and campground feature camping, swimming, surfing, skin diving, fishing and picnicking. The campground is especially popular in the summer, thanks to its scenic location which overlooks the picturesque Carlsbad Beach below. Even better, the campground offers direct access to the beach via a set of well-kept stairs. As a result of the popularity, the campground is reservation only, so don’t show up without one or you’ll likely be unable to stay.
When you’re done with the beach, check out the nearby California geography and some of the trails within the park. If the ocean isn’t your thing, a number of Campfire Programs, Junior Ranger Programs, and Nature Walks may be offered. That said, program availability changes with the season, so be sure to check signs posted on the restrooms and at the entrance station regarding park information during your visit.
At night, campers are gently caressed to sleep by the nearby ocean tide, lapping upon its secluded shoreline. There is plenty of privacy throughout, thanks to the large selection of flora and fauna throughout the campground. The campsites themselves are also spacious, with roughly half of them featuring electric hookups. Additionally, All restrooms and shower buildings have accessible facilities. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the unit Supervising Ranger.
South Carlsbad State Beach Campground is perfect for campers and individuals who love the ocean and the outdoors. Whether you’re looking surf the rolling waves, or paddle board out and take part in all that the north county coastline has to offer, you’re sure to have fun here.
$50 - $650 / night
Lake Jennings is known for being one of the most scenic parks in all of San Diego County. It is a welcoming recreation destination located in Lakeside, California offering fishing, camping, hiking, and picnicking activities. The lake is a drinking water reservoir owned and operated by Helix Water District. The scenic views of the lake and the wooded surroundings make it feel as if you are in the middle of the wilderness, right outside of town.
Lake Jennings hosts a 97-space campground that is open seven days a week year-round. It’s located on the north side of Lake Jennings, with a variety of spaces available for RVs, Trailers, Campers and Tents. Come on out, take a paddleboat, rowboat or motorboat for the day, and enjoy the beautiful weather! Cozy coves make great picnic spots, so don’t forget your picnic basket.
Lake Jennings offers a great escape for novice or avid fishermen, and is open for shore fishing from the shoreline below the campground. Boat rentals, private boat launching, and fishing from our floating fishing dock is available Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. For your convenience, we have an on-site Bait and Tackle Shop open Friday through Sunday, offering a wide selection of bait, tackle, camping supplies, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages.
Lake Jennings is a great destination for the serious and casual wildlife viewer and photographer. The rolling hills, the endless lake, the coastal sage, and the riparian areas provide a diverse habitat in a small area. Common sightings include deer, fox, and osprey. Bird watchers are equally drawn to Lake Jennings for its rich variety of bird species.
$35 - $140 / night
$24 - $100 / night
Wake up to the smell of the ocean air and go to bed beneath a clear sky full of bright stars at one of the best campgrounds in San Diego, California. San Diego Metro KOA Resort is the ideal destination if you're looking for a relaxing vacation with ample opportunities for excitement. We operate year-round and want to help you have the time of your life, whether you're visiting us for a couple of days in the summer or staying with us for a month in the winter.
Located on the San Diego Coast, San Elijo Campground offers camping, swimming, surfing, showers and picnicking. The narrow, bluff-backed stretch of sand has a nearby reef popular with snorkelers and divers.
A camp store and snack bar located near the campground entrance operates March through December and provides all the amenities a camper may need including some RV supplies, boogie boards, and firewood.
This San Elijo camping destination requires reservations for its 171 campsites.
$50 - $520 / night
If you live up north follow the ducks and migrate to Santee Lakes for some winter camping. If you are already in Southern California and looking for some San Diego camping, then bring the kids for a weekend or a week. Our award winning Campground is nestled in the foothills of Santee, just 20 minutes from many of San Diego’s big attractions. The San Diego Trolley is nearby and you can access San Diego’s beautiful beaches, downtown, a Padre’s game, Balboa Park or Old Town.
Feel free to see all of the sites that San Diego has to offer, but we have plenty at Santee Lakes to keep you busy. After you choose from 300 full hook-up campsites, all having free WiFi and Deluxe sites, a bit larger, with cable TV, you can enjoy the amenties we offer. You can rent a pedal boat, fish in 7 seasonally stocked lakes, take a swim in one of two pools or relax in the spa. Campers get exclusive fishing in Lakes 6 & 7, and access to the swimming pools and spa.
Also, when you camp at Santee Lakes, you are choosing a facility that is dedicated to reducing our impact on the environment. More than 4 acres of solar panels located on our property provide enough power to meet almost 50% of the entire Park and Campground needs! Our facility was again awarded the national Plan-it Green Award for our environmental efforts!
$39 - $50 / night
Laguna Campground is a great mountain getaway just one hour east of San Diego, California in the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area. Campers can enjoy cooler temperatures, unique natural areas and an extensive trail system at this mountain facility from summer through early fall.
The Laguna Mountain Recreation Area is known for great horseback riding, mountain biking and hiking trails. Visitors can get their boots dusty on the Laguna Meadow Trail system or access a segment of the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail, which runs from California to the State of Washington. Wildflowers are usually abundant in April and May on the Big Laguna Trail, which takes visitors past Big Laguna Lake. In wet years there is water in Big Laguna Lake by December or January and ducks and other birds can be found. The trail presents a number of options to the user. A return to the trailhead parking can be made by cutting through the Laguna Campground or by taking the Pacific Crest Trail north. Families can learn about the area's flora and fauna by attending educational programs at the facility's amphitheater. Or for history buffs, the El Prado Cabin located at nearby El Prado Campground, is the first ranger cabin built in the Cleveland National Forest in 1911. The San Diego State University Observatory also sponsors "Star Parties" for campers most Saturday evenings during the summer (schedule can be obtained at the nearby visitor center or by calling 619-473-8547).
The Laguna Mountain Recreation Area is known for great horseback riding, mountain biking and hiking trails. Visitors can get their boots dusty on the Laguna Meadow Trail system or access a segment of the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail, which runs from California to the State of Washington. Wildflowers are usually abundant in April and May on the Big Laguna Trail, which takes visitors past Big Laguna Lake. In wet years there is water in Big Laguna Lake by December or January and ducks and other birds can be found. The trail presents a number of options to the user. A return to the trailhead parking can be made by cutting through the Laguna Campground or by taking the Pacific Crest Trail north. Families can learn about the area's flora and fauna by attending educational programs at the facility's amphitheater. Or for history buffs, the El Prado Cabin located at nearby El Prado Campground, is the first ranger cabin built in the Cleveland National Forest in 1911. The San Diego State University Observatory also sponsors "Star Parties" for campers most Saturday evenings during the summer (schedule can be obtained at the nearby visitor center or by calling 619-473-8547).
The campground sits at an elevation of 6,000 ft. in the Laguna Mountains. It is forested with pines and oaks that provide plenty of shade, in addition to a meadow. The area is home to many species of birds, as well as the endangered Laguna Skipper butterfly. Little Laguna lake is located just a short distance from the campground and is an excellent hiking destination for photographers and visitors looking to explore the area.
$35 / night
Thousand Trails Pio Pico RV Camping is a full service RV Resort in California located south of San Diego, close to many attractions such as the zoo, Sea World and museums. We are twenty minutes from Mexico, so day trips south of the border are not only a possibility but also a great opportunity. Members come to Pio Pico for the peace and quiet of nature as well as to escape the day to day rush of the big cities. It is considered a "destination" RV Resort in southern California, and all members enjoy the hospitality of the staff. Pio Pico RV Resort offers a year round classic American food cafe at an affordable price.
My fiancé and I were last minute camping and this campground was beautiful, quiet, and very aesthetic! There is a lot to do near by, a very convenient store about 5-10 minutes away called valley center foods! Employees were sooo sweet and friendly! DID NOT DISAPPOINT!! Ps isn’t that expensive when tent camping ⛺️ 🙌🏻
Nice little site that is right in the middle of everything.
It's crowded and you don't have much space, but if your using this instead of a hotel room it works great.
It had a game room and pool so kids had something to do. There were families all over with kids riding bikes. We had a quick stay over while we were seeing family in the area and it worked great .
Only issue we had is both entrances have a hell of a dip, we scraped the ass end real good going in and out with our 24ft class c.
Nice campground. Mostly no hookups, but has toilets and fresh water throughout. Great little restaurant serving pizza and snacks over looking the ocean. Beach access. Lots of sites.
I don't think this map pin is correct for Yaqui Wells Primitive Camp, the location according to Google Maps is a little further south just off Yaqui Pass Road off Highway 78. There are two different camps similarly named, Yaqui Wells and Yaqui Pass, fairly close to each other. Anyway, we stayed here at Yaqui Wells for one night after attempting to camp at Blair Valley but getting swarmed by bees. Only saw 2 other vehicles, and while the sites are pretty small and close to the dirt road, they are nice enough. BE AWARE THOUGH: pull your vehicle well into the sites, we had 6 lifted off road trucks come flying through around midnight at a ridiculously high speed without slowing down at all and it could have been catastrophic if we were closer to the road or if we had been walking our dog at that time.
I grew up right down the road in the early 60's. Great Campground with a lot of trails, awesome views, and some opportunities for fishing. Taught my very young nephew how to trout fish at Dohnes Pond, right below the Observatory.
Super cute area, and much cooler since it’s a little higher altitude. Nice big sites and an entire loop with equestrian sites.
Pit toilets. One dumpster. Water.
I was there May 5, 2024 and the fee was $14.
PROS:
This site offers amazing sunsets and ocean breezes. There are plenty of facilities, and the camp store is great. The live music is always good, too.
A grocery store is nearby, just over the freeway.
CONS:
It can get very crowded and packed.
Hard to get a site
Many generators are always on.
If you get a site at the far ends, it's a hike to go in and out. Try to get a site closer to the entrance and the store. But you will get a lot of traffic through your site.
Don't try to get there earlier; they usually won't let you in before check-in.
Biking and Running:
Great if you want to ride along PCH. This stretch has good bike lanes that take you into Oceanside or Encinitas.
Good running. You can lap the campsite, which is almost 1 mile, end to end. I usually run down towards Encinitas along PCH.
My friend and I went together for one night and we loved it! It was her very first time camping and she enjoyed it very much. Here is our review:
-NO T-Mobile: There was no signal at the campground at all. We drove about 7 minutes to the Palomar State Park Parking Area (based off Apple Maps) to find spotty signal. Just good enough to make a phone call if needed.
-Privacy: Many of these sites such great privacy, even though we were neighboring #19, there are a quite a bit of trees. Also, you walk down a few stone steps to pitch your tent, so your car parked a level about you on the street provides nice privacy.
-Convenience: The bathrooms were pretty close to us and were kept fairly clean. Also the firepit and grill were a plus.
- CRITTERS: I mean who doesn't know this but the squirrels and crows were greedy! They had no issues flying/ skittering to your food if you were 6 feet away lol.
-BEAUTIFUL!!!: You can hear the Doane Creek flowing and the stars are just an absolute sight, we took the rain-fly off our tent so we could see the stars
I'd imagine spots 21 and 26 would be great because of the privacy and creek location.
I'd avoid spots 28-30 just because of the steeper hill to walk UP to your campsite. It's already a pain to lug all your gear.
Using the marker on the map in the app, I was brought to a small dirt parking lot off the main road. Further exploration showed that a dirt road continued into the vegetation. I followed it, but it turned and went parallel with a road. I am nowhere near see the marker on the map. However, I am a 100 feet off the trail overlooking the town of Borrego Springs and the mountains behind it. I am here in this section by myself.
I did explore the Yaqui Pass and the Yaqui Wash spots, which are both further west over the mountain. The Pass was great and within a valley. The pass was a carpark as someone else noted. I wanted my back to the sunset (and the wind) so chose this location. Next time I hope to get to the spot the other reviews seem to be at.
Couldn’t have better views. We watched dolphins and seals playing in the waves. No hookups, but there was water and clean bathrooms.
This was our first camping trip in our travel trailer. The amenities available are great. Very clean and friendly staff
Spectacular night lights
Shouldn't have a problem finding a site here.
This was our first visit to the Oceanside area. The RV park did a great job with communication in all phases of the planned stop. They did text to look for the check in with the orange flags. Once there, these flags are very narrow and I hard a hard time spotting them, as they are on a busy sign flooded street.. After circling back and now coming from the east, the narrow drive with the street light and curb wasn't enough for us to turn...so backed it up and went to the wider entrance down the street. Hopefully your arrival will be easier. :-). Once through self check in, the sites are all concrete but pretty tight. All the hook ups worked well. The Wi-Fi is one of the best I have used. The showers and bathrooms are very clean. No real views there. Beach is an easy walk or bike ride. We enjoyed the restaurants, town and the outdoors of Oceanside.
Camped here for three nights in March of 2019, in one of the partial hookup sites close to the pool. According to the map of the CG, there are 104 sites and 7 cabins. Partial hookups are closest to the pool/shower area, with full hookups and cabins farther back and tent sites in the middle.
it seemed to be a well run facility. It was cool, cloudy and wet from recent rains when we were there and our site had a tiny stream running through it. Some sites, including ours, were not too level. The pool was not what I'd call "hot", probably in the mid to high 90s.
There's a couple short trails in the park, we hiked Moonlight Canyon. We really enjoyed it!! A bit like a lunar landscape with wild desert plants and flowers. The highlight was seeing some desert bighorn sheep!
A small store sits just outside the park entrance and though it was small, it seemed to have at least one of everything you could possibly need, including my favorite Colorado beer, Fat Tire!!
This park has a lot of rules, some quite unusual. Probably a good idea to familiarize yourself with them before you head out.
Can’t say enough about this park. 56 full hook up spaces and two tent camping spots. Very clean and very friendly staff. Definitely recommend and will go back again soon. Has on site shower and laundry facilities.
We stayed 2/17/24-2/22/24 at spot 77. Great, huge shade tree!!! Level.
Clean bathrooms!! Flush toilets & 2 shower stalls.
The Rangers were kind & helpful!
Fire wood is $6/bundle that is purchased from the ranger station. Cash only.
Showers are pay showers. .50/4mins.
There must have been 100 wild turkeys that cruised thru the camp ground a few times. Pretty epic sight!!
During this time of year, chilly nights but beautiful days. We did get rained on for a day but nothing horrible.
Oh, fires out by 11. They’re pretty strict about that time if the camp ground is busy but if it’s not, they leave you alone. I sat out after my kids went to bed til around midnight with my fire & it was heaven. Poured water on my fire & went to bed. Perfect evening!!
Second time here, booked to be close to the San Diego zoo safari park. This is a very well run county park.
General: 223 sites; most have no hookups but there are a handful of sites that are FHU. Prices range from $50 for a no-hookup site that backs up to the road to $140 for a double hook-up oceanfront site.
Site Quality: All sites are gravel (except the ADA-accessible ones) and generous in size so that you can park your rig in different configurations. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. Some have better privacy separation with foliage, but some don’t. You will hear some road noise if your site is backed up to the highway.
Bath/shower house: Nine bathhouses are sprinkled throughout the campground; each has a mixture of toilets and showers. Showers require tokens (four minutes per $ 1) Some have toilets/sinks while others just have a toilet (there is a sink outside of the bathhouse). The only thing that confused me was that the ones with sinks did not have soap dispensers.
Activities/Amenities: There is a small camp store/restaurant on-site. Although we did not eat there, we saw many people bringing pizzas back to their sites. The store also rents items such as surfboards and bodyboards. Live entertainment from 5-7 pm most nights. The campground stretches about a mile and a half along Highway 101 and is fairly level so many people (including us) were able to get in a decent run. There are several entry points to the beach via stairs.
We were pleasantly surprised to snag a reservation for an oceanfront site which made our stay very pleasant.
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. They rake around the fire ring, so you know they checked it. Park rangers are driving around. Staff are really nice and helpful. Flush toilets, bathrooms, well lit, and warm showers. I recommend checking out the visitor’s center for free maps and information. There’s a lot to do in the area. Bring your bikes. There’s also a trailhead to the oasis right in the campground. Not too difficult. The main trail is not as difficult as the alternate trail. Theres cool metal art throughout the area. A tiny town with a couple markets and places to eat. I was able to hike The Slot canyon, which was awesome. Just take note, when you enter the canyon from the trailhead, there is a large boulder/outcrop you have crawl over/under. THAT IS YOUR POINT OF ENTRY/EXIT. don’t pass it like I did and and nearly get lost. All the trails start to look the same after a while. All in all, it’s a good hike, maybe not for smaller children or larger people, because some of it I had to remove my backpack in order to fit through. Can’t go wrong with Anza-Borrego.
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.
I thought this campground was pretty nice and I enjoyed the views, the peace and quiet, we slept in our Cargo Van set up as a camper. We paid $30 for the spot and restroom was pretty close about a 2 min walk. I recommend this location!
I can’t believe how badly this park has deteriorated. On our last stay we saw so many weeds and potholes. The hot tubs seem to be broken all the time. Showers and bathrooms were filthy and rundown. Resort? How shameful. But worse than that are the rangers. They used to welcome us like we were members, paying customers. Not sure why they have such a hard time understanding that we pay their salaries. WE ARE THE CUSTOMERS. We were treated like we were unwanted guests. A new ranger named Christian is a cocky, arrogant kid. He clearly doesn’t want to work there and has no concept of customer service. We immediately asked for his manager and he didn’t care about how rude we were treated. The manager (Israel) only cared about flirting and gawking at another ranger who worked up in the activity center. There’s a married couple who work there selling memberships and he told me the management is terrible and the park is going down the tubes. He told me much of their staff is unhappy about how they are treated and many have quit. I asked why they don’t get new management and he said even his boss said the women managers are untouchable. He told me secretly that he was quitting too. I guess that’s why he unloaded on them. He told me about the sexual assaults in the park from illegal Mexicans coming across the border. He told me about the 4 convicted pedophiles living in the park and showed me Megan’s Law. It’s all true. You can see them walking around and their addresses listed on their profile on Megan’s Law is the RV Park. He told me about all the drugs on the north side of the park and that one ranger was dating a member there and violently assaulted her and she turned out to be a prostitute. He said the company and manger knew he was a meth addict and yet kept him there and swept it under the carpet. He also told me that the 3rd in charge(Jesus) had to go to counseling because he keeps sexually harassing the other staff and members and he is still doing it. He apparently is harassing the girl who works in the store now. And yet they still protect him and hide it. Seriously? You want us to pay to stay here? Until they start firing these incompetent and rude employees we won’t be coming back.
Amazing site in a little town with all you need for a weekend getaway… just at the sea, nice food, great beach and surfing possibilities for the entire family. Best of all, the staff of the Camp is so friendly and helpfull. Thanks
This is a well-maintained campground. It really is a beautiful area. There’s blue jays, wild turkeys, woodpeckers, and at night there’s the sound of frogs, and lots of stars. We stayed 9/22-9/24 but the weather was mild during the day, mid to high 60s. The nights were getting chilly. (We stayed nearby at Bailey’s a couple years ago in late October and it was freezing.) So, one word of caution. MOSQUITOS. Tons of mosquitos and little flies. I used mosquito incense sticks that I happened to have in my camping supplies, which helped a lot but we needed bug spray. The general store nearby has some but holy moly. I highly suggest the incense. I kept them lit around our site and when they burned off, the swarm returned. We also had the unfortunate experience of a large group that took over the four sites across from us that had in total ten kids. They were so loud and mean. No supervision. It really ruined what was supposed to be a relaxing family trip. Just a reminder to be mindful of other campers. Also, a lot of the sites have a small incline, some did not. There’s stone steps up to or down into most of the sites. Each site comes with a fire ring, bbq, and its own water spigot. Site 15 is steps of the rest rooms, both a blessing and a curse. There’s token-operated showers, with a token machine that takes dollar bills. No cell service (T-Mobile.) Don’t forget to visit the observatory, but go early. It closes at 3:30. (Bummer).
The county park is quiet and peaceful. During the week I’m 1 of about 4 campers. It has filled up on the weekends with mostly families and scout troops. It is a mix of RV and tent campsites.
Me and my husband camped here for about five days we are in spot 42 lots of room back in plus pull in spots full hook ups has paddle boats fishing and spots to walk your dog
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Santee, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Santee, CA is South Carlsbad State Beach Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 73 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 43 glamping camping locations near Santee, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
