There’s no better way to explore beautiful San Diego than by spending time outdoors! We’ve put together an introduction to our top favorite camping spots all over San Diego county, from the beach to the mountains, SD truly has it all. So whether you’re looking for an on-the-beach camping location or you want to get a little bit farther into the greenery, we have a spot for you. Here are some of our best finds for a well-deserved adventure with friends, family, or furry friends.
So grab your best friends, your s'mores, your favorite hiking shoes and a bikini and let’s go camping!
- South Carlsbad State Beach
This spot is the perfect beachfront campground located in North County San Diego in the city of Carlsbad that offers the most beautiful views. Taking your family or friends along to this beautiful campground is an experience you don’t want to miss out on! The campground is located on a large piece of land on top of the bluffs of Carlsbad State Beach and offers direct beach access via stairs. This San Diego beach features camping, swimming, surfing, skin diving, fishing and picnicking so there is something for everyone. They also offer traditional tent camping spots as well as an option to rent an RV or bring your own and prices to start at $35 a night. This spot is a must-see for those who love beach camping and it’s totally worth the nightly fee!
Campground Address
7201 Carlsbad Blvd.
Carlsbad, CA 92008
- Mission Trails Regional Park- The Kumeyaay Lake Campground
This camping spot is only about eight miles from downtown San Diego so it’s an easy and quick trip to get there, it is surrounded by hills and valleys making for beautiful scenery to enjoy with your friends and family. This park has some history to it too, making the experience not only super fun but educational as well as adventurous. This campsite has about 60 miles of trails throughout it, a couple of lakes, and an informative visitor center to learn more about the historical aspects of the park. You can camp on the weekends, bring your boat out onto the lake, go shore fishing or hike either on your own or led by a guide. Campsites start at $23 a night. Again, totally worth the money for the experience the Kumeyaay Lake Campground has to offer!
Campground Address
Two Father Junipero Serra Trail
San Diego, CA 92119
(619) 668-2748
- Lake Jennings Park
This spot is a beautiful place to get away, without having to go too far because it is located just 25 miles out of downtown San Diego. This campground offers beautiful scenic views of the outdoors surrounded by the mountains and Lake Jennings and is available for your use year-round! They offer large sites for bigger parties as well as tent camping and RV options. While you’re there you and your group can visit their activities area offering golf, ping pong, cornhole and so many more fun games which is a great way to pass time and bond with your family and friends. Additionally, you can take a dip in the lake to cool off in the summer or visit their bait and tackle shop and get your fishing on, and at night you can cozy up by the fire to make s’mores. All around this is a great family-friendly location for your camping needs!
Campground Address
10108 Bass Road
Lakeside, CA 92040
(619) 390-1623
- San Elijo State Beach Campground
San Elijo State Beach campground is a beautiful spot for beach camping located right on the San Diego coast. This campground offers camping spots that overlook the water and recreational activities such as swimming, surfing and picnicking. Some amenities they offer are showers, a camp store as well as a snack bar on the beach. This area of the beach has a nearby reef that is very popular with snorkelers and divers. San Elijo campground offers a beautiful view of the ocean as well as easy access to many local restaurants and stores so this is a perfect spot for those looking for a more localized camping experience while still getting your outdoorsy fix with friends, family, or totally solo!
Campground Address
2050 S Coast Hwy 101
Cardiff, CA 92007
- Santee Lake Campground
This campground is the perfect weekend getaway for those of you who live in San Diego, it is located just 20 minutes out of the downtown area offering RV hookup spots as well as available lakeside “cabin” options. While camping at Santee lakes you are offered exclusive access to areas of the lake that are perfect for those of you who love fishing. Additionally, for those families, they offer a swimming pool, an activities clubhouse and 7 playgrounds so you will be able to keep the kiddos busy all weekend. It doesn’t get much better than that! This campground is definitely more resort-style so it is ideal for those looking for a bit more of the “glamping” experience. For those of you with furry friends, this is a great spot for you as they offer 3 dogs per campsite allowed!
Campground Address
9310 Fanita Parkway
Santee, CA 92071
(619) 596-3141
- Campland on the Bay
For those of you who are looking for the ultimate camping experience, look no further, this is the spot for you! This campground offers both RV and tent camping on waterfront spots located right on the shores of Mission Bay. The recreational activities are off the charts at this camping resort including swimming pools and hot tubs, bicycle rentals, game rooms, skatepark, basketball courts, watercraft rentals, and the list goes on! There is no question you and the family will have the BEST time here! If you are staying at this campground they also offer campfires located right on the bay as well as dining options and occasional live music entertainment. (check their website for info on your specific stay time)
Campground Address
2211 Pacific Beach Dr.
San Diego, CA 92109
(858) 581-4260
