Best Campgrounds Near San Diego
20 hand-picked camping destinations curated for families visiting REI San Diego. Each campground selected for quality, scenery diversity, and memorable experiences.
Showing 20 campgrounds
Featured Picks
South Carlsbad State Beach Campground
Bluff-top ocean campground about 20 miles from REI San Diego with direct beach access, a strong 4.56+ rating across 150 reviews, and full amenities. Delivers classic SoCal family fun with surfing, swimming, fishing, and easy coastal bike rides.
Paso Picacho & Cabins
High-rated Cuyamaca Rancho State Park hub (4.64 with 100+ reviews) offering shady pines, open meadows, and kid-friendly summit hikes like Stonewall Peak. Close to Lake Cuyamaca for fishing and includes cabin options, making mountain getaways easy for a wide range of families.
Borrego Palm Canyon Campground
One of Anza-Borrego’s best-reviewed campgrounds (4.73, 70+ reviews), set among desert mountains with a signature palm oasis trail right from camp. Ideal for families wanting an approachable desert experience, dark skies, and easy hiking or biking without feeling too remote.
Dogwood
One of the highest-rated family campgrounds in the San Bernardino Mountains (4.67 with nearly 800 reviews), in a beautiful mixed-conifer forest near Lake Arrowhead and Lake Gregory. A versatile weekend base with cool temps, kid-friendly trails, nearby swimming, and plenty of fishing and biking options.
Jumbo Rocks Campground
Iconic Joshua Tree campground (4.56, 650+ reviews) where giant boulders surround the sites, giving kids a natural scrambling playground steps from camp. Best in cooler months for families focused on hiking, photography, and exceptional stargazing in a surreal desert landscape.
Sycamore Campground
Point Mugu’s Sycamore Campground pairs shaded sycamore-lined canyon sites with an underpass that leads directly to a quieter stretch of beach. Strong reviews and a mix of hiking, beach time, and coastal biking make it an excellent all-around coastal weekend escape.
More to Explore
San Elijo State Beach Campground
Top-rated nearby beach campground (4.73) with bluff-top sites, stair access to the sand, and a nearby reef for tidepooling or snorkeling. A great alternative to South Carlsbad for families wanting a slightly smaller, surf-oriented coastal experience.
Burnt Rancheria
Laguna Mountains favorite (4.65, 200+ reviews) with tall pines, open meadows, and cooler summer temps. Chosen as a classic forest option close enough for a day trip but big enough for multi-family gatherings and bikes.
Green Valley Campground
Cuyamaca campground with short trails to cascades and shallow pools that are popular for summer splashing. Its slightly lower rating is outweighed by the unique kid-friendly waterfall and water play close to San Diego.
Upper Moro Campground
Crystal Cove’s Upper Moro Campground offers big ocean views with quick tunnel access to the beach and a network of trails up Moro Canyon. Strong reviews and a full mix of hiking, biking, fishing, and swimming make it an outstanding mid-distance coastal choice.
Palomar Mountain State Park Campground
Palomar Mountain delivers a cool, dense conifer forest that feels like a mini-Sierra within an easy drive of San Diego. Included for its shady campsites, good family hiking, and nearby trout fishing at Doane Pond.
Bobcat Meadow Campground
Small, more primitive campground in a chaparral and meadow setting that feels wild yet is still drive-in accessible. Great for families seeking quieter nights, wildlife viewing, and starry skies away from big camp crowds.
Cibbets Flat Campground
Intimate oak-shaded sites along a small creek offer a more secluded mountain experience than the larger Laguna-area campgrounds. Good pick for families who want simple camping, easy walks, and the sound of running water.
Heart Bar Campground
Well-loved San Bernardino forest campground (4.66, 200+ reviews) near the Santa Ana River and within driving distance of Big Bear. Chosen as a flexible base for river exploration, forest hikes, and bike rides on nearby dirt roads.
Green Valley
Green Valley Lake–area campground with walk-or-short-drive access to a small mountain lake for trout fishing, swimming, and non-motorized boating. A good option for families who want true lakeside recreation paired with classic pine forest camping.
Quail Campground
Lake Perris campground within walking distance of the shoreline, offering warm-water swimming, boating, and shoreline fishing. Included to give families a lower-elevation reservoir option with paved bike loops and a full mix of water activities.
Thornhill Broome Campground
Rare on-the-sand camping where many sites are just steps from the Pacific, backed by the Santa Monica Mountains. Strong reviews and the chance to fall asleep to the sound of waves make this a standout coastal experience for families.
Corvina Beach Campground
Shoreline camping on the Salton Sea, where vast inland waters meet stark desert mountains for dramatic sunsets and excellent birding. Chosen as a niche, educational destination for families curious about California’s largest lake and its unique ecosystem.
Roadrunner Campground
Primitive campground set among towering sand dunes, ideal for cooler-season trips focused on dune walking, sand play, and big desert night skies. Best suited to more self-sufficient families who enjoy wide-open spaces and a bit of adventure.
Little Round Valley Campground
Backpacking-only subalpine basin with a perfect 5.0 rating and sunrise views over granite peaks. Included as a step-up option for experienced families with older kids ready for a pack-in, high-country camping adventure.
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