Camping Near San Diego: 13 Top-Rated Nearby Campgrounds

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by Alyssa has been writing about exciting travel topics for Trips to Discover since 2013. After living the big city life in Chicago, Washington, DC, and Atlanta, Alyssa sold the bulk of her possessions and became a digital nomad, living full-time in her camper and working from wherever she could find an outlet and an internet connection for her laptop. Read full bio Trips to Discover Editorial Guidelines Last updated on June 26, 2023

With awesome weather throughout the year and so many fun places to explore with the whole family, San Diego is a top spot on many travel bucket lists. You can enjoy days at the beach, roaming around the city, and experiencing the nightlife scene in a relaxed environment that’s easy to fall in love with.

If you’re looking to save some money or see San Diego in a unique way, consider camping in the area to get a dose of nature and the simple life. Fortunately, there are some great campgrounds and RV parks right in San Diego and just outside the city too.

Sweetwater Summit Regional Park, Bonita Credit: A family-friendly spot with nice trails by Alyssa L. Ochs

My favorite place to camp in the San Diego area is Sweetwater Summit Regional Park, which has spacious sites for RVs, awesome hiking trails, a kids’ splash pad, and even an outdoor exercise course. There are around 15 miles of trails that go up and down the hills here, which is a great way to get active while you camp in one of the 112 sites for campers, trailers, and tents. Many of the sites have full hookups, and coin-operated showers are available onsite. Kids love playing at the water splash pad on hot days, and the aquatic playground is free for people camping here.

Campland on the Bay, San Diego Credit: So much to do right here at the campground by Campland on the Bay

Campland on the Bay is a family-friendly campground with lots of amenities and that offers waterfront sites for RVs and tents. It’s a pet-friendly campground with a 124-slip marina, laundry facilities, and Wi-Fi. To get active, the campground offers swimming pools, hot tubs, bike rentals, a game room, a skatepark, watercraft rentals, and a basketball court. You’ll also enjoy the restaurant, live entertainment, and ice cream on-site with your family.

Mission Bay RV Resort, San Diego Credit: Right along the shores of the bay by Mission Bay RV Resort

Camp right along the shores of Mission Bay with a campground reservation at the Mission Bay RV Resort. It’s an all-ages destination close to De Anza Cove’s beach and trails for walking and biking. The sites here include full hookups, can accommodate RVs up to 45 feet long, and have showers and laundry facilities nearby. Other amenities offered include free Wi-Fi, cable TV, a pavilion and lounge with games, and 24/7 security. RV rental delivery is available at this campground if you don’t have your own camper. You can head over to Campland on the Bay, another campground nearby, to use their many amenities and join activities over there free of charge.

Kumeyaay Lake Campground – Mission Trails Regional Park, San Diego Credit: Mission Trails Regional Park by slworking2 via Flickr

Mission Trails Regional Park has a campground with 46 campsites that are available for reservation. The Kumeyaay Lake Campground sites are $22.66 per night, while the campground is open for day use only between Monday and Thursday. There’s a comfort station, picnic tables, BBQ grills, trash cans, and fire rings at this campground that you can use. Overall, the regional park spans over 8,000 acres and features rugged hills and valleys just eight miles northeast of downtown San Diego.

Santa Fe Park RV Resort, San Diego Credit: Take a swim and cool off by santafepark.com

A popular place to camp in this part of Southern California is the Santa Fe Park RV Resort, which is off Interstate 5 and right in San Diego. It’s close to golf courses, the zoo, and the beaches. You’ll have 20/30/50-amp electrical service, satellite TV with HBO, picnic tables, and BBQ grills in this pet-friendly park. It features a fitness center, pool, spa, showers, and laundry facilities for guests to use for their convenience while on vacation.

San Diego RV Resort, San Diego Credit: A cute set up for your RV stay by sdrvresort.com

With affordable rates and friendly hospitality, the San Diego RV Resort is a good choice for your next camper trip. It’s a pet-friendly RV park with a temperature-controlled pool, whirlpool, and 172 full hookup sites. There are many resort-style amenities here, including a fitness center, laundry facilities, clean restrooms, and Wi-Fi. The San Diego Trolley is just steps away from the RV park to reach the zoo, Old Town, and beaches. Meanwhile, there are some great hiking trails just five miles north of here.

Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve, Santee Credit: Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve by Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve

Located in nearby Santee, California, here’s a campground surrounded by boating, fishing, and lots of other fun outdoor activities. There are 300 full hookup campsites at the Santee Lakes Campground that have free Wi-Fi and deluxe sites with cable TV too. You’ll also have access to two swimming pools, fishing lakes, and close proximity to the trolley to reach the beaches and downtown San Diego. The campground is just 20 minutes from many of the city’s big attractions. In addition to the RV campsites, there are also cabins to rent here that include their own pedal boats to take a scenic ride around the lake.

San Diego Metro KOA Resort, Chula Vista Credit: A fun spot for the whole family by koa.com

Most major cities have at least one KOA campground in the vicinity, and San Diego is no exception. The San Diego Metro KOA Resort accommodates RVs and tents, and it has cabins for rent too. It’s a popular destination for family fun and about 20 minutes from all the city attractions. The front desk can even hook you up with discounted tickets for the zoo, Sea World, Legoland, and other hot spots. This is a dog-friendly campground that has a 7,000-square-foot dog park. Other perks of staying here are the year-round pool, hot tub, sites with up to 70 feet max length, Wi-Fi, and cable TV.

Tijuana River Valley Regional Park Campground, San Diego Credit: Multiple ways to camp here by sdparks.org

The Tijuana River Valley Regional Park has a campground that’s about a mile south of the Tijuana River and below Spooner’s Mesa. The campground spans 79 acres and offers views of the valley and connections to over 20 miles of trails. It’s close to San Diego and run by the County of San Diego’s Parks and Recreation Department. At this park, you’ll find 51 primitive campsites – 30 of which are multi-use and accommodate RVs, 16 for tents only, and five equestrian campsites. The campground also has 10 yurts available to rent, a nature education center, yard games, and showers.

Chula Vista RV Resort, Chula Vista Credit: A luxurious place right on the bay by sunrvresorts.com

Here’s an all-ages, year-around campground located in nearby Chula Vista that spans 17 acres of landscaped grounds. The Chula Vista RV Resort offers a luxury camping experience and is next to Bayside Park. You’ll have easy access to the Chula Vista Marina from here and also lots of amenities, including a pool, spa, clubhouse, picnic area, and pet areas. Both back-in and pull-through sites are available at the 20/30/50-amp RV sites. Other amenities to look forward to are the game room, yard games, fitness centers, cable TV, and laundry facilities.

Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay, Chula Vista Credit: You’ll love the SoCal sunsets here by sunrvresorts.com

Just outside of San Diego, you’ll find RV sites and vacation rentals with lots of amenities at Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay. This is a family-friendly campground that has full hookup RV sites with spacious patios, fire pits, picnic tables, cable TV, free Wi-Fi, and pull-through options available. The vacation rentals are 400-square-foot tiny houses – some of which have rooftop views of the bay and downtown! Some fun things to do when you camp here include the splash pad, poolside movie screen, food trucks, café and bar, and jacuzzi spa. The Sweetwater Marsh Bike and Walking Path are easy to access from here too.

Pio Pico RV Resort & Campground, Jamul Credit: A lovely pool with great views while you camp by thousandtrails.com

The Pio Pico RV Resort & Campground is a year-round campground with 532 campsites that are just south of San Diego. It’s also about 20 minutes from Mexico for your trips south of the border. The resort has an American food café onsite and has two swimming pool complexes. There are also fun games to play here, such as mini-golf, volleyball, and horseshoes. Other perks of staying here are the dog park, nature trails, RV storage, and bike trails nearby. Cabins and cottages are available for rent too.

La Pacifica RV Park, San Diego Credit: La Pacifica RV Park by La Pacifica RV Park

You’ll be near many San Diego attractions when you book a site at this full hookup, affordable RV park. The La Pacifica RV Park has daily, weekly, and monthly rates available and a location that is just a short drive from the city and beaches. Amenities that this campground offers include 15/30/50-amp electric hookups, a year-round pool and spa, laundry facilities, free Wi-Fi, cable TV, and a clubhouse with games and a big-screen TV. It is a pet-friendly campground with a trolley stop just a half-mile away. Military discounts are available, and reservations should be made by calling the campground office.