Camping in San Diego County

San Diego is a great place for camping. Whether you live in the city or you are one of the thousands of tourists who visit each year, you will be pleased to learn that there are a handful of diverse campgrounds that are within driving distance. These parks are maintained by the County of San Diego, and are part of the regional park system.

The Agua Caliente County Park is situated next to the Anza Borrego Desert. It is known for its geothermal hot springs, and features two mineral water pools and a mineral water jacuzzi. The landscape consists of hills and canyons, and is great for hiking.

The Dos Picos County park is in Ramona. It is surrounded by ranch-land, and is named for the two mountain peaks that are nearby. It is a quiet and shady park, which is perfect for picnics and relaxation.

Guajome Regional Park features over 4.5 miles of hiking trails, that are mostly woodland and chaparral. It has two ponds that can be fished. The environment is good for bird-watching. The park features a gazebo that can be rented out for weddings.

William Heise County Park is a local favorite. Aside from the most majestic oak tree in San Diego, it is a great place to view wildflowers, go for a hike, or if you are lucky, catch one of San Diego's rare snowfalls in the winter. It is located outside Julian, in the Laguna Mountains. The campground is nestled in a forest of pine, oak, and cedar trees.

Lake Moreno, in Campo, is a campground located in East County. It is southwest of the Laguna Mountains, and is comprised of desert and chaparral. It is close to the Pacific Crest Trail, and features a group campground.

Portrero Regional park is probably the area's southernmost park. It is close to the historic small town of Portrero. It is close to the Mexican town of Tecate, which is just over the border.

Sweetwater Summit Regional Park overlooks the Sweetwater Reservoir. The park has spacious campsites, and can accommodate trailers up to forty-five feet in length. It has group facilities and permits horseback riding.

Vallecito Park is located in Julian, and is closed during the summer months. It is built around the historic Butterfield Stage Station. The park has miles of camping trails, and is a site that was once inhabited by the native Kumeyaay people.

All of these campgrounds offer overnight camping, and have numerous additional features that are not mentioned here. Contact the County of San Diego to make campsite reservations or for more information on the services that are available.