???? like pitch a tent and camp on the beach, are there any?
Answer
You can camp overlooking a beach at a number of campgrounds.
Visit this website to learn more about the following campgrounds:
http://www.sandiego-romantics.com/San-Diego-Camping.html -
South Carlsbad State Beach
San Onofre State Beach
San Elijo State Beach
San Clemente State Beach
Doheny State Beach
You can camp overlooking a beach at a number of campgrounds.
Visit this website to learn more about the following campgrounds:
http://www.sandiego-romantics.com/San-Diego-Camping.html -
South Carlsbad State Beach
San Onofre State Beach
San Elijo State Beach
San Clemente State Beach
Doheny State Beach
What are the best camping spots near San Diego?
mayerj72
I would want there to be a lake or river if possible. Please only provide me with 2-3 of your favorite campgrounds and not a whole list. Otherwise I won't be able to make a good decision.
Thanks!
Answer
In San Diego county there aren't any really outstanding campgrounds near rivers or lakes, but here are some you might enjoy. I have camped at all of them, unlike some of the other responses here which seem pretty clearly to come from copying the internet as opposed to having actually been there.
Green Valley Falls Campground in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park comes to mind as it's right near a river and there's nice hiking. My only hesitation in recommending it outright is that it's in an area affected by recent wildfires and they've been clearing trees out of there recently. I'd suggest you contact the rangers for an update. It's got mostly giant oaks there along with a few pines. It's in a mountainous area with lots of nice hikes. And it's not too far a drive. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_ID=667
Another nice place near water would be Palomar Mt State Park, Doane Pond Campground. It probably takes only 20 minutes to walk around Doane Pond so it's not too big but I have seen people fish there, so it's big enough for that. There are also several creeks that run through the park and beautiful views to the ocean on clear days. It's quite nice up there, and next to the park is the famous Mt. Palomar Observatory, which is open to the public but you have to check out ahead of time the days and hours as it's limited visiting. Since it has a famous telescope there (actually a number of them on site) you know that it's a pretty good place for clear skies at night and star watching. However, it's elevation is high enough that if you plan to go camping soon, if you are going to be in a tent as opposed to an RV, it's going to be getting cold soon at night. http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/637/files/palomarmountain.pdf
A third place I thought about is in the Pine Hills area near Julian, at a county campground called William Heise County Park. It's very pretty there, pretty hikes, one spectacular hike through the mountains and trees with a panoramic viewpoint of the desert and the Salton Sea. Bonus if you are going soon is that you pass an orchard right outside the park boundaries with apples you either buy by the pound on the honor system, already picked, or you can go out into the orchards and buy your own. They taste so much better than what you buy in the stores, you'll want to get some for family and friends. Not much in the way of water features but as I said, it's a pretty park. http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/parks/Camping/heise.html
If you would like camping by the beach South Carlsbad is nice, but it's a little strange as you camp very close to a road and there's road noise that might be irritating if you're camping in a tent. However, on the other side is a spectacular ocean view and access. I'd guess if you were in an RV or use earplugs you'd do fine. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=660
Another option would be the San Mateo Campground near Camp Pendleton which has a wonderful trail to the beach along a river canyon to the famous surf spot the Tressles. The campground isn't particularly good or bad, sort of undistinguished, and it's strange that you can hear the shooting range at Pendleton in the background sometimes. But the trail thru the canyon to the beach is really quite unique and beautiful http://www.caopenspace.org/trestles.html
In San Diego county there aren't any really outstanding campgrounds near rivers or lakes, but here are some you might enjoy. I have camped at all of them, unlike some of the other responses here which seem pretty clearly to come from copying the internet as opposed to having actually been there.
Green Valley Falls Campground in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park comes to mind as it's right near a river and there's nice hiking. My only hesitation in recommending it outright is that it's in an area affected by recent wildfires and they've been clearing trees out of there recently. I'd suggest you contact the rangers for an update. It's got mostly giant oaks there along with a few pines. It's in a mountainous area with lots of nice hikes. And it's not too far a drive. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_ID=667
Another nice place near water would be Palomar Mt State Park, Doane Pond Campground. It probably takes only 20 minutes to walk around Doane Pond so it's not too big but I have seen people fish there, so it's big enough for that. There are also several creeks that run through the park and beautiful views to the ocean on clear days. It's quite nice up there, and next to the park is the famous Mt. Palomar Observatory, which is open to the public but you have to check out ahead of time the days and hours as it's limited visiting. Since it has a famous telescope there (actually a number of them on site) you know that it's a pretty good place for clear skies at night and star watching. However, it's elevation is high enough that if you plan to go camping soon, if you are going to be in a tent as opposed to an RV, it's going to be getting cold soon at night. http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/637/files/palomarmountain.pdf
A third place I thought about is in the Pine Hills area near Julian, at a county campground called William Heise County Park. It's very pretty there, pretty hikes, one spectacular hike through the mountains and trees with a panoramic viewpoint of the desert and the Salton Sea. Bonus if you are going soon is that you pass an orchard right outside the park boundaries with apples you either buy by the pound on the honor system, already picked, or you can go out into the orchards and buy your own. They taste so much better than what you buy in the stores, you'll want to get some for family and friends. Not much in the way of water features but as I said, it's a pretty park. http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/parks/Camping/heise.html
If you would like camping by the beach South Carlsbad is nice, but it's a little strange as you camp very close to a road and there's road noise that might be irritating if you're camping in a tent. However, on the other side is a spectacular ocean view and access. I'd guess if you were in an RV or use earplugs you'd do fine. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=660
Another option would be the San Mateo Campground near Camp Pendleton which has a wonderful trail to the beach along a river canyon to the famous surf spot the Tressles. The campground isn't particularly good or bad, sort of undistinguished, and it's strange that you can hear the shooting range at Pendleton in the background sometimes. But the trail thru the canyon to the beach is really quite unique and beautiful http://www.caopenspace.org/trestles.html
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