The best camping near La Jolla with snow sports

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For an unforgettable camping trip in southern California, take a drive to La Jolla in San Diego County. Sandy shores and coastal adventures await at La Jolla Underwater Park in its underwater caverns. Or, relax at Silver Strand State Beach, which features beachside RV and tent camping, as well as showers and picnic tables. Surfing and kiteboarding are also popular here. Further inland, ascend the peak of Palomar Mountain State Park, go inner tubing down San Luis Rey River, or take a zipline tour at La Jolla Adventure Park. Then, settle back in at nearby campgrounds that are dog-friendly.

96% (191)

Top-rated campgrounds near La Jolla

1. BaseCamp at Palomar

89%
(44)
39mi from La Jolla · 9 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Experience excellence at BASE CAMP PALOMAR Campground. Whether you seek a cozy campsite or desire to rent our cabins, retro airstreams, or glamping tents, we have precisely what you're looking for. Our amenities include a newly retrofitted game room, a playground for the little ones, a WIFI Hot Spot, and well-stocked vending machines for ice and firewood. Choose to relax in one of our rental cabins, enjoy a spacious RV site, or pitch your tent amidst our Oak Groves. Our campground offers a fantastic opportunity to view the Milky Way or keep an eye out for UFOs. In fact, our location is world-famous for being the site of the first documented UFO encounter, Check out the George Adamski Foundation. This Campground was first opened in the early 1930"s as the Base Camp for the Contruction crew to build Route S6 "Road to the Stars" top of Palomar Mountain. The Road needed to be built wide and smooth in order to transport the Hale Telescope. The construction had to stop due to the start of WW2. Once WW2 had ended the work was completed 1948. The Base Camp first name was Palamar Gardens, Then Oak Knoll Camp and is now being rebranded back to its Original Name Base Camp Palamar. The property is rustic, a little dusty and very old school. If you're looking for a new type of camping with 5-star amenities we recommend Pala or Pechanga Resort RV Park Casino RV Park. We are just plain and simple. Note: the property has two sections one is for Kamping / RVing and the other is Seasonal / fulltime RVers
Pets
Toilets
Full hookups
from 
$30
 / night

2. Time Traveler Retreat Julian Cabin

100%
(5)
40mi from La Jolla · 3 sites · Lodging
Built in the 50’s it is sitting on 2 parcels and is over ½ acre in size. We also have 2 other cabins for rent in Julian for larger groups. The outhouse that you see was used when it was first built and now is for storage. The original owner built the house himself and it was originally on piers alone with no other foundation! There is a folder in the bedroom closet of the house over the years. The decorations were here when we bought it so we kept them to preserve the house’s uniqueness. We treasure this house which is nestled amongst the trees and has so many beautiful birds that visit. Many turkeys love to stop by too! If you hear the deep cooing from the monster doves (who are very shy) you can try to spot one. They are amazing. We really hope you love it as much as we do.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from 
$140
 / night

3. Manzanita Hill Woodland Camping

93%
(14)
41mi from La Jolla · 4 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
The perfect blend of a relaxing San Diego local mountain getaway with access to nearby local attractions and restaurants! Manzanita Hill offers private camping with proximity to historic Julian, shopping, dining, and recreational opportunities. Located on over 8 acres of mountain woodlands, Manzanita Hill boasts of spectacular views of the Spencer Valley and the hills of nearby Santa Ysabel Preserve East. Bring your own tent, pull in your camper van, or book into our Safari tent, nestled in oak woodlands on a deck, with private compost toilet. Manzanita Hill is just: - a five minute drive to antique shops, Patchwork Market, cideries, farm stands, bakeries, and restaurants at Wynola Junction. - 10 minutes from historic Julian township, an old gold mining town. - A scenic 10 minute drive up Wynola Road to the Volcan Mountain Preserve trailhead, Menghini Winery, and apple orchards. - 15-20 minutes to Santa Ysabel for Julian Pie Company, Dudley's Bakery, Santa Ysabel Art Gallery, access to Santa Ysabel Preserve and Interpretive Center, Cuyamaca Lake, and more! Manzanita Hill Homestead, an early 20th century structure is under going a revival to modern homestead and community space. The surrounding woodlands are receiving some TLC focusing on forest health and wildfire prevention. There is one adventure trail onsite and a community propane fire pit (allowed when extreme heat or high winds are not forecast), because, well... s'mores.
Toilets
Showers
from 
$45
 / night

6. Glamping in San Diego’s Backcountry

99%
(141)
48mi from La Jolla · 6 sites · Lodging
Alter Experiences LLC is a glamping & nature travel company based out of San Diego, CA. We're dedicated to creating meaningful experiences in nature & getting people outdoors. Our glamping sites are located in the Cleveland National Forest - Mount Laguna, CA. Our plush tents are nestled in the high mountain forests of San Diego's backcountry - sky islands where pristine nature & wild-life thrives. These are some of the most remote & biologically diverse habitats in all of Southern California. Our sites are handpicked to offer you a truly nature immersive experience. We strive to create the most comfortable outdoor experiences, even at our most remote locations. We take all that's fun about traditional camping & combine it with modern comfort & state of the art equipment. We offer various accommodation styles depending on location. Our Tentsile tree tents are definitely the most popular - a lightweight tree house that uses 3 anchor points to create a "living space" suspended between trees. Our elevated tree tents bring a whole new dimension to camping. Our plush & cozy bell tent was designed with the ultimate comfort in mind! It feature all the amenities you can expect at a hotel - therapeutic mattress, buddy heater, quality linens and more. The provided kitchen comes fully outfitted with everything you need including; hot chocolate, tea, spices and multiple cooking tops. All you need to bring is your cooler and food! Open fires are allowed (weather permitting) and bundles of wood are sold at $8. There are a network of trails to explore nearby, as well as Lake Cuyamaca and the historic town of Julian. You can choose from various restaurants, breweries wineries and we also have two hard cider locations, as well as various other attractions and activities. We also offer mountain bike rentals right from the campsite. Glamp with us and discover all the beautiful and natural wonders of our San Diego Backcountry.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from 
$113
 / night

For an unforgettable camping trip in southern California, take a drive to La Jolla in San Diego County. Sandy shores and coastal adventures await at La Jolla Underwater Park in its underwater caverns. Or, relax at Silver Strand State Beach, which features beachside RV and tent camping, as well as showers and picnic tables. Surfing and kiteboarding are also popular here. Further inland, ascend the peak of Palomar Mountain State Park, go inner tubing down San Luis Rey River, or take a zipline tour at La Jolla Adventure Park. Then, settle back in at nearby campgrounds that are dog-friendly.

96% (191)

Top-rated campgrounds near La Jolla

1. BaseCamp at Palomar

89%
(44)
39mi from La Jolla · 9 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Experience excellence at BASE CAMP PALOMAR Campground. Whether you seek a cozy campsite or desire to rent our cabins, retro airstreams, or glamping tents, we have precisely what you're looking for. Our amenities include a newly retrofitted game room, a playground for the little ones, a WIFI Hot Spot, and well-stocked vending machines for ice and firewood. Choose to relax in one of our rental cabins, enjoy a spacious RV site, or pitch your tent amidst our Oak Groves. Our campground offers a fantastic opportunity to view the Milky Way or keep an eye out for UFOs. In fact, our location is world-famous for being the site of the first documented UFO encounter, Check out the George Adamski Foundation. This Campground was first opened in the early 1930"s as the Base Camp for the Contruction crew to build Route S6 "Road to the Stars" top of Palomar Mountain. The Road needed to be built wide and smooth in order to transport the Hale Telescope. The construction had to stop due to the start of WW2. Once WW2 had ended the work was completed 1948. The Base Camp first name was Palamar Gardens, Then Oak Knoll Camp and is now being rebranded back to its Original Name Base Camp Palamar. The property is rustic, a little dusty and very old school. If you're looking for a new type of camping with 5-star amenities we recommend Pala or Pechanga Resort RV Park Casino RV Park. We are just plain and simple. Note: the property has two sections one is for Kamping / RVing and the other is Seasonal / fulltime RVers
Pets
Toilets
Full hookups
from 
$30
 / night

2. Time Traveler Retreat Julian Cabin

100%
(5)
40mi from La Jolla · 3 sites · Lodging
Built in the 50’s it is sitting on 2 parcels and is over ½ acre in size. We also have 2 other cabins for rent in Julian for larger groups. The outhouse that you see was used when it was first built and now is for storage. The original owner built the house himself and it was originally on piers alone with no other foundation! There is a folder in the bedroom closet of the house over the years. The decorations were here when we bought it so we kept them to preserve the house’s uniqueness. We treasure this house which is nestled amongst the trees and has so many beautiful birds that visit. Many turkeys love to stop by too! If you hear the deep cooing from the monster doves (who are very shy) you can try to spot one. They are amazing. We really hope you love it as much as we do.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from 
$140
 / night

3. Manzanita Hill Woodland Camping

93%
(14)
41mi from La Jolla · 4 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
The perfect blend of a relaxing San Diego local mountain getaway with access to nearby local attractions and restaurants! Manzanita Hill offers private camping with proximity to historic Julian, shopping, dining, and recreational opportunities. Located on over 8 acres of mountain woodlands, Manzanita Hill boasts of spectacular views of the Spencer Valley and the hills of nearby Santa Ysabel Preserve East. Bring your own tent, pull in your camper van, or book into our Safari tent, nestled in oak woodlands on a deck, with private compost toilet. Manzanita Hill is just: - a five minute drive to antique shops, Patchwork Market, cideries, farm stands, bakeries, and restaurants at Wynola Junction. - 10 minutes from historic Julian township, an old gold mining town. - A scenic 10 minute drive up Wynola Road to the Volcan Mountain Preserve trailhead, Menghini Winery, and apple orchards. - 15-20 minutes to Santa Ysabel for Julian Pie Company, Dudley's Bakery, Santa Ysabel Art Gallery, access to Santa Ysabel Preserve and Interpretive Center, Cuyamaca Lake, and more! Manzanita Hill Homestead, an early 20th century structure is under going a revival to modern homestead and community space. The surrounding woodlands are receiving some TLC focusing on forest health and wildfire prevention. There is one adventure trail onsite and a community propane fire pit (allowed when extreme heat or high winds are not forecast), because, well... s'mores.
Toilets
Showers
from 
$45
 / night

6. Glamping in San Diego’s Backcountry

99%
(141)
48mi from La Jolla · 6 sites · Lodging
Alter Experiences LLC is a glamping & nature travel company based out of San Diego, CA. We're dedicated to creating meaningful experiences in nature & getting people outdoors. Our glamping sites are located in the Cleveland National Forest - Mount Laguna, CA. Our plush tents are nestled in the high mountain forests of San Diego's backcountry - sky islands where pristine nature & wild-life thrives. These are some of the most remote & biologically diverse habitats in all of Southern California. Our sites are handpicked to offer you a truly nature immersive experience. We strive to create the most comfortable outdoor experiences, even at our most remote locations. We take all that's fun about traditional camping & combine it with modern comfort & state of the art equipment. We offer various accommodation styles depending on location. Our Tentsile tree tents are definitely the most popular - a lightweight tree house that uses 3 anchor points to create a "living space" suspended between trees. Our elevated tree tents bring a whole new dimension to camping. Our plush & cozy bell tent was designed with the ultimate comfort in mind! It feature all the amenities you can expect at a hotel - therapeutic mattress, buddy heater, quality linens and more. The provided kitchen comes fully outfitted with everything you need including; hot chocolate, tea, spices and multiple cooking tops. All you need to bring is your cooler and food! Open fires are allowed (weather permitting) and bundles of wood are sold at $8. There are a network of trails to explore nearby, as well as Lake Cuyamaca and the historic town of Julian. You can choose from various restaurants, breweries wineries and we also have two hard cider locations, as well as various other attractions and activities. We also offer mountain bike rentals right from the campsite. Glamp with us and discover all the beautiful and natural wonders of our San Diego Backcountry.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from 
$113
 / night

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The best camping near La Jolla with snow sports guide

Where to go

Palomar Mountain State Park

Northeast of La Jolla, Palomar Mountain State Park spans over 1,800-acres of pine, fir, and cedar forest. At the southern foothills of Palomar Mountain, La Jolla Indian Campground run by the La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians boasts fun river tubing access and exciting zipline tours through Pauma Valley. Or reserve a dog-friendly campsite with flush toilets and pay showers. It fits motorhomes and trailers up to 24 feet in length. Nearby, Lake Henshaw also offers boating, kayaking, and waterfront camping for fishing and boating enthusiasts, including RV sites with full hookups.

Silver Strand State Beach

On a slim sandbar between San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean, Silver Strand State Beach offers both cooler ocean and warmer bay beaches. Swimming, sunbathing, and beachcombing are popular here, as are beach volleyball, surfing, and boogie boarding. The on-site RV campground offers full hookups for motorhomes and travel trailers up to 40 feet in length. Facilities include fire rings for summer cookouts, beach restrooms, and cold showers.

La Jolla Underwater Park

Swimmers, snorkelers, and scuba divers will want to visit La Jolla Underwater Park for day use after they check into a nearby RV park. Swimming through the crystal clear waters, underwater explorers will encounter an abundance of marine life, including leopard sharks and colorful fish among kelp forests. The underwater park extends about three miles up the coast along La Jolla Bay from La Jolla Cove to Scripps Pier.

When to go

With warmer weather up to the mid-80s and longer daylight hours, summertime is popular for camping near La Jolla. Snorkelers and divers who want to swim with leopard sharks may want to visit when the population peaks in July and August. Milder weather in spring and fall can be equally pleasant and less busy for ziplining, tubing, and hiking. Campsites typically offer greater availability during the cooler months as well.