- Rancho Santa Margarita
The best camping near Rancho Santa Margarita with snow sports
96% (87)
Top-rated campgrounds
96% (87)
Top-rated campgrounds
Public campgrounds near Rancho Santa Margarita
Stories from the community
P
Parker
November 2025
Tent
Group trip
Had a great time celebrating my 30th birthday here. Our hosts were very friendly and hospitable. I appreciated having a clean porta potty, running water and a well lit area already set up for us. Amazing views as well. Definitely would come back!
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Karen
October 2025
Weekend Trip to The "Camp-Sight"
We enjoyed the solitude and the views of the desert. There are so many stars at night. Although there is an RV with plenty of space the kitchen is not functional and you have a run a generator for lights at night. As long as you’re prepared for an indoor camping and outdoor cooking experience you will be fine.
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David
October 2025
23 ft pop-up camper
With pets
Responsive staff, and they helped with my broken trailer hitch.
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Hayden
October 2025
Tent
With kids
Such a cool sight with just the right amount of amenities to make for a great casual camping experience. The road up is no joke and you got to be unafraid to get up a dirt road that goes up quickly, but our cars could do it, even when we came in at night. Caleb was great and communicative and we will definitley coming back for the next time do our retreat, the amphitheater so well positioned and the town at night was beautiful to look at. Great sunrises and sunsets too!
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J
Jeff
October 2025
Weekend Trip to BaseCamp at Palomar
Great stay. The tent is very spacious and clean. She has a good sized refrigerator and microwave. There’s an A/C unit as well. Drip coffee machine is available upon request. Great location with Palomar Observatory, Harrahs Casino, and Julian within a short drive. It’s worth a return trip.
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L
Lynette
September 2025
Group trip
The Airstream was cute, clean and very comfortable. Bathrooms were clean. Definitely a great place for kids.
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James
August 2025
With pets
Great spot . Clean pool. Trailer is spacious. Close enough to restock supplies .
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Kyle
July 2025
17 ft travel trailer
Friendly host and perfect location at the base of Palomar with easy access to the Observatory and Hiking trails a short 15-20 minute drive away. The pool and recreation room were also wonderful surprise features that made this campground even more enjoyable!
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lin
July 2025
Tent
With pets
Caleb was an awesome host & I had fun camping here! The views were beautiful and electricity & water was a plus; especially camping with pups. Highly recommend staying here!
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PJ
July 2025
2 nights at BaseCamp at Palomar
Very clean inside the Airstream, a/c was pumping when we got there. The campground is great, they were prompt to respond to messages when we had an issue with a gate code, overall lovely experience.
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Holly
June 2025
Weekend Trip to BaseCamp at Palomar
Please tell Jenniffer she was an amazing host....very warm and welcoming and accommodating! The evenings/nights were peaceful here...the sounds of so many types of birds, the gentle wind blowing. It was hard to leave. I havent honestly felt so relaxed in years! Thank you!
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Jen
June 2025
With pets
What a wonderful little slice of heaven. We came to star gaze for Father’s Day. My husband loved every minute of it. Thank you Cheri for being an incredible host. We can’t wait to come back!
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Michael
May 2025
With pets
Hidden gem 30 minutes from Temecula wineries. Cheri was amazing. She may want to advertise how great her location is. Clear night skies and plenty of space for our dogs. There was even a small outdoor kennel which was nice to have when we wanted to pack up and let the dogs chill. Cheri was there when we arrived and showed us how everything works.
The RV is super clean. Couches were super comfortable. And the generator ensured we had lights and a radio. The radio has speakers inside and outside. This was a nice touch as we cooked on the bbq.
There’s a generator. Being your own gas, but there was some when we arrived. It holds 5 gallons. We probably used 1.5 g per night.
- heads up it’s not clamping. There are things in the RV that don’t worrk, fridge. But they are minor. To save water you must flip a switch outside before using. Again, not a big deal.
We also pitched a second tent for our group. Plenty of space. In the morning we played frisbee and horseshoes. I hope to be back again soon.
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Daniel
March 2025
15 ft campervan
With kids
Beautiful views. Nice set up. Super clean, highly recommend if you want to be slow to the city
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Clarisse
March 2025
Weekend Trip to The "Camp-Sight"
We had an amazing stay at this beautiful property! The scenery was gorgeous, and Cheri was such a kind and helpful host, always available to assist and explain how everything works. The amenities were great, including a fire pit ring for cozy nights and a BBQ grill for cooking meals. The spacious area gave us plenty of room to relax and enjoy nature. The data signal was reliable, which was a nice bonus.
A few things to note: the water pressure in the bathroom was a bit spotty, and there was no running water in the kitchen sink. The microwave also wasn’t working, but since we booked last minute, it’s understandable that some things weren’t fully ready. That being said, once everything is properly managed and maintained, this glamping spot truly shines. It’s a beautiful and peaceful getaway, and we will definitely come again!
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K
Kroi
February 2025
Tent
Group trip
Amazing location and views and easy to get to. Lots of space, celebrated my 30th with around 40 friends! Caleb was very accommodating! Will definitely book again in the near future
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LYNN
February 2025
3 nights at BaseCamp at Palomar
I really loved the retro trailer. Also got to stay in the tent. The campground is great, amenities are well maintained. Jen the host on site is there for any questions and is more than helpful. I would definitely recommend this place and I look forward to going back.
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Kyle
February 2025
Tent
With pets
Awesome location with a great host and panoramic views. Highly recommended. We'd be happy to camp here again.
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Lauryn
January 2025
With pets
It was really quiet and peaceful. Airstream was really cool and we had a great time. My dog was enjoying the outside and we went up to Julian for the day. We are totally coming back to try the retro tv!
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Des
December 2024
2 nights at BaseCamp at Palomar
Jennifer was great and her brother Steven—also extremely helpful and welcoming with my Holiday stay! The airstream is great and has everything you could ask for (water spigot, a heater, power outlets all throughout, portable stove top, microwave, utensils, plates and a mini fridge w/ freezer. Also, the community had a nice little Christmas feast and met some of the loveliest of folks while there. Facilities were all clean and very well kept. Will definitely be coming back!
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