The best airstream rentals near San Diego, California

It's easy to enjoy the best of the southern California lifestyle in sunny San Diego, just 30 minutes north of the California-Mexico border. A multicultural metropolis, it’s also blessed with a rich history, natural beauty, and more than 60 beaches and 70 miles of coastline. Mild temperatures and sunny weather makes it ideal for year-round camping and outdoor recreation. Numerous camping options within San Diego county and nearby make it easy for campers to spend the night under the stars, fall asleep to the soothing sound of the surf, or wake up under a canopy of trees.

Yes, you can go beach camping in San Diego in certain areas, but camping in the sand is pretty much forbidden on public land. Still, bluff-top beach campsites and RV spots can be booked at South Carlsbad State Beach and San Elijo State Beach, while Silver Strand State Beach offers only RV camping with water and electric hookups. It is illegal to sleep overnight at Mission Beach. Find more beach camping near San Diego.

Most dispersed BLM camping near San Diego is free, but some campsites do require a fee, and Leave No Trace principles always apply. Cleveland National Forest allows permitted, dispersed camping, and within Anza-Borrego Desert State Park near Julian (a 2-hour drive from the city), Fish Creek and Blair Valley Campground are popular primitive camping spots.

San Diego County Parks are open for camping, as are California state parks near San Diego like Cuyamaca Canyon State Park and Palomar Mountain State Park. Within San Diego County, you can go camping at nearly a dozen regional parks, including William Heise County Park, Agua Caliente County Park, and Guajome Regional Park, all of which have either camping cabins or tent campsites.

San Diego is home to a number of camping goods stores, where you can buy camping supplies, backpacking gear, and RV essentials. Big names include REI in Clairemont, Walmart, 5.11 Tactical off of I-8 in Mission Valley, and Big 5 Sporting Goods (near Old Town), all in addition to the locally owned Nomad Ventures in Escondido. TopoTerra is a downtown San Diego outpost for camping gear rentals.

Car camping is illegal on San Diego city streets. Different from temporary camping, the city has a "vehicle habitation ban," meaning it is illegal to sleep overnight or live in a car in San Diego. It’s also illegal to park an oversized vehicle or RV overnight (between 2 and 6am) on public San Diego streets without a permit. Your safest bet for car camping in San Diego is in designated camping areas, like a private Hipcamp campsite just outside of town.

No, you cannot camp anywhere in San Diego County (even if car camping or backpacking), but camping is allowed in San Diego in some state parks, on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, and on some private lands where you can find professional campgrounds, RV parks, or Hipcamps.

96% (71)

Top-rated campgrounds

It's easy to enjoy the best of the southern California lifestyle in sunny San Diego, just 30 minutes north of the California-Mexico border. A multicultural metropolis, it’s also blessed with a rich history, natural beauty, and more than 60 beaches and 70 miles of coastline. Mild temperatures and sunny weather makes it ideal for year-round camping and outdoor recreation. Numerous camping options within San Diego county and nearby make it easy for campers to spend the night under the stars, fall asleep to the soothing sound of the surf, or wake up under a canopy of trees.

Yes, you can go beach camping in San Diego in certain areas, but camping in the sand is pretty much forbidden on public land. Still, bluff-top beach campsites and RV spots can be booked at South Carlsbad State Beach and San Elijo State Beach, while Silver Strand State Beach offers only RV camping with water and electric hookups. It is illegal to sleep overnight at Mission Beach. Find more beach camping near San Diego.

Most dispersed BLM camping near San Diego is free, but some campsites do require a fee, and Leave No Trace principles always apply. Cleveland National Forest allows permitted, dispersed camping, and within Anza-Borrego Desert State Park near Julian (a 2-hour drive from the city), Fish Creek and Blair Valley Campground are popular primitive camping spots.

San Diego County Parks are open for camping, as are California state parks near San Diego like Cuyamaca Canyon State Park and Palomar Mountain State Park. Within San Diego County, you can go camping at nearly a dozen regional parks, including William Heise County Park, Agua Caliente County Park, and Guajome Regional Park, all of which have either camping cabins or tent campsites.

San Diego is home to a number of camping goods stores, where you can buy camping supplies, backpacking gear, and RV essentials. Big names include REI in Clairemont, Walmart, 5.11 Tactical off of I-8 in Mission Valley, and Big 5 Sporting Goods (near Old Town), all in addition to the locally owned Nomad Ventures in Escondido. TopoTerra is a downtown San Diego outpost for camping gear rentals.

Car camping is illegal on San Diego city streets. Different from temporary camping, the city has a "vehicle habitation ban," meaning it is illegal to sleep overnight or live in a car in San Diego. It’s also illegal to park an oversized vehicle or RV overnight (between 2 and 6am) on public San Diego streets without a permit. Your safest bet for car camping in San Diego is in designated camping areas, like a private Hipcamp campsite just outside of town.

No, you cannot camp anywhere in San Diego County (even if car camping or backpacking), but camping is allowed in San Diego in some state parks, on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, and on some private lands where you can find professional campgrounds, RV parks, or Hipcamps.

96% (71)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Robin's Nest

99%

(54)

18mi from San Diego · 5 sites · RVs, Lodging · Ramona, CA

Robin's Nest is a 5-acre rescue ranch for creatures, large & small. Currently, we're home to 2 chihuahuas, 2 Australian Cattle Dogs (Lily, Alberto, Julio - aka Formerly known as The Three Chimigos and Oakley & Eddie the blue heelers), 4 pot belly pigs (Michael, Falkor, Meg, & Ayla - aka The Three Little Pigs +1), a mini horse (Phinneas), a mini donkey (Donkey), and a Buckskin Quarter Horse (Tivio), two lambs (Dolly & Reba), and 4 alpacas (Fern, Woodrow, Gandalf, & Gus). We have a lot of flat, usable space, but we also have some impressive boulders, hidden nooks and crannies to explore, and beautiful, mature trees. It's our little slice of heaven! Learn more about this land: Join the royal court and stay in our 1975 Airstream Sovereign Land Yacht! Immerse yourself in a budding rescue ranch with pot belly pigs, mini horse, and mini donkey, or take a romp on our 5 acres with lots of hidden gems to discover, or explore the many hiking trails nearby (Mt. Woodson, Potato Chip Rock, Iron Mountain). You also have access to a relaxing hot tub/jacuzzi & brand new 300sf deck. The Airstream has one King bed with a super comfy mattress and the dinette turns in to an additional King sleeping space. If you want a true immersive, farm experience, ask about our add-on experiences including grooming the animals, helping at feed time, and cleaning their pens! There's plenty of great space to ride your bikes, and it's proven to be a hit with the kiddos! The Airstream is new to the ranch and is a work in progress, but you'll love the charm of hanging out in a very cool vintage trailer. We'll soon be adding some layers of paint, shine, and lots of love, so make sure to follow our progress in fixing the ole girl up! Our location is also unique because we are fully fenced in and have a separate turn out space for your horses (check add-ons for camping with your horse). We also have a small 1954 Camper ("Lucy") that can act as a second bedroom for more sleeping space (check for add-on). **WHEELCHAIR ACCESS: We can provide a ramp for the Airstream for accessibility, though please be aware the camper is small, likely not wide enough for a standard wheelchair, and the bathroom is also small and doesn't meet ADA standards. Please ask if you have questions?!

2. 2022 Airstream on Sycamore Canyon

13mi from San Diego · 1 site · Lodging · Poway, CA

✨ Airstream Escape on Sycamore Canyon ✨ Experience the charm of modern luxury and timeless design in this 2022 Airstream Flying Cloud, nestled in the stunning Sycamore Canyon. Perfect for couples, small families, or solo adventurers, this unique retreat blends the comfort of a boutique stay with the natural beauty of canyon views and peaceful surroundings. 🛋 Interior Comforts & Amenities Step inside the iconic silver shell and enjoy: • Open, airy layout with panoramic windows to take in the canyon sunsets 🌄 • Fully equipped kitchen with gas stove, oven, refrigerator, freezer, microwave, sink, and all essential cookware & utensils 🍳 • Cozy dining/lounge area that converts into extra sleeping space • Private bedroom with a comfortable queen bed, premium bedding, and built-in storage 🛏 • Modern bathroom with full shower, vanity, and flushing toilet 🚿 • Smart TV & Bluetooth stereo system for streaming your favorite shows and music 🎶 • Efficient climate control (A/C + heat) to keep you comfortable year-round • Wi-Fi available so you can stay connected while enjoying quiet canyon life ⸻ 🌿 Outdoor & Location Highlights • Nestled in the heart of Sycamore Canyon, offering peaceful seclusion and breathtaking scenery 🌵 • Outdoor seating area perfect for dining under the stars ✨ • Easy access to Poway hiking trails, scenic drives, and just a short trip to San Diego beaches like La Jolla and Del Mar 🏖 • Perfect for stargazing, nature walks, or simply relaxing in your own private oasis ⸻ 🏕 Why You’ll Love It Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway, a cozy creative retreat, or a base for Southern California adventures, this Airstream Flying Cloud combines modern convenience with the timeless, iconic style of Airstream living!

3. BaseCamp at Palomar

89%

(44)

36mi from San Diego · 9 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Pauma Valley, CA

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

Stories from the community

L

Lynette

September 2025

Group trip

Weekend Trip to BaseCamp at Palomar

The Airstream was cute, clean and very comfortable. Bathrooms were clean. Definitely a great place for kids.

Jeff

September 2025

With kids

3 nights at Robin's Nest

Everything was great. Place and people were all amazing. We took the tour and really enjoyed it. The only thing that I wasn’t used to from past farms we have stayed at- they usually welcome you to help and interact with the animals if you are staying on property but here they didn’t. For the record, that wasn’t offered in the listing, I kinda just assumed it from past experiences and that was wrong. Overall, great place and great people!!

B

Bogdan

September 2025

With pets

Weekend Trip to Robin's Nest

We loved spending time in the Sovereign Airstream! It was a weekend of firsts for my son - first camp fire, first s’more, and first time feeding farm animals! It was a wonderful way to introduce my son to camping in a way that reduced the pressures of the wild on a toddler (and me). Highly recommended! And Kimber was a wonderful host! We did the animal feeding experience, which was a treat and something my son won’t stop talking about. 10/10, will absolutely do again

J

James

August 2025

With pets

3 nights at BaseCamp at Palomar

Great spot . Clean pool. Trailer is spacious. Close enough to restock supplies .

L

Lindsey

July 2025

Weekend Trip to Robin's Nest

Amazing, peaceful stay!! Loved the Airstream, decorated beautifully and the property is so nice. Great place to relax and the animals are wonderful!

A

Alison

July 2025

With kids

Weekend Trip to Robin's Nest

Phenomenal! My daughter and I visited Robin’s Nest for a girls Glamping weekend and had the best time ever. The Airstream was awesome with everything we needed to stay comfy and cozy including a brand new king size mattress. The property was amazing and we loved being surrounded by the animals (the animal feeding is a MUST). We made good use of all the many amenities and were constantly impressed with the consistently thoughtful attention to detail. Best trip ever, and we cannot wait to come back!

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.

Chelsea

April 2025

With kids

Weekend Trip to Robin's Nest

Our family absolutely loved the Robin's Nest! A safe and beautiful property for our kids to roam, and the Airstream was perfect in every way! My family and I kept commenting "they thought of everything!" From small touches like complimentary snacks, to clean and tidy spaces with all the appliances, kitchen items, and signage needed, the Airstream was an excellent experience. We also did the Farm Tour add-on with our kids, which was totally worth it - they loved it! They especially loved the tortoises, alpacas, and Bandit the farm cat! Kimber was a fantastic host, with spot-on communication and service. We would absolutely stay here again if we're in the area. Highly recommend!

L

Lauryn

January 2025

With pets

4 nights at BaseCamp at Palomar

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!

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!

B

Brian

December 2024

Weekend Trip to BaseCamp at Palomar

From the booking to checking in the entire process was super easy. The RV was super nice. It had a fridge, microwave and a coffee maker. I brought my own gas stove for cooking. The campsite was clean and quiet. I’ll definitely come back and camp here again!

Other options near San Diego

Sunset Hideaway Farm

88%

(4)

36mi from San Diego · 35 sites · Pauma Valley, CA

Located just 6 miles from Palomar Mountain Observatory- Basecamp is the perfect location to stay at. This historic campground is surrounded by vast farmlands growing mostly citrus and avocados. Drive through Pauma Valley and enjoy the views before you start heading up the mountain to Basecamp. The campground itself is undGo for a hike, star gaze and enjoy the outdoors!er a canopy of century old oak trees, along with the trailers and glamping tents, there are tent sites, sites with hookups as far as water, power and sewage.

Pets

Potable water

Toilets

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The best airstreams near San Diego guide

Where to go

San Diego and Coronado

Stay close to downtown San Diego at a private camping, glamping, or RV park, like the family-friendly Campland at Mission Bay. Across San Diego Bay, Silver Strand State Beach offers RV sites near Coronado, and further inland, Sweetwater Summit Regional Park has campsites with hookups and an aquatic playground. Stay in a floating cabin, or lakeside tent or RV site at Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve, or head near the border, where the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park offers campground, yurts, and a diverse ecosystem. For a unique experience, camp overnight in the San Diego Zoo.

Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside, and San Clemente

Head north along the coast for endless waves, sandy stretches, and the ultimate beach camping experience, with several public oceanfront camping options. Many beach campgrounds are situated on bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and offer great ocean views and water access, along with picnic tables, fire pits, restrooms, and camp stores. Options include the popular San Elijo State Beach near Cardiff, South Carlsbad State Beach, San Onofre State State Beach, and San Clemente State Beach. In Oceanside, camp with your RV at Harbor Beach.

Julian

For a camping trip getaway in the mountains, head inland to the gold rush town of Julian. Go hiking and biking along the extensive trail network at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, or play in Lake Cuyamaca, with spacious camping spots at Green Valley and Paso Picacho. William Heise County Park offers tent camping, RV camping, and cabins, while you can enjoy a high desert camping experience at Vallecito County Park. Nearby Anza-Borrego Desert State Park offers hundreds of miles of trails, great stargazing, and developed, primitive, and dispersed campsites. For forests and wilderness camping, head north into the Cleveland National Forest.

When to go

San Diego's mild weather and many sunny days make it a year-round destination. It's especially busy over the summer when everyone flocks to the ocean and beaches, and the city hosts numerous festivals. Visit in spring and fall to escape the crowds, but still enjoy nice weather. Spring is also a great time for wildflowers in nearby Coronado, Carlsbad, and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Expect some rain showers and cold ocean water in winter.

Know before you go

Although San Diego has a public bus and trolley system, you'll want a car to get around easily, especially to venture further up the coast or inland.
Beach campgrounds are very popular, especially in summer, so book campsites well in advance.
Be aware of fire restrictions and bans. Some beaches do not allow campfires.
Bring or rent a wetsuit if you plan on being in the water in winter.
Pets are prohibited at many San Diego beaches and park trails.