96% (3.9K)
Top-rated campgrounds
96% (3.9K)
Top-rated campgrounds
Stories from the community
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Jenna
October 2025
Weekend Trip to Serene forest privacy for 4WD
We had the pleasure of renting both the Creekside Container Cabin and the Canvas Tent during our stay, and it was such an amazing experience! The Creekside Container Cabin was perfect for those moments when we wanted a bit more comfort and structure. The beautifully handcrafted furniture added such a charming and personal touch to the space, and the big picture window allowed us to soak in the gorgeous surroundings from the cozy indoors. Having a sink with gravity-operated water and the nearby composting toilet was convenient, and the large patio with bar seating became our favorite spot to relax with a morning coffee. The fact that bedding and basic kitchen supplies were provided made our stay even easier. The cabin has a thoughtful design and provides an ideal "glamping" experience – not overly fancy, but still comfortable and immersive in nature.
What made our trip even better was being able to pair this cabin with the Canvas Tent, giving us options to enjoy both a cozy indoor space and a more rugged camping experience for our group. Both sites are close enough to offer the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation, all within minutes of downtown Idyllwild. The hosts were incredibly accommodating, and their warm hospitality made everything even better. We highly recommend this rental – or better yet, rent both and enjoy the best of both worlds like we did!
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Julien
October 2025
Weekend Trip to Stargazers Retreat
The Tiny Home is actually very spacious for a couple! Sheena was very communicative and ensured we enjoyed every minute of our getaway. If you are into astronomy and have a telescope, this place provides a great opportunity to enjoy the dark sky right in front of the Tiny Home. No need to drive elsewhere, you can enjoy scoping in the privacy of this beautiful place and go to bed when you need to. Thank you for making this short getaway enjoyable!
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Micah
August 2025
Group trip
Beautiful view. Loved watching the stars at night. Such a night little place to relax.
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Loren
August 2025
Weekend Trip to Manzanita Ridge
Absolutely loved the stay at Manzanita Ridge, came up with a couple of friends to rest and relax and we had plenty. Although we visited at the peak of summer heat it was still very relaxing. The trailer had wonderful air conditioning and everything we needed was available. John was very sweet and provided careful instructions and we really enjoyed the quiet star gazing on the deck with a nice fire as well. Dont have any complaints whatsoever. If I needed to state some improvements it would only be about the wooden bench to be fixed so that one can enjoy a nice cup of coffee and also a little more comfortable outdoor seating. But otherwise perfectly quiet and relaxing. We will definately be coming back.
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rileyxmccarthy
August 2025
Weekend Trip to Serene forest privacy for 4WD
This spot is very private! Great spot for star gazing and exploring along the mountain side. Perfect for dogs to roam off leash (with supervision, the owner warned of occasional mountain lions). We went in August and the day was very hot but the evenings were very pleasant. The trail going up to the location is short but DEFINITELY requires 4WD. The campsite had everything you need and the owners were very responsive and even came out to guide us in to the spot. We for sure will be coming back again!
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Jennifer
August 2025
With pets
It was great. Owner is very responsive. The trailer has everything you need. AC, oven, stove, microwave. A TV with Netflix, prime, and whatever other app you can think off. You only need food and a change of clothes when you go there. I already gave the link to two other people. The only thing we could hear in the morning was the roosters from the houses around. I would definitely go again.
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Yuki
July 2025
Weekend Trip to Stargazers Retreat
Comfortable tiny house with all the amenities for a relaxing and fun time away. Sheena was very hospitable and checked in with us before we arrived to make sure we had what we needed and answered questions quickly when needed. Gorgeous views and the starry sky is worth coming out for!
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Jonathan
May 2025
With pets
Manzanita Ridge is a nice place to stay. The rv had great creature comforts like a bathroom. It is a 30-45 minute drive from Julian and Lake Cuyamaca. The host was very good at .aking the stay comfortable. My wife and son had a great time and we made some nice memories.
First, Id like to share some things that might be helpful for your stay. The rv does come with an FAQ and I think it answers most questions. Doing things again, I would make sure to understand how much water is available and when to request the system be emptied for multiple night stays.
As someone who is not familiar, id ask what tank color is what. If you are staying more than a night, I'd recommend asking the host how to know when to ask for the bathroom tank to be emptied, as one of the days we returned, the toilet was clogged. The host was on top of things and I never had an issue where they didn't right it quickly.
Another tip, is if the stove isn't lighting after following the steps in the folder FAQ in the rv, the propane tank outside is probably closed.
The one challenge my wife wasn't thrilled with was the pictures online don't really display how close you are to neighbors. The location is close to neighbors and you can even see into a neighbor's house if you move far away enough from the rv.
The whole family loved the stargazing at night. The Sky explodes with stars, it left us awestruck. There is a lot of dead brush you can find to make a fire and was a huge plus. My family loved our time he
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A
Arun
April 2025
1 night at Clara Vista High Desert Retreat
Incredible one-night stay there. If anything, the views from the cabin are underrated. Overlooks so much gorgeousness AND got to wake up basically inside a cloud. While it was near freezing outside, stayed plenty toasty inside.
Oh, and did do the 20- to 25- minute drive to Borrego Springs for dinner and had several nice options there. Otherwise, prepared simple meals using the the propane stove and kettle. Highly recommend for a single/couple looking for a simple get-away.
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Inju
April 2025
With pets
Such a beautiful place! We loved the scenic hills, and the RV was clean and very welcoming.
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Leanna
April 2025
With pets
10/10 !!! Affordable, convenient location, dog friendly and you do not need to bring a lot from home. Kitchen essentials onsite. The temperature gets cold at night we suggest thermals and for the daytime sunscreen. We brought our binoculars and telescope for stargazing. You will hear coyotes, donkeys and a rooster in the distance. Next we will explore the trails nearby. The dogs loved it. The biggest highlight for us was how well kept the RV is and the comfortable murphy bed/couch. So nice we immediately booked again and with more days!
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Courtney
April 2025
With pets
Very nice accommodation. Great space for bedding in the trailer, and the mattress was very comfy! The area is a beautiful town, very peaceful. There is Wi-Fi and a tv inside with plenty of entertainment. Well stocked kitchen. I would stay here again.
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Erin
April 2025
With pets
I feel so lucky that my doggies and I found Tom's Artist's Ranch and Cricket's Cabin. I will be revisiting the place as often as I can. It's the perfect spot to get some quiet time, with nature and the spectacular mountain views inspiring positivity and creativity. Bonus points if you're artistic, as the land is full of art for you to stumble upon as you hike and explore. Tom is a gifted sculptor and ceramicist, and his work is scattered throughout the property, making each foray out on the trails feel like a treasure hunt.
Pros:
I came out to get some work done in private, and it was the perfect place to do it. I edited on my laptop from the bed while enjoying a spectacular view of the mountains and the desert.
Tom has a well-appointed AC electrical system in the cabin, so you can keep all your devices charged while you're there.
There are no other pets on the property, making it the perfect place to let your fuzzy kids explore.
The cabin is nice and warm (even in below-40-degree evening temps) due to the propane heater Tom installed.
No need to bring your backpacking stove, as there is an outdoor kitchenette outfitted with a burner and propane grill.
Tom also provides drinking water and a well-water tap faucet for washing.
There is a cute outdoor shower, too.
Almost Cons:
The location is just inaccessible enough to be cool. Make sure you put the address in the GPS - not the coordinates.
Overall it's a great place and I hope you love it!
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Michael
March 2025
2 nights at Manzanita Ridge
John is great. Extremely prompt with communication and very flexible host. The views off the property are spectacular. Take caution: GPS won't take you to the correct place, and it was lucky I had 4-wheel drive because right past the property is an extremely steep and long descent and the roads are dirt (slick mud in our case, because it was pouring rain). We made it back up but others might not. The RV itself is much more spacious than I expected, with good facilities and fixtures. Lots of clean and comfy bedding and pillows. The freezer and refrigerator were cold and spacious, but had not been cleaned in quite a while. Drawer interiors were also pretty dirty; kitchen utensils like measuring cups and such needed to be cleaned before use. Shower was surprisingly good, but I'm 6'4" so I had to crouch. Bed was very comfortable. Internet was solid. Heater wasn't working but John had a space heater inside for us to use and it did the job just fine. Ultimately, I'd definitely stay here again.
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Grace
February 2025
Weekend Trip to Manzanita Ridge
My bf and I had a wonderful stay! We will definitely be back. They had everything you need; a well stocked kitchen, plenty of blankets, working AC, a space heater for when the night got chilly. The camper heats and cools quick!
The bed was comfortable, if you like more firm pillows or are specific about your pillows maybe bring your own. My bf is picky about his pillows but I was fine!
It felt very secluded and was quiet and peaceful, we loved sitting on the deck and drinking our coffee in the morning!
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Tanya
February 2025
With kids
This was a great find, good location with a nice view. We really enjoyed the RV which was nice and clean and had everything provided. It was great to have a campfire and enjoy looking at the stars. Would definitely recommend and will be back!
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Amelia
February 2025
Weekend Trip to Clara Vista High Desert Retreat
We feel so lucky to experience Tom’s land and this beautiful cabin! We had such a relaxing and peaceful time taking in the views and features of the place. We especially loved hiking and climbing around the terrain that surrounds the place.
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Anh
February 2025
Weekend Trip to Manzanita Ridge
Both me and friend really enjoy our stay at Manzanita Ridge. John provide us with all the basic needs and help us as soon as we asked for help. Everything went well. I really enjoy such tiny but cozy spaces. And the bed was way more comfortable than I expected. They also have running water. And outdoor environment is just perfect for a little get away. Even it was weekend and surround by other houses, but it was so quiet, i get to enjoy the birds and animals around there. It was such great experience, i will definitely book again.
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Tiffany
January 2025
With kids
It was a peaceful, warm accommodation.
The environment was mountainous, and host, attentive.
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fernando
January 2025
With pets
My family and I had such a great time! we went for 1 night but wished we stayed longer. We 100% will be coming back! Even though we saw other houses in the area we truly felt like we are by ourselves and didn’t hear a single voice. Looking forward to next time !
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Other options near Vista
The best dog-friendly glamping near Vista guide
Where to go
Vista Surrounds
One of Vista’s most popular attractions is the Alta Vista Botanical Gardens, which features native California plants, a butterfly habitat, and nature paths. RV travelers will find a good selection of private campsites and RV parks with full hookups around Vista and nearby Encinitas. The closest beach park to Vista is Cardiff State Beach, a classic SoCal surf spot with swimming areas.
South Carlsbad State Beach
For the closest beach camping, head to South Carlsbad State Beach. The blufftop campground has tent and RV sites with picnic tables and fire rings, plus access to restrooms, showers, and a dump station.
San Elijo State Beach
San Elijo State Beach is another great beach camping option south of Vista in Encinitas. This 2-mile-long section of Pacific Ocean beach has a large campground and quick access to stores and restaurants in Cardiff.
Palomar Mountain State Park
For a break from the beach, head inland to Palomar Mountain State Park. This Peninsular Range park has multiple campgrounds and an average elevation of 5,000 feet, allowing for cooler weather and unique flora like cedar and Doug fir trees. Miles of hiking and mountain biking trails traverse the park, and the nearby Palomar Mountain Observatory offers public tours. Keep an eye out for mule deer, coyotes, and red-shouldered hawks when visiting.
When to go
Vista’s temperate climate makes it a good camping choice year-round. Beach campgrounds tend to book out well in advance during the summer season, so plan ahead. It’s also a good idea to monitor weather for summer heat waves around Vista and winter freezes in the mountains just outside of town. Whale watching season runs from late winter to early spring when gray whales pass through the area. Spring visitors may also witness wildflower blooms.