BaseCamp at Palomar

Old Rustic Cowboy Weathered Tent

PROS: Oak trees shade the whole day. Didn’t need awning. Easy drive. 2 hours or so from LA. Friendly area. Clean restrooms. Game room. Fire pit. CONS: Our campsite was slanted. Therefore tent was not flat. Picnic table was slanted. Things rolled off the table. Vehicle/tractor noise. Friendly host, but takes a couple of minutes to respond. Needs a campsite map to locate campsite when arriving late at night. One renter/leasee was yelling one night. Overall, friends and I had fun. I would prefer a flat tent site.

Rj C.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· November 2025

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.

Jeff D.

2 reviews

Recommends

· October 2025

23 ft pop-up camper · With pets ·

Responsive staff, and they helped with my broken trailer hitch.

David C.

7 months on Hipcamp

Not recommend

· October 2025

With pets ·

It was nothing like the pictures. Owner said it would when new stuff was moved in. We chose not to stay. Jennifer was understanding and gave us our refund on the spot. That was very appropriated.

Terri M.

7 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· October 2025

18 ft Class B ·

I did a lovely overnighter here just an hour from San Diego. Nice quiet spot at over 2000ft, so the air is clean, the skies were clear and the stars were out in full stunning glory.

T.C. J.

4 reviews

Recommends

· September 2025

Loved it!

Group trip ·

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

Lynette T.

3 reviews

Recommends

· August 2025

With pets ·

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

James B.

2 reviews

Recommends

· July 2025

Friendly, Shady, and Cozy

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!

Kyle W.

6 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2025

Great Spot!

Old Rustic Cowboy Weathered Tent

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.

Pj E.

5 reviews

Recommends

· June 2025

Peaceful, Soothing Vibe

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!

Holly P.

2 reviews

Recommends

· April 2025

All the basics of city life!

With pets ·

Tiny One

This area is in a rural spot, but it has modern amenities, like running water and wifi. Jennifer was an amazing host, and she was helpful in getting me setup, despite dealing with a crisis of her own. Her team even helped me get a fire going so I could roast marshmallows. Full disclosure, there are permanent residents here who live in RVs on-site, so please be comfortable in that environment. The neighbors are respectful and keep to themselves. I would definitely come back again! It’s a wonderful location nearby state parks.

Lynn S.

9 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· February 2025

Old Rustic Cowboy Weathered Tent

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.

Lynn B.

2 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· 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!

Lauryn T.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· December 2024

Amazing Experience

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!

Des D.

14 reviews

Recommends

· December 2024

Weekend Camp

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!

Brian C.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· December 2024

Retro RV

Jennifer’s retro RV campground near Palomar Mountain’s base camp is a charming blend of nostalgia and nature. The site features vintage, restored RVs from the '60s and '70s, complete with cozy interiors, retro decor, and modern amenities like heating, air conditioning and Wi-Fi. The location offers stunning views of surrounding valleys and peaks, perfect for hiking, stargazing, and exploring Palomar Mountain State Park and the nearby Palomar Observatory. The campground is small, quiet, and friendly, with BBQs, fire pits, and a well-maintained bathrooms. It’s a peaceful spot for both solitude and socializing. With nearby attractions like Julian’s apple pies and antique shops, this retro RV site is a must-visit for those seeking a relaxing, unique camping experience with a touch of old-school charm.

P A.

1 year on Hipcamp

Mixed feelings

· December 2024

With pets ·

Retro RV

This camp ground is very pretty and the retro camper is cute but the cleanliness of the camper could be improved. Our sheets looked as tho there were drool stains on them. The shower had a large hair ball. The people who run the place are nice and it seems as tho they are making improvements. I would visit again, especially in my own tent. It's beautiful here.

Rachel G.

5 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· November 2024

Tent ·

Jennifer’s great. It was just what we needed for the night.

Dustin S.

2 reviews

Recommends

· October 2024

Tent ·

Clean and nicely kept location. Bathrooms are clean and easy to access

Eric M.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· September 2024

21 ft Class B ·

We really enjoyed our stay in Jennifer's land. She is super nice and helpful. Our spot was nice under the beautiful trees.

Ana D.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· September 2024

32 ft travel trailer ·

Jenniffer was great and so helpful! A peaceful spot with a clean, cool pool. Plenty of shade at the sites. There are a lot of flies and bugs, so be sure to bring cintronella/ bug spray.

Christie V.

5 reviews

Recommends

· August 2024

Tent · With pets ·

We stayed at campsite #21 and it was great! Very shady and breezy. The bathrooms were well kept and easily accessible as well. We would come back!

Dayna C.

2 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· August 2024

I will certainly return!

17 ft travel trailer ·

The place is very clean, orderly, and even in the area where long term residents reside. There are abundance of California Oak trees that made the campground even more magnificent. And Jennifer is very friendly and has always been available when I needed to talk to her.

Heather K.

2 reviews

Mixed feelings

· July 2024

Only stayed 1 night.

16 ft car · With pets ·

Sunset at Basecamp 17B

Hostess is super friendly. She moved us to a more secluded spot for privacy and quiet during check in, the original spot was apparently surrounded by permanent residents that are active at night. FYI there were a lot of permanent set-ups here. Campgrounds functional, bathrooms are clean, hot water at the (paid) showers. Mostly dry sand and hardpacked dirt. Only gripe I had was that there are a lot of ant hills everywhere and they started to crawl into my car.

Zi Y.

4 years on Hipcamp

Mixed feelings

· July 2024

Retro RV

The camper spot was nice and large, with a picnic table and fire pit space under the shade of a tree. The camper itself had air conditioning which was great for the heat! Unfortunately we had issues with the toilet that the host did initially resolve, but the issue persisted. Many essentials (linens, silverware, knives, dishes, pots/pan, strainer, toilet paper) were included which was helpful. The grounds also have a pool and small playground, and make up a mix of residents & campers.

Brittany D.

5 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2024

20 ft Class B · With kids ·

Awesome campground! The pool was a huge hit with the kids. Extremely clean and friendly staff.

Noel M.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2024

Nice campground!

17 ft pop-up camper ·

My husband, dogs, and I just got back from a nice and relaxing weekend at this campground. We had originally booked site 14, but when we arrived, Jenniffer suggested a different site with more shade, which we really appreciated. The campground was quiet and everyone was really friendly. On our first night, she asked if we needed firewood, and on the day we were leaving, she kindly came by and asked if she could take our trash in her cart instead of having us walk to the dumpster. Great customer service! It’s obvious they are putting a lot of effort into this campground. I was pleasantly surprised that the bathrooms were so clean. There was a recently renovated game room with vending machines that looked really nice. There was also a new pool that was getting its finishing touches and scheduled to open in a few weeks. We enjoyed our weekend and plan on returning again later this summer.

Elizabeth K.

4 reviews

Recommends

· June 2024

Very good Palomar Mtn camping spot!

Tent · Group trip ·

The site was well maintained, peaceful, and my campsite (17B) was private and mostly secluded. Bathrooms were clean and spacious and the showers were a big plus. Having electricity AND running water at our site was so convenient. Jenniffer the hostess was amazing and accommodating- she even drove wood and citronella over to my site at night time. Great job with your site and the camping experience provided, Jennifer. Thank you.

Frederick B.

3 reviews

Recommends

· May 2024

One of the best camping spots!

15 ft travel trailer · With kids ·

Everything went well, literally. Jenniffer was so kind, friendly, and ready to help. The campground was so clean, well maintained, and price was very reasonable, too. We went to see Paloma Observatory which was a real treat and hiking was amazing. If you enjoy nature, hills, trees, clouds, and silence, do not hesitate. Go there and spend a couple of nights. You will definitely want to return. We certainly will.

Heather K.

2 reviews

Recommends

· May 2024

Thank you!

20 ft travel trailer · With kids ·