The best camping in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, CA

Hidden away in the high-desert landscapes of Southern California, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is California’s largest state park. With twelve wilderness areas ripe for exploring and more than 600,000 acres stretching almost all the way to the Mexican border, this is the place for epic adventures. Venture off-road in the desert in a 4WD, hike through slot canyons and Badlands along miles of trails, and admire swathes of vibrant wildflowers, free-roaming herds of bighorn sheep, and dazzling star displays—Anza-Borrego is also an International Dark Sky Park. Camping is plentiful, too, with four developed campgrounds and eight primitive camping areas.

• Best for RV campers: Borrego Palm Campground has 120 campsites with space for up to 35’ trailers, some with full hookups.
• Best for families: Tamarisk Grove Campground has back-in sites, some with full hookups, as well as cabin rentals and a camp store.
• Best for a back-to-nature retreat: Fish Creek Campground offers primitive tent campsites close to the Wind Caves and Elephant Trees hiking trails.

1. You can reserve spots at three of the park’s developed campgrounds via the Reserve California website. Sites at Bow Willow Campground are available on a first-come, first-served basis only.
2. Online reservations open at 8am, six months in advance of the first night of your stay. With a maximum stay of seven nights, this means that reservations technically open six months and one week in advance. 
3. Reservations are only possible from October 1 through April 30. For the rest of the year, sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
4. Campsites can book up fast, sometimes selling out on the day that reservations open for holiday weekends, so book as soon as possible.

Summer temperatures are scorching in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, and the comparatively cooler months of October through April provide the best weather for hiking and outdoor activities in the desert. Time your visit to catch the spectacular displays of spring wildflowers that blanket the desert, often peaking around mid-March.

• Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is 73 miles east of San Diego, or about a 90-minute drive.
• There are day-use fees for all California State Parks, and campsite booking fees also apply. 
• Facilities at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park include a Visitor Center, restrooms, picnic areas, a dump station, and drinking water. Dogs must be kept on a six-foot leash.
• The desert weather can be extreme, with summer temperatures reaching 125°F and winter nights falling below freezing. Make sure you are fully prepared for camping and outdoor activities, and bring plenty of water and emergency equipment.