Smooth Sailing at San Diego County Parks
San Diego County parks can be found in a variety of ecosystems, from the hot inland desert to the rolling hills to ocean bluffs. RVers traveling through the sprawling region will discover great RV amenities, compelling regional attractions and fun activities for all members of the family. Take classes go on hiking trips, attend special events or simply relax in a well-appointed site where stellar views are the norm.
Here are the county parks that RVers can choose from:
Agua Caliente Hot Springs
Want to experience desert life? Agua Caliente Hot Springs is a 910-acre San Diego County Park next to the Anza Borrego Desert State Park, one of the largest state parks in the United States. Visitors can enjoy developed hot springs, dine at a picnic area or simply relax under shade trees at theirs site.
When the mercury climbs to 100, soak your feet in two natural pools. Spring-fed, warm showers are available, and when the weather cools down, play shuffleboard, horseshoe or set out on one of the nearby hiking trails.
Dos Picos
Located in the Ramona area, Dos Picos is surrounded by ranchland and steep, boulder-strewn mountain slopes, which help preserve the 78-acre park’s secluded atmosphere. The peaceful, shady park is well suited for campers and picnickers, and 57 partial hook-up sites are available. Horseshoe pits and enclosed pavilion will help keep the party going.
Guajome
Guajome Regional Park is located in the coastal community of Oceanside and has a little bit of everything that San Diego County offers. A developed 33-site campground offers partial hook ups, a caravan pavilion, shade and afternoon ocean breezes. Two day use areas with new playgrounds, a basketball court and lots of green lawn are ideal for picnicking or just relaxing.
Guajome Photovoltaic Project, a photovoltaic and parking shade structure project, will provide solar electricity for the park when completed.
Lake Morena
Located in East County southwest of the Laguna mountains, Lake Morena Regional Park is a stunning combination of desert, coastal, and mountain habitats. Morena Reservoir lies in the middle of 3,250 acres of chaparral, oak woods and grassland. There are wilderness cabins available for camping as well as 58 partial hook-up sites up to 60 feet long.
Potrero
Much of the 132-acre Potrero County Park consists of picnic areas, and visitors can also enjoy ball fields, an enclosed pavilion, playgrounds and hiking trails. Hot showers are available for campers staying at one of the 39 RV sites, which have electrical hook-ups and water. The nearby town of Potrero offers a general store, cafe, post office and library. The railroad museum and century-old historic stone store in Campo make for an interesting side trip, and the colorful Mexican community of Tecate is only minutes away.
Sweetwater
Sweetwater Summit Regional park and Campground sits near the scenic Sweetwater Reservoir. The campground offers three full-hookup RV sites, 14 partial-hookup sites and 19 pull-through sites for trailers and motorhomes up to 45 feet. Equestrian trailer sites also are available.
Groups can rent the pavilion, including the adjacent modern kitchen, for $40 per day, visitors. Registered group campers with 10 or more campsites qualify for reduced pavilion rates. The pavilion accommodates 100 people.
Vallecito
Vallecito, Spanish for “little valley,” has been preserved as a 71-acre county park built around the reconstruction of the historic Butterfield Stage Station. The temperature averages about 10 degrees cooler than nearby Agua Caliente, and in the spring wildflowers are abundant.
The 44 primitive campsites at Vallecito have tables, fire rings, and barbecue stoves, and water is available at scattered locations throughout the campground. Vallecito is a convenient hub from which to enjoy other desert activities, such as the miles of hiking trails in Agua Caliente Regional Park, four miles south on S-2, and in the nearby Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
William Heise
Situated 4,200 feet above sea level in a forest of pines and oaks along the northern extremity of the Laguna Mountain Range, this 929-acre park is one of the few county parks to get snowfall each year.
RVers can choose from 21 partical hookup sites and 40 non-hookup sites. Forests of oak, pine, and cedar surround peaceful mountain meadows and provide an undisturbed setting for miles of scenic hiking and equestrian trails. Mule deer and wild turkey are frequently seen throughout the park, and rare residents include bobcats and mountain lions.