Awesome desert offroading area well maintained and run by CA State Parks. Plenty of space to spread…read moreout w/ your RV and/or your camping group - there aren't any local resources (water, waste dump sites, etc.), so everything is pack-in-pack-out. Keep the area clean and don't litter!! The desert mountains are beautiful and spacious - tons of places to offroad with your 4x4, truck, or SUV. There's an AWESOME 4x4 obstacle course built by State Parks that have countless obstacles that are of varying difficulty and vehicle capability. On a busy weekend it's lots of fun to watch everyone run their trucks/4x4 vehicles up the rocks and through the dirt tracks. Everything gets super dusty, so make sure you have a face covering or buff to keep the desert dust/dirt out of your lungs. If you really want to get away and be remote - this is a beautiful place to spend the weekend. The Ranger Station and Discovery Center (great for kids) is along the southern edge of the park and is more developed with more resources. If you're in the area and looking for a desert trip, this is the place to visit.

Great place to dry camp for free. We did get our truck stuck on the Main Street. Lots of loose…read moresand/dirt. Pulling a heavy trailer didn't help. Had to dig her out. Great stargazing. Only bad this it was windy two days.

I went RV Glamping here last month! Great site. Electricity and water hookups. Campsite bathrooms…read morewere clean too! I saw there were showers, but I didn't use them. Our campsite was a nice layout, we had our picnic table right near where the RV got parked. I saw some had the table more off to the side in some bushes. Multiple hiking trails started at different points around the campsite. Stars were gorgeous at night!!

If you enjoy dark sky or full moon, Anza- Borrego Desert State Park is the place to go!…read moreLast June, we ventured to Borrego Palm Canyon Campground for camping, expecting a dark sky and starry night but instead encountered a full moon that turned the desert into a magical scene. The moonlight created an almost mystical atmosphere, making the desert feel like another planet. We set up our tent beside a stone ramada with a table and fireplace. The cleanest toilet we've ever seen was just steps away, which was a luxurious touch. Since it wasn't peak season, typically from March to April when wildflowers are in bloom and again from autumn onward, the park was quieter. We checked in with the DIY machine at the entrance of the campground, and friendly ranchers were around to offer help if needed. One rancher suggested that if we wanted to hike, we should start early and finish by 8:30am before the temperatures began to rise. ( Just a tip: download a campsite map beforehand because there's no internet service in the park) The desert, lit up by the moon, looked like something from another world. Rugged rock formations and the wide open space felt never ending, and with the moonlight highlighting the cool details of the landscape. The desert was so quiet and empty, It felt like the world had melted away, leaving just us and the serene, mystical surroundings.. Next morning, the heat cut our hike short with our cat, and it was a bit of an ordeal. Cats can be more sensitive to the heat, and she had a breathing issue and gasping for air right after we started hiking. We had to quickly rushed back to the car to help her cool down. So just be aware if you plan to bring your pets along. Despite this, that night remained a magical mix of peace and wonder, a cherished experience that I'll never forget.

The Salton Sea is a large and hyper saline lake with high concentrations of minerals and salts…read more While many fishes no longer survive here due to increasing salinity, the primary fish species that currently inhabit are tilapia and the native desert pupfish. I have to say it's very smelly in this area, and the lake has a distinct rotten egg odor.

Great fascinating place to visit. See the separate entry for its interpretive center. That's a…read more"must visit." Sadly, New Camp is closed. Copper wire thieves stripped the RV hook ups, and the state gated the campsite, even though us tent campers don't need hook ups. Mecca campground, one mile south, is also closed. Its plumbing has been broke for years. Unfortunately fixing this gem of a state park is probably not a high priority for Sacramento. Still, visit it & do the best you can. Try Salt Wash campground (separate Yelp entry).

This place fills up fast but we booked several months out and were able to choose our campsites…read morebased on proximity to the dumpsters, bathrooms, and even based on whether the sites had shade. We reserved campsites 89 and 90. Campsites were about $37 per night, after the reservation fee, and could fit a maximum of eight people in two tents. Several of us had car set-ups and when we called the reservation office, they confirmed that sleeping in the car wouldn't count towards the two tent limit. Each site also has two dedicated parking spots. If you have additional cars, it'll be $6 per car/night and there's overflow parking scattered around the campground. Quiet hours start at 10PM and all campfires must be out (no embers) by 11PM. The bathrooms were fine, considering this was a campground. Showers are coin-operated and you can get 4 minutes for 50 cents. Make sure to exchange your cash at the ranger station before the sun sets! From my friend group, I heard mixed reviews on the showers. It seemed like the girl's side had poor water pressure and usually was cold. But both times I showered, I had decent pressure and the water eventually turned warm. There's also potable water throughout the campground, with a specific spout with filtered water (for taste). Our campsites were pretty great especially site 90. It's flat and right under a huge tree so it was the perfect spot to hang out and escape the sun. For tents, the ground was kind of rocky so make sure to bring a pad or air mattress if you can. Each site comes with a table and a fire pit. For firewood, you have to purchase from the campground because they don't want you to accidentally introduce any invasive species. Overall, great campsite with decent bathrooms! We didn't get a chance to explore the campground and the trails around it so I would love to come back one day. Oh and dogs are allowed as long as they're on a leash!

First time at this campground! It's been a while since I've been camping, but this campground seems…read moreto be much nicer compared to what I remember from campgrounds I've been to in the past. The bathrooms were clean and fully stocked with toilet paper and free tampons on the women's side. There were 2 men's and 2 women's showers at the bathroom closest to our site. One of the women's showers didn't have the best water pressure and sprayed more of a mist...but the other was fine. Neither appeared to have warm water, but it wasn't freezing either, so it was bearable. We heard the men's showers did have warm water though. Showers were 50 cents for 4 minutes, and then you could add additional quarters to add on 2 minutes each. There were spigots and bottle refill stations too near the campsites. I'd probably avoid the sites right next to the restrooms unless you want to hear toilets flushing, the loud hand dryer, and foot traffic throughout the night.  There were plenty of trees so most of the campsites around us at least had at least some shade during the daytime. The only issue I really noticed was that some campgrounds were pretty close together so you will probably hear noise from neighboring sites. There was plenty of parking too, but these were also close to the sites, so one night we heard the sound of cars constantly locking throughout the night. Not the biggest issue though and you should probably bring earplugs while camping if you're a light sleeper. Overall, these campgrounds are nicer than a lot of other ones I've been there where you have to drive into town to shower. The tradeoff though is that with the nicer facilities and proximity to neighboring sites, it doesn't feel as remote and sort of feels like you're one step away from civilization. So maybe not the best place to camp if you're looking for a more true camping experience.

It's definitely a must do hike when you're visiting Anza borrego, Borrego springs or even Julian. I…read morewent here early May so it was extremely hot, even though I reached the trailhead around 9am. The drive to the parking lot was a little weird because after you get off the freeway, there is a dirt road for about 1.5-2 miles on which there were a lot of signs that said "no vehicles allowed" and "foot traffic only" so I wasn't sure if I should be driving. Once k got there, there were other cars parked too so my assumption is that those signs are applicable only during some seasons. The parking lot looks flat but you can see to trail once you start walking towards the canyon. The hike was really nice, it was definitely more of a walk rather than any uphills. It can get pretty hot so starting early in the summer can be advantageous.

We decided to visit the Slot Canyon during our Borrego Spring trip. Although it doesn't compare to…read morethe slot canyon views in Arizona or Utah, it was picturesque. The slots were fairly easy to navigate except for a few areas where you had to climb down or squeeze through narrow openings. You can also take the trail above the canyon which gives you panoramic views of the desert. There are 2 bathrooms but no sinks in the parking lot. Most cars can get to the parking lot but it's quite dusty. Come prepared with some water, snack, sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses. It's $10 per day to visit the park. It's an honor system where you fill out the form, drop off the cash in box, and leave the parking pass on your dashboard. The one negative and reason for removing a star is the poor signage on the trail and how to get into the slots. When we went, there were only 2 other families but the signs were not clear which direction to go into the canyon or even back to the parking lot so we ended up taking a much longer and harder route than needed.

As California's largest State Park, Anza-Borrego is another spot everyone should have on their…read morebucket list. They have some great trails, camping, star gazing, and a bunch of giant statues that are fun to check out. The visitor's center was fun with a friendly staff. Don't forget to ask about the Junior Ranger Program. We saw two coyotes outside the visitor's center. We did the Palm Canyon Trail. It was an easy and short trail that was perfect for kids. We walked past 4-5 bighorn sheep. That was very cool. Keep in mind there are certain areas that can only be reached if your vehicle has AWD. The town of Borrego Springs is nice with a couple restaurants, shops, and places to stay. Looking back, it would have been nice to spend the night to stargaze. Don't forget to hiking smart: sun protection and plenty of water. Stay on the trials. Leave no trace. And have fun.

Spectacular desert views just a short drive from San Diego or Los Angeles yet it feels like you're…read moreon another continent. Try a late March trip to see the desert floor ablaze in springtime flower colors, or the "secret" Dinosaur Trail, or searching for ancient Pictographs in the Blair Valley section of Coyote Canyon. Anza Borrego never disappoints for those seeking adventure right here in Southern California!

Don't look any further. You will be warmly surprised by how Oscar & Oscar run their business. A…read moreflavor of old school sobriety and professionalism. We were greeted with smiles, full training for our first riders and great ATVs which were very reasonably priced. We were provided with Maps, recommended routes, hints for stopping, relaxing, watching where the pros do cool things...anything that we needed for a great experience. Needless to say, it turned out exactly that - an amazing memory for everyone. Top notch customer service and availability. 100% recommended !!

Top tier customer service and friendly! We came out with a group of 6 for my birthday and though we…read morearrived late, they were kind to accommodate us starting later since it wasn't a busy weekend. Prices were fair, tutorials were great, and instructions were also easy to follow along with the map provided. We had some first time riders in our group and Oscar Jr came out to ride with us for a good portion of the beginning to make sure we were OK and taken care of. Can't recommend this business enough and to top it off, it's family owned and operated! Support your local businesses and stop by!

Had a wonderful stay at Ocotillo RV Resort! Clean facilities, friendly staff, and a relaxing…read moreatmosphere. Can't wait to come back. Thank you, David & Corina Rodriguez

Great place for a weekend on Ocotillo Wells, CA we have been staying here for years, but the new…read moreowners have made staying here so much nicer. The staff is friendly and they keep the park nice. This is in Ocotillo so everyone has motorcycles, side by sides so it's dusty and kids riding everywhere, but it's the desert.

Went for the weekend with my family I loved it!! We hand fun hiking the campground was clean and…read morefelt safe!

A surprise in our own backyard!!! A recommendation from a dear friend and an opportunity came to…read moretry the Burnt Rancheria Campground in the Cleveland National Park on Mt Laguna. Weather was perfect and the campground was ideal!!! Clean and well maintained helped to make our time this weekend worthwhile to truly appreciate and experience the Creations around us provided for our enjoyment but our Heavenly Father. Use GPS directions or you may pass the entrance. The entrance is right after the Pine Valley Cafe. Cellular reception is good in the mountains. I couldn't sleep the first night from all of the excitement so I sat alone in the middle of the field to gaze at the beautiful expanse of the heavens. Unbeknownst to me, that night a geomagnetic storm was creating amazing aurora borealis around the earth. Although my eye could not detect any hues or colors in the sky, my camera did and took some amazing photos!!! The next night I tried to take the same pictures and there were no hues, so I deduced that the night before must have been the Northern lights that the camera detected and recorded. At 6000' elevation I guess you can see incredible views of the sky!!! If you are 62 years old or older, apply for the "America The Beautiful" Senior Pass to receive a 50% discount on the Camping Fees. The Campground Hosts were very friendly if you show some respect and love to them. Shouldn't we all?

Our visit to Mt. Laguna was AMAZING! The campsite was spectacular, it had amazing views the stars…read moreat night were breathtaking, wild animals (we saw a 5' long gopher snake and tons of birds/hawks). We camped in the Sunny Loop area. This provided a massive campsite with friendly neighbors that were far enough away that we had our privacy, yet easy access to go the bathroom/shower when we needed to. This campsite offers both unplumbed (a full toilet and closed in restroom, but with no running water, so you are essentially doing your business into a hole in the ground), and fully plumbed restroom (this was amazing because the shower temperature and pressure was perfect. The only comment on the restroom situation is that you cannot change the temperature of the shower, at least I wasn't able to figure it out when I was there while wrestling 2 young kids in the shower so it might be possible. There is an amazing hike that is easy to do with littles, it was something like 1.5-2 miles and ends at a beautiful lake. My littles had a blast wandering though nature and picking up pine cones and sticks, while also enjoying the stellar views while riding on dad's shoulders for a good chunk of the hike. This was our first official camping trip as a family and 10 out of 10 it was the best experience and best campground one could ask for. Just be aware, I was expecting that they would have a small store at the campsite to purchase water or other misc. items that got forgotten, but the only thing that you can buy is fire wood from the camp host. So plan accordingly. My kids loved the campsite almost as much as I did, we will definitely be going back to enjoy the beauty that is Mt. Laguna. One more thing to be aware of, you won't have much if any phone service (I have AT&T plus Verizon and neither was getting any service) so if you're not looking to unplug you may want to find another campground to visit, but if you are looking to put your phone and computer down, this is the BEST place to do it!

Only flat spaces for sleeping in vehicles was restricted and empty. Makes no sense because they are…read morediscouraging a large population of campers through a malfeasance of common sense.