Just in advance, I haven't stayed yet, I just drove through and talked with staff (Debbie). She was the kindest and most professional person I've met in a while. I have some work in El Cajon that's going to take a few months and I live in North County so don't want to be driving down everyday. I stopped at the gate and was greeted by Debbie who gave me all the information I needed and answered all my questions. She was extremely knowledgeable and very kind. If they have other people like her on staff everyone staying there I'm sure is happy and taken care of. When I drove around I was stunned at how clean and well kept eveything was. It was also beautiful. All the ponds for fishing and areas to relax. Looking forward to a stay here. Will update review later. read more

This past Friday afternoon Janice derailed this before I could even give Santee Lakes RV Park a try. I visited their office in person last Tuesday to verify my 1991 Ford Econoline Jamboree RV would be accepted at this RV park, and they said absolutely yes. Then yesterday after speaking to Janice, apparently my RV is now no longer accepted at this RV park. I ran the website, policies, protocols and procedures through my ChatGPT and he verified that my RV is within the allowable ranges. After repeating myself twice to Janice MY RV IS NOT A RETROFITTED VAN and correcting her, she ignored me completely. Then doubled down and said "absolutely not, we do not accept Vans 14 years or older". Well that's funny JANICE because those words are NOWHERE to be found IN YOUR OWN RV PARK RULES dated 2026. And to think I was going to stay a month! Not a smart move at all Janice. read more

Fun place for families and especially for fishing.... There are eight(?) lakes in a row, all of them numbered and stocked with fish, I think....I saw a restaurant and paddle boats but no one was paddle boating while we were there. There's a large campground at the end of the park, and a nice dog walk also near the back of the park.... Not welcoming at the front, though, considering we paid $4 half an hour before the park gate closed (at 7 pm) on a weekday and then paid $7 on a weekend....there is parking outside of the park along the road which I don't think costs anything.... read more

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We had such a wonderful stay at Santee Lakes! It was the perfect place to relax, spend quality time with family, and enjoy the outdoors. The campground is clean, peaceful, and very well maintained, and the staff was friendly and welcoming. One of our favorite parts was taking our dogs for walks around the beautiful lakes and trails. It's such a pet-friendly place with gorgeous scenery, plenty of wildlife, and a relaxing atmosphere. We also enjoyed fishing at the lakes, which was a great way to slow down and make memories together. We ate at Topwater Grill during our stay, and it was excellent! The food was delicious, the service was great, and the lake views made the experience even better. Whether you're camping, fishing, walking your dogs, or just looking for a peaceful getaway close to home, Santee Lakes is a fantastic destination. We can't wait to come back! read more

Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve - Parks Near Me - Santee, California

Lovely and peaceful visit to Santee Lakes. They hosted super fun activities for the kids and the bird watching was drawing a huge crowd. I recommend bringing a bike or golf cart, it's a large park. read more

Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve - View from the camper - Parks Near Me - Santee, California

A local go to just to be in nature!!! We camp here, (yes, kinda expensive ) we do it anyways for their 4th of July celebration. Today I'm here for the live music on the Deck. Just a fun impromptu good time!! read more

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First time at this campsite. I was impressed with how clean and well kept the campground is. Santee lakes has stunning views. I really enjoyed my stay here. Although I brought my RV I wanted to check out their bathrooms and showers and they were very clean. I had friends staying at their floating cabins on the lake and the cabins were so quaint and had their own paddle boat. The view was gorgeous from the cabin. I got to get on the paddle boat and it was a fun but peaceful experience being out in the middle of the lake surrounded by nature, beautiful ducks, swans and the chirping of the birds. I totally recommend camping or renting a cabin at Santee lakes. read more

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Our family of 5 stayed at Santee Lakes to celebrate one of our children's birthday. Perfect destination! Relaxing, fishing, eating and relaxing some more. What more could someone ask for? If you are looking for a place to get away from the daily stresses of life this is the place for you. And don't forget the duck food. Thanks Santee lakes. See you next summer. read more

Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve - This was our beautiful view from cabin #7 - Parks Near Me - Santee, California

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This place was awesome! The playground we were at was shaded, & there were plenty of picnic tables/seating available. Parking was ample, & the view is absolutely gorgeous-no matter which direction that you're looking. Great for a family day trip for sure, we had a great time & will be back to try out the splash pad before the summer is out. read more

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It was our first time going here and we'd definitely come back! The place is nice and family-friendly. It's big so if one area/playground gets crowded, you could always go to another one. The guy (not sure if he's a ranger) at gate was very friendly and helpful! read more

Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve - View - Parks Near Me - Santee, California

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We have camped here a few times on the lake. I didn't care for the wind which didn't allow us to use our RV canopy. That didn't stop us from wanting to camp on the lake though. Very peaceful and quiet read more

Beautiful area in East County to take a walk, ride a bike, or even take the kids to the splash pad. There are paddle boat rentals and you can buy feed for the ducks. Walking around the lakes, there are intermittent areas of shade, picnics tables, and playgrounds. Dogs aren't allowed in the day use areas. Parking was $7. read more

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I live only 2 miles from this incredible park yet will often camp in our RV there. The entire park is always clean. The employees as well as the camp hosts are consistently friendly and helpful. The public areas, including the pool, community room, bathrooms, etc. are constantly attended to. I've lived in Santee for 40+ years and have always considered Santee Lakes the jewel in our town's crown. read more

My boyfriend and my favorite day date spot. Even on trips where we catch nothing we have a great time sitting at the lake and watching the ducks and geese. Tried the night fishing once, too many bugs for my liking but I always get eaten by mosquitoes anywhere I go. Overall definitely a great choice without having to go too far read more

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Beautiful place to feed some ducks and go fishing at the ponds. We didn't catch anything but we still had a good time. General store had many helpful items for campers or fishing. Fun nostalgic push pop ice creams available for sale too. Bathrooms were super clean. Paddle boat rides available on weekends. Most ponds do not allow pets unfortunately. They are only allowed in the camping area at pond 6 and 7. Can't wait to rent a cabin out here next time and hopefully catch some trout or bluegill. read more

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Night fishing? What a joke! If I wanted to be around a bunch of screaming kids I wouldn't go fishing. This park is a greedy money grab. They know parents will pay to bring their kids. No respect for nature or the people trying to enjoy it. Disgusting display! read more

They have all these volunteers working that has no sense of service towards people. I drove to the lake to pick up my father in law. There are 2 lane entrance. There were no cars on both sides, i took the left entrance lane. The lady came out of her little booth and scolded me. She said that lane has nobody working and next time to pull up to her lane as if i can see who was through the window of the booth. Also, if the lane is closed then maybe put a cone in it? read more

The best place for camping Whether you chose the cabins or take your RV I love how they cater to the campers with activities read more

We had a week long stay at the Santee Lakes RV Park. We had a spacious spot for our 42 foot motor-coach and Jeep (Spot 252). The grounds and restrooms were kept very clean. We enjoyed eating at the restaurant for breakfast and lunch. We were only about a 35 minute drive to see all of the attractions in San Diego. We would definitely stay here again in the future. read more

Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve - Spot 252 - Parks Near Me - Santee, California

Internet is definitely not working this weekend. Very poor signal. Campground volunteers are remarkably working very hard to keep the grounds clean and ready for the next reservation to have a clean and tidy site. Lake is definitely a wonderful part of the camp experience. read more

Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve - Parks Near Me - Santee, California

Today December 14. 2025, An adult man approached me and my children (ages 7, 8, 11), cursed at them unprovoked, and intimidated us. Park rangers only gave him a warning, yet he remained in the area while our family, including children with disabilities, had to leave for safety. I was told by park personnel that he is a regular visitor, so please be careful if you plan to visit Santee Lakes with kids. He should be removed to protect families. read more

Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve - Parks Near Me - Santee, California

I visit Santee Lakes every year with my family. We get a lake front tent site on lake 6 during the week. I avoid the weekends because it can get very loud. During the week it's very nice and quiet. Everything was nice and clean probably because we were the only ones tent camping at that time. Not a big fan of the 11 am checkout time. It's a little early for me. Especially when your tent camping and have to break everything down early. Took a trip to the pool and jacuzzi but left quickly because the pool was very cold and the jacuzzi was full of little kids. There is no supervision there so everyone does what they want. Not good since it clearly says 16 and over for the jacuzzi. For all of you that wanna bring your animals especially your small dogs you need to be very aware that there are LOTS of coyotes around and they are not scared. DO NOT walk your small dogs after dark and do not leave them alone for a minute. We witnessed 2 dogs taken within our 3 night stay at the lake. It was very quick. It's not the parks job to take care of your pets. We put our small dogs in a crate at night in our tent at sundown just to be safe. Lots of raccoons, possums and skunks so anything you want to eat the next day put it in your tent or a hard plastic box because it will be gone when you get up. If you like tent camping and night fishing right on the lake this spot is for you. We love night catfishing so this is the main reasons we go . Will most definitely be back next year . read more

Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve - Parks Near Me - Santee, California

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I LOVED Santee Lakes. I gave a one star because after visiting and camping at Santee Lakes for many years with my Aunt and Husband they have informed me when I called to make reservations that they have me listed as a problem due to camping in a pop up camper in the past. I was also told they are not a campground along with some other comments. My family tradition is over at what they now call a RV Park. Not a campground. read more

Great fishing and parks for the family . Very clean and maintained . Also has a good cafe for breakfast and various coffees. Highly recommend read more

My uncle is a disabled veteran he has a registered service dog. We wanted to go to the park for a family picnic he was not allowed to bring in his dog to the day use area! This is not ok!!! Don't tell me because your a wildlife preserve! There are other parks in the county that are wildlife preserves that allow service animals. We will never go here again! Someone should file a lawsuit! read more

I've been camping at Santee Lakes for years and really enjoy it. We tried the new Topwater Grill and I think it's better than Angry Pete's. The staff is nice, the food was very good and they keep some of the beers on ice which were really cold - perfect. The only downside is the horrible WiFi and cell service. Recently they had a cell tower added to the campground but I have no idea where it might offer service. The minute you get into the camping area service drops to one bar for 5G, then LTE and then nothing. We stopped right in front of the tower and still nothing. The internet provider is a joke even with premium service. We're camped in the spot with the router and connection is continuously lost. It wouldn't be an issue but both my husband and I have elderly mothers that we need service if there's any kind of emergency that we're needed by the facility they both live in. I was really stoked about the cell tower, but completely disappointed. read more

Amazing place to just go for a walk or run. Great place to have a party or just enjoy nature. read more

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I'm impressed by this area. This is a pretty long loop with what looks like 3-4 bodies of water. There is fishing on site, a walking trail, biking trail, RV campgrounds, and various picnic type use areas through out. Well kept, a snack bar type set up, an area to clean the fish caught, and a lot of parking. I believe parking inside the lakes costs $5. There is side street parking though to save that money. read more

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Great place to take the family for camping fishing biking whatever you name it. It's fun, clean and beautiful something for everybody playground for kids and so much more. read more

Beautiful park, well maintained and clean. $4 entrance fee on Week days, $7 on weekends. $7 per child on splash pad. $2 a bag of duck feed. Plenty of green grassy areas to sit and enjoy the view of the lake. You can rent paddle boats. There is a restaurant that serves pizza, hot dogs, smoothies, slushies, donuts, coffee and more. Very relaxing deck with rocking chairs and tables to eat your meal. read more

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Celebration of Life! A very beautiful setting under the Gazebo by the lake! our Celebration of life was perfect! Thank you! read more

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Just delightful place to camp. Many spaces and everything is very well maintained. All the campers are friendly and respectful. So many activities for the kids. They have multiple parks and play areas as well as ample space for playing in your own space. Several nice playground areas and the spaces are far enough from the neighbors that you don't feel you are intruding in their space. Two downsides, Internet is horrible, (and I heard back from them that they are currently in the process of upgrading their Internet system with a new transmitter on site ) this will make it would be five stars for sure. read more

5 stars for the day use part of the preserve. As for the campgrounds... It's a little strange that the day use part of the lakes are much much nicer than the actual campgrounds. Driving in, it looks beautiful and sets you up to think the campgrounds would be just as nice and clean. Unfortunately, as you enter the campgrounds, the campers there seem to not care much about the grounds and some of the RV sites look like straight up homeless encampments. Then to top it off, we're told pet fences aren't allowed and we had to take ours down. This is something that should be stated during the reserving your site, instead it's listed in the brochure they hand you when you arrive, which is extremely misleading. As any pet friendly RV/camper knows, pet fences are a great way to allow your pups to be off leash and enjoy roaming freely and safely. I understand that they don't want dogs barking up a storm when fenced in and left unattended - but that should be the rule vs punishing all pet owners. The good? Very peaceful views of the lake (minus the homes in the background). read more

Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve - Had to take our pet fence down :( - Parks Near Me - Santee, California

So they have very cool paddle boats which our kids can't get enough of. And there are many playgrounds. And restaurants. Very cool spot. Worth checking out. read more

Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve - Parks Near Me - Santee, California

Restaurant workers take forever to give you your food. Customer service is really slow. read more

What a cool place to walk around and spend some time in the sun! Multiple small lakes with a great atmosphere. $4/day to park. They have a restaurant with drinks at one end. Fun place to spend the day with family and friends. read more

Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve - Parks Near Me - Santee, California

Staff do no enforce rules and let unruly and dangerous campers run the show. I hate to write this, because I love this campground -- but it has gone down hill dramatically over the years as freeloaders, semi-homeless, and extremely dangerous clientele have moved in, and stayed put. We have seen fights (plural), a man beating his pitbulls, and totally drunk/high "campers" on our many visits. Originally we would report these to the front desk and/or to "rangers" roamin the campground: on EVERY occasion there has been a complete indifference, essentially a massive shoulder shrug and a passive phrase essentially indiciating, ya, that's just the way it is and "what can we do". These incidents were not small "Karen" style complaints. When you are physically beating your pitbulls with a bat until they are whimpering, it's a problem. When you are in a full on drunken brawl with your neighbor, and the ranger says "well, they are disabled" it's an insult to common sense and a safety issue. What a shame because this campground is actually a tremendous asset to Santee, but it needs administration to starting "getting serious" about their enforcement. read more

Beautiful, fun lake for the kids. I just wish they would better enforce the rules at the "kids" pond -- it's meant for children 12 and under, but it was packed with teenagers loudly cussing. read more

This place was beautiful and serene. Stayed in our rv trailer as lodging. They have cabins on the water. It was quiet and lots of trees. Very secure and no riff raff going on. The tent camping was nice to observe along with the wildlife. Walking trails are a nice amenity.12 stars out of 10. Downside: Wifi was poor and the ants. read more

Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve - Paddle boating - Parks Near Me - Santee, California

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In between the heatwaves during August, I was looking to hike around a body of water that I had not explored before. Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve is built around a set of seven man-made lakes with camping, fishing, and paddle boating as the main activities. The weekend on-site parking charge was $6 which was good for an entire day. If you are coming for just a few hours and don't mind the short walk, you can park curbside along Fanita Pkwy and stroll on to the property. Lots of groups had set up tables and canopies to picnic and barbecue. I didn't see anyone take the paddleboats out on a lake. They might be out of operation at this time because of COVID-19 restrictions. Plenty of anglers were trying their luck to hook the different fishes which had been stocked in the waters. A couple of gazebos and playground areas were available too. The preserve was very family and pet friendly so that was great to see. There is a path that winds around the perimeter of the grounds which covers roughly three miles for a complete circuit. The eastern edge was paved, and you're on a sidewalk most of the time. As you come back along the western perimeter, it's about 50/50 between a dirt trail and sidewalk. The terrain was very flat as you circled around the lakes and campgrounds. Without rating the other outdoor activities you can do here, I gave three stars strictly for the hiking experience at Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve. read more

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