Adventure
| Location | Palomar Mountain, California |
|---|---|
| Nightly rate (listed) | From $15/night |
| Guest rating | 3.0 / 5 (58 reviews) |
| Maximum RV length | 12 ft (longest listed site) |
| Hookups | None listed |
| RV sites | 12 |
| Pets allowed | Yes |
| Book on | Recreation.gov |
From the park's listing on Recreation.gov. Confirm details with the park before you book.
Closest stays by type. Distances are straight-line from Fry Creek Campground, not driving.
Available Oct 30 – Nov 1 · 2 nights5 sites open for every night
Available Oct 30 – Nov 1 · 2 nights1 site open for every night
Available Oct 30 – Nov 1 · 2 nights52 sites open for every nightThis weekend · Available Oct 30 – Nov 1 · 2 nights4 sites open for every night · from $15/night
Fry Creek Campground is a Recreation.gov campground in Palomar Mountain. It lists 12 RV or RV/tent sites for rigs up to 12 ft. Pets are allowed per the listing.
Checking 2 nights (your saved dates or this weekend). Tell us what you're staying in to see matching sites and prices.
Availability checked Oct 25 on Recreation.gov. Rates are the provider's nightly rates; totals are estimates before taxes & fees.
Opens site 002 on Recreation.gov; re-enter Oct 30–Nov 1 there.
Opens site 007 on Recreation.gov; re-enter Oct 30–Nov 1 there.
Opens site 009 on Recreation.gov; re-enter Oct 30–Nov 1 there.
Opens site 011 on Recreation.gov; re-enter Oct 30–Nov 1 there.
You book with the provider. Each row shows that provider's lowest open option for your dates, and which provider our main button uses.
Availability checked Oct 25 on Recreation.gov.
| Site | Fr 30 | Sa 31 | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 007 standard nonelectric | ✓ | ✓ | $15 |
| 002 standard nonelectric | ✓ | ✓ | $15 |
| 009 standard nonelectric | ✓ | ✓ | $15 |
| 011 standard nonelectric | ✓ | ✓ | $15 |
| 006 standard nonelectric | R | R | $15 |
| 010 standard nonelectric | ✓ | R | $15 |
| 001 standard nonelectric | R | ✓ | $15 |
| 015 standard nonelectric | R | R | $15 |
| 017 standard nonelectric | R | R | $15 |
| 018 standard nonelectric | R | R | $15 |
| 019 standard nonelectric | R | R | $15 |
| 005 standard nonelectric | R | ✓ | $15 |
✓ available · R reserved · X not available · C closed · W first come, first served · N not yet released
Verbatim from guest reviews on Recreation.gov ↗ (58 reviews, ★ 3.0). Not written or edited by us.
“Been going to Fry Creek for about 8 years. Always enjoy it. Typically quiet and relaxing. A lot of the sites are pretty isolated giving you a sense of privacy. ”
“Really cute and peaceful little place, and the trail up to the observatory was the perfect hike. ”
“Nice campground, well spaced sites. Lots and lots of birds (acorn woodpeckers, nuthatches, Steller's jays, mountain chickadees). Bring a headnet for the flies ”
This weekend (Fri, Oct 30 – Sun, Nov 1): Book online. Reservations online on Recreation.gov — open dates and rates come from the booking site.
Longest RV site listed: 12 ft. Unsure if your rig fits? Check it in the Rig Fit tool
Fry Creek Campground sits near the summit of Palomar Mountain in Cleveland National Forest at about 4,900 feet, where stands of evergreen and oak keep temperatures cooler than the valleys below. The campground is compact there are 12 total campsites, and all 12 accommodate both RVs and tents so the experience feels quiet and intimate rather than sprawling. Sites are tucked under a dense pine canopy that makes for pleasant shade and forest sounds during the day but limits direct views of the night sky from within the campground itself. A short loop hike around Fry Creek gives visitors a chance to stretch their legs and look for local flora and fauna; vehicular access comes up South Grade Road (Canfield Road) from Highway 76, the same approach used by visitors driving from either San Diego or Los Angeles. The most distinctive amenity near Fry Creek is the Palomar Observatory complex a few miles away: the observatory's visitor center is about 2.2 miles down the road or reachable by trail, and it houses the historic 200-inch Hale Telescope used for research on near-Earth asteroids and distant galaxies. Across the road from Fry Creek, Observatory Campground provides level cement platforms for telescopes and an amphitheater, and it hosts the monthly Explore the Stars astronomy gatherings April through October when amateur astronomers share views of planets and constellations. Beyond astronomy and the onsite loop trail, Cleveland National Forest offers a wide range of outdoor options biking, hiking, horse camping and horseback riding, off-highway vehicle use, interpretive programs, picnicking, and RV recreation so Fry Creek can serve as a quiet basecamp for many activities. For up-to-date information on fees, reservations, seasonal closures, and road conditions, check with the Cleveland National Forest or the managing recreation website before you go.
| Agency / operator | Not listed |
|---|---|
| Booking | Recreation.gov [Recreation.gov] |
| Max RV / trailer length | Not listed |
Picks are 12 ft or shorter: the longest RV site listed here. Pickup area: San Diego (San Diego International (SAN)), about 46 mi straight-line from Fry Creek Campground. RV rentals in San Diego
Pick up in Chula Vista
Pick up in Chula Vista| Bear storage | Not listed |
|---|
| Season | Not listed |
|---|
| Hookups | Not listed |
|---|
Sources: Recreation.gov — Fry Creek Campground. "Not listed" means no source we use states it.
Official facts link to their source; “Listing” facts come from the Recreation.gov listing. Anything we can't source says so.
