Adventure
| Location | Palomar Mountain, California |
|---|---|
| Nightly rate (listed) | $20–$40/night |
| Guest rating | 4.0 / 5 (233 reviews) |
| Maximum RV length | 35 ft (longest listed site) |
| Hookups | None listed |
| RV sites | 28 |
| Pets allowed | Yes |
| Book on | Recreation.gov |
From the park's listing on Recreation.gov. Confirm details with the park before you book.
This weekend · Available Oct 30 – Nov 1 · 2 nights5 sites open for every night · from $20/night
Observatory Campground is a Recreation.gov campground in Palomar Mountain. It lists 28 RV or RV/tent sites for rigs up to 35 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 006 on Recreation.gov; re-enter Oct 30–Nov 1 there.
Opens site 017 on Recreation.gov; re-enter Oct 30–Nov 1 there.
Opens site 028 on Recreation.gov; re-enter Oct 30–Nov 1 there.
On Recreation.gov, re-enter Oct 30–Nov 1 and select “021/022”.
On Recreation.gov, re-enter Oct 30–Nov 1 and select “035/036”.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 017 standard nonelectric | ✓ | ✓ | $20 |
| 006 standard nonelectric | ✓ | ✓ | $20 |
| 028 standard nonelectric | ✓ | ✓ | $20 |
| 021/022 standard nonelectric | ✓ | ✓ | $40 |
| 035/036 standard nonelectric | ✓ | ✓ | $40 |
| 013 standard nonelectric | ✓ | R | $20 |
| 034 standard nonelectric | R | R | $20 |
| 008 standard nonelectric | R | R | $20 |
| 005 standard nonelectric | ✓ | R | $20 |
| 039 standard nonelectric | R |
Verbatim from guest reviews on Recreation.gov ↗ (233 reviews, ★ 4.0). Not written or edited by us.
“Went early to the observatory and had a nice breakfast while waiting for the gates to open. Highly recommend!”
“The camp site was wonderful and clean except for the bathrooms. Great spot for star gazing. ”
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: 35 ft. Unsure if your rig fits? Check it in the Rig Fit tool
Observatory Campground sits high on Palomar Mountain at about 4,800 feet, surrounded by pine and oak stands with enough openings in the canopy to give many sites a broad view of the night sky. The campground comprises a single large loop with 28 campsites each configured to serve both tent campers and RVs so the TOTAL CAMPSITES is 28 and the SITE TYPE BREAKDOWN is 28 Both RV Sites & Tent Sites. Several sites include level cement pads specifically meant to stabilize telescopes, and parking spurs on the loop fit vehicles up to 32 feet in length. Science-minded visitors gravitate here because the Palomar Observatory is roughly two miles away, and a 2.25-mile trail leads from the campground up to the observatory; on several summer weekends the volunteer-run Explore the Stars program brings amateur astronomers to the campground to share views of the sky with more than a hundred visitors. Day hikes, mountain biking, picnicking and scenic driving are easy to reach from camp, and the site makes a practical base for exploring Palomar Mountain State Park and the wider Cleveland National Forest. Facilities are straightforward and built for practical outdoor use: drinking water, grills, trash cans, campfire rings and picnic tables at sites, plus two vault toilets dispersed around the loop. During peak season coin-operated showers and a flush toilet are available; those services are not provided year-round. The campground is accessible from Highway 76 via South Grade/Canfield Road on Palomar Mountain and is roughly a two-hour drive from San Diego (and reachable from the Los Angeles area via I-15 to Highway 76). A small general store a short distance away stocks basic necessities. For up-to-date information on fees, reservations and seasonal road or facility changes, check the Cleveland National Forest website or contact the ranger district before you go. In addition to the on-site astronomy and trail options, the surrounding forested landscape supports broader park activities such as horseback riding, horse camping, off-highway vehicle routes, interpretive programs, and recreational vehicle touring across the Cleveland National Forest.
| Agency / operator | Not listed |
|---|---|
| Booking | Recreation.gov [Recreation.gov] |
| Max RV / trailer length |
Picks are 35 ft or shorter: the longest RV site listed here. Pickup area: San Diego (San Diego International (SAN)), about 46 mi straight-line from Observatory Campground. RV rentals in San Diego
Pick up in Escondido
Pick up in Escondido
Pick up in Escondido| R |
| $20 |
| 009 standard nonelectric | ✓ | R | $20 |
| 040 standard nonelectric | R | R | $20 |
| 026 standard nonelectric | R | R | $20 |
| 011 standard nonelectric | R | R | $20 |
| 025 standard nonelectric | R | R | $20 |
| 033 standard nonelectric | R | R | $20 |
| 030 standard nonelectric | R | R | $20 |
| 010 standard nonelectric | R | R | $20 |
| 019 standard nonelectric | C | C | $20 |
| 024 standard nonelectric | R | R | $20 |
| 003 standard nonelectric | R | R | $20 |
| 029 standard nonelectric | R | R | $20 |
| 031/032 standard nonelectric | R | R | $40 |
| 041/042 standard nonelectric | R | R | $40 |
| 001/002 standard nonelectric | R | R | $40 |
| 037/038 standard nonelectric | ✓ | R | $40 |
✓ available · R reserved · X not available · C closed · W first come, first served · N not yet released
| Not listed |
| Bear storage | Not listed |
|---|
| Season | Not listed |
|---|
| Hookups | Not listed |
|---|
Sources: Recreation.gov — Observatory 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.
Closest stays by type. Distances are straight-line from Observatory Campground, not driving.
Available Oct 30 – Nov 1 · 2 nights4 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 night
