El Cajon, an eastern suburb of San Diego, lies in a valley surrounded by mountains. A city of roughly 100,000, El Cajon enjoys a mild Mediterranean-type climate and offers a good base for exploring the attractions of San Diego County and all of Southern California. The city has three campgrounds that cater exclusively to RV campers. Within 10 miles of the city are an additional two campgrounds, both of which can accommodate both RVs and tents.
Reserved exclusively for RVs, El Cajon’s Circle RV Park (circlerv.com) has 165 sites with full hookups, including cable TV. Each landscaped campsite features its own concrete patio area. Other facilities at the RV park include a clubhouse, fitness center, heated outdoor swimming pool, hot tub, guest library, restrooms, showers, TV lounge, propane service, poolside barbecue grills and coin-operated laundry facilities.
Oak Creek RV Resort (oakcreekrv.com) lies in the foothills a short distance east of center-city El Cajon. Each of its 120 RV campsites has full hookups, including cable TV and telephone, and features a paved parking pad and picnic table. Campers looking for outdoor recreational activities need only drive a few miles farther east to the Cleveland National Forest. But the resort itself has a number of recreational facilities, including a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, horseshoe pits and a fitness center. Other amenities include a clubhouse, Wi-Fi, hot showers, restrooms, laundry facilities, picnic area with barbecue grills and a pet walking area.
Another RV-only campground, Vacationer RV Resort (vacatonerrv.com) offers 147 gravel campsites with concrete patios and full hookups, including cable TV and telephone. The campground’s clubhouse features a full kitchen, TV lounge, billiard table and guest library. Other campground facilities and services include Wi-Fi, heated outdoor swimming pool, hot tub, dog run, picnic area with barbecue grills, showers, restrooms and coin-operated laundry facilities. Several restaurants are within walking distance.
Six miles northeast of El Cajon in the neighboring town of Lakeside, Rancho Los Coches RV Park (rancholoscochesrv.com) serves RVers primarily but maintains a limited amount of sites for tent camping. This pet-friendly park has 142 RV sites and all have with full hookups, including cable TV; five sites are set aside for tent camping. Facilities at Rancho Los Coches include a recreation hall with kitchen, heated outdoor swimming pool, hot tub, Wi-Fi, exercise room, restrooms, showers and guest laundry. Among its other amenities are an historic windmill house and rose garden.
The campgrounds at Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve (santeelakes.com) accommodate both RVs and tents and also offer 10 rental camping cabins. Three of the rental cabins are on pontoons and float on the waters of the lake. All 300 RV sites feature full hookups, and many also have cable TV. An additional 109 sites are set aside for tent camping. Other amenities include free Wi-Fi, a general store, seasonal outdoor swimming pool, hot tub, clubhouse, lake boating and fishing, hiking trails, guest laundry and playgrounds.
Amerman, Don. "Campsites in or Near El Cajon, CA." Travel Tips - USA Today, https://traveltips.usatoday.com/campsites-near-el-cajon-ca-105897.html. Accessed 25 April 2019.