The Giant Lemon monument in Lemon Grove, photographed by Allan Ferguson.

Outdoors

Camping near Lemon Grove

Campgrounds and camping areas near Lemon Grove on federal land, with which ones take reservations on Recreation.gov.

28campgrounds and camping areas
15 mito the closest
4within 30 miles
Year-roundbest months

Good to know: Popular campgrounds book up months ahead on Recreation.gov; first-come sites fill early on weekends and holidays.

Closest picks

1

Otay Mountain Wilderness

15 mi southeast · Bureau of Land Management

The Otay Mountain Wilderness has a total of 16,885 acres and is managed by the BLM's Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office .

3

Corral Canyon Campground

27 mi east · USDA Forest Service

Corral Canyon Campground Distance 1.2 miles with connecting options Campfires Campfires are not allowed when elevated fire restrictions are in effect. Please see our current fire restrictions page for more details.

Map of all 28 places

Map of 28 places loads as you scroll.

Within 30 miles (4)

15 mi southeast · Bureau of Land Management

Otay Mountain Wilderness

The Otay Mountain Wilderness has a total of 16,885 acres and is managed by the BLM's Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office .

  • Camping
  • Horseback riding
  • Photography
  • Wilderness
  • Wildlife viewing

23 mi east · USDA Forest Service

Cleveland National Forest

  • Biking
  • Camping
  • Hiking
  • Horse Camping
  • Horseback riding
  • Off-highway vehicles
  • Picnicking
  • Ranger programs

27 mi east · USDA Forest Service · Campground

Corral Canyon Campground

Corral Canyon Campground Distance 1.2 miles with connecting options Campfires Campfires are not allowed when elevated fire restrictions are in effect. Please see our current fire restrictions page for more details.

  • Camping
  • Hiking
  • Picnicking

28 mi east · USDA Forest Service · Campground

Bobcat Meadow Campground

Bobcat Meadow Campground Trails 1.2 miles with trail connection options Campfires Campfires are not allowed when elevated fire restrictions are in effect. Please see our current fire restrictions page for more details.

  • Camping
  • Hiking
  • Picnicking

30 to 75 miles (21)

32 mi east · USDA Forest Service · Campground

Boulder Oaks Eqst

Boulder Oaks offers equestrian and family sites in the scenic Cleveland National Forest, about an hour away from San Diego, California.

  • Backpacking
  • Birding
  • Camping
  • Hiking
  • Horse Camping
  • Horseback riding
  • Hunting
  • Picnicking

35 mi east · USDA Forest Service · Campground

El Prado Group

El Prado Group Campground is a great mountain getaway just one hour east of San Diego, California in the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area.

  • Biking
  • Birding
  • Camping
  • Cultural Activities
  • Hiking
  • History
  • Horseback riding
  • Information Site

35 mi east · USDA Forest Service · Campground

Laguna

Laguna Campground is a great mountain getaway just one hour east of San Diego, California in the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area.

  • Biking
  • Camping
  • Hiking

36 mi east · USDA Forest Service · Campground

Horse Heaven Group

Contrary to its name, Horse Heaven Group Campground has no equestrian sites. Instead, this tent-only facility can accommodate gatherings of up to 100 people.

  • Biking
  • Birding
  • Camping
  • Hiking
  • Horseback riding
  • Mountain Biking
  • Scenic Drive
  • Wildlife viewing

36 mi east · USDA Forest Service · Campground

Wooded Hill Group

Wooded Hill Group Campground is a great mountain getaway for groups of up to 110 people to take a retreat from the city.

  • Biking
  • Camping
  • Hiking
  • Picnicking

37 mi east · USDA Forest Service · Campground

Burnt Rancheria

Burnt Rancheria Campground is located 50 miles east of San Diego at the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area in Southern California, right off the Sunrise Scenic Byway.

  • Camping
  • Ranger programs

40 mi east · Bureau of Land Management · Campground

Cottonwood Campground

Among the live oaks in southeastern San Diego County is Cottonwood Campground. The campground offers a tranquil and refreshing experience.

  • Biking
  • Camping
  • Hiking
  • Horseback riding
  • Hunting
  • Photography
  • Wildlife viewing

41 mi north · USDA Forest Service · Campground

Crestline Group Campground

Crestline Group Campground is located in a wooded area on Palomar Mountain, at approximately 5,390 feet in elevation. Many trees including Black Oak, Cedar, White Fir and Live Oak surround the site.

  • Biking
  • Camping
  • Hiking
  • Ranger programs

42 mi north · USDA Forest Service · Campground

Observatory Campground

Science buffs and families are drawn to Observatory Campground for its proximity to the Palomar Observatory, a world-class center of astronomy research operated by the California Institute of Technology.

  • Camping
  • Hiking

43 mi north · USDA Forest Service · Campground

Fry Creek Campground

Fry Creek Campground is situated in the heart of Cleveland National Forest, uniquely located down the road from the world-famous Palomar Observatory.

  • Camping

46 mi east · Bureau of Land Management

Carrizo Gorge Wilderness

The Carrizo Gorge Wilderness now contains a total of 14,741 acres and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. All of the Wilderness is in the state of California.

  • Camping
  • Hiking
  • Photography
  • Wilderness
  • Wildlife viewing

47 mi northeast · USDA Forest Service · Campground

Indian Flats Campground

17 sites. Pacific Crest Trail Access. No Water. The nearest water can be found at the Warner Springs Gas Station.

  • Camping
  • Hiking
  • Picnicking
  • Recreational Vehicles

47 mi north · USDA Forest Service · Campground

Oak Grove Campground

Located on the Cleveland National Forest, Oak Grove Campground is nestled in a valley of large oak groves and manzanita. Recreation Oak Grove Trail is a short walk of 1.5 miles and is located across Rt. 79, behind the Ranger Station.

  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • History

50 mi north · USDA Forest Service · Campground

Dripping Springs Campground (Ca)

Dripping Springs campground is a wonderful campground adjacent to the Agua Tibia Wilderness. Recreation Recreation in the area includes hiking, trail running, and backpacking.

  • Camping
  • History
  • Hunting

52 mi north · Bureau of Land Management

Beauty Mountain Wilderness

The Beauty Mountain Wilderness encompasses a total of 15,627 acres and is managed by the BLM's Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office .

  • Camping
  • Hiking
  • Horseback riding
  • Photography
  • Wilderness

58 mi east · Bureau of Land Management

Coyote Mountains Wilderness

The Coyote Mountains Wilderness now contains a total of 18,630 acres and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. All of the Wilderness is in the state of California.

  • Camping
  • Hiking
  • Photography
  • Wilderness
  • Wildlife viewing

60 mi east · Bureau of Land Management

Jacumba Wilderness

The Jacumba Mountains Wilderness now contains a total of 31,357 acres and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. All of the Wilderness is in the state of California.

  • Camping
  • Climbing
  • Hiking
  • Photography
  • Wilderness
  • Wildlife viewing

61 mi east · Bureau of Land Management

Fish Creek Mountains Wilderness

The Fish Creek Mountains Wilderness now contains a total of 21,388 acres and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. All of the Wilderness is in the state of California.

  • Camping
  • Hiking
  • Photography
  • Wilderness
  • Wildlife viewing

73 mi northeast · Bureau of Land Management

Santa Rosa Wilderness

The terrain within the Santa Rosa Mountains Wilderness is rugged with elevations rising dramatically from just above sea level to 7,000 feet.

  • Camping
  • Hiking
  • History
  • Horseback riding
  • Hunting
  • Photography
  • Wilderness
  • Wildlife viewing

75 mi northeast · Bureau of Reclamation

Lake Cahuilla

Surronded by the stark beauty of the Santa Rosa Mountains, Lake Cahuilla (pronounced Kah-wee-ah) is a favorite recreation area in the Coachella Valley.

  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Horseback riding
  • Picnicking
  • Recreational Vehicles
  • Water sports

75 miles and farther (3)

86 mi northeast · Bureau of Land Management

Mecca Hills Wilderness

The Mecca Hills Wilderness now contains a total of 26,242 acres and is managed by the BLM's Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office . All of the Wilderness is in the state of California.

  • Camping
  • Hiking
  • Photography
  • Picnicking
  • Wilderness
  • Wildlife viewing

87 mi northwest · US Army Corps of Engineers

Prado Dam

This San Bernardino County Parks managed area is an oasis within one of the fastest growing areas of Southern California. Riverside County and the City of Corona also provide recreation facilities.

  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Horseback riding
  • Picnicking
  • Water sports
  • Wildlife viewing

89 mi northeast · Bureau of Land Management

Orocopia Mountains Wilderness

The western boundary of the Orocopia Mountains Wilderness is contiguous with the Mecca Hills Wilderness with the exception of the Meccacopia Jeep Trail, which bisects the two wilderness areas.

  • Camping
  • Hiking
  • Horseback riding
  • Hunting
  • Photography
  • Wilderness
  • Wildlife viewing

Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Lemon Grove. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.

Get outside around Lemon Grove

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Around Lemon Grove

St. John of the Cross parish, Lemon Grove
St. John of the Cross parish (cropped)RightCowLeftCoast · CC BY-SA 4.0
Coop's West Texas BBQ cornbread, Lemon Grove
Coop's West Texas BBQ cornbreadRightCowLeftCoast · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Lemon Grove, CaliforniaMountain Mike Johans… · CC BY 3.0

More outdoors near Lemon Grove

Questions

Where is the closest place for camping near Lemon Grove?

Otay Mountain Wilderness (Bureau of Land Management), about 15 miles southeast of Lemon Grove as the crow flies. Next are Cleveland National Forest (23 mi) and Corral Canyon Campground (27 mi).

When is the best time for camping near Lemon Grove?

Based on Lemon Grove’s average highs, all year. Conditions at higher elevations can be much cooler.

Can I reserve a campsite near Lemon Grove?

11 of the 28 places listed here take reservations on Recreation.gov; others are first come, first served.

Who manages these places?

Federal agencies including USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.

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