Photo: Rickbramhall on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Lake Jennings Campground
A quiet Helix Water District campground above Lake Jennings in Lakeside, with full and partial hookups, lake views and fishing, 30 minutes east of San Diego.
Lakeside, California · Above Lake Jennings, off I-8
Season
Year-round
Trout season runs November to April
Elevation
About 700 ft
Lake level; warmer summers than the coast
Hookups
Full & partial
35 full; 17 water & electric
Big rigs
About 37 ft
Narrow, winding entry road; call first
Updated October 8, 2026 · Details checked against the park’s website
A hilltop lake camp in East County
The Lake Jennings experience
A quiet, well-kept campground on the hills above Lake Jennings, a drinking-water reservoir in Lakeside run by Helix Water District, with full and partial hookups, lake views, fishing and weekend boating, about 30 minutes east of downtown San Diego.
Full hookups35 sites, 30 or 50 amp
Partial hookups17 sites with water & electric
Tent sites44 sites plus a 12-person Super Site
Lake & city viewsLake View sites cost a little more
FishingTrout Nov–Apr; catfish in summer
Boat rentals & rampKayaks, pedal boats, skiffs; Fri–Sun
Bait & tackle shopBait, supplies and snacks, Fri–Sun
Hiking trailsAround the lake and hills
Hot showersRestrooms open 24 hours
Free Wi-FiCampground-wide
Propane & firewoodPlus ice at the entrance station
Fire ringsOut by 11 p.m.
Covered playgroundPlus lawn games
PavilionFor group gatherings
Life at camp
What guests say
The campground report card
We don’t recycle other sites’ reviews, but the published scores are worth reading together: campers rate the views, the quiet and the clean restrooms highly, while RVers warn about the narrow, winding entry road and sites that need leveling.
How RVers rate it
Category scores from Campendium reviewers, out of 5
Field notes from RVers
Longest rig RVers report37 ft May 2022
Cell signal reportedVerizon 4G/5GAT&T 4G/5GT-Mobile 4G
Last reported nightly rate$50 May 2026
As reported by Campendium and RV LIFE users. Confirm rates, site lengths and policies with the campground before you go.
Lakeside, off I-8 at Exit 23
Getting there
The campground sits above the lake at 10108 Bass Rd in Lakeside, about a mile up a narrow, curving road from Lake Jennings Park Rd, Exit 23 on I-8.
From San Diego: I-8 east to Exit 23 (Lake Jennings Park Rd), then north on Lake Jennings Park Rd and follow the campground signs to Bass RdFrom the east: I-8 west to Exit 23 (Lake Jennings Park Rd); the last mile up to the kiosk is narrow and winding
EXIT 23 · I-8
Set your GPS
10108 Bass Rd, Lakeside, CA 92040
To Lakeside*About 11 min
To Viejas Casino & OutletsAbout 20 min
To Barona Resort & CasinoAbout 20 min
To downtown San DiegoAbout 30 min
Take the entry road slowly. The mile-long road up to the kiosk is narrow with tight curves, and some sites are hard to back into with a long rig; avoid arriving near checkout time.
About 700 ft, inland. The lake sits around 700 ft up in the East County hills, where summers run warmer than the coast.
*Drive times are from Google Maps and OpenStreetMap routing and are approximate. Locator map is approximate, not for navigation.
Around Lakeside
Around Lakeside
Groceries in Lakeside are 2–3 miles away; Mission Trails Regional Park is about 25 minutes west, and Old Town, Balboa Park and the USS Midway are about half an hour away by I-8.
Photo thanks to Rickbramhall (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Mission Trails Regional Park
Hike or bike to Cowles Mountain, the Old Mission Dam and Lake Murray in one of the largest urban parks in the country.
Photo thanks to Beyond My Ken (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Old Town San Diego
Adobe buildings, museums and Mexican restaurants around the plaza in the state historic park where San Diego began.
Photo thanks to Christian David (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Balboa Park & the Zoo
Museums, gardens and Spanish-style landmarks around the California Tower, with the San Diego Zoo on the north side of the park.
Photo thanks to Christian David (CC BY-SA 4.0)
USS Midway Museum
Walk the hangar and flight decks of a retired aircraft carrier on the downtown waterfront. Plan a few hours and check the site for tickets.
More places to stay
Other parks worth a look
The three closest RV parks and campgrounds we’ve reviewed around San Diego, by drive time.
Photo thanks to Sunland RV Resorts
Vacationer RV Resort
A gated Sunland resort in El Cajon with a pool and dog park, built mainly for monthly stays.
Photo thanks to Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve
Santee Lakes
Lakeside full-hookup sites, pools and fishing in a gated water-district preserve in Santee.
Photo thanks to Sunland RV Resorts
San Diego RV Resort
A clean Sunland resort in La Mesa with long sites, a heated pool and the trolley at the gate.
Before you book
Plan your stay
Everything that decides whether Lake Jennings fits your rig, your dates and your budget, in one place.
Our take: a peaceful, good-value campground above a pretty lake, with views, fishing and clean, 24-hour restrooms, about 30 minutes from downtown San Diego. The narrow entry road, unlevel sites and only 35 full-hookup sites make it better suited to mid-size rigs, and there’s no swimming.
Nightly ratesEffective Sept 16, 2026 · checked Oct 8, 2026
Full hookup, 30 amp$65–$82 /night
Full hookup, 50 amp or Lake View$70–$87 /night
Partial hookup, City View$58–$75 /night
Partial hookup, Lake View$61–$78 /night
Tent, Standard$45–$50 /night
Tent, Lake View$53–$58 /night
Super Site (tents, up to 12)$120–$175 /night
The lower figure is Sunday to Thursday, the higher one Friday, Saturday and holidays. Add an $8 processing fee per reservation, $2 a night per extra vehicle or boat and $1 a night per pet. Weekly stays get 10% off the daily total.
Prices are subject to change at any time and may vary by date, season and availability. For the latest pricing, check the park’s rates page or call (619) 390-1623.
Typical July afternoon
El Cajon86°
Phoenix107°
Warm, dry summers: 21° cooler than Phoenix in July, and warmer than the coast.
Is it right for you?
Who it suits, what to consider, and why campers come back.
Open
Site types
From $58 a night for an RV site; tents from $45.
Open
Rates & policies
Fees, pets, check-in, cancellation and lake rules.
Open
Before you book
Questions to ask before you reserve.
Open
Lake Jennings is a drinking-water reservoir in Lakeside owned and operated by Helix Water District, with a 97-space campground on the hill above it. It’s a public campground, not a county park, and most guests come for the views, the fishing and a quieter base for San Diego.
Best for
- Quiet seekers: noise (4.6) is one of Campendium’s highest scores, and sites are screened by plants.
- Anglers: trout are stocked from November to April and catfish in summer, with rentals and a ramp on weekends.
- Budget trips: full-hookup sites start at $65 on weeknights, and weekly stays get 10% off.
- East County touring: Lakeside, Alpine and two casinos are within about 10 miles.
Consider this
- The entry road is narrow and winding, and the longest rig reported on Campendium is 37 ft.
- Only 35 sites have full hookups; book early for those, especially on weekends.
- Reviewers say most sites need leveling, and some hear freeway, aircraft or event noise.
- No swimming, and boating runs only Friday to Sunday.
Summer in El Cajon
Typical July afternoon
86°
El Cajon
El Cajon
107°
Phoenix
Phoenix Sky Harbor
21 degrees cooler than Phoenix, with nights near 63°. Normal July highs, 1991–2020.
Full-hookup sites have water, electric and sewer; partial sites have water and electric; tent sites have water nearby but no hookups. Weeknights cost less than weekends and holidays.
Full hookup From $65/night
Full-hookup sites run $65–$82 for 30 amp and $70–$87 for 50 amp or Lake View, weeknight to weekend.
Partial hookup From $58/night
City View sites run $58–$75 and Lake View sites $61–$78 a night.
Tent sites From $45/night
Standard tent sites cost $45–$50 a night and Lake View tent sites $53–$58.
Super Site From $120/night
One large tent-only site for groups of up to 12, at $120 on weeknights and $175 on weekends.
NightlyFrom $58RV sites; $8 processing fee per booking
Weekly10% offOff the daily total, not the fee
Cancellation14+ days outLose $16 in fees; closer costs more
Check-in2 p.m.Out by noon; late checkout $15 an hour
Late arrivalAfter 5 p.m.Call the kiosk that day for the gate code
Pets$1 a pet a nightThree max; not at the lake or day-use areas
FiresRings onlyOut by 11 p.m.; charcoal only in high fire danger
SwimmingNot allowedThe lake is a drinking-water reservoir
ChangesOne transferWithin 60 days, with 3 days’ notice
BoatingFri–SunRentals and ramp; day use free for campers
Checked against lakejennings.org on October 8, 2026. Rates are subject to change at any time; see the website or call (619) 390-1623 for the latest rates. Cancel more than 14 days out and you lose only the $8 processing and $8 cancellation fees; 8–14 days out you also lose the first night, and within 7 days, all fees.
Good to know before you pull in
Five things that change your booking
Ask these on the phone before you reserve.
- Which site fits my rig? Give your length; tight turns make some pull-thrus hard for big rigs.
- Is my site level? Reviewers say most aren’t, so ask and bring blocks.
- Where’s the dump station? RVers report one near the bathhouse on Trout Lane; confirm when you book.
- Will I arrive after 5 p.m.? Call the kiosk on arrival day for the gate code.
- What’s the cancellation deadline? More than 14 days out costs only the fees; closer in, you lose more.
Know before you go
Frequently asked questions
A few details before you hit the road.
Season: Year-round
Ready for a quiet lake stay in East County?
Park above the water, fish the morning bite and watch the sun set over the hills. Book direct with Lake Jennings for current rates and availability.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. The lake photos come from Rickbramhall (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Scott Cameron (CC BY 3.0) on Wikimedia Commons, and the video stills from BoHo Betty RV Adventures and xplorewithalex on YouTube, with our thanks; video: FERGUNIZED Travel Life on YouTube. Area photos via Wikimedia Commons: Rickbramhall (Old Mission Dam; CC BY-SA 4.0), Beyond My Ken (Old Town; CC BY-SA 4.0), Christian David (Balboa Park; CC BY-SA 4.0) and Christian David (USS Midway; CC BY-SA 4.0); the images were resized. Other-park photos: Vacationer RV Resort, Santee Lakes and San Diego RV Resort. Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the parks we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Lake Jennings Campground unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the park’s published materials and publicly available sources. Pricing, availability, rules, policies, regulations, amenities and other details are set by the park and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel or book, please confirm all details directly with Lake Jennings Campground at lakejennings.org or (619) 390-1623. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
We will always do our best to keep this page up to date. Thank you to everyone who contributes; we truly appreciate your help and support.