Video still: Campout With Me on YouTube
Potrero County Park Campground
A quiet, oak-shaded County campground near Tecate with water and electric sites, a dump station, trails and two cabins, about an hour east of San Diego.
Potrero, California · County campground near Tecate
Season
Year-round
Spring and fall are most comfortable
Elevation
About 2,300 ft
Hot summers; cooler nights
Hookups
Water & electric
No sewer; dump station on site
Big rigs
Best under 35 ft
Narrow, winding road in; call if over 40 ft
Updated October 8, 2026 · Details checked against the park’s website
Quiet oak-shaded camping near Tecate
The Potrero experience
A quiet, oak-shaded County campground in the hills near the Mexico border at Tecate, with water and electric at the RV sites, a dump station, hot showers, trails and two cabins, about an hour east of San Diego.
Water & electricAt the RV sites; no sewer hookups
Dump stationIn the campground
Oak shadeBig oaks over many sites
Hot showersCoin-op, 50 cents for 4 minutes
Tent & group sitesTent-only, youth and adult group areas
Two cabins390 sq ft; bring your own bedding
PlaygroundsPlus a ball field
Enclosed pavilionAnd group picnic areas
TrailsHiking and fitness trails; no dogs on trails
Store nearbyGeneral store and cafe in the town of Potrero
Life at camp
What campers say
The campground report card
We don’t recycle other sites’ reviews, but the published scores are among the best in the county: campers love the shade, the space and the quiet, and warn about the narrow road in and summer heat.
How RVers rate it
Category scores from Campendium reviewers, out of 5
Field notes from RVers
Longest rig RVers report35 ft Feb 2019
Cell signal reportedVerizon 4GAT&T 4G
Last reported nightly rate$34 Jun 2022
As reported by Campendium and RV LIFE users. Confirm rates, site lengths and policies with the campground before you go.
Potrero, off SR-94
Getting there
The park sits at 24800 Potrero Park Dr in the rural town of Potrero, about 45 miles east of San Diego by SR-94.
From San Diego: SR-94 east through Jamul and Dulzura to Potrero, then Potrero Valley Rd and Potrero Park Rd to the parkFrom I-8: exit Buckman Springs Rd and head south toward Campo, then west on SR-94 to Potrero
SR-94 · POTRERO
Set your GPS
24800 Potrero Park Dr, Potrero, CA 91963
To Tecate*About 11 min
To CampoAbout 20 min
To downtown San DiegoAbout 50 min
From Los AngelesAbout 2 hr 45 min
Take the last miles slowly. Reviewers warn the road in is narrow and winding; call ahead if your rig is over 35–40 ft.
About 2,300 ft up. Summers are hot and Santa Ana winds can blow; nights are cooler than the coast.
*Drive times are from Google Maps and OpenStreetMap routing and are approximate. Locator map is approximate, not for navigation.
Around Potrero & Campo
Around Potrero
Tecate and its border crossing are a few miles south, and Campo’s railway and transport museums are about 10–12 miles east.
Photo thanks to Richard Leneau (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Lake Morena
A quiet back-country reservoir and county park known for bass fishing, oak groves and hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail.
Photo thanks to el cajon yacht club (CC BY 2.0)
Pacific Southwest Railway Museum
Vintage trains, a museum and weekend train rides from the historic depot in Campo, on SR-94 east of Potrero.
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 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.
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 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.
Photo thanks to Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve
Santee Lakes
Lakeside full-hookup sites, pools and fishing in a gated water-district preserve in Santee.
Before you book
Plan your stay
Everything that decides whether Potrero fits your rig, your dates and your budget, in one place.
Our take: one of the quietest, best-rated campgrounds in San Diego County: shady oak sites with water and electric, clean showers and rangers who keep it tidy, for about $39 a night. It’s an hour from the city on a winding back road with weak cell service and summer heat, so it suits campers who want peace and space over convenience.
Nightly ratesCounty fee schedule · checked Oct 8, 2026
RV site (water & electric)$39 /night
Tent only$33 /night
Cabin$75 /night
Youth group area$70 /night
Adult group area$150 /night
Reservation fee$8 /booking
Extra vehicle$6 /night
Rates are from the County of San Diego’s current park fee schedule. The $8 reservation fee is non-refundable, changes cost $8, late checkout is $7 and extra dogs beyond two are $2 a night. Resident seniors (62+) and people with disabilities can buy a $20 County Camping Discount Card.
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) 478-5212.
Typical July afternoon
Campo94°
Phoenix107°
Hot, dry summers: 13° cooler than Phoenix in July, and much hotter than the coast.
Is it right for you?
Who it suits, what to consider, and why campers rate it so highly.
Open
Site types
From $33 a night for tents and $39 with water and electric.
Open
Rates & policies
Fees, pets, check-in, cancellation and camp rules.
Open
Before you book
Questions to ask before you reserve.
Open
Potrero County Park is a public campground run by San Diego County Parks and Recreation in the rural hills near Tecate. It has RV, tent and group sites plus two wilderness cabins; the County lists 37 campsites, and its brochure shows 39 RV sites with water and electric.
Best for
- Peace and quiet: Campendium campers give it a perfect 5.0 for noise, location and cleanliness.
- Shade lovers: big oaks cover many sites, and reviewers call the sites spacious.
- Families and groups: playgrounds, a ball field, trails, group areas and two cabins.
- Border-area trips: Tecate and Campo’s museums are a short drive away.
Consider this
- The approach road is narrow and winding; reviewers urge caution for rigs over 40 ft.
- No sewer hookups; use the dump station before you leave.
- Cell service is weak: Verizon and AT&T are spotty, and reviewers report no T-Mobile signal.
- Summers are hot, and Santa Ana winds can be strong; some sites are sloped.
Summer in Campo
Typical July afternoon
94°
Campo
Campo
107°
Phoenix
Phoenix Sky Harbor
13 degrees cooler than Phoenix, with nights near 53°. Normal July highs, 1991–2020.
RV sites have water and electric but no sewer, with a dump station on site. Rates are flat County fees with no seasonal pricing, plus the $8 reservation fee.
RV site From $39/night
The standard site for trailers and motorhomes; some sites at the edges of the map are marked electric only.
Tent only From $33/night
Tent sites for campers without an RV; tents aren’t allowed at sites 33–39.
Cabins From $75/night
Two wilderness cabins; bring your own mattress and bedding. Check-in is 4 p.m.
Group areas From $70/night
Developed and primitive group camping for youth groups and adult parties.
NightlyFrom $33RV sites $39; paid in full at booking
Reservation fee$8Non-refundable; changes also cost $8
Cancellation72 hours$8 fee; later forfeits all fees
Check-in2 p.m.Cabins 4 p.m.; out by noon
Quiet hours10 p.m.–8 a.m.Generators 8 a.m.–10 p.m.
Pets2 dogs includedExtra $2 a night; not on trails or at cabins
Occupancy8 people per siteAnd two tents at most
Extra vehicle$6 a nightLate checkout $7
FiresExisting rings onlyNone after 11 p.m.; no wood gathering
DiscountsCamping Discount Card$20; resident seniors 62+ or disabled
Checked against sdparks.org on October 8, 2026. Rates are subject to change at any time; see the website or call (619) 478-5212 for the latest rates. Cancel more than 72 hours before check-in for a refund minus an $8 fee (the $8 reservation fee is non-refundable); within 72 hours, all fees are forfeited.
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? The longest rig reported on Campendium is 35 ft; give your length and ask for a level site.
- What amperage is my site? The County doesn’t publish it; Campendium lists 30 and 50 amp.
- Is there a maximum stay? The County doesn’t publish one on the park page; ask when you book.
- Can I run my generator? Yes, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., if it doesn’t disturb other campers.
- What’s the cancellation deadline? 72 hours before check-in; after that, all fees are forfeited.
Know before you go
Frequently asked questions
A few details before you hit the road.
Season: Year-round
Ready for a quiet weekend in the backcountry?
Park under the oaks, walk the trails and enjoy real quiet an hour from the city. Book with San Diego County Parks for current availability.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. The campground photos are video stills from Campout With Me and xplorewithalex on YouTube, plus a park-sign photo by RightCowLeftCoast on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0), and the video is by Learn With Cameron on YouTube, with our thanks. Area photos via Wikimedia Commons: Richard Leneau (Lake Morena; CC BY-SA 3.0), el cajon yacht club (railway museum; CC BY 2.0), Rickbramhall (Old Mission Dam; CC BY-SA 4.0) and Christian David (Balboa Park; CC BY-SA 4.0); the images were resized. Other-park photos: Vacationer RV Resort, San Diego RV Resort and Santee Lakes. 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 Potrero County Park 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 Potrero County Park Campground at sdparks.org or (619) 478-5212. 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.