Photo thanks to Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve
Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve
A gated water-district campground on seven fishing lakes in Santee, with 300 full-hookup sites, pools and cabins, about 20 minutes from downtown San Diego.
Santee, California · Lakeside sites off SR-52
Season
Year-round
Weekends and holidays book up fast
Elevation
About 350 ft
Inland; warmer summers than the coast
Hookups
Full hookups
All 300 RV sites; 30/50 amp
Big rigs
About 42 ft
No set limit; some sites tight past 30 ft
Updated October 8, 2026 · Details checked against the park’s website
Seven lakes, 20 minutes from downtown
The Santee Lakes experience
A big, tidy, gated campground on seven fishing lakes in Santee, run by a public water district, with 300 full-hookup sites, two pools, lakefront cabins and campers-only fishing, about 20 minutes from downtown San Diego.
Full hookups300 sites; 30/50 amp per RV listings
Pull-thru sitesStandard and Deluxe pull-thrus
Pools & spaTwo pools (one heated); spa is 18+
Campers-only fishingLakes 6 and 7 are for campers
Pedal boatsOut on the lakes
Playground & spraygroundPlayground near the clubhouse
Bark ParkOff-leash dog area
Topwater GrillOn-site restaurant
General storeOpen 8 a.m.–5 p.m. daily
ClubhousePlus guest activities
Covered sheltersShade by the water
Free Wi-FiReviewers say it can be weak
TVCable on Deluxe sites; DISH on 169–300
Restrooms & showersAround the campground
LaundryOpen 8 a.m.–9 p.m.
Cabins & tent sitesLakefront cabins and 15 tent sites
Covered RV storageWith a dump station
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: guests love the lakes, the ducks and the clean, well-kept grounds, while RVers mark it down for add-on fees, tight sites and weak cell signal.
How RVers rate it
Category scores from Campendium reviewers, out of 5
Field notes from RVers
Longest rig RVers report42 ft Mar 2016
Cell signal reportedVerizon 4G/5GAT&T 4GT-Mobile 4G
Last reported nightly rate$55 Jun 2025
As reported by Campendium and RV LIFE users. Confirm rates, site lengths and policies with the campground before you go.
Santee, off SR-52 at Mast Blvd
Getting there
Santee Lakes sits on Fanita Pkwy in north Santee, about 18 miles east of downtown San Diego, a few minutes off SR-52 at the Mast Blvd exit.
From San Diego: SR-52 east to the Mast Blvd exit, left on Mast Blvd, right on Fanita Pkwy, then right into the parkFrom I-8: SR-125 north to Mission Gorge Rd, then Carlton Hills Blvd and Mast Blvd to Fanita Pkwy
SR-52 · MAST BLVD
Set your GPS
9310 Fanita Pkwy, Santee, CA 92071
To Mission Trails*About 8 min
To Santee Trolley SquareAbout 4 min
To the San Diego ZooAbout 25 min
From Los AngelesAbout 2 hr
Book weekends early. Reviewers say weekends fill fast and holidays get busy; quiet hours are 9 p.m. to 8 a.m., and generators are banned at all times.
About 350 ft, inland. Santee runs warmer than the coast in summer, so plan on using the pools.
*Drive times are from Google Maps and OpenStreetMap routing and are approximate. Locator map is approximate, not for navigation.
Around Santee
Around Santee
Mission Trails Regional Park is about 5 miles away, and Santee Trolley Square has shopping, groceries and the trolley about 2 miles from the gate.
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
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 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 Rickbramhall (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Lake Jennings
A quiet hilltop campground above a fishing lake in Lakeside, run by Helix Water District.
Before you book
Plan your stay
Everything that decides whether Santee Lakes fits your rig, your dates and your budget, in one place.
Our take: a clean, well-run lakeside campground with full hookups, pools and fishing for campers only, about 20 minutes from downtown San Diego. Add-on fees, close-set sites and spotty cell signal are the trade-offs, and weekends book up, so reserve early and check your total with tax.
Nightly rates2026 rate sheet · checked Oct 8, 2026
Standard back-in$62–$97 /night
Standard pull-in$63–$96 /night
Standard pull-thru$66–$99 /night
Lakefront$71–$107 /night
Deluxe back-in$74–$109 /night
Deluxe pull-thru$75–$111 /night
30 nights, Standard (Nov–Mar)$1,300–$1,495 /30 nights
30 nights, Deluxe (Nov–Mar)$1,535–$1,700 /30 nights
Nightly prices move with availability and demand; 30-night rates run $100 higher from April to October. Add the 10% City of Santee tax on stays under 30 days, $3 a night per extra person (3+) or pet and $7 per extra vehicle. Two-night minimum, three on holidays.
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) 596-3141.
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 families keep coming back.
Open
Site types
From $62 a night; 30-night stays from $1,300.
Open
Rates & policies
Fees, pets, check-in, cancellation and stay rules.
Open
Before you book
Questions to ask before you reserve.
Open
Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve is a 190-acre park built around seven recycled-water lakes, owned and run by Padre Dam Municipal Water District. The campground has 300 full-hookup RV sites, 15 tent sites and lakefront cabins, and draws families, anglers and snowbirds.
Best for
- Families: two pools, a sprayground, a playground and pedal boats are all inside the gate.
- Anglers: Lakes 6 and 7 are for campers only, and the lakes are stocked year-round.
- Winter stays: 30-night rates start at $1,300 from November to March, and you can stay up to 180 nights.
- City trips without city noise: downtown San Diego is about 20 minutes away by SR-52.
Consider this
- Sites sit close together; site quality (3.9) is Campendium’s lowest score.
- Fees add up: tax, extra people, vehicles and pets are all charged on top.
- No generators at any time, and stays over two weeks need a fully self-contained rig.
- Cell signal and Wi-Fi are weak spots in reviews; Verizon reports are the best.
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.
Every RV site has full hookups. Prices vary by site type and demand within the ranges below, plus tax and fees; 30-night stays have their own seasonal rates.
Standard From $62/night
The most affordable sites: back-ins from $62, pull-ins from $63 and pull-thrus from $66 a night.
Lakefront From $71/night
Sites right on the water, from $71 to $107 a night depending on dates and demand.
Deluxe From $74/night
Slightly larger sites with cable TV: back-ins from $74 and pull-thrus from $75 a night.
30-night stays From $1,300
Extended stays from $1,300 to $1,800 for 30 nights by site type and season, with a $175 electric deposit.
NightlyFrom $62Plus 10% city tax; demand pricing
30 nightsFrom $1,300Nov–Mar; April to October costs more
Cancellation48 hours$25 fee plus tax; no refund after
Check-in1 p.m.Out by 11 a.m.; late checkout is half a night
Minimum stay2 nights3 on holidays; book up to 6 months out
Maximum stay180 nightsSelf-contained rig needed past 2 weeks
Quiet hours9 p.m.–8 a.m.No generators at any time
Pets$3 a pet a nightThree max; 6 ft leash; not in day-use park
Guests6 per siteOne RV, one car; visitors out by 10 p.m.
Rig rulesRVIA or HCD certifiedInspected at entry; can be refused
Checked against santeelakes.com on October 8, 2026. Rates are subject to change at any time; see the website or call (619) 596-3141 for the latest rates. Cancel more than 48 hours before arrival for a refund minus a $25 fee and the 10% city tax; later than that, and for early departures, there’s no refund.
Good to know before you pull in
Five things that change your booking
Ask these on the phone before you reserve.
- What will my total be? Ask for the price with the 10% city tax and any extra person, vehicle or pet fees.
- Which site fits my rig? Rigs up to 42 ft have stayed, but some sites are tight for anything over 30 ft.
- Will my rig pass inspection? Units must be RVIA or HCD certified and can be turned away for damage or leaks.
- Can I have a campfire? Only in a raised container, never on the ground, and not at all in Mulberry Loop.
- What’s the cancellation deadline? 48 hours before arrival; after that, there’s no refund.
Know before you go
Frequently asked questions
A few details before you hit the road.
Season: Year-round
Ready for a lakeside stay near San Diego?
Park by the water, fish the campers-only lakes and spend the afternoons at the pool. Book direct with Santee Lakes 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 campground photos come from Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve and Richard Leneau on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0), with our thanks; video: The Places Where We Go 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: San Diego RV Resort, Vacationer RV Resort and Lake Jennings. 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 Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve 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 Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve at santeelakes.com or (619) 596-3141. 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.