Video still: Tidbits For The Journey on YouTube
Sweetwater Summit Regional Park Campground
A clean, good-value County campground on a hilltop above Sweetwater Reservoir, with hookup sites, trails, horse camping and a splash pad, 25 minutes from downtown San Diego.
Bonita, California · County campground near Chula Vista
Season
Year-round
Splash pad open May–Sept
Elevation
About 260 ft
Hilltop above Sweetwater Reservoir
Hookups
Full or W/E
17 full hookup; most others water & electric
Big rigs
Up to 45 ft
Per the County brochure; RVers report 42 ft
Updated October 8, 2026 · Details checked against the park’s website
Hilltop county camping near Chula Vista
The Sweetwater Summit experience
A clean, good-value County campground on a hilltop above Sweetwater Reservoir in Bonita, with water and electric at most sites, new solar full-hookup sites, trails, a splash pad and room for big rigs, about 10 miles from downtown San Diego.
Full & partial hookups17 solar-powered full-hookup sites added in 2024; others water & electric
Room for big rigsTrailers up to 45 ft, per the County brochure
Tent sitesTent-only sites at $33 a night
Equestrian sitesSites with corrals; horses $2 a night
Hot showersCoin/token showers, open 24 hours
Dump stationIn the campground
Splash padEastview aquatic playground, May–Sept; free for campers
PlaygroundsPlus horseshoe pits
AmphitheaterOn the summit, overlooking the reservoir
Community roomAnd a 60-ft group pavilion with a kitchen
Picnic pavilionsFour 16-ft pavilions
Exercise course13 fitness stations
TrailsAbout 15 miles for hiking, biking and horses
Reservoir viewsFishing at Sweetwater Reservoir
Life at camp
What campers say
The campground report card
We don’t recycle other sites’ reviews, but the published scores tell a clear story: campers praise the clean grounds, level sites and friendly staff, and mark it down for aircraft and freeway noise.
How RVers rate it
Category scores from Campendium reviewers, out of 5
Field notes from RVers
Longest rig RVers report42 ft Jul 2016
Cell signal reportedVerizon 4G/5GAT&T 4G/5GT-Mobile 4G/5G
Last reported nightly rate$38 Apr 2026
As reported by Campendium users. Confirm rates, site lengths and policies with the campground before you go.
Bonita, off SR-54
Getting there
The campground sits at the top of Summit Meadow Rd in Sweetwater Regional Park, reached from SR-54 by Briarwood Rd, Bonita Rd and San Miguel Rd.
From downtown: I-5 or I-805 south to SR-54 east, exit Briarwood Rd, then Sweetwater Rd, Bonita Rd and San Miguel Rd to Summit Meadow RdFrom the east: SR-125 south to SR-54 west, exit Briarwood Rd and follow the same route up Summit Meadow Rd
SR-54 · BRIARWOOD RD
Set your GPS
3218 Summit Meadow Rd, Bonita, CA 91902
To downtown San Diego*About 25 min
To the Living Coast Discovery CenterAbout 19 min
To the San Diego ZooAbout 30 min
From Los AngelesAbout 2 hr 15 min
Expect some aircraft and freeway noise. It’s the top complaint in reviews; quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.
About 260 ft up. Low and close to the coast, so it’s mild most of the year.
*Drive times are from Google Maps and OpenStreetMap routing and are approximate. Locator map is approximate, not for navigation.
Around Bonita & Chula Vista
Around Bonita
Bonita and Chula Vista shopping is a few miles away, San Diego Bay is about 8 miles west, and downtown San Diego is about 12–15 miles northwest.
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.
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 Dirk Hansen (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Coronado & the Hotel del
A wide, sandy beach in front of the 1888 Hotel del Coronado, with Orange Ave’s shops and cafés a short walk away.
Photo thanks to USFWS Pacific Southwest Region (public domain)
Living Coast Discovery Center
A small zoo and aquarium in the Sweetwater Marsh on the Chula Vista bayfront, with sea turtles, sharks and birds of prey.
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 San Diego Metro KOA Resort
San Diego Metro KOA
A busy family KOA in Chula Vista with long concrete pull-thrus, a pool and a café.
Video still thanks to Durellsdownsize
Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay
A newer resort on the Chula Vista bayfront with level concrete sites, a heated pool and a café.
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 Sweetwater Summit fits your rig, your dates and your budget, in one place.
Our take: a clean, well-run County campground on a hilltop near Chula Vista, with water and electric at most sites, new full-hookup sites, trails and a splash pad for the kids, at about half the price of the city’s private resorts. There’s no pool and some aircraft and freeway noise, so it suits campers who want value and space over resort extras.
Nightly ratesCounty fee schedule · checked Oct 8, 2026
Full hookup$42 /night
Partial hookup (water & electric)$39 /night
Tent only$33 /night
Reservation fee$8 /booking
Extra vehicle$6 /night
Extra dog (beyond two)$2 /night
Horse$2 /night
Rates are from the County of San Diego’s current park fee schedule. The $8 reservation fee is non-refundable, changes cost $8, and late checkout is $7. Stays are paid in full when you book. 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) 472-7572.
Typical July afternoon
Chula Vista75°
Phoenix107°
Ocean-cooled summers: 32° cooler than Phoenix in July, with marine-layer mornings.
Is it right for you?
Who it suits, what to consider, and why campers rate it so well.
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
Sweetwater Summit Regional Park is a public campground run by San Diego County Parks and Recreation, on the hilltop of Sweetwater Regional Park in Bonita. It has 112 sites for RVs, trailers and tents, including equestrian sites with corrals.
Best for
- Value seekers: hookup sites run $39–$42 a night, well below San Diego’s private RV resorts.
- Big rigs: the County says trailers up to 45 ft fit, and campers report level, roomy sites.
- Families: playgrounds, an amphitheater and a splash pad (May–Sept) that’s free for campers.
- Hikers, cyclists and riders: about 15 miles of trails, plus horse sites with corrals.
Consider this
- Aircraft and freeway noise is the most common complaint; noise (3.9) is Campendium’s lowest score.
- There’s no pool, only the seasonal splash pad, and no dog park.
- Showers take coins or tokens; reviewers say a token buys about 4 minutes.
- The one-way loop roads and signs can be confusing on arrival.
Summer in Chula Vista
Typical July afternoon
75°
Chula Vista
Chula Vista
107°
Phoenix
Phoenix Sky Harbor
32 degrees cooler than Phoenix, with nights near 65°. Normal July highs, 1991–2020.
Most RV sites have water and electric; 17 newer sites have full hookups. Rates are flat County fees with no seasonal pricing, plus the $8 reservation fee.
Full hookup From $42/night
Includes the 17 Zero Net Energy sites added in 2024, with power from expanded solar carports.
Partial hookup From $39/night
The standard RV site here, with water and power and the campground dump station for your tanks.
Equestrian From $39/night
Partial-hookup sites with corrals; Sweetwater is one of three County parks that allow horses.
Tent only From $33/night
Tent sites for campers without an RV, with the same trails, playgrounds and splash pad.
NightlyFrom $33Hookup sites $39–$42; 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.Out by noon; late checkout $7
Quiet hours10 p.m.–8 a.m.Camping area open 24 hours
Pets2 dogs includedExtra dogs $2 a night; 6-ft leash, licensed
Horses$2 a nightEquestrian sites with corrals
Extra vehicle$6 a nightPer vehicle beyond the site allowance
FiresExisting rings onlyNone after 11 p.m.; buy wood from the ranger
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) 472-7572 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 loop fits my rig? Paved full-hookup sites are in the North Loop; gravel full and partial sites are in the South Loop.
- Do I need full hookups? Only 17 sites are new full-hookup sites; most others have water and electric, with a dump station on site.
- Is there a maximum stay? The County doesn’t publish one on the park page; ask when you book.
- Can I bring a third dog? Two dogs are included; extra dogs are $2 a night each.
- 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 hilltop stay near San Diego?
Camp above Sweetwater Reservoir, hike or ride the trails, and still reach downtown San Diego in about 25 minutes. 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 CampgroundViews.com and Holiday For Two, and the video and hero still are by Tidbits For The Journey on YouTube, with our thanks. Area photos via Wikimedia Commons: Christian David (USS Midway; CC BY-SA 4.0), Christian David (Balboa Park; CC BY-SA 4.0), Dirk Hansen (Hotel del Coronado; CC BY-SA 3.0) and Pacific Southwest Region USFWS (Living Coast; public domain); the images were resized. Other-park photos: San Diego Metro KOA, Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay 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 Sweetwater Summit Regional 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 Sweetwater Summit Regional Park Campground at sdparks.org or (619) 472-7572. 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.