Beach camping near Chula Vista
Chula Vista has year-round beach camping, plus easy access to the desert, mountains, and San Diego.
- Chula Vista
Popular camping styles for Chula Vista
4 top beach campgrounds near Chula Vista
Nearby parks
Explore the area’s public lands.
Beach camping near Chula Vista guide
Overview
Sunny Chula Vista is about as far south as you can get in Southern California. Between San Diego and the US-Mexico Border, Chula Vista sits across the San Diego Bay from a seven-mile stretch of beach that connects to Coronado. You can swim, surf, and sunbathe yourself silly at sites like Silver Strand State Beach and Coronado Beach, or head inland from Chula Vista for another world of lakes, mountains, and desert trailheads. For fans of hiking, mountain biking, wildlife watching, wildflowers, and cacti, campers love the parks east of Chula Vista.
Where to go
Chula Vista Surrounds
Chula Vista’s Otay Valley Regional Park features eight miles of scenic hiking and biking trails right in town. There’s also a campground at Sweetwater Summit Regional Park, while RV travelers will find an assortment of RV parks in and around Chula Vista with full hookups, free wifi, and other amenities. At the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Sanctuary, you can explore nature trails and birdwatching on a salt marsh.
Silver Strand State Beach
With 2.5 miles of ocean beach and a half-mile of bay beach, Silver Strand is a local go-to for surfing, swimming, and sunsets. The beachside campground is for self-contained vehicle camping only, meaning no tents.
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
In the Peninsular Range east of Chula Vista, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park is an excellent place to beat the SoCal heat in a mountain climate. Cuyamaca Rancho features Lake Cuyamaca, the Sweetwater River, and 100-plus miles of hiking and biking trails through forest and meadows. Campgrounds offer tent camping and RV camping sites with picnic tables, fire pits, restrooms, and showers.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is a rugged preserve in the Colorado Desert about 1.5 hours east of Chula Vista. The park features hiking and OHV trails, a spring wildflower bloom, a palm-studded desert oasis, International Dark Sky Park status, and a number of popular camping options. Plan for intense desert conditions in summer and bring plenty of water and sun protection.
When to go
Chula Vista’s coastal location gives it temperate weather that makes for enjoyable camping year-round, but If headed to the mountains, check summer forecasts for high temperatures and adjust accordingly. Desert camping is best in winter and should be avoided in summer. The region’s wildflower bloom is variable but typically occurs in spring.
