La Jolla Indian Campground

This place was awsome my kids had a blast. When 10pm came around everything got silent. My kids can’t wait to go back.

I went camping over the weekend with a group of best friends & our families. Was so excited to share the experience with my step daughter. Worst mistake!!! The site we had was absolutely beautiful & would have been perfect if wasn’t for the 3 day rave happening. Who the hell rents out a 3 day rave with families & people who pay good $ to camp. We all got NO sleep, including kids to hearing the music go on ALL NIGHT for 3 days!!! No exaggeration. We paid $ 400 to be kept up all night. We complained. Refused to remburse us the $. My family left at 530 am sun, way early & a day early because we were just way to exhausted to take anymore thumping. Save your $ and go Salome place else. Who wants to camp with ravers going on all night!!!

Came on Thursday evening, place was pretty empty. Parked in the farthest spot back, no one around at all. Went to sleep, was woken up at 7am by all the noise. Sat up in the tent to see two Mexican women glaring at us from about five feet away in the «next site». The entire extended family was there, with huge aluminum trays of food on wheeled carts etc.
Moved far away from the crowds in a weird site on the top of the hill in area 9. Best part of the experience was that night when either a Bigfoot or a creepy campground employee was watching us from just beyond the firelight for an hour or so.
It was also nice that they mentioned when we were leaving that site that it was where the biggest rattlesnakes in the campground lived.
Never again.

we come here to have a good time away from the city life i love the nature the trees lots of shade the kids love the inner tube rides bring your own inner tube i recomed to get the river rats or the river runs brand we also tie a rope across one tree to the other so the kids or adults have an area were to get off before they go down the river to down far also write your name or initials on your inner tubes beacuse sometimes you lose your inner tube and every one has the same brands «««do not buy the platic cheap ones you will get hurt i saw a lady get hurt :(she hit her back on a roxkwith those cheap thin pool rings… bring walky talkies for nature walks fun with the kids thers no signal only if u have verizon :(so if your family is meetin you out there give them a location were about area you are in my tips that has help

Come here few times a year since the first time I came, lived this place and kids love it. Great place to camp overnight or stay for the day.

I love coming here during testing week I put my chair in the water I read a book and quietly listen to people playing in the water an ice chest with sandwiches drinks I’m set! Great little hideaway. The campground website updates daily on water levels, and other specials they are running.

We went the week after spring break so there wasn’t anyone there (it had been raining the week before). The experience was fun but also very eerie :/​there was literally no one at the office the whole day, had to sign in on a clipboard… there was 1 trailer that looked like the people lived there? But no other cars or vehicles there as we drove around to check out the whole place. No cell phone reception at all. The water was really low so kids just kinda jumped in and out with their feet. We still put out the tent, went for a nature walk, roasted marshmallows and hot dogs. All the bathrooms were locked. So no shower option and had to use port a pottys. There was graffiti all over the huge rocks which was sad because it would be so pretty with all the trees and and the sound of the water running down the stream.
It got really eerie once it got dark. And when I say dark I mean PITCH BLACK CAN’T SEE YOUR HAND IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE DARK! We knew there was no one else there, but kept hearing things, maybe some of it was mountain lions but other times it sounded like walking upright like a human. We started feeling really uncomfortable and decided to listen to our gut which was saying that it definitely didn’t feel safe anymore so we packed up the kids, tent, and all as fast as we could with how little we could see and watch our back at the same time… what was so weird was that our automatic start for our car would not work… so we couldn’t keep the car lights on or start the car without being inside and that NEVER HAPPENS! maybe it had to do with the same reason that your phone doesn’t work out there either. Then to top it off, when we finally got in the car and started trying to see where the way out was (no lights on the path at ALL!) We saw someone in the trees with a lantern… then they turned it off as we drove by! FREAKING FREAKY, WHAT THE HECK? Was that the person watching us? We’ll never know but I am SO GLAD we did not stay to find out! So … if your gonna stay out there… be prepared. Have a knife or something to protect yourself because #1 there’s nobody to help you #2 phones don’t get service #3 once it’s dark there is absolutely no way to see your way around so have fun getting lost in the woods or who knows what else!

This place was great when I was a kid. Now, it is run down and overpriced. If you’d like to experience a downtown ghetto, but with tents, this is the place for you.

Way, way, way overcrowded! Horrendous bathroom situations and no rule enforcement.
The people who run this place seem far more interested in collecting money than ensuring the quality of anybody’s stay.
People were camped everywhere, and I mean everywhere. On the sides of steep hills, in gullies, even double parking and setting up tents on the side of the road.
Mariachi music blared from several competing campsites at all hours of the day and night. There was plenty of security personnel driving around, but I’m not sure what for. They never stopped or asked anybody to turn the music down. Loud music played until well after midnight. The place finally got quiet at 2:00 am, but it didn’t last long. Starting at 4:00 am some Idiots decided it was time to start screaming, eyi, eyi, eyee! at the top of their lungs. At 6:00 am the music promptly started again.
The most horrible thing about this campground was the Porta Potty situation. We were camped in Area 9 and there must have been 500 people in this area and a grand total of 4 Porta Potties. When we arrived Saturday morning the toilets were completely full, and when I say full, I mean disgustingly full. They were literally filled to the top of the seat with… well you can imagine. Opening the door and looking inside was enough to make you gag.
All day long we saw trucks that looked like Porta Potty servicing vehicles, but I never saw them stop and service a single unit. The toilets remained over flowing all day long. People were forced to go off into the bushes to do their business. Finally at 9:00 am Sunday morning a truck showed up and service the 4 units.
This place was so bad we cut our stay short and left first thing Sunday morning. It was a 3-​day weekend, but there is no excuse for a place to be so poorly run. The La Jolla Indians should be ashamed of these conditions or to put their name on it.
Needless to say, this is not my idea of camping or spending some peaceful time in nature. We certainly won’t ever go back.

Bathrooms are disgusting! And the tubes for river are way too expensive! $ 10/​day and must be back by 6pm… I needed four but we decided to just take turns bc $ 40 seemed like to much to only have it for 6 hours! No dog rule sucks as well! I must say I gave it a 3 only bc staff is nice. PS there’s a gas station close by with RIDICULOUSLY expense dollar store items so make sure u think of everything you need before you go here.

RV section was nice and making reservations ahead was a plus. Mostly shaded spots that some were roomier than others. You have to be careful if you have a tall RV as thee are a lot of low branches in the very shaded spots. Staff was very friendly and attentive. Security was good. Patrolled regularly. Considering the place was packed I thought the place was reasonably quiet late night. People do go out to party though! Its the weekend. Tent camping area was very crowded but people were friendly with a lot of families and kids. Stream was flowing fairly well for the first weekend in August. Would go back again.

This place was a nice place. My family and I got there wednesday morning to a quiet empty campground we found a spot and set up base. The portapotties were not far and neither were the showers so we were happy. The river was not much of a river it was more of a creek. We asked and found out the dam holds the water back till Thursday night. By Friday we woke up surrounded by tents! We had an argument with one of the newer campers that wanted to put a tent in the middle of our «living room» (we had chairs in a circle). By Saturday morning it was over packed. No parking. No quiet. And the road was made into 1 way. (So many cars were parked on both sides) it looked like they were just letting people come in without checking for how packed it already was! The staff was ok. The portapotties are only cleaned once a day and so are the bathrooms. The cleaning crew is very rude and could care less if the line is out the building.
Overall it is a nice place during the week but come Friday and the weekend you better block off your area and park your cars accordingly or you’ll get blocked in or someone will try to squeeze in and you won’t be able to get into your car. The area is nice I would go again maybe arrive wednesday again or thursday morning and leave saturday. Next time we go were going to take tape or rope to block off our area and maybe a bucket for those late night trips to the restroom!
Also be warned there is absolutely no service! The only provider that gave service was verizon! Att had no service till a way down the highway!

The place is nasty they don’t keep up with the bathrooms trash all over and they allow to many people in each spot what leads to extra trash and noise quite time is suppose to be at 10 couldn’t sleep with people w loud music until 11:30. I wouldn’t recommended to anybody that has small kids.

I came here when i was younger about 10 years ago and had a blast. I decided to bring my family here (my 1 year old daughter and my hubby). We arrived on a friday afternoon (3pm) and got the last good spot near the water. Our spot was awesome because no one could squeeze in next to us due to the trees and bushes all around. we brought our own tube to go, down the little river. My family and i had a great time, of course theres always the weirdo drunk group yelling but thats just part of camping in an area like this. They say the quiet time is 10pm but its not really enforced, atleast not further down far away from the front. The water level was perfect for tubing all the way down and the weather was perfect. My recommendation is come Thursday to get a good spot near the water. To the people who came friday night (after 6pm), they did not find any good spots and had to choose one of the less appealing spots far from the water.

This place is awesome. We camped in a group and got sit 7A. What a beautiful place not far from sam diego. I would go back again and again. Lot of poison oak (PO) but very well maintained and policed and amazing scenery… And water!

Although the employees seemed very nice. The campground itself was overran by idiots. Nothing but annoying Banda music playing all night… All night! And this is from very far away… I never want to hear an accordion again. The employees said you shouldn’t hear the music outside of their camp sites, but even though I saw security patrolling, even going into the offending campers sites, I didn’t see them once ask anyone to turn it down. The people next to us when I asked did comply. I understand it should be crowded during the 4^th or any holiday weekend, but the fact that they continued to let people in when there was no more space to camp and let idiots just block the road so no one else can move their vehicle if they need to leave, was absurd. We had to walk all the way back to turn on our tubes because we couldn’t get any of our cars out. The lazy river was extremely hazardous made doubly so by the gauntlet of individuals who thought it would be funny to shoot water in your eyes and ears as you were trying to traverse the rocks. In addition, it was like camping in a refugee camp, over run, dirty and noisy. The fact that people stay there with generators going all night, and huge house grills, feel freezers, and 5 different radios blaring music… etc is not camping. If you are looking for a peaceful get back fyi nature camp site, this is not it. If you want to feel like you’ve crossed down into Tijuana, this is for you.
If you actually want to camp and hear the sounds of nature go elsewhere. If you want to feel like you are in New New Mexico and dance Banda all night… Ay yi yi come here.

If you’re looking for solitude, peace, and quiet, this is most likely not the place for you. Unless you end up here on a weekday, it’s loud, crowded, and right on the beaten path. The lazy river is more like a creek, but when the water levels are high enough you can float around and pretend you’re doing some insane white water rafting while drinking Tecate. Most of the tent sites are right along the river and if you end up getting one, you will likely have randoms walking through your camp, but for the most part everybody here is super chill and friendly.
If you want a romantic night with your wife, you should probably head to Joshua Tree or Yosemite. But if you don’t mind people and just need to get away from the city, this spot is perfect. You will feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere without having to actually be in the middle of nowhere.
Bring beer, food, wine, snacks, ice, firewood, and your tents and leave your copy of Walden at home. You won’t get phone service out here so you can’t stream Spotify or Pandora for music and Instagram is not an option. That kind of sucked at first but you will acclimate and hopefully enjoy being here as much as I did.

I absolutely love it here. It is simi primitive. You can go for a day or stay overnight. I came here about 6 yrs ago with my friends and I loved it so much I had to bring my daughter. We camped right next to the river. The water sounds just transport me to another world at night. Its beautiful. At night you can see the stars so clearly. The landscape is just as nature intended. Im coming back again in a few months.
The people that work there are super friendly and the ranger at night keeps you safe. The river is clean and you can rent or bring your own tubes. Oh! And just up the hill before entering the campsite there is a Lil store just in case you forgot or ran out of your camping essentials. I love it here!

Just spent the weekend at this campground. Just so you know this place is not a KOA. It’s semi primitive. My family like many others have been coming here since before I was born. I’m 37 yrs old now with my own little family. We love it! The best time to go if you want a good spot, less people, and cleaner facilities is OFF or BEFORE Summer season. Our campsite was actually pretty clean. Porta potties and bathrooms were stocked with toilet paper and no rowdy intoxicated people that we could hear or see. Water was high enough to tube. By the time we checked out Monday around 2pm, we were the last ones on the campground.
Here’s my complaint– The people in the group site across the road were pigs. There are signs that clearly say «pick up your trash» and still somehow people don’t get it. But why do you even need a sign to tell you to clean up after yourself? I mean they didn’t even try. They must have thought «eff it, the natives can clean it up». Disgraceful. If everyone cleaned up after themselves before leaving, there wouldn’t be so many people complaining about this place being dirty. CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF before you leave! Don’t be lazy, you made the mess! It’s only considerate, come on. Anyway, that’s why we don’t come here during the busy season. The natives eventually get this place cleaned up good but when they get a breather from the heavy crowds.
As for the SPEED BUMPS, which there aren’t many, are for safety. 5 mph so you don’t run over a kid, pop a tire on a rock or whatever else. These are dirt roads. We’ve gone in a Corolla and a Camry and had no worries of the undercarriage being damaged. Go the speed limit and you’re good.
Have respect for the place and for others and you and everyone else will have a good time. Simple. Want a cleaner spot of your choice, less people and no rowdiness? Go during the off season! :)

The key to having a good time here is to do it right. You can’t just show up on a Friday or Saturday afternoon and expect to get a great spot.
In preparation to camping here my boyfriend and I called three times, once on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, to ask about the water level and what time we should get there. The tribe has no control over the water level which is a little upsetting to me because whoever controls the dam is really screwing them over. In our case the water level was 3 – 5 feet when we called on Wednesday but on Thursday they had closed the dam and it was at 10 inches, and then it was back up to about 2 – 3 feet by Friday afternoon. Enough to tube, but certainly no lazy river. Why would they close it on a Thursday just before the weekend and not maybe a Monday when the campground isn’t as full?
Every time we called to ask what time we should be there they said as early as possible. The campground opens at 6am and we got there at 7am Friday morning in early August. Before you go in, I suggest asking what it’s looking like in there. When we did they let us know that it was pretty full but if we went to the back areas we could probably park and walk down to a pretty good spot. We went back to area 7 unknowingly passing a lot of great spots (we found them later in the weekend when we noticed people camping on pathways) and found a decent one a short walk from the river. As soon as we unpacked and set up we went on a little walk down by the river and sure enough the staff was right. Not 20 feet from where we set up we went down this little pathway and found the primest spot in a corner by a bridge. Pure money. So we dragged our tents over and claimed the spot. The closest people to us were across the river and they were the only other people we could really see and to get a nice floating spot we only had to walk down the river a few more feet. Everyone we talked to with the super obviously nice spots said they get there on Wednesdays and Thursdays to pin down the spot. Or if your group is large enough, you can reserve some big nice spots too.
So basically my advise in getting a good spot is to at first not be picky. Take a decent spot and then have someone hold it while someone else explores a little to find a better one. Keep in mind that by Friday afternoon people will start stacking on top of you if you don’t reserve enough space to keep your neighbors at a distance.
I’m assuming from the previous reviews where people refer to the people being «ghetto» and «low caliber» that they are referring to the amount of (and for lack of better wording) ‘non-​white’ people. I don’t think this is a fair statement. I am a white 24 year old female who was there with three other young white men in their twenties and we walked around and met a lot of people who were inviting us to hang out with them, use their tubes, tossing us beers as we walked by, introducing their moms… Super kind people. In fact, the only low caliber person I encountered all weekend was one particularly heinous Caucasian woman who waited until my boyfriend and I were at a distance before yelling «yea don’t go through here» because we had quietly walked through an open part of their campsite which was located directly on the river walkway. We made a point to go through her campsite every time we walked along the river following her snide comment. But other than her and a few young, harmless children playing a little too early in the morning I have no complaints about the fellow campers.
As far as the trash, yes there is a little bit but that can’t be blamed on the tribe either. It was certainly not filled with trash, there were things here and there and I did see someone going through picking up trash every day. Help out too if you see something. The campground is beautiful and there are trash cans everywhere.
In regards to the bad reviews about the staff I 100% disagree. The only way I can imagine people got rude comments is if they didn’t follow the rules and got kicked out. They’re pretty easy going there; no glass, drive 5 miles per hour, and quiet down around 10. I did see a lot of security around, they warned us upon entry that people going too fast were getting kicked out (reasonable considering how many people are around), and they definitely came around at 10 and had people turn their music off and quiet down. Even when they saw a group had beer in glass bottles they let the group chug their beers and even chugged a few themselves before tossing it. The key to a good experience with the staff is the be respectful.
So to sum it up, be courteous to your neighbors and the staff, pick up after yourself and help out a little bit too if you see trash coming from upstream, and explore a little for the primest spot. This place is a hidden gem and I will be going at least once a month to enjoy it’s beauty and nature and good vibes.