Campland On the Bay

Absolutely the BEST in every catagory Beautiful spot right next to the bay, terrific staff and activities. Can’t be more helpful and courteous. Tons of info on restaurants and sights around here. WILL DEFINITELY be coming back!

The crowds, the high prices, the lack of space, the drinking and noise; No Thanks! San Diego County has too many wonderful, natural campgrounds ($ 18-​$ 36/​night) to ever go to Campland. There, the Rangers will help out if campers become unruly– behaving as if it is their privilege to party all night. To the contrary, Campland seems happy to accommodate anyone who will pay their exorbitant prices. Yes, when does the lease expire?

As a neighbor living 2 blocks away… A good neighbor would be accepting and forgiving. In the last 5 years Campland has attracted problems to my neighborhood. I had, in the past, been able to enter without problems. Now I deal with low-​life security entry point judging me and mine. I do not appreciate neighbors like this. Now I have these camper-​mobiles on my street. Bring your canper and if the gatekeeper lets you in… bravo! Otherwise you park in front of my place and live on the curb. Thanks Campland. When does your lease with San Diego end???

We stayed here over Thanksgiving 2015 with our RV in the dry camping area. We, like others, kept adding days here. It is just so pleasant. The park is right on Mission Bay so the views are beautiful. We like to bike and walk and you have immediate access to the bay bike paths and The Rose Creek Trail (easy to shop by bike). If we hadn’t been so busy visiting with family we would have loved to do some of the organized activities here — there are so many — or taken their shuttle to Balboa Park. They have a market, café and laundromat on site. The laundromat appliances are very new looking and work great.
The staff is friendly and polite. The bathrooms are exceptionally nice and they are as CLEAN as can be. Kudos to the staff who is taking care of them.
Probably the only negative is that things you buy here are quite pricey but this is an expensive piece of real estate they’ve got here and a thriving business with 70 employees.

Defiantly not a place to go relax or bring your kids! A lot of partying way past the quite time 10pm! Loud music with profanity ! We usually go to mission bay rv resort and decided to try this place for Halloween weekend and it was not a good weekend at all! It’s Saturday night and I can’t wait for Sunday morning to come so we can check out!

SUPER sweet spot for camping with volleyball on the beach, picnic area, skate park, heated pools/​hot tubs, live music in the park! Make sure you get a parking pass for your friends and family!

We camped here at the end of summer, people we spoke to earlier at another campground warned us about this place. The positives lots of things to do especially for the kids and there are two pools, the staff are very nice and helpful and all smiles.
The negatives are very crowded, lots of loud drunk college kids, vulgar rap playing in the air and even though you are on the bay you don’t dare go in that water super dirty from the boat fuel that’s in the water. Basically this is not camping you are more tailgating because it’s all on concrete and the spaces are very cramped. Prob not coming back just not our idea of camping.

Great place for «Glamping»!!! Been here to stay with friends the last 5 yrs for Labor Day. They have a great spot, but have to reserve over a year ahead of time cuz of the wait list.
We rent beach cruisers and ride along the bay, crown point, for some great views. One of my favorite things is the awesome cover bands they have on stage at night. We have seen No Duh, Kiss, Bön Jovi and a Funk band. They were all incredibly talented and so fun. Can’t wait for next year.

This is not your typical country, rustic campground. This is a giant cement slab in the big city. That being said, overall my experience was good. The campground is tightly packed, and this makes for a less than comfortable experience. If they cut out a few spaces, they could still maximize profit and provide a really good camping experience.
The staff is very friendly, especially security. They enforced the quite times, and ensured that any unlawfulness was suppressed. This really added to our overall positive experience. The sites are flat, and paved, however pulling into them with larger rigs is a challenge because of how tight the spaces are, and how narrow the roads are. The beach is rather small, and can get very packed during high season. The bathrooms are clean, and spacious. I was impressed with how well they maintained these facilities. The store is well stocked, but expensive. Vons is nearby, and we went there for our shopping needs rather than pay the higher prices.
When you check in, you need to have them put the ant repellant around your trailer. Ants are a big problem, and we got invaded. Fortunately we found out soon enough, and were able to fight them back.
I am giving this place 3 stars because of how tightly packed everything is, and the lack of green space. I would go back, and I would recommend this place for a fun beach road trip, especially if you get a good group together.

This is our 3^rd trip here. Each year we add a day, it seems. We’re in love with the quality family time and fun things to do. The shuttle service to Old Town, and Balboa Park/​zoo are fantastic!
Tips, if your in D, or F (?) against the back bay fence, make sure you stake down your EZ-​up shade canopy.
Bring laundry supplies and quarters. 1. You just never know, 2. They have stuff but it’s always nicer to have your own.
If you’re an active family, plan 2 days for zoo, 1 for Old Town, and I suggest 2 for in camp. There’s so much fun to be had.

Had a great time this was my first time here. Bathrooms were nice and clean and close to our site. Each site has its own electrical hook up. We had a about 20 people so we had got three sites. On those three sites we were able to set up 5 eight person tents.
The kids had a great time they went swimming. The beach is close and they also have an arcade for the kids to play. They also have a pretty decent sized store to buy items if you forgot or need anything and a Bbq restaurant on site. You can rent golf carts to drive around in if your not into walking. I would definitely come back we are planning to do this every year! It is a great place to camp but. It be in the wilderness and have fun and safe activities for the kids.

We have camped here for years. Our experience has always been filled with good memories. Except this year.
Friday and Saturday night the campground turns into a huge party scene until about 2 am. No one enforces a quiet time. The people behind us were yelling profanity all night. Just trashy!
By Sunday morning the trashy people were leaving and the camp ground was back to its family feel. We enjoyed the pools and the bay.
The water was warm and the bay was a great place to paddle board.
The little market had everything! Even duct tape.
A must is the firework show from seaworld.
They also have live music at night on the stage by the bay.
Plenty of bike riding and activities for the kids. The skate park was monitored by the campground staff so don’t forget your helmets.

Love this place so much. I wouldn’t even call it «camping» the only part about camping is that you sleep in a tent or RV and have a fire pit. I go to the beach during the day and I don’t have to worry about people stealing my stuff at the campsite. There are a lot of kids but it’s expected. You can drink and have a good time anyways. The only thing I have a teeny problem about is «quiet time» but i still do see the necessity it it. Otherwise this place would never sleep. But quiet time is 11pm-​8am. Us night owls have to whisper at 11 but the early-​to-​bed early-​to-​risers have no problem being loud at 7:00.
The coolest part about this place is the daily activities and market and café. Like I said it’s not even like a campsite. I always call this place a little community of party-​goers.

This place is party central. Don’t come expecting to sleep, we had a very hard time explaining to our 4yr old why people won’t turn there music off at midnight. This place is also very dusty. Would be great if we didn’t have the dog or a toddler. They do have a nice dog park and playground. The pool is motel 6 style. The café was closed because computers were down so that was disappointing. Just overall not a good experience for us.

Very clean, well laid out place to camp either by tent or RV! We went tent camping and had an awesome time. Each site was well manicured, you can tell they rake each site daily. There is water, electric, showers, a pool and spa, everything you need! We had our car parked in the spot next to us because we bought a parking pass and thought since nobody rented that site that we could park in their parking spot. The man who came by to tell us the car needed to be moved was very nice and not bossy at all. Only negative aspect about campland would be the reservations and registration agents. They are not very welcoming, helpful or nice when you have a lot of questions to ask.

This campsite is an absolute joke. Our kids were told not to play after 10:00pm but it was perfectly ok for loud Harley motorcycles to roar through the campsite at 2:00am and wake everybody up.
Talking of noises that will wake you up (and I understand this is not the fault of the campsite), if the Harleys will not keep you awake at night, the crows will wake you at 5:00am.
The facilities are fairly run down and could use a major facelift.
Sorry, will never go again and recommend to stay away.

Lots of fun for the family. We have been here during spring break a number of times plus once during the summer. Every time is great! Kids riding their bicycles and skateboards. There are plenty of kids and most of the guests since they have kids are respectful of one another.
Pool is warm enough during spring break (at least for the kids), don’t know if it’s heated.
Even when weather is cold it’s still a very fun place. There are places to bike and run outside around the bay and it is close to sea world.
Highly recommend for a family trip.

This review is based on the morals and integrity of the organization and administration to Campland than their grounds and activities, Camplands grounds are beautiful. Tons of activities. Self contained camp ground absolutely no reason to leave once your their unless to sight see at San Diego attractions.
Over this last holiday Easter weekend we were invited to attend Grandma’s Easter bash with a group of 90+ other campsites, that traditionally visit Campland for Easter the last 8 years, enthusiastically we accepted. (This would be in addition to our two other reservations we already hold at Campland for the 2015 year) as always we had an amazing time visiting Campland and joining in with such an amazing event.
You could imagine my surprise and disappointment when I received a message from Grandma aka Carolyn Fugate expressing her sadness and disappointment, that she was unable to book our families 4 camp sites for the 2016 Easter bash event, due to childish acts of some. I can’t imagine why Camplands administration would think that punishing or DNR’ ing the entire group of 135 children and their families is reasonable.
I have visited campland since childhood 1983 to be exact. In the 30+ years, Not one memory or summertime story included heartache, sadness or disappointment. I truly hope campland re consider’s their DNR decision and makes it right.

The following review is based on the staff at the park, not the facility itself. If I was to rate the facility I’d give it 4 ½ stars as it is really a great family oriented campground with full amenities and more. The staff, however, and the way the park is run (corporate?) is abominable.
This year was our 7^th trip to Campland for Easter over the last 8 years. We were originally an invite through family attached to a Fire group event held and coordinated by a firefighter’s mother. Our first 3 years we attended, we were not parents yet, and were able to get a real sense of the park, and what’s offered, for Easter weekend. I thought it was rather awkward upon check-​in that when I mentioned the group, I was met with eye-​rolls and such. Apparently, the group had a reputation I was unaware of. Each year, I was met with the same exaggerated disdain, it seemed. Even though I could not really understand why.
I was informed upon our 3^rd stay that we were on probation in the park, and to make sure we adhered to the rules as stated, paying strict attention to the «quiet time» regulations. This was not an issue for my family, as we are called «Gma & Gpa» since we hit the bed by 10pm. Personally, I only have had 1 issue concerning quiet time, which was immediately squashed when I alerted our coordinator.
After no such «issues» for our probationary period, we were released from the «blacklist», have you, and returned to good standing. After 3 years without issue, apparently this year did not go as well.
We decided to return to Campland this year for Easter with our group, again, so that our son who is now 3 could have the freedom to have fun without having to worry too much about his safety. Everyone in our extremely large group (over 100 sites) is very cautious of all the children everywhere, and we all look out for each other. We arrived Thursday, to the eye-​rolls and guffaw’s we’re accustomed to, and went about our weekend.
Come Easter Sunday morning, I went up to the front desk to pick up our extended stay passes, only to be read the riot act by one of the staff. I was told that our group was under review for SEVERAL issues that happened the night before, and that we had better be able to «control ourselves and respect the quiet time regulations, unlike last night». To be perfectly clear, I felt that I was being targeted personally, for whatever had occurred even though I was completely unaware of the situation until far later that Sunday afternoon. After that «shaming» from the front desk, I went directly to our coordinator to tell her what I had just been told, and it was the first she heard of anything (9am).
After that, several of my family members who were also staying over a day or two were given the same WARNINGS, as well as told that they were no longer under the protection of the group and had better be careful if they ever wanted to return. Another of our group tried to extend their stay a night and was told that although sites were available, they were not available to him. That our group was not allowed to stay any longer than originally booked.
I believe that what we were told was extremely unprofessional and we were profiled due to one ignorant drunkard out of our over 150 members. As of Tuesday morning, our coordinator had yet to speak with any authoritative figure from the park, and we are under the assumption from what we were all told that we are not allowed back. Instead of handling the situation with professionalism by putting blame where it was due with that ONE site, you are choosing to punish people who have supported your campground by growing our reservations year after year, and referring more people annually to use your facilities over others in the area. Not smart.
The unprofessionalism of the staff, and security, has definitely put a bad taste in our mouths this year. As much as I love watching my son enjoy the park, it is not enjoyable to feel like there is a target on your back while you are on vacation. So, thank you Campland, for ruining what was a great run for a lot of families. Next year you will miss our guaranteed 100 sites.

OMG how in the hell have I never been here before? Did my parents hate me as a child? Did none of our friends ever go camping? I don’t understand how I’ve been missing out.
Not only did I spend 6 weeks as a child camping with my little sister and my Opa, we did it at KOA’s across the western and midwestern states, in a tent.
And, i used to be married to a self-​professed «camper» who really is a man-​child that was born with a silver spoon in his mouth so when we camped, it was not even fun.
I finally moved south enough that this is only a 30 – 45 minute drive from home, and now I date a guy that owns a trailer… we’ve taken it to the Oceanside Harbor many, many times, but if I knew how radical Campland was (albeit more expensive than just going to the Harbor) I’d have forced this plan into action in the past. I will be back.
WIth camping it’s all about who your neighbors are, and we got pretty lucky. Everyone was pretty chill, no one was too ghetto, we shared fresh BBQ’d fish, they shared ribs, etc. We set up the trailer, cornhole, chairs and the BBQ, and we were set. We rode bikes all over the place, went to see a Bön Jovi tribute band… what is not to love about this place?
The people watching is phenomenal. Went to the Bay… We saw a completely wasted «lady» in her late 30’s/early 40’s try to sit down to talk to her friends dad in his 80’s, completely tumble him, herself, their chairs and the umbrella down the sand, almost to the water. There’s a lot of that kind of shenanigan’s going on there. Present company included. Not that bad though.
You can bring your own beers to the Bay, which is a wallet saver… the store has a lot of stuff in case you run out or forget something, but at a premium. A Dozen eggs and one liter size of Apple Juice was $ 9 for instance.
The bathrooms were extremely clean for a campsite, the staff was there all the time cleaning everything, I was really impressed.
I highly recommend getting light for your bike if you plan to ride it at night. We have normal lights on the bikes… you need those flashy rope lights that weave through your tires though. It’s totally chaotic at night with kids and adults on bikes, skateboards, etc. And pretty much all the adults are at least a little tipsy. The kids literally run out in the street and never check to see if a car is coming, so you have to drive really carefully when you are coming and going.
I think the sites under the trees are a little more ghetto than the ones by the water, but since it was my first time I didn’t know what to expect or ask for when booking.
I know you can rent a boat slip for $ 35/​night but you can’t sleep on your boat in the slip, you have to anchor off shore if you are going to sleep on it, and kayak or swim into shore.
We rented a Jet Ski for one hour, $ 100.
I freakin love this place and will be back as soon as I can.