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3.2
9 votes

Borrego Palm Canyon Campground

200 Palm Canyon Dr, Borrego Springs, California 92004-5005 USA

  • Independent
  • Credit Cards
    Accepted
  • Pet Friendly
  • Not Wheelchair
    Accessible
  • Public
    Restrooms
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“In the largest state park in america”

With over 600,000 acres, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is the largest state park in the contiguous United States. 500 miles of dirt roads, 12 wilderness areas and miles of hiking trails provide visitors with an unparalleled opportunity to experience the wonders of the Colorado Desert. The park is named after Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and the Spanish name borrego, or bighorn sheep. The park features washes, wildflowers, palm groves, cacti and sweeping vistas. Visitors may also have the chance to see roadrunner, golden eagles, kit foxes, mule deer and bighorn sheep as well as iguanas, chuckwallas and the red diamond rattlesnake.  Numerous roads will take you into this vast park. Consult a map before making travel plans to be sure you enter the desired part of the park. Most visitors approach from the east via Highways S22, S2, or 78. Visitors from San Diego via Highways 79 and 78 have the added pleasure of driving through the mountainous Cuyamaca Rancho State Park--quite a different experience from Anza-Borrego. The highways from the east climb 2,400 feet or so and then descend about 2,000 feet to the valley. Where the highway breaks out of the high-country vegetation, it reveals the great bowl of the Anza-Borrego desert.  The valley spreads below, and there are mountains all around. The highest are to the north--the Santa Rosa Mountains. The mountains are a wilderness, with no paved roads in or out or through. They have the only all-year-flowing watercourse in the park. They are the home of the peninsular bighorn sheep, often called desert bighorn. Few park visitors ever see them; the sheep are justly wary. A patient few observers each year see and count them, to learn how this endangered species coping with human encroachment.

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Reviews of Borrego Palm Canyon Campground

34 people have reviewed this location

Ratings Summary

4.6 Access
5.0 Location
5.0 Cleanliness
4.6 Site Quality
4.8 Noise

Cell Coverage

Verizon 4G

Confirmed by 16 users | Last reported on January 17, 2024

AT&T 4G/5G

Confirmed by 7 users | Last reported on May 29, 2023

T-Mobile 4G

Confirmed by 4 users | Last reported on January 17, 2024
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Reviewed by
Campendium

February 01, 2015
Rated

This is our second stay in the state park. While the registration says 35 ft is the maximum length, any size unit would fit. All sites are pull-thro and approximately 60 ft. The park is FHU with 30 amp electric. There is decent spacing between sites which are angled. Sites 1-25 are not very level. Many are severely sloped. Our site was usable but we did have to put two pieces of wood under front wheels to level. Sites 30-48 are all level. The park is surrounded by beautiful mountains and there is a paved trail to the Visitors Center (.6 mile). The town of Borrego Springs is an easy bike ride away. The park is very quiet at night. Each site is paved with a picnic table and fire ring.

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This reviewer would stay here again

Nightly Rate: $35.00

Days Stayed: 7

Site Number: 18

5 Access
5 Location
5 Cleanliness
3 Site Quality
5 Noise

Cell Coverage Rating

Verizon 4G

  • 62 Reviews
  • 0 Helpful
November 29, 2023
Rated

Pros -- Quiet - no road traffic noise, no atv noise, limited airplane noise.
Dark - great star watching, very little light to interfere.
Hiking - the excellent palm canyon hike begins at the campground.
Close to the famous metal animals in Borrego Springs.
Many pull-through sites with 50 amps and sewer.

Cons - Dogs only allowed on asphalt or concrete, not dirt trails.
Cannot check in till 2 pm even if your site is empty.

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Nightly Rate: $47.00

Days Stayed: 3

Site Number: -

5 Access
5 Location
5 Cleanliness
5 Site Quality
5 Noise

Reviewed by
DENNIS LORIA

  • 79 Reviews
  • 0 Helpful
January 17, 2024
Rated

5 Days was not enough, So much to see and do in the area. Hiking to the Oasis, cycling trough the area, the metal art project, Slot canyon, and vistas from the nearby hills. What a great experience. Can not wait to come back. Little or no 4g or 5g on our T Mobile and Verizon devices

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DENNIS LORIA would stay here again

Nightly Rate: $47.00

Days Stayed: 5

Site Number: 10

5 Access
5 Location
5 Cleanliness
5 Site Quality
5 Noise

Cell Coverage Rating

Verizon 4G

T-Mobile 4G

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Reviewed by
Campendium

December 18, 2015
Rated

In our previous campground reviews, we have never given 5 stars toward an overall rating. This is our first...and surprisingly, it is a California State Park. Although ratings can be subjective to the unique expectations of an individual reviewer, based on their experience, time of year visited or a bad hair day, we were quite impressed with the park and would definitely go back.

We had already been boondocking in the Anza Borrego for a week at Rockhouse Canyon Road, but we decided to stay longer and "sample" the facilities at the state’s Borrego Palm Canyon Campground in Borrego Springs. We found a pull through site with full hook-ups so we were able to charge, dump and replenish our water for the next few days of dry camping in Joshua Tree National Park. The pull throughs on our row could have easily fit a 40' motorhome and dinghy, so we had no problem staying hooked up to our trailer. The park was immaculate...very clean restrooms and showers (cleaned every day), no litter on the grounds and the camphosts were always available to answer any questions or sell you some firewood. Just an fyi...firewood in town cost $9.99 per bundle plus tax...at the state park sells the same size bundle for a flat fee of $6.00.

We began our exploration of the park by walking over a half mile to the very cool Anza Borrego Visitor Center. The trail is paved and accessible to everyone...just make sure your walk is not during those "gale" winds that come off the mountains, there are no shelters to deflect those icy blasts. The interpretive center was built right into the rocky hillside and is well camouflaged within the desert fauna with expansive views of the valley. The volunteers were very knowledgable about the park and the center featured several informative exhibits. 

We really only experienced a tiny portion of this state park. Running about 25 miles east to west and 50 miles north to south, it is California’s largest state park encompassing more than 600,000 acres. HUGE! A wonderful sanctuary for those hardy desert wildlife...including "Wile E Coyote,"  whose animated pack celebrated near our campsite.

We did make time to go on a wonderful hike, the Palm Canyon Hike, that led us to a desert palm oasis. We were hoping to catch a glimpse of some Big Horn Sheep that come down the canyon for water but we were just a few minutes late of seeing a beautiful ram. Wonderful viewpoints of the desert below was afforded to us as we climbed up the canyon. And at night the stargazing is awesome.

We loved this state park so much, we are entertaining camphosting at Borrego Palm Canyon in the future.

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This reviewer would stay here again

Nightly Rate: $33.00

Days Stayed: 2

Site Number: 41

5 Access
5 Location
5 Cleanliness
5 Site Quality
- Noise

Reviewed by
yourpcgeek49

  • 59 Reviews
  • 0 Helpful
April 18, 2016
Rated

We stayed during the week (avoided the weekend rush) and stayed in the "no hookups" area. There the sites are spacious, clean, and delightful. There were flush toilets scattered throughout the campground area. The scenery was breathtaking.

The rate we paid includes the Senior Discount. The staff was helpful. The hike up Palm Canyon to the Oasis is very nice and not too strenuous ... unfortunately, we didn't see any Bighorn Sheep!

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Nightly Rate: $23.00

Days Stayed: 4

Site Number: 97

5 Access
5 Location
5 Cleanliness
5 Site Quality
5 Noise

Cell Coverage Rating

Verizon 4G

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Reviewed by
Campendium

February 07, 2017
Rated

We stayed in the full hookup. It's listed as a pull thru but is a drive in. Was a little skeptical at first we were not sure we would fit. Camp host was very kind about it and said we could pull in at either direction we wanted. Once we got in camp set up all was good. We did the palm canyon hike, slot canyon and Galleta meadows. Very peaceful and quiet. Loved the sunrises. Would definitely come here again.

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Nightly Rate: $35.00

Days Stayed: 10

Site Number: 51

5 Access
5 Location
5 Cleanliness
4 Site Quality
5 Noise

Cell Coverage Rating

Verizon 4G

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Reviewed by
Campendium

February 10, 2017
Rated

Of all of the places we stayed on our month long trip Anza Borrego is at the top of the list. We could have easily stayed for weeks!
We stayed in two campsites during our visit and both were such different experiences. Our first 4 nights we're in the upper no-hookup section. We loved it there. We planned our whole trip around campsite 116. Why? At palm canyon there are three rock ramada campsites. 116 is one of those complete with a fireplace! The sites in the upper section are well spaced and there are flush toilets throughout. One of the restrooms even has a coin shower. We decided to stay longer due to weather and moved to an available full hookup site. THe lower section with hookups is as you'd imagine. Everyone really close and no privacy. Still, we were in such a great place we didn't complain.
A big plus to this campsite is the closeness to town. Borrego Springs is a lively community with good food and friendly people. Market prices seemed high so make sure to stock up before arriving.

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This reviewer would stay here again

Nightly Rate: $20.00

Days Stayed: 7

Site Number: 116

5 Access
5 Location
5 Cleanliness
5 Site Quality
5 Noise

Cell Coverage Rating

Verizon 4G

  • 32 Reviews
  • 0 Helpful
February 11, 2017
Rated

Let me start by saying we are new at this. We arrived on a Wednesday without a reservation but were able to get a spot with water and a broken electric hookup which was fine with us. Facilities were clean. Long "2 minute" hot shower. Great views and hikes. Must hike The Slot!

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roadtripper867014 would stay here again

Nightly Rate: $25.00

Days Stayed: 2

Site Number: 48

5 Access
5 Location
5 Cleanliness
5 Site Quality
5 Noise

Reviewed by
roberttidquist

  • 72 Reviews
  • 0 Helpful
March 03, 2017
Rated

You will not go wrong with this serviced campground, everything is well run and it's a great place to take a short break from BoonDocking. Full washrooms with showers, pull thru sites a little too close but it is a typical up and down campground, the scenery is around you on the horizon not in the park. Sunsets are better at the Rockhouse BoonDocking site but this has a very different and better atmosphere.

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roberttidquist would stay here again

Nightly Rate: $25.00

Days Stayed: 1

Site Number: -

5 Access
5 Location
5 Cleanliness
3 Site Quality
5 Noise

Cell Coverage Rating

Verizon 4G

  • 64 Reviews
  • 0 Helpful
January 19, 2019
Rated

We needed a pit stop area with hook ups for a night traveling from Quartzsite to Oceanside. Wanted to take a more scenic route-btw 78 to here was not a bad drive at all-we pit stopped at Slab City to see the iconic area. They had 50 amp service, full hook ups, everything was very clean and the views were amazing. We didn't hike at all as we were dumping, doing laundry (our own machine, none on site), and just stayed overnight but I would love to come back. Very nice, quiet, stunning, and reasonable! (We did not reserve prior to arrival so no online reservation fee)

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Nightly Rate: $35.00

Days Stayed: 1

Site Number: 44

5 Access
5 Location
5 Cleanliness
5 Site Quality
5 Noise

Cell Coverage Rating

Verizon 4G

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Borrego Palm Canyon Campground

200 Palm Canyon Dr
Borrego Springs, California
92004-5005 USA
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  • Check
    Parking
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    Pets Allowed
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    Restrooms
  • Unavailable
    Wifi
  • Unavailable
    Wheelchair Accessible
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    Credit Cards Accepted
Affiliation
State park or forest
Last Nightly Rate
47.0
Longest Vehicle Length Reported
41.0
Lowest Nightly Rate
20.0
Max Length
35 ft
  • Check
    Paved Sites
  • Unavailable
    Fifty Amp
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    Full Hookup
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    Rec Facilities
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    Pull Through
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    Tent Sites
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    Dump Station
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    Big Rigs
  • Unavailable
    Open Seasonally
  • Unavailable
    Age Restricted
  • Unavailable
    Boondock
  • Unavailable
    Cabin Sites
  • Unavailable
    Dispersed Sites
  • Unavailable
    Firewood
  • Unavailable
    Fulltime Residents
  • Unavailable
    Group Tent Sites
  • Unavailable
    Laundry
  • Unavailable
    Mobile Homes
  • Unavailable
    Permit Required
  • Check
    Potable Water
  • Unavailable
    Propane
  • Check
    Public Water
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    Pull Through RV Sites
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    Reservations
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    Sewer Hookup
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    Showers
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    Standard Tent Sites
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    Water Hookup
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