Sweetwater Summit Regional Park Campground

Great public campground close to Bonita with a nice Vons for groceries. The park has 2 loops - the North Loop is much newer and offered full hookups and 2 different bathhouses. The bathhouses each had 6 Unisex rooms that offered a very nice size shower, toilet, sink and mirror. The restrooms were maintained but did seem to be a place where the earwigs liked to gather if people left the doors propped open. The showers are paid and for 50 cents you can get 4 minutes, get another 2 minutes for each 25 cents. The showers were quick to get hot water and we seemed to get a decent water pressure out of them. We stayed in the North loop with full hookups for 18 days. The Campground is next to Sweetwater Reservoir and you can see some nice water views from trails to the West. There are several long walking trails. The trails are shared with horses and bicycles. It was fun to see the horseback riders coming through using the trails. We took the dogs several times. There are signs that warn of Rattlesnakes. In the time we were at the campgrounds, we saw 1 snake but it was not on the hiking trail and luckily it was not a rattlesnake. There are a significant amount of rabbits and ground squirrels that roam the park - mostly early and late in the day but you will see them during the day as well. The North loop sites are very nice—level, asphalt and concrete. Most are a pretty good size and have a fire ring and picnic table. It would seem some of the sites would have a lot of noise from the freeway. We did not hear the freeway inside our Airstream but we did hear the occasional plane flying overhead. We took long walks around the 2 “loops” of the campground several times and it appeared the sites in the South loop appeal to a very different group of camper. The sites there have trees and grass and some sites seem very nice. Most of the RVs/trailersin this loop were dated and also seemed to be the area that attracted the tent campers. The checkin process felt slow and with only 1 entry to the park slows down everyone entering if someone is checking in. The park has multiple playgrounds - one with a small rock climbing wall, a small water sprinkler park that is free for campers, several picnic areas, an amphitheater they rent out to groups and an exercise loop with workout stations. There is no camp store but they do sell firewood at the checkin station. We enjoyed our stay as it was convenient commute into San Diego, Coronado Island and the sights we were interested in visiting.

Unlike my experience in Corpus Christi, I sprung for the new, paved, full hook-up area here, and it was totally worth it. Besides it being perfect SoCal weather (low 40s, high 60s) with brilliant sunshine, this loop is lovely. In the past, someone complained about the ants. This time, it was snails, LOTS of snails, mainly at night, some quite large. And lots of bunnies also at night. The pads are level with modern hookups, and a nice cinder area for the picnic table and fire ring. The sites are big and nicely spaced with a lot of ground cover and shrubbery between them. There is an extensive trail system for hiking, biking, and horses. The south camping loop is partially equestrian and longer-term tenants it appears. Considering the campground seemed full during my stay it was very quiet. Yes, there is a flight path overhead but the jets are barely noticeable and are great for plane spotting. Getting here in the dark at rush hour was a bit hectic, but there is only one way in and one way out, with the final stretch being on some narrower, local neighborhood roads. But there were lots of big rigs so it can't be that difficult. For the price, I'd say this is a pretty good deal.

We enjoyed our stay here, our site was very long so lots of room for our truck and RV. Kind of a strange approach to the park through a neighborhood that has signs indicating trucks over 7000 lbs not allowed. Doesn't seem to apply to RVs.

Pros - good location to explore San Diego
County park so reasonably priced for the location

Cons - almost constant highway noise as it located just above Hwy 125
Gate - entrance process was cumbersome, it takes longer than the average park. If you are already checked in, you still have to wait, sometimes for quite a while to get back into the park if someone is checking in ahead of you. First place we've ever stayed where we had to show both the truck and 5th wheel registration.

Some of the sites have a weird uphill pull out of the site with a great possibility that you're going to drag your bikes or anything else that you have hanging off the end of the RV. And not all sites here are created equal, some are fine for the big rigs, others not so much, the website lists all of them as the same length which is not correct. The loop with the smaller sites were also all gravel / dirt, had a lot of rain while we stayed there so those sites were very muddy.

3 of the showers were out of order for our entire stay.

Great Verizon coverage when we were there.

Nice park. We have a 40ft 5th wheel and a 23 foot dually and our site was big enough for both with room to spare. Restrooms were clean. While we were here several sightings of rattlesnakes-one under a neighbors jeep and coach. Rangers drive through often. Check in was a little over the top-had to show vehicle and RV registeation. Ranger said it had helped decrease crime!

We love the weather here in San Diego so head back here often. After making reservations online, where you have to choose a site, we were able to cruise through the check-in process. Just don’t arrive before 2:00. They won’t let you in!
We only have 25 ft of RV but some of the back-in sites are a challenge to get into with quite a dip upon entry. Others have scraped bottom! We scoped our some other sites we’ll choose from next time ie. 123, 125 but NOT 126. Our site was easy to back into but our tow car was parked on a major slope. And, if you arrive un-hooked you’ll pay $4 more per night for the extra vehicle.
Bathrooms are open even with COVID-19.
$40 total per night

We were escaping the heat wave in Los Angeles (115° upon our departure)... arrived and was glad to be welcomed by 85° with a continuous breeze. Site 17 is at the end of the south loop adjacent to a driveway leading to what it appears a private property.

Great base camp to explore downtown SD.

Sweetwater has been a fantastic San Diego landing spot for us for the last three years. Relatively easy access to the sights of the city, but removed enough that you have a little space. Sites are well spread. The variety of hiking, biking, walking and running trails leading straight from the campground is tremendous.

A few words of warning: you need to be aware of and cautious about a number of critters that inhabit this park. SNAILS – on any moist night, which are most nights around here due to marine layer, the snails will invade to the point you can barely walk. They're adorable (as much as snails can be), but don't leave your tow's windows open or you'll have a snail invasion by morning. ANTS – As soon as you arrive, use repellant or Borax or another agent to keep them at bay, otherwise they'll invade your coach within 24 hours and you'll spend the rest of your trip eliminating them. They're harmless, but annoying. RABBITS & SQUIRRELS – It's heartening to see so many inhabiting the area, but you'll need to be extra careful when driving because they'll dash in front of you from any direction. RATTLESNAKES – In the roughly 30 nights we've spent here in the past few years, I've encountered over a dozen rattlesnakes. And that's despite avoiding the trails during the heat of the day. They're on the trails, and sometimes they're in the campground. Particularly if you have dogs, you'll need to be extremely cautious. I recommend dog walking/hiking early in the morning, when they either aren't out yet or are moving too slowly to be truly dangerous. COYOTES – Again, lots of them scouring the fields in search of dinner. Keep your pets close.

Please don't let the animals deter you though. This is a great campground in a fantastic regional park that the animals love too.

After being on the road for 3 months of federal camping it was great to have a heated shower and unlimited electricity 😀 we paid 33$ per night and it included water and power but no dump spot.

The view from campsite 4 is excellent.

The neighbor spots are pretty close but empty during the week.

Verizon is very fast.

There are a ton of ants but if you sprinkle diatomaceous earth around all the touch points or tents it keeps them out.

It is quiet and well kept, even has security checking around periodically.

There is a 7 min drive to get out to anywhere.

This campground is very, very nice. Site #78 is huge and like most of the sites is very well separated by natural shrubs, Roomy and clean. The concrete pads are dead level.

The one caveat (it must be a California thing) We unhooked our towed car before arriving at Sweetwater. Upon checking in with the lady at the entrance booth. She informed me that since the car was unhooked from our coach. She was going to charge us a daily extra car fee. She would not even accept that the car has a tow plate. So we blocked traffic and hooked up our car just to drive through the gate then unhook it. Talk about being Pedantic and drunk with power.

Beautiful campsite. One side of the lake is much more difficult driving (potholes) than the other but both are equally quiet and pretty with views of the water.