Home Away From Home: Santee, CA

Santee, CA :: Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve (currently open with some restrictions due to COVID-19)

Pros:

• sites are long and wide, and there are lots of space between sites
• relatively inexpensive daily rates, starting at $53/day depending on your site and season
• 10 minutes from the closest no-toll highway
• roughly 20 minutes from San Diego and the ocean
• access to a 190-acre park, seven lakes, playgrounds, walking trails, fishing, boating, and more
• most of the sites are level and paved
• they offer camper, trailer, cabin (regular and floating), and tent camping  – many with access to water, power, and sewer
• the park rangers are courteous and drive through the park regularly
• it’s pretty quiet after hours
• they have clean restrooms and laundry area

Cons:  

• you can have campfire at your site, but you must have your own fire receptacle, and the campfire must be contained and off the ground
• they have a limit of 6 people (campers and guests) per site, extra camper/guest (age 3 and up) costs $2 per person
• pets are permitted with a fee of $3 per pet

Although this park offers numerous different amenities, many of them are currently closed due to COVID-19, including the playgrounds, fishing piers, and the General Store. Check their site for complete details. Besides taking walks and riding bikes, we didn’t get to experience the park as much as we could have. We didn’t have a dog yet at the time, but they do have an off-leash dog area we know Berkeley would have enjoyed. There are two swimming pools on site (one heated) and a spa. You can rent a pedal boat, kayak or canoe and see some of the park while going around Lake 5. There’s definitely lots of fun things to do when they start lifting the COVID-19 restrictions, so be sure to keep them in mind if you’re visiting San Diego in the future.

RESERVED SITE: 130. It’s a back-in site with lots of space between you and your neighbors, close to keypad gate by main road, laundry room, restrooms and shower, playgrounds, and extra parking spaces.