Crestline Group Campground sits in a mixed forest at 5,390 feet on Palomar Mountain, designed for groups up to 50 people. The wooded setting with black oak, cedar, white fir, and live oak makes it a solid base for visiting the Palomar Observatory or exploring the surrounding Cleveland National Forest.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Group
- 💵Fee per Night
- $75
- 📋Reservations
- Reservation Required
- 🏔️Elevation
- 5,390 ft
- 📍GPS
- 33.31278, -116.86472
- 🌤️Best Seasons
- spring, fall
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- Yes
- 🗺️Address
- CA
Amenities
The Camp
The campground occupies a forested spot with enough open space for stargazing and group activities. Several picnic tables are scattered throughout the site and cooking area, with vault toilets and an accessible setup. RVs up to 27 feet can squeeze in, though there's no electrical hookup.
At $75 per night, you're paying for the convenience of a reserved group site that can handle large families, church groups, or other gatherings without the headache of coordinating multiple individual sites elsewhere.
What to Know
Reservations are required — no showing up and hoping for space. The elevation means cooler temperatures than the valleys below, making spring and fall the prime seasons before winter weather moves in.
Nearby
The Palomar Observatory sits nearby, offering a visitor center that draws people from across Southern California. Palomar Mountain State Park is adjacent, expanding your hiking and exploration options. Day hiking, backpacking, and mountain biking trails thread through the surrounding forest.
San Diego lies less than two hours away, making this accessible for weekend escapes from the city heat. The mountain location puts you in different terrain entirely — a proper forest environment rather than the chaparral that dominates much of Southern California's lower elevations.