El Prado Group is the only group camping option in the Laguna Mountains, putting you at 5,600 feet with pine and oak shade an hour east of San Diego. Five well-spaced sites handle 30-50 people each, making it the go-to for family reunions and scout troops who want mountain air without the desert heat.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Group
- 💵Fee per Night
- $60
- 📋Reservations
- Reservation Required
- 📍GPS
- 32.88694, -116.45556
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- No
- 📞Phone
- 619-445-6235
- 🗺️Address
- CA
Amenities
The Camp
Five group sites spread out in a forested setting next to Laguna Campground, with pines and oaks providing solid shade cover. Sites accommodate 30-50 people each with a 40-foot RV length limit. The Yerba Santa site includes accessibility features and four tent sites within the larger group area. A large parking area handles the vehicle load that comes with group camping.
The 1911 El Prado Cabin sits within the campground — the first ranger's cabin built in Cleveland National Forest. Part of the area is fenced off to protect habitat for the endangered Laguna Skipper butterfly, so respect the boundaries and stick to your site's capacity limits.
What to Know
Reservations required at $60 per night. The season runs summer through early fall when temperatures stay cooler than the desert below. Flush toilets, vault toilets, and potable water are available. Staff is on-site — call (619) 354-8776 for specific questions about your group's needs.
Nearby
You're in the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area with direct access to hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails. The Laguna Meadow Trail system starts nearby, and you can access the Pacific Crest Trail from here — the 2,650-mile route that runs from Mexico to Canada. Noble Canyon National Recreation Trail is also within reach.
Educational programs run at nearby Laguna Campground, and Mount Laguna Information Center is a few miles down the road for maps and local conditions.