Camping isn’t really their thing. Really, it wasn’t our thing either. We had gone on family camping trips with friends in the past and loved all the time we spent outdoors, but camping at Campland on the Bay in Mission Beach, California, isn’t what most people think of when they hear the word “camping.” Campland on the Bay is closer to taking a beach resort vacation than a tent and dirt one.
We invited the grandparents to meet us at Campland on the Bay on Mission Bay in San Diego as the first stop of our cross-country RV trip during distance learning. We had bought and figured out how to set up our new-to-us travel trailer since we wanted to do this while the boys were still young enough to want to spend time with us. So, the grandparents decided to meet us for their first camping trip.
I was also looking forward to being in San Diego again since I have loved it since going to college there.
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DON’T MISS ANY OF THESE HELPFUL ARTICLES! Before Campland on the Bay, we started off our inaugural 3-week family camping trip by learning how to set up our new-to-us trailer. Our first trip included Pismo Coast Village RV Resort, Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort and El Capitan State Beach, all for three nights each. Click on either of the two glamping resorts or El Capitan State Park to read about our experiences there and learn all you need to know about each location!
The Video
But first! Watch what happened when we went!
Renting an RV
Of course, the grandparents didn’t own an RV. Why would they? We had just gotten one recently ourselves. There are RV rental companies authorized to deliver and set up RVs at Campland on the Bay. It’s so easy. They provide everything you need and set it up so it’s ready when you arrive. Plus, they’ll dismantle it all again after you leave. We used Travel Time RV Rentals, and they were great.
Blue sky, long lawn, and a bay in the background make for a happy family © Rina Nehdar
The grandparents arrived and immediately, the boys wanted to see inside their trailer. Because Knox was so little when the grandparents lived in the same city as us, he never really got the chance to spend the night over at their house because their apartment wasn’t baby-proofed. But now that we were all camping together, he took the first opportunity possible to sleep in his grandparents’ trailer. He called dibs on the first night sleeping on their pullout couch. As usual, a sibling battle ensued, but we gave it to Knox.
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Things to do at Campland on the Bay
Camping in San Diego is as close to a perfect destination for coastal camping as you can get. I went to college in San Diego, so I used to see signs for Campland on the Bay as I drove east of Mission Beach. Our friends had told us that camping in Mission Beach at Campland on the Bay was one of their favorite family experiences. They described tons of daily activities that made them feel like they were at a family summer camp.
It was a ghost ground © Rina Nehdar
Skatepark
One of the best things about camping is kids get to bike around the entire grounds, feeling the thrill of independence. The boys biked around the concrete pathways connecting the campsites and made friends with three brothers from another camping family. They banded together to go to the campground skatepark.
Yoga, Pickleball, Dodgeball
Group activities include yoga at a decent hour (10:30 am). Kudos to that. I don’t know why so many resorts insist on waking up a vacationing mom to watch the sunrise on her yoga mat. I may want to watch the sunrise on occasion, but I also like to sleep on my family trips. There are also organized pickleball, dodgeball, and other activities. Campland certainly earns its name!
You can’t really tell but I swear I enjoyed it © Howard Nehdar
Water Sports
We are water people and are happiest when we are around it. We took many walks with the grandparents around the bay, which has a marina with boat slips and a nice sandy beach. It was the second nicest activity that we did with the grandparents on the trip.
Ready for action © Rina Nehdar
Campers can rent boats and catamarans. They can water ski or wakeboard. Kayaks are available as well as paddle boats, and these huge wheeled hydro bikes.
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Campfires
For us, this is what camping is all about. Sure, there’s all the exploration and bonding that results from it but the type of connection you get from undistracted conversations and laughter around a mesmerizing pile of burning logs is our favorite camping activity.
#1 favorite activity © Rina Nehdar
Every campsite includes a fire pit and picnic table.
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Bike Riding
There is a most excellent 12-mile loop bike path that goes all the way around Mission Bay. Seriously, this is the ultimate for moms who want to pump in some gentle waves of endorphins to soothe their aching brains, with no kids, in a serene water setting. Or, bring the kids another time! It’s flat and fairly easy with plenty of spots for breaks and bursts of mayhem. There are playgrounds, bridges, and all kinds of cool things to stop and see. If you don’t want to schlepp your bike, Campland on the Bay rents them too! You can even just go for the ride without the workout if you rent one of the electric bikes.
We always bring bicycles, scooters, and skateboards whenever we camp because you cannot have too many ways to wear out your kids. After all, we have our sights set for the kids-free portion of the campfire, and depending on the day, it sometimes can’t come soon enough. Bring (or rent) the bikes!
Basketball Court
Next door to the skatepark is the basketball court. The boys took on their friends, and the adults joined in for good old-fashioned fun!
Pools and Hot Tubs
There are two pools and two hot tubs at Campland on the Bay. One hot tub is shaped like a giant C! This was perfect at the end of the day.
A nice place to chill out © Rina Nehdar
Amphitheater and Central Park
Across from the Marina is a large grassy area with a huge stage. During summer nights, from Memorial Day weekend through mid-October, live musicians play. Sitting on the expansive lawn with family and new friends is heaven! What a treat to have it available while camping!
Rocking out by campfire and beach. Photo courtesy of There San Diego
Cantina
Sick of cooking on the campfire? Come in for a margarita, chips, and salsa! Yes, you’re camping but you’re also relaxing!
Game Room
Little boy heaven. OK girls too but I can only speak for ours. The game room is filled with classic video games and fun arcade favorites. It’s next door to the cantina and ice cream shop!
The Market
The market is perfect to find the things we’d forgotten. There are cool camping games to buy and RV essentials, so no worries if you forget your stuff, too. It’s very well stocked, and you can even buy Campland on the Bay souvenirs. They also serve coffee here, and it was good and much needed!
Ice Cream Parlor
Something every campground needs is an ice cream shop! Especially in San Diego, which has the perfect temperature year-round to enjoy the sweet, creamy dessert.
Things To Do Outside of Campland on the Bay
A family interested in using Campland on the Bay as its headquarters for exploration could easily use the centrally located campground to explore the many attractions around it. Minutes from the freeway, Campland on the Bay is close to Sea World, Legoland, and the San Diego Zoo, which has an awesome safari park where animals roam uncaged. There’s the Gaslamp District in Downtown with a unique craft beer scene and boutique restaurants.
Mission Beach Boardwalk and Belmont Park
The bike path accessible from Campland on the Bay, as I mentioned above, takes you into Mission Bay close enough to stop and cross the street to get to the Mission Beach Boardwalk. The Mission Beach Boardwalk connects South Mission to North Mission, as locals refer to the two sections of Mission Beach (South Mission is a bit fancier) and in between is Belmont Park, a beachfront amusement park.
Photo by Maddisen V. on Unsplash
In Belmont Park, you can ride a rollercoaster, play games of skill or rent surfboards to jump in the ocean. We rode the bikes we had rented at the campground down the Mission Beach boardwalk and Memory Lane, with me pointing out the various apartments that I had lived in or visited with friends when I lived here while going to college. It was a super fun day, and I even reached out to my college friend, Laura, who still lives in the area, and she rode down for a quick hello.
When You Go
Getting To Campland On The Bay From Los Angeles
The straightest route from Downtown Los Angeles to Campland on the Bay is about 115 miles and takes about two and a half hours to arrive but you know LA traffic so check your favorite traffic app before you head out and remember if you’re towing a multi-ton trailer, it’ll take longer because you can’t speed like you normally might.
Campland on the Bay Rates
When we went, we stayed at one of the bay view sites and walked around to see where we wanted to stay the next time we got to glamp there. Here’s a map of the campground. As you can see, site numbers J01, K01, L01 & L38, M36, N01 & N32 are beachfront and the ones we decided we had to try for the next time we visited. But everyone has their own preferences, so you can see where you’d like to be when you go.
Campland on the Bay Map
Like all accommodations, costs depend on when you want to visit. Check out the rate sheet for all possible stay options and available amenities (like golf cart rentals). You can tent camp or bring your RV smaller than 45 feet. There are 18 dry sites. RV sites with only water and 150 sites with electric hookups. There are also the most expensive full-hookup, beachfront sites.
There are other site options in between those two plus a super site which is a bit crazy because it comes with your own hot tub, private gated entry, and laundry facilities. The super site runs between $252 and $473 per night (that is not a typo). Obviously, it’s adjacent to the water and highly coveted. You can also bring your boat and rent a slip.
The grandparents drove off with giant smiles on their faces. Camping was not like they expected when it involved a cozy bed and access to a bathroom and shower steps away from anywhere they happened to be. Getting outside their homes, being comfortable at night and being around the boys during an unhurried and undistracted time of their lives was precious. Camping in a resort like Campland on the Bay gives a grandparent everything they could hope for when visiting with their grandkids: undistracted interactions, the clean outdoor air, and water activities to soothe the spirit. And it gives the grandkids a chance to see their grandparents in a more relaxed setting, getting to know a side of them they might not otherwise see.
Frequently Asked Questions: Campland on the Bay, San Diego
Q: Does Campland on the Bay have tent camping?
Yes, Campland on the Bay offers both tent camping and RV sites, plus some cabin-style accommodations. The tent sites are among the most affordable options on Mission Bay. RV sites range from basic to full hookup. Reservations are essential, especially for summer and holiday weekends, as the campground fills up months in advance.
Q: How far is Campland on the Bay from downtown San Diego?
Campland on the Bay is located in Mission Beach, about 8 miles northwest of downtown San Diego — roughly a 15 to 20 minute drive without traffic. It’s well-situated for day trips to the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, Balboa Park, and La Jolla, making it a great base camp for a fuller San Diego family trip.
Q: Is Campland on the Bay worth it for families?
For families who want a beach resort experience without the resort price tag, yes. The Mission Bay location is unbeatable for water access, the programmed activities keep kids busy, and the convenience of having the bay and beach steps from your campsite is hard to match. That said, it’s not a traditional rustic camping experience — think social, busy, and resort-adjacent rather than peaceful and secluded.
Q: What is the best time to camp at Campland on the Bay?
Summer (June through August) is peak season when all activities are fully operational and the weather is ideal. May and September offer nearly the same experience with fewer crowds and easier reservations. Fall and winter camping is available and popular with Southern California locals for a quieter, more affordable bay experience.