BajaNomad

RV camping near San Felipe

BoenBaja - 5-20-2025 at 08:00 PM

Driving down next month to spend some time at our place in Bahía Asunción. We’re pulling a 29’ 5th wheel with 3 slides, crossing at Mexicali east. Towing with a one ton GMC crew cab long bed (not a dually). I’d like to find an inexpensive, secure, safe campground for the first night, just a little south of San Felipe. All that we need is a spot with electric hook ups, no water or sewer necessary, but I’d like a spot long enough so I won’t have to unhitch. Traveling with my wife and an 8 pound poodle. Any recommendations appreciated, gracias a todos.

David K - 5-20-2025 at 09:28 PM

Electric lines end at Punta Estrella. A nice RV park is at Km 8.5, Villa Marina.
Website with photos. Beach view palapas have electricity and water: https://www.villamarinarv.com/

Map & photo near the top of this photo album for my Trip #1: https://vivabaja.com/p117/

[Edited on 5-21-2025 by David K]

bajapedro - 5-21-2025 at 05:55 AM

If you can dry camp, Rancho Percebu meets your requirements. Large open camp spaces on the Lagoon. km 21. Will be crowded over the Holiday weekend coming up, though. After the weekend, you may likely have the place to yourself.

BoenBaja - 5-21-2025 at 09:45 AM

Thank you amigos. Since we’re not going down until very late June, we won’t be able to dry camp as bajapedro described at Rancho Percebu because we will no doubt need electricity to power our AC (Shelley is coming up on 75 and I’m approaching 78 and we don’t want to end up with heat strokes! Plus we have our little doggo with us). I looked at David’s links and Villa Marina looks to be perfect for our needs, so I’ll be contacting them for a reservation. Thank you both for your most valuable input.

Lee - 5-21-2025 at 03:25 PM

Guerrero Negro is probably your next stop. I've always used Malarrimo for RV parking. It's possible to stay hitched parking along side of the hotel. Restaurant is OK but I prefer Mario's down the road.

Mario's has RV parking too but haven't stayed there.

https://ioverlander.com/places/101-malarrimo-rv-park

BoenBaja - 5-22-2025 at 07:58 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Lee  
Guerrero Negro is probably your next stop. I've always used Malarrimo for RV parking. It's possible to stay hitched parking along side of the hotel. Restaurant is OK but I prefer Mario's down the road.

Mario's has RV parking too but haven't stayed there.

https://ioverlander.com/places/101-malarrimo-rv-park


Thank you Lee, but our destination of Bahía Asunción is less than 2 hours farther and is easily doable even pulling a 5th wheel.

We’ve stayed in both sections for camping at the Malarimmo years and years ago before we bought our lot in BA.

Lee - 5-22-2025 at 08:14 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BoenBaja  
Quote: Originally posted by Lee  
Guerrero Negro is probably your next stop. I've always used Malarrimo for RV parking. It's possible to stay hitched parking along side of the hotel. Restaurant is OK but I prefer Mario's down the road.

Mario's has RV parking too but haven't stayed there.

https://ioverlander.com/places/101-malarrimo-rv-park


Thank you Lee, but our destination of Bahía Asunción is less than 2 hours farther and is easily doable even pulling a 5th wheel.

We’ve stayed in both sections for camping at the Malarimmo years and years ago before we bought our lot in BA.


Wow knew you were headed to BA and an additional 2 hours would be tough (for me). Definitely hard core pushing on. Never took my 38' Alpenlite down and it definitely would have been too much for me.

I know you'll have fun with your additional living area. Buen Vieja!

BoenBaja - 5-23-2025 at 09:38 AM

Since we’ll be camping the first night at Villa Marina RV park just south of San Felipe, the actual drive to BA according to Google maps is about 6 1/4 hours. I know it’ll be slower going pulling a 5th wheel, but having towed our (other) 25’ Alpenlite down a dozen times or so it’s doable for us. We’ll stop during that leg a couple of times to get out and stretch, have lunch, and enjoy the scenery and ambience of Baja.
Usually when I take my wife on a road trip (last one lasted 10 weeks and we went as far east as Knoxville pulling our newer 29 footer) I try to keep the drive times to 5 hours or less. Plus if we find a spot that we really like we might stay an extra night or two. Looking forward to getting back to Bahía Asunción and seeing our friends down there.

David K - 5-23-2025 at 10:25 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BoenBaja  
Since we’ll be camping the first night at Villa Marina RV park just south of San Felipe, the actual drive to BA according to Google maps is about 6 1/4 hours. I know it’ll be slower going pulling a 5th wheel, but having towed our (other) 25’ Alpenlite down a dozen times or so it’s doable for us. We’ll stop during that leg a couple of times to get out and stretch, have lunch, and enjoy the scenery and ambience of Baja.
Usually when I take my wife on a road trip (last one lasted 10 weeks and we went as far east as Knoxville pulling our newer 29 footer) I try to keep the drive times to 5 hours or less. Plus if we find a spot that we really like we might stay an extra night or two. Looking forward to getting back to Bahía Asunción and seeing our friends down there.


Sounds perfect!
A couple of food possibilities in that section for lunch time, 4 hours south of San Felipe at motorhome speed:
Nuevo Rosarito: 'Mauricio's (Km. 52, on the left) or La Cienega (Km. 54.5).
Villa Jesus María: 'Taquerias Kassandra' next to the Pemex station (Km. 95, on the left). On the right is/ was Mariscos Paulina [did not try their food] and somewhere Tortas La Casita (once by the gas station but moved, maybe across the highway).

If you get a late start, at Laguna Chapala is the remodeled restaurant 'Nueva Chapala' at Km. 235, just 1 miles south of the Mex 5 junction with Mex 1.

Have a great trip!

BoenBaja - 5-24-2025 at 09:19 AM

Thanks for the comida recommendations David (see your U2U). I have eaten at Mauricio’s (very good) and Taqueria Kassandra along with the spot that had the old green van (forgot the name but great tamales!). Considering that we’ll prolly leave early I’d like to get as far as GN and have shrimp/fish tacos at Tacos El Muelle (no longer just a truck, they now have a sit down open air restaurant a couple blocks north of the orange tower on the main drag). From there it’s only a two hour run to BA. Really looking forward to this trip as my last one was in the fall of 2024, and I drove solo with my Alaskan camper rig. Spent 6 weeks on that particular trek, 2 in La Paz for our Prosthetic and Orthotic Clinic and the rest in BA having a crew work on our property. This next trip will include mi esposa Shelley and our perita Coronita. We’ll be joined a few days later by daughter Courtney, esposo Jonathan, and nietos William and Jon Jr.
Now that I can safely house the 18’ Klamath and the Suzuki Samurai in the garage the gang can enjoy snorkeling with the juvenile seals at the rookery on the island and exploring for surf fishing spots along with fossils and Indian artifacts in a he Samurai. William is 15 now so it’s the perfect time for him to learn to drive a standard transmission and how to use a 4X4.

David K - 5-24-2025 at 10:41 AM

That was Carmelita's tamales you're thinking of.
Sounds like you're dialed in better than me! I only get down that far every few years, sadly. I just like to record details to remember my trips better.
Have a good one!