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rivergirl
Junior Nomad
Posts: 37
Registered: 10-25-2004
Location: Seiad Valley, Ca. USA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Ready for Baja!
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Camper - Places to stay while traveling?
We just got our cabover truck camper today!! We are headed down for our 7th
Baja vacation with a month of relaxation & leaving in a few weeks... This will be the first time we will not be staying in a hotels on our trip
down. Our camper should make a month much easier than tent camping this year!
We need a good place to stay in San Diego area?
Then maybe Cativina or Guereo Negro?
Next day we will be in Mulege on the beach.
Just want a safe place to spend the night... Thanks for any replies.... We are getting excited now.
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
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In Chula Vista there is the Marina RV Park and a KOA. Both close enough to the border.
Rancho San Inez in Catavinia is just south of La Pinta.
In GN there really is no camping except behnd a hotel like Malaramino's.
Do not leave your rig in this parking lot as many have been ripped off in past years.
Beyond GN is Vizcaino which has a small park.
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awfulart
Nomad
Posts: 260
Registered: 5-10-2003
Location: Rio Rico AZ
Member Is Offline
Mood: Wondering what our Nit-Wit elected officials are doing now?
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We are planning on whale watching in Feb and wonder where we leave our rig (Travel Trailer and Truck) while out whale watching. Is there such a thing
as a secure parking spot in GNl?
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
Posts: 2307
Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Anxious to get south
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Campland on the Bay, Mission Bay, San Diego. Rates from $40 to $80. 20 minutes from border.
Have a great trip
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
Posts: 1687
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
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Mood: In love!
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Chula Vista Walmart parking lot. Check in with Ass. Manager.
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
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No swimming pool at Walmart but it will save you $35.
There is parking behind Malamarino and Posado Vicente but I would not personally chance it. I have been ripped off while having dinner inside !
The road to the whale lagoon starts a mile or two southeast of town and the 15 mile dirt road is usually in pretty good shape. It is a much nicer
place to spend the night, IMHO.
.
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3824
Registered: 2-9-2004
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I believe Potrero County Park campground, just north of the Tecate border is open in winter for camping. You can make reservations online. There is
also a campground at Mission Trails regional park. (I don't think that's the name of the adjacent campground though - check online.) There's also a
nice camping place ($5) about 6 miles past the LA Cetto winery (after you get to the winery on secondary roads - not off of Mex. 3). That's just 50
miles over the border if you want to skip San Diego. You can camp and buy a ticket for whale watching at the lagoon. Camping is $3/nt. - no need to
leave your vehicle in GN. There's a restaurant there too. El Marmol is an interesting place to spend a night too.
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
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If Tecate is an option; take it !
As soon as you cross the border, you start getting the Baja "feel".
No TJ insanity to deal with; no toll road.
Potrero County Park is about 8 miles from the border and is open in winter. They even heat the bathrooms !! Eat at the Campo Diner for a pleasant
surprise. Either stop at San Quinton on the beach if the weather is nice or push on to Catavinia the first night. Consider a stop in BLA if the
weather is nice; try camping at Archelon north of town. If you stop in San Quinton, you may want to overnight in San Ignacio at San Padrita. Then you
can hit the bakery in Santa Roslia next moring on the way to Mulege.
I have very fond memories of our first pick-up camper.
Being camped on the beach in a stiff wind will make you LOVE your camper.
Hope you have as much fun as we did !!
BTW, if it has a clothes closet; first thing, turn it into shelves with a front "lip" for much storage. Who needs hanging clothes in Baja anyway ??
Also, get a solar panel and enjoy the "free" power.
We will cross at Tecate in early January !!!!
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oldhippie
Banned
Posts: 742
Registered: 6-25-2006
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Mood: muted
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I always spend the first night after the border just a bit south of San Quintin at Cielto Lindo.
http://www.ontheroadin.com/baja/bajarvparks/sanquintin.htm
It's a 5 or 6 hour drive after the border and a good place to collect yourself after the San Diego through Ensenada mad rush. Also, you don't have to
leave San Diego at oh dark thirty in the morning to get there. It has a restaurant and bar and safe spots to pull up the cabover. The next day, a long
one, I make it to Santispac south of Mulege.
San Diego to Guerro Negro is too much for me in one day, especially during the winter when the days are short because I don't drive at night, and
although Catavina is pretty, I don't like the available overnight spots.
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Al G
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2647
Registered: 12-19-2004
Location: Todos Santos/Full time for now...
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Mood: Wondering what is next???
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I am considering driving over to Tecate, but How is hy. 3 on a large RV with trailer in tow? Rough? Longer?
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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I highly recommend camping at the whale lagoon south of guerrero negro, it is gorgeous and safe and you can see whales from your camper. There are a
few sandy spots on the dirt road so don't slow down for them! There is a nice restaurant there too and the people are all very nice.
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
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Yes Al, It will take you a little longer from Tecate and the road is narrower, more like you find south of El Rosario. We still love it with our F350
crew and 24' camp trailer.
If you have time/desire to stop, there are some great restauarants and vineyards in the valley.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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My wife and I consider ourselves experts on free camping in SD. We often use nice residential areas but also areas adjacent to some attractions. Just
look for signs that say no overnight parking, avoid those, and you're fine. SD is BIG on the use of signs alerting you to parking restrictions.
Our fav residential area is probably Coronado. Very quiet. Nothing like stepping out of the back of the rig to take the dog on a walk while some "old
money" guy is picking up the morning paper. 
Another favorite is the east side of Old Town, especially adjacent to Heritage Park.
We also regularly o'night out by Quivira Basin along the San Diego River channel or around Ocean Beach. The signs say "no" but the reality is, it's
almost never enforced. This is from personal experience and in talking to the boondocking regulars in the area. But these probably require a working
knowledge of SD or good mapping skills.
Personally, I would not be comfortable parking in residential areas from National City south to the border. Developed campgrounds would be fine and
many I know have used the Chula Vista KOA.
I've never had a single problem at the Malarrimo....for dinner or staying in the back. Been going there for years; guess I'm lucky or dont have what
they want. Usually I'm towing a large boat with lots of goodies in the back.
[Edited on 12-12-2006 by Hook]
[Edited on 12-12-2006 by Hook]
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3824
Registered: 2-9-2004
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Silver Strand state beach in Coronado is a LEGAL place to camp. Has online reservation system, or first-come, first served.
Operating Hours: The front gate opens year-round at 8 a.m. Camping is available for self-contained vehicles, motor-homes, or trailers. Per Coastal
Commission regulations, vehicles that are not fully self-contained will be turned away. It is always a good idea to call ahead regarding operating
hours, fees, and conditions, which can change
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8084
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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We always stay at this place overnight before crossing the border early next morning. It's one freeway exit from the border at San Ysidro. It's not
free. Has pool, bathrooms, showers, and laundromat. It's just conveniantly located in case you decide to cross at San Ysidro.
La Pacifica Rv Park
(619) 428-4411
www.lapacificarvresort.com
1010 W San Ysidro Blvd
San Ysidro, CA 92173
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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I also vote for
Rancho Santa Ynez in Catavina---no hook-ups, cheap, nice people, and sometimes the rest. is open. The entrance is just south of the La Pinta on the
other side of the highway---very short dirt road entrance.
And camping right at the Lagoon ---Laguna Ojo de Liebre as Shari suggested. Since we were leaving after we went out to see the whales, we just parked
in the parking lot---but here is one of the places we camped in their campground. Again, cheap, no hook-ups, a few outhouses. Quiet and beautiful.
A few miles south of Guerrero Negro---well marked easy road---After you are on the road, you pass by a booth for the Salt Mine---they just take your
name, vehicle information, etc. No problem.
At that time, we had our little trailer. Now we have a truck camper and are just waiting to take it down to those two spots---soon as my physical
therapy is completed (simple knee surgery, but old people like me don't bounce back as quickly as 20 year olds.
Oh, we live very near the border and like to cross on a weekend early in the morning---little traffic. Then we like to stop for breakfast about 1
hour south of Encenada in San Vicente----little place just south of the Pemex.
Can't wait to get back on the road---Baja and the Mainland of Mexico
Have a great trip.
Diane
On Edit---forgot, while we cross at San Ysidro going south, we usually cross north at Tecate even through we live right next to San Ysidro.
[Edited on 12-12-2006 by jdtrotter]
[Edited on 12-12-2006 by jdtrotter]
[Edited on 12-13-2006 by jdtrotter]
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3824
Registered: 2-9-2004
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jdtroter - is that a Casita? I've had my eye on those for some years now. My dream home when I hit 62!!
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by wilderone
jdtroter - is that a Casita? I've had my eye on those for some years now. My dream home when I hit 62!! |
Yep. We bought it new and had it for almost two years, put about 30,000 miles on it and sold it for not much less than we paid. They are great
little trailers---in lots of ways, I miss it.
Now we have a pop-up Truck Camper---advantages to both.
Sorry for the off topic---Rivergirl, you should have a great time with your camper.
Diane
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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3587
Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
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The bes place to camp in Guerro Negro is the motel, RV camping spot just before you get to the army base. They have a great little restaurant and
campground. We always used to camp for free if we bought dinner there but now they have raised the rates to 2-4 dollars for the night depending on
whether or not you need electricity.
We always cross at Tecate so we spend the night before in Portrero State Park which was described earlier. Our favorite spot at San Quitin is at El
Pabellon which is on the south side of San Quintin, as it does not have the late night noise that Cielito Lindo has sometimes.
The park at Rancho Santa Inez is a favorite of many and is pretty quiet and off the highway a little ways.
You will have no problems leaving Guerro Negro and coming in to Conception the next day.
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rivergirl
Junior Nomad
Posts: 37
Registered: 10-25-2004
Location: Seiad Valley, Ca. USA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Ready for Baja!
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Thank you for all the info... This will be a different trip for us this year with the camper so I apperciate the info as that will give us some
options...It should hopefully make it a bit easier but also a bit slower with the camper.
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