Campgrounds and RV parks near Salton City, CA

The Salton Sea itself draws birders, anglers, and photographers, with the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge at the south end hosting migratory flocks in winter. Inside Anza-Borrego, visitors hike Borrego Palm Canyon to a fan-palm oasis, scramble through The Slot near Borrego Mountain, and tour the Galleta Meadows sky-art sculptures in Borrego Springs. The Calcite Mine Area, reached from Highway S22, features a rough 4x4 spur and a short hike into narrow sandstone slots. Ocotillo Wells highlights include BlowSand Hill, Devil's Slide, Barrel Springs, Shell Reef, Gas Domes, and Pumpkin Patch, with off-roading, OHV riding, dirt biking, hiking, and geocaching. Anza-Borrego is also an International Dark Sky Park, so stargazing is excellent on moonless nights. Spring wildflower displays often peak around mid-March.

The Salton Trough is one of the hottest, driest regions in North America, and the camping calendar reflects that. The main season runs from late October through April, when daytime temperatures are comfortable and overnight lows rarely freeze. Reservations at Anza-Borrego developed campgrounds are only possible from October 1 through April 30. For the rest of the year, sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Holiday weekends, Thanksgiving, and the spring wildflower window fill the busiest sites weeks ahead. Summer is harsh. In the summer, desert temperatures can reach 110 degrees, so visiting the park between November and April is best. Shade is minimal, and many developed sites see almost no demand from May through September. RV travelers who visit in summer typically need full hookups for air conditioning and should plan early starts. The North American Monsoon can deliver brief, intense thunderstorms from July into early September that wash out dirt access roads, so road conditions should be checked with the park before heading off pavement.

Expect a stark, low-elevation desert with wide horizons, salt flats, and badlands. Cell service is reliable in Salton City and Borrego Springs but drops off quickly on dirt roads. Water is not available within the park itself, and visitors are encouraged to bring their own water or make use of the facilities in the surrounding communities. No dump stations exist within Ocotillo Wells SVRA. Plan to haul out trash and grey water. Dirt access to the Calcite Mine spur and parts of Ocotillo Wells often requires high clearance, and some sections need 4WD. Sand can be soft after wind events. The Salton Sea shoreline has a strong sulfur smell at times and a crusty, mineral-heavy beach, not a swim-friendly lake. Pack sun protection, extra water, and a tire repair kit.