San Diego County
Agua Caliente County Park
Agua Caliente County Park is a great place for any van or RV nomad who wants to explore the desert and all it has to offer. The campground is located in the Anza Borrego Desert State Park and is best known for its geothermally heated springs and rugged desert hiking.
Balboa Park
Balboa Park is one of my favorite places to spend the day and explore. The park offers a wide variety of activities to include hiking, cycling, golfing, frisbee golf, swimming, and the world-famous San Diego zoo and Science Museum. Along with these attractions, the park boosts plenty of areas where you can park your van and spend the day lounging on the grass and watching the birds go by.
Borrego Springs
Any van or RV trip to the Anza Borrego State Park isn’t complete without a stopover in Borrego Springs. The town has multiple resorts, hotels, spas, RV parks and is home to the Borrego Palms Campground. Borrego Springs is a great location to base yourself in a while exploring all the attractions of the park and surrounding areas.
Cabrillo National Monument
The Cabrillo National Monument makes a good day trip for any van or RV nomad looking for a little California history. The Monument is located at the southern tip of the Point Loma Peninsula in San Diego. It commemorates the landing of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo at San Diego Bay in 1542. This event marked the first time a European expedition had set foot on the West Coast of the United States.
Desert View Tower
No trip along the I-8 Freeway to/from the Anza Borrego desert is complete without a stopover at the unique Desert View Tower. The tower is located near Jacumba and Ocotillo in western Imperial County. It is at 3,000 feet (910 m) in elevation in the In-Ko-Pah Mountains. It is also adjacent to the remaining sections of Old U.S. Route 80.
Iron Mountain
Iron Mountain is a great place to go hiking for any van or RV nomad. Iron Mountain is located between the cities of Poway and Romona. The hike is one of the most popular hikes in San Diego because of the moderate elevation change. When you make it to the summit, you will be rewarded with panoramic views of the surrounded areas.
Julian
Julian is a beautiful mountain town located in the Cuyamaca mountains. The town dates back to the 1870’s gold rush in the early days of California and has a rich history. As a result, Julian has shops housed in historic buildings, a historic hotel, and many restaurants. It’s also known for its famous apple pies that attract visitors worldwide.
Kate Sessions Park
Kate Session Park is a 79-acre park perched high atop Lamont Street at Soledad Road on the border between Pacific Beach and La Jolla. It’s named after noted local horticulturalists and “Mother of Balboa Park” Kate Sessions. The park has an amazing view of Pacific Beach, Mission Bay, the Pacific Ocean, and downtown San Diego.
Mission Bay – Fiesta Island Park
Fiesta Island Park is located in the middle of Mission Bay and included a peninsular island that is a perfect place to spend the day for any van lifer. The park is trendy for running, swimming, biking, van gathering, and special events. There are bonfire rings on the beach, and dogs are allowed off-leash. It’s a popular place for windsurfing and kitesurfing when it’s windy.
Mission Trails Regional Park
Mission Trails Regional Park is located 12 miles from downtown San Diego and makes an excellent place for any van or RV nomad to spend the day. The park consists of 5,800 acres of natural and developed areas and contains miles of hiking trails, a visitor center, and the Kumeyaay Lake Campground
Ocotillo Wells SVRA
There are many amazing places to visit while in Fullerton. Fullerton is home to Cal State Fullerton, one of the largest colleges in Southern California. Besides Cal State Fullerton, there is also Fullerton College and Hope International University. So that means the city has over 50K college students, which gives it a vibrant nightlife with plenty of bars and over 200 restaurants.
Old Town San Diego
Old Town San Diego Historic Park makes an excellent day trip for any van lifer looking to explore San Diego’s birthplace to eat, shop or drink tequila. Its many preserved historic buildings and museums commemorate the early days of San Diego’s town from 1820 to 1870, allowing you to visit California’s history firsthand.
Potrero County Park
If you want to get away from the city but not drive your van too far, Potrero County Park is perfect for you. In a broad valley with scattered coastal live oaks, the park is 45 miles east of San Diego. Its grassy meadow and rocky hillsides provide quiet solitude for hikers and campers year-round. Picnickers also enjoy the shade of hundred-year-old oak trees.
San Onofre State Beach
San Onofre State Beach is a wonderful place for any van lifer to spend time camping and surfing on the California coast. The park is a 3,000-acre and 3 miles south of San Clemente on Interstate 5 at Basilone Road. The state park is leased to California by the United States Marine Corps.
Three Sisters Falls
Three Sisters Falls Trail is a fun day hike for any van lifer looking for an adventure out of the city. The hike is a 4.1 mile out and back trail located near Julian that features three waterfalls and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is accessible year-round. There’s a steep descent into the canyon where the falls are located so make sure you have enough energy for the return hike.
Torrey Pines Gliderport
The Torrey Pines Gliderport is located in the Torrey Pines State Reserve. Southern California’s premier location for paragliding, hang gliding, and sailplanes. The Gliderport provides a world-class flying site, flight lessons, certifications, tandem flights, equipment sales, and repair services.
