Sunrise Highway RV Park sits at 6000 feet in the Cleveland National Forest near Mt. Laguna, about an hour east of San Diego. You’ll drive up Sunrise Highway through the mountains, and the elevation means tall pines shade most of the sites while still letting warm sun through during the day. Evenings cool down considerably, which is nice if you’re camping in warmer months.

The park welcomes dogs, so your dog can hike the trails that surround the campground. There’s legitimate elevation hiking around here—not just flat walks. Mountain biking is also popular on nearby trails, and if anyone in your group fishes, there are spots for that too. The setting feels genuinely remote and quiet despite being only an hour from the city if you need to get back to San Diego.

What makes this different from lower-elevation San Diego campgrounds is the actual seasonal variation. Summer nights are genuinely cool, so you might actually want a blanket. Winter gets cold enough that you need to think about that when planning a trip. Spring and fall are probably the sweet spot—comfortable weather and fewer crowds than you’d find at beaches or desert campgrounds.

The drive itself is scenic, winding through the forest on Sunrise Highway/Laguna Mountain Road. Once you’re up there, you get a real sense of being in the mountains rather than just camping in a developed area. If you’re coming from San Diego proper, take I-8 East and head toward the mountain roads from there.

It’s straightforward camping at elevation. Bring layers for the temperature swing between day and night, and your dog will have plenty of space to explore the trails around the campground. The lack of crowds and the actual cooler weather make this useful if you’re trying to escape San Diego heat or just want hiking that feels more like mountains than foothills.