Forum Discussion

Second_Chance's avatar
Second_Chance
Explorer II
Sep 08, 2015

Parks in the San Diego/La Jolla area

After the first of the year, we would like to head to Southern California to visit my wife's brother (lives in La Jolla). We expected sticker shock when looking at RV Parks in the area, but $60 - $90 a night and up is a bit much. A neighbor here at the RV Park on Aberdeen Proving Ground recommended Fiddler's Cove on Coronado Island (Navy facility), but they have NO availability for the month of January. The Admiral Baker Field RV Park seems to have availability, but the photos look like closely-spaced RVs circled around a grass field with a playground in the middle. At $30 a night, though, it would be a place to lay our heads down at night. Has anyone had any experience with the Admiral Baker Field park or can you recommend some budget-minded alternatives for about a week in the SD/La Jolla area for the first half of January?

Thanks!

Rob
  • Second_Chance's avatar
    Second_Chance
    Explorer II
    Sep 09, 2015
    Valkyriebush wrote:
    Admiral Baker is the best value in SD. Very nice park, golf course and club house. Must be active duty or retired Military, DOD or be sponsored by same. Perfect location for us. You could try the silver strand State beach.


    Roger that, Master Chief - retired Army here...

    Rob
  • Valkyriebush's avatar
    Valkyriebush
    Explorer II
    Sep 09, 2015
    Admiral Baker is the best value in SD. Very nice park, golf course and club house. Must be active duty or retired Military, DOD or be sponsored by same. Perfect location for us. You could try the silver strand State beach.
  • More_To_See's avatar
    More_To_See
    Explorer
    Sep 09, 2015
    Second Chance wrote:
    More To See wrote:
    Weekly rate Santee Lakes 1 dog = $40/day
    Weekly rate Santa Fe Park 1 dog = $33/day

    Santee Lakes dogs $1 per day each
    Sante Fe Park dogs $3.25 per day each

    Unless you plan on heading over to La Jolla every morning during 6 to 9 a.m. rush hour there is no problem at all getting from Santee Lakes to La Jolla.

    Santa Fe Park is okay for what it is for the price but believe me you will be doing yourself a favor to stay over at Santee Lakes.

    And you won't need earplugs.


    Are you saying one would need earplugs at Santa Fe? If so, why?

    Rob

    Santa Fe Park sits right next to heavily traveled Interstate 5 and there is a set of railroad tracks there too. It also is not an easy place to enter and exit since it sits a mile or two down a couple of strip mall streets and brings you out to a real busy area. I don't mean to imply that the place would be a disaster but compared to Santee Lakes which is a park like quiet picturesque setting there just is no comparison.
  • Second_Chance's avatar
    Second_Chance
    Explorer II
    Sep 09, 2015
    More To See wrote:
    Weekly rate Santee Lakes 1 dog = $40/day
    Weekly rate Santa Fe Park 1 dog = $33/day

    Santee Lakes dogs $1 per day each
    Sante Fe Park dogs $3.25 per day each

    Unless you plan on heading over to La Jolla every morning during 6 to 9 a.m. rush hour there is no problem at all getting from Santee Lakes to La Jolla.

    Santa Fe Park is okay for what it is for the price but believe me you will be doing yourself a favor to stay over at Santee Lakes.

    And you won't need earplugs.


    Are you saying one would need earplugs at Santa Fe? If so, why?

    Rob
  • More_To_See's avatar
    More_To_See
    Explorer
    Sep 09, 2015
    Weekly rate Santee Lakes 1 dog = $40/day
    Weekly rate Santa Fe Park 1 dog = $33/day

    Santee Lakes dogs $1 per day each
    Sante Fe Park dogs $3.25 per day each

    Unless you plan on heading over to La Jolla every morning during 6 to 9 a.m. rush hour there is no problem at all getting from Santee Lakes to La Jolla.

    Santa Fe Park is okay for what it is for the price but believe me you will be doing yourself a favor to stay over at Santee Lakes.

    And you won't need earplugs.
  • Golden_HVAC's avatar
    Golden_HVAC
    Explorer
    Sep 09, 2015
    I would also say Santee Lakes. There is a Costco nearby, (with gas station) and highway 52 is now complete from Highway 67 all the way to I-5 and to PCH in La Jolla. It really is a short drive, when it is not rush hour traffic.

    Rush hour can take some time, but even then the traffic will average say 30 MPH the whole distance.

    When I lived there, I would take Mission Valley Road to avoid highway 52 in the mornings, going into San Diego around I-8 and I-5. Another way to get into LaJolla that seems to work for me was taking I8 to the Sea World exit, and then north on city streets to LaJolla. It was kinda heavy going under I 805 and near I 5, but after that, it seemed like smooth sailing. .

    Talk to your relatives for 'shortcuts' around the traffic.

    Good luck,

    Fred.
  • Second_Chance's avatar
    Second_Chance
    Explorer II
    Sep 08, 2015
    Thanks, everyone. aerbus32 and a fellow Escapee both recommended Santa Fe RV Park. Our new Passport America membership will get us 50% off and it's only 17 minutes from my brother-in-law's place. I like to keep it military when possible - usually very good campgrounds and great rates. Didn't work out that way this time.

    Rob
  • aerbus32's avatar
    aerbus32
    Explorer II
    Sep 08, 2015
    Santa Fe RV park should be closer to your budget. And definitely closer to La Jolla. Second recommendation would be Mission Bay RV. Chula Vista RV & Santee Lakes, both better parks, will pit you against heavy traffic congestion during commuter times. (We drove thru Admiral Baker last winter. OK.) Avoid Camperland, locally called Woodstock, unless you have a total disregard for neighbors.
  • azdryheat's avatar
    azdryheat
    Explorer
    Sep 08, 2015
    If you want to keep it military and on the beach check out Camp Pendleton in Oceanside.

    It's a little pricey but we love Chula Vista RV Resort. It's across the water from Fiddler's Cove and a first class park.

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