Agua Caliente County Park Campground

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We just got back from a fun weekend of camping at Agua Caliente County Park. For the past two years, I have heard great things about this campground. I was so excited to try it out for myself. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I can definitely say–we weren’t disappointed in the least. There is so much to do there–we all had a great time exploring and playing in the hot spring pools.

Because this campground is located in the desert, it’s great to visit in the cooler months. In fact, it is only open from Labor Day through Memorial Day, and it definitely makes my list of best fall campgrounds to visit.

Where is the Agua Caliente Campground?

While the address for the Agua Caliente County Park is technically Julian, it’s actually located at the base of the mountain, west of Anza-Borrego State Park. You can get there by taking the 8 East and exiting Ocotillo. Then continuing about 26 miles on the S2. Or you can go through Ramona to Julian on the 78 to Scissors Crossing and then to the S2.

Hot Springs at Agua Caliente County Park

What’s unique about the Agua Caliente campground is that there are three naturally-fed pools on site–two outdoor pools and one indoor pool that is about 102 degrees and is only allowed to be used by people ages 14+. The outdoor pools are warmed to about 90 degrees.

We arrived on a Thursday, and on Friday, we had the pools basically to ourselves. The kids enjoyed some chicken fights and games of Marco Polo in the outdoor pools. On the weekends, the pools reopen at night, so you can go for a night swim or relax in the hot indoor pool until 9pm.

Types of Campsites & Amenities

Agua Caliente has something for all types of campers and even cabins for the non-campers. There are full hook-up sites, partial hook-up sites, tent-only sites and a group campsite. There are also seven temperature-controlled cabins onsite. Each come with 2 queen-sized bed frames, a table, a sink and a bathroom.

As you drive into the campground, you’ll pass a small general store. The contents of the store are a bit random, but you can likely find some staples if you forget something important. We ventured over there just to peruse, and there were some pantry items, sodas, beer, wine, and ice cream. But it was a pretty random assortment of items.

What To Do At Agua Caliente County Park

Besides the hot springs, you’ll find lots to do at and around the Agua Caliente campground. There are many hiking trails in the campground itself, or just across the road. We enjoyed the Moonlight Canyon Trail which is a 1.6-mile loop that starts and ends in the campground. There’s also a short and steep hike up to a beautiful viewpoint of the campground.

One of the highlights of our trip was venturing a few miles away to some mud caves that are tucked a ways off the S2. There are tons of areas near the Agua Caliente County Park that you can explore. There is also another hot spring nearby called Palm Spring. We didn’t make it there this time, but we were talking to the general store owner who was telling us it might be worth checking out.

How To Get Reservations

This Agua Caliente County Park campground is open from Labor Day through Memorial Day and is a very popular place to camp, especially in the winter. Reservations are definitely encouraged and can be made one year in advance. To make your reservations for Agua Caliente and other San Diego County Park campgrounds, click here.

After our visit here, I can confidently say that Agua Caliente is a great SoCal campground for families. If you are a new to camping, be sure to check out my other blog posts so you know exactly what to pack, easy meal ideas and even what to wear while camping.