RV Rental San Diego, CA
RV Rentals Near San Diego, CA
Longer Term RV Rentals in San Diego, CA
Budget Friendly RV Rentals in San Diego, CA
Top Motorhome RV Rentals
Top Travel Trailer RV Rentals
San Diego is one of America's most beloved destinations, where year-round sunshine, world-class beaches, and some of the country's best zoos and theme parks come together in one city. Whether you're exploring Balboa Park, surfing at Pacific Beach, or using San Diego as your base for Joshua Tree or Death Valley, an RV gives you the freedom to experience it all at your own pace. San Diego's Campland on the Bay was a top RVshare destination for multiple consecutive years, according to RVshare's 2024 Travel Trend Report — a testament to just how RV-friendly this city truly is.
Average Cost to Rent an RV in San Diego
Class A motorhomes are the largest and most luxurious option, ideal for extended coastal stays, averaging around $185/night. Class C motorhomes are a popular family choice — easy to maneuver and averaging around $179/night. Class B camper vans are perfect for beach-hopping and city exploring, averaging around $149/night. Travel trailers average around $150/night for those who prefer a towable option.
How to Compare San Diego RVs
Plan your routes so you know what restrictions there are on your rigs. San Diego's most popular campgrounds — like Campland on the Bay and Mission Bay RV Resort — fill up months in advance during summer and Comic-Con weekend in July. Book your campsite before you book your RV.
San Diego's year-round mild climate makes it one of the few cities where RV travel is equally good in winter — rates drop significantly from November through February while the weather stays in the 60s.
If you're flying into SAN, look for owners who offer delivery to campgrounds like Mission Bay RV Resort or San Diego RV Resort, so you can land and head straight to your site without driving a large rig through city traffic.
RV Parks & Campgrounds Nearby
San Diego RV Resort — 10 miles east of San Diego in La Mesa, with 180 back-in and pull-through sites, full hookups, 30/50-amp electricity, propane, and Wi-Fi. Pet-friendly.
La Pacifica RV Park — near the Mexican border in San Ysidro, with full hookups, pull-through and back-in sites, showers, and Wi-Fi. Pet-friendly.
Mission Bay RV Resort — right by De Anza Cove Park, with 259 full-hookup sites, 30/50-amp electricity, shade trees, and bay views. Pet-friendly.
Silver Strand State Beach caps RV site length at 40 feet — confirm your rig's total length before booking if that's on your itinerary.
Convenient Dump Stations
Most dump stations near San Diego are located at RV resorts along Mission Bay. Campland on the Bay has dump stations in sections A and F — free for registered guests, small fee for non-guests. Santa Fe RV Resort charges $5 for non-guests. Mission Bay RV Resort also has a dump station open year-round.
Pet Friendly RV Rentals in San Diego
Sunny San Diego is a wonderful spot to bring your pet camping. The nearby beaches and canyons make great places for hiking or splashing in the water. RVshare lets you filter for pet-friendly rentals, and several campgrounds in the area welcome pets, including San Diego RV Resort, La Pacifica RV Park, and Mission Bay RV Resort.
Explore San Diego in an RVshare RV Rental
From its sun-drenched beaches to its world-famous zoo and vibrant neighborhoods, San Diego offers a unique mix of outdoor adventure, culture, and family fun — all easily explored by RV.
History & Culture
Balboa Park — 1,200 acres of museums, gardens, and the San Diego Zoo in the heart of the city. RV parking is available in the Inspiration Point lot on the east side of the park, with a free tram to the main attractions.
USS Midway Museum — a decommissioned aircraft carrier turned museum on the downtown waterfront. RV parking is extremely limited downtown; leave your RV at your campground and take the MTS trolley to the Santa Fe Depot stop.
Old Town San Diego — California's first European settlement, with historic adobe buildings, museums, and restaurants. Street parking for RVs is limited; use the large surface lot on Twiggs Street.
Family & Entertainment
San Diego Zoo — one of the most famous zoos in the world with over 4,000 animals. Located in Balboa Park with RV-accessible parking at Inspiration Point.
SeaWorld San Diego — marine life exhibits, roller coasters, and shows on Mission Bay. RV parking is available in the main lot; pull-through spaces are limited so arrive early.
LEGOLAND California — 30 miles north in Carlsbad, with over 60 rides, shows, and attractions for families. RV parking is available in the main lot starting at $45/day. Overnight RV parking is not permitted — stay at nearby South Carlsbad State Beach Campground, about 2 miles from the park.
Outdoors & Nature
La Jolla Cove — stunning sea caves, snorkeling, and sunbathing. Street parking for RVs is not recommended; park at the Cove Street lot and walk down.
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve — 2,000 acres of rare Torrey pine trees and dramatic coastal bluffs, just north of the city. The parking lot has a 25-foot RV length limit.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park — 600,000 acres of desert wilderness about 90 miles east of San Diego, with wildflowers in spring and dark skies year-round.
Explore San Diego, CA
San Diego is a popular vacation destination due to its perpetual spring-like climate, beaches galore, vibrant green spaces, and top-notch museums and cultural attractions. No matter what you like to do, you'll find it here.
If your idea of a good time is just relaxing on a beach, you have many sandy choices. Try Imperial Beach, Coronado, La Jolla or Mission Beach. If you prefer learning and educating yourself, immerse yourself in the city's museums. Just a few standouts include the Maritime Museum of San Diego, the USS Midway Museum, the San Diego Museum of Art and the Comic-Con Museum.
If you're an animal lover, head straight to the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park. Featuring more than 4,000 animals, this world-famous zoo displays animals in natural habitats and practices conservation efforts. Some of the many exhibits at the zoo include Urban Jungle, the Scripps Aviary and Monkey Trails. Prepare to spend several hours visiting the zoo.
San Diego also has different fun and funky neighborhoods, each with its own vibe. Check out the Gaslamp Quarter downtown, Little Italy, Mission Valley and Hillcrest.
Road Trips Starting from San Diego, CA
Best National Parks Near San Diego, CA
Channel Islands National Park sits off the coast of Southern California. The main way visitors get to the Channel Islands is by boat from mainland harbors in Ventura or Oxnard. Island Packers offers boat trips to the islands throughout the year, but you can also take a private boat to the park. The largest island is Santa Cruz, which offers hiking trails on its eastern side and opportunities for swimming, kayaking and snorkeling in the Scorpion Beach area. Santa Cruz is also great for birding. Here, you can spot the island scrub jay, the only place in the world to see this species. Visit in the spring for amazing wildflower blooms. On Anacapa Island, take a guided hike, or spend the night at a primitive campsite. There's also snorkeling, kayaking and diving available on Anacapa.
Joshua Tree National Park, 165 miles northeast of San Diego, resembles an alien landscape with its concentration of Joshua trees, which are yucca plants that consist of branches, or "arms," that twist and point their way skyward. See these Joshua trees and other desert plants, like ocotillo, creosote bushes, cholla cacti and prickly pear cacti, on various trails within the park. Hiking trails include Barker Dam, Hidden Valley, Cholla Cactus Garden and Lost Horse Mine. Joshua Tree is also a well-known and popular rock climbing destination with over 8,000 climbing routes. If you're new to rock climbing, sign up for a class with an area outfitter who can guide you and teach you the basics. The park's main paved roads, like Park Boulevard and Pinto Basin Road, are great for biking. Joshua Tree also has several campsites, such as Jumbo Rocks, Black Rock, Indian Cove and Ryan, with each offering different amenities.
Death Valley National Park, 285 miles north of San Diego, provides a stark but beautiful landscape of contrasts. The lowest point on the continent, Badwater Basin, at 282 feet below sea level, is here, but so is Telescope Peak, the park's highest point at 11,043 feet. You'll bake under the extreme temperatures in the summer, but winters can get cold, especially at the higher elevations where snow often falls. Death Valley is the largest national park in the lower 48 states, with vast distances between sites, so exploring the park with your RV rental is a terrific way to see it. Besides Badwater Basin, some other park highlights include Ubehebe Crater, Zabriskie Point, the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes and Artists Palette. Furnace Creek Campground has 18 RV sites with full hookups. This campground also has the advantage of being near the developed Furnace Creek area with the main visitor center, gas station, store, and restaurant. The privately owned Stovepipe Wells RV Park also has some sites with hookups.
Popular State Parks Near San Diego, CA
Located in Julian, about 45 miles northeast of San Diego, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park features 26,000 acres of forested land and meadows. Activities you can partake in include mountain biking, horseback riding and hiking. Try the 3.5-mile trek up to the top of Cuyamaca Peak, which is 6,512 feet. The campground has a dump station but no hookups for RVs.
Just 10 miles south of San Diego, Silver Strand State Beach sits between the Pacific Ocean and the San Diego Bay on a narrow strand. Take advantage of the usual beach activities here, including sailing, fishing, waterskiing, surfing and body boarding. The campground has back-in RV sites with a length limit of 40 feet. Silver Strand allows dogs in the RV campground but not on the beach itself.
At 25 miles north of San Diego, San Elijo State Beach offers activities like surfing, swimming and boogie-boarding. Visitors can also go diving and snorkeling in the nearby reef. The park's campground has RV sites with hookups as well as a dump station. You can take your dog to the beach south of Lifeguard Tower 16, but you must always keep your pet on a leash.
Must-see Monuments and Landmarks Near San Diego, CA
Cabrillo National Monument is in San Diego at the southern tip of Point Loma. This monument commemorates when Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo landed here in 1542. This marked the first time an expedition from Europe visited the area of what would much later become California. While visiting, check out the Cabrillo statue and the Old Point Loma Lighthouse. Standing atop the monument gives you magnificent views of the San Diego skyline.
The César E. Chávez National Monument is in Keene, about 240 miles northwest of San Diego. The monument pays tribute to César Chávez, the labor leader who fought for farmworkers and founded the National Farm Workers Association. The monument sits on land that was once Chávez's actual home from the 1970s to the early '90s. While some parts of the monument remain closed to the public, you can stop by the visitor center and check out the memorial garden that houses Chávez's gravesite.
The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is west of Los Angeles, about 160 miles northwest of San Diego. Explore nearly 160,000 acres of land that provide opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, trail running, surfing, fishing, bird-watching and stargazing. You can enter this recreation area from several towns, including Malibu, Topanga and Woodland Hills. The Mulholland Highway twists and turns its way across the park and intersects with north-south roadways.
RVshare’s Top Picks for Nearby RV Parks & Campgrounds
The pet-friendly San Diego RV Resort is in La Mesa, 10 miles to the east of San Diego. This campground has 180 back-in and pull-through sites that include full hookups and 30-/50-amp electricity. This park also has propane for sale, strong cell reception and Wi-Fi.
La Pacifica RV Park is in San Ysidro, a neighborhood of San Diego near the Mexican border. This pet-friendly campground has amenities that include back-in and pull-through sites, full hookups, showers, and Wi-Fi.
Mission Bay RV Resort is right by De Anza Cove Park. Amenities include 259 full-hookup sites, 30- and 50-amp electricity, pull-through and back-in spots, strong cell reception, and shade trees. This RV park allows pets.
Campland on the Bay has dump stations in sections A and F, which are free for registered guests. Non-guests can use the facilities for a small fee. RV sites here include full hookups, some with bay views.
Santa Fe RV Resort charges $5 for use of its dump station. This campground welcomes pets and also has full hookup spots, satellite TV, and a clubhouse.
You can also find a dump station at Mission Bay RV Resort. This campground includes a boat launch, recycling facilities, a clubhouse, a pool and some spots with bay views.
RV Rentals Near San Diego, CA
With its year-round temperate climate and proximity to the Pacific Ocean, San Diego attracts lots of visitors looking to escape to someplace warm and sunny. No matter if you want to spend the winter months here, or you've always wanted to plan a road trip vacation in Southern California, picking up an RV rental in San Diego from RVshare is a smart move.
The San Diego area has several RV campground options to choose from for your stay in the region. Some popular RV parks include the San Diego Metro KOA and the Admiral Baker RV Campground. Your options for your recreational vehicle are also plentiful. If you have a pickup truck, select a travel trailer you can tow. Get a Keystone trailer that sleeps nine or a Forest River toy hauler that accommodates six people. If you prefer motorized vehicles, RVshare has you covered with various Class A, B and C options from brands like Winnebago, Mercedes-Benz and Coachmen.
Given how spread out San Diego is, you'll need an RV to get around and explore the area. Some popular beaches include Mission Beach, Pacific Beach and La Jolla Cove. Urban San Diego offers attractions like Old Town, SeaWorld, and Balboa Park with its numerous museums and the San Diego Zoo. North of San Diego in Carlsbad is LEGOLAND California. As you head east out of San Diego, the spaces get wider open, and the environment transitions from forest into desert. Check out sites like Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The small community of Julian, about a 60-mile drive from San Diego, is an official California Historical Landmark and features wineries and apple orchards; the town is famous for its apple pies. Some fun road trip locations include Yosemite National Park, Colorado Springs and Seattle.
Frequently Asked Questions About Renting an RV Near San Diego, CA
How much does it cost to rent an RV in San Diego, CA by trip duration?Motorhomes in San Diego average around $200 a night and Towable Trailers are around $150 a night.
What does RVshare Protection cover with my San Diego, CA RV rental?RVshare's protection plan standard package covers Up to $300,000 in comprehensive and collision coverage based on the value of the RV. It also includes free 24/7 roadside assistance and free towing and tire service. For more information on RVshare insurance, click here.
What is included in my San Diego, CA RV rental?Check your RV listing and ask the owner about what is included with your RV rental. Every rental may not have the same inclusions.
Can I have my San Diego, CA RV rental delivered to a specified location?Many owners on RVshare.com offer delivery. They will drop the RV off and some will even set it up for you at the campsite. Check the listing or ask the owner to see if this service will be offered and its associated cost.