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Fry Creek Campground

Part of Tent Camping, our guide to tent camping in San Diego County.

Fry Creek is a small Cleveland National Forest campground on Palomar Mountain with 20 sites at $15 a night, a vault toilet and no trailers. The page lists no potable water. A Boil Water Advisory was posted on October 23, 2026. The season text on the page still shows 2024.Checked October 23, 2026.

20campsites
$15single site per night
15 ftlongest vehicle, no trailers
Boil wateradvisory read 2026-10-23
LocationPalomar Mountain
FeesSingle site $15; extra vehicle $5
AmenitiesVault toilet; no potable water
SeasonThe page says open seasonally April 1st through December 1st, 2024, so current-year dates are not confirmed
Who it suitsAll ages; small rigs only.
Bookingrecreation.gov

Safety Notice Read 2026-10-23

A Boil Water Advisory covers both Fry Creek and Observatory campgrounds. All drinking water should be boiled for at least one minute. The page also lists no potable water, so bring your own.

Fire Rules Read Today

Forest Order 02-26-10 (June 12 to December 31, 2026) prohibits building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or charcoal fire except within a Developed Recreation Site listed in its Exhibit A. This campground is on that list (read 2026-10-23). Read the order on the Cleveland National Forest fire page before lighting anything.

Fry Creek Campground Open the map. © OpenStreetMap contributors.

What We Could Not Verify

  • The 2026 season dates: the page still shows 2024. The Palomar Ranger District (760-788-0250) can confirm.
  • When the Boil Water Advisory ends. The Palomar Ranger District can confirm.

More in Tent Camping

FAQ

Can I bring a trailer to Fry Creek?

No. The page says vehicles are limited to 15 feet and there are no trailers.

What does Fry Creek cost?

$15 per night for a single site and $5 for an extra vehicle.

Sources

  1. Cleveland National Forest: Fry Creek Campground
  2. Cleveland National Forest: elevated fire use restrictions

Checked October 23, 2026 by It’s San Diego. Cite this page: It’s San Diego (itssandiego.com), checked October 23, 2026. Free to quote with a link to this page; tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.