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Where can you sleep in a tent in San Diego?

  • 20th & B St. 26th Street & Pershing Drive. San Diego, CA 92101. Population Served: Individuals, Couples, Households. 133 tents.
  • O Lot. Park Blvd & Wieber Ave. San Diego, CA 92134. Population Served: Individuals, Couples, Households. Up to 400 tents.




San Diego offers several diverse options for tent camping, ranging from beachfront state parks to inland mountain retreats. For an iconic coastal experience, San Elijo State Beach and Silver Strand State Beach offer sites where you can sleep to the sound of the Pacific, though these are highly sought after and require booking months in advance. Inland, the Cleveland National Forest features spots like Burnt Rancheria, which offer a traditional forest camping experience under towering pines. For those seeking more unique or private locations, platforms like Hipcamp list sites like "Ranch Blooms" in nearby Santee or "Eden East" in Ramona, which often include amenities like outdoor showers or farm-to-table vibes. If you want a "glamping" experience, you can find semi-permanent yurts or "yomes" (a yurt-dome hybrid) in the foothills. Whether you prefer the coastal bluffs of Del Mar or the high-desert landscapes of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park a bit further east, San Diego’s year-round mild climate makes it a premier destination for tent enthusiasts.

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No Overnight Camping Overnight camping, sleeping or parking is NOT allowed on the beach, cliffs, walkways, park areas or adjacent parking lots.

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It is one of the largest shelter spaces being operated in the City of San Diego. The O Lot Safe Sleeping site, located on City property at the edge of Balboa Park near the Naval Medical Center, has capacity for up to 400 tents, each allowing space for two people.

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Located on the San Diego Coast, San Elijo State Beach offers camping, swimming, surfing, showers and picnicking. The narrow, bluff-backed stretch of sand has a nearby reef popular with snorkelers and divers.

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You'll find limited street parking spots in downtown San Diego for free overnight parking. Try Second Avenue, Broadway, E and F streets, and other streets nearby. Check posted signs to ensure unrestricted parking is allowed at your preferred location.

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This number has been declining as zoning laws and city ordinances are increasingly banning overnight parking. Store managers may also not allow it. According to Walmart's website, “Permission to park is extended by individual store managers, based on availability of parking space and local laws.

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SAN DIEGO, Calif. (CNS) -- San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria has signed the Unsafe Camping Ordinance into law, which prohibits tent encampments in all public spaces throughout the city if shelter beds are available.

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