Salton Sea State Recreational Area

100225 State Park Rd, Mecca, CA 92254, United States

Contact: (760) 393-3059

https://www.parks.ca.gov/saltonsea/

$20per night

RV/TrailersThis campground allows RVs or Trailers at some campsites

This campground has Electric hookups

This campground has sewer hookups

This campground has water hookups

This campground has showers on site

This campground is pet-friendly. Bring your pals!

This campground has accessibility campsites and features

Updated 2023-06-01

Overview

Located on the north shore of the Salton Sea, this amazing area is one of the world’s largest inland seas and it lies approximately 240 feet below sea level!

The Salton Sea State Recreational Area has a whopping six different developed campgrounds available. Three are developed sites while the others (Corvina, Salt Creek, and Bombay Beach) are primitive sites with chemical toilets and piped water.

The three developed sites are Headquarters, New Camp, and Mecca Beach. These campgrounds can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 35 feet in addition to tents.

Headquarters has 15 campsites that are equipped with full hookups including 50-amp electricity. New Camp has 25 sites - four with partial hookups of electricity and water and 21 standard sites. Mecca Beach has over a hundred sites with a few that also offer hookups.

Pets are allowed in both campgrounds but always on a leash and attended to. They are not allowed on beaches or most trails.

The recreational area is open year-round with popular seasons being October to May as summer temperatures can be sky-high. However, summer is also the best fishing season.

Best Campsites at Salton Sea State Recreational Area

Below are Power Camper’s recommended sites if you want to have the best experience at Salton Sea State Recreational Area.

Sites 1-15 (Headquarters)

Full hookups with water, sewer, and electricity
Proximity to picnic area
Proximity to shoreline
Needs prior reservation

Sites 40, 42, 43, 45 (New Camp)

Partial hookups with water and electricity
Proximity to the camp store
Downside - proximity to dump station

Sites 27, 29 (New Camp)

Group camping area
Accessible
Proximity to Ironwood Nature Trail Paved Loop
Proximity to Mecca Beach Campground
Proximity to showers
Downside: Close to the parking area

Unique Experiences

Walk along the 14-mile shoreline of the Salton Sea, or go for a shorter walk at Ironwood Nature Trails.
Hike the Bat Caves Buttes loop trail which has the only caves in the Salton Sea area and is open to all skill levels. Unlike many other trails, your dogs are welcome on this trail.
Charter a boat from Varner Harbor and go fishing. Although the place has a high salinity level, you can still catch an abundant amount of tilapia by both shore fishing and boat fishing.
One of the most popular activities in the Salton Sea area is bird watching, thanks to its diverse fauna. You can see marsh birds, shore birds, and waterfowls stop by to hydrate themselves.
If you visit from November to February, try going on a kayak tour with the park guides as they show you a variety of water-dependent bird life.
Salton Sea Lake is called the fastest lake in the US because the salinity level is extremely high which makes boats and other watercraft more buoyant. Take advantage of that extra lift and go for a fast ride on a boat!

Salton Sea State Recreational Area Campground Rules

Pet Friendly

Yes

Max Trailer/RV Length

35 feet

Max People per Site

Eight

Max Vehicles per Site

2, second vehicle charged at $7

Fires Allowed

Yes

Salton Sea State Recreational Area Reservation Information

Reservations Allowed?

Reservations Required?

To reserve a spot in Salton Sea State Recreational Area you can go to https://www.reservecalifornia.com/ or call (800) 444-PARK (7275) from 8 AM to 6 PM. You should reserve your campsite at least 2 days or at most 6 months before your arrival date.

The standard fee for each night is $20 at the New Camp area and $30 for partial or full hookup sites. There’s also an extra $7 for additional vehicles, $50 for buses with under 24 passengers, and $100 for buses with 25 passengers or more.

Ensure you have the following information to make a reservation:

Park selections
The date you wish to start camping
Type and size of camping equipment
Number of people that will occupy the campsite
Number of nights you wish to camp
Alternative park and camping date choices
Your phone number and area code
Method of payment/Credit card number and expiration date
Mailing address

Group Camping Reservations

There are no group sites at Salton Sea but each family site can accommodate up to eight people so you can reserve multiple adjacent sites. Make your reservations online via https://www.reservecalifornia.com/ or call (800) 444-PARK (7275) from 8 AM to 6 PM.

You should reserve your campsite at least 2 days or at most 6 months before your arrival date. Group camping can accommodate 25 campers and 10 vehicles at the price of $75/night.

Campsite Reservation Cancellations

To cancel or change your date of reservation, go to their website https://www.reservecalifornia.com/ or call (800) 444-PARK (7275) by 6 PM a day before your arrival date at the latest. If you cancel your booking, you will need to forfeit your $7.99 reservation fee.

Failure to contact them before the deadline would mean that you’ll be charged a $7.99 cancellation, your first night’s fee, and your reservation fee.

Salton Sea State Recreational Area Campground Cost

Standard

$20

Hookups

$30

Activities

Fishing

Swimming

Hiking

Boating

Bike Trails

Photography

Canoeing / Kayaking

Picnicking

Stargazing

Wildlife Viewing

Nature Trails

Historic Sites

Amenities

RV/Trailers

Hookups

Pull Through Spots

Pet Friendly

ADA Sites

Showers

Trash

Recycling

Campfire Rings

Grills

Picnic Tables

Wood for Sale

Boat Ramp

Amphitheater

Campground Host

Potable Water

Restrooms

Ranger Station

Cell Service

Visitors/Rec Center

Salton Sea State Recreational Area Campground Map

VIEW IN FULL SCREEN

Directions

FAQs

Are You Allowed To Go In Salton Sea?

Is The Salton Sea Open To The Public?

How Many Trails Are In the Salton Sea State Recreation Area?

Are Dogs Allowed At Salton Sea State Recreational Area?

Are There Showers At Salton Sea State Recreational Area?

Are Fires Allowed At Salton Sea State Recreational Area?

Are There Hookups At Salton Sea State Recreational Area?

Nearby Campgrounds to Salton Sea State Recreational Area

Mecca Beach Campground

Mecca Beach is one of the campgrounds located within the Salton Sea State Recreational Area. Located only about 1 mile from Headquarters and New Camp, all three campgrounds have full and partial hookups for RVs and trailers.

With over a hundred campsites, it is the biggest of the three developed sites. Mecca Beach has flush toilets and hot showers, while other campgrounds in Salton Sea SRA like Corvina, Salt Creek, and Bombay Beach only have vault toilets.

All sites at Headquarters, Mecca Beach, and New Camp cost $20 for a standard site and $30 for one with hookups. One drawback with Mecca Beach is that it is closer to the main road and train tracks, which means it typically gets more occasional noise.

Cottonwood Campground

Located in the Joshua Tree National Park, Cottonwood is a rustic campground with 62 campsites available to reserve while the Salton Sea has a combined site count of hundreds from its six campgrounds.

The downside is that Cottonwood has no hookup sites and no showers, so that’s something you should take into account when you book your reservations. The rate for camping in the area is around $25/night for a standard campsite and $40 for a group campsite while Salton Sea sites are $20 for a standard site and $30 for a site with hookups.

Borrego Palm Canyon Campground

Located in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Palm Canyon Campground has 120 sites which are comparable to Mecca Beach’s 109 sites. However, when combined, Salton Sea has hundreds of sites scattered over 6 individual campgrounds.

Borrego Palm Canyon also has hookups and accessible sites. They charge $35 a night for a standard site and $45 for a site with full hookups while the Salton Sea is relatively cheaper at $20/$30.