Surf &Turf RV Park

The place is a just a gravel lot; no amenities…but it’s proximity to Del Mar beach makes it a good place to stay. In the past year, they have added sewer lines, run new electric service to each site and run new water lines to each site.
The entire park closes (and gets used by the horse racetrack) from about June 1 through September 1st (check website for exact dates) so you WONT be able to stay here during those dates.
The hosts “Sam and Cynthia” are very responsive and helpful.

From their website; where they also have LOTS of photos:(www.surfandturfrvpark.com)
Surf and Turf re-opened
Update: July 9, 2022
Park is closed for the summer due to the SD County Fair and the Del Mar Races.
Park renovation is complete and we will reopen to the public on Monday September 19, 2022.
The Surf & Turf RV Park will be closed to the public from May 31 - September 19, 2022.
We will begin taking reservations and long term applications on July 1, 2022.
The Surf and Turf R.V. Park is located just blocks from the beach and across the street from the San Diego Fairgrounds and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.

Daily, weekly and monthly stays are available and reservations can be made in advance.

This was the cheapest RV Park we could find in the San Diego/Orange County area as all the state beaches we liked were booked. The host was super friendly and helped us by getting a week long stay (instead of 4 nights) which he informed us provided 3 free pumps - otherwise they are $20. Pumps are simply done by a guy who shows up, connects, does his thing and then on to the next one (i.e. you don't have to do anything). WiFi worked well for streaming and downloading but not great for Zoom Video calls (had to turn my screen off and use cell to dial in).

You are parking in a gravel lot near a highway. Neighbors are very close by. Access to everything but this is certainly not within easy walking distance to the beach. Could likely walk to a gas station or a few establishments nearby but we drove everywhere. Dogs are allowed at the nearby beach off leash during off season (Labor Day through Memorial Day).

Pros - Amenities, spacious, WiFi, ~5 minute drive to beach (with dogs off leash), price
Cons - Cozy spots, pump fee dynamic, near I5 so there is noise - more like white noise though, we called repeatedly and didn't get an answer before arrival

Not to deter from the post but just a personal rant.. HOST NEVER PICKED UP THE PHONE. This was really frustrating as we knew about the pump fee and wanted to stay for a week (though it didn't look like there was availability online). It was factoring into our decision as to how long to stay and we just wanted to talk to someone. Of course figured it out when we got there, but found it awfully irritating and he kind of shrugged it off when I mentioned it. Probably called ~10 times leading up to our arrival.

No need to repeat description of park. Very clean. There is an area on site that is well protected for doggos to do business and run around a little. It’s not fenced but is surrounded on 3 sides. People were very good about picking up their pups “offerings”. It’s right behind a tennis court so always several balls to play with! But the biggest draw for us is the off leash dog beach 1.5miles away. Also quite cleaned up. Lots of doggos but plenty of room especially at low tide. So many dog friendly restaurants in the area. That beach is called Del Mar dog beach. We also went down to Fiesta island which is for dogs too! There is traffic noise but you can drown it out with music or white noise pretty easily. I felt quite safe here. Have fun!

Our rate reflects the monthly rate ($650) + monthly pet fee ($25). We stayed from 11/1/19-3/1/20.

After staying here for three weeks at the end of 2018, we determined it to be the best place to stay for a long stay in the San Diego area. The location is the absolute best for visiting all parts of San Diego and the price can't be beat.

As others have stated, it's a gravel parking lot (with some trees), surrounded by a fence. The sites are large squares which means you park your tow vehicle next to your trailer instead of at the end. Water and electric only, but a truck comes around three times a week to empty your tanks. Propane service comes around once a week if you need your tanks filled. Besides a dumpster, a recycle bin, and dog waste bag dispensers, there are no other amenities. If you're looking for full hookups, restrooms with showers, and laundry, the fairgrounds (which is basically across the street) has a number of RV sites, but again, nothing fancy.

Any stay longer than 3 weeks is considered long term. Long-term stays are almost treated like an apartment rental wherein a rental application needs to be filled out, including a $50 application fee. "Rent" is due by the 1st of every month and can be paid by check or money order and deposited in the on-site manager's mailbox.

This park is not a year-round park as it is closed to the public from around May 22nd to mid-September every year and is used by the Del Mar Fairgrounds during that time. The majority of the people that stay here stay all season and are San Diego residents. This typically means it's a quiet park; however, we spent the first month of our 4-month stay parked next to a very, very loud resident. We were able to move to a different site after the first month and it made all the difference in the world. (And that very, very loud resident was eventually kicked out, though not because of us.) There is traffic noise but it's not loud enough to keep you up at night.

There's not a whole lot within walking distance, but every amenity you could need is within a short drive, including a really nice laundromat, grocery stores, a post office, and a dog beach. You're right on the border of Del Mar and Solana Beach, and you'll find great restaurants, shops, breweries, etc in both cities, as well as the greater San Diego area. The airport and downtown San Diego is less than a 30-minute drive. Cell coverage is great on Verizon and AT&T.

NOTE: Electric is 30 amp only -- not 50.

This campground is all about the location. Only a mile from the beach, adjacent to the coast to Crest trail, walking distance to Whole Foods and a great little seafood market, it really doesn't get much more convenient than this for such a reasonable price this close to the coast. The campground is a very basic gravel lot, but the sites are spacious enough, the park clean and the onsite manager super friendly and helpful. If you can get past the persistent road noise and lack of ambiance this place is pretty fantastic.

One thing to note is that they do have a 15-years or newer rule for RVs. Although our 1999 Airstream did not meet this requirement the manager said they often make exceptions for "good looking" Airstreams.

If you need some peace and quiet away from the state parks this is the place to go. The other reviewer made it sound like you have to stay at least a week which is not true, it is cheaper to, but you can stay as little as one night which you can do on their website. It's a simple gravel lot, but for $35 which includes electric and water, you can't beat it in this area. You are located very close to some great beaches and dining. Even during spring break this place had open spots, so when you realize that you can't get into the state parks, come here!

Open to the public when horse-racing season isn't on, this quiet RV park is nestled next to the Del Mar Hilton. For $25/night (paid in advance, cash, in weekly chunks), you can tuck yourself into a flat gravel lot with fellow part- and full-time (seasonal) residents. It's quiet, you get a decent amount of space, water and electrical hookups. A truck comes around 3x/week to relieve your rig of its gray and black water. A security guard regularly drives through to monitor for shady types, which didn't seem to exist when we were there.

If greenery and ambiance is your cup of tea, I wouldn't necessarily recommend this park. It's basically a gravel lot with a tall white fence. That said, if you want coastal North County with easy highway- and beach access, this place is awesome. It's roughly a 1.5-mile walk to Del Mar's Dog Beach, one of San Diego's best doggie getaways. Many other beautiful beaches--Cardiff, Fletcher Cove, 15th St. Del Mar, Torrey Pines--are just a 5-10-minute drive away. The old Flower Hill Mall at Del Mar is around the corner, good coffee shop there. marginal Whole Foods and lots of chi-chi boutique shopping. The Fish Market and Red Tracton, both of which have above-average seafood, are also around the corner.

To sum it up, this park is all about location, and is surprisingly economical at $25/night (big rigs cost a bit more). If you're looking for the type of San Diego experience that involves lots of surfing or beach time, sans city excitement, consider this place.