A dark green Toyota pickup with a roof tent parked in tall dry grass as mist closes in.

Forest Service group campground

Crestline Group Campground

Forest Service group campground in Cleveland National Forest, San Diego County, California. 5,390 feet. 17.3 miles from Escondido.

Managed by
Forest Service Cleveland National Forest
Elevation
5,390 ft As the Forest Service states
Sites
1 1 group tent only area non-electric
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov

Overview

Crestline Group Campground is located in a wooded area on Palomar Mountain, at approximately 5,390 feet in elevation. Many trees including Black Oak, Cedar, White Fir and Live Oak surround the site. Crestline Group Campground is a convenient place for large families, church groups and other social gatherings of up to 50 people. The facility is a popular recreation site for visitors going to the Palomar Observatory, a world-class center of astronomical research by the California Institute of Technology in North San Diego County. Hiking, biking and picnicking are available nearby.

Recreation

The campground makes a good base camp for visiting the Palomar Observatory Visitor Center and Palomar Mountain State Park or exploring the surrounding forest. Day hiking, backpacking, biking, picnicking and scenic driving are available in the area.

Facilities

The accessible site is equipped with several picnic tables in the campground and cooking area, as well as an accessible vault toilet. RVs with a maximum length of 27 feet can be accommodated. No electricity.

Natural Features

The campground sits at an elevation of 5,390 feet in the Palomar Mountains of Southern California. The site is forested but has plenty of open space for star gazing and playing.

Nearby Attractions

The campground is adjacent to Palomar Mountain State Park and less than a two-hour drive from San Diego, California.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • biking
  • camping
  • hiking
  • interpretive programs

The land around Crestline Group Campground

The ringed pin is this group campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.