EDITOR’S NOTE: San Diego is an amazing city to visit, but it’s no secret that it’s expensive. Unless you’re willing to spend about $75 a night in an RV park, you’re going to be stealth camping. You need to be just a little extra cautious when stealth camping in coastal communities such as San Diego, because this is an area where you are more likely to get cops knocking at your door. Residents of these towns don’t love car campers staying in their expensive neighborhoods for free. But as long as you follow just a few simple rules laid out in this article from SoCal Van Life, you’ll find that residents won’t be screaming at you and cops won’t be banging on your door. Instead, you’ll enjoy waking up to a view of the ocean just a few steps away from the beach. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about stealth camping in San Diego! And please reach out if you have any questions about traveling full time!
Stealth camping in San Diego is almost necessary for car campers. Most RV parks and campgrounds cost, on average, over $60 a night. It’s my favorite city in Southern California. However, the only downside is how expensive it is to visit.
As a result, the only real option I have is to stealth camp.
When I started stealth camping in San Diego, it was a nerve-racking experience. Not knowing where I was going to sleep made me uncomfortable and stressed out.
But after a few days, I found it to be a lot easier than I thought it would be. The cops were not beating on my door, and the locals were not screaming at me. It turned out to be very uneventful.
The hardest aspect of San Diego stealth camping has been finding a level place to park. Sleeping on an incline is never fun.
I determined, if I planned and followed a few basic common-sense rules, I would not have a problem. I have found stealth camping throughout San Diego to be a pleasant experience if you are prepared.
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I will not give you exact locations most of the time but will give you an idea of where you can stealth camp. Finding a spot is up to you. If I were to give out specific locations, I would not be making many friends in the van life community.
Just be advised, stealth camping in most cities in San Diego is against the law. Your decision to stealth camp is entirely your responsibility. Please abide by all parking signs and regulations that you find in the area. And be respectful.
My Stealth Camping Rules
Source: SoCal Van Life
Like everything in life, there are always rules. But these rules are meant to keep you safe, secure, and having a good stealth camping experience. Below is a list of just common-sense rules that I have developed for myself throughout the years.
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Source: SoCal Van Life
There are a variety of techniques I use to find a good stealth camping location in San Diego. I will spend a good two to three hours researching where I plan on staying.
I do not ever want to put myself in a situation where I have not planned on where I’m going to spend that night.
Stealth camping research is not that hard. There are many tools and resources out there that you can utilize to help you narrow down a good stealth camping location.
The best tool is to ask other van and RV nomads where to stay. Most nomads understand how difficult it can be and stressful to find a good stealth camping location, so they are more than willing to tell you or give you ideas. Just do not take their spot if they tell you where they camp.
Below is a list of the resources I use to find a good stealth camping location.
The best areas to stealth camp in Southern California are those areas where you are safe, secure, and the odds of getting a knock on the door are low. There are five areas where you can stealth camp. These areas are:
Source: SoCal Van Life
When I first started, everyone told me to avoid stealth camping in neighborhoods in San Diego. They said that I would easily be spotted, and the neighbors would call the cops on me every time. However, I have found this not to be the case.
I have found if I follow my simple rules, I rarely have a problem parking in neighborhoods. I do not park in front of someone’s house.
Most people in neighborhoods are fast asleep by 10:00 PM and wake up after 6:00 AM, so if you are in and out by these times, you rarely will have a problem.
Apartment complexes are great areas for stealth camping since they usually have many cars parked along the road.
A few of the residential areas that I have used in the past to stealth camp in San Diego are:
Source: SoCal Van Life
Most long-term stealth camping is done in industrial areas. You can understand where to stay in these areas by just driving around and asking others. You should see places that have vans and RVs already there.
I try my best to avoid these areas because somebody has already taken the best spot. The only time I will stay in an industrial area is when I get a good piece of advice from someone who knows the area.
A few ideas where to stealth camp in an industrial area:
Source: SoCal Van Life
When you first start stealth camping, these are probably areas you are going to try first. If your van does not scream that you are sleeping in it, you will most likely be successful staying in these crowded areas.
A few of the crowded areas that I have used to stealth camp are:
Source: SoCal Van Life
If there is any place you will get a knock on the door, it will be in the coastal communities. Many coastal communities have laws against sleeping in vehicles, especially vans and RV’s.
Beach communities are very used to people trying to stealth camp in their communities, and they know what to look for. My best advice is to drive 20 minutes into a different neighborhood that is not as conscious to stealth campers.
A few of the beach communities I have used to stealth camp in are:
Source: SoCal Van Life
The best place to stealth camp is on a nice, secluded dirt road in the countryside. Many countryside communities are only a 20–30-minute drive outside San Diego. There you can find a countryside road to stealth camp on.
I find most of these roads by using:
Just make sure you are not visible from any highway because most cops are more apt to stop and investigate in the countryside than in the city.
A few of the countryside areas that I have used to stealth camp are:
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Source: SoCal Van Life
Being safe on the road is everyone’s top priority. Follow your gut, it is the best tool you have.
I have been stealth camping for over two years now and have never heard of anyone having a problem besides being asked to move.
The biggest safety concern is probably thieves. They are not looking to have a confrontation with someone sleeping in their van. If you hear someone snooping around your van, my best advice is to make as much noise as possible. Then get out of there as quickly as possible.
A few of the things I do to make myself more secure are:
Many safety issues can be eliminated by choosing a nice safe place to stealth camp. If you decide to stealth camp in a rough neighborhood, you are more likely to have a problem.
San Diego stealth camping is a wonderful way to experience the city without the hassle of going bankrupt. If you follow the rules mentioned and use common sense, you will most likely have an excellent time stealth camping. I have been doing it for well over two years and never had a problem. San Diego is a wonderful place and I guarantee you will have a blast.
Originally published on SoCal Van Life.
Featured Image by Vinicius Maciel.
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