Fry Creek Campground
Fry Creek Campground is a national forest campground in California. Hookups: no hookups.
- Type
- National forest campground
- Location
- California
- Coordinates
- 33.34500, -116.88000
- Hookups
- No hookups
- Activities
- Camping
- Map
- Open in OpenStreetMap
- Phone
- 7607880250
Amenities
- Reservable sites
Only amenities a source confirms are listed; an amenity missing here is unknown, not absent.
About Fry Creek Campground
Overview Fry Creek Campground is situated in the heart of Cleveland National Forest, uniquely located down the road from the world-famous Palomar Observatory. The fresh, clean air of the campground provides a refreshing getaway for visitors from San Diego and Los Angeles. The observatory, atop Palomar Mountain, boasts five high-tech telescopes, among them, the massive 200-inch Hale Telescope, was the world's largest effective telescope for about 45 years. The observatory is owned by the California Institute of Technology and astronomical research includes near-Earth asteroids and the study of distant galaxies. Recreation At Observatory Campground, the site across from Fry Creek, there's a popular astronomy event called Explore the Stars. Amateur astronomers gather here with their telescopes and share views of planets and constellations with visitors. The event takes place one weekend each month, April through October. Facilities A loop hike, great for exploring local flora and fauna, surrounds Fry Creek. The campground sits beneath a dense pine canopy, which is not ideal for stargazing, but Observatory Campground across the road has level cement platforms for telescopes and an amphitheater that's open to campers. Natural Features Fry Creek is at a 4,900 ft. elevation on Palomar Mountain. The area is dense with evergreen and oak, and is usually cooler than the surrounding area. Nearby Attractions The visitor center at Palomar Observatory is 2.2 miles away and can be
Cell coverage
No coverage data for this location yet.
Nearby RV services
- Dump station
- Dump Station · 36 mi
- Water fill
- City of San Diego · 27 mi
- Propane
- Fallbrook Propane · 10 mi
- Low clearances
- None mapped within 10 mi
- Off-road routes
- 27 designated routes (35 mi) within 10 mi
Other places to stay nearby
| Name | Type | Distance | Fee | Hookups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Observatory Campground - USFS | Private campground | 0.1 mi | — | — |
| Observatory Campground | National forest campground | 0.2 mi | — | No hookups |
| Observatory Campground | National forest campground | 0.3 mi | — | — |
| Fry Creek Campground | Private campground | 0.4 mi | — | — |
| Doane valley camp ground | Private campground | 1.3 mi | — | — |
| Crestline Group Campground | National forest campground | 2.4 mi | — | No hookups |
Open Fry Creek Campground in DryRig
Save it offline, check your rig's clearance on the drive in, and see what's nearby on the map.
Sources. Recreation.gov (RIDB), USFS and BLM recreation sites. Updated June 2026. Facility facts only; DryRig does not publish ratings or reviews on this page.