Observatory Campground

Jason Latonio

The showers were closed and not all the bathrooms were open. Also bathrooms are vaulted toilets. Suggest bringing your own Porto Potti and shower system. There is water on site to refill your water system if needed. Not all the campsites have shade, which is great for start gazing but bad when it’s hot out. The observatory is closed and there is a lot of overgrown poison oak on the trails so be careful. Campsite 32 has a tree swing. There were also lots of bugs and mosquitoes so come prepared. Some of the campsites are really nice and big and shady, some aren’t. You can also come first come first serve grab a camp site if it is not reserved. $15 payment honor system at a central lock box.

Elizabeth P

The good - great view of the sky at night. The spots are big. Lots of trees for shade. Quiet. Good for trailer camping if you dry camp. The bad - the state is fully open, but the showers are still closed even though the website states they are open. In 90 degree weather, you need showers. The water is supposed to be potable, but it tastes like pond water. I only brought 4 gallons so I had to buy some for $3.50 a gallon at the convenience store a little over two miles away (that closes at 5 PM). No camp host so no one to sell firewood. It is $7.99 a small bundle at the convenience store though. I tried taking the path to the Observatory with my husband, kids and dogs. It is not maintained. We had to stop because, at one point, you basically have to scale down a rockface and back up again. My dogs and my seven year old can't do that. No cell phone service. The person in the spot next to me had car trouble and had to call AAA. Cell service at the convenience store is spotty and not enough for a phone call. I had to drive her about 5-6 miles away to get enough service for a phone call. There was no data so she could not use her app and couldn't look up the phone number. Luckily, I remembered the phone number from when I had AAA years ago so she could call them. There is no camp host so no one to go to for help. She was lucky I was not a weirdo and I was willing to help her out (it was more complicated than needing a jump start). Bring toilet paper. I always keep a roll or two in my truck in case we go to a park or somewhere where there is no toilet paper. They kept on running out of toilet paper.

Jessica Olson

Went to enjoy some stars. Campsite #39 had no place to out my tent. It was overgrown with weeds and the ground is very uneven, and zero shade. Might be okay if you have a rv, but not for tent camping. The flushable toilets were supposed to be opened during peak season (which is now) and they were closed. The vaulted toilets were super dirty and gross, could not even use them because of it. Ended up canceling my camping trip because I picked a bad campground. I was really looking forward to stargazing. Think again if you want to cmap here without an rv.

Devi San Martin

Very nice campground, the volunteer host is a nice guy, he sells pretty wood for fires, the best. Variated campsites mostly for reservation in advance, some are first come first serve. We came on Saturday afternoon and found a couple of lots available. Just the toilet, vaulted toilet, with no toilet paper. There are warm water showers, you pay with coins. 5 minutes away driving from Palomar observatory but it was closed. A 2.1 miles trail to the observatory (we didn't a walk it) There was not noisy people so a nice night sleeping.

Channing Keller

I adore this place! They serve good food, their menu is varied, The cook in that restaurant is very trained, I like very much eating all their food. The dishes are consistently of high qualtity, the attitude towards the guests is efficient. I often eat in this restaurant and I not even once was disappointed. I highly recommend it.