Burnt Rancheria
Federal campground in Cleveland National Forest
Location: Mt. Laguna, CA, CA
Price: From $35 per night
Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (275 reviews)
Season: May through October
Burnt Rancheria Campground is located 50 miles east of San Diego at the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area in Southern California, right off the Sunrise Scenic Byway. Campers can enjoy hiking, viewing unique birds and wildlife and enjoying cooler temperatures at this mountain facility in Cleveland National Forest, open from mid-April through October.For facility specific information, please call (619) 354-8776.Burnt Rancheria is a large campground with several loops of campsites. Each site has a ta
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Showers, Dump Station, Electric Hookups, Camp Host, Firewood for Sale
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/burnt-rancheria to be notified when sites open up.
Burnt Rancheria offers cooler mountain temperatures at 50 miles east of San Diego with easy access to hiking and the Pacific Crest Trail segment. The facility provides full amenities including showers, dump station, and a camp host.
Wildlife alert: California Spotted Owl, Western Spotted Skunk, Pygmy Nuthatch, and three species of snakes (Coast Mountain Kingsnake, San Diego Nightsnake, Coast Night Snake) documented in the area.
Insider tips for Burnt Rancheria: Book early as this is a popular federal campground Firewood available for purchase on-site Camp host on-site for assistance Day-use area available for picnicking and recreation
Skip Burnt Rancheria if: You need RV hookups - most sites have no hookups. You're visiting outside May-October seasonal window. You don't have a self-contained unit or tent for camping.
Best time to visit Burnt Rancheria: May-October — Campground operates seasonally from May through October with cooler mountain temperatures.
Nearby campgrounds: Wooded Hill Group (ALPINE , CA), Horse Heaven Group (ALPINE, CA), Laguna (Mount Laguna, CA), El Prado Group (Alpine, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Burnt Rancheria
Cell signal at Burnt Rancheria (Mt. Laguna, CA): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage · AT&T 5G: 100%
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage · T-Mobile 5G: 100%
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Burnt Rancheria Campground is located 50 miles east of San Diego at the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area in Southern California, right off the Sunrise Scenic Byway. Campers can enjoy hiking, viewing unique birds and wildlife and enjoying cooler temperatures at this mountain facility in Cleveland National Forest, open from mid-April through October.For facility specific information, please call (619) 354-8776.Burnt Rancheria is a large campground with several loops of campsites. Each site has a table and campfire ring.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early as this is a popular federal campground
Firewood available for purchase on-site
Camp host on-site for assistance
Day-use area available for picnicking and recreation
Campground operates seasonally from May through October with cooler mountain temperatures
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
Located 50 miles east of San Diego, California. From I-8 take the Sunrise exit. Go approximately 11 miles to Milepost 23. Stop at entrance for campground information and site location.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Cleveland National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Cleveland National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Burnt Rancheria cost per night?+
What season is Burnt Rancheria open?+
Does Burnt Rancheria have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Burnt Rancheria?+
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What is the cell service like at Burnt Rancheria?+
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Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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