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    Vail Lake Resort

    3.4 (350 reviews)

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    Cigarette butts
    Breann A.

    We were really looking forward to our stay, but when we arrived at our campsite, there was an active colony of large harvester ants throughout the area where we were supposed to pitch our tent. These ants are known for having one of the most painful stings in North America, so we didn't feel it was safe or reasonable to set up our tent there. When we expressed our concerns, we were initially told, "It's nature," which felt dismissive. We understand that insects are part of camping, but an active colony of stinging ants directly in the campsite is different from seeing a few bugs. We also noticed cigarette butts scattered around the campsite, which made it seem like the site hadn't been cleaned or maintained very well before our arrival. To the campground's credit, they explained they were completely booked and couldn't move us to another site, and they did provide us with a full refund, which we appreciated. We just wish the campsite had been inspected and cleaned before guests arrived, and that our concerns had been taken more seriously from the start. We had no other choice but to go home. Waste of money (buying camping gear, food and gas to drive there) and time!

    Justin F.

    We came here for a beer event, we stayed in a cabin for the weekend. We usually bring our trailer, but it was in the shop. The pros: The cabins here are pet friendly, spacious, they have a full kitchen and BBQ. Cons: There are rodents in the cabins. The mice get into everything, the cabinets, dishware, silverware and pots and pans. There was also mouse poop on our bed. I was so disgusted, I almost drove home. Luckily there was an upstairs loft, we couldn't stand up all the way because of the low ceilings, it seems like it was meant for kids. We didn't see any mouse droppings, but the sheets were dirty and used. And there was a lot of hair all over. There were fresh unused sheets on a cot we used. We were expecting clean and sanitary condtions for the amount we paid per night. I reported this issue to the front desk, they refunded us for 1 night, and changed the sheets in the main bedroom. They neglected to clean the mouse poop in the cabinets though. We used the BBQ whenever we needed to cook.

    Megan A.

    This was my first time here with my family and it was amazing other than the price! It can be pretty expensive for camping but I will say the amenities are awesome. They have mini golf, jumpers for kids, the lake, pavement for riding bikes, clean bathrooms and showers, pickle ball court, trails to hike, beach volleyball court and the pool. We made memories we will never forget and you can't put a price on that.

    Trisha L.

    As a tent camper they have remodeled that area and removed the old tent sites. They used to be at the Arroyo section and they were big. I had no complaints until we just went and saw that not only have they moved the tent sites but they've stacked them on top of each other. They gave me site T03 and I had to walk over rocks to climb up but also walk through someone else's spot in order to get to mine. I was very displeased with the whole situation. Even though I don't have an RV, I still wanted to enjoy camping. We used to love camping here but I did ask the front desk if there was something else for us and she offered the RV area Chardonnay, saying they have 5 designated spots for tent camping during the construction. Yes, they are still doing construction in the Arroyo section and yes the construction fence was also an eyesore from the original tent site. Thank God I was offered a different site, but I'm still upset about the tent sites which is why the 2 stars! I don't know if I'll be back as a tent camper, I just love the pool. Ok, 1 more star for the pool. It's hot so bring your cooler, umbrella or popup!!

    Brand New bathrooms in Arroyo Seco. Showers are in individual private rooms.
    Savanna O.

    We had a great time camping @ Vail Lake Resort. The newly renovated Arroyo Seco had all brand new, stunning bathrooms and private showers. The tent pads are spacious, and have power hookups! There are cozy string lights, picnic tables, and fire pits for each tent pad. 10 out of 10 recommend for a fabulous "glamping" experience!

    Monica P.

    Loved our stay at Vail Lake! This was our 2nd time camping here. We camped in the Chardonnay area -- great spot with beautiful sunset views. We brought our eBikes and explored the property, enjoyed a campfire, and had a couple of drinks at the bar. Super pet-friendly too -- our dogs had an absolute blast. Highly recommend for a laid-back SoCal getaway! We'll definitely be back.

    Jennifer W.

    Second time coming here. The first time we camped in the barren wasteland of rv sites in the upper level. The restroom/showers were heavily dilapidated. This time we tried a more expensive, shady site with a firepit. Site was nice but again, the bathroom in the nicer area looked like a prison. We have a van rv so we had to take a shower in the bathrooms. The site across the way put up a monster LED studio strength light that illuminated the whole area like it was daytime. Nice they had a café sandwich place - chicken wraps were delicious. There's also a bar on the premises which was nice. Overall - ok. Please PLEASE upgrade the bathrooms. I cant believe Im saying this but the bathrooms are 10 times worse than a State Park.

    Small dining table in the central kitchen of cabin.
    Beatrice A.

    Had a wonderful stay at the Temecula KOA in July 2025, staying in the cabins in the Rincon area, site RC07 specifically. The cabin was very spacious but yet cozy at the same time. It had 2 queen bedrooms and a loft with low ceilings with 2 single person floor beds not quite a twin size mattress but comfortable enough for the kiddos. The kitchen was amazing and having 1 and half baths was an absolute luxury. Glamping at its best! The only one thing that was frustrating about the stay was that there were ants throughout that kept finding our treats! We just did our best to seal up all the goodies and not leave food out so the ants didn't annoy us too much! Being in the great outdoors, a visit from the ants was not too unexpected!

    Our spot
    Kara G.

    The staff is top notch and the land is absolutely beautiful. There are great views, lots of hiking trails and a beautiful lake. The pools are always clean and the property is very well maintained. The events during holidays- especially the 4th of July, can't be beat! Even the other campers are kind and friendly!!! If I could rate over a 5 star rating - I certainly would!!! Visit for both peaceful and party fun!

    Ladies, restroom, and showers.
    Debbie C.

    Ladies facility are so unacceptable. If you don't have full hook ups, this is what people are forced to use for a shower. She put some money into the facility instead of trying to build all these little new cabins. Shame on you KOA

    Darci M.

    5th annual camping trip and we'll all had a great time There was 6 campers all together and we really enjoyed our visit! Lots of kids riding electric bikes and scooters- lots of adults driving golf carts - we even noticed a CutWater cart going around and it was all set up for Halloween and plenty of bands playing music and kids events

    Stocked with lots of towels.

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    4 months ago

    Loved camping here with my family highly recommend! The best part is during the summer the pool is open with activities for the kiddos!

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    14 days ago

    Sure, the weekend trip the only problem is the golf carts with loud music all night long

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    9 months ago

    This is the best place to stay! There are activities to do, the cabins are so nice, and there is a pickleball court!

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    1 year ago

    Such a beautiful campground. Very well maintained. Nice bar with live music under the trees. Absolutely coming back

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    9 months ago

    Die Essen was sehr lecker und gut. Ich hatte einen guten Blick auf die Sterne und hatte eine tolle Zeit.

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    Page 1 of 9

    Ask the Community - Vail Lake Resort

    Is there cell phone service?

    Yes, there is cell service, but it is spotty in some areas.

    Can you set up a tent next to your rv in the same spot?

    I've been going there with a large group for years and many of us have shared a friend's RV space and set up a tent next to them. As long as you're in their space, not encroaching on anyone elses, you can set up a tent within your RV site.

    How many cars can you have per camp site?

    Two, you can have additional in the overflow parking.

    Can you go fishing?

    We saw a fair amount of people walking to the lake with poles. I'd check with the campground to be sure.

    Do the showers have hot water?

    Yes very hot!

    Is it possible to walk from one campground to the other? For instance, from Arroyo Seco to Chardonnay Mesa?

    Yes. It's a big campground tho, but totally walkable. Many people use golf carts or bikes to get around.

    Is the campground near the lake?

    Unfortunately, the lake has been closed for a few years.

    Can we set up a tent in addition to our RV at Lower Merlot?

    Is this the old Butterfield Country campground site?

    yes, it is.

    Has anyone used uber/Lyft from here to go wine tasting?

    Can we swim in the lake and also do we have to pay to get in?

    No you cannot swim in the lake there is a pool and yes you do have to pay to get it

    Does Chardonnay or Chardonnay Mesa areas all have picnic tables and fire pits at each site now that they are a KOA?

    I stayed in upper Chardonnay and there were no picnic tables. There was a fire pit.

    Is it open to public? If so, is there a fee to go in and What's the earliest to go hiking on a Saturday?

    The park is open to the public for camping, there is no day use, the $5 fee you are talking about is for mountain bike and hiking trails only.

    How far from South Coast Winery?

    about five miles from Vail RV Resort to South Coast Winery.

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    Review Highlights - Vail Lake Resort

    Many activities for the entire family: miniature golf, swimming pools, frisbee golf, hiking, etc.

    Mentioned in 15 reviews

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    Native Falls Campground - A bird that landed on our deck this morning

    Native Falls Campground

    4.6(270 reviews)
    7.4 mi

    This place is Amazing. We rented three cabins which were…read moreclean and roomy. Had everything you needed while you were there. I would definitely recommend going here. The one thing we wished they had was ice on the grounds but then there is a small store a few blocks up the main road

    There is a huge aggressive raccoon that almost attacked my husband and the campground refuses to…read moreeven put a trap out after the thing has come back 3 nights in a row and came within a few feet of my son saying they cannot do anything to guarantee our safety. With small children running around this is a serious safety issue. The lady at the front laughed in my face and insulted me asking where I was from. On top of that they decided to start cutting trees at our campsite while we were camping. Couldn't even access my children after coming back from the bathroom. The workers are now harassing us parking in front of our site to intimidate us. BEWARE. CAMP at your own RISK this place does not care about their guests and will do nothing to ensure safety. UPDATE: Shortly after posting my honest review, campground management informed us that we were no longer welcome because of the review we left. Instead of addressing the serious concerns we raised, they chose to retaliate against paying guests for sharing their honest experience. I would like to add that the front desk lady informed me this was an ongoing problem and it was not just our site that was having aggressive raccoons, in the midst of insulting me. Therefore, the problem couldn't be fixed by moving sites, which would have been a half a day task, at minimum for me being alone with 5 children even if moving could solve the problem. It clearly was not a solution either way with it being a widespread issue. This tells me everything I need to know about how this campground operates. When confronted with legitimate criticism, management's response was not to fix the problems. Their response was to remove the customer. We reported ongoing safety concerns, including persistent raccoons repeatedly entering campsites and approaching campers. Rather than taking meaningful action to address those issues, management decided the problem was the guests who spoke up. If this is how they treat customers who leave an honest review, imagine how they handle complaints that are not made public. I stand by every word of my original review. This update is based on what management told us directly. Other campers deserve to know that leaving an honest, unfavorable review may result in being told they are no longer welcome. Businesses build trust by addressing legitimate concerns, not by punishing customers for speaking honestly. You can decide for yourself whether that is the type of business you want to support.

    Photos
    Native Falls Campground - Good food & great company

    Good food & great company

    Native Falls Campground - Nice little pickleball court by the water!

    Nice little pickleball court by the water!

    Native Falls Campground - Family hike

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    Family hike

    Lake Skinner Camp Grounds - Beautiful sunset

    Lake Skinner Camp Grounds

    3.2(92 reviews)
    8.7 mi

    My second time to this campground with my ladies adventure group. Last year was in May, super hot!…read moreAt one time it reached 100. Not so bad this time high 80's low 90's. I could've tolerated staying at the campground but I decided to leave and drive into town for a cold sweet drink. Important info: Weak or no signal once you enter Warren Road. I have Verizon. I was told at the Check in booth there is signal, but it is weak. I got some signal driving to the campground, very spotty. So if you need to let someone know you have arrived to the campground, find a safe way to let them know before entering Warren Road. It's a beautiful drive once you turn onto Warren Road. View of the meadow with the hills in the background. Watch for the speed bumps and wild life crossing. I didn't see any wildlife crossing the road, but there are signs. There is a primitive camping section and rv/trailer sites with hookups. The group campground is located in a different area just before the Camp Store. The Camp Store has two sizes of ice for purchase. Firewood and ice cream the most important (lol). They have Lake Skinner memorabilia. I purchased stickers. They have lots of drinks to offer and even bottle of wine and port. This campground is in wine country so you might want to do some wine tasting instead. If you happen to forget some camping supplies they have a variety of things available and even for fishing since you can fish, boat, and kayak at the lake. From what I understand you can rent kayaks too. The group campground only have porta potty rooms. No showers. These are partial hook up sites with electric and water. One side to this group location has a good view of the lake. Trees are sparse at this group site. Bring shade and weights or tie downs for your shade. There is occasionally wind gusts. Sometimes they last awhile. There is a community pergola with metal picnic tables. The pergola is slats shading so not full coverage. Next to this area is one cement fire ring. Electric is available at this pergola but I heard it can be overloaded if too many things are plugged in. I drove through the campground. It's very pretty, very green, plenty of trees and right now looks like plenty of parking because it's not summer yet. The Camp Store mentioned that the adjoining restaurant will probably not be in service until next year (2027). They need to ad AC and some equipment in the kitchen. The water park feature is not open for use at the moment. Showers are located between A and B primitive campgrounds. The women's have two showers available. No coins needed . The showers and sinks are powered by using the pump step (wash station) or pump push buttons (in the shower area) I think it's a very nice campground. I would like to go when it's a little tad cooler. The plus, is you will find some time to relax and enjoy the birds singing throughout the park.

    Went to Lake Skinner for the first time for 4th of July weekend. Location is great it has a bit of…read morelong roads but there's one way in and one way out so that's great. not a long line to get in and i was able to get my camping car tags and get to my location pretty quickly and easily. We stayed in campground C with water and electricity. and were close to the bathrooms/showers. the camp store was also a small drive but had basically everything you need but at a PRICE ! so do your best to come prepared. (ice was $11 ) Lake was a bit far for walking distance to fish same with the splash pad but only about 3-5 min drive up the road. Everything was clean and rangers drove around often so it felt safe. Showers were clean and bathrooms stayed stocked. Had a great time and would come again.

    Photos
    Lake Skinner Camp Grounds
    Lake Skinner Camp Grounds
    Lake Skinner Camp Grounds - They have an Icee machine at the store

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    They have an Icee machine at the store

    Enchanting Blueberry Farm - mmmmm....grill time!

    Enchanting Blueberry Farm

    4.0(1 review)
    16.4 mi

    I love camping! If I could live in a certain way of life, camping would be it! But this was a…read morecamping experience to remember! The "Enchanting Blueberry Farm" it is called - and behind that name are actual blueberries! First of all, finding this place was an adventure, due to the lack of a real physical address. You have to locate this place with the help of a GPS. There are two actual ways to get there: one is up a winding mountain, where you and your car will have to drive off the edge to get there (Nah, don't do it! Just back the vehicle up, just like we did, and take the other route!); the other will be provided to you with the help of Ron's maps and hand-drafted directions (it's that adventurous!), which will take you through a small town called Rainbow near Fallbrook. It only took us about 1.5 hrs from San Diego city to get here and once you reserve your spot on their website, Ron, the owner of this camping site of a beaut (He is a very busy man who you may not see very much of; but if you do, he is nice and will come to greet you and make sure that you are happy), will e-mail you the instructions. Now, onto the rest of the details: I could not believe the warmth and friendly welcome by the family that runs the farm! It was unbelievable - like I was taking a trip to some friendly island where people put a wreath of flowers over your head to greet and welcome you. Instead of getting that, you get a handful of plump and delicious blueberries lovingly propped into your hands. All of the family members, including the kids greet you with a friendly handshake and tell you their name. This was no gimmick, rather a heartfelt welcome. I almost wanted to cry. I don't remember the last time I was treated this way while away on a trip. Wow. The area is a beautiful rural area around the mountains, so the weather is bright and sunny during the day and nice and cool at night (the way camping weather should be *wink*)! You will see the farm family's house and then lots of trees in a blueberry "vineyard" when you first drive up. Then, you drive to your camp spot, passing scattered orchards of oranges, lemons and other trees featuring unusual, yet delicious fruits! There is also a farm garden with some banana trees, raspberry bushes and some chickens and a rooster. Mr. Rooster will wake you at the break of dawn :) We stayed at the Banana site #3. the ground here is of dirt and provides a softer base. Building your tent on top of this soil will harbor funny surprises of moles that come out of their holes to rustle the floor of your tent while you are sleeping. You get all the wonderful sounds of nature at night, from the ground moles (or whatever they are), peacocks and the coyotes howling away at dusk. lots of space available for you to enjoy some privacy from other campers and a little tinkle on the ground at night, if you don't make it to the toilet room! The amenities are a bathroom situated alongside the farmhouse with a toilet and shower. The downsides to this is that there is only one on the site and that there is no warm running water at the time. But the cold water was fine for a quick shower. Also, the bathroom needed to be maintained and cleaned. There were some cleaning supplies there and a broom and a water hose, so I cleaned periodically during my stay. I like that recycled materials were used to make the toilet/bathroom. There is also clean, running water at most campsites! Here, you can go hiking, enjoy the fruit on the trees (try the caterpillar berries - yum!!!) and hear legends about the area from the kids who live on the farm. They are so helpful and will assist you in any way! There are also fire pits on the sites. So much more could be said about this place but, I just loved it here and would love to camp here again in the future!!

    Photos
    Enchanting Blueberry Farm - Toilet behind folding doors with crate to step up on

    Toilet behind folding doors with crate to step up on

    Enchanting Blueberry Farm - The shower/restroom on site

    The shower/restroom on site

    Enchanting Blueberry Farm - Huge tent on the Banana

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    Huge tent on the Banana

    Lake Skinner - Lake Skinner wildflowers, April 2023.

    Lake Skinner

    3.2(117 reviews)
    8.7 mi

    Beautiful lake. You do have to pay to enter, though. Current fees are listed here:…read morehttps://rivcoparks.org/regional-parks-campgrounds/lake-skinner-recreation-area The main complaint I have is that people leave trash everywhere - please, fellow Californians, pick up your trash so we can keep this lake beautiful.

    Lake Skinner - A Perfect Camping & Glamping Escape!…read more Yesterday, I packed up my two boys (ages 8 & 10) and their friend from school (also 8) for our very first camping/glamping adventure at Lake Skinner--and it was absolutely perfect. We booked a site with just the basics--electrical and water hookups--for only $50, which was all we needed for our tiny camper. The campground was clean, well-organized, and had plenty of open sites with different options and amenities, including a camp store for convenience. Some of our favorite spots were the splash pad and the playgrounds--perfect for keeping the kids entertained. Even if you just come for the day, these areas alone make it worth the trip. The kids had a blast, and it was wonderful seeing so many other families enjoying themselves too. Since we had their friend with us, we left around 8 PM to drop him back home--only about a 20-minute drive to Murrieta--then returned to the campsite, played a few games in the camper, and settled in for the night. With a 6 AM wake-up, we still made it home in time to freshen up, eat breakfast, and get the kids ready for school. (We even packed their backpacks just in case we needed to go straight from camp!) My boys haven't stopped talking about the trip--how much fun they had, how exciting it was to sleep overnight, and how much they want to go back. As a retired Navy Chief (41 years old) now balancing a busy real estate career, this is exactly how I want to spend my free time--unplugging, connecting with nature, and making lasting memories with my kids. Affordable, family-friendly, and packed with fun--Lake Skinner has definitely earned a spot on our repeat list. We can't wait to do it again!

    Photos
    Lake Skinner - Camping with papa and Bubbë

    Camping with papa and Bubbë

    Lake Skinner - Rock skipping at the lake

    Rock skipping at the lake

    Lake Skinner - There is electrical and water hiccups at  campground A site 135

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    There is electrical and water hiccups at campground A site 135

    Vail Lake Resort - campgrounds - Updated August 2026

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