Idyllwild Campground

Idyllwild Campground sits inside Mount San Jacinto State Park in the mountain town of Idyllwild, at about 5,400 feet elevation just off Highway 243. The campground holds 31 sites ranging from basic tent spots to RV sites with water, electric and sewer connections, each supplied with a picnic table and a fire ring, and the grounds include flush toilets and coin-operated showers. The winding climb up Highway 243 from Banning makes for a cool mountain break from the desert floor, and campers here are close to more than 50 miles of trails through the San Jacinto Wilderness as well as the shops and restaurants of the village of Idyllwild. Day-use parking runs ten dollars per vehicle, and the park headquarters near the campground entrance is open from eight in the morning to four in the afternoon for permits and trip planning.