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I van camped at Vail Lake KOA, in the scenic rolling green hills of Temecula. The campground had a lot of activities, so you can certainly have fun there.
This area is popular for wine tasting, hot air balloon rides, and helicopter rides. It was nice to escape from the blaring sirens of Los Angeles, but the stay was far from perfect.
So stay tuned, and I’ll share what to know when staying, what to expect and see, and tips.
Getting to Vail Lake KOA
From Los Angeles, I traveled on the CA-60 East to I-15 South. After that came the CA-79 South. The drive took about 2 hours.
My favorite part of this road trip is on the I-15 South. Once you leave the L.A. area, you’ll drive right through scenic hills.
Upon arriving, find a large KOA sign by the road. Turn down the driveway lined with trees to enter the campground.
Camping at Vail Lake KOA
The Vail Lake KOA is open all year round, and the office is open 24 hours. If you don’t know about KOA, it’s a campground chain that’s known for having recreational activities.
Although it’s called Vail Lake KOA, it wasn’t close to the lake like I had imagined. Let’s just say it’s in the area.
Checking In
Upon arriving, you can park outside the general store. I was greeted by a lady who pointed to the campsite on the map.
She said that the upper level had a nicer view, but she warned that the bathrooms would be a “little bit of a walk.”
There was a bathroom in the camper van, but the shower wasn’t fully running. That’s why I was hoping to use theirs!
It was my first time staying in a KOA, so I was excited. She spoke about all the amenities and activities.
Campground Vibes
I toured the campground before parking up the hill at the camping site. The afternoon was quiet and serene.
The van settled next to one lone tree with shade. There weren’t very many trees up there.
There wasn’t a view of Vail Lake, but beautiful green rolling hills stretched for miles under a deep blue sky.
The people across the way were camping in their trucks and tents. Playful kids ran around from the next-door neighbors in RVs.
The weather was warm in the spring. There were mostly RVers and some tent and van campers.
They also have cabins for glamping. I passed them, and they looked cozy on the outside.
Campground Amenities
The site was very spacious with full electricity and water hookups, a picnic table, and a fire ring. After unpacking, I walked around the campground.
There was one bathroom down the hill, and one on the other side, which was a trek.
The lady warned they were far, but I didn’t expect the bathrooms to be this far. Plus, they looked like they hadn’t been renovated in a long time.
When I went in, the stall doors didn’t lock. There was a sign to keep the main door closed to keep wildlife out.
Returning to the van, I found that the wi-fii didn’t work. Not sure if the van was too far from the tower?
Besides that, they have more amenities like a snack bar, cafe, and a general store with food. Plus, they have swimming and games, which I checked out later.
Hiking Trails
I continued exploring the campground and went on a short hike. They actually have many partly shaded trails for walking and biking.
Some kids were trying to bike on the path, and one was learning with training wheels. Well, he threw the bike over and walked away. Oh well, I know the feeling!
Besides that, I saw people horseback riding. They have equestrian trails and camping sites for horse trailers too.
Signs to beware of snakes dotted the area. There was a lot of tall grass, so I’d stay on the path. It was hard to see what might be hiding in there, so I’d avoid bushwhacking.
Well, as I walked around, my allergies started flaring up. Ah, dreaded springtime…
I didn’t go very far. But I trekked uphill a bit to see another camping level and check out the view.
Outdoor Activities
Before returning to the camper van, I went back towards the entrance to check out the recreation. The sun was starting to set as evening approached.
People rode on e-bikes and golf carts, which you can rent. They had a mini golf course, disc golf, and a place to play horseshoes.
Outside the Twisted Oak Cafe & Bunkhouse Bar, people listened to music and ate.
This place is very family-friendly, and they have games you can play. In fact, I saw many kids running around.
On the way back, I checked out the pool area, and they have three! Lots of people were swimming, but it felt a bit too chilly for me.
Nighttime Vibes
After relaxing a bit, I ate dinner. Camping on the top level made the sunset even more wonderful.
And when nighttime came, it was very dark. I took a stroll to use the bathrooms and had to use a flashlight.
There’s a shortcut, but it was too dark to take it. The hillside bathroom seemed a little nicer than the other one, so I went there.
I passed people on the bottom level, drinking, talking, laughing, and blasting their music in the evening. Using the bathroom was unnerving, and I had the feeling someone could barge in.
Plus, there were huge insects in the stalls and all over the sinks. Ugh… I understand it’s camping, and it’s outdoors, but not my cup o’ tea.
I peeked inside the shower, and it had giant bugs lingering around. Nope.
Up where the van was parked, I enjoyed a quieter view of the starry sky. But some noise from down the hill drifted well past quiet hours.
Despite that, I slept through the night. In the morning, I got ready, fixed food, and planned to explore the area.
Vail Lake
The campground had beautiful views, but there were even more amazing views driving around. Stopping along the road, I finally saw Vail Lake.
I took pictures off of huge rock formations. I can see why people take hot air balloon or helicopter rides to see the landscape.
Vail Lake is actually a large reservoir in Riverside County. From a distance, I saw some people boating.
That’s why Temecula is such a nice place to relax. There’s fishing, camping, mountain biking, and golfing to keep you busy.
Nearby Areas
I also checked out other state campgrounds in the area. Many of them were closed or partially closed.
It was sad that they weren’t open. They were located in such a beautiful area and not too far from the Vail Lake KOA.
The grass was overgrown, and they looked abandoned. There were some campsites taped off, so I wasn’t sure if the whole campground was off limits.
No one was staying there, but there seemed to be an active campground host. I hope they spruce these areas up for people to use.
Notes
In the summertime, Temecula can get very hot. The weather was more pleasant when camping in the spring.
The campground has a lot of trees, but it also has exposed areas too. So you’ll want to bring a sunhat and water.
I would bring some hiking shoes, as there are many trails. They helped when trekking uphill on the unpaved paths.
Vail Lake KOA is a family-friendly camping spot in Temecula. You can take a scenic road trip driving around the area.
Although I didn’t like the bathrooms at the campground, I did enjoy the views. I’m open to trying out the other campgrounds in the area if they open up.
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