Campo provides rural living outside San Diego
Campo is in the Peninsular Ranges of southeast San Diego County on the Mexican border. People move here for a true countryside lifestyle. “This is rural living, which you generally wouldn’t think you could find in San Diego County,” says Realtor Charlene Thorman with Keller Williams Realty, who grew up in the area and has been selling here for 20 years. In the metro San Diego area, on the west side of the mountains, acreage and equestrian facilities are associated with the highest of high-priced communities. However, in Campo, they’re a standard part of life. “You can get acreage for way less than in San Diego proper,” Thorman says. “And here it’s quiet, you can see the stars and you’ve got fresh air to breathe.”
Ranch properties with acreage
Campo’s residential area stretches from the Mexican border up to the banks of Lake Morena. The town center is just over a mile north of the border. The median home price is about $480,000. The town's only real development is Campo Hills, tract homes that run around the median price. Properties with more land dominate the rest of the area. Small ranch-style homes on three or more acres can start under $300,000, while larger, well-maintained homes cost around the median price.The most expansive properties with significant acreage can go for over $1 million.
Hiking the first leg of the Pacific Crest Trail
There’s wilderness in every direction around Campo, but its most notable recreational offering is the southern terminus of the Pacific Crest Trail. This southernmost point of the trail is on the Mexican border, just over a mile south of the town center. It spans over 2,600 miles from Mexico to Canada. Thousands of hikers and horseback riders traverse it every year, either beginning or ending in Campo. There are many other trails in the surrounding mountains to be explored on foot or saddle. Lake Morena is just north of Campo. Hikers can explore the shoreline, while fishing, boating and paddling are all available on the lake.
Students start at Campo Elementary School
Campo is within the Mountain Empire Unified School District, which earns a B-minus overall grade from Niche. Students may begin in town at Campo Elementary for Grades kindergarten through 8, rated a C-plus. Mountain Empire High gets a B-minus. It’s located in Pine Valley, about 10 miles north of Campo’s town center.
Shop at small markets in town
There are no supermarkets or shopping centers in Campo or for miles around. People get essentials at small country stores like Campo Green Store and Deli. There are also a handful of spots to grab a bite to eat. Campo Café serves standard American fare, and El Paso Taco Shop specializes in authentic Mexican street food. The Viejas Outlet Center in Alpine is the closest shopping mall, 30 miles north along Interstate 8. It’s next to the Viejas Casino and Resort. There’s also shopping at Rancho San Diego Towne Center, almost 40 miles northwest, and at Otay Ranch Town Center, almost 40 miles west.
Take Interstate 8 into downtown San Diego
Commuters usually drive over the mountains into San Diego for work. Interstate 8 offers the quickest route into San Diego proper, even though it's a few miles north of Campo. El Cajon is the nearest commuter hub in the San Diego metro area, with its industrial and business parks 45 miles northwest. Chula Vista, the second largest city in San Diego County, is 60 miles west. Downtown San Diego is just under 70 miles northwest. Campo does have local healthcare at San Ysidro Health Mountain Health Family Medicine.
Brush fires around Campo
With average summer highs in the 90s and little rainfall, the hills around Campo are prone to brush fires. These include the 2024 Posta 3 Fire and others that have threatened residential areas. Residents should have a prepared evacuation plan to effectively seek safety in the event of a fire. Homeowners can create a defensible space around the home by removing dry, overgrown brush from the perimeter of their property.
