In the heart of San Diego backcountry, Ramona has a rural lifestyle and miles of wilderness trails, nestled in the foothills of the Laguna Mountains. It’s a haven for hikers, bikers and equestrian lovers, home to rodeo grounds and crosswalks with horseback rider buttons on them. Even the community signage is crafted with stacked stone and wrought-iron cutouts of horses and sunsets. “Ramona’s a beautiful area that’s farther inland, so it’s considered a very warm ranch-style town,” says Alex Lombrozo, Broker with LIFE Residential, who has two decades of experience in the region. “Also, a lot of residents have started sprouting vineyards on their properties, so it’s sort of developing into somewhat of a small-town wine country.” Surrounding a Main Street retail district are dozens of vineyards and wineries to enjoy around Ramona without having to drive all the way to Temecula.
Welcome to Ramona Sign at the Entrance to Ramona at Sunset
Ramona Main Stage is host to Meetings, Concerts, and other Shows along Main St.
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Potato Chip Rock and more trails for hiking or horseback riding
“For hiking, everyone knows how famous Mt. Woodson is with Potato Chip Rock,” says Realtor Jenniffer Taylor, who works with Pacific Sotheby's International Realty and has about 20 years of experience in the area. The trek ascends through Ramona’s southeast corner for about 8 miles out-and-back, leading to panoramic overlooks of San Diego County, all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Other hiking options abound, as the town is wedged between multiple mountain ranges. “Another popular easy one is Barnett Ranch, and another is the Grasslands, but we could go on and on with that list,” Taylor says. Barnett Ranch Reserve also has horseback riding trails, spanning across the 728 acres of land on the town’s southern border. Another well-known recreation space is Dos Picos Park, which has picnic areas and walking paths around a pond, located across the street from Mt. Woodson.
Potato Chip Rock is Ramona's most iconic, and photogenic, hike.
Barnett Ranch Preserve Hiking Trails with Runner in Ramona
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Old Town Ramona shopping and dining
Main Street runs through the center of Ramona and is the city’s sole dining and shopping corridor. “As you drive through Old Town Ramona, it’s almost as if you’re on the set of a Hollywood Western. It’s peppered with charming mom-and-pop shops,” Lombrozo says. These include antique stores, art galleries and a market. Going out to eat is also a breeze, with many diverse local restaurants along the walkable blocks. “The newest restaurant is Rachel’s, and another popular one is the Barn,” Taylor says. The Barn doesn’t just serve food, it gives the town a dash of nightlife, with dancing and a bar open to 2 a.m. on the weekends. For entertainment, the vintage Ramona Mainstage venue features live music and comedians. The town’s wineries, scattered throughout Santa Maria Valley, include Principe di Tricase Winery and Ramona Ranch Winery.
The Barn, on Main Street in Ramona, offers a touch of nightlife to the otherwise rural city.
Rachel's is Ramona's newest eatery offering classic American fare right on Main Street.
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Cottages, Mediterranean homes and ranches in Ramona
Anchored by Main Street, the center of Ramona is composed of grid-style blocks of single-family homes. These are mostly cottages and bungalows from the 1920s through 1930s, although there are some midcentury ranch-style homes in the area as well. The city expands into planned developments with Mediterranean and colonial homes, while Ramona’s outskirts include mansion estates and ranching properties, both flush with acreage. Some of the mansions, especially custom-built homes, are located in San Diego Country Estates, a neighborhood in southeastern Ramona. The area’s pricing is a draw for newcomers, with a median sales price of $800,000. “The main reason to move here is affordability, and you get more for your money, so a bigger house and a bigger lot,” Taylor says. “I'd say typically because it’s an affordable area, it has a more fast-moving market.” On average, homes stay on the market for 29 days, compared to the national average of 45 days.
Ranch Style Homes are common in Ramona, often with Large Lots
Row of Newer Single Family Homes in Ramona
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Oasis Camel Dairy and the Classic Rotors Helicopter Museum
The town’s biggest attraction is Oasis Camel Dairy, located in the eastern outskirts of Ramona. The farm has camel rides and a gift shop of products made from camel milk, including chocolate and soap. At the Classic Rotors Helicopter Museum, housed in the Ramona Airport, there are rare helicopters and history exhibits.
Oasis Camel Dairy offers farm tours, a gift shop and lots of opportunities for animal interaction.
Classic Rotors Museum features vintage aircraft and is located in the Ramona Airport complex.
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Ramona City Unified public schools
On Niche, the Ramona City Unified School District has a B-plus. With approximately 5,000 students, the district has a student-teacher ratio of 23-to-1. For higher education, John Paul the Great Catholic University is about 20 miles away from Ramona.
Elevated View of Olive Pierce Middle School
Elevated View of Ramona High School
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A 40-mile drive to downtown San Diego and more transportation
Most Ramona residents are commuters. The city is about 40 miles from downtown San Diego via state Route 67. The community is served by the Metropolitan Transit System and the North County Transit District, with bus stops along Main Street. For medical services, the Palomar Medical Center Poway is about 15 miles away. The San Diego International Airport is the closest major airport, also about 40 miles away. As a remote mountain town, the area doesn’t experience much through traffic from outside visitors.
The crime rate and weather in Ramona
Ramona is served by the San Diego County Sheriff's department. Crime rates for Ramona specifically are not available.
Ramona has mild weather overall, with a warm season and a cool season. The area has extreme wildfire risk because of the undeveloped mountains surrounding it. Residents should be mindful of evacuation routes and maintain a defensible space around their homes.
Written By
Anna Anderson
Photography Contributed By
Stephen Cammell
Video By
Victoria York
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Andre Hobbs,
an experienced agent in this area.
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