Choose from a few private RV parks right inside Temecula's city limits. Indian Oaks Trailer Ranch (indianoaks.info) lies along the shore of a spring-fed lake where you won't need a fishing license to angle for bluegill, catfish and bass on a catch-and-release basis. You'll find all the conveniences to make your stay enjoyable, including hot showers, flush toilets, laundry and dump station. Rent a paddle boat to explore the lake, take a swim or enjoy a round of horseshoes or tether ball. Another option is Pechanga RV Resort (pechanga.com), adjacent to the Pechanga Casino (pechanga.com). The resort has full hookups, clubhouses, spas and a heated pool. You'll be just a short walk away from Journey Golf Course (pechanga.com), restaurants and the casino's resort, or you can choose to take a ride on the complimentary shuttle bus. RV resort guests can practice on the driving and putting green for no additional charge.
Vail Lake (vaillakeresort.com) is a privately owned resort 18 miles east of Temecula providing both annual memberships and public RV camping. Enjoy 500 RV sites with full hookups at secluded sites near the lake. No picnic tables are provided, so bring your own table and chairs to lounge outside your RV. The resort's on-site amenities include three swimming pools, water slide, horseback riding stables, 10,000 acres of trails and miniature golf. You'll also find an on-site restaurant and game arcade. From time to time you can enjoy an on-site concert, such as "Rockin' the Country," and purchase combo tickets covering three days of camping and tickets to see the musical festivities.
Cleveland National Forest (fs.usda.gov) has 600 campsites in its 16 campgrounds. You'll find national forest campsites as close as 10 miles from Temecula. At Observatory Campground, 18 miles from town, you can enjoy monthly star parties from April through October. The campground doesn't have hookups, but it does have flush toilets and coin-operated showers as well as sites with level concrete areas to set up a telescope. The campground is just 2 miles from Palomar Observatory and has a 32-foot maximum. Dripping Springs Campground and Oak Grove campground both have 27-foot limits on RVs. Indian Flats and Fry Creek campgrounds both have size limits of 15 feet, with no trailers allowed at Fry Creek. Vault or flush toilets are available at all facilities, with drinking water provided at some. Dripping Springs also provides nine equestrian campsites.
If you don't own an RV but would like the experience, you can have an RV set up for you at San Elijo, South Carlsbad or Silver Strand State Beach campgrounds (parks.ca.gov), all within 35 miles of Temecula. You must use the state's approved concessionaires, which include Luv2Camp (luv2camp.com), Albert's RV Rental (albertsrvrental.com), Travel Time Rentals (traveltimerentals.com) and RV Rentals San Diego (rvrentalssandiego.com). Your self-contained RV is delivered to your campsite, leveled and stocked with pots, pans, dishes and other kitchen items. All you need to bring is your bedding, food and other personal gear.
