Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area
Also known as Ocotillo Wells SVRA
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Open 24 hours
- Entrance fee
- Free entryAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- ohv.parks.ca.gov(760) 767-5391
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area is a 73,415-acre recreation area in San Diego County, about 35 miles south of La Quinta.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Open 24 hours | ||
Official wording
24 hours a day 7 days a week
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Pets
Dogs must be on a maximum 6-foot leash at all times; generally not allowed on trails, in buildings or undeveloped areas, and not permitted on most beaches unless designated. Per-park answer shown in each page's 'Are dogs allowed?' box.
Statewide rule from California's park system (source). This park’s page doesn’t state its own pet rules, so check for local restrictions.
Fees and passes
The park lists no entrance fee.
California park passes
- California Explorer Annual Pass — $195. Vehicle day-use entry to 134 state parks incl. high-demand Southern California beaches Details
- Golden Poppy Annual Pass — $125. Vehicle day-use entry to 112 state parks Details
- Historian Passport — $50. Admission for up to four people at per-person-fee State Historic Parks Details
- Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Annual Pass — $50. Entry to State Vehicular Recreation Areas that collect day-use fees Details
- SNO-Park Pass — $40 season / $15 day. 18 SNO-PARK winter recreation areas Details
From the California state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveCalifornia
- Phone
- (800) 444-7275
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
Camping
Ocotillo Wells is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Open camping is available throughout the park for up to 30 days per calendar year. Camping is not permitted at Shell Reef, Devils Slide, Blowsand Hill, The Notches, or 4X4 Training areas. There is limited camping East of Poleline Road. If you are in a self-contained vehicle with holding tanks, fill your tanks before you arrive—water filling stations are not available. Also, the park does not have a dump station for your waste water disposal.
Vault restrooms and limited shade ramadas are located in the Quarry, Cove, Main Street, Holly Road, and Hidden Valley areas. Pay showers are available on Ranger Station Road, on Main Street, and in Homes Camp. The showers now accept quarters. Two quarters ($0.50) provides 2 minutes of hot water. Quarters are available at the Discovery Center. Note: Pricing could change.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Accessibility
Overview
State Vehicular Recreation Areas (SVRAs) are operated by California State Park's Off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division (OHMVRD) and you may see their web pages, www.ohv.parks.ca.gov, for more information on these parks.
Adjacent to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Ocotillo Wells SVRA is a motorcycle, four-wheel drive, all-terrain vehicle, and dune buggy use area that offers more than 85,000 aces of magnificent desert exploration. The park has pay showers, picnic tables, shade structures, and fire rings. Access is via Highway 78, about 35 miles east of Julian or about 20 miles west of Highway 86. Phone (760) 767-5391 for more information.
Camping
Holmes Camp: Camping is permitted almost anywhere but there are two developed accessible sites with hard surfaces, compliant furnishings, and shade structures at this popular camping area. The adjacent vault restroom building has accessible toilets and showers.
Read more from the park
Exhibits/Programs
The Discovery Center is located near the park office and is generally accessible including parking, path of travel and exhibits. Outside the center, visitors will find concrete walkways that connect covered shade ramadas along a loop trail that includes access to the park amphitheater.
Other Information
Restrooms, showers, and routes: In addition to Holmes Camp, accessible showers and toilets are located at the restroom/shower building on Ranger Station Road and at the restroom adjacent to the park office and Discovery Center. In the remote areas of the park vault toilets are accessible but they are surrounded by unstable soft sand, and wheelchair users may find it difficult to maneuver outside the buildings.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 5780 Highway 78
Borrego Springs, CA 92004 - Nearest town
- La Quinta — about 35 mi south (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 33.1513, -116.1673
- Phone
- (760) 767-5391
Google Maps directionsApple Maps
Directions from the park
5172 Highway 78 Borrego Springs CA 92004 Get Directions
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- California State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- California State Parks Listing page (one link per unit, page_id = officialId), unioned with the CSP Enterprise GIS 'ParkEntryPoints' ArcGIS layer (coords, address, county, unit number, management status) and the 'CSPParkUnit_CurrentStatus' layer (open/partial/full closure)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology