Train horns echo across the Salton Sea as campers settle into sites that sit just steps from California's largest lake. Headquarters Campground operates within Salton Sea State Recreation Area from January through mid-September, offering both primitive sites and full hookup spots that accommodate RVs up to 40 feet.
The campground maintains two distinct areas. Walk-in tent sites feature shade structures and fire rings, with sites 26 and 48 earning particular praise from returning visitors for their tree coverage and lake views. The hookup sites occupy what one camper describes as "basically the back of the massive parking lot," providing water and sewer connections but less privacy. Golf J. notes that "sites 48 and 50 have the best view of the Sea but least privacy."
A paved trail connects the campground to the shoreline, where fish bones create the beach surface and over 400 documented bird species feed along the water's edge. The lake occasionally produces sulfur odors, though campers report this as intermittent rather than constant. A nature loop on the east side provides sunrise viewing, while day-use ramadas offer sunset vantage points facing the mountains across the water. Token-operated showers run through the park office, open Thursday through Sunday from 9 AM to 4 PM.
Railway tracks run close to the campground, with trains passing roughly every hour. Most campers find the frequency manageable since engineers typically don't sound horns near the camping area. The campground rarely fills to capacity, maintaining what Darah F. calls "extremely well maintained" facilities with consistently clean restrooms.
For campers wanting ocean access instead of lake camping, Sycamore Canyon Campground — Point Mugu State Park provides coastal sites along the Pacific.
Description
Headquarters Hookup (sites 2-15)
RV Road Trip Guides
Location
Public CampgroundHeadquarters Campground — Salton Sea State Recreation Area is located in California
Directions
Located 30 miles south of Indio on Highway 111. Located on the north shore of the Salton Sea, it is about a three hour drive from the Los Angeles or San Diego areas. From Los Angeles, take Interstate 10 east to Indio, take 86S exit then turn left at Avenue 66, then right onto Highway 111. Go south about 12 miles to the Salton Sea SRA Headquarters entrance. From San Diego take Highway 78 east, then left (north) on Highway 86 . Turn right at Avenue 66 and then right onto Highway 111. Go south about 12 miles to the Salton Sea SRA Headquarters entrance.
Address
100 225 State Park Road
North Shore, CA 92254
Coordinates
34.07308705 N
119.0147331 W
Connectivity
T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 8 usersLast on 4/2/26
VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 6 usersLast on 4/2/26- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 4 usersLast on 4/2/26
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 8 usersLast on 4/2/26
- VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 6 usersLast on 4/2/26
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 4 usersLast on 4/2/26
Access
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
Features
For Campers
- Market
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Alcohol
For Vehicles
- Sewer Hookups
- Water Hookups
- Big Rig Friendly
Drive Time
- 1 hr 3 min from El Centro, CA
- 1 hr 58 min from Yuma, AZ
- 2 hrs 19 min from San Diego, CA
- 2 hrs 23 min from Los Angeles, CA
- 2 hrs 53 min from Lake Havasu City, AZ
- 3 hrs 11 min from Oxnard, CA
- 3 hrs 39 min from Bakersfield, CA
- 4 hrs 33 min from Santa Maria, CA
