ravelers heading to the Disneyland Resort for a vacation will find over a hundred hotels and resorts to choose from. Everything from budget motels up to deluxe resort properties and everything in between. You can even stay on the Disney property. But if you are arriving in an RV your options are much more limited.
As a long time former resident of Orange County, California I’ve often driven past RV campgrounds in the Disneyland area and across Orange County. But over the years many have disappeared. Some have converted to mobile homes or long term only parks, while others have closed and the land sold. The land redeveloped as town homes, apartments or hotels.
A few have even been consumed by the expansion of Disneyland itself. In 2021 the RV Village on Ball Road became Disneyland employee parking. In 1996 the Anaheim KOA and the Disney Vacationland Campground were demolished to make way for their new Mickey & Friends parking structure. In all more than a dozen RV parks in the immediate Disneyland area have vanished.
We left California three years ago to be closer to family but every year we travel to Anaheim for a Disneyland Christmas with our kids. With few options available to campers, here are the top three RV resorts I’ve found for visiting Disneyland.
Located just north of Disneyland, this is the only RV resort within walking distance to Disneyland. If you don’t want to walk you can catch the shuttle. This small park offers 198 full hook-up sites, a heated pool, showers, wi-fi and even a mini-market. On the down side, it is surrounded by hotels and apartments and there is a bit of traffic noise from the adjoining I-5 freeway. Note to travelers with pets who are afraid of loud noises, this resort is directly across the street from where the Disneyland fireworks are launched.
Daily rates range from $65 for a standard site to $80 for a deluxe site. Though nicely maintained, this resort is basically just a parking lot. Sites are very close to one another and larger RV’s may have difficulty backing in to the sites. Smaller sites are narrow and may not accommodate opening of your slide-outs. Check your measurements to ensure you book a large enough site.
Just across the Santa Ana river, this resort is just a 10 minute drive to Disneyland. The 195 sites here come with full hook-ups, patio with table and a small grass area. You can pick fruit right from a citrus tree growing in your site! Features include a heated pool, mini-golf, wi-fi, convenience store, shuffle board, club room, exercise room, laundry facilities, dog park, and even dog washing stations. You can also take a short four minute walk to grab a shuttle at the Regional Transportation Center.
Rates start at $100 for a regular site up to $130 for a deluxe. There are restrictions on the make, age and condition of your RV and you may be asked to send in pictures of your RV prior to making a reservation. Vans, busses, and tent camping are not permitted. All campers must be self-contained. There is also a daily pet fee as well as restrictions on the size and breed of dogs allowed.
Nestled in Anaheim Hills, Canyon RV started its life as a county park. Its 136 full hook-up sites are spread out across this 63 acre property. Features include a laundry room, seasonal heated pool, club room, high-ropes course, restrooms and showers, playground and reading room. With acres of trees and green grass this resort feels more like camping in a national park. A number of community activities are held here including company picnics, dog shows, family reunions, weddings and scout events.
The resort is situated between the Santa Ana river and the 91 freeway, so there is traffic noise. Located inside the Featherly Wilderness Preserve and backing up to the Cleveland National Forest, there are a number of hikes and biking trails available. But note that there have been mountain lion sightings in the area.
Daily rate for an RV site is $90 and camping cabins are available for $100 per night. There are even tent and group sites. When I travel to Disneyland in my RV this is my go-to resort.
Other places to camp near Disneyland
While the choices for RV camping near Disneyland are becoming scarce, there are a few other places in the immediate vicinity for people with special memberships of affiliations.
Elks Lodges
Within about a 15-20 minute drive to Disneyland there are three Elks Lodges that offer RV camping. These are in the neighboring cities of Fullerton, Buena Park and Garden Grove. Each has a limited number of spots, and there are restrictions on the length of stay. Plus you have to be an Elks member to make a reservation.
Active Duty and retired military members, as well as select Department of Defense employees are able to make reservations at the Sunset RV Park located at the Joint Forces Training Base at Los Alamitos. Located just 25 minutes away from Disneyland this small 16 site park is a no-frills park. While each site has full hook-ups, there are no restrooms or other facilities so all RV’s must be self-contained.
Leave a Reply