As the final August days melt into September and Labor Day appears on the horizon, something changes in the California air. It is not just the start of school schedules or the slowing of beach traffic; it is a familiar and persistent longing to sleep under the stars before the season gets away from us. Camping, for many Westerners, is not a frivolous activity but a necessary reset. The problem is that spectacular places are overcrowded and costly reservations vanish even before summer begins. But as it turns out, the wild is not always far away, and it might not even look like what we expect. Hipcamp, the popular app for outdoor reservations, has officially named a former avocado farm in Southern California as the Empire State’s highest-rated campground. This lovely place is called Splitrock Farm and Retreat, located in De Luz Heights, about a two-hour drive from downtown Los Angeles. With a 95 percent approval rating drawn from nearly 2,000 reviews, it is a place that somehow feels both wild and close. Spread over 100 acres, the property is dotted with rounded granite boulders and covered in towering groves of old oaks, swaying palms, and fragrant pines. The first stare at the landscape makes clear that there is a strong, quiet knowledge to the land, and parking your car not far from downtown LA in a place like this is exactly the kind of magic many people crave at holiday time.
The story of Splitrock is what makes it even more beautiful. Before it was reclaimed as a campground and retreat, the ranch was a working avocado farm with an impressive legacy. From 1970 until 2017, the hilly property produced more than one million pounds of avocados every year, and the rich soil still seems to remember all that agriculture labor. Understanding the history fills the place with meaning; it was not some hotel lobby, but a living, working landscape with roots in the land. In 2021, Ben Corbett, owner and land steward, bought the property with nearly a mission in mind. He wants to “leverage the natural features of this land to create space for people to enhance the fitness of their body, mind, and spirit through recreation and education.” That sounds like a mission statement, but there is evidence to support it across the hilly fields. Instead of blindly developing the farm, Corbett kept the rural feel and transformed it into an outdoor recreation sanctuary where you can meet your needs, challenge yourself, and rest. There is a somewhat honest intention behind the place, and the review that follows gives a sense of “we’re part of that all.” The name itself originates from the 5K loop that winds through the property, one of those walks that can become a quiet ritual for guests. Old avocado orchards may no longer line every house, but the land has found a new, people-friendly way to serve the community, offering food not in the form of fruit, but rather through rest, reflection, and connectedness.
For those who want to spend a night, Splitrock is intentionally a medium-scale but diverse place. There are a total of 36 campsites that allow with all tastes, from RV spots and tent sites to more glamorous glamping it’s available. Nightly rates start at just $22, which is surprisingly reasonable in today’s market, especially for California. If a visitor wants a little more luxury, there are amenities like canvas bell tents, and even a sleeping trailer to rent at an additional cost. It’s a flexible system for travelers who do not have the equipment or who just want a more comfortable sleep without giving up the outdoor experience. The property also offers some playful add-ons for guests: private yoga sessions, visits with the resident goats, sunset sound baths, and s’mores kits for families, groups, and couples who want to feel part of the evening campfire ritual. The campsites themselves vary widely. Granite Tabernacle, at 1,420 feet above, is advertised as the highest and most private site, offering wide panoramic views to spend the night under the stars; this site accommodates up to ten, while Baby Oaks Oasis is a quiet spot for wellness retreats, ceremonies, yoga workshops, and small acoustic music performances. Since it’s owned by an intuitive space, it’s not just about sleeping: it’s about setting the stage for great moments, whether that means doing absolutely nothing but sitting by the fire, or doing deeper work with other people. Being able to walk across the boulders in the morning, stretch on a yoga mat somewhere among the trees, and return to a camp at night is a unique form of luxury.
Location, of course, matters a lot when it comes to camping, and Splitrock has a sweet spot. It is only three miles from the scenic Santa Margarita River Trail, where visitors can hike, wander, or picnic near the water, watching an occasional bird. That is a perfect escape if you want to “leave” the site and explore a little more without traveling far. And then there is Fallbrook, just five miles away from the retreat, a tiny but charming town for anyone who needs supplies or feels like a restaurant meal rather than cooking over a camp stove. You can still call it roughing it but with a backup plan after a heavy afternoon—the balance is perfect for people who do not want to be completely disconnected from a decent cup of coffee. For wine lovers, the tasting rooms in Temecula are a mere 14 miles away. Imagine a weekend spent sleeping under oak, going on a scenic drive, spending afternoon actually tasting wine, and then returning to quiet camp. It connects a wilderness dream with creature comforts that often make outdoor adventures easier for everyone. But there is enough space and visual distance that you don’t feel like you’re bougie; the sensory environment—the sound of wind in the pines, warmth of giant stones in the sun—immerses you. That combination, near and remote at the same time, is something that reviewers mention again: it feels like boondocking in the middle of nowhere, and still not far from flat civilization, no matter what they need.
Not surprisingly, guest reviews at Splitrock are enthusiastic and deeply personal. One camper rates: “This is a lovely place to retreat and restore. Being on top of the mountain provided impressive sunrise and sunset views. If you are looking for a quiet and peaceful place to sleep, this is it!” Another description expresses the dual nature that makes the place feel so special: “Splitrock is a beautiful and unique site close enough to local shops but remote enough to feel like you are boondocking.” The phrase “boondocking” indicates a sense of true off-the-grid solitude, but it’s not intimidating; you don’t need a four-wheel-drive and a tent very serious. A third visitor, what a beautiful night, adds, “What an awesome location! This was my wife’s and my first time at this campsite, and we absolutely loved it! We’d definitely book again and come back and bring more friends to enjoy this location.” That kind of word-of-mouth is the reason why nearly 2,000 comments have created a 95% positive rating. But Splitrock is not just about overnight camping. It also organizes yoga retreats, with the next one scheduled for October 23-25, showing that the property has a deeper wellness purpose. During summer, there are day camps for kids focusing on farm life, where children can care for animals, explore gardens, learn about confidence through daily routines, and a natural community. It’s evolving into a few things: a place for solo reflection, a date night, a family memory, and a community resource.
While Splitrock Farm and Retreat took the top prize, the rest of the Hipcamp list shows that California has an abundance of wonderful places to rest under the night. The top ten campgrounds in California, according to Hippcamp, include Mystic Forest Campground in Klamath, Kosk Creek in Big Bend, the massive and beloved Tahoe National Forest, and Inyo National Forest, which boasts some of the most stunning mountain landscapes in the country. In addition, there are fun areas like Finnon Lake Recreation Area in Placerville, The Retreat at Redwood Shores in Bayside, Terwer RV Park in Klamath, the Ranch at Cross Road in Livermore, and Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Each brings something different, from dark forest beauty to wild and riverside simplicity. But it seems so far, nothing from the glory of Splitrock’s relationship— a reclaimed avocado farm in the hug of oaks, boulders, and open sky, where the past farming and the future of outdoor hospitality intersect. The place is proof that you don’t have to cross a country to find wilderness. Sometimes it’s within a couple of hours’ drive, located at the end of a dusty road, within a grove of ancient trees, waiting for you to settle in for the weekend. When Labor Day comes, there’s still plenty of time to pack a bag, drive to a quiet camping place, and answer the call of the rest.
