Openings · last 7 days
20
Booking reality
Campsite Sniper detected 20 site openings here in the last 7 days
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-233303
When Fry Creek Campground reopens
Fry Creek Campground's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
21
Openings · last 90 days
21
Only 21 openings in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18 – Dec 1, 2026 · of 12 monitored sites
Of the 900 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Dec 1, 2026): 757 open for online reservation · 118 reserved · 25 unavailable (cause unspecified).
Where the open windows are
15.9% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 757 of 900 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18 – Dec 1, 2026Not open online15.9%
Open site-nights757 / 900
Reserved (of online inventory)118 / 875
Weekday openings486
Weekend openings271
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 486 fall on weekdays and 271 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Dec 2026November holds the most room. 356 of 360 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 12 sites| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open | |
| Thanksgiving | THU Nov 26 | 12 | Open |
| FRI Nov 27 | 12 | Open | |
| SAT Nov 28 | 12 | Open | |
| Christmas | THU Dec 24 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Dec 25 | 0 | None open | |
| New Year | THU Dec 31 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night. Thanksgiving: 12 sites are available for the complete three-night stay. Christmas: no online availability on any tracked night. New Year: no online availability on Thursday.
Best-availability sites
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| 005 | 67 |
| 009 | 65 |
| 010 | 65 |
| 019 | 65 |
| 017 | 64 |
The 5 sites with the most open site-nights in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateTue · Sep 22
Next open weekendFri · Oct 2
The next bookable night is Sep 22; the first open weekend starts Oct 2. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
757 open site-nights across 12 sites at Fry Creek Campground, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 59 2-night, 59 3-night, 18 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 22 at site 001.
All 12 sites with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 005 | 12 ft | None | 67 | 52 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4, Oct 5 +55 more |
| 009 | 12 ft | None | 65 | 52 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7 +53 more |
| 010 | 12 ft | None | 65 | 52 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7 +53 more |
| 019 | 10 ft | None | 65 | 38 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6 +53 more |
| 017 | 10 ft | None | 64 | 38 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6 +52 more |
| 018 | 10 ft | None | 64 | 38 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6 +52 more |
| 002 | 10 ft | None | 63 | 45 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7 +51 more |
| 007 | 12 ft | None | 63 | 37 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7 +51 more |
| 011 | 10 ft | None | 63 | 45 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7 +51 more |
| 006 | 12 ft | None | 61 | 38 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7 +49 more |
| 001 | 10 ft | None | 60 | 38 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7 +48 more |
| 015 | 12 ft | None | 57 | 26 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 3, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6 +45 more |
About Fry Creek Campground
Overview
Fry Creek Campground is situated in the heart of Cleveland National Forest, uniquely located down the road from the world-famous Palomar Observatory. The fresh, clean air of the campground provides a refreshing getaway for visitors from San Diego and Los Angeles.
The observatory, atop Palomar Mountain, boasts five high-tech telescopes, among them, the massive 200-inch Hale Telescope, was the world's largest effective telescope for about 45 years. The observatory is owned by the California Institute of Technology and astronomical research includes near-Earth asteroids and the study of distant galaxies.
Recreation
At Observatory Campground, the site across from Fry Creek, there's a popular astronomy event called Explore the Stars.
Amateur astronomers gather here with their telescopes and share views of planets and constellations with visitors. The event takes place one weekend each month, April through October.
Facilities
A loop hike, great for exploring local flora and fauna, surrounds Fry Creek.
The campground sits beneath a dense pine canopy, which is not ideal for stargazing, but Observatory Campground across the road has level cement platforms for telescopes and an amphitheater that's open to campers.
Natural Features
Fry Creek is at a 4,900 ft. elevation on Palomar Mountain. The area is dense with evergreen and oak, and is usually cooler than the surrounding area.
Nearby Attractions
The visitor center at Palomar Observatory is 2.2 miles away and can be accessed by road or by hiking trail. A restaurant and gift shop are onsite.
12 monitored sitesRVs up to 12 ftNo hookups12 shadedPets OKFire pitsMax party 8
Getting there
From Los Angeles, CA: head south on I-15 Fwy, go east on Hwy 76 for approximatley 20 miles, turn left onto South Grade Rd. (S6), follow South Grade up to the top of Palomar Mountain. Once at the top, turn left to continue on South Grade Rd/ Canfield Rd. Continue for approximately 2.5 miles and turn left into Fry Creek Campground, approximatley 0.25 miles past Observatory Campground. From San Diego, CA: Head north on I-15 Fwy, go east on Hwy 76 for approximatley 20 miles, turn left onto South Grade Rd. (S6), follow South Grade up to the top of Palomar Mountain. Once at the top, turn left to continue on South Grade Rd/ Canfield Rd. Continue for approximately 2.5 miles and turn left into Fry Creek Campground, approximatley 0.25 miles past Observatory Campground.
S6, Palomar Mountain, CA7607880250
Camping
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-233303 · facility
Photo gallery
Roll CS-233303 · Fry Creek Campground · Palomar Mountain CA7 frames · facility
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Fry Creek Campground?
Reservations for Fry Creek Campground are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 757 of 900 tracked site-nights are open (84.1%), though availability can change. Campsite Sniper has also detected 21 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 16:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Fry Creek Campground?
Campsite Sniper detected 20 site-date openings at Fry Creek Campground in the last 7 days, 21 over 30 days and 21 over the last 90.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Fry Creek Campground?
59 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 22 at site 001. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which sites at Fry Creek Campground fit a 35-foot RV?
No RV-analyzable site here has a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 12 ft.
Which month has the most availability at Fry Creek Campground?
November 2026, with 356 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 360.
When is the next open date at Fry Creek Campground?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Tue, Sep 22 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Oct 2. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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