RV Rental Calipatria, CA

Discover the best RV rental in Calipatria, CA!

How to rent a RV on Outdoorsy


  • 1

    Search by location

    Tell us where you want to pick up or have your RV delivered

  • 2

    Filter search results

    Sort by vehicle type, date, price, and amenities

  • 3

    Message the owner

    Learn more about your favorite RV and the best local destinations

  • 4

    Request a booking

    Send a request directly to the host and start preparing for your adventure

The desert town of Calipatria, California lies 180 feet below sea level, making one of the lowest-lying cities in the entire Western Hemisphere. It was the city’s low elevation which prompted, in part, the construction of one of the tallest flagpoles in the United States. Calipatria residents vowed that their flag would always soar above sea level, and it was this that spurred the construction of the city’s 184-foot flagpole, dedicated to “good neighborliness.” In south-central California, the city of Calipatria is less than an hour's drive away from the Mexican-American border and is a great place to rent an RV and begin your Southern California adventure.

Discover Calipatria


The Great Outdoors

Southern California is super scenic, and booking a motorhome rental in Calipatria is an awesome way to experience some of its most spectacular areas. Calipatria is just south of the Salton Sea, a saline lake in the Sonoran Desert. The lake accidentally formed when the Colorado River burst through poorly constructed irrigation controls in Yuma, Arizona. This led to some serious flooding and the unintentional creation of the Salton Sea in Salton Basin. Visitors to Calipatria can fish, enjoy water sports, or just lounge along the shores of the extremely salty Salton Sea, one of the lowest points on Earth.

North Algodones Dunes Wilderness covers roughly 26,000 acres in Brawley and is divided into two parts. The west side of the wilderness area has the tallest and largest dunes composed of coarse sand. The dunes on the east side of the preserve are smaller and composed of finer sand. Many animals make their home among these dunes including desert tortoises, the flat-tailed horned lizard, and the Colorado fringe-toed lizard. Feel free to go for a walk or ride horses in the wilderness area. However, the area is closed to all vehicles, and that includes dune buggies.

Another unique place to visit when you book a camper rental in Calipatria is Davis-Schrimpf Seep Field. Near the Salton Sea, geothermal mud pots belch gray bubbles from small sludge volcanoes. A buildup of carbon dioxide below the surface causes the small eruptions, but these mud pots are not volcanic in origin. Wear some shoes you don’t mind throwing away, and come check out this marvel near Calipatria.

RV Parks

When you're looking for a place to stay with the travel trailer rental near Calipatria, you'll have some options. Fountain of Youth Spa RV Resort is only a short drive away; here you can find lots of amenities in the middle of the desert. The campground features campsites with full hookups. Premium sites have a patio area, fire ring, picnic table, gazebo, and grill. Super premium sites have the same amenities as premium sites as well as an outdoor sink. The campground also has several restrooms with showers, a pool hall, a seasonal convenience store and fresh produce market, a library and puzzle room, a car wash, gardening box, and much more.

Another option is Rio Bend RV and Golf Resort in El Centro. The RV park stretches across 120 scenic acres with panoramic mountain views and many ponds. Amenities abound at Rio Bend RV and Golf Resort. There’s a swimming pool, a library, laundry facilities, restrooms with showers, a snack bar, and a pro shop. You could also spend some time outdoors playing volleyball, pickleball, bocce ball, or a round of golf. Some sites are pet-friendly, but others do not allow pets, so check with the campground beforehand.

Exploring the City

Salvation Mountain is a Calipatria icon. The mountain — more a collection of sand, old hay bales, adobe, paint, window putty, and a bit of everything else — was built by Leonard Knight when his hot air balloon failed in the Sonoran desert. The quirky mountain, which is 50 feet tall and 150 feet wide, took almost four years to build and is covered in messages of God’s love. Featuring various biblical verses and religious scripture, Salvation Mountain is truly unique, and something that you have to see in person to fully appreciate.

Near Salvation Mountain, you can also check out East Jesus, an experimental, extensible, and habitable work of art that’s been in the making since 2006. Started by Charles Stephen on the outskirts of Slab City, the artists of East Jesus aim to create a working model of an improvised community. Artists and residents of East Jesus accomplish sustainable living by using and recycling every bit of consumable trash. The community is also entirely self-contained and operates via solar power. All in all, East Jesus can be described as a breath of fresh air in the middle of a stifling desert.

Though Jacumba Hot Springs is a bit of a drive in the motorhome rental from Calipatria (approximately an hour away), it’s totally worth the trek if you’re interested in seeing some pretty great desert views while soaking in almost a century of California history. Desert View Tower was built in the mid-1920s as a dedication to the area’s rough pre-highway days. Visitors can climb up the wooden steps to the top of the 70-foot tower or check out Boulder Park across from the tower, which was created during the Great Depression by an unemployed engineer. Climb up and around the boulders and see if you can find all of the faces carved into the stone.

No matter where you decide to stay or what you decide to do, your next adventure awaits when you search for an RV in Imperial County.

Popular RV Types & Amenities

Be the first to get doses of destination inspiration, and discount codes.

We care about the protection of your data. Read our privacy policy

Popular nearby hiking trails and campgrounds


  • Hiking TrailLocation
  • Salton Sea - Rock Hill Trail, CACalipatria, CA
  • Glamis / Oldsmobile Hill, CAWinterhaven, CA
  • Picacho Mills Historic Trail, CAWinterhaven, CA
  • Bat Caves Buttes, CASalton Sea State Recreation Area, CA
  • Cross Over Trail, CAThermal, CA
  • Fish Creek Wash, CAAnza-Borrego Desert State Park, CA
  • Sandstone Canyon via Fish Creek Wash, CAAnza-Borrego Desert State Park, CA
  • Split Mountain Via Fish Creek Trail, CAAgua Caliente County Park, CA
  • Pumpkin Patch Trail, CAAnza-Borrego Desert State Park, CA
  • Painted Gorge-Carrizo Mountain Trail, CAThermal, CA

Frequently Asked Questions


Discover the best of what’s around


  • Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    +349 vehicles

  • Rocky Mountain National Park

    Rocky Mountain National Park

    +873 vehicles

  • Joshua Tree National Park

    Joshua Tree National Park

    +1334 vehicles

  • Olympic National Park

    Olympic National Park

    +1009 vehicles

  • Zion National Park

    Zion National Park

    +103 vehicles