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Lake Elsinore

Lake Elsinore, California — Riverside County.

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3,158Surface acres
4Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 41209193).

Location & fast facts

Where Lake Elsinore is in California

The red circle marks Lake Elsinore.

Fast facts

About Lake Elsinore

  • County: Riverside
  • City or town on the shore: Lake Elsinore
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 58 mi from Los Angeles and 66 mi from San Diego, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (California: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in California

Official CDFW pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 4 public trailer launches listed (see access)
  • Camping. 21 campgrounds within 15 mi, 2 on the shore (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Common water-hyacinth recorded. Clean, drain and dry your boat and gear.
  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Lake map

Lake Elsinore shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Playland RV Resort (campground)Bed Rock RV Park (campground)Boat ramp (Boat launch)1Boat ramp (Boat launch)2Boat ramp (Boat launch)3Boat ramp (Boat launch)41 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch Campground
  1. 1Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Lake Elsinore
  2. 2Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  3. 3Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Lake Elsinore
  4. 4Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Lake Elsinore

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 41209193), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Lake Elsinore

We found 21 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Lake Elsinore, 8 of them within 5 miles. 2 are right on the shore. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

14 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in California

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: Recreation.gov (RIDB) · OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Nearest airports

The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Lake Elsinore, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

Car rental links go to our partner Discover Cars; LakeRipple may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.

Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (33.6572, -117.3493). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Lake Elsinore. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Lake Elsinore

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in PT (America/Los_Angeles), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    4 public access sites listed, 4 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat rampLake Elsinore—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating33.6656, -117.3342
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating33.6562, -117.3672
    Boat rampLake Elsinore—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating33.6623, -117.3753
    Boat rampLake Elsinore—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating33.6732, -117.3701

    OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Lake Elsinore

    Clean, Drain, Dry. Remove plants and mud, drain all water, and dry your boat, trailer and gear before moving to another water.

    USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database

    USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Lake Elsinore

    How big is Lake Elsinore?

    Lake Elsinore covers about 3,158 acres in Lake Elsinore, California (Riverside County).

    Is there a public boat launch on Lake Elsinore?

    Yes. 4 public trailer launches are listed: Boat ramp, Boat ramp and Boat ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Lake Elsinore?

    Yes. We list 21 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 8 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Lake Elsinore?

    Lake Elsinore touches Lake Elsinore in Riverside County, California.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Lake Elsinore? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All California lakes & ponds · All waters in Lake Elsinore