El Cajon, CA

Travel Guide

Clustered rocks in El Cajon, California
Clustered rocks in El Cajon, California
El Cajon Mountain (El Capitan) and Lake Jennings in Lakeside, California, a popular destination for boating and fishing.
City of El Cajon, California.
Small group tours through the Taylor Guitar Factory make this a great experience. Talk to the designers, watch the craftsmanship go into each piece and then feel free to play a little tune (no Stairway allowed!!) at the end of the tour.

The Annual Vacation Sale

Members save up to 40% on hotels and homes. Plan this year’s big trip and save.

Where to stay in El Cajon

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Fletcher Hills

While Fletcher Hills might not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like The Magnolia and Sportsplex USA Santee.

Fletcher Hills
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Shadow Mountain Ranch

While Shadow Mountain Ranch isn't home to many top sights, Singing Hills Country Club - Willow Glen Course and The Magnolia are some notable places to visit nearby.

Shadow Mountain Ranch
Paradise Point Resort & Spa

Paradise Point Resort & Spa

4 out of 5
1404 Vacation Rd San Diego CA
$222 nightly
The price is $255 total per night from Mar 1 to Mar 2
$255 total
Mar 1 - Mar 2
Total with taxes and fees
Book a stay at this beach resort in San Diego. Enjoy free WiFi, 5 outdoor pools, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (2,425 reviews)
Daren the bellman was great. All but one staff member was helpful and kind.

Reviewed on Feb 18, 2026

Paradise Point Resort & Spa
Bay Club Hotel & Marina

Bay Club Hotel & Marina

3.5 out of 5
2131 Shelter Island Dr San Diego CA
$139 nightly
The price is $160 total per night from Feb 24 to Feb 25
$160 total
Feb 24 - Feb 25
Total with taxes and fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in San Diego. Enjoy free WiFi, a marina, and a health club. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (3,407 reviews)
Pictures here make it look a little more modern than it was. Our “bay view” was very small balcony that looked into the parking lot and was lit all night with the blue neon from the hotel’s exterior lighting accents. Room was a little musty. The pool is quite small and had concrete work under repair. ...

Reviewed on Feb 18, 2026

Bay Club Hotel & Marina
Hard Rock Hotel San Diego

Hard Rock Hotel San Diego

4 out of 5
207 5th Ave San Diego CA
$254 nightly
The price is $294 total per night from Feb 21 to Feb 22
$294 total
Feb 21 - Feb 22
Total with taxes and fees
Stay at this hotel in San Diego. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and a nightclub. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the convenient parking in our reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (3,335 reviews)
Room was clean and comfortable.

Reviewed on Feb 19, 2026

Hard Rock Hotel San Diego
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Sentral Gaslamp Quarter

Sentral Gaslamp Quarter

4 out of 5
502 10th Avenue San Diego CA
Stay at this hotel in San Diego. Enjoy free WiFi, a rooftop terrace, and a 24-hour fitness center. Popular attractions Petco Park and Port of San Diego are located ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (699 reviews)
The room was not as clean is I had expected based on the reviews. I had requested extra towels and no one delivered them nor did I get an acknowledgment on the request.

Reviewed on Feb 19, 2026

Sentral Gaslamp Quarter
Marriott Vacation Club®, San Diego

Marriott Vacation Club®, San Diego

3.5 out of 5
701 A St San Diego CA
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in San Diego. Enjoy free WiFi, room service, and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff and ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (1,006 reviews)
Great staff very friendly and helpful. Clean rooms

Reviewed on Feb 18, 2026

Marriott Vacation Club®, San Diego
Uptown Inn by Vantaggio - Limited Service Apart-Hotel

Uptown Inn by Vantaggio - Limited Service Apart-Hotel

2.5 out of 5
819 University Ave San Diego CA
Stay at this aparthotel in San Diego. Enjoy free WiFi, a 24-hour fitness center, and parking (surcharge). Popular attractions San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park are ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (301 reviews)
Had to move rooms because the beds had hair all over the sheets and looked like the pillow cases were not washed. They put us street side and it was super noisy. A couple was arguing at 2:00am. Some sort of put together boards were on the floor around the air conditioner/heater. It kept getting falling ...

Reviewed on Feb 12, 2026

Uptown Inn by Vantaggio - Limited Service Apart-Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of El Cajon

3.5
Guest rating
5 - Excellent
78
5 - Excellent 18%
4 - Good
138
4 - Good 32%
3 - Okay
144
3 - Okay 34%
2 - Disappointing
39
2 - Disappointing 9%
1 - Terrible
30
1 - Terrible 7%

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

The surrounding neighbor hood not very appealing but the casino grounds and mountain side views from the rooms re very nice.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Just feel miss lead I was thinking that the restaurants would be open as well with the pools

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

El Cajon seemed to have a small town good vibe on its surface. However, there seems to be a dark, seedy underbelly that smacks of degeneracy, despair and overall darkness that appears to have saturated parts of the community.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

The city itself is reasonably nice. The area we visit is central to the city and there are a lot of options for activities nearby. The only issue I have is the traffic and the many freeway switches required to travel the area.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

Place is nice enough but we stayed on our way in to fly out and when we returned a week later. Both times we were awakened early by other guests possibly going to jobs. Don’t seem to care about how load they are.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

Was only there for business.

Cities near El Cajon

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