How big is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park?

More than 600,000 acres, or roughly 1,000 square miles. It is the largest state park in California and the third largest in the United States, spanning parts of San Diego, Riverside and Imperial counties.

How much does it cost to enter Anza-Borrego?

Day use is $10 per vehicle, collected at the Visitor Center, developed campgrounds and several popular trailheads including The Slot and Hellhole Canyon. The park has no entrance gates and much of it can be accessed without a fee.

When is wildflower season at Anza-Borrego?

Annual wildflowers can appear from January through mid-April, with peak bloom most often between late February and early April. Timing varies year to year based on rainfall and temperature.

Is Anza-Borrego a Dark Sky Park?

Yes. The park was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2018 at Silver tier. Borrego Springs, the town at its center, has been an International Dark Sky Community since 2009, the first in California.

Do I need four-wheel drive at Anza-Borrego?

Not for the paved roads, the Visitor Center or the main campgrounds. The vast majority of the park's roughly 500 miles of dirt roads do require a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park open at night?

Yes, the park is open 24 hours a day, year-round. The Visitor Center is open daily 9am to 5pm October through May, and weekends and holidays only June through September.

Andrea McKenna • May 19, 2026

Borrego Bob Shares Weather Data and History

Borrego Bob’s weather station data has helped track conditions in Borrego Springs for years through BoblandUSA.com.

For many years, Borrego Springs resident and weather enthusiast “Borrego Bob” has tracked local weather conditions and shared information through his website, BoblandUSA.com.

Bob explained that the site originally began as a personal project before evolving into a broader resource for weather monitoring and local information.

“I originally created my site for personal use when I was still working to watch weather at my house and to monitor a sick cat at home,” Bob wrote. “The site then evolved due to demand from fellow workers in civil engineering and water resources for easy access to important information for them, one being weather.”

Bob’s background includes 25 years in civil engineering as founder of Specialized Computer Services within Rick Engineering Company in San Diego. After retiring and moving to Borrego Springs in 2011, he began working with the National Weather Service’s San Diego office.

According to Bob, retired National Weather Service meteorologist Alex Tardy helped bring the Borrego Springs Sun Gold weather station into the official National Weather Service network after the station was certified.

“Our weather station had to be certified by NWS and station data is used in NWS office weather forecasting systems,” Bob explained.

The Borrego Springs Sun Gold weather station is connected through multiple weather monitoring systems including:

National Weather Service Mesonet ID: BSP
CWOP ID: D9108
NWS Weather Spotter ID: SDG681

BoblandUSA.com continues to provide weather information, weather cameras, and regional conditions used by residents and visitors throughout Borrego Springs.