Camping In Joshua Tree National Park

…and Outside the Park!

V I S I T J O S H U A T R E E

Your Ultimate Guide To All Things Joshua Tree

Always check Park Conditions before Camping

Sleep under the stars
— with coyotes howling in the distance —
and wake up to a beautiful desert sunrise.

The majority of the 500 campsites in the park are available by reservation. Reservations can be made up to six months in advance at recreation.gov. Book your site before entering the park: cell service is unreliable to nonexistent in Joshua Tree National Park.

Reserving a site is highly recommended if you plan to camp on a holiday, a weekend, or any day of the week during peak season (November-May).

Experienced campers—with good gear—camp year ‘round in the park. Summers can be brutally hot and sometimes rainy, with devastating flash floods. Winters are bitter cold at night and sometimes snowy, creating treacherous road conditions. Hellish winds can show up in any season with little warning. Being prepared for anything—and knowing your experience level and limits—ensures your chances for having a good and safe time.

Most of the campgrounds in the park
now require a reservation,
though a few are still first-come, first-served
(see below).

There are eight campgrounds in Joshua Tree National Park, as well as three group camps. Most are primitive campgrounds with pit toilets and no water. None have RV hookups. Camping is allowed only in designated campgrounds.

Additionally, there are two private campgrounds in the town of Joshua Tree (with RV hookups), a few other nearby camping options (see below), as well as some BLM areas that allow camping.

Reservations are Required
At these Campgrounds

Ryan
Jumbo Rocks
Cottonwood
Indian Cove and
Black Rock Campgrounds

Ryan Campground
Tents/Vans/Small RVs

Online reservations required
$20/Night
31 campsites
4,300 ft elevation

Located near Ryan Mountain—one of the most popular moderate hikes in the park—this small and semi-secluded campground is a good choice for getting an early start on your hike. If you’re looking for a less strenuous activity, it's an easy walk over to Cap Rock (day or night) to wander their nature trails and visit the unofficial grave marker for Gram Parsons! Pit toilets, tables, and fire grates. No water.

Jumbo Rocks Campground
Tents/Vans/Bigger RVs/Families

Online reservations required
$20/Night - 124 campsites
4,400 ft elevation

This is the biggest campground in the park. It also has some of the biggest sites, suitable for medium to large sized RVs and larger campers (no RV hookups). It is not as quiet or intimate as the smaller campgrounds, but has some stunning boulders and lots of Joshua Trees. Skull Rock is a short walk away. Pit toilets, tables, and fire grates. No water.

Cottonwood Campground
Tents/Vans/Bigger RVs/Families

Online Reservations required
$25/Night
62 campsites
3000 ft elevation

This is the third biggest campground and one of two with flush toilets. The lower elevation makes it more temperate in winter, but the ecosystem is very different than the higher elevation campgrounds (fewer Joshua Trees). Cottonwood is the first campground you come to when entering from the south entrance–off Hwy 10–so a good “first night” spot from the south. Water, flush toilets, tables, fire grates, and a dump station.

Indian Cove Campground
Tents/Vans/Bigger RVs/Families

Online Reservations required
$25/Night
101 campsites
3000 ft elevation

The second largest campground is one of the prettiest, nestled among gorgeous boulders. Easily accessed from Hwy 62, it is outside the main park and a good “first night” stop from the north or east. RVs are allowed, but there are no RV hookups. Pit toilets, tables, and fire grates. Water is available at the ranger station.

Black Rock Campground
Tents/Vans/Small RVs/Families

Online Reservations required
$25/Night
99 campsites
4000 ft elevation

Black Rock Campground is way off the beaten path. Five miles south of Hwy 62, it is outside the main park. First time driving there, you’ll wonder if you’re lost, as you wind through a Yucca Valley neighborhood. Keep going and follow the signs! RVs are allowed, but there are no RV hookups. There are tons of great hikes that start right near the campground—including the 32-mile California Riding and Hiking trail. It has water, flush toilets, tables, fire grates, and a dump station.

First-Come, First Served Campgrounds

Hidden Valley - Open Year round
Belle / White Tank - Generally closed during the summer months

Tips for getting a FCFS Campground

The best time to find an available first-come, first-served campsite is in the morning (9am-noon), right after people pack up and leave. If you want a site for the weekend during busy season, plan to get there by Thursday, unless you consider yourself extremely lucky. Have a backup plan, in case you’re not. (See outside of park camping options, below.)

For the first-come, first-served sites, get a yellow campsite envelope from the brown box (See Picture). Fill it out, insert cash, take your stub, seal it up, and drop the envelope in the small slot at the top of the metal box, known as an “iron ranger.”

Each campsite has parking for one or two cars, a fire pit, a metal BBQ and a picnic table. That's it. No water. No electricity. No WI-FI. No phone. There are common bathrooms (small pit toilets) and dumpsters for trash and recycling.

You'll find that people are pretty cool at these small campgrounds, so do your part and be cool as well. Typically, a Park Ranger will cruise through once a day, so have your yellow slip on the post!

When your stay is complete, pack everything up and remove the yellow slip from your numbered post. That way, the next camper will know that the campsite is now available.  

NOTE: some campgrounds are closed in summer!

White Tank Campground
Tents/Vans/Car Camping

First-Come, First-Served
$15/Night - 15 campsites
Closed During Summer Months

This tiny campground is located on the east side of the park. It is more secluded and attracts a fun group of star gazers and Milky Way photographers. It has only 15 small sites, so you'll want to get there around 9-10am to get a spot (as someone is leaving). This campground is where you access Arch Rock.

It's a cool place to take pictures of the stars at night, but don't expect to have this place to yourself. It attracts a crowd, but that's part of the fun!

It can be noisy on weekends as people will show up at all times of the night for night photography. Pit toilets, tables, and fire grates. No water.

Hidden Valley Campground
Tents/Vans/Small RVs

First-Come, First-Served
$15/Night
44 campsites
4200 ft

This is the favorite campground for rock climbers because there are great climbs within walking distance. This campground is full during prime climbing season (September - April), but is lovely and mostly deserted in the summer (pictured). Pit toilets, tables, and fire grates. No water.

Belle Campground
Tents/Vans/Small RVs

First-Come, First-Served
$15/Night
18 campsites
Closed During Summer

Belle is on the east side—easy access from the 29 Palms entrance. Popular with astronomers, it’s close to White Tank campground. Belle is quieter and more secluded than the bigger campgrounds and draws more mellow campers. Not the place to go if you plan to party! Pit toilets, tables, and fire grates. No water.

Always leave your campsite cleaner than you found it

Our Favorite Camping Gear
Stuff We Use!

Group Campsites

Cottonwood, Indian Cove, and Sheep Pass

Group sites are meant for big groups of people: reunions, hiking clubs, birthday parties—you name it—a place for fun without disturbing other campers. Group sites can accommodate 10-60 people.

  • Reservations may be made up to 6 months in advance for Cottonwood, Indian Cove, and Sheep Pass group sites.

  • Cottonwood and Sheep Pass Group Campgrounds are for tents only. Indian Cove Group Campground can accommodate small RVs or trailers, with a maximum combined length of 25 feet. All have picnic tables, fire rings, pit toilets. No water.

Private Campgrounds/RV Parks

Outside of the National Park

Joshua Tree Lake RV & Campground
2601 Sunfair Road
Joshua Tree, CA
760-366-1213

JT RV and Campground
6225 Sunburst Avenue
Joshua Tree, CA

Little Pioneertown RV
55408 Twentynine Palms Highway
Yucca Valley, CA
(760) 362-2163

Tortoise Rock Casino
73829 Baseline Rd
Twentynine Palms, CA
760-367-9759

Twentynine Palms RV Resort
4949 Desert Knoll Avenue
Twentynine Palms, CA
760-367-3320

Palm Springs/Joshua Tree KOA
70405 Dillon Road
Desert Hot Springs, CA 92241

Wilderness Backpacking in Joshua Tree

The park allows back country camping. Park only in one of the designated back country parking lots in the park. From there, you need to fill out a back country permit and deposit it in the metal box. Place the yellow permit on your backpack at all times in the park. The main restrictions are:

  • No Dogs

  • You must hike in a least a mile from the road

  • Your camp must be 500 ft from trails or water sources

  • Try to use established camping areas

NOTE: Do not attempt to back county camping if you are not experienced! The desert is no place to “learn.”