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If you stumbled across this, you’re probably already overthinking which campground to stay at during your upcoming trip to Joshua Tree. Well… a couple things are true:
1. This will help you narrow down what may be the best campground in Joshua Tree for you.
2. This will provide you comfort that you’d love nearly every campground, so it will be okay if you don’t get your first choice.
Seriously- I visited the park and probably spent as much time planning as I did on the vacation. Once I arrived, I drove around and saw all the campgrounds and immediately realized I would have been thrilled to stay at nearly any of them.
I put together this comprehensive guide so you can narrow down the campgrounds- quicker than I did- and tailor your choices to your needs. Use this in conjunction with the National Park Service website as there may be temporary closures.
This is not in order from “best” to “worst” and instead allows you to decide for yourself what may be the best campground in Joshua Tree.
General Tips for Camping in Joshua Tree
Peak season is October through May, with the busiest months being March, April, and November (here are the stats). The majority of campsites require reservations as of 2024. This can be done same day or up to 6 months in advance. During peak season, it may be difficult to get a site at a first-come, first-served campground. Your best bet is to arrive early on a weekday to secure your spot.
Water is only available at 2 campsites (Black Rock Campground and Cottonwood Campground), Oasis Visitor Center, and West Entrance Station. You’ll be in the desert, so just stop at a gas station before entering the park and purchase containers of water. It’s better to have too much than not enough. While your there, pick up firewood. All campsites have fire rings; just be sure to check if there is a fire ban on the NPS website.
Camping fees range from $20-25/night depending on the campground. You’ll also have an entrance fee, which is valid for 7 days. It costs $30 total for all passengers in a single vehicle.
The sites vary in capacity, so ensure you’re paying attention to the number of people, cars, and tents allowed. Reservable sites vary in numbers up to 6 people. All first-come, first-served sites allow up to 6 people, 3 tents, and 2 cars, but that’s if they fit.
Most campgrounds have sites that allow RVs up to either 24 or 35ft. There are no hookups and generator use is limited to specific hours of the day.
Hidden Valley Campground
Hidden Valley Campground is the most popular campground in the park, and that popularity is driven heavily by rock climbers. This is because Hidden Valley Campground is extremely close to, and basically intertwined with, a huge number of boulders with established climbing routes. Rock climbers can wake up early, make their breakfast over their camping stove, then take a 5 minute walk to where they’ll spend the entirety of their day.
Even if you don’t identify as a rock climber, you’ll still have a similar experience since the Hidden Valley Nature Trail (1 mile loop) is nearby. The 1 mile loop can turn into an hours-long excursion if you explore off the beaten path, maybe try scrambling up boulders yourself, or find some climbers to watch while nearly peeing your pants. However, you obviously can hike this trail regardless of camping at Hidden Valley, and you may be better off picking a reservable site elsewhere so you don’t have to deal with the hassle of this first-come, first-served, heavily trafficked area.
Open: Year-round
Reservations: No
RVs: Up to 24 ft allowed – no hookups
Distance:
- 3 minute drive to Barker Dam Nature Trail
- 7 minute drive to Ryan Mountain Trailhead
- 12 minute drive to Keys View
Ryan Campground
Ryan Campground is in the heart of Joshua Tree. It seems that it is normally recommended as second place to, or overflow for, Hidden Valley. My response to that would be: If you are solely going to Joshua Tree for rock climbing, then sure, that may be true. However, you should consider that because Ryan Campground requires reservations and is smaller in size (31 sites to Hidden Valley’s 44), the campground is quieter. You’ll have less cars driving through and looking for empty sites while you’re trying to sleep.
I willingly chose Ryan Campground over Hidden Valley myself because of the above reasons, and I don’t regret it. It was nice having the peace of mind that the site was reserved for me.
For climbers, there are boulder problems and a few sport climbs at Ryan campground. Not nearly as many as Hidden Valley but still enough to feel the joy of waking up at your climbing spot, and then maybe taking a short drive to larger climbing zones.
Open: Year-round
Reservations: Yes
RVs: Up to 35 ft allowed – no hookups
Distance:
- 5 minute drive to Ryan Mountain Trailhead
- 7 minute drive to Hidden Valley
- 9 minute drive to Barker Dam Nature Trail
- 12 minute drive to Keys View
Belle and White Tank Campgrounds
Belle Campground is the second smallest campground (excluding the group-only camping site, Sheep Pass), so it is one of the quietest. It is the best campground in Joshua Tree to view the night sky, so if you prefer a more private experience, and can find a first-come, first-served spot, pick Belle.
If you can’t find a spot in Belle Campground, drive 3 minutes down the road to White Tank Campground for the same type of experience. White Tank is 3 sites smaller and is a great night-sky viewing spot, but each site is a little less private than Belle Campground. Regardless, if you want a more quiet, private experience, don’t spend time debating Belle versus White Tank. Just go to where you can find a spot, and take it.
Open: September-May
Reservations: First-come, first-served
RVs: Up to 35 ft allowed at Belle and 24 ft allowed at White Tank – no hookups
Distance: (using Belle; add 2 minutes for distance from White Tank)
- .7-1 mile walk to Arch Rock Nature Trailhead
- 13 minute drive to Cholla Cactus Garden
- 22 minute drive to Hidden Valley
Jumbo Rocks Campground
Jumbo Rocks Campground is the largest campground and is generally considered to be the best campground at Joshua Tree that takes reservations. You may get a bit of noise, which comes with the size of the campground, RVs (no hookups), and generators, but Jumbo Rocks is way more worth the noise than an area like Black Rock Campground due to its more central location and impressive rock formations.
With that being said, each site here varies, so if you have options, choose your site wisely by checking the size and proximity to other sites.
Open: Year-round
Reservations: Yes
RVs: Up to 35 ft allowed – no hookups
Distance:
- .7 miles to Skull Rock
- 8 minutes drive to Ryan Mountain Trailhead
- 10 minute drive to Arch Rock Nature Trail
- 13 minute drive to Hidden Valley
Indian Cove Campground
Indian Cove Campground is a beautiful site with loads of unique monolithic rock. It’s the second largest site and is very close to town (technically outside the gate, even) but it feels secluded. Indian Cove isn’t very close to other spots, but it does have lots of hiking trails nearby including Boy Scout Trail.
For climbers, there is an abundance of climbing at Indian Cove. Of course not nearly as much as Hidden Valley and the central region, but you’ll still have a great time.
I’d recommend staying at Jumbo Rocks instead of Indian Cove due to the location, unless certain hikes or climbs are drawing you to this site. However, if you stay here, you will have no regrets.
Open: Year-round, except 60% of sites close during the Summer
Reservations: Yes
RVs: Up to 35 ft allowed – no hookups
Distance:
- 1 mile to Boy Scout Trailhead
- 13 minute drive to the town of Twenty Nine Palms
- 14 minute drive to the town of Joshua Tree
- 37 minute drive to Hidden Valley
Black Rock Campground
Black Rock Campground is the third largest campground, and only 1 of 2 with access to water and flush toilets. It is in the very Northwest corner of the park and only a view miles from the town of Yucca Valley, so pick this site if you like slightly more accommodations and plan to split your team between the park and the nearby towns. Beware that Black Rock Campground can be a bit noisier due to its size, RVs (no hookups), and generator use, so it may not be for you if you’re looking for a more secluded experience. However, Black Rock Campground has great trail access.
Climbers, there are very few routes here, so move along.
Open: Year-round, except 60% of sites close during the Summer
Reservations: Yes
RVs: Up to 35 ft allowed – no hookups
Distance:
- On site: Black Rock Canyon Trailhead
- 9 minute drive to the town of Yucca Valley
- 33 minute drive to Hidden Valley
Cottonwood Campground
Cottonwood campground is far from the rest of the sites and is less scenic (check the map!) It technically is in the “Colorado Desert Ecozone” while the other sites are in the “Mojave Desert Ecozone”, which I encourage you to learn more about while visiting the park. You won’t see the Joshua trees or the rock formations you’ll see at the other campgrounds above, but this is still a great site for desert camping, solitude, and a stellar view of the night sky. It is also 1 of 2 sites with access to water.
Open: Year-round, except 50% of sites close during the Summer
Reservations: Required from September to May
RVs: Up to 35 ft allowed – no hookups
Distance:
- .8 miles to Cottonwood Spring
- 30 minute drive to Cholla Cactus Garden
- 1 hour 5 minute drive to Hidden Valley
Sheep Pass Campground
Sheep Pass Campground is a group-only and tent-only campsite with 6 sites, which can each accommodate 10-60 people. If you’ve got a big group, pick this campground and don’t look back. It’s beautiful, has a central location, and is definitely the best campground in Joshua Tree for groups. Also, you frankly don’t have many other group site options; you’re limited to Sheep Pass (6), Indian Cove (13), and Cottonwood (3).
Open: Year round
Reservations: Yes
RVs: No
Distance:
- 1 mile to Ryan Mountain Trailhead
- 7 minute drive to Hidden Valley
- 26 minute drive to Cholla Cactus Garden
There you have it, folks. Pick wisely, but seriously… don’t overthink it. Maybe just avoid Cottonwood Campground if you want to see rocks and Joshua trees.
When you leave the park, you’ll be convinced that whatever campground you stayed at was, in fact, the best campground in Joshua Tree.
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