8 Best RV Campgrounds in Joshua Tree National Park for 2025

Hit the road, sleep under the stars—your RV adventure awaits.

Joshua Tree National Park.

The name alone evokes visions of stark, surreal landscapes and unforgettable nights under the stars. If you’ve got an RV and the desert’s calling your name, you’re in luck—this place has some of the best sites in the country.

Let’s dive into these 8 top camping spots.

Jumbo Rocks Campground

Jumbo Rocks Campground is a classic. It’s the largest campground out here. You’ll see huge boulders everywhere, creating a wild, almost secretive vibe. The campground (elevation of 4,380 feet) features 124 sites.

It’s open year-round, though spring and fall steal the show with perfect weather. Hikers, especially, will love the nearby Skull Rock Nature Trail, where the desert feels like a labyrinth of stone.

• What you get: Picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets (no running water)
• Where it’s at: Right in the center of the park
• Fees: $10 per night

Cottonwood Campground

Cottonwood overlooks flat, open-desert shrubland. Compared to most campgrounds, it’s at a lower elevation. A bit more remote with just 62 sites, the campground can accommodate RVs up to 35 feet.

It’s warmer in the summer, but spring and fall are perfect, with desert blooms filling the air. The space is also near the Cottonwood Spring Oasis, a popular birding spot. Make sure you book in advance as reservations are required year-round.

• What you get: Potable water, flush toilets, picnic tables (no hookups)
• Where it’s at: The southern edge of the park
• Fees: $35 per night

Indian Cove Campground

Indian Cove is a hidden gem between towering boulders that give you both stunning views and a feeling of seclusion. You can access the campground via Indian Cove Road, stick to the north side of the highway.

For avid rock climbers, this campground is paradise. It’s got 101 sites (13 for groups), and while it’s open year-round, the spring and fall months see the most action. RVs up to 25 feet fit comfortably here.

Note: The campground does not offer an RV dump station (so plan well).

• What you get: Picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets (no water)
• Where it’s at: Off Highway 62, about 13 miles east of Joshua Tree Village. 
• Fees: $35 per night

Palm Springs/Joshua Tree KOA

The KOA sits right in the Coachella Valley, close enough to explore both Joshua Tree and Palm Springs. The place’s got a good mix of RV sites, tent sites, and even cabin rentals.

It’s got something for everyone.

Kids can have a blast on the playground, adults can join in on poker games, and retired snowbirds can relax in the KOA’s hot springs pool.

Into golf? Palm Springs is known for its lush pitches. Football fan? Come cheer on your team at the Super Bowl Fiesta this season.

• What you get: Full RV hookups, hot showers, flush toilets, laundry, pool, hot tub, Wi-Fi
• Where it’s at: About 40 minutes from the park entrance
• Fees: Varies between $44 to $70

Black Rock Campground

Up in the northwest corner, Black Rock Campground gives you Joshua trees, yucca, creosote—it’s like a desert botanical garden.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Black Rock provides easy access to hiking trails like the Hi-View Nature Trail. With 99 sites (13 of them for groups), it’s perfect for 35-foot-long rigs.

Good to know: horseback riding trails are plenty in the area but the campground has a separate space for those who bring horses.

• What you get: Flush toilets, potable water, dump station, picnic tables, fire rings
• Where it’s at: Northwest part of the park
• Fees: $35 per night (though rates may vary depending on the season and site amenities)

Hidden Valley Campground

Hidden Valley Campground (near Twentynine Palms) offers amazing climbing routes in the area. Imagine 44 campsites tucked among jaw-dropping boulders, but only small RVs up to 25 feet are welcome.

The place is perfect for bouldering, scrambling, or climbing. Seems like people feed the critters here all the time, so keep an eye out. It’s the kind of place where the stars practically come alive.

One camper put it best: “DARK DARK DARK sky…wonderful.” Just remember, all sites are first-come, first-served year-round.

• What you get: Fire rings, vault toilets (no water or hookups), alcohol (only for campers)
• Where it’s at: Central area of the park
• Fees: $25 (standard) & $12 (senior/access pass)

Ryan Campground

Ryan is for those who crave a more intimate and low-key setting.

Campsites sit on a flat, sandy patch nestled between towering boulders. These massive rocks rise dramatically, creating a surreal and almost otherworldly backdrop. It’s the perfect base for planning a climb or hike.

Keep your eyes peeled for some reptilian action, you might see a rattlesnake slithering by. Scorpions like to hang out in the rocks, while ravens circle overhead. It’s the real deal out here—Cape Rock views and stargazing at its peak.

• What you get: Picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets (no water)
• Where it’s at: Central area of the park
• Fees: $30 per night

Joshua Tree Lake RV & Campground

Not quite inside the park, but close enough to relish the Mojave air. At 2300 ft, capture amazing views of the ancient Copper Mountain Hills to the North and East.

Joshua Tree Lake ensures a comfortable camping experience, with full hookups for your RV, open year-round and generally less crowded than the in-park spots.

Pet owners, your furry friends are welcome too, though, there might be an extra fee tacked on to your reservation. Less than 30 mins away from the main park, there’s also a fishing lake nearby for anglers to cast a line.

• What you get: Full hookups, potable water, hot showers, flush toilets, Wi-Fi
• Where it’s at: Just outside the park’s northern boundary
• Fees: $30 per night (depending on the headcount)