Best Campgrounds in Joshua Tree: Where to Stay + Family Tips

An overview of the best campgrounds in Joshua Tree National Park

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Amazon
• Pinterest

Joshua Tree is a nature enthusiast’s dream. With beautiful rock formations, stunning desert landscapes and numerous rock-climbing and hiking areas, it’s no wonder why this national park is so popular. It’s also a great spot to camp, and I am often asked what the best campground in Joshua Tree is.

Whether you’re looking for a fun family campground, or a spot that’s central to some of the main attractions, there are multiple amazing Joshua Tree campgrounds to choose from. And honestly, they are all pretty terrific. While you won’t find RV hook ups at any of the campgrounds inside the park, some offer RV dump stations and running water.

Prefer not to camp? You can check out these awesome hotels in Joshua Tree that will put you near the action, but with a roof over your head, plumbing and electricity.

If you do plan a trip to Joshua Tree, check out this list of the best things to see and do there. I highly recommend a stop for lunch and some photo ops in the nearby wild wild west town: Pioneertown. We went recently and had a blast!

What is the best campground in Joshua Tree?

The best campground in Joshua Tree National Park depends on your travel style, but Jumbo Rocks Campground is often considered the best overall thanks to its central location, massive rock formations for kids to explore, and proximity to Skull Rock. For amenities, Black Rock and Cottonwood are the best options since they offer water and flush toilets.

How to Make Reservations at Joshua Tree Campgrounds

With Joshua Tree National Park being such a popular destination, it’s gotten harder and harder to get campsites unless you plan ahead. While there are still some campgrounds that are first-come, first-served, many campgrounds in the park have reservation systems that can book up six months in advance, especially during peak times. Reservations need to be made online at http://www.recreation.gov or on the app.

During the peak season, which runs from late fall to early spring, campgrounds in the park fill up months in advance. You will have the best luck booking 6 months to the day you want to go right at 7am, especially if you have a certain campsite in mind or need something big enough for your RV (I’ve found that the majority of campsites in Joshua Tree are made for tents or small campers). Log onto to recreation.gov and be sure to have an account already created prior to the booking window.

There are six campgrounds that allow reservations to be made in advance, and those are: Black Rock Campground, Cottonwood Campground, Indian Cove Campground, Jumbo Rocks Campground, Ryan Campground and Sheep Pass Group Campground.

The three first-come, first-served campgrounds in Joshua Tree are Belle Campground, Hidden Valley Campground and White Tank Campground.

Best Campgrounds at Joshua Tree National Park

Black Rock Campground – One of the top picks for best campground in Joshua Tree

Number of campsites: 99, including 20 horse-stall sites

Reservable? Yes

Black Rock Canyon Campground is among the most popular campgrounds in Joshua Tree for a number of reasons. One, it accommodates both tent campers and RV campers. It also has a visitor center, restrooms, potable water and an RV dump station. Black Rock is a bit further from some of the most famous rock formations, but has a dense population of Joshua Trees throughout.

Cottonwood Campground

Number of campsites: 62

Reservable? Yes

Cottonwood Campground is another good option for both tent and RV campers. One big benefit of this campground is the fact that it has running water and flush toilets. It also has an RV dump station and a few group campsites. The campground itself is located on the south side of the national park and is a great spot to see wildflowers bloom in the spring.

Indian Cove Campground

Number of campsites: 101

Reservable? Yes

Located about halfway between the north and west entrances of Joshua Tree is where you’ll find the Indian Cove Campground. This campground accommodates both tents and RVs, and has 13 group sites. There are pit toilets here, but no running water. When you stay at Indian Cove, you are a short drive away from the neighboring towns of both Twentynine Palms and Joshua Tree, and you are near some great backcountry hiking.

Jumbo Rocks Campground – My pick for best campground in Joshua Tree

Number of campsites: 124

Reservable: Yes

Jumbo Rocks Campground is the biggest campground in Joshua Tree National Park, and is a favorite of ours. The kids loved all of the giant boulders to climb, and it made for some beautiful scenery to enjoy. There are pit toilets here, but no running water. The campground is conveniently located right next to Skull Rock, so you have easy access to one of the most famous rock formations in the park when you stay here. RVs are welcome, but most sites can only accommodate tents or smaller campers.

Ryan Campground

Number of campsites: 31, plus 4 equestrian sites and 3 bike sites

Reservable: Yes

Ryan Campground is centrally located in Joshua Tree, and it’s in a great location for accessing Ryan Mountain and Cap Rock Trails. This campground has pit toilets, but no running water.

Sheep Pass Campground

Number of campsites: 6

Reservable? Yes

Not far from the Hidden Valley and Ryan campgrounds, you’ll find the Sheep Pass Group Campground. This campground is a group-only campground, meaning there are only group sites, and they are tent only. And there are only six of them. This campground is conveniently located in central Joshua Tree and provides pit toilets, but no running water. The campground is near one of the two Ryan Mountain trailheads.

Belle Campground

Number of campsites: 18

Reservable? No

Belle Campground is located near the Jumbo Rocks campground and famous Skull Rock formation. The campground is first-come, first-served and can accommodate both tents and RVs up to 35 feet. There are pit toilets here, but no running water. The campground is also near Castle Rock, a popular spot for bouldering.

Hidden Valley Campground – Best Campground in Joshua Tree for Climbers

Number of campsites: 44

Reservable? No

Hidden Valley Campground is a very popular campground for climbers and hikers visiting Joshua Tree due to its proximity to popular trails, like the Hidden Valley Nature Trail, Barker Dam and Boy Scout Trail. This campground has pit toilets and no running water. Because it’s first-come, first-served, it can be tricky to get a spot.

White Tank Campground

Number of campsites: 15

Reservable? No

Located near the north entrance to Joshua Tree National Park is the White Tank Campground. This first-come, first-served campground has 15 campsites and provides pit toilets, but no running water. Like Jumbo Rocks, this campground has a lot of amazing boulders throughout. Because of this and because of its spacious sites and its proximity to the kid-friendly Arch Rock interpretive trail, it’s a great spot for families. RVs can camp here, but only 25 footers or smaller. This campground is also a great spot for star gazing, as it is located in the darkest part of the park.

Joshua Tree Campground Comparison

Campground	Best For	Reservations	Water	Location
Jumbo Rocks	Families, scenery	Yes	No	Central
Black Rock	Amenities, RVs	Yes	Yes	Northwest
Cottonwood	Quiet, wildflowers	Yes	Yes	South
Indian Cove	Groups, climbing	Yes	No	Outside main park
Hidden Valley	Climbers, location	No	No	Central
Belle	Smaller crowds	No	No	Central

Best Campgrounds for Stargazing in Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree is an International Dark Sky Park, and some campgrounds offer better night skies than others. Jumbo Rocks and White Tank are especially popular for stargazing thanks to their remote locations and minimal light pollution.

Tips for Camping in Joshua Tree

• Book early: Many campgrounds can be reserved up to 6 months in advance and fill quickly, especially from October–May
• Bring water: Most campgrounds do NOT have water, so plan to bring at least 1 gallon per person per day
• Know the seasons: Spring and fall offer the best weather, while summer can be dangerously hot
• Arrive early for first-come sites: Campgrounds like Hidden Valley and Belle often fill by Friday afternoon
• Expect limited cell service: Download maps ahead of time

My Honest Take (From Visiting with Kids)

Jumbo Rocks was easily our favorite campground because the kids could climb the boulders for hours without needing structured activities. It felt like a natural playground, and being right next to Skull Rock made it incredibly convenient. I would camp anywhere in Joshua Tree though. Each campground offers something unique.

Joshua Tree is one of my favorite places to camp in the fall. But sites book up quickly. Be sure to check out my post about how to book campsites at the most popular campgrounds for even more booking strategies.

FAQs About Joshua Tree Campgrounds

Which campground is best for families?
Jumbo Rocks is the best family campground thanks to its open space and rock formations.

Which campground has bathrooms and water?
Black Rock and Cottonwood are the only campgrounds with water and flush toilets.

Do you need reservations for Joshua Tree campgrounds?
Most campgrounds require reservations, and they can be booked up to 6 months in advance.

What is the quietest campground in Joshua Tree?
Cottonwood tends to be quieter since it’s located in the southern part of the park.