There are eight front-country campgrounds (nine when you consider the Sheep Pass group campground) in Joshua Tree National Park. That might not seem like many for a park of nearly 800,000 acres (323,748.5 hectares), but combined they offer nearly 500 campsites.
Cottonwood Campground, Joshua Tree National Park / NPS - Robb Hannawacker
Just one campground, Cottonwood, is in the southern section of the park. All the rest -- White Tank, Bell, Jumbo Rocks, Ryan, Sheep Pass, Hidden Valley, Indian Cove, and Black Rock -- are somewhat squeezed into the northern half above Wilson Canyon.
You'd be wise to bring your own water, as water is available only at the Oasis Visitor Center, Indian Cove Ranger Station, West Entrance, and Black Rock and Cottonwood campgrounds.
A popular campground is at Jumbo Rocks.
Kurt Repanshek photo
You also are expected to bring containers capable of preventing access by wildlife are required. Any scented or odorous items must be similarly stored.
Campfires are indeed nice, but all vegetation in the park is protected. As a result, if you want to relax before a flickering campfire at day's end, you need to bring your own wood to burn. Fire grates are provided.
Traveling by RV? There are no hookups for recreational vehicles. Black Rock and Cottonwood campgrounds do, however, have dump stations. At group sites, motorhomes and trailers cannot exceed 25 feet (7.6 m). At Hidden Valley and White Tank campgrounds the 25-foot (7.6-m) limitation includes the towing vehicle.
The park's campgrounds are in great demand, no doubt because of the population centers in the not-so-distant distance. As a result, it'd be wise to reserve a site.
Note: for all the campsites, attaching lines to vegetation, including Joshua trees and junipers, is prohibited. Hammocks, slacklines, and other horizontal ropes must be tied to rocks and climbing bolts, and are not permitted in campgrounds.
There are no hook-ups at any campground within the park. Black Rock and Cottonwood campgrounds have RV-accessible potable water and dump stations.
There are group campsites available at Cottonwood, Indian Cove, and Sheep Pass campgrounds. For more information, read the campground descriptions below.
There is equestrian camping at Black Rock and Ryan campgrounds. Click here for more information about equestrian camping in the park.
Here’s a quick rundown of each campsite. For more detailed information and to see site maps, click on the link for each campground.
Reservation Only Campgrounds
All reservation campgrounds are open year-round.
Black Rock Campground offers 99 sites, one of which is ADA accessible. Each site goes for $25 per night and reservations may be made 6 months in advance through recreation.gov. Senior/Access passholders receive a 50 percent discount. Maximum RV length is 35 feet (10.7 m). No trailers are allowed. For the ADA accessible site, RV/trailers are allowed up to 30 feet (9 m) combined length at this back-in site. While this campground is open year-round, June 1 – September 1, park staff typically close some campsites. Usually campsites 1–39 remain open, but campsite closures and dates can change year to year.
There is also a horse camp open all year with 20 sites at $20 per night. Senior/Access passholders receive a 50 percent discount. Reservations may be made 6 months in advance through recreation.gov.
Cottonwood Campground offers 62 sites at $25 per night. Senior/Access passholders receive a 50 percent discount. Reservations may be made 6 months in advance through recreation.gov. RV/trailer maximum length is 35 feet (10.7 m). While this campground is open year-round, June 1 – September 1, park staff typically close some campsites. Usually, the campsites in Loop A are open and Loop B is closed, but campsite closures and dates can change year to year.
There are also 3 group tent-only sites at this campground, each of which can accommodate 10 – 60 people is $35 - $40 per night, depending upon site capacity. Reservations may be made 6 months ahead of time through recreation.gov. RVs and trailers are prohibited.
Indian Cove Campground offers 101 sites, one of which is ADA accessible. Each site is $20 per night and Senior/Access passholders receive a 50 percent discount. Reservations may be made 6 months in advance through recreation.gov. RV/trailer maximum length is 35 feet (10.7 m). While this campground is open year-round, June 1 – September 1, park staff typically close some campsites. Usually campsites 1–39 remain open, but campsite closures and dates can change year to year.
There are also 13 group sites at this campground, each of which can accommodate 10 – 60 people. A group site is $35 - $50 per night, depending upon site capacity. RV/trailer maximum length is 25 feet (7.6 m). Reservations may be made 6 months ahead of time through recreation.gov.
Jumbo Rocks Campground offers 124 sites, one of which is ADA accessible. Each site is $20 per night. Senior/Access passholders receive a 50 percent discount. Reservations may be made 6 months in advance through recreation.gov. Maximum RV length is 35 feet (10.7 m), maximum trailer length is 20 feet (6.1 m).
Ryan Campground offers 32 sites, including 3 bicyclist sites (first-come, first-served only). Individual sites are $20 per night, bicyclist sites are $5 per night, and Senior/Access passholders receive a 50 percent discount for all sites. RV/trailer maximum length is 35 feet (10.7 m). Apart from the bicyclist sites, reservations may be made 6 months ahead through recreation.gov.
There are also 4 designated equestrian sites, each of which is $7.50 per night. Senior/Access passholders receive a 50 percent discount. The equestrian sites are closed during the summer months. Contact Jeannie Wilson at [email protected], Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm for reservations to camp at Ryan horse camp.
Sheep Pass Group Campground offers 6 tent-only group campsites which can accommodate 10 – 60 people. Sites are $35 - $50 per night, depending upon site capacity. RVs/trailers are prohibited. Senior/Access passholders receive a 50 percent discount. Reservations may be made 6 months in advance through recreation.gov.
First-Come, First-Served Campgrounds
Belle Campground offers 18 sites at $15 per night. Senior/Access passholders receive a 50 percent discount. Campsites must be paid for at the entrance station. Maximum RV length is 35 feet (10.7 m). No trailers are allowed. This campground typically closes in the summer (June 1 – September 1).
A site at Hidden Valley Campground, Joshua Tree National Park / NPS - Hannah Schwalbe
Hidden Valley Campground offers 44 sites at $15 per night. Senior/Access passholders receive a 50 percent discount. Campsites must be paid for at the entrance station. Maximum RV/trailer length is 24 feet (7.3 m).
White Tank Campground offers 15 sites at $15 per night. Senior/Access passholders receive a 50 percent discount. Campsites must be paid for at the entrance station. Maximum RV/trailer length is 24 feet (7.3 m). This campground typically closes in the summer (June 1 – September 1).
Camping Outside Of The Park
There are a variety of private campgrounds and RV parks outside of Joshua Tree. To find out more information, click on the links below.
Backcountry Camping
If you really feel like getting away from it all, you can backcountry camp. You’ll need a permit to do this. A permit costs $6 and allows for a group size of 1 to 12 people to stay up to 14 nights. Permittees are allowed to stay up to three consecutive nights in an individual zone. Permits may be booked up to 6 months in advance. They can be acquired in one of three ways:
1. Visit Recreation.gov and book a permit online.
2. Call 877-444-6777 and book a permit through a Recreation.gov agent.
3. Visit the permit office at park headquarters located at 74485 National Park Dr, Twentynine Palms, CA. It is located in office building 100 near the flag pole. The permit office is open 8 am–4 pm. In person same day permits will be available up until 4 p.m. at the permit office. Permit office hours may be subject to change based on demand and staff availability.
