Best Campground In Joshua Tree

Camping is one of the funnest past times you could do. It allows you to enjoy the great outdoors, get some fresh air and exercise, enjoy great social times with your friends and family and you get to see some amazing sights.

As a result, you will want to find some of the best campgrounds to rest your head after a long day of hiking and activities. Of course, one of the most iconic places to camp is within the Joshua Tree National Park.

Due to its size, there are various places you could camp – but which is the best campground in Joshua Tree? Luckily, we’ve narrowed your options down and written this list of the best campgrounds in Joshua Tree.

Ready to discover more? Then read on for all the answers!

Best Campgrounds In Joshua Tree

So, without any further delay, let’s dive into the best campgrounds in Joshua Tree National Park! We hope you enjoy the list.

[1] Black Rock Campground

Kicking off our list with arguably the best campground in all of Joshua Tree, we have Black Rock campground. Located in the Northwest corner of the National Park, you will find this huge campsite that can accommodate plenty of travelers!

Each of its campsites has excellent amenities including running water, meaning you have flush toilets! Not only this, the campsites have fire pits, picnic tables, a dump station and excellent cell phone service!

The campsites all vary in size, so you will find that if you are taking an RV, you should locate an excellent spot to park up – but it’s not just for RVs. Luckily, you can take a horse and hitch up in a separate area of the campground.

Of course though, if you’re going to do “classic camping”, then this is one of the best campgrounds to set up a tent for you and your family or friends. However, it must be noted that you need to bring your own firewood with you.

The National Park prohibits anyone taking the natural vegetation and wood, so this is something you will need to bear in mind before you head out. If you remember this though, you will likely have the best camping experience ever.

[2] Belle Campground

If you’re hoping to camp somewhere smaller and cozier, then Belle campground is a good decision for you. It doesn’t have many spaces available and it tends to fill up pretty quickly, so you’d need to plan ahead if you’re going to go to this site.

But you may be asking at this point why it’s so popular here. Well, it’s reported that this is one of the best camping sites in Joshua Tree for gazing at the night sky. It’s also a great place to go for tranquility and peace.

Many people flock here just to get away from all modern conveniences – and that’s definitely the case here. If you’re looking for “real” camping, then Belle campground has it, as there is no modern technology, no running water and no toilets!

But you should remember one modern technology device – your camera. You’re going to need it to take some amazing pictures of the picturesque landscape, glorious night sky and capture all of your memories with your friends and family.

[3] Cottonwood Campground

Cottonwood Campground is one of the most popular campgrounds in Joshua Tree and it has 62 possible sites for you to stay at – but you’ve gotta reserve your spot in advance during the busy season.

It offers some of the best in modern conveniences like running water, a flush toilet and areas for your garbage. It’s sort of the middle ground between the previous two additions to our list.

While Blackrock has it all, it fails in its authenticity – whereas Belle has nothing but it is extremely authentic for classic camping experiences. Cottonwood luckily sits right in the center of this.

Cottonwood has the basics, but you won’t have any access to the internet or even any cell phone service. You will however have an amazing experience due to the glorious landscape, which makes it an ideal spot to catch a glimpse of the sunrise and sunset.

[4] Hidden Valley Campground

When it comes to campgrounds in Joshua Tree, most people will mention Hidden Valley. It’s a very famous campground in the National Park due to its unique shaped rock formations and general “make up”.

It’s located on the Southern edge of the Wonderland of Rocks and this makes it an ideal place for rock climbing enthusiasts. Of course though, many people who enjoy photograph opportunities will want to stay here for the rock formations.

Indeed, geologists certainly love it here, but so do astrologists – as it’s one of the best campgrounds to stay in if you want to observe the night sky. This area has significant natural beauty, and this is likely why it’s so sought after.

There are only 44 camp spots and it’s strictly a first come, first served basis. You won’t find any modern conveniences here, so you’ll need to remember to take the basics with you and anything else you may need.

As always, you cannot use any vegetation around the campground, so make sure you bring your own firewood too.

[5] Jumbo Rocks Campground

Jumbo Rocks is a relatively large campground when compared to some others available in the National Park. It has some iconic boulder formations around and it is known as being one of the best camping sites for families.

Due to the vegetation, you feel more enclosed than in some other campsites, despite being in a relatively open area. As a result, fires are very cozy and it’s a great place for you and your family or friends to bond and share a laugh or two.

There’s no running water and no cell phone connectivity, but this simply adds to the ideal situation for socializing!

[6] Indian Cove Campground

Located just off Highway 62, you will find a very popular campground called Indian Cove which is home to 101 campsites – 13 of which are group campsites. It has a very quick and easy access to nearby towns, which is perfect if you’re hoping for the best of both worlds.

It does however mean that you’re a little ways away from the major attractions in the National Park – but don’t let that put you off. You’ll still get to enjoy the gorgeous views of the camping area, great rock climbing areas and awesome photograph opportunities.

Indian Cove is actually the second largest campground in all of Joshua Tree, and it’s definitely one of the most sought after.

[7] Ryan Campground

Ryan campground is much smaller than our previous addition to this list with only 31 campsites on offer. As a result of this though, you will find it difficult to find a spot available, so you will need to plan in advance if you choose to camp here.

There are areas nearby for your horse and there’s even areas for you to store your bikes! However, there’s no running water or modern toilet facilities, and the campsites are limited to only three tents per group.

[8] Sheep Pass Group Campground

Sheep Pass is a tiny campground with six group spots available, accommodating up to around 60 people. It’s more of a choice to make for camping clubs, Boy Scouts or small charity camping events.

However, despite its small size, it offers a lot with its beautiful rock formations, easy to access hiking trails and lots of opportunities for rock climbing and photographs. It’s therefore a great place if you’re looking for something small with a group.

[9] White Tank Campground

You can find White Tank campground just off Pinto Basin Road which is situated in the Northern part of the National Park. It’s nestled between large boulders and these make it an ideal respite area from the beaming sun.

However, you should remember that you’ll need to bring lots of water with you. There’s no modern conveniences here and stores are not easy to just walk to.

White Tank is best known for its night sky viewing. People flock here as it has such a beautiful landscape in the day, but it looks so much better at night time, especially during sundown.

What To Remember

You should try to remember to plan in advance, as some of these campgrounds are reservation only, whereas some are first come, first served.

On top of this, remember the importance of safety such as water, sunscreen, appropriate clothing and emergency contact. Also, remember that this National Park is susceptible to fires due to its dry landscape.

Final Thoughts

Joshua Tree has some excellent campgrounds, but the ones on our list above are certainly the best. Just remember to plan your journey accordingly and remember all necessary safety precautions and advice.