1 / 10

Jumbo Rocks Campground

124 sites · RV, Tent

In the heart of Joshua Tree National Park and just a short hike from Skull Rock, Jumbo Rocks Campground weaves through a valley of ginormous boulder piles to provide the classic J-Tree camping experience.

All of the campground’s 124 tent and RV sites come with picnic tables, fire rings, and pit toilet access, though there are no services or potable water, so you’ll want to bring an ample water supply and plan to refill at the drinking water spigots at park entrances. Although the surrounding rocks provide some morning and evening relief from the sun, a sun shade is smart to bring.

Tips for snagging a campsite reservation

  • All 124 Jumbo Rocks campsites are reservable six months in advance online or by calling (877) 444-6777. Same-day reservations are available only if sites are available.
  • This popular campground regularly books out on weekends, holidays, and school breaks during fall, winter, and spring.
  • If Jumbo Rocks is full, you can try your luck at the park’s three first-come, first-served campgrounds: Hidden Valley, White Tank, or Belle.
  • When to go

    Jumbo Rocks Campground is open year-round. Temperature-wise, fall and spring are the best seasons for camping at Jumbo Rocks. Winter camping is nice, though it brings early sunsets and nighttime lows in the 30s. Joshua Tree summers are extremely hot, making daytime activities like hiking and rock climbing risky for heat injury. Summer visitors may be most comfortable staying at a Hipcamp with air conditioning just outside the park. Make early morning or evening visits into Joshua Tree to avoid the intense heat.

    What this place offers
    Campfire allowed
    Pets allowed
    No showers
    Toilets
    No potable water
    Picnic tables
    No sewage hookups
    No electric hookups
    124 sites
    RV, Tent
    Explore 788 campgrounds near Joshua Tree National Park
    Scanning sold-out campgrounds every 15 seconds. Get notified the moment Jumbo Rocks Campground becomes available.

    Available campgrounds nearby

    Top-rated for location, privacy, and amenities near Joshua Tree National Park

    More to explore nearby

    97%
    279 ratings · 70 reviews
    LocationJumbo Rocks Campground, Joshua Tree National Park, California, United States
    Is anything missing?Suggest edits to improve this listing for fellow campers.
    What this place offers
    Campfire allowed
    Pets allowed
    No showers
    Toilets
    No potable water
    Picnic tables
    No sewage hookups
    No electric hookups

    Your guide to camping in Jumbo Rocks Campground

    Overview

    Biking

    Road cyclists can access Park Boulevard from the campground entrance, but be prepared to share the road with fast-moving cars. For gravel or mountain bike riding, the nearby unpaved Queen Valley Road makes a great alternative to the busier Geology Tour Road.

    Hiking

    The 1.7-mile Skull Rock Loop trail starts at the entrance to the Jumbo Rocks Campground, while the trailhead for the 2.5-mile Split Rock Loop hike is just two miles down the road. It’s a 10-minute drive west from the campground to the popular Ryan Mountain trailhead. Bring plenty of water!

    Horseback riding

    Sometimes, a strikingly beautiful place is just made better by the presence of a good friend. We believe this absolutely applies to horses, and there many paths open to equestrians and their four-legged friends at Joshua Tree. Riders can come for the day, camp at one of two campgrounds that have facilities for horses, or acquire a special permit for camping in the backcountry with livestock. Personally, we think falling asleep under the stars in one of the wildest places in the country with your favorite non-human sounds pretty epic. Check out the trails open for exploration here and, if you are interested in renting horses for the afternoon, you can head over to Joshua Tree Ranch, which offers tours in the park.

    Off-roading (OHV)

    You KNOW those endless stretches of California desert are calling your name, and you can feel your fingers itching at the thought of revving up the four-wheel drive and hitting those dusty paths. There are, quite literally, nearly 100 miles of road available for exploring this forlorn and mystical land, giving you extensive opportunities to reach toward that horizon and take in some of the truly striking scenery surrounding you. Check out some of our favorite treks , then pack up the 4-wheeler and get some mud (well, dust) on those tires.

    Climbing

    Joshua Tree visitors, young and old, find the park’s boulders irresistible to scramble upon, and there are plenty of rock features to explore right in the Jumbo Rocks Campground. For technical rock climbing, the park has over 8,000 climbing routes and 2,000 boulder problems. Gear shops outside the park rent crash pads, and various local climbing guides cater to climbers of all skill levels.

    Wildlife watching

    At Jumbo Rocks, keep your eyes peeled for cottontail rabbits, coyotes, roadrunners, chuckwallas, and the Mojave desert tortoise. The park visitor centers are great places to learn about Joshua Tree’s 350 types of vertebrate inhabitants.

    1. Jumbo Rocks Campground
    124 sitesRV, Tent