Description
Outside of Twentynine Palms discover some of the best camping in JTree at Indian Cove. Adventure the day away among the steep and tall rock formations that rise up from the desert floor. Fall asleep in your tent tucked away amidst it all.
Proximity to rock climbing routes makes this expansive campground particularly appealing to climbers. Non-climbers will still love the vibrant spring blooms, Mojave yuccas, shrubs, and desert tortoise sightings in the spring and early fall.
Choose from 91 individual campsites and 13 tent-only group campsites. The park allows six individuals and two cars per campsite.Some sites are on the smaller side and may not be able to accommodate this amount. At Indian Campgound in Joshua Tree National Park, water is available two miles away at the ranger station.
Activities
Offered near the campground.
Biking
Biking in this park provides some pretty jaw-dropping views, but is also restricted to vehicular roads (i.e., if a car or OHV c...Read more
Hiking
Rich with breathtaking landscape that feels like a forgotten land on another planet, there are miles and miles of trails for ex...Read more
Horseback riding
Sometimes, a strikingly beautiful place is just made better by the presence of a good friend. We believe this absolutely applie...Read more
Off-roading (OHV)
You KNOW those endless stretches of California desert are calling your name, and you can feel your fingers itching at the thoug...Read more
Climbing
We see you, climber, explorer of boulders, scaler of mountains. While everyone else is standing, jaw agape, iPhones out, you ca...Read more
Wildlife watching
The desert is full of secrets, and one of the biggest ones is the abundance of life that finds home in the nearly 800,000 acres...Read more
Terrain
Natural features you'll find at Indian Cove Campground.
The vibe at Indian Cove Campground
27 Reviews
Super great campsite just outside of the park. We booked a week in advance in January and got a great site, we were in #68 which we liked, but 76 looked good too, I'm sure there are other great ones, that is just another good one we saw in our loop as we were leaving. Great rocks to climb around just behind the site, and yes, noise was kind of an issue, we had some loud neighbors but it wasn't too bad. The stars were amazing. A really nice option to be able to reserve a site here in advance, rather than chancing your luck on Jumbo Rocks. Honestly would probably just always reserve a site here and just drive in to Jumbo Rocks/the park to explore more. And also, dogs are allowed! :)

A bit further in the park from Black Rock, but worth the drive. There's literally no light pollution, so stars are amaze-balls.
Stayed here in late July without reserving ahead, and found a perfect spot. Felt like we were the only ones there and the stars/sunrise in the morning were incredible. Easily one of my favorite camping spots.




Last month I had an amazing solo stay at Indian Cove. I opted to reserve ahead because I didn't know what time I would roll in, but it turned out to only be about half full anyway. Glorious stars and in the midst of the Wonderland of Rocks... can't be beat. Definitely check the map as you select a spot though, some are rather tight, and others totally free to the wide world. Easy access to the Boy Scout Trail that's about a 7 mile hike to more central Joshua Tree, and otherwise on the outskirts of the park if you're into dabbling in some local coffee and vintage shops.


Book early weekend warriors! This place fills up fast in prime-climb season.
One of the easiest access campsites in Joshua Tree from Los Angeles.
We arrived here around 7pm on the Tuesday before Memorial Day Weekend and had our pick of the sites. Ended up at site #76, which felt really private, had great views, and was sheltered from the hot, early morning sun (essential if you want to sleep in past 5am!)
No cell service here, but it's really close to town. 10 minutes down the road is the Joshua Tree Coffee Company, which makes killer nitro iced coffees, has a gorgeous outdoor seating area, and wifi. Great for working remotely.




I camped at Indian Cover with a friend, and we loved it! Our trip consisted of rock climbing, stargazing, and fire roasted marshmallows. We were lucky enough to attend an Indian Cove Evening Program at the amphitheater. Christian, a Park Ranger who has been with Joshua Tree for six years, laid down some facts about Climate Change.
Indian Cove has a separate entrance to the park, so naturally it is not as busy as the other areas. You can fill up your water jugs at the ranger station upon entry, and you aren't too far from stores in-town incase you forget anything (or need a morning coffee run..)!
I can't wait to return to Indian Cove, and I recommend you check it out for yourself!




- Park
- Joshua Tree National Park
- State
- California
- Country
- United States
- Phone Number
- 760-367-5500
- Directions
- View on Google Maps
- Official Website
- View Website
- Coordinates
- 34.097° N, 116.161° W
- Unknown price
- Tent Only: 63 Sites (Up to 4 people per site)
- Unknown price
- Tent / RV / Trailer - Group: 13 Sites (Up to 20 people per site)
- Unknown price
- Tent / RV / Trailer: 28 Sites (Up to 4 people per site)