Desert camping in Southern California

"Heaven on Earth" really exists in Southern California camping.

85% (1400 reviews)
85% (1400 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Southern California

Under $50

Dog-friendly getaways

12 top desert campgrounds in Southern California

84%
(32)

High Desert Hot Spring Hideout

13 sites · RVs, Tents160 acres · Lake Arrowhead, CA
This property is the perfect place to escape the city and immerse yourself in nature. Nestled in the mountains of the high desert, we invite you to come stay in a peaceful serene setting, where beautiful natural desert scenery and mountain views surround you. The 40 minute hike to the Deep Creek Hot Springs is well worth the effort, and there's so much more natural beauty to see as you explore miles of hiking and OHV trails nearby and right on the property. Weather can be extreme at times, with Winter temps ranging from 20*F to 40* F, and Summer temps peaking at 112F. The cold creek water in the Deep Creek canyon flows all year around, and the 6 creek-side hot spring pools are always full and consistently hot all year around, ranging in temperatures between 90F-108F. The hike to the Deep Creek Hot Springs is fairly steep and can be difficult for some people, especially in warm weather. In order to be prepared with the correct gear to make this hike and know the USFS rules that apply to the area, please educate yourself before coming by visiting the USFS website page for the Deep Creek area and our webpage for the Deep Creek Hot Springs Campground for detailed driving directions to the official trailhead located right on our property. You won't get lost if you park on our property and hike from the trailhead, so make sure you go to the right address. Know before you go! Generally, reservations are not necessary to set up a tent site, but we have a more private area set aside for hipcamp reservations that has separate facilities from the general camping area. We do not recommend bringing children due to occasional nudity that may be seen in the area and the degree of difficulty for the hike. The hike to the hot springs is fairly difficult and everyone’s physical fitness needs to be considered when deciding to take pets, or have children, elderly people, or out-of-shape/over-weight people in your group.
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$18.99
 / night
80%
(10)

Off the Grid Hot Springs Camping

13 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents180 acres · Lake Arrowhead, CA
Located on a rural off the grid property near the Deep Creek Hot Springs, this 160 acre property is the perfect place to escape the city and immerse yourself in nature. Nestled in the mountains of the high desert, come camp and enjoy yourself in a peaceful setting where beautiful natural desert scenery and mountain views surround you. The natural high desert landscape of junipers, joshua trees, chaparral and sages, combined with the nearby San Bernardino mountains in the background, create an amazing 360* view from just about anywhere on our land. This private homestead property is located 6 miles off the pavement, just far enough to escape the sounds and lights of the city, and is surrounded by 1,000's of acres of undeveloped government managed lands. The natural rural setting creates a serene atmosphere on the property that allows one to easily relax and recharge. You can set up your own tent and campsite or rent one of our furnished glamping tents to stay in when you come to visit. Have a special event coming up or just want to celebrate? Check out our private hot spring pool sites and private cold spring pool sites we have available for up to 300 guests. There is plenty of activities nearby to keep yourself occupied, such as nature watching right on the property, or exploring numerous hiking and ohv trails just off the property. With the trailhead starting on the property, the Deep Creek Hot Springs is just a short hike away, and well worth the effort, with nearby fishing and gold panning along the creek as well. Deep Creek flows all year around, and the 6 creek-side hot spring pools are always full and consistently hot all year around, ranging in temperatures between 90F-108F. The hike to the Deep Creek Hot Springs is steep in places and can be fairly difficult for some people, especially in warm weather. In order to be prepared with the correct gear to make this hike and know the USFS rules that apply to the area, please educate yourself before coming by visiting the USFS website page for the Deep Creek area. Know before you go! *Although children are permitted to be on the property, we do not recommend bringing them due to occasional nudity that may be seen in the area and the degree of difficulty of the hike. The hike to the hot springs is fairly difficult and everyone’s physical fitness needs to be considered when deciding to take children, elderly people, or over-weight people.
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$27.99
 / night
99%
(1770)

Down-to-Earth Ecoshire

248 sites · RVs, Tents35 acres · CA
Private 35 acre Private Land Restoration Project surrounded by rolling hills, mountain views and open sky. The sunsets and sunrises are spectacular year round. Stars and open skies that you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else in southern California. Just 15 minutes from Temecula wineries, 40 minutes from the alpine, artsy town of Idyllwild in the San Jacinto Mountains, and just 15 minutes from the 215 in Menifee toward Hemet. Best to visit from early autumn to lush springtime where we have great wildflower blooms. Cooperative managers Jim and Dawn host visitors who want to enjoy nature, participate in regenerative gardening all while off-setting their travel footprint. Fees go to our not for profit land restoration which includes planting trees, improving aquifers and enriching the soil. The property is a owned by a restorative co-op (turning a former illegal dump into an oasis of hope) where we invite you to participate in creative local solutions to our larger global problems. * If your group is larger than six adults, pease visit our group listings page. If your group needs special privacy and sound requirements and you'd like to reserve the entirer property, you will need to contact us directly. * Spaces are available on a first come, first serve basis. * Our visitor support pricing is $20 for the first person and $15 for all additional adults. Kids 6 - 12 are $5 per night. We don't want to charge for kids 6 and under, so do not include them in your booking. Thanks! * Campfire rings are only in common clearing, designated and permitted areas. Please check for seasonal fire restrictions.
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$20
 / night
99%
(100)

The Hilltop Getaway

1 site · Lodging3 acres · Lake Los Angeles, CA
Welcome to The Hilltop Getaway! One of the coziest glamping spot near the Alpine Butte, Palmdale with Joshua Tree landscape just an hour from LA. The amazing 360 view from the jumbo rocks mountains on valley with Joshua Trees will make your memories unforgettable. We also have a great landscape for your spectacular photo shoot. If you’re looking for a place to hike, relax, refresh and recharge yourself, you found the place! The Hilltop Getaway! Enjoy your life! While The Hilltop Getaway is private and secluded, it is close to most stores you might need. Palmdale is a 10-minute drive and has a Target, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's, Ross, restaurants, fast foods, banks, and more. Additionally, you can visit a lot of unique places just few minutes from us like Antelope Valley Indian Museum, Four Aces Movie Ranch, Movie Set Diner, Club Ed Movie Set, El Mirage Dry Lake, Kill Bill Church, Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve, Joe Davies Heritage Airpark, Blackbird Airpark, Dry Town Water Park On our space you'll find 1. Bar/Kitchen area offers a four-burner gas grill with one side burner, kitchen table, sink with foot water pump, bar counter with four chairs on the bar deck; 2. Classic wood picnic table 3. Patio equipped with wood chairs and bench for lounging around our fire pit, lounge chair for sunbathing 4. Hammock for relaxing and stargazing 5. Toilet/Shower cabin. There is Thetford Porta Potti flush toilet, sink with foot water pump, mirror, Eccotemp hot shower We provide towels and soap for you. 6. The Geo Dome Tent 23ft (7M) is equipped with everything you would need for a comfortable glamping experience Geo Dome: - Queen bed with memory-foam mattress and bedding - Two Convertable Tri-Fold Sofa Beds - Twin Tufted Back Convertible Sofa - Foldable Camping Cot - Hammock Chair Swing - Dining Set - Nightstands - Full Length Floor Mirror - Kitchen Island with kitchen utensils, pots, tableware - Mini Fridge with Top Freezer - Free WiFi - Projector Screen - Video Projector (for rent) - Bluetooth Sound System - Power Station EcoFlow Pro for charging and power devices - Evaporative Air Swamp Cooler - Propane "Pleasant Hearth" Heater 30,000 BTU (Propane gas is include) - Solar lights and battery powered LED Camping Lantern - Fresh towel-Fresh linen- Books and games for entertainment - And plenty of safety amenities such as: fire extinguisher, first aid kit, etc. Please note - the water in the tank is not drinkable and has a distinct taste - please bring drinking water. Small amenities such as a first aid kit, flashlights, and lanterns are all available to you in the tent for a safe and comfortable stay. Please plan for a “leave no trace” style camping and to take your trash with you upon check out
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$185
 / night
91%
(41)

Bowens Ranch Hot Spring Retreat

35 sites · RVs161 acres · Apple Valley, CA
This off the grid property is the perfect place to escape the city and immerse yourself in nature. Nestled in the mountains of the high desert, we invite you to come stay in a peaceful serene setting where nature and wildlife encompasses you on this rural property surrounded by 1,000s of acres of undeveloped BLM and US Forestry land. Come escape from the city and relax at a place where you can enjoy yourself amongst others or be by yourself in your own private campsite. With 160 acres, there is lots of room for your large group to spread out or find a more private site to seclude yourself! Set up your campsite and park your vehicle at any of our developed sites that have a patch of turf, picnic tables and fire pits (grills available). Flushing toilets, pits toilets, potable water, and showers on site. The 40 minute hike to the Deep Creek Hot Springs is well worth the effort, and there's so much more natural beauty to see as you explore miles of hiking and OHV trails nearby and right on the property. The creek water in the Deep Creek canyon flows all year around, as does the hot spring source water that feeds the 6 creek-side hot pools, ranging in temperatures between 90F-108F. Weather can be extreme at times, with Winter temps ranging from 20*F to 40* F, and Summer temps reaching 112F+. The hike to the Deep Creek Hot Springs is fairly steep and can be difficult for some people, especially in warm weather, so everyone’s physical fitness needs to be considered when deciding to hike to the hot springs with pets, children, elderly people, or out-of-shape/over-weight people in your group. Although children are permitted on the property, we do not recommend bringing them due to occasional nudity that may be seen in the area and the degree of difficulty for the hike. In order to be prepared with the correct gear to make the hike to the hot springs and know the USFS rules that apply to the area, please educate yourself before coming by visiting the USFS website page for the Deep Creek area. Know before you go! The Deep Creek Hot Springs Camp is part of the historic Bowen Ranch property that was homesteaded in 1924. This property has been the camping and parking area for the Deep Creek Hot Springs for nearly a century. The Bowen Ranch property is under new ownership as of 2020 and we welcome everyone to come visit! Generally, we always have sites available and reservations are not necessary, but reserved sites are located in a more private area set aside for Hipcamp reservations with separate facilities from the general camping area. See our webpage deepcreekhotspringscampground.com for detailed driving directions to our property with the official trailhead located right on site.
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$54.99
 / night
Booked 4 times

New Yurt City

5 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · Lake Los Angeles, CA
New Yurt City is one of those hidden gems. The daily views are breathtaking. You can see every star down to the horizon, sunsets are amazing with snow capped mountains. There are lots to do nearby: 30min to ski resort, 1hour to the beach. Near lots of national parks and centrally located. It’s got a small town feel with amazing food trucks with handmade taco 5 mins away. We atvs for rent and a beautiful garden with lots of fresh rosemary and lavender to share.
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$25
 / night
94%
(17)

Dead End Campgrounds RV Sites

5 sites · RVs, Tents3 acres · Wrightwood, CA
Sitting one mile high exactly on the side of the mountain, with views of the desert, mountains, and city lights below! . I have 2 other short-term rentals on the same 5 acres and the reviews have been so amazing I decided to expand to camping, RVs, etc. A large flat lot (50' x100') could host up to about 3 RVs (depending on the size) and tents. There is water, good WiFi, septic hook-up, and electricity in a limited capacity (solar and wind-powered). There are generators available. The property sits up against The Transitionary Habitat nature preserve and there are 350 acres of hiking in the Puma Canyon. You are literally surrounded by nature, a true escape but with the city lights in the backdrop! There are tables, chairs, tiki torches, bean bag toss, horseshoes, and a gas fire pit. The road to the property is narrow and steep, so please consider this when booking. We've had hundreds of groups navigate the roads with no problem, including 48 foot RVs. If you have concerns about whether or not your vehicle can make it, please don't hesitate to message me.
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$44
 / night
98%
(64)

AntFarm LA

6 sites · TentsLos Angeles, CA
NOTE: THIS IS A PARK AND HIKE-IN TENT-ONLY STAY. You must park by street and hike-up. You will not sleep in vehicle/RV.My wife and I built this place with the help of our 2 toddlers, our friends, and our team of shovels. 
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$40
 / night
100%
(132)

The Unhitched Ranch

1 site · RV, Tent37 acres · Colton, CA
The Unhitched Ranch is a family run Clydesdale and Texas Longhorn Ranch. Clydesdales and Texas Longhorns have been the focus of the family owned and operated ranch. The Ranch is approximately 40 acres and is tucked away in a very unique area of Southern California and has spectacular views of the local mountains and city lights. This quaint little canyon is nestled between Loma Linda and Moreno Valley, and is home to about 800 free roaming wild burros that visit frequently.Recently we have added a Gazebo that you can camp near or under as well a a horseshoe pit, and tether ball.  We typically only open the ranch to one group of campers at a time so more than likely you will be alone with us on the ranch.  There is plenty of room for larger groups, feel free to contact us
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$107
 / night
99%
(72)

Rock & Tree

17 sites · RVs, Tents36 acres · Perris, CA
It's so nice to "meet you" Rock & Tree was created by a young and newly married couple, Taryn and and Anson. Anson Krekeler is a folk and blues musician and has traveled all around the U.S. playing his music and I was an aspiring Voice-Over actress. One day, we decided that we wanted to live the rest of our lives hosting live music, and plays and that's how Rock & Tree began. As the idea grew, we wanted to create an Open Canvas so that the guest could dream up what they wanted on our stage. We moved to the Inland Empire from Santa Monica, in 2017 with the dream of building an open canvas event space out of sustainable, re purposed and natural materials. Our mission is help enrich the culture of Perris, CA by providing a unique venue that takes you away from the hustle and bustle and takes you to a wonderland of nature surrounded by rocks and eucalyptus trees.A true passion project, Anson and I are building everything ourselves with the help of our friends and family every now and again. Our process is that we source as much lumber using the dead Eucalyptus trees we have here on the 36 acre property and we are constantly trying to come up with innovative ways to use recycled and donated materials in the venue. We now live on the property in a 24ft camper and we feel so lucky that our dream is slowly becoming a reality. You can follow our journey on our Instagram. 
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$60
 / night
93%
(7)

Camp Juniper

3 sites · Lodging1 acre · Piñon Hills, CA
Less crowded than Joshua Tree with the same great experience. Only 1.5 hours from LA. 20 Minutes from Wrightwood's hiking trails. Hide away from the hustle and bustle of the city in your own private camper in semi-rural desert neighborhood. This camper has wonderful views of the San Gabriel Mountains and Joshua Trees. Camper has its own private entrance and fenced yard. The space +Private hot tub. +Camper is fully setup with AC, heater, kitchen and bathroom. +Propane fire pit. +Private outdoor yard area. +Quick jump off of Highway 138 and Highway 18. +20 minute drive to Mountain High Ski Resort and Sky High Disk Golf. +45 minute drive to Edwards Air Force Base and Palmdale Aerospace companies. +30 minute drive to Victorville area cities. The camper is a 2006 Jayco. It sleeps 2 people. The bed has a custom memory foam mattress that is oh so cozy. The camper has a full kitchen and bathroom. The shower is a small RV shower and may not be appropriate for larger guests. The kitchen is stocked with everything needed to cook a simple meal and coffee is provided. No pets, exempt from service animals. We have room to park any vehicle, please let us know when booking if you need large vehicle parking. Road to the property is 3/4 mile of dirt, easily drivable by any vehicle. Bed is a RV queen. It is a few inches skinnier than a standard Queen. Unit is limited to 2 guests, this is not a party spot. We do not offer early check-in or late check-out.
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$105
 / night
98%
(23)

Heavenly Hideout at Quail Ranch

1 site · Lodging5 acres · Phelan, CA
Experience a 70’s groovy retro Trailer with beautiful panoramic views. The property is gated with a private entrance. Feature's a Hammock, Cowboy pool, fire pit, Swing for 2, indoor shower, Full kitchen Table, flush toilet, Bed #1 (fits 2 adults) Bed#2 (fits 2 kids or 1 adult) Picnic table, covered outdoors seating. Air conditioning and heating. Campsite has a full restroom (hot water). 5 beautiful acres where you can disconnect with peace and quiet. Hiking trail is your view, enjoy a hike and fresh air. A retro style oozing with charm and quirky vibes. - Kichen is stocked with everything needed to cook a meal -Roasting sticks - Guitar -Smart TV - Tripod -Boards Games, card games - Complimentary Coffee and Sugar (Coffee kettle provided) -Trailer is powered by Solar Power -Solar Power Station inside Trailer (Charge Small electronics, Cellphone)
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$179
 / night
Value Prop
Value Prop

Exploring the beautiful vast landscapes with friends, family, or a solo adventure will be an experience you won’t soon forget.

Desert camping in Southern California guide

Overview

Looking to experience the beauty of the desert in Southern California? Look no further than Hipcamp! With over 3900 options in Southern California alone, Hipcamp offers a wide range of camping accommodations to suit your needs. Whether you prefer tent camping, RV camping, or cabin rentals, Hipcamp has you covered. Explore the stunning desert landscapes of Southern California, from the Cuyama Badlands to The Lovelight Ranch and The Desert Rose Collective - all top campsites with rave reviews (1681, 532, and 378 reviews respectively). Enjoy popular amenities such as trash disposal, showers, and campfires, and engage in exciting activities like snow sports, visiting historic sites, or even catching some waves while surfing. With an average price per night of $49 and options as low as $5, Hipcamp provides affordable and unforgettable camping experiences in the desert. So pack your bags and get ready for an adventure in Southern California!

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