99% (310)
Top-rated campgrounds
99% (310)
Top-rated campgrounds
Camper favorites near Desert Center
Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.
Public campgrounds near Desert Center
Stories from the community
C
Caroline
2 weeks ago
Tent
My husband and I had a great night tent camping here. The host has been really thoughtful with the amenities and set up and it was just a 10-15 minute drive to the Joshua tree park entrance. We plan to come back and bring friends we liked it so much. Thank you!!!
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Gabriella
November 2025
Tent
This oasis was a wonderful getaway from the city to enjoy the stars, the desert and the rain.
My friend and I stayed, got rained on pretty heavily in our tent & the host was very accomodating.
Even in the rain, there are plenty of common space to enjoy from the hot tub to the sauna. We were able to enjoy some sunshine as well between down pours.
I will definitely be back again!
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Nate
November 2025
Tent
My friend and I had a great time here! Though the weather was bad (cold & rainy) the hot tub & sauna were amazing! We were able to cook food under shelter, play games, paint, etc and enjoy being outdoors while avoiding the rain. We spent majority of our time hanging out in the common areas and loved the hot tub in the rain!
The host was incredibly kind and accommodating.
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A
Andrea
November 2025
36 ft Class A
Great location and great host. Archie was very responsive. He answered our questions promptly and made sure we had easy to follow directions.
I'd highly recommend this sight especially for a group. It's private, has good cell phone reception and is close to Joshua Tree Park.
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Lisa
November 2025
Weekend Trip to Joshua Tree Container Resort
We really enjoyed our one night stay at Steve’s “resort”. The space was very comfortable and private. Unfortunately, we weren’t there long enough to take advantage of the pool, hot tub, or sauna, but we did get a beautiful night of stargazing on the upper deck! And we loved his recommendation to eat at The Palms. We highly recommend his place.
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J
Jonathan
October 2025
18 ft pop-up camper
Rebecca was a great host. I arrived at 1:30am and it was hard to find the location but Rebecca gave me multiple pictures of the campsite so I was able to find it. I will definitely camp here again. The stars are amazing at night.
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Susan
October 2025
22 ft Class B
With pets
We loved everything at this ranch! The spa, pool, sauna, gym. They even had a blues jam around the firepit! Clean facilities and rooms.
It was great relaxing with private and beautiful views! The host was really helpful, even recommending an incredible restaurant with band. Very fun visit!
We are definitely going back!
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R
Rikart
October 2025
Tent
Group trip
We really enjoyed the solitude and beauty of this camp.
It was a fun drive (in the 4W).
We were there in Oct and at dusk a lot of flies appeared, but after 40 min they kind of all died of somehow.
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William
October 2025
Tent
The property was beautiful to camp on especially at night being able to look up at the stars! You are located right next to Joshua Tree National Park making it easy to visit throughout the day, but enjoy your nights around 29 Palms watching the stars. Definitely had a great stay at El Ranchito!
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Alex
October 2025
Tent
With kids
Steve was great hosting my family while I was out working my mom and daughter had fun swimming and exploring around the desert also had the opportunity to relax my self after work thank you
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Eric
August 2025
22 ft Class B
With pets
Our stay was fantastic and Steve was very flexible with our late arrival time.
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Will
May 2025
Tent
With pets
A perfect desert escape under the stars
We had an incredible stay at this private campsite just outside Joshua Tree. The location was exactly what we were looking for—quiet, secluded, and surrounded by stunning desert scenery. At night, the starry sky was absolutely breathtaking—some of the best stargazing we’ve experienced in a long time.
The site felt very safe and private, giving us a true sense of peace and solitude. Benjamin was a fantastic host and provided clear, detailed directions that made finding the site easy. We appreciated the care and thoughtfulness that went into the experience from start to finish.
Highly recommend this spot for anyone looking to disconnect and enjoy the beauty of the desert.
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Mike
May 2025
Tent
This was my second visit to el ranchito and I’ll be back many times. Steve has created a beautiful oasis in the desert and takes care to make certain everyone is respectful of each other and the land.
Both of my kids came with me this time and they felt the same way. We slept on hammocks and the party that was going on next to us noticed we were going to bed and immediately wound down.
That doesn’t happen at every hip camp or campground one goes to.
The facilities are amazing… Like a spa in the middle of nowhere. The best part is that there is no pretentiousness that comes with typical southern California spas and resorts. Anyone and everyone would feel at home here, whether you’re looking for a wilderness experience or posh glamping.
It is priceless to be able to soak in a hot tub and sauna under pristine skies at night after climbing all day at Joshua tree. Sublime.
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Sam
May 2025
Tent
10/10 stay. The property was super easy to find with Archie’s directions on the property description. The dirt road from the main highway to the property was very well maintained and easy to drive on even with just 2WD. There was cell service all throughout the property as well which was a nice bonus considering campsites in the park don’t have it. Great location for stargazing. Super close to Joshua trees twentynine palms entrance. If you’re scared of no restrooms on the property, there’s public restrooms like 5 minutes away at Joshua tree national park association which are really well maintained. Archie was also very responsive through text and the app with any questions I had. As a solo female camper I felt very safe on the property. I’d definitely stay here again.
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Garrett
April 2025
Tent
Our stay was incredible! We stayed on the camp sites. The area is well equipped with an amazing jacuzzi, pool, sauna, bathrooms, and showers. There is a drive-in movie just a few minutes away that I would recommend checking out after a day of hiking/climbing in Joshua Tree.
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Ian
April 2025
16 ft car
Friendly people - friendlier dogs (if you meet them) - fantastic amenities!
Pro-Tip: Know where you're going on the site before-hand, especially after dark. It can be hard to see and get you bearings if you're new to this, or haven't done it in 20 years. :)
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D
Douglas
April 2025
16 ft campervan
Rebecca's camp site was great. The site was conveniently located. The views were incredible and the site was very clean.
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Kate
April 2025
26 ft Class C
With kids
We spent three nights at Rebecca’s with our two kids and a small RV. It was very easy to get to and convenient to 29 Palms, both the town and the park entrance. There’s some road noise but very quiet otherwise. Beautiful sunrises and sunsets. It was nice to have a well maintained outhouse and a dumpster available. Thanks so much Rebecca!
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Jeremy
April 2025
Tent
Great spot for a night of peaceful camping in the desert. Host was friendly and the hot tub was a nice amenity.
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Hillary
April 2025
Tent
The space was expansive and we really enjoyed the hot tub and sauna every day after hiking. The manager was quick to respond to our messages and had great recs for hikes and dinner spots. Our only negative was the wind. Because it's so open there is nothing to break the wind near the tent sites. Some small windbreaks with rebar and railroad ties could vastly improve the sites so tents were less affected.
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