99% (173)
Top-rated campgrounds near Desert Center
99% (173)
Top-rated campgrounds near Desert Center
Camper favorites near Desert Center
Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.
Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community
C
Caroline
3 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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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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Patrick
October 2025
20 ft campervan
My son and I rented a camper van and spent the weekend on Dave's land. The views are amazing. If you angle your tent/van just right, you've got a 180 degree view of a small nearby mountain range (about 20 min walk to the foot of the mountains) and in the distance, what I believe are the Bullion Mountains. It's pretty quiet and though there are homes somewhat nearby, it feels isolated and private. Dave is super friendly and responsive.
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Matthew
October 2025
Tent
Ann and Daniel are very nice people and the land is awesome and quiet and beautiful to camp in! Recommend to stay here!
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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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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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Lisa
October 2025
Tent
I loved my stay here on Jacob’s property ! I did tent camping and loved the amazing view of the mountains and the vast desert landscape ! This is for those who can appreciate off-grid camping! It was just a plot of land, but the night before Jacob had dropped off a really super nice metal picnic table and made a fire pit for me! Jacob responded in a timely manner and was super nice. The weather was pretty good for the most part, and Joshua Tree National Park was 20 minutes away. Also, the grocery store was about the same distance. There are a few local thrift stores and boutiques, and the national park building is in the same location where you can buy Joshua Tree souvenirs.
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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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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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Oomar
May 2025
Tent
Group trip
Cool little camp site with epic views and privacy. Great for a quick weekend of stargazing.
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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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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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Steven
March 2025
20 ft travel trailer
Steve is a thoughtful host and fascinating human being. This is a luxury-laden little resort getaway with desert backcountry charm and wide open skies. There are two adorable dogs on property and we couldn’t get enough of them. Jacuzzi, sauna, Wi-Fi, hammocks and a dump station in the middle of nowhere. The dry sauna is crazy tech I had no idea existed. Combine the two level shipping container structure with the pack of coyotes yipping at dusk, it feels like Frederick Remington survived Fallout.
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David
February 2025
25 ft Class A
Great facilities and easy hookups for our RV. Steve is a great host! We will come back again
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Tracy
December 2024
With kids
Beautiful and peaceful. Clean lodge with great amenities. Traveled with my 8 year old daughter and her friend, my mom and I and I felt safe. We enjoyed ourselves. Our neighbors were nice as well. Thank you to our host for a great experience.
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