Private sites RV camping near Joshua Tree

Hardy adventurers with an appetite for serene desert scenery head to this vast SoCal wilderness.

96% (121 reviews)

United States
—
California
—
Joshua Tree

96% (121 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Joshua Tree

Community favorites near Joshua Tree

Stories from the community

Megan

June 2025

Tent

1 night at Boulder Gardens Sanctuary

Shayna (and dogs!) greeted me at check in and showed me to my campsite - I slept at the geodome site and the surrounding boulders were otherworldly! Easy and friendly check in, clean facilities, gorgeous views and great wildlife. Saw lots of birds, rabbits, bats, and not a single other human. Great stargazing too! Highly recommend!

Weekend Trip to Villa Macala

We stayed at Macala Orchards in the Elderberry campground and had a fantastic experience. The site was clean, spacious, and well-maintained—perfect for our group of nine, with plenty of room to spread out comfortably. The newly built shower, sink, and toilet outhouse were spotless and thoughtfully designed, and the ground well faucet was a nice touch for easy access to water. We were warmly greeted by David, who was an excellent host. He answered all our questions, both in person and via text, and made sure we were well taken care of throughout our stay. The location strikes a great balance: it’s secluded enough to feel like a true getaway, yet only about 15 minutes from supermarkets and restaurants. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a peaceful, private campground with great amenities and a welcoming host!

Weekend Trip to Boulder Gardens Sanctuary

Great campsite at the amazing boulder gardens where we had a great time exploring. Amazing view from camp, stunning sunrises. Hosts were super friendly and helpful. Will definitely be back.

4 nights at Boulder Gardens Sanctuary

Super unique building in a wonderful setting. Had a great time exploring all the mysteries hidden in the boulders!

Weekend Trip to Boulder Gardens Sanctuary

100% recommend. This was the most incredible spot with epic boulder climbing all around. Clean porta potties and friendly people who live on site. Make sure you say hi to Rick and his rattlesnakes and Budda, their friendly dog. We only stayed one night but could have stayed much longer.

Weekend Trip to Boulder Gardens Sanctuary

The perfect alternative to JT. They have this place really dialed.

Weekend Trip to Serene forest privacy for 4WD

Great little spot. Super close to town. Definitely need legit 4x4. It was pretty steep and a little rutted heading out. Kinda steep on foot. No prob with a 4x4. Didn’t love that I could hear the highway from the camp but other than that it was great.

Weekend Trip to Villa Macala

This place is super awesome! The host David was the nicest dude ever. The campsite was perfect for 12 people and such a beautiful area as well. The tour is highly recommended too. They have so much passion in what they do. For sure coming back very soon!!

Weekend Trip to Villa Macala

It was beautiful on Nina’s land. We were looking for an “off the beaten path” place to spend the weekend and had the best weekend ever! David, the host, was great and most accommodating. He gave us a tour and talked about the property like the heaven it was! It was peaceful and quiet, lots of trails to hike and lots of birds, flora and fauna to see! We will definitely be back, especially to see the olives being harvested and made into olive oil! We purchased some to try! 5 star weekend!

Weekend Trip to Wonder Valley Ranch

Cool little camp site with epic views and privacy. Great for a quick weekend of stargazing.

2 nights at Villa Macala

We loved the RV Site with this stunning view, the very nice amenities (dush,restrooom) and the very helpful and loveley staff. Would come again!

2 nights at Serene forest privacy for 4WD

This was a great little getaway for me and my dog! I loved that we could explore the property off leash. It’s a lovely spot, quiet and peaceful among the trees, yet super close to town and hiking trails. The hosts were great and easy to communicate with, too. Hopefully we’ll be back sometime!

Weekend Trip to Villa Macala

Incredible experience! The host was wonderful, and the site itself was out of this world. Highly recommended.

Weekend Trip to Boulder Gardens Sanctuary

I loved tent camping on Shayna’s property! She was super friendly and the property was absolutely beautiful! There were a few other groups camping the same night as our group, but it was still very quiet and peaceful. This site was really close to Pioneertown, which was great. Thanks Shayna!

Weekend Trip to Boulder Gardens Sanctuary

We had a great time spending the weekend at the sanctuary, if you're looking for a place to unplug and connect to the desert, I highly reccomend it. Everyone there is very welcoming, one of the local dogs took us on a hike and dropped us back off at our campsite, you can tell he has done that before. The boulder nook site was private but primative so make sure you bring everything you need. Would love to visit again soon.

1 night at Boulder Gardens Sanctuary

Gorgeous and extraordinary area I would have never dreamed of! Magical and special indeed.

Weekend Trip to Villa Macala

What a wonderful world the host has created. From welcoming me the night I arrived to the tour the next day, I enjoyed every second on his adventure land. I am currently looking for dates to come back for more time. Everything is really beautiful beyond believe

Weekend Trip to Boulder Gardens Sanctuary

This property is a true sanctuary of natural desert boulder beauty and panoramas so be prepared to take lots of stunning pictures from sunrise to sunset. It is also a sanctuary of quiet for rest, refresh and recharging the soul. Occasionally this can be interrupted by a high flying jet liner, but mostly the only sound you will hear are the desert birds and sometimes the communities peacocks. Exploring among the boulder ridges was wonderful. Shayna is a wonderful caring host and made sure the camp site was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks to the owner and Shayna for a much needed sanctuary away from the rat race of city life.

3 nights at Boulder Gardens Sanctuary

This is a really beautiful spot with hosts & caretakers who clearly love the land they are tending. Much care has gone into making this a great experience for everyone who visits. We can't wait to go back. Thanks to Shayna et al., including Budda. We had a great experience.

1 night at Boulder Gardens Sanctuary

This was the coolest spot! I felt very safe and comfortable here. The views and sunset were incredible. Great host as well!

3 top RV sites near Joshua Tree

96%

(394)

Mineral Spring Date Farm

11 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents20 acres · Desert Hot Springs, CA

Get cozy with your Private Hot Spring ( Just for you to use) . This is a working Date Farm that is above an aquifer with a natural mineral spring water well. We are rehabilitating our Date Farm. Private Hot Spring fed tubs at each site located on a private 20-acre Date Farm on a Mineral Spring aquifer. **~18 minutes from Downtown Palm Springs. ** ~ 30 minutes from Joshua Tree **Perfect late-night check in** If you love traveling, nature, and adventure this place has features to help you maximize your travel experiences. Comfortable and right in the middle of the desert. Experience the best of both worlds. ** We keep trimmed Palm fronds on the side of our road for our goats to eat and to use as mulch. ** We are not the Hilton, a Spa or Resort. We are a working Date Farm on top of a Mineral Spring Aquifer.

100%

(44)

Serene forest privacy for 4WD

3 sites · RVs, Tents12 acres · Idyllwild, CA

Learn more about this land: Beautiful private land. Mostly undeveloped, rugged, forest. 4WD accessible cleared areas for tent sites or Jeep-top tents. Canvas tent available. Container cabin for those looking for a little less rugged accomodations. You can relax, and hike nearby trails during the day (some walking distance, some driving distance), mountain bike, or hit nearby climbing spots. Maybe you want to go into town 2 miles away and enjoy local art, music, or just the eclectic vibe of Idyllwild. Come back and star gaze in the evening. Fires are NOT allowed under ANY circumstances. Propane backpacking stoves or self contained camp stoves only. Quiet hours enforced after 8pm. Guests who are making loud noise may be asked to leave and not refunded. Composting toilet available in camping area. Bring your own tent or stay in our canvas tent (bring your own bedding). Host on-site or nearby. Wi-Fi not reliable in area.

98%

(91)

Boulder Gardens Sanctuary

12 sites · RVs, Tents500 acres · Pioneertown, CA

Welcome to our gorgeous natural desert landscape with a quiet atmosphere and vast views. Guests are welcome to hike and explore our extensive land, which includes over 500 acres of primitive hiking trails, meditation gardens, and secret caves. This is an incredible place for stargazing and views of the milky way. The landscape is similar to the national park, though guests at Boulder Gardens will have a secluded place to set up camp, away from the crowds. Pioneertown, home to the famous venue Pappy and Harriets, as well as Red Dog Saloon is within a short drive. Joshua Tree National Park is within a 25 minute drive.

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Private sites RV camping near Joshua Tree guide

Overview

What do Black Rock, White Tank, Indian Cove, and Jumbo Rocks have in common? They’re all stellar campgrounds beneath the starry night sky in Joshua Tree National Park. (Well, there’s Ryan and Belle campground too, but that didn’t flow as well.)

This magnificent patch of Southern California desert has its main entrance in Twentynine Palms. The 800,000-acre Joshua Tree makes it easy for campers to explore the vast, boulder-laden land. It offers nine campgrounds and nearly 500 sites, all with picnic tables, fire rings, and grills. Half are first-come, first-served, half are reservation only.

If it’s solitude you seek, pitch your tent beneath the massive boulder formations at Belle Campground. With just 18 sites, it’s one of the smaller campgrounds here. Title of smallest goes to White Tank Campground with 15 sites. White Tank puts you next to the 0.5-mile Arch Rock Nature Trail for some easy hiking and wildflower viewing.

Rock climbers hang out at the in-demand, 44-site Hidden Valley campground. Its close proximity to the otherworldly Wonderland of Rocks makes this a difficult campground to score. The 99-site Black Rock campground owes its popularity to the rare presence of running water. If you need flush toilets and some especially dramatic Joshua trees to admire, sleep here.

Summers are brutally hot, and winters can be freezing here. Prime Joshua Tree camping months are March, April, October, and November. Bring your own water and firewood (and a horse if you’re headed to Black Rock and Ryan Campgrounds.)

Nearby attractions

Step into the heart of the desert while camping near Mojave Trails National Monument. An untamed wilderness offering unique landscapes, Mojave Trails camping is your chance to experience stunning sunsets, ancient lava flows, and historical routes. A truly magnificent place to reconnect with nature!

Camping near Sand to Snow National Monument is like stepping into an outdoor paradise. With a diverse landscape from desert to snowy peaks, the camping experience here is as rich as the area's biodiversity. Embrace the true spirit of Sand to Snow camping!

Embark on an unforgettable camping adventure near Tahquitz Rock, a majestic rock formation in Southern California. Camp in the serene wilderness, marvel at the towering rock, and witness breathtaking views.