The best dog-friendly campgrounds near Salton Sea Beach, California

Salton Sea Beach welcomes campers travelling with pets, offering over 1,980 pet-friendly options scattered across stark desert flats and palm-dotted oases. Expect to pay around $60 a night, with some sites dipping as low as $14. You’ll find campgrounds where campfires are allowed, toilets are on hand, and furry companions are as common as hiking boots. The area draws hikers, horseback riders, and swimmers—look for waterholes and easy trails right near camp. Standouts include Mineral Spring Date Farm (290 reviews) with its working date groves, DragonflyHill Desert Farm (218 reviews) where you’ll spot migrating birds, and Hideout Mountain Lodge (197 reviews) for sweeping desert views and a low-key vibe. Bring water, keep your leash handy, and don’t expect much shade—Salton Sea Beach camping is all about raw landscape, open skies, and plenty of room for you and your dog to roam.

97% (2.4K)

Top-rated campgrounds near Salton Sea Beach

Salton Sea Beach welcomes campers travelling with pets, offering over 1,980 pet-friendly options scattered across stark desert flats and palm-dotted oases. Expect to pay around $60 a night, with some sites dipping as low as $14. You’ll find campgrounds where campfires are allowed, toilets are on hand, and furry companions are as common as hiking boots. The area draws hikers, horseback riders, and swimmers—look for waterholes and easy trails right near camp. Standouts include Mineral Spring Date Farm (290 reviews) with its working date groves, DragonflyHill Desert Farm (218 reviews) where you’ll spot migrating birds, and Hideout Mountain Lodge (197 reviews) for sweeping desert views and a low-key vibe. Bring water, keep your leash handy, and don’t expect much shade—Salton Sea Beach camping is all about raw landscape, open skies, and plenty of room for you and your dog to roam.

97% (2.4K)

Top-rated campgrounds near Salton Sea Beach

1. Joshua Tree Private Campsite

98%

(66)

22mi from Salton Sea Beach · 21 sites · Tents, RVs

One mile from Joshua Tree National Park southern entrance. Beautiful desert landscape nestled in by mountains. Private serene and spiritual land. Come get enlightened.

2. Santa Ysabel Dark Sky Retreat

98%

(83)

43mi from Salton Sea Beach · 1 site · Tent

Disconnect at this quiet campsite (zero neighbors) that is located in a dark sky zone. Gaze at the Milky Way at night as you relax while listening to the sounds of nature. Come here to disconnect from city life and recharge while enjoying the smell of wild lilac and sage. Private mountain camp site at 3200 feet. Enough space to pitch 3 tents. Water tank on site for dish washing and showers. Small propane bbq for cooking.

3. Idyllwild Camp

99%

(101)

47mi from Salton Sea Beach · 2 sites · Tents

Join us in beautiful Idyllwild in the mountains of southern California! We are within easy reach of San Diego, Los Angeles, and Palm Springs for a peaceful get-away to escape the valley heat and immerse in the pine forests of this peaceful mountain town. Idyllwild is filled with hiking trails and is one of the main stopping points on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Our quaint downtown area is filled with Native American artwork, restaurants, pubs, and coffee shops, an ice cream shop, souvenir and supply shops. Our property is our one acre private home with multiple campsites and facilities for campers. Indoor accommodations will be offered soon! We are located within walking distance of many trailheads, and approximately two miles off of the PCT at the South Ridge Trailhead. Make yourself at home on our friendly family property equipped for tent camping. (Indoor accommodations coming soon! Feel free to inquire for advance bookings.) Access to meticulously cleaned toilets and warm showers inside of the main house or trailer. Additional services available at certain times include laundry service, home-cooked vegan meals, trail pick-up/drop-off. We love supporting hikers and giving travelers a sanctuary in the beautiful forests of Idyllwild. We have two loving big dogs who will be eager to welcome you as well!

4. Bombay Beach

17mi from Salton Sea Beach · 4 sites · Lodging

Various unique homes and trailers are spread throughout Bombay Beach. Bombay Beach, California, is a tiny, offbeat community on the eastern shore of the Salton Sea. Once a mid-century vacation hotspot, it now stands as a surreal desert outpost where the decaying remnants of its glamorous past meet striking, experimental art installations. Known for its haunting beauty, stark landscapes, and vibrant creative scene, Bombay Beach attracts artists, dreamers, and curious travelers seeking an otherworldly blend of nostalgia and avant-garde culture.

5. Stargazers Retreat

95%

(19)

39mi from Salton Sea Beach · 1 site · Lodging

Come enjoy this beautiful glamping site with 180 degree panoramic views of the Volcan Mountains. Start your morning off with a beautiful hike followed by breakfast in downtown Julian just minutes away. Endless activities including cider, wine, mead and beer tasting. Gold mining, apple orchards, pumpkin farms, camel farm just to name a few. Wind down by enjoying a glass of wine sitting by a fit pit while gazing at the stars.

Public campgrounds near Salton Sea Beach

80%

(7)

Headquarters Campground

11mi from Salton Sea Beach · 98 sites · Tents, RVs · in Salton Sea State Recreation Area

Your campsite is just a short walk from the Borrego Palm Canyon Trailhead, which leads to a refreshing palm oasis.

95%

(94)

Borrego Palm Canyon Campground

25mi from Salton Sea Beach · 149 sites · Tents, RVs · in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

81%

(18)

Tamarisk Grove Campground

27mi from Salton Sea Beach · 26 sites · Tents, RVs · in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

On a spontaneous weekend trip to Joshua Tree, we arrived after dark and woke up to a magical desert sunrise.

94%

(35)

Cottonwood Campground

28mi from Salton Sea Beach · 62 sites · in Joshua Tree National Park

100%

(3)

Santa Rosa Springs Campground

28mi from Salton Sea Beach · 3 sites · in San Bernardino National Forest

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

Keith

2 weeks ago

20 ft campervan

With pets

Weekend Trip to Joshua Tree Private Campsite

Wow if you love the desert and complete privacy this is the quintessential Hipcamp. We had a sweet little campfire under a 96% full moon. We put our Sportsmobile into 4 wheel action and Ben provided excellent guidance into his site. Mountains all around and the site is surrounded by trails in every direction.

C

Christine

November 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Santa Ysabel Dark Sky Retreat

Camping on Jeff’s land was the perfect peaceful weekend getaway. Stargazing was exceptional (even w/ a bright moon). I think we caught the end of the Southern Taurid meteor showers—saw my first meteor fireball! In the past, I’ve always camped at campgrounds shared with others so the level of privacy provided by being the only campers on Jeff’s land is absolutely incredible. You take a small set of stairs down to the campsite, which is right off the main dirt road. The campsite is right alongside the road, but it’s at a lower level and never impacted our sense of privacy. I rarely noticed cars going by and when they did, they drove respectfully slow so it wasn’t very noticeable. We felt comfortable letting our dog roam freely and he had a blast exploring the grounds. The porta potty is a short ~1 min walk further down the same dirt road so it’s super close by (also the cleanest porta potty I’ve ever been in which was greatly appreciated). At the campsite itself, there is a table, a few chairs, two hammocks, a putting green (but we didn’t set it up), water tank, gas stove (we brought propane), and a gated pet pen. Note: 3 tents could fit but a large portion of the campsite is slightly sloped. We ended up moving our tent to the flat concrete slab the 2nd day which made for a much better night sleep. I also highly recommend hiking the Eagle Rock Trail that Jeff suggests. Six miles round trip but definitely worth it. We will definitely be coming back!

E

Elza

November 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Santa Ysabel Dark Sky Retreat

Great stay —very private and peaceful, exactly what my girlfriend and I were looking for, rather than a standard campsite with a bunch of campers nearby. 10/10 would recommend.

M

Matt

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Santa Ysabel Dark Sky Retreat

Private, clean and convenient. We'll equipped (hammocks, awning available, tables and chairs and a nice concrete pad for your tent).

R

Rikart

October 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Joshua Tree Private Campsite

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.

Julien

October 2025

Weekend Trip to Stargazers Retreat

The Tiny Home is actually very spacious for a couple! Sheena was very communicative and ensured we enjoyed every minute of our getaway. If you are into astronomy and have a telescope, this place provides a great opportunity to enjoy the dark sky right in front of the Tiny Home. No need to drive elsewhere, you can enjoy scoping in the privacy of this beautiful place and go to bed when you need to. Thank you for making this short getaway enjoyable!

A

Allison

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Santa Ysabel Dark Sky Retreat

For basic camping it's pretty good. The views up and down the road are incredible. Night sky is clear and milky way is visible. Campsite is clean and has flat spots. There is animal nightlife.

A

Arun

September 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Idyllwild Camp

Really great place to stay for the weekend in Idyllwild.

L

Li-Mei

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Idyllwild Camp

The host was very sweet and the property was great! The restroom was so clean and comfortable. We also got to see stars at site 2. We only needed a place to sleep overnight for an early start in Idyllwild the next morning. We're sad we couldn't stay longer, but we would definitely come again and recommend it to others.

C

CHARITY

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Idyllwild Camp

This was a great spot for my girlfriends and I have to have a weekend vacation. We enjoyed the ability to take a shower, fresh towels, fridge in the common area, and coffee. It was so good after I left I felt I should had paid more. Highly recommend! There’s a hike behind the house. It’s beautiful.

J

Justin

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Idyllwild Camp

Amazing property with lots of amenities and great views! Loved playing guitar in the hammocks and meeting the hosts dogs! Highly recommended!

N

Naomi

September 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Santa Ysabel Dark Sky Retreat

Absolutely beautiful view, the wild white sage smells amazing and you get a private slice of heaven we brought two large dogs and they had the best adventure.

A

Andy

September 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Idyllwild Camp

This will be our go-to for Idyllwild from now on. The host was so friendly and the site was magnificent. There are plenty of amenities while still keeping the vibe of tent camping.

A

Amanda

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Idyllwild Camp

Cindy was a great host and we had a very nice time staying on her property. The bathroom and indoor rec area were kept spotless and it was nice to have access to those amenities during our stay. It was almost closer to glamping. The location was great, 10-15 minutes away from town or nice hiking, 2 minutes away from spectacular sunset views. Woke up to the sounds of bird calls and even saw some deer. We would stay here again.

M

Micah

August 2025

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Stargazers Retreat

Beautiful view. Loved watching the stars at night. Such a night little place to relax.

J

Jeff

August 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Idyllwild Camp

Our host was amazing. The campsites and common area are great.

R

Richard

August 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Santa Ysabel Dark Sky Retreat

Nice site that’s great for stargazing. Short drive from San Diego.

L

Lynette

August 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Santa Ysabel Dark Sky Retreat

Exactly as described. Loved the site. So accessible, but you really felt away frim everyone.

k

kim

August 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Idyllwild Camp

I enjoyed a wonderful weekend at this location. The communication prior to arriving was timely and accurate. The amenities are wonderful.

C

Cindy

August 2025

Tent

Group trip

1 night at Santa Ysabel Dark Sky Retreat

We came here to view the Perseid meteor shower. It was so private and secluded. We were able to talk & listen to some light music late into the night—without bothering anyone. Although the campsite is next to a road, we only saw one car pass by. Even though the moon was SO bright, the stars were still beautiful. It was really nice to use the two hammocks provided by the host. The porta-potty was relatively clean, but there were a lot of fire ants near it. Other than that, thank you for the lovely stay, Jeff!