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The Desert Ambassador Camp

Hosted by Max · Yucca Valley, California
2 sites · RV, Tent · 3 acres
100%
·
26 reviews
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Near Joshua Tree National Park
Within a 60-minute drive from the Black Rock Nature Center.
Nomadic camping
Best for self-contained campers. There are no toilets, showers, or potable water at this Hipcamp.
Max is a Star Host
Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.
Off-leash friendly
Pets can be off-leash at this Hipcamp.
Experience peaceful desert camping with wide-open views, stunning sunrises and sunsets, and incredible star-filled skies in the Southern California high desert. The Desert Ambassador Camp is located just minutes from the West Entrance of Joshua Tree National Park on 2.5 acres of natural, undeveloped land. We fell in love with this area for its quiet beauty, open space, and easy access to the park, and created a simple, off-grid retreat that allows guests to fully experience the desert. We offer two campsites, Upper and Lower, situated on opposite sides of the property for added privacy. Each site provides its own space to relax, unwind, and enjoy the surrounding landscape. Spend your days resting beneath Joshua trees, hiking nearby trails, or exploring the gently rolling desert terrain. In the evenings, gather around the fire pit and enjoy clear skies filled with stars. The camp is less than two hours from Los Angeles and Orange County and only 2.5 miles from the West Entrance of Joshua Tree National Park, as well as Covington Flats and Black Rock hiking and day-use areas. It is also conveniently located between the towns of Joshua Tree and Yucca Valley, with access to off-road recreation areas such as Johnson Valley OHV. The land is home to native Joshua trees, cactus, and seasonal wildflowers, with views of rocky foothills to the south and open desert valleys to the north and east. Wildlife sightings may include jackrabbits, quail, hawks, kangaroo rats, snakes, and coyotes. This is primitive, dry camping with no water, power, or hookups. Guests should bring their own tent and or RV, camping supplies, plenty of water, and a sense of adventure.
from
$36
/ night
2 sites

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RV/tent sites

2 sites
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Ambassador Site

100%
(25)
RV/tent site · Sleeps 6 · Vehicles under 25 ft
The Lower Site offers offers remote primitive camping, with a central fire ring, two designated tent spots, RV parking, and a picnic table. The property is a mixture of loose decomposed granite, rocky terrain with many Joshua trees, cactus and wildflowers. the terrain on this area of the property is relatively even. The lower site is just down the trail from a natural wash. Bring your tent and/or RV, camping supplies, (plenty of water), and your sense of adventure.
Campfires allowed
No toilet
No potable water
Pets allowed
No electrical hookup
No water hookup
from
$36
/ night
for 4 guests
  • Picture of the site
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Instant book

Desert Ambassador - Upper Site

100%
(10)
RV/tent site · Sleeps 6 · Vehicles under 25 ft
The Upper Site is larger and offers primitive camping with a 12'x24' platform/deck to lounge or set up on, a fire ring down a short lighted path, tent spots, RV parking, and a picnic table. The upper site also has 2 cornhole boards for use (with your own bags) The property is a mixture of loose decomposed granite, rocky terrain with many Joshua trees, cactus and wildflowers. Bring your tent and/or RV, camping supplies, (plenty of water), and your sense of adventure.
Campfires allowed
No toilet
No potable water
Pets allowed
No electrical hookup
No water hookup
from
$41
/ night
for 4 guests
from
$36
/ night
2 sites

Reviews

100% Recommend35 ratings · 26 reviews
Recommends
· February 2026
25 ft travel trailer · With kids ·
Desert Ambassador - Upper Site
Nice spot. Close to town and the park. A few other properties around but didn’t feel too close. View down the valley is nice. Max is a great communicator. Would go back
N
Nicholas M.
5 reviews
Recommends
· January 2026
22 ft travel trailer · With pets ·
Desert Ambassador - Upper Site
Great spot secluded but close to town and park entrance
J
Jay N.
2 reviews
Recommends
· January 2026
Relaxing and chill campsite
Tent · Group trip ·
Desert Ambassador - Upper Site
Nice area to camp if JTNP is all booked as was the case in my situation. Way more peaceful, private, but with the exception of seeing city lights (which wasn’t a problem). The proximity is nice and it’s far enough to feel remote without having to hike back into town for another 30-45 minutes. The platform is great, as is the fire pit. Drove to the site in my Prius.
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Max S.
3 reviews
Recommends
· December 2025
21 ft travel trailer ·
Desert Ambassador - Upper Site
Peace and Quiet. For being close to town we could not hear anything. Very well maintained property. While we didn't use the fire pit it was nice. We enjoyed beautiful nights under the stars and unwinding.
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Troy B.
3 reviews
Recommends
· November 2025
Great stay at Upper Camp
Tent ·
Desert Ambassador - Upper Site
My 13 year old son and I had a great time at the upper camp. There was a great fire ring, and picnic table. The site was clean and exactly as described. I would highly recommend staying here. It's a short drive to Joshua Tree National Park.
N
Norm K.
3 reviews
Recommends
· October 2025
21 ft Class B ·
Desert Ambassador - Lower Site
The Lower Ambassador site exceeded our expectations! The location was perfect — close enough to town and the park for easy access, yet secluded enough to enjoy the wildlife and the peaceful silence of the trees and stars at night. The views of the skyline and surrounding landscape were incredible, allowing us to take in both sunrise and sunset in total tranquility. It truly elevated our experience. If we’re ever in the area again, we will absolutely come back!
J
Jessica E.
4 reviews
Recommends
· February 2025
Peaceful Stay with Amazing Views
20 ft campervan · With pets ·
Desert Ambassador - Upper Site
We stayed at the Desert Ambassador Upper Site in a 20-foot camper van, and it was a great experience. Even arriving at night, the site was easy to find. Two-wheel drive vehicles should watch for soft sand, but overall, navigation was simple. The road is a bit bumpy, but driving slow makes it manageable. The location is quiet and feels remote, though you can see some city lights and a few nearby houses. Noise wasn’t an issue, and we still felt secluded. The deck was a fantastic touch—we parked right beside it, and it worked perfectly for setting up a Gazelle tent for our six-year-old son and two small dogs. The views were breathtaking, and while we didn’t see as many stars due to clouds and the moon, this would be a great spot for stargazing on a clear night. There’s also a fire pit, which we didn’t use but was nice to have. A major plus is the convenience of nearby stores—Walmart is just 1.5 miles away, making it easy to grab anything you need. Overall, this was a fantastic campsite, and we’ll definitely return, hopefully on a clearer night. Highly recommend for a peaceful desert getaway!
B
Brian K.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· January 2025
14 ft travel trailer · With kids ·
Desert Ambassador - Upper Site
We loved camping here! The site was level and worked great for our tear drop trailer. We stayed a couple of nights and loved the starry nights and proximity to the park. The wooden deck was also super helpful for setting up a play area for our 11mo old. Would definitely recommend!
C
Caitlin K.
3 reviews
Recommends
· February 2024
Beautiful 360 Views
Tent ·
Desert Ambassador - Upper Site
My boyfriend and I had a great time on the property! There were a few things that made it seem like they were still working on building things out like stray boxes of flooring wood and something that looked like satellites on the ground/maybe some electric poles, and the cornhole bags were missing, but the 360 views of the mountains were definitely amazing! I think once the grounds are more cleaned up it will definitely be worth the price point for tent camping. Overall we had a great time and will definitely consider staying here again on our next JT visit!
P
Paige P.
2 reviews
Recommends
· January 2024
Tent ·
Desert Ambassador - Lower Site
We had a great time staying at the Dessert Ambasador- Lower Site! The campsite was well maintained and Max’s instructions on how to find it made it possible to find even in the dark! It felt remote compared to Joshua Tree Park campsites but a short drive from 29 plans main areas and the park itself! We did see 4 coyotes roaming near camp when we pulled up after being out exploring so be on alert if your pets are off leash near the camp. Overall great stay!
L
Lauren W.
2 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· November 2023
Tent · With kids ·
Desert Ambassador - Lower Site
Great spot with plenty of space and privacy. Close to town if you are looking for that convenience. Very close to Joshua Tree, perfect place to stay right outside the park.
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Josh C.
3 reviews
Recommends
· May 2023
Tent ·
Desert Ambassador - Lower Site
Loved this site! Private and beautiful space. Off the main road and about a 15 minute drive to the Joshua Tree National Park entrance. Max is a great host - very helpful and kind!
O
Olivia J.
2 reviews
Recommends
· April 2023
Awesome site
Tent · Group trip ·
Desert Ambassador - Lower Site
Awesome campsite with lots of space, nice sunsets, and great stargazing despite being so close to town. The site is conveniently located, right by the park entrance and also a short drive into Yucca Valley if you need to get anything from town. Max was super accommodating and gave us a bunch of useful info when we arrived.
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Luisa S.
2 reviews
Recommends
· April 2023
Tent ·
Desert Ambassador - Lower Site
Beautiful site surrounded by Joshua trees and desert plants. Host is organized and friendly, site is neat and clean! Definitely would recommend for campers who are self-sufficient at dry camping, bring a tarp or shade if the weather looks to be windy or hot, it is on a sloped plain (between the mountains where the park is and the valley where the towns are)! Great access to MTB or walk on dirt roads to Northside of JT park without a car if desired, or drive dirt to access trails and exploring north west of park. Thanks max!
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Em P.
4 reviews
Recommends
· April 2022
1st class park setting yet secluded
Tent · With pets ·
Desert Ambassador - Lower Site
Beautiful camp site. So close to the park entrance yet so secluded! Amazing fire pit. Bring lots of wood. Our hostess Dana was Lovely. Highly recommended ❤️💕
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Julie G.
4 reviews
Recommends
· April 2022
Camping Under the Joshua Trees!
Tent · With kids ·
Desert Ambassador - Lower Site
Beautiful site amongst the Joshua Trees, close to everything but far enough removed that you feel like youre truly in the backcountry of Joshua Tree. Very close to a much less crowded area of JTNP. Highly recommend.
G
Genevieve K.
2 reviews
Recommends
· April 2022
Tent · Group trip ·
Desert Ambassador - Lower Site
This is the perfect location. It feels remote but is a 5 minute drive from Vons supermarket. The host Max was prompt with texts and very helpful with tips. Joshua Tree NP is less than a 10 minute drive away. There is a picnic table and fire pit with a grill that fits over it. We brought a canopy and set it over the picnic table- there is no shade on the property which is typical of the area and landscape. Bring lots of water!
D
Deborah S.
4 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· March 2022
Beautiful Private Camp
19 ft Class C · Group trip ·
Desert Ambassador - Lower Site
Max was an amazing host, answered all our questions and made sure the camp was best for our family. It's quiet, private, and beautiful. Location is minutes to Joshua Tree or all the amenities of Joshua Tree city.
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Kenneth R.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· March 2022
16 ft campervan ·
Desert Ambassador - Lower Site
Beautiful location with nice picnic table and fire pit. Very close to Joshua National park. Excellent communication. We had a great time!
A
Andrew T.
2 reviews
Recommends
· March 2022
Terrific alternative to the Park
Tent · With pets ·
Desert Ambassador - Lower Site
We had a wonderful experience at this site. Max was the perfect host; terrific communication, meeting us at check-in and going over the site. Great privacy, especially compared to the very crowded campsites at Joshua Tree Nat'l Park, but still close enough to the park and town. A lot of work has gone into making this a great site including a bottle opener on one of the posts and soft lighting on one of the many Joshua Trees.
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Christine S.
3 reviews
Recommends
· November 2021
Desert Ambassador - Lower Site
Max and his wife are fantastic hosts. Super welcoming and excellent communication about their place. They even gave us recommendations for local spots. Their land is accessible yet private with beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Views galore!
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Lisa W.
4 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· October 2021
Beautiful remote desert dry camp
Group trip ·
Desert Ambassador - Lower Site
We really enjoyed our stay! Great spot if you want all the desert scenery, to be away from the crowds and are prepared to dry camp. Short drive to JTNP. Max is very friendly, good with the communication and was there to greet us when we arrived and showed us to the site. Feels remote but you’re just a short drive to town if you need to pick anything up. Highly recommend!
J
Jennifer B.
4 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· April 2021
Beautiful & private nature getaway!
Group trip ·
Desert Ambassador - Lower Site
This campsite is absolutely perfect if you want to submerge yourself in nature privately and safely! It is free from other campers and is packed with Joshua trees and beautiful desert plant life, animals, etc. The camp host Max is lovely and gave us lots of great recommendations about nearby activities. He continually responded to my messages promptly and made booking a breeze. Not a far drive from the national park entrance makes it much easier to get up early and beat the crowds. (Also a quick drive to coffee and food, firewood, etc.) 10/10 would recommend and hope to be back soon!
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Brooke V.
4 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· April 2021
Group trip ·
Desert Ambassador - Lower Site
Great spot in the desert with very easy access to Joshua Tree NP. Our family loved being away from the crowds of the park campgrounds but still have the Desert environment, stars, and abundance of Joshua Trees, yucca’s, and other desert flora. Host Max went out of his way to welcome us despite an unplanned late arrival. Definitely recommend - thanks Max!
A
Andrew B.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· April 2021
Secluded & Beautiful Location
Group trip ·
Desert Ambassador - Lower Site
We loved our stay at Max’s camp. The location was secluded, filled with Joshua trees, and close to multiple park gates. Day views of the desert and night views of the stars were stellar. Max was a very accommodating host and communication was easy. Will stay again. Thanks Max!
D
Drew Q.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· March 2021
Great little remote camp
Desert Ambassador - Lower Site
We’ve been traveling to the national parks during COVID, and Joshua Tree was next on our list. We were looking for a campsite within the park, but they were booked. We found this little gem on Hipcamp and could not have been happier. It’s just minutes from the gate, but unlike the cramped and noisy sites within the park, this camp was peaceful and remote, like a desert oasis. If you like camping to get away from it all then make this your first choice when visiting Joshua Tree. You won’t be disappointed. The host here is great, very friendly and wants to make sure you fully enjoy your experience. Will definitely stay again the next time we’re in the area.
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Roger H.
5 years on Hipcamp

Location

Yucca Valley, San Bernardino, California, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Max B.

Joined in February 2021

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