White Tank Campground, near Twentynine Palms, California, is a fantastic spot for those looking to immerse themselves in the stunning landscapes of [Joshua Tree National Park](https://thedyrt.com/camping/california/near/joshua-tree-national-park). With campsites nestled among impressive rock formations, you’ll feel like you’re camping right in nature’s art gallery.

This campground is known for its spacious sites, many of which are separated by large boulders, giving you a sense of privacy. Visitors rave about the beautiful views and the proximity to the Arch Rock trailhead, making it easy to explore the area. One camper noted, “You are literally camping in between the beautiful rock formations,” which perfectly captures the unique charm of this location.

Amenities are basic but functional, with pit toilets and trash disposal available. While there’s no drinking water or electric hookups, the clean facilities and well-maintained environment make for a pleasant stay. As one reviewer put it, “The sites have fire pits, a standing grill, picnic table, and there is recycling/garbage/restrooms at the entrance.”

For those who enjoy stargazing, this campground is one of the darkest spots in the park, offering incredible views of the night sky. Just keep in mind that during peak seasons, you might encounter some foot traffic as hikers pass through on their way to the trails. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a longer adventure, White Tank Campground provides a memorable desert experience.

This is small campground with 15 sites. There are pit toilets, picnic tables, and fire pits. There is no water available. RVs and vehicles with trailers may not exceed 25 feet. To secure a site, 1. Locate an empty campsite. 2. Occupy the site (set up a tent or leave personal items to show occupancy). 3. Proceed immediately to an entrance station to complete registration and pay. You must pay for the site within one hour of set up. If entrance stations are closed, payment may be delayed until morning.

White Tank Campground — Joshua Tree National Park

Join the fun near Twentynine Palms. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Twentynine Palms. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Twentynine Palms camping trip.

Twentynine Palms

The Best Camping Near Twentynine Palms, California

Camping at White Tank during a Joshua Tree summer is a great location in the middle of the park (easy to get there from any of the 3 entrances) and perfectly positions you for some early morning hiking before the sun gets to hot.

The campground is set in the middle of a boulder field- very dusty and sandy--with no trees (sorry hammock campers).  Some sites have more privacy than others and most are separated by big boulders. Each site has a concrete picnic table and a fire pit (some sites also have a grill).  There is a pit toilet (which I compulsively checked for rattlesnakes (did't see any). 

There is NO water access at all-- you will have to bring in all the water you need for drinking, cooking, washing.  The closest places to buy food, gas, firewood, supplies are about 25 miles away. Bring more than you need.

A fun feature of this campground is that it is also the trail head to Arch Rock.  The hike is very short, but it's fun to be able to see it at different times of the day and night, and to play around in the boulder field. We also did the Ryan Mountain hike from here and were glad to be able to get there early in the morning before it got too hot. Note--sites that are close to the Arch Rock trailhead  get a lot of non-campground vehicle and foot traffic during the morning. If you want to sleep in, pick a site further from the trail head.

If you're planning to hang out in the campsite during the day, you'll want to pick a site where you'll have midday shade from the boulders. 

Camp among the Boulders and Wake up for Early Morning Hiking

This was my first time to Joshua Tree for camping and it was a special trip for me so aside from the weather and other hiccups on this trip - it's getting 5 stars because this was the trip that my boyfriend of 11 years proposed while we were camping.

Now that we're past the mushy stuff --

The campground came as a suggestion from a friend of mine who knew we were not looking for somewhere to rock climb (I know that is a big hobby out in Joshua Tree). Right off of the campground is a cute little 0.3 mile hike called Arch Rock, but just down the road are more dramatic and longer hikes. We chose Ryan Mountain which is 2.7 miles up and down and mildly exhausting depending on how often you hike I imagine. I ride bikes more than I hike mountains so my level of energy is quite low for hikes but once at the top had incredible views! Totally recommend it - just remember to take a ton of water if you're going in the summer time. It can get HOT. Luckily we went just after Thanksgiving so it was still rather nice weather during the day.

The rock formations within White Tank were incredible! Huge huge boulders and tons to explore. There's a ravine that was dry - no idea if this gets water in it but there was no water and we were able to wander down it for miles! Very picturesque for those who like those nature selfies.

The camp spaces are awesome and some are tucked further back where you would have to hike your stuff in just a bit, but then you get more privacy. I didn't get one of those spaces but we saw them as we were wandering around. When we showed up it was during probably 40 mile per hour winds and setting up our tent and cooking with my boyfriend who had a broken hand in a cast…well…those things were not fun but we hunkered down and by morning the wind had died down and we were able to enjoy the rest of our adventure.

I am looking forward to going back when the natural elements and broken bones (or lack thereof) are more in our favor.

Something special

This is a very quite relaxed campground. It has 15 sites some are bigger than the others. My daughter and I stayed in 13 and had no side neighbors only one that was across the road. At sunset it is very picturesque. Only .3 miles to arch rock.

There is no running water and only 2 vault toilets that are at the entrance of the campground. Bring plenty of water.

Star gazers dream

This is a smaller campgrounds in Joshua Tree with only 15 sites and no amenities.

Best thing about this campgrounds is that Arch Rock trail is there for your sunrise and sunset needs. Scramble the boulders as well.

The campground is is pretty much in the middle of the park, great proximity to the other features in the south, west and farther north.

Camp near Arch rock

we had a lot of fun climbing the giant boulders and exploring all that joshua tree has to offer. bring plenty of water and sunscreen and stay on trails.  the park services now offers buses that will take you to all the popular areas to help with traffic congestion.  my favorite things to see are the cholla field, skull rock and of course the arch.  make sure to let someone know where you will be and when you plan to come back because people go missing often here. 

beautiful

Stayed here in march, camground is great! The spots are big and the boulders provide a lot of privacy. Amazing spot to view the stars and arch rock is an easy half mile hike from the camground. We went to arch rock in the middle of the night to shoot some photos of the milky way! In my opinion one of the best spots to camp in joshua tree. It is a first come first served ground, so make sure to get there early morning to secure a spot.

Nice, quiet, easy access to arch rock

Small and first come, first served. A popular site for visitors so, expect plenty during ALL hours. This is a fantastic spot for photography! Bring water and TP. This is the camping spot that has access to the Arch Rock Trail.

Tiny, rustic, and absolutely beautiful!!!

The thing I love about this desert, is it's ability to be beautiful in any weather and situation. Whether is is down pouring or blazing hot, the desert displays it's true beauty in the form of wildflowers, Joshua Trees, amazing rock formations, and loads of secret wildlife. 

  

We typically stay where is available in Jtree and for the most part, this camp tends to be completely full. I'm not sure if it is because it is the first site of of the enormous granite rock formations after driving through the last bit of the Colorado Desert, or because it is near the junction for the South and Eastern entrances of the park, but it is always full. 

  

The hiking here is super fun, you feel like a real life spiderman. It is easy to get lost on the rocks so make sure you keep track of where in the area you are. 

  

The toilets are pit toilets and there is no cell service. Most people trying to communicate with other people will post notes on the back of the entrance board. 

  

While you are here, you should drive down and check out the Cholla garden at sunset. It is magnificent!

On the Border of Colorado and Mojave Desert

Gorgeous campground with an easy hike to the arch. No water available bring everything you need with you close town is 29 palms. 

Gorgeous 

Great photo spot. Only a few campsites and lots of fun hiking and exploring the immediate area. Gravity outhouse and no water so have supplies. 

Great spot

During the warmer months, the wind gets so intense! Gusts up to 70 mph at times. Be sure to hunker down and put away your folding chairs 😅

Windy Wonderland!

This wasn't my first time in Joshua Tree. And, admittedly, I was just passing though this time around. 

But White Tank was super convenient because I snagged the last site a little before noon and was then able to head back down into Twentynine Palms to stock up on supplies and get some mobile work done. 

Got back to my site in time to enjoy the short Arch Rock Trail and scramble around on the rocks for a bit. 

The Cholla Cactus Garden was also an epic stop at sunrise the next morning on my way south through the park! 

Snagged the last open spot!

Clean and pleasant campground in Joshua Tree National Park with great giant rock landscape. Also a short walk to famous Arch Rock!

Close to Arch Rock in Joshua Tree 

We camped here in February for two nights and it was gorgeous. The stars illuminated the sky every night until the moon rose up from behind the rock formations. We loved that our site was less than 0.5 miles to Arch Rock. 

Beautiful rock formations including Arch Rock

Really neat small campground close to the park entrance at 29 Palms.  Spots are either divided by a good amount of distance or large rocks.  Apparently this is one of the darkest parts of the park so the star gazing is incredible.  Keep in mind, even though signs advise against it, non-campers will park at campsites to have lunch or shorten the hike to Arch Rock.  Don’t be discouraged and think all the spots are full.  Chances are if there is a car parked in a spot with no camping gear in site, the spot is still up for grabs! 

Spots are private and stat gazing is amazing

This is the first campground I have been to besides the dry lake bed in Joshua Tree.  I highly recommend this location. Sites are well spaced and most are separated by large boulders, which gives you the feeling like you are the only site in the campground.

Great Desert Camping

Maybe one or two level sites pit toilets are not cleaned over a period of days. A lot of traffic looking for a trailhead for the arch trail. Beautiful area with a fantastic sunset when I was there.

Could be better

This was one of my most favorite camping spots I’ve ever been to. You are literally camping in between the beautiful rock formations and you are a stone throw away from the Arch. It is first come first serve, and $15 for a spot. I got there on a Monday around 10am and there were quite a few spots open, it’s a small campsite though so not very many spots. I put out a camping chair and a picnic blanket to claim my spot, went off hiking all day, and came back to it. The ranger usually comes by in the morning to collect payment is what the office said, and that’s what happened. Sites have fire pits, a standing grill, picnic table and there is recycling/garbage/restrooms at the entrance. I have AT&amp;T and did not get cell service. Highly recommend this campground! 

Beautiful camping spot!

I loved this campground! Our campsite was very large, had many accessible amenities and was not too far from the restrooms. 
Our site also had a few trails nearby to explore through all the beautiful boulders which was awesome. The only downside was that due to this same reason we had a ton of people walking through our campsite, even tho their were other ways to go around us, which was annoying. Something else to consider if you go in Winter or early spring, there is lots of wind, which makes it hard to do much outdoors while hanging out at camp.
Other than that, nothing but great things to say!

Beautiful location & Amazing views

Really interesting sites within the rock formation area. Pit toilets, smooth gravel roads, with fire pit, bbq and picnic table at every site. Clean.  Not super busy this time of year!

Great location in the park 






We loved camping 🏕 here! Great big rocks, and good trails near by! An arch too! 





Big rocks!

This looks like a great spot if you have a van or small RV. Lots of hiking nearby

Not for a bigger rig

We stayed here our first two nights. Currently government shut down so we didn’t have to pay entry or camping fee. Definitely recommend taking advantage of it! But it was a beautiful camp site. Heart shape Rock and Arch Rock Trail is a short walking distance! 

White Tank Campground

Great camp ground, multiple sites available with fire rings, nice size rocks to climb on and explore around as well as great trails to take to venture around the area, bathrooms are available and clean every morning but no running water, came during government shutdown so everything just so happen to be free from park entry to the camp site but besides that I do recommend the area is clean and well picked up after 

Photos of White Tank Campground — Joshua Tree National Park

Real photos from real campers