Best Campgrounds near Amboy, CA

The Amboy area contains several desert camping opportunities in California's eastern Mojave region, primarily centered around Mojave National Preserve and nearby public lands. Dispersed camping options dominate the landscape, with sites like Amboy Crater Dispersed and Kelso Dunes Dispersed offering free primitive camping. Both tent and RV accommodations are available at most locations, though amenities are minimal. The volcanic landscape around Amboy Crater provides distinctive camping backdrops, while locations like Kelbaker Boulders Dispersed and Granite Pass offer more secluded options among rock formations approximately 20-30 miles from Amboy proper.

Desert conditions dictate camping logistics throughout the region, with extreme temperature fluctuations and limited services requiring thorough preparation. Most dispersed sites lack basic amenities like drinking water, toilets, or trash facilities. A review noted, "It's a parking lot for The Amboy volcanic crater with plenty of room for camping overnight for any size rig. Clean pit toilets and paved parking area. No water." High winds frequently impact camping comfort, particularly at exposed sites like Amboy Crater. Cellular coverage varies significantly, with some areas receiving good service while others remain completely disconnected. Four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended for accessing more remote camping areas, especially those with sandy approaches like Kelso Dunes and Sheephole Valley Wilderness.

Stargazing represents a primary attraction for campers throughout the region, with minimal light pollution creating exceptional night sky viewing opportunities. Campers frequently mention astrophotography as a draw for the Amboy Crater area. Wildlife viewing and geological exploration provide daytime activities, with hiking trails accessible from several camping areas. As described in feedback on The Dyrt, "Gets crowded during new moon weekends, and can get windy." Joshua Tree National Park campgrounds like Jumbo Rocks and Indian Cove provide more developed alternatives approximately 40-60 miles southwest of Amboy with improved amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets. These established campgrounds require reservations, unlike the first-come, first-served nature of dispersed camping options closer to Amboy.

Best Camping Sites Near Amboy, California (88)

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Recent Reviews near Amboy, CA

641 Reviews of 88 Amboy Campgrounds


  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 21, 2025

    North Joshua Tree

    Decent, but noisy and trashy

    The pros: free, tons of space to park and camp wherever you’d like, and close to Joshua Tree NP. The cons: locals use it as a shooting range and off-roading area, there’s trash and items used for target practice all over the land, and there’s a lot of rough areas that require high clearance (and plenty of areas that don’t).

  • e
    Oct. 15, 2025

    Hole In The Wall Campground — Mojave National Preserve

    If you visit the mojave desert visit this campsite!

    Gorgeous location, and a spacious quiet campsite. Great for stargazing! There are drop toilets which are very clean and plenty of drinking water near every site. There is a great 0.5mile walk to a visitor centre which has lots of info and wifi. If you visit ensure you enter through the road from the south - it has tarmac. The north road to enter is 15miles of washboard so is somewhat unsuitable for 2 wheel drive car

  • Alisa P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Jumbo Rocks Campground — Joshua Tree National Park

    Interesting location

    Great spot right in the park but we drove our bigger rig down the nice paved road to check it out and at the end was a round about that we couldn’t t navigate so we had to back out about 150 yards before we could attempt a turn around. Not big rig friendly. Which is too bad because it’s a great spot, don’t drive in unless you’ve made a reservation and they know the spot for you or will tell you you’re too long🤦‍♀️

  • Alisa P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Belle Campground — Joshua Tree National Park

    Amazing location

    Really only one spot that our larger RV (35 foot) would fit. Close to other campers and we run our generator some so we decided not to be those people! It is a great spot right in the middle of the park

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Kelbaker Boulders Dispersed — Mojave National Preserve

    Super nice rest stop

    I’m always sad we had to continue driving the next morning. I would have spent more time there. Super easy access we didn’t hear the freeway noise at all. Sunrise was splendid, easy access flat terrain good scenery looks good for mtn biking

  • andrew The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 22, 2025

    Twentynine Palms Resort

    Perfect for Vets and Golfers

    Awesome location. Joshua tree is very close. The MCCC base is about 3 miles away with exchange, commissary and golf course. We had the base course to ourselves on a Sunday afternoon. The RV park is just fine. Must be seasonal spot. Pretty empty in September. We had a nice pull through. Laundry room is fine and uses an app I could not get to work. $2, 2.25 per load in washer and dryer. They gave credit card readers on the machines so that’s what I used. Pool is open to the sun. Maybe they put the roof on in the winter. Very comfortable and quiet. We arrived on a Saturday and the office person recommended the Dark Skies program at the observatory near by. But it was sold out for the next three months so if you are going to be here maybe you should plan ahead if you want to experience the observatory program. I would stay again.

  • DeWayne G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Giant Rock Dispersed

    Big Rock camping

    Came out to Big Rock for the meteor shower in August. Yes, it was hot, but I like the heat. We set up our two-day camp along the ridge about 300 yards past Big Rock. Verizon Cell service was non-existent at our site, but we would get 5G at the Rock.

    Other than some graffiti the area was clean and well-kept.

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 5, 2025

    Sheephole Valley Wilderness

    Shooting stars

    Is August and we wanted to see the Perseid meteor shower. I know, desert, summer, super hot. It was 100° when we got to our area. By 10 pm it was in the 80’s. I don’t think it got to the 70’s.


Guide to Amboy

Desert camping near Amboy, California presents distinctive challenges due to extreme temperature fluctuations ranging from over 100°F in summer to below freezing in winter. The volcanic landscape east of Barstow sits at approximately 600 feet elevation, with frequent high winds that can dramatically impact camping comfort. Minimal services in the area require self-sufficiency for any dispersed camping excursion.

What to do

Hike volcanic formations: The Amboy Crater trail offers accessible desert hiking with geological features. "The day use parking lot has bathrooms. Not a lot of spots to camp but it's also not a crowded spot unless there is a stargazing event. It's close to Roy's for a fun little touristy stop," notes a camper at Amboy Crater Dispersed.

Explore boulder formations: Granite Pass provides opportunities for scrambling and photography among distinctive rock piles. "A very beautiful area with the opportunity for good camping. There are several dispersed sites--some closer to the boulders than others. Some sites more private than others," according to reviews at Granite Pass Dispersed Roadside Camping.

Climb sand dunes: Kelso Dunes offers challenging hiking with unique rewards. "The Kelso dunes are no joke. 600' climb in elevation in deeeeeeeep sand that's been accumulating for 25k years. It's breath taking literally once you're there. But go prepared with water and salty snacks to help with the sweat loss," advises a visitor to the area.

What campers like

Desert solitude: Many sites provide isolation rarely found in more popular camping regions. A camper at Kelbaker Boulders Dispersed shared, "We couldn't believe we were the only ones here, incredibly beautiful, clean, peaceful with beautiful sun sets and sun rises. We stayed there for 4 days and didn't see anyone."

Sunrise viewing: Early morning light creates distinctive desert landscapes worth the early wake-up. "We spent our days scrambling across the rock formations—each turn revealing a new panorama—and our nights marveling at the Milky Way in one of the best dark-sky locations in California," reports a visitor to the region's campgrounds.

Wildlife watching: Desert ecosystems support surprising biodiversity for patient observers. "Lots of birds to listen to and spy with binoculars. In the spring the desert flowers are blooming and beautiful to seek out different species," notes a visitor to Granite Pass.

What you should know

Limited services: No water or facilities exist at most dispersed sites. "Pit toilets are available and maintained. Most sites have fire rings as this seems to be a decommissioned campground. Very spotty cell connection," reports a camper at Kelso Dunes Dispersed.

Road challenges: Many camping areas require careful navigation. "Further down the road the sand gets deeper and the spots are less defined. Getting in early paid off I had first pick and got the first big site by the rock formation, which seems to be the best site," advises a Kelbaker Boulders camper.

Safety concerns: Temperature extremes require preparation. "There are a few options available depending on how far you're willing to push your vehicle into sandy terrain. If you don't turn into the most obvious site by the boulders right away, then you'll get to a four way intersection each way leading to different options," reports a camper.

Tips for camping with families

Accessible climbing: Several areas offer natural playground opportunities for children. "The campground was amazing. It was very hot in July so I went into town during peak afternoon hours but the morning and evenings at Jumbo Rocks are amazing!" shares a visitor to the Joshua Tree campground located 60 miles southwest.

Educational hiking: Volcanic and geological features provide learning opportunities. "Great place for tent camping! Definitely narrow spots for bigger vehicles, but for car-camping with tents, it was perfect! We did have a coyote visitor twice in the morning, so don't forget to keep your food/trash locked up from critters!" warns a Jumbo Rocks camper.

Morning activities: Schedule active pursuits before midday heat arrives. "Easy hike to the crater, but a hard pull to the top. The nighttime sky viewing was great," explains a visitor to Amboy Crater Dispersed.

Tips from RVers

Parking limitations: Most sites accommodate smaller RVs but have specific constraints. A camper at Indian Cove Campground noted, "We have a 29ft trailer with truck got in and out ok much bigger you would have a problem many tight spaces."

Water management: No hookups require careful resource planning. "This was an amazing place to camp for us. We did have to drive out to the highway and enter into the park on another road but that was o.k. There isn't a dump station at this campground and you can only fill up with water at the small ranger entrance building," explains a visitor to Indian Cove.

Leveling challenges: Uneven desert terrain requires additional setup time. "This is a great spot. The camping area is the overflow parking lot," mentions a visitor to Amboy Crater Dispersed, highlighting the limited developed options in the immediate area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Amboy, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, Amboy, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 88 campgrounds and RV parks near Amboy, CA and 36 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Amboy, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Amboy, CA is Amboy Crater Dispersed with a 4.7-star rating from 7 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Amboy, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 36 free dispersed camping spots near Amboy, CA.

What parks are near Amboy, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 parks near Amboy, CA that allow camping, notably Mojave National Preserve and Joshua Tree National Park.