Best Tent Camping near California City, CA

Tent campsites near California City, California range from established sites to more primitive options in the surrounding desert and mountain areas. Joshua Tree Ranch Los Angeles offers a secluded tent camping experience with no facilities but scenic views of Joshua trees, located about 70-90 minutes from Los Angeles. Vakinheim provides a single primitive tent site with bonfire areas and is rated highly for its peaceful desert setting.

Most tent campgrounds in this region require campers to be self-sufficient. Drinking water is scarce, with few sites offering potable water sources—Joshua Tree Ranch and Vakinheim have no drinking water available. Tent sites typically feature bare desert terrain with minimal shade. Fire restrictions vary seasonally, with Joshua Tree Ranch and Vakinheim allowing campfires when conditions permit. A camper noted that "the Joshua Trees are great but the roads are really just ruts and some of the area was used to dump junk," highlighting the undeveloped nature of these sites. Cell service is limited but present in some areas.

The desert tent camping experience offers unique opportunities for stargazing and solitude. During winter months, temperatures can drop to freezing overnight but warm quickly during daytime hours. According to one visitor at Joshua Tree Ranch, "When there's snow on the Tehachapi mountains and the San Gabriel mountains, the view is incredible." Wind conditions can significantly impact tent camping comfort, with desert sites experiencing occasional strong gusts that blow sand and small rocks. Most tent sites accommodate drive-in access, though road quality varies considerably and high-clearance vehicles are recommended for reaching more remote camping areas. Many campers appreciate the minimal light pollution, making these areas excellent for night sky observation despite their relative proximity to urban centers.

Best Tent Sites Near California City, California (12)

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Tent Camping Reviews near California City, CA

259 Reviews of 12 California City Campgrounds


  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 6, 2020

    Ricardo Campground — Red Rock Canyon State Park

    Fantastic Beauty

    Nearly all these campsites butt up against the Badlands-esque rock formations with mini slot canyons to explore right at your campsite. My son absolutely loved this place. I loved it. We had a great time!

    It costs $25 per night and has zero amenities but the landscape makes up for it. Joshua trees and amazing rock formations, Jack rabbits and desert squirrels... it’s just great.

    1 bar AT&T if you’re lucky. No water, no electricity, but there’s a dump station near the visitor center. No electric car charging. Lots of tents and small rigs, nothing big. Campground uses narrow one-way dirt road. There are about 50 campsites with a picnic table, fire ring, rocky tent pad and fairly level gravel parking spot. At least 2 spots are ADA with concrete parking spots and nearby restroom.

    Now during COVID time it’s self registration, not sure about other times. We stayed one night and never saw a ranger. The campground was about half full and didn’t fill up while we were there.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 11, 2022

    Camping @ Quail Run Ostrich Ranch

    Great tour and amenities

    General: This is not an official campground but due to its proximity to the Pacific Crest Trail, the owners make it available for tent and RV campers as well as members of Harvest Host. 

    Site Quality: There are no designated sites so you can park where it best suits you on a large and level gravel lot. Since there was a strong wind advisory to last through the night into the next morning, Jessica recommended we park along the trees, and this made for an effective windbreak. There is also an additional gravel lot where the only other RV camper stayed so we had privacy. 

    Bathhouse: I was hoping for a vault toilet so was pleasantly surprised to find flush toilets with a sink, soap, and paper towels. No showers and no hot water.

    Activities/Other Amenities: Take a tour of the ostrich farm – we learned a lot and it is worth the $10pp. At the end of the tour, you can purchase ostrich oil (many benefits), ostrich eggs (sometimes sold out), local brews, local honey, and a few other items. Other amenities include a propane bbq, fire ring, picnic table, and electric outlets (located by each light pole by the stage/dance floor which is also used for weddings and other gatherings). There is also a peaceful garden and a playground. Other activities include ax throwing and archery, neither of which we tried. (A girl scout troop was doing archery when we were there). Quail Run is a family-owned business and everyone we talked with was very welcoming and communication was thorough. 

    Note: the gates are closed between 5 pm and 8 am (7 pm-7 am during the summer). If you need it, cell coverage via Verizon is available.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 8, 2023

    Ricardo Campground — Red Rock Canyon State Park

    Camping heaven!

    General: Smallish (approx. 50-site) campground that does not take reservations. No hookups, one walk-in tent site, and the others are either back-in or pull-through. Some are “double” sites that would be ideal for sharing. 

    Site Quality: Varies. All sites (except four, three of which are designated handicap sites) are a mixture of sand/gravel. Not all are completely level, and some accommodate larger vehicles than others. 

    Bathhouse: Pit toilets only. Some are open air and some are enclosed; the one closest to our site was clean. 

    Activities: hiking, photography. Good night sky area. The nature trail is accessible directly from the campground and the Hagen Canyon trail is ¾ mile from the campground. Red Cliffs is another short trail across the highway; these are the most popular (and short) hikes in the park but there are others. The views are jaw-dropping and well worth exploring. 

    Note that although there is a dump station, there is a $20 charge to use it. 

    We arrived around 1 pm on a Sunday in late March and had our pick of sites, however, the campground filled in to about ¾ full by the end of the day.

  • K
    Apr. 6, 2017

    Owl Canyon Campground

    A slice of heaven if you sleep outside

    We found Owl Canyon a few years back and became enchanted with this place. About three miles of washboarded (but maintained) gravel road leads to a small campgroundwith exquisite rock formations and plenty of hiking trails leading off in all directions. The first time we were here, we were the only campers other than the adorable camp hosts who had taken the trouble to put small solar lights on the vault toilets and soap on a rope hanging from the water faucets. Unfortunately, they are no longer there and neither is the solitude. The camp had a wide range of campers from Coleman pup tents to Land Yachts. UCSB has a large research station where students come out and study geology and mapping. It was fun to chat with them and get infected with their enthusiasm. The weather was mild enough to sleep out under the stars. The night sky is stunning! Wind can be an issue as it was this last visit. Tents were challenged and I was woken up in the middle of the night by a levitated camp chair landing on me. i will guess if you go sometime after spring break and mid-week, the campground won't be as crowded. Toilets are clean, water is limited and the price is right. Make sure to take extra tarps and rope to rig up a wind break or two and you are sure to have a nice stay. .

  • K
    Oct. 24, 2020

    Tehachapi Mountain Park

    Quiet campground

    We stopped here on the way from SF to AZ in October. There are lots of open spots, FCFS. Vault toilets and trash cans scattered throughout. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. There is a nature trail nearby although we didn’t have time to go check it out. Cost was $18 paid in envelopes at the entrance.

  • Chanel C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 18, 2018

    Saddleback Butte State Park Campground

    Ranger Review: Snap Buds at Saddleback Butte State Park

    [ PROS ]

    • Each site comes with a shade shelter, BBQ grill, and fire pit (max 8 to a site)
    • Great for solitude! It’s pretty quiet and empty, and there was only two other groups at the campsite so finding a place to set up was not a problem.
    • Sites have a good amount of distance from other sites. Not much privacy in terms of bushes/trees (it’s a desert!) but they are well spaced and the campgrounds is relatively empty so you can pick and choose where to pitch your tent.
    • First come first serve, cash only. Sites are by self-registration so it’s the honor system. You fill out the form and place $20 fee into an envelope and deposit into the drop box. Don’t forget to take your stub to show proof of payment in case someone comes around to verify.
    • You can hike the Dowen Nature Trail or the Little Butte Trail. Both are easy walks with flat/wide trails. Great for kids and elderly (wheelchair accessible)! Just make sure you wear sunscreen, good shoes, and drink lots of water.
    • Lots of flora and fauna to see! From rabbits and rattlesnakes, to Joshua Trees and wildflowers. You can also see one of the oldest living plants on earth, the creosote bush, and they can live over 10,000 years! It’s pretty awesome!
    • You can see granite buttes all around, which is one of the natural characteristics of Antelope Valley. If you want to hike up the buttes it’s a little steep so be prepared.
    • Evenings here are SPECTACULAR. The sky lights up with endless stars and you can see the milky way very clearly. Also, you can watch shooting stars ALL NIGHT. Absolutely magical.
    • Updated restroom facilities with nice flush toilets and sinks. They are relatively clean and well kept.

    [ CONS ]

    • No fires allowed! Which is weird because each campsite comes with a fire ring.
    • Lack of ranger presence, which is a pro or con depending on how you look at it. In some ways it’s nice feeling off the grid and removed, but the lack of ranger presence means that neighbors don’t always follow the campground rules and it feels a little sketch. Camp Host here is awesome though!
    • Really dusty and windy with constant 20mph winds. Our stuff was flying away constantly so we had to take the time to have everything tucked, staked, and held down securely. The inside of our tent was constantly covered in a fine layer of dust, even with the rainfly on. It was hard to sleep at night because our tent was rattling and flapping all night and dust was flying in.
    • SCORCHING HOT during the day and frigid cold at night. Just like you’d imagine a desert to be. If you come prepared, you’ll be fine :)
    • No showers here but there are water faucets if you need to splash some water on your face to cool down.

    Product Review

    As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time - this weekend I tested Snapbuds. Snapbuds is an earbud detangling system which keeps your earbuds from ever getting getting jumbled up into one of those hair-pulling knots. I love that they found such a simple solution to a problem that is VERY REAL. If you’ve ever spent time untangling earbuds than you understand the frustration.

    When I received the product it seemed simple enough, but I was a little overwhelmed with how much instructions came with the product. There are 2 ways - original and bolo - that you can set up your snapbuds, and I went with the original. Just be careful when setting up because they are permanently affixed. I screwed that up the first time opening the package because I got excited to snap them together without reading directions and ended up having one less snap.

    Once you have your snapbuds in place, it’s really simple and easy to use. They look a little funny on the ear buds at first, but they are pretty small and light so they don’t affect the function or design. I crumbled my earbuds and shoved them into my pocket to try to tangle it naturally a couple times and they never tangled! The magnet placements really make them hassle free. Snapbuds are one of those products that you never realized you needed until you own it! It’s great for travel and people on-the-go, which makes it great for camping/backpacking. It’s nice to be able to pack your headphones away into a stuff sack or pocket, and easily pull them pull them out without having to deal with the nightmare of untangling them.

  • Emily C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 20, 2025

    Monarch-Rand Mine

    Quiet, Peaceful

    Quiet place, we only saw one other set of campers. The warm sun the next morning was beautiful but there is next to no vegetation. Additionally, this campsite has nothing so take what you need and leave no trace! It worked for a night. The road in is kind of weird as it runs parallel to another road similar, we drove along one and would alternate to try and avoid bad potholes. Some are inevitable and I would imagine high clearance is needed to access.

  • Mon M.
    Jul. 2, 2018

    Owl Canyon Campground

    BLM campground at the edge of Mojave

    It is a BLM campground in the Rainbow Basin right above Barstow, CA. Have to drive through washboard road for about five miles to get to the campground. Nice site with a trail head to Owl Canyon right by the campground. First come first serve site, but $6 per night. Each site has a picnic table with a shelter and a fire ring. Was very windy when we were there and had to put up tarp as wind shelter. Most pit toilets were clean, but it was an Easter weekend so very crowded with college field trips. No water (taps were not working) so bring your own water. There are some interesting playground structures at the campground towards the trail head. It was a full moon day so it was pretty bright that night and could not do stargazing. The view from our sites (first night #??, second night #22) were great. You can even see San Bernardino Mountains. A great place to camp if you are into geology. You can hike into Owl Canyon or drive a short distance to see colorful geological formations at Rainbow Basin. It was hot even in April so be prepared for the heat if you are not used to it.

  • Albert  V.
    May. 29, 2019

    Owl Canyon Campground

    Quiet camp site

    Owl Canyon Camp site is run by BLM. It’s in the dessert near Rainbow Basin. There are pit toilets that were clean and good condition. There approximately 20 campsites with fire ring, table, barbecue grill and a covering over table area. The views are nice for the dessert and their is wildlife in the area. Also BLM recommendations to bring water because the water provided runs out and is for washing.


Guide to California City

Tent campsites near California City, California span across desert landscapes with elevations ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 feet in the western Mojave Desert. Conditions vary dramatically between seasons, with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 100°F during daytime hours and winter nights dipping below freezing. The area's camping options typically feature minimal facilities on hard-packed desert soil with scattered vegetation dominated by creosote bush and scattered Joshua trees.

What to do

Night photography opportunities: Desert camping locations near California City offer exceptional stargazing conditions due to minimal light pollution. At El Mirage Dry Lake, the open terrain provides unobstructed horizon views. According to one visitor, "This place is huge! The dry lake bed is where a lot of the off roaring happens, but there are lots of places to explore too."

Off-road exploration: The surrounding desert contains numerous unmaintained dirt roads suitable for high-clearance vehicles. Near Breckenridge Campground, visitors can access mountain trails with varying difficulty levels. One camper notes, "Cool place to go and chill, just make sure you are prepared for a narrow and bumpy road, also a short dirt trail."

Hot springs visits: Several natural hot springs exist within driving distance of California City. A visitor to Remington reported, "A 10 minute walk to the natural hot springs along the river," making it a popular daytime activity, though camping is no longer permitted at this specific location as of September 2020.

What campers like

Isolation and quiet: Many campers appreciate the solitude available at desert camping sites. At Vakinheim, which offers a single primitive tent site, one reviewer enthusiastically shared, "Amazing campgrounds. We had an area where we could set up bon fire. Had some wood on the area."

Wildlife viewing: The desert ecosystem supports various wildlife species active during different times of day. A visitor to Joshua Tree Ranch Los Angeles mentioned, "Much wild life and plenty of things to see," highlighting unexpected natural encounters despite the seemingly barren landscape.

Weather diversity: While challenging, the dramatic temperature swings create unique camping experiences. A camper at Joshua Tree Ranch Los Angeles observed, "Slept in the car and temperatures reached as low as 32 F but with the right equipment we were able to stay warm. Heats up quick in the morning!" This rapid warming effect creates comfortable midday conditions even during winter months.

What you should know

Primitive conditions: Most camping options near California City lack basic facilities. One visitor to Joshua Tree Ranch Los Angeles noted, "There's no facilities here. Heck, there's barely a sign. But it's a great spot to get away from the city for a day or two and hang out with family and friends."

Navigation challenges: Finding unmarked sites can prove difficult. A camper at Joshua Tree Ranch Los Angeles reported, "It's hard to find. There is no signs until you randomly pick a dirt road and go a few hundred yards, then you see a Joshua Tree Ranch sign laying on the ground."

Wind factors: Desert wind conditions significantly impact comfort levels. El Mirage Dry Lake experiences frequent dust issues as one camper warns, "Be aware that it's very dusty, obviously the large amount of OHV vehicles causes a giant dust cloud, and it can be windy so the sand gets picked up even more."

Tips for camping with families

Activity planning: Structure desert camping trips with specific goals. Families visiting Breckenridge Campground can combine camping with hiking. A visitor noted, "This is a awesome campground, with just a fire ring and table (if a site has it, if not there's plenty to choose from) there is an outhouse and that it is, no signal unless you go up to the lookout."

Vehicle considerations: Access to many desert camping areas requires appropriate transportation. A visitor to Breckenridge Campground cautioned, "We didn't even make it up to the campground after driving about 20 miles on Breckenridge road," highlighting the importance of vehicle capability when traveling with children.

Self-sufficiency preparation: All tent sites near California City require complete self-sufficiency. For family camping at Joshua Tree Ranch Los Angeles, one camper advised, "Location is great, only a 70-90 minute drive from LA. Just enough cell service to feel safe, but not enough bandwidth for your kids to stream YouTube all day."

Tips from RVers

Site selection: RV campers should research ground conditions carefully. At Antelope Valley Fairgrounds RV Park, one camper explained, "This is essentially one big parking lot behind a fence. Clean showers and bathrooms. Full RV hook-ups. It's absolutely nothing to write home about and really has no personality, trees, or privacy."

Event awareness: Check local event calendars before planning stays. An Antelope Valley Fairgrounds visitor reported, "When we were there there was nothing going on at the fairgrounds, though I can imagine it would be a very different experience depending on what kind of events were happening."

Facility verification: Call ahead to confirm current amenities. One RVer at Antelope Valley Fairgrounds noted, "The place is clean. Sites are level. Full hook ups. But the bathroom is closed. The rate is double. Nothing here but a parking lot," suggesting facilities may change without website updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near California City, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near California City, CA is Antelope Valley Fairgrounds with a 3-star rating from 6 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near California City, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near California City, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.