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Best Campgrounds near Cathedral City, CA

1,832 Reviews

Cathedral City and the surrounding Palm Springs area offer a range of camping options with nearby access to Joshua Tree National Park and mountain recreation areas. Catalina Spa and RV Resort in Desert Hot Springs provides tent camping, RV sites with full hookups, and cabin accommodations, while Palm Springs-Joshua Tree KOA offers similar amenities plus glamping and yurt options. Several campgrounds in the area feature natural hot springs, swimming pools, and desert mountain views, creating a unique camping experience that combines resort-style amenities with proximity to wilderness areas.

Most campgrounds in the Cathedral City region remain open year-round due to the mild winter climate, though summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F from June through September. Joshua Tree National Park campgrounds like Black Rock and Jumbo Rocks provide more primitive experiences with limited amenities compared to the full-service RV resorts closer to Palm Springs. Reservations are strongly recommended during peak winter and spring seasons when snowbirds and weekend travelers fill most facilities. One camper noted, "We spent 5 nights here and chose this location for its proximity to downtown, Aerial Tramway, and Joshua Tree. The park could be a gem once again, but currently worn down."

Mineral hot springs represent a distinctive feature of several Desert Hot Springs campgrounds, with multiple reviews highlighting these natural amenities. "The pool and spa are fueled by the hot springs, so the pool is at about 90 degrees and the hot tub a bit hotter," shared one visitor at Catalina Spa and RV Resort. Many sites offer privacy through mature landscaping, with one camper appreciating that "each space is surrounded by 15ft hedges to provide privacy." Campgrounds closer to Joshua Tree National Park provide more traditional outdoor experiences with better stargazing opportunities but fewer amenities. The region's campgrounds generally cater to RV travelers, though tent camping is available at select locations. Travelers seeking a true wilderness experience may prefer the national park campgrounds, while those wanting amenities like pools, hot springs, and full hookups will find numerous options closer to Cathedral City and Palm Springs.

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Best Camping Sites Near Cathedral City, California (355)

    1. Catalina Spa and RV Resort

    21 Reviews
    Desert Hot Springs, CA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 329-4431

    $22 - $44 / night

    "This gem is located on the outskirts of Desert Hot Springs, CA. With two hot spring-fed pools and hot tubs (one of which is massive and SO luxe), we didn’t want to leave. Like, ever."

    "You don’t get many good views inside the RV park gates, but once you walk out there driveway and along the street you can actually get some good mountain views on clear days."

    2. Palm Springs-Joshua Tree KOA

    21 Reviews
    Desert Hot Springs, CA
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 251-6555

    "The KOA is reasonably priced for KOA and California. 3 hot spring tubs. Pool is warm and wall stops wind. Many activities for kids miniature golf, jump board, play ground."

    "Plenty of stuff to do behind the walls, mini golf, dog kamp, pool, hot tubs, games, game room... Nice shower house and bathrooms. Camp store is a little small but has the essentials."

    3. Black Rock Campground — Joshua Tree National Park

    48 Reviews
    Yucca Valley, CA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 367-5554

    $35 / night

    "Originally booked this site because it is a good endpoint for the California Riding & Hiking trail though the national park, so if you’re looking to run or complete the traverse, it is a good spot"

    "The ranger and host at the store were very helpful with information about the surrounding area.

    • Trails run right out of camp...lots of them...of all different difficulty levels."

    4. Jumbo Rocks Campground — Joshua Tree National Park

    119 Reviews
    Twentynine Palms, CA
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 367-5554

    $30 / night

    "They're situated between HUGE boulders so they're nicely tucked away from high winds that can sometimes pick up."

    "The campsites are tucked between massive granite boulders, offering natural windbreaks and a sense of privacy that’s hard to find elsewhere."

    5. Lake Hemet Campground

    39 Reviews
    Mountain Center, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (951) 659-2680

    $45 / night

    "You can fit two 10' x10' canopies to cover the bench table, and fit 2 individual tents (4-6 person) OR a bigger 12p tent however you decide to position it. It has its own Fire pit."

    "I've been camping at Lake Hemet since I was a kid, and absolutely love it there."

    6. Idyllwild Campground — Mount San Jacinto State Park

    29 Reviews
    Idyllwild, CA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (951) 659-2607

    $25 - $45 / night

    "Kinda close to main road. But, store close by. Around the corner next to the village."

    "Kings Canyon is one of the coolest places I've been in a long time and Southern California"

    7. Thousand Trails Palm Springs

    18 Reviews
    Bermuda Dunes, CA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "The 30 Amp side is pull through so we decided to set up at site 61 further away from the Highway because it is a bit noisy from road noise."

    "The is a beautiful Thousand Trails RV Resort in Palm Springs, California! The park is large, very spacious and so clean!"

    8. Sam's Family Spa RV Resort & Motel

    11 Reviews
    Desert Hot Springs, CA
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 329-6457

    $60 / night

    "Monthly stays are very economical ($580/$605+electricity) which includes daily (9am-9pm) access to the four hot pools at different temperatures, the swimming pool, gym, dry sauna, wet sauna, etc."

    "Mail delivery is convenient, but the lack of security at the campground entrance feels like a gap."

    9. Hurkey Creek Park

    21 Reviews
    Mountain Center, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (951) 659-2050

    $30 - $35 / night

    "This is one of our family's favorite campgrounds because it's a quick drive from San Diego (and OC) and it gives us our "mountain fix" when we don't have time to drive to the Sierra Mountains."

    "It's a lovely campground, and our spot wasn't too far away from the restrooms or the creek. Once Friday afternoon hit though, it did fill up to what felt like near full capacity. "

    10. Sky Valley RV Resort

    10 Reviews
    Thousand Palms, CA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 548-2960

    "It's a lovely location with almost perfect weather in the winter. April very windy and May, it starts getting hotter. However, you can take the tram up majestic Mt."

    "Lots of exploring within a hours drive to great sights like Joshua Tree NP, Palm Springs, Salton sea, Idlewild, Borrego Springs, etc."

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Recent Camping Photos near Cathedral City, CA

783 Photos of 355 Cathedral City Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Cathedral City, CA

1832 Reviews of 355 Cathedral City 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).

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 18, 2025

    Cottonwood Campground — Joshua Tree National Park

    Peaceful Desert Escape

    Perfect for stargazing at night and catching colorful sunrises in the morning. Its close proximity to the Cottonwood Visitor Center and several great hiking trails, like Lost Palms Oasis and Mastodon Peak, makes it an ideal base for exploring the park’s southern side. The campground is well maintained, and even though it’s quieter than other areas of the park, it still offers that classic Joshua Tree magic. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a serene, scenic camping experience!

  • Alisa P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Cottonwood Campground — Joshua Tree National Park

    Park Campground

    We didn’t stay here because we were too big although you can stay with a big rig if you reserve the group camp. That’s $55 a night so we decided to move to the dispersed camp close by. This does have a dump station and fresh water

  • Alisa P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Joshua Tree South Entrance

    Joshua Tree for the big rig

    This spot is great if you want to explore Joshua Tree and have a big rig. The campgrounds in Joshua tree do not have any space for larger RVS. You can reserve the group camp at Cottonwood but that is $55 a night. This was a perfect alternative. It has a few small trees and the spots are spread out. Some spots have fire pits. When you come in there is a sign on the first road saying you need permission to drive on but you can access the area from a road farther down or right before this sign you can veer down into the dispersed spots. Free is close but not enough to keep you awake at night.

  • 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

  • Connie H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 10, 2025

    Pine Knot Campground

    Nice Campground Close to Town

    This campground is located pretty much in town right off Summit Blvd, on a side street right next to Snow Summit. We stayed here a couple nights with our pop-up camper in site #17. Cost was $34 a night. We pulled in a little later than planned, around 7:30, there were about 10 other sites occupied with a few more reserved. There are 48 sites throughout the campground. All primitive sites. Generators are allowed, but must stay on paved areas, and not run during quiet hours, 10:00 PM- 6:00 AM. Sites have a picnic table, fire ring, grill and bear box provided. There are 4 bathroom houses around the campground with flush toilets and sinks, they were pretty clean and well kept. Potable water was available. We did hear the coyotes at night and even had one or two come through our site. Campfires are allowed at this campground as of Oct. 9, 2025. We had great T-Mobile and AT&T cell service. The camp hosts were friendly and helpful.

  • s
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Oak Grove Campground

    Quiet, small and dark... simple camping.

    A great little hidden site with not much to offer but stargazing, fresh air and nice campers. My 2nd trailer camping trip was 1 night and it was awesome, plenty of stars and the Milky Way was so clear... years since I've seen it. Non hook ups but there is water throughout the grounds, plenty of wildlife birds, I had a bluejay sing for me all day. Clean restrooms... and red ants. Loved my space so I'll be getting it again.

Guide to Cathedral City

Camping near Cathedral City, California, offers a unique blend of desert landscapes and outdoor adventures. With several campgrounds in the area, you can find the perfect spot to enjoy nature and make lasting memories.

What to do

  • Hiking: Explore the numerous trails in Joshua Tree National Park. One camper mentioned, "So much exploring to be had right from your campsite. The high desert is fascinating."
  • Rock Climbing: The rock formations around campgrounds like Hidden Valley Campground are perfect for climbing. A visitor shared, "The campground flanks some large rock formations that host rock climbers during the day."
  • Stargazing: The clear desert skies provide excellent stargazing opportunities. One camper noted, "DARK DARK DARK sky.....wonderful," highlighting the beauty of the night sky.

What campers like

  • Scenic Views: Campers appreciate the stunning landscapes. A review for Jumbo Rocks Campground stated, "It’s a beautiful campground surrounded by giant rocks."
  • Privacy: Many sites offer a sense of seclusion. A camper at Indian Cove Campground mentioned, "Nice site with some shade from the rocks."
  • Family-Friendly: Campgrounds like Black Rock Campground are noted for being family-friendly. One review said, "The site is very popular so finding an open site to book can be difficult, but not impossible if you check every day."

What you should know

  • Limited Amenities: Many campgrounds, such as Joshua Tree South - BLM Dispersed, lack basic facilities like water and toilets. A visitor remarked, "No facilities but good cell service."
  • Busy Seasons: Expect crowds during peak times. A camper at Lake Hemet Campground noted, "It is super busy, a lot of people around."
  • Wildlife: Be aware of local wildlife. One camper at Indian Cove Campground shared, "Talk about waking up with the sound of coyotes in your camp."

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for spots like William Heise County Park that cater to families. A review mentioned, "Definitely was a nice stay and will be going back."
  • Plan Activities: Make sure to have a list of activities. One camper suggested, "The campground has great sites tucked here and there. Pit toilets, garbage and recycling for all, BBQ, picnic table, and fire pit at each site."
  • Safety First: Keep an eye on kids, especially near rocks and trails. A visitor at Hidden Valley Campground advised, "Don’t forget your headlamp for climbing up on the rocks at night."

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A camper at Black Rock Campground noted, "The roads could use some work and if you have an RV/Trailer/Van you may want some block to help get you level."
  • Book Early: Popular sites fill up fast. A visitor at Jumbo Rocks Campground mentioned, "Finding an open site to book can be difficult, but not impossible if you check every day."
  • Bring Essentials: Stock up on water and supplies before heading out. A camper at Lake Hemet Campground advised, "Bring your own shade for this campsite, your own water too."

Camping in Cathedral City, CA, offers a variety of experiences for everyone. Whether you're hiking, climbing, or just enjoying the scenery, there's something for every outdoor enthusiast.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best campgrounds near Cathedral City, CA?

The best campgrounds near Cathedral City include Jumbo Rocks Campground in Joshua Tree National Park, known for its unique sites nestled between massive boulders that provide natural windbreaks and privacy. Sites #5 and #6 are particularly desirable for their protection from high winds and access to spectacular stargazing. Indian Cove Campground is another excellent option with beautiful rock formations, clean sites, and great bouldering opportunities for all skill levels. For those seeking RV accommodations, Pechanga RV Resort offers newer facilities within walking distance to a casino, pool, golf course, and restaurants.

What parks are available in Cathedral City, CA for day use or camping?

While Cathedral City itself has limited camping options, several excellent parks are available nearby. Sky Valley RV Resort offers RV camping with concrete patios and access to relaxing pools, though sites are relatively close together. For day use and camping just a short drive away, Serrano provides lakeside camping with friendly staff and beautiful views. For those willing to drive a bit further, Sportsman's Club in Twentynine Palms offers basic camping with flat sites just ten minutes from Joshua Tree National Park. North Joshua Tree dispersed camping area is also available for those seeking a more primitive experience.

Are there any romantic camping getaways near Cathedral City?

For a romantic camping getaway near Cathedral City, Heart Bar Campground offers a secluded atmosphere with stunning sunset views where the rolling mountains part to showcase beautiful California evenings. The quiet setting away from town creates an intimate experience perfect for couples. Another excellent option is Sam's Family Spa RV Resort & Motel, which features four hot mineral pools at different temperatures, perfect for relaxing together under the stars. Their amenities include a swimming pool, dry and wet saunas, and a gym, making it ideal for couples seeking both romance and comfort.

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