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The Imperial Valley region of Southern California features a mix of established RV resorts and dispersed desert camping opportunities. Rio Bend RV & Golf Resort and Sunbeam Lake RV Resort offer cabin accommodations alongside traditional RV and tent sites, while the surrounding Bureau of Land Management (BLM) areas provide more primitive options. Holtville Hot Springs, located approximately 20 miles east of Imperial, offers dispersed camping with natural hot springs. The area's proximity to the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area and Salton Sea creates diverse camping experiences ranging from developed facilities with full hookups to remote desert boondocking.
Desert conditions dominate the camping experience with extreme temperature variations requiring careful planning. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 110°F, making fall through spring the primary camping seasons. "The desert gets realllll cold at night. But the sunsets and the off roading made it worth it!" noted one camper about Ocotillo Wells. Many dispersed sites on BLM land have 14-day stay limits but lack amenities like water or restrooms. Cell coverage is generally good throughout the region due to flat terrain, though remote areas may have spotty service. Campgrounds near Imperial typically offer water and electric hookups, with several providing full RV connections including sewer hookups and 50-amp electrical service.
Recreational opportunities heavily influence camping choices in the area, with off-highway vehicle (OHV) activities being particularly popular. The Imperial Sand Dunes, locally known as Glamis, attract thousands of off-road enthusiasts during cooler months. According to one visitor, "If you like to drive offroad, this is the place for you! Even if you don't, it's fun to sled down the dunes." Several campgrounds near golf courses cater to snowbirds and long-term visitors seeking winter warmth. Water recreation at the Salton Sea provides another draw despite environmental challenges. Campers seeking quieter experiences can find more secluded spots in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park area northwest of Imperial, where primitive camping is permitted away from developed roads in designated areas.
"It’s a bonus that they had a nine holes of golf course and the driving range and Central located."
"Looking for a quick place to stay near family in hospital. Staff has been extremely helpful and caring. The place is GREAT"
"It’s close to the Navy base so fly overs of the Super Hornets are frequent but not loud. You can actually take side roads and get right to the runway if you want … Blue Angles practice in Jan!"
"Scenery around the park is beautiful any time of year, and for those who enjoy the RV Resort lifestyle the only reason to go out of the park during the snow bird season is for groceries."
"This campground is located on a military facility. You must have base access/privileges in order to utilize this campground. "
"FREE Dispersed camping is located just past power lines behind the actual hot springs. To stay at the LTVA you must have self contained trailer, van, rv…we didn’t know this."
ScoutThe 4-wheel drive off road was slow and rocky but definitely worth the drive. Beautiful with all the trees and rock formations. So Serene, especially when the wind blows through the tops of the trees. Privacy because the locations are spread out. We will come back multiple times per year. Great find and experience.
TravelerSame ownership, same deep disappointment. Do not be fooled by the rebranding.
I genuinely hate writing this because this property has so much natural potential, but I cannot believe it currently carries the KOA name. I did my homework before booking and hoped that becoming a KOA meant things had improved. They have not. It is the same management, the same issues, and the same disregard for guests—just under a new label.
To start with the positives: the frontline staff are kind, helpful, and clearly doing their best. Unfortunately, they are completely undermined by the owner’s behavior, which sets the tone for the entire experience.
We paid extra for an RV site specifically advertised as having a patio table and chairs. What we got was neither—just a small, wobbly picnic table sitting in direct desert sun.
The pool itself is nice, but it closes far too early, which is frustrating given the heat. The hot tub was broken during our stay, which was especially disappointing since we were looking forward to relaxing and stargazing at night.
The laundry facilities should have been avoided (sadly the main reason we paid to stay). The coin-operated washers left our clothes dirtier than when they went in—covered in sandy residue and grime. We now have to spend additional time and money finding somewhere else to rewash everything. Completely unacceptable.
I also want to call out something I saw in other reviews because it aligns with our experience: people mentioned issues with shower curtains being off or unusable. In our case, there weren’t even any curtains at all. So yes—those reviews are accurate.
Another surprise: the “meditation labyrinth” and small farm area (ostrich, pigs, goats) are no longer free amenities. The owner also operates the adjacent Harvest Host location and now charges for access to what used to be included perks. Between that and the smell in the desert heat, it’s not exactly the charming add-on it’s presented as.
And then there’s the owner.
We had a minor issue and called the after-hours number around 9:30 PM—the number they explicitly provide for guest support. An employee answered and was already handling it professionally when the owner took the phone from her and proceeded to yell at us for “making him get out of bed.” He then aggressively offered to “kick us out with a refund,” even though we never asked for one. It felt like a power play, not a solution. Completely unnecessary, unprofessional, and frankly uncomfortable.
If you somehow manage to avoid interacting with him entirely, you might get through your stay. But based on our experience—and many others here—that’s a gamble.
This property could be amazing. But until ownership changes or management practices drastically improve, it remains a poorly run park hiding behind a reputable brand name.
Avoid.
TravelerSame ownership, same deep disappointment. Do not be fooled by the rebranding. I genuinely hate writing this because this property has so much natural potential, but I cannot believe it currently carries the KOA name. I did my homework before booking and hoped that becoming a KOA meant things had improved. They have not. It is the same management, the same issues, and the same disregard for guests—just under a new label. To start with the positives: the frontline staff are kind and clearly doing their best. Unfortunately, they are completely undermined by the owner’s behavior, which sets the tone for the entire experience.
We paid extra for an RV site advertised with a patio table and chairs. We got neither—just a small, wobbly picnic table in direct desert sun. The pool is nice, but closes far too early for the heat. The hot tub was broken, which was especially disappointing since we were looking forward to stargazing at night. The laundry facilities should have been avoided (the main reason we paid to stay). The coin-operated washers left our clothes dirtier than when they went in—covered in sandy residue and grime. Now we have to spend more time and money rewashing everything. I also want to call out something I saw in Google reviews because it aligns with our experience: people mentioned issues with shower curtains being off or unusable. In our case, there were no curtains at all—and the showers are unventilated (add desert heat). So yes, those reviews are accurate.
Another surprise: the "meditation labyrinth” and small farm area (ostrich, pigs, goats) are no longer free. The owner also runs the adjacent Harvest Host and now charges for what used to be included perks. Add in the smell in the desert heat, and it’s not exactly appealing.
And then there’s the owner. We had a minor issue and called the after-hours number around 9:30 PM. An employee was already handling it when the owner took the phone and yelled at us for“making him get out of bed,” then offered to“kick us out with a refund”(which we never asked for). It felt like a power play, not a solution. Completely unprofessional. If you manage to avoid him, you might get through your stay—but based on our experience and many others on Google, that’s a gamble. This property could be amazing. But until ownership or management changes, it’s a poorly run park hiding behind a reputable name. Avoid.
TravelerVery nice people very helpful, considerate pleasant
GuideI've camped here twice, and it’s ideal for solo camping. The quiet allows you to unwind and truly enjoy peace. I prefer to camp in the upper loop on weekdays; the noise from big RVs with generators is not my idea of solitude. Fortunately, I’ve never encountered that issue during my visits. I’ve noticed the handful of campers here are like-minded, also seeking tranquility for reflection. With breathtaking sunrise views and fantastic hiking trails, it’s a truly inspiring location. However, weekends in winter may feel too crowded for my taste, but that’s the beauty of individual preferences.
GuideGreat place, the roads a little rough, but it's FREE. Lots of room easy to find a fairly level spot. It's FREE!!!
GuideI am on my way to Joshua Tree and wanted to swing by the Salton Sea. This showed up as an affordable and interesting location to stay the night before pressing on. There were lots of spots available. It has full hook ups. They do have 24 hour access to mineral baths. Only three of the six baths were operational. It was nice to have a soak in the bath after a long day of driving. They were easy to operate. There were some great views of the chocolate mountains while you soak. They seem to be a lot of full-time RV years here, but they had an adequate number of pull through sites for overnighters. When I pulled in the office was temporary closed due to the illness of staff, but they did have a ring camera and I was able to speak with the staff who were helpful. They told me to drive in and choose whichever site in the overnight lot that I wanted. The first site that I chose had a faulty electrical box that wouldn’t ground. I checked the next one over and it worked so I just simply moved over to the next pull- through spot. This is not a high class establishment, but it is a great affordable option for an overnight that gives you a hot spring bath.
RangerThis is a medium sized dirt lot before the entrance to Dos Palmas. The view is pretty with the Sultan Sea on one side and the Dos Palmas Reserve on the other. About thirty minutes walk to the large Palm trees. About an hours walk to the springs.
RangerBeautiful beach camping on the Salton Sea.
Dispersed camping opportunities surround Imperial, California in the southeastern desert region. Campers can find both developed RV resorts with full amenities and primitive BLM land sites for boondocking experiences. The Imperial Valley sits at an elevation of approximately -50 feet below sea level, creating unique camping conditions with access to desert terrain, agricultural areas, and nearby water features.
OHV adventures at Glamis Dunes: The Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area provides extensive off-road vehicle terrain just east of Imperial. At Holtville Hot Springs Dispersed Site, campers can combine off-roading with hot spring soaking. "We loved this spot. FREE Dispersed camping is located just past power lines behind the actual hot springs... It is well maintained by camp host Bill," notes one visitor.
Golf outings year-round: Several campgrounds feature on-site golf courses for winter recreation when temperatures are moderate. Desert Trails RV Park offers a 9-hole course with driving range. According to a camper, "We stayed 5 days there is a 9 hole golf course on site and a nice sized pool. Many snow birds and year round campers. Mostly 55+."
Water recreation opportunities: Lakes near Imperial provide fishing and water activities despite the desert environment. Wiest Lake Park offers lakeside camping with water hookups. "Lake is super lovely, clean bathrooms with showers. Sites have charcoal grills, but no ground fires allowed," reports one camper.
Winter climate for seasonal residents: The mild winter temperatures attract long-term visitors escaping colder regions. At Rio Bend RV & Golf Resort, "The best times are during the fall and winter months as the park welcomes back its community of Snow Birds coming from Canada and the northern US. During those times the atmosphere in the evening is always festive, often with live music and an outdoor bar."
Amenities at established resorts: Full-service campgrounds provide comfortable accommodations with multiple recreation options. "We only stayed one night in a pull through but enjoyed the facilities. Park is very clean and has a good restaurant... Laundry and bathrooms were very clean. Pool area and restaurant, bar area is nice," notes a Rio Bend visitor.
Base proximity for military enthusiasts: The Naval Air Facility El Centro attracts aviation buffs and military personnel. El Centro NAF Campground provides convenient access for those with military credentials. "Great location for the annual air show in March. This campground is popular with 'snowbirds'. Winter months stay pretty busy, while excessive heat in the summer keeps it pretty empty," reports a military camper.
Summer heat limitations: Temperatures regularly exceed 110°F during summer months, affecting camping conditions and facility operations. A Rio Bend visitor notes, "During summer time the pool becomes too warm to be refreshing, and the restaurant and bar are closed. The rates are much lower in the summer."
Insect considerations: Desert camping brings natural challenges with wildlife. At Finney Lake Camp, visitors report: "Pretty lake, but swarming with flies and a bit of an odor. GPS will try to take you onto the wrong end of Williams Road, you need to go on Titsworth -> Smith -> then Williams."
Noise factors: Agricultural operations can impact camping experiences. Near Wiest Lake Park, "Unfortunately there is a very loud and semi-smelly cow farm next door. I was fine with earplugs but I wouldn't stay there without them."
Facilities with recreational options: Choose campgrounds with multiple activities for children. "The base has a large pool with water slides, gym, bowling alley, exchange/commissary, and movie theater," notes a visitor about El Centro NAF Campground.
Last-minute availability: Some resorts can accommodate spontaneous family trips. At Sunbeam Lake RV Resort, one camper found: "Great place. Was able to get a last minute spot when we were about an hour away. Office people were nice and friendly. Place was clean with lots to do."
Seasonal planning considerations: Schedule family trips during moderate temperature periods. "We have stayed here a few times now. The best times are during the fall and winter months," advises a Rio Bend visitor, noting summer temperatures frequently exceed 110 degrees.
Site selection for privacy: Look for resorts with landscaping between sites. At Rio Bend RV & Golf Resort, "The sites are fairly spacious and generally separated by hedges so you are not looking directly at your neighbor's rig."
Utilities and hookups: Most established campgrounds offer full hookups with sewer connections. "Pull through site was narrow but had all we needed for one night," notes a Rio Bend visitor about the convenience of drive-through sites with hookups.
BLM camping regulations: For dispersed camping, understand the rules and amenities. At Holtville Hot Springs, "To stay at the LTVA you must have self contained trailer, van, rv...It worked out better-FREE camping and just a lil over an ¼ mile to the springs. Vault toilets, with TP & bonus there is great food at The Holtville Taco Shop 7 miles from springs."
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there free camping available in Imperial?
Yes, there's excellent free camping throughout Imperial County. Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area offers extensive dispersed camping with no fees - you can set up anywhere with plenty of space to distance from crowds. Another free option is Truckhaven at Ocotillo Wells, where you can camp anywhere with restrooms nearby and reasonable driving distance to stores and gas stations. Both areas are popular with off-road enthusiasts but have enough space for all types of campers seeking free sites.
What are the rules for long-term camping in Imperial?
Most public lands in Imperial County follow the standard 14-day stay limit within a 28-day period. Osborne Overlook in the Imperial Dunes explicitly enforces this 14-day maximum stay. For longer-term options, Pilot Knob RV Resort caters to extended stays, especially for those affiliated with Thousand Trails or Encore campgrounds. While somewhat remote, it provides the infrastructure needed for longer visits. Always check with specific campground management about current long-term stay policies, as they may change seasonally or require permits.
What amenities are available at Imperial camping areas?
Amenities vary widely across Imperial camping areas. Burnt Rancheria Campground offers a woodsy setting with private sites and nearby hiking trails. It has both first-come and reservable sites. In contrast, Bombay Beach - Salton Sea State Rec Area provides a unique desert shoreline experience that gets quiet overnight despite daytime visitors. Many dispersed camping areas like those in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park offer minimal amenities but maximum freedom. For those needing more facilities, several RV parks near El Centro provide full hookups, water, and toilets, though these typically charge fees.
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