Looking for the best Imperial tent camping? You can find tent campsites by type, including drive-in, walk-in, and even hike-in for a backpacking adventure. Each tent campsite offers quick access to one or more of Imperial's most popular destinations.
Gecko Campground is the largest campground in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area. It consists of a north loop and a south loop. These loops are paved roads and offer numerous vault toilets.
Cahuilla Ranger Station is located off of Gecko Road. This station offers visitors a location to purchase their dunes permit, gather information and seek medical aid. This station is open Friday through Sunday from mid-October to mid-April during the high visitation period.
Roadrunner Campground is the second largest campground offering a large loop of paved roads. Two vaulted toilets are available.
Guide
Great Area to take your OHVs. Season starts around Halloween and ends in May for Red stickers. They have public restrooms spread through the grounds. It's great for tent camping and RVs/campers, tents. Town is about 25 minutes away, however they have a few stores/restaurants nearby.
Ranger
Lots going on here but felt peaceful midweek in Jan. 3 spring-fed pools, hot showers quarter operated, clean flush toilet bathrooms, water, hiking trails and ample roads to walk the dog on. Mountain lion country - be alert. Friendly rangers. Clean facilities and well-kept grounds. Horseshoe pits and large group picnic areas. Cute cabins for rent - no pets allowed in those. Will definitely visit again. Many of the tent sites are close together - if the campground was full you’d have little privacy but it’s a large place and there were hardly any tent campers when I was there, though more RVs and vans in the hookup section. Tent site 106 is very private. I liked 109 it was in a kind of bird thicket with privacy from the road etc.
Guide
This is a great little spot with a lot of level area if you are self-contained and don't need to hook up to anything. Not a great place for tent camping though, think of it more as a great desert parking lot with a view. There are plenty of picnic tables and fire rings available though (be prepared and bring your own wood). There are several porta-potties and trash cans available as well and even some recycling bins available. The views here are solid, space was quiet aside from the occasional train. Would definitely recommend for a night. Cost was $10.
Ranger
Salton Sea is such an interesting place. A bird haven for migrating birds - be sure to visit the Sonny Bono Refuge closeby. This camp had $20 basic tent sites, some full hookup sites available- paved, some sites along beach. One of the 2 loops were closed. Showers - tho no hot water left when I got to them and most bathrooms boarded up and in disrepair. Ample trash and recycling bins and water. Friendly host and camp wood available at $10 a pop. Check to see if sites are reserved at kiosk if you are coming without reservations.
Traveler2 outdoor pools and an indoor adult spa (102 degrees), RV sites with Power, Water and Sewer as well as tent sites. Flush toilets and hot/cold showers. This place is well maintained and the cleanest campground I have ever stayed at. Shuffleboard and Horseshoes courts, lots of hiking trails and things to see. The campground / pools are all fed from natural mineral springs. Pets are allowed within the campground and all sites have picnic table and fire-ring. Small store at the park entrance is great for the simply things you may have forgotten. They even have cabins available but they book up pretty fast. Rangers are all very friendly and helpful. Enjoyed my stay, I will be back.
Guide
We camped here on New Years Eve. It was quiet. This area is interesting. Has a Mad Max Thunderdome vibe. Definitely go to Salvation Mountain then drive thru Slab City. I walked thru the odd Outdoor Art Gallery called “East Jesus” fascinating population of people live out there. We camped at the Mecca camp which is a mile south of the ranger station. The actual Salton sea is right there. Great for bird watching bring binoculars. The sunrise and sunsets were some of the prettiest I’ve ever seen. Best hook up site #138 but hands down best tent site #134. If I didn’t get either of those I would not have stayed as sites are very close with zero privacy barrier. The best part of this campground were the hosts. Good folks
Traveler
My wife and our two dogs (small chi mixes) stayed at this campground over Veterans Day weekend. There are two halves, one for RV’s, horses, and a few tent sites and the other half is all tents. In the center are the restrooms/showers, a few parking spots, and camp host’s RV. The sites are pretty small and very close together but even on a busy holiday weekend where nearby Agua Caliente was full, here were plenty of sites available. Camp host was very active driving around welcoming everybody and was helpful with any questions you might have. Tons of coyotes! They’re tricky and smart, so stay sharp at night on walks with furry ones.
There are fire rings and tables at every site with water sources every few sites. The stage coach station is a historical landmark and sits in the center near the facilities. Pretty cool small cemetery and children’s playground available as well. It was definitely a safe, accessible, and incredibly clean campground. Lots of flies between late morning/afternoon but I’m sure citronella and a cooler period would have solved that problem. We would stay again!
RangerCamped here for three nights in March of 2019, in one of the partial hookup sites close to the pool. According to the map of the CG, there are 104 sites and 7 cabins. Partial hookups are closest to the pool/shower area, with full hookups and cabins farther back and tent sites in the middle.
it seemed to be a well run facility. It was cool, cloudy and wet from recent rains when we were there and our site had a tiny stream running through it. Some sites, including ours, were not too level. The pool was not what I'd call "hot", probably in the mid to high 90s.
There's a couple short trails in the park, we hiked Moonlight Canyon. We really enjoyed it!! A bit like a lunar landscape with wild desert plants and flowers. The highlight was seeing some desert bighorn sheep!
A small store sits just outside the park entrance and though it was small, it seemed to have at least one of everything you could possibly need, including my favorite Colorado beer, Fat Tire!!
This park has a lot of rules, some quite unusual. Probably a good idea to familiarize yourself with them before you head out.
Ranger
go with someone familiar with the area, as heading off into the dunes can be dangerous: you can get lost super easy!.. on a holiday weekend this isnt a concern cuz it’s ridiculously packed and loud.
rv’s are parallel parked, several deep. mostly dunes vs washes.
no trees( as Its in the desert) nor any rv hookups. beautiful dunes for miles.
must purchase imperial dunes pass
Legend
We stayed here two nights and really liked it. There are a lot of travelers and some locals who come to the beach for the day, to look at the art of just to hang out, but overnight it gets pretty quiet. The first night there was only us and a bikepacker in a tent, and the second night there was a car camper that left early in the morning. Some ATV people riding around the sand also but they weren't too bad. There's also a guy in a nice small trailer down on the beach who looks like he's been there a while, but his site is nice and clean.
It's easy not to get stuck in the sand if you stay in the upper area. We had no problems in our 26ft class c. If you drive down to the beach just watch for the soft sand and stay on the hard packed parts.
The town and the beach are just so... interesting. The artists are taking over the nearly abandoned town and it's really neat to see. Curious to see what happens to the town of Bombay Beach in the long run. Very interesting history, both the sea itself and the towns around it. Lots of documentaries about it on YouTube if you're interested.
There's BLM land here but I think the part you can stay on is owned by IID (Imperial Irrigation District). Not sure about this, but anyway I don't think camping here is a problem.
Good cell reception and weather in mid November. We would have left if it was windy to avoid breathing in the particulates.
Legend
Located in the Imperial Dunes, we didn’t even realize this was a “campground” as we drove the short uphill to the lookout to see the dunes. There is a 14-day limit but unless you are really into cruising around the dunes on an OHV, I’m not sure why you would stay that long. It is basically a paved parking lot and there are no markers indicating a separation between “spaces” so you park/camp wherever you find room (there were some sections with no parking signs). Although the road and lot are paved, the wind will blow sand all over and it was VERY windy when we were there! There were two vault toilets, a covered picnic table and several fire rings but no other amenities. As far as I can tell, it is free to camp here. I did notice some RVs displaying rather strident political flags which would have made us uncomfortable staying here overnight so we enjoyed the dunes for a short while and drove on. A plus is the cell coverage is great (you are higher up) and the dunes are beautiful!
Traveler
This campground is well designed for tent and small rv camping. The particularly site I stayed at did not have a lot of level ground for tents. The sites are generally spaced far enough apart to give you a bit of privacy. The host was very attentive and regularly made rounds to sell firewood. The facilities are mainly pit toilets but during peak season there is a shower available somewhere though I didn’t use it. Loads of hiking right off the campgrounds. You can walk right out of the forest to a great view of anza borrego desert. This is one of the few campgrounds in California where you don’t really need to worry about bears, though you should be wary of mountain lions.
Guide
The S.Family went camping for my Nieces birthday. Small campground, restroom is a plus, off-roading & trails were very nice. That weekend was very very windy our 2 person tent didn’t fly away. Campsite fit a tent & 1 motorhome & 2 truck and trailers.
ScoutHot spring campground in the Anza desert. Such a great place to come and reset from busy day to day hustle. Peaceful and clean, with cabins for those who dont tent or trailer camp.
Ranger
Ended up here since CA closed all state campgrounds (because camping spreads COVID?) We were the only tent campers there. Lake is super lovely, clean bathrooms with showers. Sites have charcoal grills, but no ground fires allowed.
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.
Guide
It is divided with RVs on one side, tent only on the other. Lots of families, quiet hours, dark skies... and a slide. Campsite #3 is line of sire to the playground, which is good information for helicopter parents.
TravelerNot much to do if you don’t like off-roading. There are places to rent Atvs and side by sides if you don’t have your own. Bathrooms stink, but it beats squatting in the sun and sand in your bum. Bring a tent or a trailer and make sure you have 4 wheel drive.
Legend
When we traveled through this area we checked out this as well as Mecca campground. This being the lesser of the two price points at only $10 instead of $20 we considered the difference between the two.
At the time we visited this site the restroom was a pit toilet. Restrooms left something to be desired. The camping area itself did not offer amenities such as hook ups yet a lot of self sustaining vehicles and RV campers were there. We in fact were the only tent campers.
The evening was pleasant and temperatures were moderate. Not a lot of people were moving around the campsite. By morning, the temperatures began to heat up and with it came the flies and smell of death. Flies were everywhere!!! This began to be quite distressing as we were attempting to load up and we dared not even attempt to have breakfast.
I love this area and the very unique history however you have to be willing to arrive late to actually be able to appreciate it without the smell. It is a great place to watch the night skies on a clear night as there are few lights impairing you from seeing all of the stars.
For all my hammock friends I would not recommend this space!!
TIPS:
Pack a camping pad for your tent floor the ground here seemed a bit less comfortable for a tent camper because of the materials of the ground.
Do not leave your car doors open when packing due to the high volume of flies in the area, you will end up with more passengers than you came with if you do.
GuideWe ended up here for one night in January and were so pleased with the experience. We stayed in the tent loop- grateful we brought along our chemical toilet, because the facilities were very very far! But- the nursing was amazing- we had a few roadrunners and thrashers that hung out in our campsite and dozens of small Birds with the bushes around.
ScoutWe weren’t expecting to stay here but it ended up being such a good camping experience!! The views we had from our tent on the beach were beautiful and the site was super affordable. Site came with a picnic table, fire pit, and access to restrooms. We could hear the road and train at night, but it wasn’t the worst.
Legend
As a tent camper this one was a bit of a stretch for me to feel comfortable, however if you are a boondocker this is an ideal spot for the adventurer who wants to be off grid with a community designed for just that.
Slab City and East Jesus are known as the last free place in America as noamads flock here during cool months and find themselves in many cases not wanting to leave. It is a community without a city limits but with basic rules of understanding that everyone dwelling there or camping there basically respects the thoughts of respecting one another and living self sustaining lifestyle.
Most staying are in travel vehicles of many kinds and have large water catchment systems as there is no sewer or water supply available. For an average tent camper you can visit however there are no amenities making for a rough stay if you opt in for more than a day or so.
There is within the community Salvation Mountain and a outdoor art gallery constructed from the leavings of those in the desert. You will find things made of old parts, used tires, pieces of old buildings repurposed and all free!!
I give it a 4 for the unique experience and urge you to check into the “library” if you make it there. They will let you know if you have arrived during any special occasions such as their community prom or karaoke night at their nomadic bar. Yep, it is a can’t miss.
GuideFull hook up. California State Park… so safe. The lake is improving but not safe yet. Fishing has Improved. There are three separate campgrounds in this park. Flies can be a problem but not this time because of wind. View is outstanding
RangerI stayed at Arroyo Salado one year during a super bloom at Anza Borrego Desert State Park. The campground is very, very basic. You pull up and find a spot and camp. There are no designated campsites. And it's free. There are pit toilets, which are clean and don't really smell.
We had the pleasure, as I said, of coming during the super bloom, when all of the sites closer to town were booked. This is in the "badlands" part of the park, leaving Borrego Springs and heading toward Salton City, which happens to be the cheapest place to get gas in these parts.
There's room to pitch a tent. You basically set up camp wherever there is room. We were among blooming desert lilies and had to be careful not to damage any, but plenty of fairly flat sandy soil to pitch a tent. You can bring your own barbecue if you want a fire, but fires must be self contained and you have to pack out what you bring in, so don't leave behind your ashes or coals. Want to be lazy? Grab dinner from one of the restaurants in town.
This part of the park (the badlands) tends to be slightly warmer than other areas of the park. (Because of elevation and topography? I'm not sure why.) This is a dry camp. There is no water, so you have to bring your own. But Borrego Springs is maybe 15-20 minutes away if you need a supply run.
During the blooms and when it's not super hot, it's lovely, but it's ungodly hot in the summer here (110-115 degrees), not cooling much at night. There are off-road roads in this area. We watched a lovely moonrise amid some night-blooming flowers. So time it right and it's lovely.
GuideWe tried a couple of other dispersed camp sites before this one but they were all full. A AWD would be best for this area because of the deep sand. I did make it back aways with my Prius, to my surprise. I did get stuck once but got out pretty easily. But if had rained while I was here that might be a different story. We tucked ourselves into a cove. It felt pretty private until I was using my bathroom bucket while there were people hiking the ridge above me. Haha. I brought my pop-up bathroom tent but the wind was so strong it would not stand upright. If I had a AWD or an ATV this could be a run area to explore. But I'm not sure I'll come back. One and done.
GuideMy family and I recently camped at Burnt Rancheria Campground in the Laguna Mountains. The campground looks like a classic mountain campground. It was beautiful with so many trees(mostly oak and pine) and shrubs! We noticed that there was a great variety of campsites that seem to offer very different experiences. There were some in wide open meadows where you could see all of your neighbors. Some were in small clusters. And others felt much more secluded in the forest. Also, there was a great difference in the amount of shade and flatness available. Thankfully our site (#207) was pretty secluded and offered ample shade, but it was on a pretty significant incline. There was only one semi-flat spot for our tent. The campground is very well-kept and the bathrooms were probably the cleanest campground bathrooms I’ve ever seen! The campground hosts seemed very pleasant and even offered firewood delivery to your site. Thanks to the ample forest there were plenty of birds, squirrels, and even a gopher we were able to watch. We look forward to returning.
Guide
The Salton Sea is a odd place, and definitely worth a visit. These campgrounds place you a short walk from the water, where the shores are made of fish bones.
PROS: Inexpensive - Sites almost always available - Clean - Unique experience
CONS: A major train line is right near the campsite, so you'll hear a train going by almost every hour of the day. They don't use there horns near the camp though, so It didn't bother us at all, but light sleepers may want ear plugs.
The campground is well maintained, with decent size campsites, clean bathrooms, and even showers ($0.50) available. Each site has a shade structure, fire pit, picnic bench, and enough room for several tents. There are great day use picnic areas near the water, with shade structures, picnic benches, and grills.
This is our second time staying here and it was just as nice as the first time. The camp hosts are always friendly and helpful. They keep the campgrounds in great shape, and patrol the area often.
There are amazing photo opportunities here, along with all the abandoned buildings in the nearby towns, Over 400 bird species have been documented at the Salton Sea, and Salvation Mountain/Slab City are only about 40 mins away.
TravelerThis is our second stay at Salton Sea State Recreation Area; our first stay we stumbled upon and were easily able to walk-in for a campsite staying at sites 48 and 26. Sites 48 and 50 have the best view of the Sea but least privacy, site 26 has a great tree for shade and a double picnic table Ramada for a decent sized group. this visit we stayed at site 49 which was less shady but no biggie with the breeze off the sea.
This place is such a relief from the dessert dryness and heat in late spring, it is about 10* cooler than the desert outside Joshua tree and the salty low humid air is so refreshing. The history of issues with algae on the sea keep this place pretty quiet. The park staff says it’s relatively safe to enter the water, though hard to access and can be smelly so few people do. It really makes for a serene stay where a location this beautiful and park with such nice amenities would usually be packed; this place is not. To be clear these sites are the “New Campground” the Headquarters sites are in the main parking lot; I’d only recommend headquarters for a trailer/25+ RV; the new grounds are much nicer.
If you are a tent camper there are quite a few sites you could pitch right under the shade of a tree and we’ve seen folks with hammocks on their Ramadas as well.
The nature loop on the east side of camp is a perfect spot for a morning stroll to watch the sunrise, while camp or the day use Ramadas provide a stunning view of the mountains, Sea, and sunset. There is a 1 mile trail to the Mecca campground we haven’t done yet and the park staff recommended checking out the Sonny Bono Bird Sanctuary on the East end of the Sea. This is a place to come, relax, unwind, and be perfectly fine with not doing a whole lot to just enjoy your setting.
Showers are token run which is a drawback, you get them at the office which is open Thur-Sun from 9-4 currently.
PS holy cow the migratory birds and the bats at sunset, ridiculous!
Tent camping near Imperial, California offers a unique experience with diverse landscapes and well-equipped sites, perfect for outdoor enthusiasts looking to explore the desert.
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