Best Campgrounds near Indio, CA

The desert landscape surrounding Indio, California features diverse camping options within a 40-mile radius, from full-service RV resorts to primitive backcountry sites. Joshua Tree National Park's southern entrance lies approximately 35 minutes north, offering established campgrounds like Jumbo Rocks and Cottonwood with their distinctive boulder formations and desert vegetation. Lake Cahuilla Recreation Area provides water-adjacent camping just 15 minutes from downtown Indio with full hookups and mountain views. Free dispersed camping on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land can be found at Joshua Tree South, located near Chiriaco Summit, where campers create informal sites among the desert scrub.

Desert camping conditions require careful preparation, particularly regarding water and temperature management. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F, making fall through spring the preferred camping seasons. As one camper noted, "Be sure to fully stock up on water, gas, propane etc. before arriving in the area. No firewood sold at nearby gas stations, you have to go 30 minutes into Indio." Many BLM areas have no facilities whatsoever, while developed campgrounds often have limited or no water sources. Cell service varies dramatically—Joshua Tree South offers surprisingly good connectivity with "Verizon full bars" according to reviews, while many park campgrounds have no service. High winds frequently affect the region, sometimes forcing campers to adjust their plans.

Stargazing opportunities rank among the top experiences mentioned by campers visiting the Indio area. "Sunsets and sunrises were incredible," reported one visitor to Joshua Tree South BLM land. The boulder formations at Joshua Tree National Park campgrounds provide natural windbreaks and climbing opportunities, with one camper describing Jumbo Rocks as having "sites tucked between massive boulders offering natural protection." Lake Cahuilla receives praise for being "wonderfully quiet" during off-season periods with "lake views and surrounding mountains." Proximity to town remains a practical advantage for many sites, with Indio serving as the primary supply point for groceries, firewood, and other necessities. Seasonal visitation patterns show marked differences, with many campgrounds experiencing heavy use during winter months when temperatures moderate.

Best Camping Sites Near Indio, California (312)

    1. Jumbo Rocks Campground — Joshua Tree National Park

    119 Reviews
    Twentynine Palms, CA
    20 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."

    2. Thousand Trails Palm Springs

    18 Reviews
    Bermuda Dunes, CA
    5 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!"

    3. Hidden Valley Campground — Joshua Tree National Park

    39 Reviews
    Twentynine Palms, CA
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 367-3001

    "The entire campgrounds are surrounded in a wall of boulders varying in shales and sizes. Tons of fun to scramble and boulder on. We wenf in July and the evening temps were fantastic."

    "Location is great and close by to al the main attraction!"

    4. Ryan Campground — Joshua Tree National Park

    30 Reviews
    Twentynine Palms, CA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 367-5554

    $30 / night

    "This camp site was tucked in the back, 12 miles from Joshua Tree park entrance. This site was on the side of the rocks that provided shade for more than 12 hours in the day."

    "Short drive to most of the popular sights / trails in Joshua Tree Cons: Some sites are pretty close to each other, can feel crowded.

            "

    5. Lake Cahuilla

    12 Reviews
    La Quinta, CA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 564-4712

    "Stayed at the start of May as I had appointments in Indio. Wonderfully quiet, hardly anyone else here. If I’d visited in the busy season I think the closeness of the sites would have bothered me."

    "Lake Cahuilla has a lot to offer, including a playground, lake for fishing only (no swimming), and a pool that was closed while we were there, and somewhat spacious sites."

    6. Indian Cove Campground — Joshua Tree National Park

    62 Reviews
    Twentynine Palms, CA
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 367-5554

    $55 / night

    "Cons: no park entrance from here. You have to drive 20/30 minutes out to the main road and back in to get to the main area of the park. The campsite next to us had some nasty anthills."

    "Indian Cove is on the Northern side of the park, and you will use a different entrance than the main park entrance."

    7. Catalina Spa and RV Resort

    21 Reviews
    Desert Hot Springs, CA
    16 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."

    8. Joshua Tree South - BLM Dispersed

    59 Reviews
    Mecca, CA
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 833-7100

    "Absolutely love staying just outside the park. Easy access to some beautiful trails and you can easily fill up with water, dump out, and use the garbage from your vehicle."

    "The highway noise is rarely noticeable. The site we found was more level than some campgrounds we’ve been in. It’s 100% boondocking, but it’s also 100% free. About 23 miles from Indio/Coachella."

    9. Palm Springs-Joshua Tree KOA

    21 Reviews
    Desert Hot Springs, CA
    17 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."

    10. Painted Canyon

    17 Reviews
    Mecca, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 833-7100

    "We love hiking the rope/ladder trail loop during the day and star gazing at night. No bugs and the weather is amazing if you’re at the base of the canyon."

    "Watch the corners when driving/ walking on the road- some people drive quick around the blind corners.
    AWD recommend in the least to get all the way to the trail head."

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Recent Reviews near Indio, CA

1591 Reviews of 312 Indio 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

  • 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.

  • s
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Borrego Palm Canyon Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

    Open Desert Fun

    October 4th stay was new to me, my 3rd trailer camping trip from San Diego. It was nice and warm at arrival and cool by the moonlit night with the gnats going away until morning. No one was next to me so I had it good, most were tent camper and quiet by 10pm... great views. Shack guard was nice and helpful... I liked this site.


Guide to Indio

The Indio area sits at approximately 14 feet below sea level in California's Coachella Valley, creating a unique desert camping environment surrounded by dramatic mountain ranges. Campgrounds near Indio experience extreme temperature variations with winter nighttime lows occasionally dropping into the 40s despite daytime highs in the 70s. Most tent camping sites face sandy conditions requiring specialized stakes or alternative anchoring methods.

What to do

Ladder Canyon hiking: 1 hour from Indio. Painted Canyon offers a popular slot canyon trail with rope and ladder sections. "The hikes and views are top notch. Pack in pack out, relatively clean," reports one camper at Painted Canyon. Another adds: "We love hiking the rope/ladder trail loop during the day and star gazing at night."

Rock climbing: 45 minutes from downtown. Indian Cove Campground provides direct access to numerous climbing routes. "Each site is tucked into the rocks which block wind and kept us nice and warm at night. Bats flew just overhead for a couple hours and I thought it was magical!" notes a visitor to Indian Cove Campground.

Mineral spring soaking: 30-minute drive north. The natural hot springs at Catalina Spa and RV Resort offer three different temperature pools. "Upper section is exposed to the frequent high winds. Lower section is blocked by trees and bushes which block you from your neighbors. Lower mineral pool is more adult friendly," explains a camper who visited during quieter periods.

Fishing: 15 minutes from downtown. Lake Cahuilla Recreation Area permits fishing in its reservoir. "Got here just as the sun was setting so we chose a spot fairly close to the road. 4WD seems required off the corrugated road, soft sand. It is beautiful here, and free!" mentions a camper describing the lake access areas.

What campers like

Site privacy: varies by location. At Lake Cahuilla, campers appreciate the spaciousness: "Wide gravel sites, most with 50/30 amp service and water, many right on the small fishing lake. No trees or other screening between sites although not packed in like a standard RV park."

Family facilities: pools and playgrounds. The Palm Springs-Joshua Tree KOA offers multiple recreational options. "Many activities for kids miniature golf, jump board, play ground. Many activities for adults as well the staff are very nice and helpful," reports a satisfied visitor.

Distinctive camping environments: unique rock formations. At Ryan Campground, campers find "a beautiful site with great rock formations all around." Another visitor notes, "Enormous boulders are the backdrop (and only promise of shifting shade relief) of this little campground in Joshua Tree."

Cost-effective options: BLM areas with no fees. Joshua Tree South provides free dispersed camping: "The BLM land is managed by the Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office and is not in JTNP itself. There are many, many spots here, so you are almost sure to find a spot to camp even if it's crowded."

What you should know

Site dimensions and access limitations: Many sites in the area have size restrictions. At Jumbo Rocks Campground, a camper warns: "Campers beware that the sites are close together and have limited space for campers. We have a RTT with a fold out annex. There are boulders along the road side that do not allow you to pull into the sites."

Weather preparation requirements: Temperature fluctuations demand appropriate gear. "When we first arrived on Saturday around noon, it was definitely hot, and definitely windy. What I wasn't quite expecting was how cold it would get at night. Our first night there dropped into the low 40s and felt even colder with the wind."

Road conditions for dispersed areas: Some free camping areas require careful vehicle selection. At Painted Canyon, a visitor advises: "To all my fellow 2wd roughians, your first time grinding through Painted Canyon Trail may be slightly tense but exciting none the less. Loose sand will sometimes look firm and firm sand may look loose in places."

Reservation strategies: Ryan Campground's policies have changed. "Note - check on Joshua Tree campgrounds as they may have changed their reservation policy. Ryan Campground used to be first come first served but as of Sept 2020 it is reservation only."

Tips for camping with families

Pool access scheduling: reserve early morning. At Thousand Trails Palm Springs, "Nice pool limited to 14 people at a time and you have to book your pool time at the office in the morning between 8-10." This organization helps maintain social distancing while ensuring everyone gets pool time.

Playground alternatives: natural climbing areas. Hidden Valley Campground offers natural play spaces. "The kids liked biking the loop. The scenery and starry night sky are breathtaking," shares a parent who visited with children.

Educational options: wildlife viewing. Lake Cahuilla offers nature encounters: "While visiting family in LaQuinta this was perfect...great view over the lake, clean showers, spaces not too close, walk around the lake, big horn sheep viewing."

Off-season advantages: quieter experiences. A Lake Cahuilla visitor recommends: "Great view of the lake from most of the tent sections. Access to showers and restrooms. There is a pool in the summer and enough shade to stay as cool as the desert allows without A/C. Especially great in the off season as it can be a bit noisy when it is crowded."

Tips from RVers

Hookup locations and alignment: At Palm Springs-Joshua Tree KOA, an RVer notes: "Sites are not level. Our dump hookup ended up being uphill so one has to milk the house to empty (our neighbors had the same situation.)"

Wind protection strategies: Multiple RVers mention challenges with desert winds. "We had spot 18 and fit in our trailer! It's flat too so no leveling was required unlike most of the sites here. No water or RV hookups. Saw a coyote though," reports a trailer camper at Hidden Valley.

Palm tree considerations: The palm trees that give the area character can create access issues. At Thousand Trails Palm Springs, "Parking big rig between the palm trees can be a challenge." Another camper adds, "Full hook up sites, pull through and back on. And the spots are big enough for 2 additional vehicles."

Dump station alternatives: Indian Cove lacks some amenities, but campers find solutions. "We stayed three nights and used the 29 Palms Marine Corp base to dump our tanks as we are military. There isn't a dump station at this campground and you can only fill up with water at the small ranger entrance building."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping options are available near Indio, CA?

Indio offers diverse camping experiences from luxury to primitive. Sam's Family Spa RV Resort & Motel provides resort-style amenities including four hot pools at different temperatures, a swimming pool, gym, and saunas, with economical monthly rates around $600 plus electricity. For those seeking a more natural setting, Lake Cahuilla offers peaceful lake views and provides a quiet camping environment, though sites can be close together during busy seasons. The area also features several Joshua Tree National Park campgrounds within driving distance, as well as private RV parks and additional BLM dispersed camping options for those seeking either amenities or solitude.

Are there any fishing spots at camping grounds near Indio?

Lake Cahuilla is the premier fishing destination near Indio, offering camping with lake views and fishing opportunities. While swimming isn't permitted, the lake is stocked with fish and provides a peaceful setting for anglers. The campground features sites with views of the water, making it convenient to fish throughout your stay. For those willing to travel a bit further, the Salton Sea area offers additional fishing opportunities, though conditions can vary seasonally. Most other camping options around Indio are in desert environments without fishing access, as the area's arid climate limits natural fishing spots. Check local regulations for fishing licenses and seasonal restrictions before your trip.

Where are the best camping spots in Indio, California?

The Indio area offers several excellent camping options. Joshua Tree South - BLM Dispersed is highly rated for its free boondocking about 23 miles from Indio, offering secluded spots with beautiful sunrise and sunset views. The area features existing fire rings and firm-packed dirt roads accessible to most vehicles. Another popular option is Chiriaco Summit Dry Camp Area, located behind the gas station with convenient access to Indio for shopping and supplies. This spot allows stays up to a week and provides a practical base for exploring the surrounding desert landscape while remaining close to town amenities.