Best Campgrounds near Mecca, CA

Mecca, California sits adjacent to several notable desert camping destinations, including Mecca Hills Wilderness, Painted Canyon, and Joshua Tree South BLM dispersed camping areas. The terrain ranges from rocky canyons to open desert expanses, with both established and primitive sites available throughout the region. Several campgrounds provide RV hookups, including Headquarters Campground at Salton Sea State Recreation Area and Lake Cahuilla County Park, while others cater primarily to tent campers seeking backcountry experiences. Public lands near Mecca offer diverse camping experiences across BLM dispersed sites, state parks, and national park campgrounds within driving distance.

Road conditions vary significantly, with many camping areas requiring high-clearance or four-wheel drive vehicles, particularly in the Mecca Hills Wilderness and Painted Canyon areas. The deeply sandy roads present challenges for standard passenger vehicles, while established campgrounds like Jumbo Rocks and Cottonwood in nearby Joshua Tree National Park offer improved access. Weather extremes impact camping comfort, with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 100°F, making winter and spring the preferred seasons for desert camping. Most dispersed camping areas lack amenities such as water, toilets or trash collection, requiring self-sufficiency. A recent visitor noted, "Came here to hike Ladder Canyon and Painted Canyon. Before the trailhead there are lots of areas for dispersed camping. It's an unpaved road that can be challenging to drive in at times, so would recommend 4x4 high clearance vehicle."

Campers report exceptional stargazing opportunities throughout the area, with minimal light pollution in the more remote camping zones. The dramatic canyon walls in Painted Canyon provide natural shade during hot days, making it a preferred location during warmer seasons. Solitude varies by location and timing, with weekends bringing more visitors to popular areas. One camper shared, "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." Wildlife encounters frequently include desert foxes, particularly at night, with several reviews mentioning the need to secure food and trash. Mixed-use campgrounds near water sources, such as those at Salton Sea, tend to fill quickly during pleasant weather months, while more remote dispersed sites typically offer greater privacy but require more preparation.

Best Camping Sites Near Mecca, California (266)

    1. Joshua Tree South - BLM Dispersed

    59 Reviews
    Mecca, CA
    17 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."

    "This is a great free site right at the edge of Joshua Tree National park. Spots are far apart and you don’t have to worry about other people. Area is flat and easy to set up and park on."

    2. Painted Canyon

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

    "BLM land surrounded by Mecca wilderness good spot for boondocking. Washboard road into the camping area lots of sand so be careful and don't get dug in."

    "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."

    3. Jumbo Rocks Campground — Joshua Tree National Park

    119 Reviews
    Twentynine Palms, CA
    29 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."

    4. Mecca Hills Wilderness

    10 Reviews
    Mecca, CA
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 833-7100

    "I researched this spot a ton and was hesitant to go - mostly because my 1987 VW Westfalia isn’t 4WD, and everything I read said you must have an off road vehicle, but the area looked beautiful and we didn"

    "I didn’t have high expectations but after going, it’s perfect for any off-roader. We travel in large groups so this site is ideal for us!"

    5. Cottonwood Campground — Joshua Tree National Park

    28 Reviews
    Mecca, CA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 367-5554

    $55 / night

    "Water was a little tricky to find at first because it was tucked next to a campsite that had an RV parked out front. Wildflowers were blooming all around in mid-spring. "

    "Had great hikes on the many paths. Drove through Joshua Tree National forest, through Cholla and Ocotilla gardens. Saw Skull rock and the fabulous gigantic rock formations."

    6. Headquarters Campground — Salton Sea State Recreation Area

    11 Reviews
    Mecca, CA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 393-3052

    $20 / night

    "This 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."

    "If you’re looking for a campsite off the beaten path with gorgeous views and some unique exploring nearby, this is it. I stayed here in a 22 foot RV at one of the hookup sites."

    7. Lake Cahuilla

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

    "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."

    "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."

    8. Painted Canyon

    6 Reviews
    Mecca, CA
    5 miles

    "Recommend driving off to the sides were you will find event more tucked away campsites with fire rings around them. Only 1 bathroom near the beginning the the road."

    "The main road was a super easy drive, definitely doable 2 wheel drive but 4 wheel is recommended."

    9. Oasis Palms RV Resort

    10 Reviews
    Coolidge Springs, CA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 397-1011

    "The only challenge was the highway noise. But it’s a sweet spot."

    "Very friendly staff and a great location to live."

    10. Box Canyon Dispersed

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

    "this is a dispersed location on box canyon in Mecca. the road is loose sand and is possible by most vehicles as long as you stay on the road."

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Recent Reviews near Mecca, CA

1460 Reviews of 266 Mecca 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!

  • Mike M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 18, 2025

    Pinezanita RV Park & Campground

    Scenic campground with great staff

    Wonderful sites nestled in the Oak trees, grounds are very well kept you can see a lot of work and attention went into them. Don’t come expecting to find any level ground and the way the sites are arranged it’s kind of like an RV challenge course, so bring your A game. I would definitely camp here again though.

  • 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.


Guide to Mecca

Camping near Mecca, California, offers a unique blend of desert beauty and outdoor adventure. With several campgrounds in the area, you can find the perfect spot to unwind and explore.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the stunning trails around Joshua Tree National Park. One camper mentioned, “So much exploring to be had right from your campsite. The high desert is fascinating” at Jumbo Rocks Campground.
  • Rock Climbing: If you’re into climbing, Hidden Valley is a great spot. A visitor shared, “The campground flanks some large rock formations that host rock climbers during the day” at Hidden Valley Campground.
  • Stargazing: The clear desert skies make for amazing stargazing. One camper noted, “DARK DARK DARK sky.....wonderful” at Hidden Valley Campground.

What campers like:

  • Scenic Views: Campers rave about the beautiful surroundings. A review from Indian Cove Campground states, “What a beautiful place. It was really quiet when we were there and saw a beautiful sunset and sunrise.”
  • Privacy: Many sites offer a sense of seclusion. One camper at Jumbo Rocks Campground said, “We had a ton of privacy and fun rocks to climb on.”
  • Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Campgrounds like Black Rock Campground are noted for being great for families. A reviewer mentioned, “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, like Indian Cove Campground, lack showers and drinking water. A camper noted, “The sites are pretty big and there’s many different campgrounds with 20-180 sites in each.”
  • Busy Seasons: Expect crowds during peak times. One visitor at Joshua Tree South - BLM Dispersed mentioned, “I arrived at 5 PM and already almost all spots were taken.”
  • Wildlife: Be prepared for wildlife encounters. A camper at Indian Cove Campground shared, “Talk about waking up with the sound of coyotes in your camp, it was so peaceful.”

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for spots like William Heise County Park, which offers various amenities. A reviewer said, “The park was clean and well-maintained, and the staff was friendly and helpful.”
  • Plan Activities: Make sure to have a list of family-friendly hikes and activities. One camper at Borrego Palm Canyon Campground noted, “There’s a trailhead to the oasis right in the campground.”
  • Pack Essentials: Bring plenty of water and snacks. A visitor at Lake Hemet Campground mentioned, “Bring your own shade for this campsite, your own water too.”

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A camper at Black Rock Campground advised, “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: Reservations can fill up fast. A reviewer at Joshua Tree South - BLM Dispersed said, “The campground while on the edge of Joshua Tree is not really inside the park. You don't pay park fees, but you can't go directly into the rest of the park from the campsite.”
  • Be Prepared for Dust: The desert can be dusty, so keep your RV clean. A camper at Joshua Tree Lake Dispersed Camping mentioned, “The road was quite bumpy, but we managed with a campervan.”

Camping near Mecca, California, offers a mix of adventure and relaxation, making it a great spot for your next outdoor getaway.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Mecca, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, Mecca, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 266 campgrounds and RV parks near Mecca, CA and 42 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Mecca, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Mecca, CA is Joshua Tree South - BLM Dispersed with a 4.3-star rating from 59 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Mecca, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 42 free dispersed camping spots near Mecca, CA.