407 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping options around Morongo Valley range from established campgrounds in Joshua Tree National Park to RV resorts in nearby Desert Hot Springs. The area's developed campgrounds include Black Rock Campground, offering tent and RV sites with drinking water and restrooms, and Indian Cove Campground with picnic tables and fire rings nestled among dramatic rock formations. Joshua Tree National Park features several campgrounds within 30 minutes of Morongo Valley, while commercial options like Palm Springs-Joshua Tree KOA and Catalina Spa and RV Resort provide full hookups and amenities for RV travelers.
Road conditions and seasonal considerations impact camping experiences throughout the region. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F in lower elevations, making spring and fall the most comfortable camping seasons. As one camper noted, "The views from some of the sites are gorgeous and there is very light traffic. There is water at one of the sites that is shared with all of them." Winter brings cooler temperatures and occasional freezing conditions at higher elevations like Black Rock Campground. Many campgrounds require reservations, particularly during peak spring wildflower season when Joshua Tree's campgrounds fill quickly. Cell service varies significantly, with better coverage at campgrounds closer to towns.
The high desert landscape delivers striking scenery and stargazing opportunities at most campgrounds. Joshua Tree's Jumbo Rocks Campground receives consistently high ratings for its unique setting among massive granite boulders. A review described it as having "sites tucked between HUGE boulders so they're nicely tucked away from high winds that can sometimes pick up." Campgrounds at higher elevations like Heart Bar offer cooler temperatures and mountain views. Desert wildlife sightings are common, with several campers mentioning coyote encounters. Facilities vary widely, from primitive sites with vault toilets to full-service RV resorts with hot springs access. The proximity to rock climbing, hiking trails, and desert botanical features makes the area particularly popular with outdoor enthusiasts looking for developed campgrounds that provide access to wilderness experiences.
"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."
from $35 / night
Check Availability"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."
"ALSO not the parks fault but 2 small trailers pulled in next to us around 10 pm and had lots of people and lots of kids."
"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."
from $55 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $22 - $44 / night
Check Availability"They're situated between HUGE boulders so they're nicely tucked away from high winds that can sometimes pick up."
"bathrooms but no water access and the main entrance is about 45 drive, so come prepared. great access to climbing walking distance or short drive. stunning rock formations and sunrise/sunsets."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"The first thing to mention is the location. The back of the campground faces west where the rolling mountains seem to part in a way that showcases the beautiful California sunset."
"second reason; there are many many sites to choose from. this camp ground has several loops that each contain roughly 20 campsites, sometimes more. on any given day you should be able to drive up, though"
from $29 - $58 / night
Check Availability"A great spot away from the main Joshua Tree strip. We visited for one night during the waning height of COVID and staff was taking all the necessary precautions."
"Away from highway noise a place to recharge."
from $15 - $55 / night
Check Availability"Mail delivery is convenient, but the lack of security at the campground entrance feels like a gap."
"With snow in the surrounding mountains. It seems to be surrounded by mountains in the winter months."
from $60 / night
Check Availability"Rangers comes around several times per day to collect camping fees. Have credit card ready to pay. Honor system upon exit if you miss them. Easy walk to Hidden Valley loop trail."
"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."
"Free camping just outside Joshua Tree. No amenities or designated campsites. Large open area where you can camp wherever you'd like."
"As others have noted, this a giant dry lake bed. There is tons of space, plenty of room to spread out and not be near other campers, which there are many on the weekends."
TravelerCamped with two people and had tons of space in our site. The car parking is a slightly away from the site, which we liked but maybe not other peoples’ preference
ScoutHas a security guard that thought she was God or something like that. Never seen anybody or place so petty on the place and still searching for the championship horseshoe pits and I can't stop talking about the dark green of the fishing lakes and the fish swimming on their sides
TravelerWe reserved and paid for a regular RV site specifically advertised for a 36–40 ft motorhome. We were assigned Site#28, which was so sloped and unsuitable that we could not safely extend either our living-room slide-out or bedroom slide-out. While using our leveling system, two front hydraulic jack rods broke and one rear jack became severely bent and could not retract. Our motorhome was left unsafe to drive or move. The exact mechanical cause still requires professional inspection, but the condition and slope of the assigned site are serious concerns. We immediately notified the campground by email, provided photographs, and went to the office seeking help with an incident report, emergency assistance, and a safe plan for the stranded motorhome. Unfortunately, management refused to take meaningful responsibility or help us resolve the emergency. The most disappointing part was not only the unsuitable site, but the lack of concern and assistance after a guest’s large motorhome became immobilized on the property. We had to return to work on Monday and were left trying to arrange emergency service, towing, transportation, and accommodation on our own. Based on this experience, I cannot recommend Holloway’s RV Park to owners of large Class A motorhomes. If you have a 36–40 ft RV, carefully inspect the assigned site’s slope, space, and leveling conditions before parking or deploying your jacks.
ScoutThe scenery is unique and enjoyable, with nice views of either sunrise or sunset, depending on site. I found the lake itself very pretty. However when we arrived 4 vehicles are in our spot, people were nice enough moving but we had to go door to door knocking on camper to ask who's cars they were due to no signal and no rangers nearby. Our site was pretty dirty with lots of trash, copious ants near the drainage attachments, and two of the nearby groups had excessive tents extending into the back of our site making our view look more like a homeless encampment and less like a serene mountain sunset. They also were littering, urinating outside, and excessively drinking and partying like crazy until the wee hours. As a family group we felt really uncomfortable. It seemed like not all spots are like this, however, on my walk around deer loop in the morning. If you do go, the water activities and rentals look fun, the walking trail/biking trail was nicely done, and you could optimize your spot by booking a whole group of spots (instead of booking one, book one on the right and left side to avoid feeling like you have entered homeless refuge). It maybe was a bit worse as we were here over a holiday weekend. But we most likely won't be back, there are other places that are less expensive and with better enforcement and a family atmosphere. If you want to party it is probably a fine spot, and if you love water sports also likely ok. I thin it's a beautiful place with unique scenery and a lot of potential, but needs more enforcement regarding guest code of conduct.
Edited and gave 3 stars instead of 2. Views are really nice now that our poorly behaved neighbors left. Worth considering a visit during less busy times.
TravelerNice campground, clean and well maintained - would pick a different spot a bit further from street. If you want to go to lake, its a bit away so need car.
ScoutEasy to get to. I have an AWD sprinter no problem. Son has an Acura TLX made it up no issue had a few spin outs on steeper parts. Higher sites are nice and spaced.
RangerNo lake view, which was a bit disappointing. Nice wooded area though with tree climbing. A bit loud music from the neighbors, not until very late so was OK. Limited amount of toilets for the amount of spots
TravelerCamp site is in walking distance of Idyllwild. Has has a couple of sites with electric hookups. Bathrooms are clean, showers need a token for $1. Being close to the road makes it noisy during the daytime .
TravelerGood campground, quiet, not crowded during the week. Too much trash around some sites, though, on a Monday (doesn’t look like new trash). Bathrooms were clean, but basic. Evening bike ride was fantastic, but the trail is not well kept up (rough or crumbling in many spots) and is steep enough to require an electric bike in several parts unless you are good with an 8-9% grade. Park is quiet during the day, with a lot of amenities.
Tons of ants. Active gnats and mosquitoes at dusk and dawn.
Temperatures were quite warm in mid August. Glad we had an RV with AC.
Morongo Valley serves as a strategic gateway to camping destinations ranging from high desert plateaus at 2,600 feet to nearby mountain terrain reaching 8,500 feet in elevation. This dramatic elevation change creates diverse microclimates, with temperature differences of up to 20°F between camping areas. Winter lows can drop below freezing at higher elevations while summer highs regularly exceed 100°F at lower sites.
Stargazing from exposed sites: At Joshua Tree Lake RV & Campground, campers access prime night sky viewing without light pollution. "This is the most beautiful place to watch sunrise and sunset and stars. So peaceful," notes Robbin C., while another camper adds, "We booked and traveled here to show the kids the stars from a desert view, and it did not disappoint!"
Rock climbing adventures: Indian Cove Campground provides direct access to climbing routes suitable for various skill levels. "The sites are 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!" shares Heather L. Sites positioned among rock formations create natural climbing areas within walking distance of camp.
High mountain hiking trails: For cooler summer camping options, Heart Bar Campground at 6,900 feet elevation offers trails with alpine views. "Topography-wise this camp sits right over a small meadow that boarders the San Gorgonio wilderness... this spot is excellent for wildlife viewing and entry to the wilderness for hiking and exploring," says Nick L. The adjacent meadow area features deer sightings in evenings and connects to wilderness trails.
Hot mineral springs access: Sam's Family Spa RV Resort features natural hot springs with multiple temperature options. "Four mineral water small pools set to different temperatures. The hottest is 104 degrees. These pools are powered by natural hot springs no added chemicals!" explains one reviewer. The resort drains and refills pools nightly for cleanliness.
Desert wildlife encounters: Jumbo Rocks Campground offers frequent wildlife sightings among its distinctive rock formations. "We did have a coyote visitor twice in the morning, so don't forget to keep your food/trash locked up from critters!" warns Sierra T. The campground's position among massive boulder formations creates microhabitats attracting desert animals.
Protection from desert winds: Boulder-ringed campsites provide natural windbreaks at certain campgrounds. "The sites are tucked between massive granite boulders, offering natural windbreaks and a sense of privacy that's hard to find elsewhere," reports one camper. Wind protection becomes crucial during spring when gusts regularly exceed 30 mph in exposed areas.
Varying road conditions: Access roads to many campgrounds require careful driving. "Roads are rough...like falling apart rough. Not an issue for most unless you were in a small or low vehicle," notes Christopher D. about Black Rock Campground.
Water planning requirements: Most desert campgrounds have limited or no water sources. "Planning for water is needed, there is only a pit toilet," advises Robert about Jumbo Rocks. At Indian Cove, "you can only fill up with water at the small ranger entrance building. It takes a little bit of planning but wasn't a big deal to us," explains Christine S.
Cell service variability: Reception ranges from excellent to nonexistent depending on campground location. "Verizon access is excellent; T-mobile not so much (1-2 dots)," reports Kurt P. about Sam's Family Spa, while another camper notes Jumbo Rocks has "no cell service at all at this campground."
Choose campgrounds with kid-friendly features: Hidden Valley Campground offers rock scrambling opportunities perfect for children. "A lot of the campsites are pretty close together... but be prepared for close proximity to neighbors in most sites," advises Christopher D. The campground's proximity to beginner-friendly climbing areas makes it ideal for families with active children.
Plan for extreme temperature swings: Desert camping requires preparation for both hot days and cold nights. "We visited in January, and should have been better prepared! I know better, but we didn't check the conditions well enough, and froze our butts the first night!" recalls Justin L. Temperature drops of 30-40°F between day and night are common.
Consider wind exposure when choosing sites: Protected sites make family camping more comfortable. "I would give this 5 stars if we had been given the option to move to one of the tent sites that had more of a wind block. Instead the campground was pretty empty but they put us at the back of the campground completely exposed to the wind," shares Brooke R. about Joshua Tree Lake RV Campground.
Leveling challenges: Many RV sites require equipment to level. "The sites were close together, narrow roads and the sites were not level. We found a rock to level our van which helped, but flat spots were expected," notes Julie K. about Black Rock Campground.
Hot springs options for longer stays: Several RV resorts offer thermal pools as amenities. "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," explains Kurt P. Long-term rates at hot springs resorts provide significant discounts compared to daily rates.
Wind protection considerations: RVers should secure awnings and select sheltered sites when possible. "Way too windy. We had tents and trailers. None of us slept. The trailer rocked horribly," reports theresa O. about Palm Springs-Joshua Tree KOA, highlighting the importance of wind preparation when choosing camping spots near Morongo Valley.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Morongo Valley, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Morongo Valley, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 407 campgrounds and RV parks near Morongo Valley, CA and 98 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Morongo Valley, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Morongo Valley, CA is Black Rock Campground — Joshua Tree National Park with a 4.2-star rating from 56 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Morongo Valley, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 98 free dispersed camping spots near Morongo Valley, CA.
What parks are near Morongo Valley, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 parks near Morongo Valley, CA that allow camping, notably San Bernardino National Forest and Mojave River Dam.
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