Best Tent Camping near Niland, CA

Tent camping options near Niland, California range from established campgrounds to dispersed sites across desert terrain. Box Canyon Dispersed Camping provides primitive tent sites with sandy terrain and canyon views, while Corn Springs Campground offers basic facilities for tent campers approximately 10 miles southwest of Desert Center. Both locations accommodate walk-in tent sites for those seeking more secluded camping experiences.

Tent campers should prepare for extreme desert conditions with limited amenities. Most sites have no potable water, requiring campers to bring adequate supplies for their stay. Box Canyon features loose sand that may require high-clearance vehicles, though some tent campers can access sites by parking at the canyon entrance and walking to campsites. Vault toilets are available at Corn Springs, which charges $6 per night, but are absent at dispersed locations. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F, making winter the preferred season for tent camping in this region.

The desert landscape offers unique experiences for tent campers willing to endure primitive conditions. A visitor commented that Box Canyon provides "shear cliffs that are heavily eroded with very distinct layers of floods and nice hikes up thin canyons." Areas deeper in Box Canyon provide more solitude but accessing them requires navigating through sandy terrain. Tent campers at Corn Springs benefit from established sites with some shade from desert vegetation, while those at Box Canyon must carefully select level ground. Night temperatures drop significantly, creating excellent stargazing opportunities for tent campers. Wildlife sightings, including foxes and coyotes, are common near campsites after dark.

Best Tent Sites Near Niland, California (18)

    1. Corn Springs Campground

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

    "Pit toilets, no water, a little cell service with ATT. Half the sites were full but with quiet folks."

    "Well was dry, luckily I carry water.  Beautiful canyon hikes, climbs and views. 

    Petroglyphs and historic mining cabin

    Someone drops off scrap wood for campfires

    I'll be back"

    2. Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area

    16 Reviews
    Borrego Springs, CA
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 767-5391

    "This is a great open camping area, you can camp near others or find a secluded spot of your own. There are fire rings, picnic tables, toilets and even showers."

    "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."

    3. Glamis Flats

    4 Reviews
    Holtville, CA
    30 miles
    Website

    "if you like to drive offroad, this is the place for you! even if you dont,its fun to sled down the dunes."

    "Not 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."

    4. Cement Flats

    1 Review
    Holtville, CA
    27 miles
    Website

    "Great boondocking site on our drive to San Diego! You can’t beat the price!"

    5. Gecko Campground

    1 Review
    Holtville, CA
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 337-4400

    7. Box Canyon Dispersed

    5 Reviews
    Mecca, CA
    36 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."

    8. El Centro NAF Campground

    1 Review
    Imperial, CA
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 339-2486

    "This campground is located on a military facility. You must have base access/privileges in order to utilize this campground. "

    9. Mobiland RV Park

    1 Review
    Salton City, CA
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 767-3782

    "Giant RV park with many entrances, it looks free but don’t quote me on that. We camped here off the dirt road and didn’t see anyone to pay."

    10. Cahuilla Ranger Station

    Be the first to review!
    Holtville, CA
    27 miles
    +1 (760) 337-4400
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Tent Camping Reviews near Niland, CA

301 Reviews of 18 Niland Campgrounds


  • Kathy M.
    Jul. 1, 2017

    Cottonwood Campground — Joshua Tree National Park

    Away from primary Joshua Tree camping areas

    This campground was away from the primary campground like Jumbo Rock and therefore less crowded. Campsites included fire ring and picnic table. Flush toilets on premises and away from primary sites. Tent sites were very close together and as we found or a very popular site for star gazing and meteror showers. Required aunt of a drive to get into the primary park area and firewood not available in campgrounds (Walmart is the closest location it was available). Camp hosts were very nice however did not enforce quiet hours. We camp with our daughter (5 at the time) and unfortunately we were surrounded by many college students drinking heavily (not Joshua Trees fault). We ended up leaving a day early because of this. Aside from the other campers we had a good desert camping experience. I think next time we would try a different site to attempt to be more secluded and avoid this issue in the future.

  • Greg L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 27, 2023

    BLM Oxbow Campground

    Great BLM camp on river.

    Nice BLM CG on Colorado River. Colo and AZ state line seems to bisect this area. CG has tables, fire rings vault toilets, dumpster, but NO water or RV dump. $15/$7.50 senior. 14d limit.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 11, 2022

    Osborne Overlook

    Surprise, it's also a campground!

    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!

  • Larry B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 12, 2021

    Pegleg Smith Camping — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

    Nice and New

    This is a new primitive location being constructed in the Anza-Borrego State Park.

    It is currently open for use at no charge during the proposed Land Use Action from February 20, to May 31, 2021.

    The park will be providing ADA accessible Concrete Vaulted Toilet (CXT restroom facility, adding fire rings, and incorporating a $20 per night per vehicle or trailer fee.

    Camping will be allowed for up to 30-day maximum stay with adjacent state managed recreational activities include camping, hiking, equestrian, biking, bouldering, picnicking, and street legal off roading.

  • cal K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 16, 2023

    Mecca Beach Campground — Salton Sea State Recreation Area

    Close together sites, great beach views.

    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.

  • Prius P.
    Jul. 25, 2025

    Arroyo Salado Primitive Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

    Great if you understand the desert

    By my standards this is not primitive you have a toilet and a fire ring. Some of the spots are flatter than others. I made it in my prius so no need for high clearance or 4X4. Great for seeing stars and the sunrise. Awesome mini canyons if you're adventurous. BRING WATER ! It's hit during the day otherwise I really enjoy this place personally

  • Miles K.
    Apr. 21, 2021

    BLM Oxbow Campground

    Weekend Getaway Boondocking

    I met up with an old Marine buddy of mine and my 15 year old son for some camping, fishing and offroading with my friends Polaris Razr. There is a nice boat dock that is well used. NOTE: The walking dock to get into your boat is not setup and is not functional. Fishing spots are around the camping sites... fishing from shore into the river is doable... but the flow of the river means you probably will be like I was just practicing your casts. The trails on the Arizona side off of Levee Rd. We're great. We went out into the desert by the Hart Mining area and saw Big Horn Sheep and a Log Cabin from 1910. The weather was great... wind did get a bit gusty in the afternoons. Other than that great sunrises and sunsets. Camp fire rings were full of past ashes. We dug ours out to make it better for a fire. The Vault bathrooms are Really Bad. Luckily I brought my privacy pop-up tent and Lowes bucket with a toilet seat. That was way better than the stench of the toilet. No water so you need to bring your own, same with firewood, toilet needs... no toilet paper provided, no sinks or clothes pins required. We were the ONLY campers in the main campsites by the off duty camp host trailer on the river on Sat night and woke up to an empty campground.

  • S
    May. 29, 2019

    Arroyo Salado Primitive Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

    Desert Camping With a Toilet and That's About It

    I 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.

  • Amber D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 7, 2019

    Arroyo Salado Primitive Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

    Desert perfection

    Super primitive but heavily used campground tucked among red rocks along a wash. I camped here in Spring and the wash was full of wildflowers. We drove back at least a mile in a sedan to set up camp. It's doable without four wheel drive or high clearance, just use caution. Need to bring your own fire pit and pack out coals. No facilities other than a vault toilet near the entrance of the wash. Anza Borrego is a gem. Loved this campground!


Guide to Niland

Dispersed camping near Niland, California offers primitive desert sites where temperatures can range from below freezing at night to over 110°F in summer months. Most locations require self-sufficiency with no services available on site. The region sits at low elevations, typically between 100-500 feet above sea level, creating extreme temperature fluctuations between day and night.

What to do

Explore desert petroglyphs: At Corn Springs Campground, visitors can view ancient rock art while enjoying the remote desert setting. A camper noted there's a "small section of petroglyphs, unfortunately some have been ruined with graffiti," but they remain an important cultural feature worth exploring.

Canyon hiking: Several narrow slot canyons provide hiking opportunities away from OHV areas. One visitor at Corn Springs mentioned "beautiful canyon hikes, climbs and views" that can be accessed directly from campsites during cooler months.

Off-road adventures: The Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area offers extensive riding trails for all skill levels. A reviewer shared that there are "huge jumps, long sand washes, technical single track. Desert camping at its finest," making it popular among OHV enthusiasts.

Sand sledding: For families without OHVs, sliding down dunes offers alternative recreation. As one camper at Ocotillo Wells noted, "We spent two nights there and just had good ol'e fashion camping fun. Games, camp fire, etc." Simple activities can be the most memorable.

What campers like

Seclusion during weekdays: Tent campers often mention the solitude available during non-peak times. A camper at Box Canyon Dispersed explained they "got my jeep deep into the canyon between coachella weekends and was the only person there," highlighting the availability of private camping experiences.

Wildlife encounters: Desert animals frequently visit campsites after sunset. One camper at Corn Springs described being "woken up and surrounded by coyotes. Two of them close and three or four more off in the distance about 15 or 20 feet," creating memorable wilderness experiences.

Budget-friendly options: Many sites offer low-cost or free camping alternatives. A visitor commented that Corn Springs is "$6 per night" while others like Box Canyon offer free dispersed camping, making them among the best tent camping near Niland, California for budget-conscious travelers.

Geological features: The dramatic rock formations provide both scenic backdrops and exploration opportunities. A Box Canyon visitor described "shear cliffs that are heavily eroded. Very distinct layers of floods. Nice hikes up thin canyons," offering natural education opportunities.

What you should know

Vehicle considerations: Many access roads require appropriate vehicles. At Box Canyon, a reviewer warned there are "cons; very easy to get stuck, very loose sand," recommending high-clearance 4WD vehicles for safer access.

Water requirements: No potable water exists at most sites near Niland. A camper at Glamis Flats advised bringing "three times the amount of water that you think you would need" due to extreme heat and dry conditions.

Seasonal planning: Summer temperatures make winter the optimal time for tent camping near Niland. A reviewer noted, "We had a lot of fun here! It was really hot so we'd only go back during winter time," emphasizing the seasonal nature of desert camping.

Bathroom facilities: Most dispersed sites have no toilets. Where facilities exist, they're basic. A Glamis Flats camper described "small pit toilets that seem to be cleaned often but still smell," setting realistic expectations for amenities.

Tips for camping with families

Navigation safety: Bring detailed maps when exploring with children. A visitor cautioned about the dunes at Imperial Sand Dunes RA, warning "go with someone familiar with the area, as heading off into the dunes can be dangerous: you can get lost super easy!"

Entertainment planning: Pack games and activities for when heat restricts outdoor time. One family at Imperial Sand Dunes described the experience as "mesmerizing—sand and more sand for days! Super fun place, lots to do. Super fun for the whole family."

Safety precautions: Monitor children closely around vehicle traffic at busy OHV sites. A camper noted that at Ocotillo Wells, "holiday weekend fill up fast and get very loud," requiring extra vigilance during peak times.

Educational opportunities: Use the desert landscape for natural learning experiences about geology and wildlife. As one family discovered, "We had two foxes come and visit the campsite," creating memorable wildlife encounters for children.

Tips from RVers

Site selection strategies: At Mobiland RV Park, RVers recommended specific areas, noting it's a "giant RV park with many entrances" where camping along dirt roads provides more spacious sites away from crowds.

Power management: Generator restrictions apply at many sites, so solar setups are recommended. A camper described Ocotillo Wells as having "no RV hookups and no shade as it's the desert," requiring self-sufficient power solutions.

Leveling challenges: Bring leveling blocks for uneven desert terrain. An RVer mentioned at Box Canyon that you need to find "level ground" for comfortable camping, particularly challenging in sandy areas with natural contours.

Route planning: Scout access roads before bringing large rigs. One Box Canyon visitor advised that while "most vehicles" can access the main road "as long as you stay on the road," larger RVs should consider alternate camping locations with better access.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Niland, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Niland, CA is Corn Springs Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 5 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Niland, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 18 tent camping locations near Niland, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.