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Catalina Spa and RV Resort's dedicated pet area provides dogs space to exercise while staying at one of the pet-friendly campgrounds near Rancho Mirage. All sites at Thousand Trails Palm Springs, Lake Hemet Campground, and Palm Springs-Joshua Tree KOA welcome pets with specific guidelines. Accommodations range from tent sites to cabins, with most properties offering full hookups for RVers traveling with animals. Palm Springs Thousand Trails enforces stricter pet rules than other parks in the network, requiring leashes throughout the property. Dog owners appreciate the privacy provided by 15-foot hedges surrounding sites at Happy Traveler RV Park, allowing pets to enjoy patio areas without disturbing neighbors. The grounds at Thousand Trails feature beautiful date palm trees throughout the pet-friendly camping sections. Several sites near Rancho Mirage, California are featured on The Dyrt.
Joshua Tree National Park's Black Rock and Jumbo Rocks campgrounds permit leashed pets but restrict them from trails, protecting wildlife and the fragile desert ecosystem. For hikers with dogs, the Palm Springs area offers multiple pet-friendly trails accessible directly from campgrounds, including one through Happy Traveler's back gate. Cathedral Palms RV Resort maintains well-landscaped sites that provide privacy for pets through mature shrubs, while still located near restaurants and stores. Campers should note the desert climate requires extra consideration for pets, with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 100°F. Emerald Desert RV Resort offers multiple dog parks, though one was under construction according to recent visitor reports. The road noise from Interstate 10 and nearby train tracks might disturb sensitive animals at some campgrounds in the Palm Desert area.
"The is a beautiful Thousand Trails RV Resort in Palm Springs, California! The park is large, very spacious and so clean!"
"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."
"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."
"Spa in the desert We wanted to escape the rain and cold and hit the jackpot with this location. I was concerned that the pools might be closed due to COVID but both pools were open."
from $22 - $44 / night
Check Availability"Great dog park, family friendly and the hot springs was just perfect for all of us. Even have 3 temperatures so the kids can enjoy hot springs too! Thanks for a wonderful stay!"
"Not a sprig of grass which makes it difficult to get dogs to pee and it tracks in SO BAD!"
"I've been coming to Lake Hemet for several years. The campground is clean and the fishing is good, most of the time."
"You can fit two 10' x10' canopies to cover the bench table, and fit 2 individual tents (4-6 person) OR a bigger 12p tent however you decide to position it. It has its own Fire pit."
from $45 / night
Check Availability"They're situated between HUGE boulders so they're nicely tucked away from high winds that can sometimes pick up."
"It is roughly in between the northern and western entrances of the park, which means that it's essentially on the eastern edge of most of the rock climbing areas."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"You're not allowed to use ANY surrounding vegetation for campfires (even kindling) so be prepared to cart in your own wood and kindling."
"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"
from $35 / night
Check Availability"Lake Fulmor is 3 miles away to take pups swimming off leash. Idyllwild is a charming town for small town vibe. Nice trails close to PCT and rock climbing by Humber Park."
"Kinda close to main road. But, store close by. Around the corner next to the village."
from $25 - $45 / 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"2 for pets. With BBQ pits and plenty of picnic tables with shade, it’s well worth it."
"This is one of our family's favorite campgrounds because it's a quick drive from San Diego (and OC) and it gives us our "mountain fix" when we don't have time to drive to the Sierra Mountains."
from $30 - $35 / night
Check Availability"It's a lovely location with almost perfect weather in the winter. April very windy and May, it starts getting hotter. However, you can take the tram up majestic Mt."
"Lots of exploring within a hours drive to great sights like Joshua Tree NP, Palm Springs, Salton sea, Idlewild, Borrego Springs, etc."
TravelerComfortable partial hookup sites, pet friendly, and nice people. Theres a dog park next door. The bathrooms are clean, and the laundry facilities work well (although coin only, no cards).
GuideWe stayed here for 4 nights while visiting our parents who live in Rancho Mirage. The resort is extremely clean, well-maintained, and quiet. We are normally boondockers, so it felt decadent having full hookups, daily trash pickup, and all the rest of Emerald Desert's amenities such as sparkling swimming pools, daily activities, free Saturday Continental Breakfast, etc.
We upgraded to the"luxury" site which meant that the spacing between sites was a bit greater and we had a lovely patch of green grass between us and our neighbors. We have a very small trailer, so our only issue was the distance from our sewer connection and the resort's. With so many nearby stores, it just took a quick online order for curbside pickup at Wal-Mart for extra hose and we were good-to-go. Literally.
As others have mentioned, Interstate 10 and a set of major East-West train tracks lie right behind the resort, but neither were very disruptive to us. YMMV.
We will absolutely stay here again and again, and we highly recommend it to others. In fact, we challenge you to find a nicer RV resort anywhere else!
RangerVery clean, dog friendly ( with dog park) helpful nice staff, propane available, small playground and swimming pool, picnic tables and grills at each site
GuideNot a very attractive drive in. Lots and lots of trash in the shrubbery and fields along the highway. Reservation and check in was easy. Staff were very friendly and accommodating. The RV park itself is attractive and seems to be fairly well maintained. It seems there are two rv areas. A lower older area and an upper newer and more attractive area. We were in the older area. Site was gravel with a small concrete area. Unfortunately, no one there seems to care about the dog poop everywhere (not exaggerating!). We and the people behind us parking had to clean dog poop off our site before we could set up. When walking our dog we saw poop everywhere. Dog park was ok, but on the small side and would be better with a gravel base instead of the dirt (very, very dusty and results in a dirty, dusty dog). There is a huge field adjacent and owned by the rv park that you can walk and or run your dog. But also full of poop. Bathroom smaller, older in the lower area. Much nicer, more modern bathrooms in the newer area. Two laundry rooms but no front loaders and the older laundry room only had two washers and two dryers. Can use quarters or an app. Pool and spa seemed pretty popular but we didn’t use. Area could really use some lighting at night. Very dark with minimal lighting in the older section. Trash is picked up every morning if you leave outside your site.
ScoutOur family of 3 just left the campground this morning, and we had a great time during our 1 night stay. To find it, just plug the GPS coordinates into Google maps and follow the instructions. It’s fairly primitive (outhouse and water spigot), but the sky is clear and the whole place is very serene with trees and nature. They have several protective, very human-friendly dogs on the property. They also open the barn around 0800 and allow campers to pet the rabbits, chickens, cats, pigs, turkey, ducks, and even feed the goats. Sites have campfire rings (bring your own wood), picnic table, and a couple Adirondack style chairs. The staff is also very friendly and informative. We will certainly be back.
LegendBeautiful park with lots of amenities. Unfortunately the restaurant was closed as it is open seasonally. Wifi is the normal bad. Dog park is wonderful as well as the free putting course.
Legend🔹location in front of Pala Casino. 🔹Great guest services. Full hookups sites. Propano fills available. The spot are big as well, each spot have a picnic table! Resort-style amenities. Nice Pool, kids playground and dog park great! Near Gas station and small market! 🔹We sure
will stay again and recommend
GuideBeing reasonably close to our home base, we frequent this park with the family. Major grocery and shopping establishments are nearby, with Target directly across the street, In-n-Out, local parks, and the like. Our kids love the pool area, grandparents love the pickleball courts, and there are always fun activities to do throughout the year. Full-timers are friendly and inclusive of newcomers and passer-throughs. Dog parks are clean and located at either corner of the park. The entrance security kiosk is staffed 24/7, and they'll even help spot you while parking your rig. We cannot say enough good things about this place.
Check their website for events and specials.
GuideShadow Hills RV Resort is a stellar urban RV resort with all the amenities. Full hookups, daily trash pickups at each site, cable tv, large level pads with privacy hedge, small dog parks scattered throughout, gated security, nice restrooms w/ showers (free). We were visiting family who were just a short bike ride away. Can be extremely windy here. Desert X environmental art installations are nearby.
Camping opportunities in the Rancho Mirage area span elevations from near sea level to over 4,000 feet, creating dramatic temperature variations throughout the year. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 110°F in the lower desert regions, while winter nights at higher elevation campgrounds can drop below freezing. Desert camping conditions change rapidly with seasonal winds that can reach 60 mph during certain times of year.
Explore volcanic formations: At Jumbo Rocks Campground, the unusual rock formations provide natural playgrounds. "I love this spot specifically because it is a great place to climb. It's conveniently close to skull rock and discovery trail. Although my favorite part of this campground is how clearly you can see the stars," notes Andrea C.
Soak in mineral hot springs: Sky Valley RV Resort offers multiple natural mineral pools set at different temperatures. "There are two locations in the park with mineral Pools and mineral hot tubs. There is a large grass area with ponds and black swans. This is a great location to relax by the pool with a short drive to Palm Springs or Joshua tree," writes Jillean G.
Fish at mountain lakes: Lake Hemet Campground provides fishing opportunities about 45 minutes from the desert floor. "We fished in the lake during the late afternoon. Quick trip to get to it by car," explains Taleen D. The lake is stocked with trout and access is available year-round.
Heated mineral pools: Sam's Family Spa RV Resort features natural hot springs that don't use chlorine. "The hot pools are not chlorinated: water flows through them and they are drained nightly," explains Kurt P. The resort offers four different temperature pools ranging from warm to very hot.
Mountain climate escape: Located at higher elevation, Idyllwild Campground provides cooler temperatures during summer months. "3 minute walk into downtown idyllwild, with its great bars and restaurants. Strangely also seems secluded from downtown and quiet," reports Megan B. Temperature differences between desert and mountain campgrounds can exceed 30 degrees.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many campgrounds feature resident wildlife. "Quails running around everywhere, cool little spot at JTree, a little different than Jumbo and the other climber sites," Michael K. notes about Black Rock Campground. The Joshua Tree area supports diverse desert wildlife including roadrunners, jackrabbits and coyotes.
Wind patterns affect camping quality: Desert campgrounds experience significant wind events. "It was very windy and we had to leave one day early because we didn't want to travel back in a high wind advisory," explains Gustavo C. about Thousand Trails Palm Springs.
Limited cell service in natural areas: Connectivity varies dramatically between campgrounds. "Only drawback is there is no cell service at all at this campground," notes Susan N. about Jumbo Rocks Campground. Desert Hot Springs campgrounds typically have stronger signals than those within Joshua Tree National Park.
Campground elevation affects temperature: The temperature difference between desert floor and mountain campgrounds can exceed 30 degrees. "We went in January and were definitely a bit unprepared for the cold but we made it work and it was so beautiful," Rebecca W. shares about Idyllwild Campground, which sits at approximately 5,400 feet elevation.
Mineral pools with varied temperatures: Palm Springs-Joshua Tree KOA offers hot springs suitable for different ages. "Even have 3 temperatures so the kids can enjoy hot springs too!" explains Gina P., making this one of the most accessible dog-friendly campgrounds near Rancho Mirage for families.
Recreational facilities for various ages: Many campgrounds offer structured activities beyond hiking. "We spent a couple of nights and the staff was super friendly and helpful. Full hook up sites, pull through and back in," notes Lindsay K. about the KOA facilities that include mini-golf and playgrounds.
Water play areas during summer: Lake Hemet provides swimming options during hot months. "We had the best time here! The lake with all the blow up toys was a blast! The section we were in only had a volt potty but there were showers there in another section," Jennifer D. shares about her family's experience.
Site selection considerations: At Catalina Spa and RV Resort, veterans recommend specific areas. "Lower section is blocked by trees and bushes which block you from your neighbors. Lower mineral pool is more adult friendly," advises JMark H., highlighting the importance of location within pet-welcoming campgrounds near Rancho Mirage.
Weather preparedness essentials: Desert temperature fluctuations require specific equipment. "Bring insulation for your water hose or have some type of method that will keep your water lines from freezing. Our water hose froze the first night," warns Donovan at Lake Hemet Campground.
Specialized RV facilities: Some resorts offer premium amenities for longer stays. "We've been here for about 4 weeks and are going to store our rig and car here for a month before returning for another 3 weeks in Jan-Feb. Staff is outstanding. We've enjoyed learning and playing pickleball," explains Scott G. at Catalina Spa and RV Resort.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Rancho Mirage, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Rancho Mirage, CA is Thousand Trails Palm Springs with a 4-star rating from 23 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Rancho Mirage, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 262 dog-friendly camping locations near Rancho Mirage, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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