Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Coolidge Springs, CA is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Coolidge Springs. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Coolidge Springs, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
"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."
"The only challenge was the highway noise. But it’s a sweet spot."
"Very friendly staff and a great location to live."
$20 / night
"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."
"Incredible drive through vineyards, citrus tree farms just to get to the Salton Sea. Such a cool place to stay and see.
Nice, paved short trail to the beach."
"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."
"Small campground, restroom is a plus, off-roading & trails were very nice. That weekend was very very windy our 2 person tent didn’t fly away."
"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."
"Easy to find a place to tuck away in a tent or truck at night and enjoy hiking again in the AM."
"I stayed 4 nights and enjoyed the near solitude with only four other campers in sight. Very interesting walks on the shore. Excellent stargazing, and some fabulous sunsets."
"However, if you walk down to the water's edge, you'll see fish carcasses due to the increasing salinity of the water (and other issues.)"
$20 - $30 / night
"California State Park… so safe. The lake is improving but not safe yet. Fishing has Improved. There are three separate campgrounds in this park."
"Sunrise over the lake lovely. Trains go by during the night (tracks are very close by), but didn't bother me. I'll return to spend a few days."
$35 - $125 / night
"Activities: numerous hiking trails, accessible from the campground. The most popular one is the Borrego Palm Canyon Trail which leads to the oasis of California Fan Palms."
"Very clean, well-maintained, and nice location. Very strict check-in time. However, you can tell they are cleaning the sites and making sure the sites are in order."
"Make your campsite anywhere, restrooms near by, driving distance to a few stores & gas station. Great camping & 4x4 in truck haven, cool off-road in event for Tierra Del Sol/TDS-in March"
"Beautiful spot we stopped at on our way to Arizona , gas station / food really close by as well !"
"Great place to go get off grid if you don’t mind off road vehicles. Plenty of open space to get away from the crowds."
"Great place to camp and offroad. Maps are easy to get and trails are well posted. Avoid big weekends and pack 3 times the amount of water that you think you would need."
ScoutNot all capsicum are flat, but the park is always beautiful and full of life, birds, squirrels, coyotes, Bobcats. Great place for solo camping, couples, or groups.
TravelerThe campground sites are a bit slanted and there isn’t much privacy at any of the sites. But the location is nice right next to Idyllwild town. All the sites are mostly in shade among the trees and stay cool in the summer. There are large stall gendered bathrooms with showers and sinks. Seems like a good spot for families. Right next to Idylwild Regional Park.
GuideThis is a nice place to camp- we stayed one night. stopped at the laguna recreation area visitor center before hand to pick up a free permit. the road was recently paved so it’s easy to drive on, there’s a handful of spots just along side the road, as you go further in the road the views get better- we parked on the side of the road and then walked uphill about 8 minutes to a campsite we liked but there are definitely more where you just camp next to your car. there are more campsite further down the road when it goes back down in the valley but the views end there. we only saw 3-4 other cars the whole time.
ScoutGreat area--it's just close enough to some expensive campgrounds and a few connecting trails, so it's awesome to camp here for FREE. Pine Creek Road itself is paved, and the camping spots are packed dirt so it's easy to get around even in a FWD. Warning though: if you're nervous about driving on single lane mountain roads, this is not the place for you! Pine Creek Road is several miles long, with some sections that are on sheer cliff edges with very few turn-off spots to allow for passing.
Additional word of warning: the camping spots are not close together and there seemed to be very few of them. Even driving slowly, I counted only 6 or 7 sites total, separated by up to a mile. I saw only 1 other spot with campers, at least 2.5 miles from my site. Some of the sites are fairly large--could easily fit 2 cars and a couple tents--but others seemed to be just large enough to pull off the road and sleep in the car (no tent space). Some spots were tucked back from the road with lots of trees (I barely saw or heard any cars, even though I was probably only ~15ft from the road); but some were barely more than a shoulder with no trees for coverage. I stayed in the same spot two nights in a row, though I packed up during the day because I assumed I'd find another spot down the road. At least in the site I picked, there was very little trash from previous campers.
Suggestion for the permit: make sure you apply for the free permit a few days in advance especially if you plan to go on the weekend. List the place you're going as "Pine Creek dispersed camping," and keep a printed copy in your car. I didn't have trouble with any rangers, but it's better to be safe than fined. Very spotty service (Verizon), which makes navigation and planning difficult if you don't pre-download trail maps.
GuideI will never book to stay here or another Thousand Trails property again. You cannot choose your site or even move when the campground is completely empty. The gave me a terrible spot, which was small, covered in pine cones, on a slope and next to weirdos playing loud music and an aggressive pit bull. Checked out early and found a much more inviting place.
TravelerGreat spot for camping , if you have a big rig it’s a little tight to move around on the roads but definitely nice for sprinters / trucks / suvs or even cars ! Roads are PAVED , I think thats new because I don’t remember that last year when i went !
RangerVery nice campground. Camping spots are spacious and clean. They do offer showers, but they are pay showers and only take quarters. They were doing some construction on a playground while we were there, but it didn’t bother anything. Overall a nice campground
GuideThis is a unique spot to camp, because you’re met with people backpacking the summit and people going through the PCT! There is plenty of space along the trail and it is just a GORGEOUS area to wake up to. Can’t believe it’s in southern California
GuideWe stayed the night of a new moon, the stars were gorgeous, and there was SO much room between campsites! The entrance from the south does take a little longer, but is much less crowded!🫶
Camping near Coolidge Springs, California, offers a mix of stunning landscapes and unique experiences. Whether you're looking for a quiet spot to unwind or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to explore.
Camping near Coolidge Springs, California, has something for everyone, from stunning views to quiet nights under the stars. Just be prepared for the unique challenges of desert camping!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, Coolidge Springs, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 243 campgrounds and RV parks near Coolidge Springs, CA and 42 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Coolidge Springs, CA is Joshua Tree South - BLM Dispersed with a 4.3-star rating from 59 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 42 free dispersed camping spots near Coolidge Springs, CA.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 parks near Coolidge Springs, CA that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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