RV campgrounds near Thermal, California provide convenient access to the Coachella Valley and surrounding desert attractions. Located in Riverside County at an elevation of 138 feet below sea level, this area experiences summer temperatures exceeding 110°F between June and September. Winter visitors find mild daytime temperatures in the 70s with occasional nighttime lows in the 40s.
What to do
Mineral hot springs access: Catalina Spa and RV Resort offers natural hot spring pools warmer than most hot tubs. "They are fed by natural hot springs and warmer than most hot tubs. The camp ground was tidy and the sports were separated by shrubbery for privacy," notes a visitor who enjoyed the amenities after a week of boondocking.
Fishing opportunities: At Joshua Tree Lake RV & Campground, visitors can fish in a small lake for a nominal fee. "Has a lake to fish for a nominal price. Spaces are nice and wide some have full hookups others are just electric & water," reports one camper who appreciated the variety of site options.
Desert art installations: Shadow Hills RV Resort provides access to nearby environmental art. "Desert X environmental art installations are nearby," mentions one reviewer who enjoyed the urban glamping experience while visiting family in the area.
What campers like
Spacious sites: Coachella Lakes RV Resort features exceptionally large sites that accommodate big rigs easily. "Amazing HUGE sites. Clean. Lots of planned activities. Great for families. Excellent for big rigs of any size," writes a reviewer who appreciated the generous space allocation.
Privacy landscaping: At Cathedral Palms RV Resort, mature shrubs create a sense of seclusion between sites. "My favorite touch was the thought put into giving each of the spaces a feeling of privacy using mature shrubs," one camper noted, appreciating the design consideration despite the relatively small park size.
Mountain views: From certain sites at Joshua Tree Lake RV & Campground, visitors enjoy panoramic desert vistas. "Our site was on the end next to the BLM land and we had nice views of the mountains over Joshua Tree and the stars at night," shares a visitor who enjoyed the location's natural setting.
What you should know
Water quality concerns: Some campgrounds in the Thermal area have water quality issues. At Oasis Palms RV Resort, "The water is NOT SAFE to drink or cook with due to excessive arsenic and fluoride. There are however 3 locations in the park with reverse osmosis filters to fill water jugs," warns a visitor who experienced water quality problems.
Wind conditions: High winds can affect camping experiences, especially in exposed sites. "The only issue is it is terribly windy most of the time," notes a Catalina Spa RV Resort visitor. Another camper at Joshua Tree Lake mentions positioning: "We had originally intended to be here for 2 weeks...Unfortunately the desert is somewhere where it is always a little windy."
Airport proximity: Some resorts experience occasional aircraft noise. At Cathedral Palms RV Resort, "It is in the landing flight path for the airport but very little traffic," reports one visitor, noting this wasn't a significant distraction during their stay.
Tips for camping with families
Pool temperature considerations: Thousand Trails Palm Springs offers family-friendly swimming options with controlled access. "Pool is limited to 14 people at a time and you have to book your pool time at the office in the morning between 8-10," shares a visitor who appreciated the organization during COVID restrictions.
Kid-friendly amenities: Many resorts offer recreational facilities for children. "There is plenty of space for kids to play, with lawns and a little playground," notes a visitor at Catalina Spa and RV Resort, who stayed for over two months and enjoyed the amenities daily with their family.
Age demographics: While many resorts welcome families, some have predominantly older clientele. "The owners made it very clear that kids and families are welcome, although most campers were silver haired," mentions a Catalina Spa visitor whose kids enjoyed the hot spring pools despite the predominantly older crowd.
Tips from RVers
Utility connections: At Emerald Desert RV Resort, sewer connections may require additional equipment. "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," writes one RVer who upgraded to a luxury site.
Laundry facilities: Laundry amenities vary widely between resorts. "Laundry way too expensive at $5 for wash and $5 for 45 min dry. Credit card payment only and the dryer didn't dry our clothes all the way," warns a visitor at Emerald Desert RV Resort.
Pull-through availability: Thousand Trails Palm Springs offers specific areas for easier RV access. "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," shares a visitor who carefully selected their site location.
