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Best Tent Camping near Thermal, CA

1,237 Reviews

Box Canyon Dispersed camping area provides primitive tent camping opportunities in the desert terrain near Thermal, California. Located along Box Canyon Road, this dispersed camping area features sandy terrain with steep canyon walls. Several user reviews mention the unique geological formations and opportunities for solitude. Nearby, Tool Box Springs Yellow Post Campground offers more established tent sites within the San Bernardino National Forest at higher elevation.

Access to Box Canyon requires careful consideration of vehicle capabilities, as the road consists primarily of loose sand. Many campers report that four-wheel drive is recommended, though some have managed with standard vehicles by staying on established tracks. The area has no facilities—no water, toilets, or trash service—requiring campers to pack in all supplies and pack out all waste. Most sites are unmarked and undesignated, allowing tent campers to select spots that offer some protection from winds. Fire regulations vary seasonally, with complete bans common during high fire danger periods.

In contrast to Box Canyon's desert environment, tent campers seeking forested sites can find walk-in tent locations at Round Valley Campsite in Mount San Jacinto State Park. This higher-elevation area requires hiking in and offers a completely different camping experience compared to the desert floor. The terrain at Box Canyon features distinct geological layers and small slot canyons for exploration. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, the area sees limited use during weekdays, providing excellent opportunities for solitude. As one camper wrote, "We had two foxes come and visit the campsite. It was still warm during the day here in late November. Recommend for the adventurous!" Winter and early spring generally offer the most comfortable temperatures for tent camping in this region, as summer brings extreme desert heat that can make camping dangerous.

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Best Tent Sites Near Thermal, California (30)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Thermal, CA

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Tent Camping Reviews near Thermal, CA

1237 Reviews of 30 Thermal Campgrounds

  • Ryan W.
    Aug. 8, 2020

    Stone Creek Campground — Mount San Jacinto State Park

    Just Far Enough to Feel Remote. Just High Enough to Make Hiking Difficult.

    Stone Creek Campground in San Jacinto Mountain State Park is the perfect getaway for coastal Southern California residents. It is a few hours out of the major metro areas, but close enough to get to for just a night or two. 

    Located near Idyllwild, this is the smaller, less rowdy campground associated with the tourist town. There is also a camp right in town if you're looking for shopping and bars, and a few more further up hill.

    Stone Creek has about 35 sites. The outer ring sites are huge, and most of them are fairly private especially the loop to the right of the entry. Our site was #7, and after thoroughly campsploration it is unquestionably the best for individuals. If you're in a group rent the inner ring where the backsides of all the sites run together.

    We were trying to get away from people, from the pandemic, and spend some time doing something normal. Stone Creek was perfect for that. The only human interaction was having to check -in at the entry with a ranger. They wore a mask, and we spoke through a window in the ranger shed. They did have to hand me a parking pass, but after that we were on our own.

    Site 7 is extremely large, and extremely private with multiple flat spots that could accommodate tents, two large picnic tables, multiple spots for hammocks and a fire ring that has seen better days. We could see a car across the loop, but couldn't actually see other campers without effort from where we set up the tent or even the fire ring.

    This particular site extends back over a ridge and downhill. It was so private back there we strung up our camp shower next to a giant boulder for a shower without feeling like we needed to set up a privacy shade/curtain.

    Camp is just high enough to prevent most bugs, but there were a few flies and mosquitos. The vault toilets were clean, and well stocked with TP and antibacterial soap. There were three on-site. One in the middle of the center ring which was the busiest, but none of the solar lights were working making it difficult to find in the dark. No obvious trail. The other we used near the entrance was well lit, had a wooden path and seemed to be forgotten by most other campers.

    Multiple hiking trails led out of camp including one right from next to our site that led to multiple other trails heading up San Jacinto Mountain. The trails were a mix of gravel fire road, dirt trail and a few sandy areas through the flats. They were mostly well-signed, but one sign was down causing us to miss a turn so…bring a map. They're available at stands at the front of camp. Trails are…vertical unless explicitly labeled as short scenic hikes.

    There were warning signs for snakes, mountain lions, plague-infected squirrels and bears, but all we saw were deer. They didn't seem to consider bears a serious threat as there were no bear boxes or locks on trash cans. However, having bear-proof (Ha!) food storage is important.

    We really have no complaints about this place, and will definitely be back to explore more trails.

    Pro-Tip: It is a windy, windy road up into the mountains, and people travel too fast. We saw some serious accident sites when people were traveling too fast, and caught up to a slow moving camper around a curve. Drive carefully.

    Pro-Tip: We had full phone/wifi service here. We didn't want or need it, but if we were working from the road this would be an easy stop to set up.

    Pro-Tip: Outer ring is more private. Inner ring better for groups.

    Pro-Tip: In the summer add 5-10 degrees to the temperature which is taken from a higher elevation weather station.

  • A
    Oct. 16, 2020

    Indian Cove Campground — Joshua Tree National Park

    Beautiful Joshua Tree Campground

    We stayed at campsite 50 in October with two young kids (2 and 4). Tent camping.

    Pros: the views, the beautiful rocks, clean sites, friendly ranger, rocks that could give you some relief from sun if you’re lucky enough. Great area for bouldering from entry level up. Site 50 had low rocks that were doable for my 2 and 4 yo. The rest were way too advanced.

    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. Some of the campsites are set up a bit odd depending on your equipment, could or could not be a big deal. For example we were sharing a parking space with campsite 51 and their site was walking in behind ours. So if they had had an RV I think it would have been impossible. Site 50 was right across from the vault toilet which was great for proximity (and toilet was clean as far as these go) but every once in a while we’d get a whiff of out house which is not pleasant. Wasn’t too frequent so not a big deal but if you want to avoid stay further away from toilets.

    Get water at the entrance gate to the cove. That’s the only water hook up near by. Picnic tables and fire ring in each site. Vault toilets. No showers. No Joshua trees here but tons of Mojave yuccas and other desert plants. Beautiful views and sleeping under dessert sky and stars.

  • E B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 8, 2025

    South Ridge Yellow Post Sites

    Yellow post number 2

    Yellow Post #2 – San Bernardino National Forest Secluded, free, first-come-first-served tent site tucked deep in the forest near Hemet, CA. No amenities—no toilet, water, or trash—so pack in and out. Fire ring and picnic table on-site. Shaded by mature trees with a dirt/sand/rock surface. Site fits up to 8 people and 2 vehicles.

    Access road is rough and rocky but doable in dry conditions with a careful 2WD. Signage is limited—offline maps recommended. Site sits near a dry creek bed and has a short walk to a west-facing boulder with expansive views of the valley.

    Wildlife includes deer, lizards, snakes, woodpeckers, and lots of squirrels. Mosquitoes come out at dusk—repellent is a must. Fire bans usually in effect during summer. Great for quiet retreats, hiking, light climbing, and off-grid solitude.

    A rugged but rewarding forest stay for self-sufficient campers.

  • Trip Over Life
    May. 28, 2018

    Tamarisk Grove Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

    Anza-Borrego campground with primitive cabins and tent sites

    Tamarisk Grove Campground is about 20 minutes south of Borrego Springs. It sits next to the highway but there’s minimal traffic so it isn’t terribly loud. There are tent sites as well as primitive cabins. Each site has a fire ring and table. There are also flush toilets and paid showers. There is no potable water at this campground - be sure to bring your own. The cabins are simple structures with platforms for sleeping. There are no amenities in the cabins - no electric, no water, no mattress, no linens, etc.

    The campground is across the street from both the Cactus Loop and Yaqui Well trail heads. We recommend the short Cactus Loop hike over the Yaqui Well hike. Go at sunset to catch the cholla cacti backlit by the sunset.

  • Deborah C.
    May. 31, 2019

    Indian Cove Campground — Joshua Tree National Park

    Joshua Tree, Indian cove campground , May, 2019

    We love the jumbo rocks at Joshua Tree and Indian cove campground is settled within a group of the giant rock formations. Our campsite was a bit small, but fine for the two of us and our tent. We had a picnic table, grill and fire pit. Vault toilets were spaced nicely along the campground road. No water in the actual campground, but is at the ranger station. No showers or running water, cell coverage was spotty.

  • Corey B.
    Jun. 26, 2022

    Sheep Pass Group Campground — Joshua Tree National Park

    Great Group Campground

    We camped at site 2 on 6/12 this year and had a great time. We had 18 people and found that there were a ton of different nooks to setup your tent. We even found on one up a little higher in the rocks that would have been cool. 

    We placed our tent just inside the rock area from the picnic tables and we are really glad we did. The wind on our first night was a lot and this one site was a bit better for wind protection. 

    There was a tree/bush at the corner of our group site that ended up being great for shade and a hang out place during the day. In the afternoon we spent more time near the tables and grill. The site comes with a large charcoal grill that we used to cook burgers on one of our nights. 

    At night we ventured off a bit near the camp site and took some night sky pictures. We also we able to see a bunch of owls up in the top of the rocks on one of the nights. During the full moon it was really easy to walk around with out lights. 

    There is no water and no showers, but the pit toilets that were there were clean and well maintained. They even had some nice candles to light in them. The dumpster was right next to our group site and was also well maintained. 

    Our only problem during our stay was that on our last night a bunch of people came in after midnight to the site next to ours (#1) and they played music and were loud until 4 AM... We barely saw rangers there and there is no cell signal so it can be challenging to get help for these types of things (assuming you don't feel comfortable confronting a group of drunk people in the middle of the night).

  • Erin S.
    Feb. 26, 2021

    Jumbo Rocks Campground — Joshua Tree National Park

    Fun for kids and adults! Dry desert camping among the Jumbo Rocks!

    We stayed at Jumbo Rocks for 4 nights in a tent in late February 2021. Weather was awesome - highs in the 70s in the day and lows in the 30s/40s at night. This was our second time staying here; first time was in a travel trailer in Oct 2018 (see Dyrt Review). We still love the campground, though again it was the inconsiderate nature of our neighbors that bring it from 5 stars down to 4. Here's a review of the pros and cons.

    Pros:

    • Dynamic, interactive environment: This is a playground for adults and kids alike. Climb on the rocks, hike through the drainages, and explore to your hearts content. We didn't see any, but of course, watch out for rattlesnakes. The rock is extremely grippy and very good for climbing.
    • Beautiful sunsets and sunrises: The land turns gold during these times. There are no electric lights in the campground or anywhere nearby (car headlights and camp lanterns excluded). Absolutely beautiful.
    • Decently spaced vault toilets: no site is too far from a toliet, and there are enough of them that even with over 100 sites, you aren't going to wait long (if at all) to use one.
    • Nice concrete tables and low fire pits with grates. There is a standing grill too, but we didn't use it.
    • Recycling bins and an amphitheater Trails to lead to Skull and Split Rocks (highly recommend for kids!).

    Neutral:

    • The size, level, and location of sites: Pick your sites wisely - do your research! Some sites have very little space - just enough for a small tent, while others are spacious. Some sites are secluded while others you are practically sitting on your neighbors. Some are flat and level while others there is no level space at all (suitable for RVs but not for tent camping). Some spaces will accommodate RVs and slide outs while others will not; do not rely on Recreation.gov telling you it will fit! Instead, look at satellite views. Go to Campgroundphotos.com. Read reviews. Site 31's description is below.

    Cons:

    • Very little regulation paired with inconsiderate neighbors: Jumbo is not a well regulated campground. You don't check-in. You make a reservation online and just show up at your site, hoping it will be empty. There is a camp host that flips signs from reserved to open, allowing for walk-ins, but this doesn't stop people from squatting (we had 6 young men come in to have a fire and dinner at the campsite next to us before the folks who had reserved the site arrived late and kicked them out). We also had neighbors who set up a couch, smoked pot, and played EDM so loud you could hear it 100 yards away at all hours (they quieted it down a bit after a confrontation - they claimed to be 'enjoying nature' - but not by much). So you roll the dice and hopefully you have neighbors who are there for similar reasons as you.
    • Little protection from the elements: During the warmer months, your best bet is to find a spot next to boulder to the west/south of you, so you have some shade in the afternoon. During the winter months, look to have some protection from the north winds, which can be fierce (seriously, it will rip up your camp, it did ours).

    Site 31 Description: Part of a cluster, meaning you park with others and the sites fan out from the parking area. 31 is a 100 foot walk from parking; we walked past other sites but no one had to walk past ours. It is up on a small rise - had a beautiful view but was more exposed to the wind and sun. Mostly flat and will fit several tents. Closest neighbor was 30 feet away and separated by scrub. Vault toilet and dumpsters adjacent to parking area. Not next to any big rocks, but they are only a short walk away. A coyote walked by us in the night and squirrels frequently raided our camp (keep your food and trash secure).

  • 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.

  • S
    Jun. 17, 2016

    Indian Cove Campground — Joshua Tree National Park

    Nice campground settled into the rocks

    I spent two nights at Indian Cove with a friend in March 2016. The campground proved to be a quiet place to camp, especially on the end closest to the day-use area. Sites were of varying size and ours turned out to be directly adjacent to the next site over; we set up as far off the "dividing line" as we could while staying a safe distance from the fire ring but it turned out to be a tight squeeze. Pit toilets were fine and there's a water fountain at the ranger station that you can use to fill water bottles at all hours. No camp store on the park premises but there are several options within a 20-30 minute drive of the campground. Overall it was a pleasant place to camp that afforded wonderful views at sunrise.

Guide to Thermal

Box Canyon Dispersed camping area offers primitive tent campsites near Thermal, California in desert terrain with distinctive canyon walls. The land sits roughly 900 feet above sea level, experiencing dramatic temperature shifts between seasons. Camping opportunities extend beyond Box Canyon to include several other dispersed and established camping locations throughout the surrounding mountains and desert landscapes.

What to do

Ladder Canyon Hiking: Access this unique trail system from Box Canyon where natural slot canyons feature wooden ladders for navigation. "My favorite is the ladder canyon hike which has you climb up a series of ladders in the canyon. Most of the time they are well maintained and replaced if they are falling apart but beware just in case," notes Katie O. from Box Canyon Dispersed.

Geocaching: Several sites have hidden geocaches waiting to be discovered with GPS coordinates. A camper at Box Canyon reported: "The kids did some exploring. Found a Geocache," making it an engaging activity for families wanting structured exploration.

Thin Canyon Exploration: Many slot canyons offer opportunities for scrambling and photography. Kenny W. mentions at Box Canyon: "Shear cliffs that are heavily eroded. Very distinct layers of floods. Nice hikes up thin canyons," providing natural geological features to explore.

Mountain Summit Hikes: For experienced hikers seeking elevation, Round Valley Campsite serves as base camp for summiting San Jacinto Peak. "We stayed at the round valley campground in March of this year. There was still some snow and it was beautiful. We took the tram up from palm springs and backpacked to the campground before summiting up San Jacinto peak," shares Katie O.

What campers like

Solitude on Weekdays: Dispersed camping areas offer remarkable privacy during non-peak times. "I got my jeep deep into the canyon between coachella weekends and was the only person there," reports Joe C. about Box Canyon, highlighting the potential for isolation.

Desert Wildlife Viewing: The desert comes alive with animal activity, especially during cooler months. A camper noted foxes visiting their Box Canyon campsite in late November.

Yellow Post Sites: Tool Box Springs Yellow Post Campground provides more established camping with amenities. "Labor Day weekend. We occupied the only spot out of five. Lots of wildlife. Raccoons in the night, gray squirrel, other squirrels, many birds," shares Rhyn E. about their peaceful experience even on a holiday weekend.

Geological Features: The distinctive layered rock formations tell stories of ancient floods and geological activity. Kenny W. notes: "Very distinct layers of floods" at Box Canyon, offering natural educational opportunities for curious campers.

What you should know

Deep Sand Challenges: Vehicle limitations significantly impact access. Sarah M. cautions about Box Canyon: "This is ideally a good spot, but the sand is way too deep to get far enough off of the road," pointing out accessibility issues.

High Clearance Vehicles Required: For mountainous camping options, road conditions demand appropriate vehicles. Jake P. shares about Tool Box Springs: "Without a high clearance vehicle, it took me an hour and a half to go six miles up, and still scraped and almost got stuck."

Extreme Temperatures: Summer heat makes desert camping potentially dangerous. A Box Canyon camper advises: "The area is pretty quiet but can be extremely hot in the summer so I wouldn't reccomend it other than winter."

Permits and Reservations: Some established sites require advance planning. For Round Valley, Cody B. explains: "Reservations go fast so you need to submit your permit starting 8 weeks before your trip, however waiting until 4 weeks may be too late."

Tips for camping with families

Navigation Precautions: Easy to get disoriented in desert terrain. A Box Canyon visitor warns: "There is a lot of hiking but make sure to have a map as it's very easy to get lost."

Bug Preparation: Seasonal insect activity can impact comfort significantly. Steve H. from Tool Box Springs reports: "This site would've been perfect, and I mean perfect, but the flies were unbearable. I planned to stay two nights but I couldn't make it past the next morning."

Elevation Considerations: Mountain campgrounds offer escape from desert heat but require acclimation. Johnny H. from Round Valley Campsite shares: "A very moderate hike from the aerial tram that put us in the heart of the San Jacinto Mountain just hours away from the peak! We didn't mind our 30 pound packs knowing we would enjoy the beautiful trails and streams."

Seasonal Planning: Winter and spring typically offer most comfortable tent camping conditions. One camper noted Box Canyon was "still warm during the day here in late November," making fall a viable option for family trips.

Tips from RVers

Off-Grid Desert Boondocking: Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area provides extensive RV camping without hookups. Timothy A. notes: "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."

Shade Requirements: No natural shade exists in most desert camping locations. Geoff H. advises: "It can be very HOT, no matter what time of year so make sure you bring your shade."

Water Planning: No potable water sources exist at most sites. Jennifer D. shares about Ocotillo Wells: "No rv hookups and no shade as it's the desert. Fwd isn't required, I made it with my 4cyl Toyota RAV4. Midweek is pretty empty."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Thermal, CA is Box Canyon Dispersed with a 4.4-star rating from 5 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 30 tent camping locations near Thermal, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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