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Best Dispersed Camping near Thousand Palms, CA

256 Reviews

The desert landscape surrounding Thousand Palms, California features extensive Bureau of Land Management (BLM) dispersed camping opportunities, particularly along the edges of Joshua Tree National Park. Mecca Hills Wilderness and Painted Canyon provide primitive desert camping within 20 miles of Thousand Palms, offering solitude and scenic canyon views. Joshua Tree South and North BLM areas represent the most accessible free camping options, with informal sites marked by rock fire rings and minimal development. Most camping in this region follows dispersed regulations on public lands, with campers selecting their own sites rather than using designated campgrounds. The Yellow Post sites in San Bernardino National Forest offer a more structured primitive camping experience for those willing to venture into higher elevations.

Road conditions vary significantly across camping areas near Thousand Palms, with many requiring high-clearance vehicles. As one camper noted, "The road is loose sand and is possible by most vehicles as long as you stay on the road, but after driving a few minutes you come into the canyon where there are places to pull off and set up camp." Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F, making winter the primary camping season for most visitors. Fire restrictions are common during dry periods, with permits required for campfires when allowed. Cell service is surprisingly good at many BLM sites near Joshua Tree, though coverage becomes spotty in canyon areas. The 14-day stay limit applies to all BLM dispersed camping, and visitors must pack out all waste as no facilities exist at most locations.

Desert winds represent a consistent challenge for tent campers throughout the region. According to visitor reports, "It got crazy windy in the middle of the night, but no big deal. Would definitely go back again!" Stargazing opportunities rank among the top experiences mentioned by campers, with minimal light pollution at sites farther from Interstate 10. Wildlife sightings include desert reptiles, coyotes, and various bird species. Campers consistently mention the dramatic sunsets and sunrises as highlights of their stays. The proximity to Joshua Tree National Park trails and attractions makes these free camping areas particularly popular when park campgrounds fill up. Most sites feature existing fire rings, though visitors should verify current fire regulations before planning to have a campfire.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Thousand Palms, California (52)

    1. Joshua Tree Lake Dispersed Camping

    34 Reviews
    Twentynine Palms, CA
    26 miles
    Website

    "Free camping just outside Joshua Tree. No amenities or designated campsites. Large open area where you can camp wherever you'd like."

    "It's free camping so be respectful and clean up after yourself. That said, there are no facilities so pack it in and pack it out."

    2. Joshua Tree South - BLM Dispersed

    59 Reviews
    Mecca, CA
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 833-7100

    "This campground (and I use the term loosely) is everything that I love about BLM land - dispersed, quiet, and FREE!"

    "This area is managed by BLM, which means it's free to use for up to 14 days at a time.  There are no hookups or facilities, and it's pack it in, pack it out. "

    3. Joshua Tree North BLM

    19 Reviews
    Twentynine Palms, CA
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 252-6000

    "As another reviewer noted - this spot is huge so make sure you are staying on BLM land. There is a lot of trash in some areas and there was some dirt bikes but they didn’t bother me."

    "My favorite place to camp near Joshua Tree. Lots of space."

    4. Mecca Hills Wilderness

    10 Reviews
    Mecca, CA
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 833-7100

    "I researched this spot a ton and was hesitant to go - mostly because my 1987 VW Westfalia isn’t 4WD, and everything I read said you must have an off road vehicle, but the area looked beautiful and we didn"

    "At the end of the dirt road through the winding rocks we nestled into a campsite closed to the trailhead. We barely had any neighbors it was so quiet."

    5. North Joshua Tree

    13 Reviews
    Twentynine Palms, CA
    26 miles

    "Nobody too rowdy, people left respectful distances between rigs, GREAT location for travel caravans.

    1. The most paved way in is to take Sunfair to Broadway."

    "We arrived early in the afternoon around 4:30 pm and found a vast, open place witziges only few, dispersed campers. Access was easy, Solid ground ."

    6. South Ridge Yellow Post Sites

    3 Reviews
    Idyllwild, CA
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (909) 382-2921

    "Yellow Post #2 – San Bernardino National Forest Secluded, free, first-come-first-served tent site tucked deep in the forest near Hemet, CA."

    "Very nice to find a campsite this private on a weekend in southern California elevation is high enough that temperatures were very enjoyable (mid 80's)"

    7. Painted Canyon

    6 Reviews
    Mecca, CA
    24 miles

    "We went past the main part and went towards the end of the dirt road. With a 4WD you can easily make it through the thick sand."

    "They are marked and theres also pit toilets halfway through the main road to turnaround point. Hummingbirds came right up to my face! Didn’t even know they lived out here also saw whiptail lizard."

    8. Geology Tour Road Dispersed Camping — Joshua Tree National Park

    1 Review
    Twentynine Palms, CA
    19 miles

    "We ran a 5 day backpacking trip out of this meet up and around Jtree in March and it was one of the most exciting backpacks we have done."

    9. Strawberry Junction — Mount San Jacinto State Park

    1 Review
    Idyllwild-Pine Cove, CA
    20 miles
    Website

    $5 / night

    "This campsite is located at the junctionof the Deer Springs Trail and the PCT, and is breathtaking."

    10. BLM Dispersed Camping at Joshua Tree

    6 Reviews
    Twentynine Palms, CA
    27 miles
    Website

    "There are private properties around, so just double check, but for the most part its wife open land to camp. Also currently in a fire ban, but that should be getting lifted in October."

    "There were a bunch of camper vans parked but there’s so much space so you don’t feel crammed and still have plenty of privacy! Loved the night sky views as well."

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Thousand Palms, CA

210 Photos of 52 Thousand Palms Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Thousand Palms, CA

256 Reviews of 52 Thousand Palms Campgrounds

  • 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.

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

    Joshua Tree North BLM

    Great stop once I scouted a good fit.

    As another reviewer noted - this spot is huge so make sure you are staying on BLM land. There is a lot of trash in some areas and there was some dirt bikes but they didn’t bother me. Car camping I found the area I liked best was as follows: off 62 take Sunfair rd, right on cypress rd (dirt road which my GPS thought was Reagan Rd but is marked with a street sign Cypress) - go past ITH coyote ranch (no sign but may show up on map) Then right on cascade - an unmarked dirt rd. Then there is a large flat BLM area where rvs and vans were quite spread out, and a motorcycle with a tent was my neighbor (quite far away). No trash here when I was there. Zero facilities obviously so pack it out. Hot tip - water and restrooms 10 min away at the Indian Cove ranger station near Indian Cove Campground in JT park. I stayed here two nights car camping.

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 8, 2023

    Joshua Tree South Dispersed Camping

    Busy, but a nice place to stay right outside of Joshua Tree National Park

    I didn't originally want to stay here; it wasn't that far off the highway, there was lots of trash along the main road, and the immediate landscape was pretty barren. But I hadn't planned ahead, and all of Joshua Tree National Park's campgrounds were full. I quickly found out that my initial reaction was very wrong. This spot gets beautiful sunsets, is great for stargazing, and I had no complaints. I thought the light from the Coachella Valley would be too much to see the stars, but I popped out of my vehicle around midnight and the sky was incredible. 

    The campground: You can camp in the areas both to the left and right of the main road that goes from the highway up into Joshua Tree. If you're coming from the highway and see the Joshua Tree National Park sign, you've gone too far. Once you're off the main road things become really bumpy with ruts, dips, and one area that's been completely washed out, but I saw everything from cars to large RVs navigating this road. It's definitely easier to navigate during the daylight. There were so many places to camp that I was able to choose a spot I was most comfortable with while traveling solo. The campsites vary in their degree of cleanliness and level land. I found a couple bottle caps at one of my sites, but nothing major. Most of the sites have a rock fire ring (heads up: you may need a permit in CA for a fire, and always check in with the state's current fire restrictions). The area had quite a few campers, but the spots are spaced nicely and there's plenty of room to keep driving further off the main road to find a spot that's not around other campers. (If you're looking for somewhere that feels secluded, however, this is not it.) While I didn't notice much noise from the highway, there was a little bit of noise from campers arriving later in evening. The main downside to this campground was the wind. Both nights it was very windy. I definitely saw people camping in tents, but I also saw people really struggling to put up and secure their tents in the wind. 

    The area: The campground is right at the South Entrance to Joshua Tree, which is the Colorado Desert section of the park. (Mind you, it can take over an hour to get to the Northern area of Joshua Tree.) It's about 10-20 minutes away from Joshua Tree's Cottonwood Visitor Center, a picnic area with bathrooms (at the front of the Cottonwood campground), and the Lost Palms Oasis. There's also a gas station & small café about ten minutes down the highway (heading East); the gas there is pricey, but they have a decent sized food mart to go with it. 

    Booking: This is a dispersed BLM campsite; no booking or fee. Just drive in and find a spot. 

    Cell Service: Where I camped, I could use the internet and make calls no problem with Verizon, but there's very little cell service once inside the park.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 14, 2024

    Yaqui Wash

    If you just want to get outdoors...

    There are a bunch of campsites along a service road that is parallel to a main road, several hundred feet away. This whole area is essentially within one valley, so you have mountains on both sides. It is well vegetated and allows for fairly easy hikes up the soft slopes.

    The parking spots are right alongside the road, so for van camping is not so great, but tents can be put away from the road and therefore it's much more suitable for tenting.

    The stretch of dirt road closest to the main road is Sandy, but manageable bull in a two wheel drive. This is where most of the campsites are. Further along the road, there are fewer camp sites, so they are more dispersed, however the road becomes more rocky and jutted, but for those wanting a bit more privacy, this is the spot to be.

    I would like to come back in camp in this location. So i'm going to mark it to return another time.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 25, 2024

    BLM Dispersed Camping at Joshua Tree

    Definition of Dispersed Camping

    Everything about this site is not only free, but literally free to park and camp anywhere. There are private properties around, so just double check, but for the most part its wife open land to camp. Also currently in a fire ban, but that should be getting lifted in October. So campfires would be a great idea out here as well.

  • Esther Y.
    Sep. 1, 2020

    Mecca Hills Wilderness

    Dispersed camping in the desert

    Came  here to hike Ladder Canyon and Painted Canyon. Before the trailhead there are lots of areas for dispersed camping. It's an unpaved road that can be challenging to drive in at times, so would recommend 4x4 high clearance vehicle. Overall a nice remote place to camp out in the desert!

  • Angela G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 31, 2020

    Joshua Tree South - BLM Dispersed

    Perfect Free BLM camping

    This campground (and I use the term loosely) is everything that I love about BLM land - dispersed, quiet, and FREE! No amenities and not a ton of privacy for outdoor bathroom usage, but not crowded enough for it to matter. Tons of spaces along several different dirt roads. Rock fire pits at most every campsite, the majority of which are flat and not too sandy.

    When coming from I10, head towards Joshua Tree NP and just before the NP sign (can’t be more than a couple hundred feet), you’ll see dirt roads going both left and right - we went right and had no issue on the road with our Subaru Crosstrek and small tow-behind popup camper, although it could’ve been more difficult for 2WD vehicles.

    Be aware that although this camping is super close to the park, the majority of park attractions and hikes are in the north end, so be prepared to drive through. However, it is super close (about 10 mins) to the Cottonwood Visitor Center, which has 24/7 bathrooms (I think?), and the Lost Palms Oasis Trail. Nearest gas station is in Chiriaco Summit, about 13 minutes away, and nearest city is Indio, which is about 35 minutes.

  • Dickie Simmons S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 16, 2024

    Mill Creek Dispersed Camping

    Convenient free camping just outside of town

    Great free camping when campgrounds are booked. Easy to navigate with GPS. Many large and small sites along the road. Some spots more secluded than others.  Smaller rigs, medium clearance and lite off-road capabilities recommended. Good cellular reception in my particular location.

  • Kayla H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 13, 2020

    Sheephole Valley Wilderness

    Windy, sparse, with panoramic views.

    Easy to access dirt road off of Amboy leads you to BLM land. Left over fire rings mark sites, however many sites are covered in glass and bullet casing from people using this area for target practice. Sunsets are gorgeous, however desert winds are harsh. Wouldn’t go back but free camping doesn’t hurt.

Guide to Thousand Palms

Rustic camping near Thousand Palms, California offers extensive public lands for self-sufficient outdoor stays in diverse desert environments. The region sits at the edge of the Colorado Desert, with elevations ranging from 100 to 1,000 feet across BLM lands. Most dispersed sites require campers to be fully self-contained as facilities are extremely limited throughout the area.

What to do

Ladder Canyon hiking: Near Painted Canyon, explore unique slot canyons with rope-assisted climbing sections. "Stunning canyons to explore! They are marked and there's also pit toilets halfway through the main road to turnaround point. Hummingbirds came right up to my face!" notes Stephanie F.

Off-road exploring: The expansive dry lake bed at North Joshua Tree provides open terrain for responsible off-road activities. "The space is huge and flat. It's just plain land so there aren't any places for you to dump anything or get water and no stores around. The view is great and it was peaceful out here," reports Jocelynn G.

Desert geology tours: Many camping areas feature distinctive geological formations. Clinton H. says of Painted Canyon: "Amazing area! So many places to camp. Road in is unpaved but not too bumpy. Once you get to the canyon area it's deeper sand, so 4WD is advised."

What campers like

Desert solitude: Many primitive sites around Thousand Palms provide isolation not found in developed campgrounds. At South Ridge Yellow Post Sites, Tony B. appreciated "a campsite this private on a weekend in southern California" where "elevation is high enough that temperatures were very enjoyable (mid 80's)."

Night sky viewing: The lack of light pollution makes primitive camping ideal for astronomy. Mo H. found Painted Canyon offered "Absolutely quiet and an amazing starry sky. Ideal for tents."

Wildlife encounters: Desert camping provides opportunities to observe native species. At Mecca Hills Wilderness, a camper mentioned, "We saw old campfire pits all over and we pulled off on a dirt road that didn't need 4WD, found a man made rock pit and setup shop. It was around a mountain so we felt totally isolated."

What you should know

Vehicle requirements vary: Many primitive sites require appropriate vehicles. At Joshua Tree South - BLM Dispersed, Brett S. warns: "We had a few different campers within 50 yards and saw 3 of them get bogged in 3 different spots - two were proper 4WD's and one took two tow trucks to get it out so beware and scope out your drive off the main trail first."

Weather extremes: Seasonal planning is essential. In summer, temperatures regularly exceed 110°F during the day and drop significantly at night. Wind conditions can change rapidly, as one camper at Joshua Tree South noted: "The wind was quite strong so make sure you have good pegs and sandbags."

Water sources: No reliable water exists at most primitive sites. Bring 1-2 gallons per person per day minimum. Nearest water sources may be 30+ minutes away at gas stations or visitor centers.

Tips for camping with families

Site selection: Choose locations with natural barriers when possible. Michelle T. recommends Joshua Tree Lake Dispersed Camping: "Within 15 min. or so of JTNP, farther depending on where in the park you're going/coming from... The sites are dispersed and marked with small signs."

Timing considerations: Plan desert camping with children during milder seasons. Nights drop below 40°F in winter while daytime temperatures remain comfortable. Spring brings wildflower blooms that children enjoy.

Safety preparation: Cellular reception varies significantly across the region. Gillian C. notes about Joshua Tree Lake Dispersed Camping: "Free camping just outside Joshua Tree. No amenities or designated campsites. Large open area where you can camp wherever you'd like. Previous campers have built fire pits from the rocks laying around."

Tips from RVers

Level parking: Identify firm ground to prevent sinking. At BLM Dispersed Camping at Joshua Tree, Jess L. shares: "Easy to find and you have SO much space! There were a bunch of camper vans parked but there's so much space so you don't feel crammed and still have plenty of privacy!"

Generator etiquette: Be mindful of noise in the otherwise quiet desert. Run generators only during midday hours (10am-7pm) when most campers are active or away from camp.

Access routes: Some primitive camping requires advance planning. Michaela H. advises about North Joshua Tree: "The most paved way in is to take Sunfair to Broadway. Sites are technically in and next to the Coyote Lake bed... There's a large compacted area to the left and right once you pass the solar farm."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Thousand Palms, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Thousand Palms, CA is Joshua Tree Lake Dispersed Camping with a 3.5-star rating from 34 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Thousand Palms, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 52 dispersed camping locations near Thousand Palms, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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