Note: In July, expect to battle plentiful and aggressive mosquitos. I cannot understate this. Walking back from the dunes I could not swing my arms without hitting several out of the swarm of 20+ around me. They are the worst the couple hours following sunrise and the hour before and after sunset. 

Ok, now that I got that out of the way, I can focus on the rest of the campground.

Staying in a national park is always a special experience that is hard to find in a commercial facility. Being close to the hiking trails and visitor center, watching nightly programs at the amphitheater, and just the general ambiance that people are there to enjoy the outdoors, is wonderful. If you stayed at Jumbo Rocks campground in Joshua Tree, the layout of the campground is similar. Sites are a mix of back-in and parallel and widely vary in length and width (be sure to check the reservation site closely to be sure you will fit). There are no hook-ups and the comfort stations do not have showers. They do have running water and dishwashing stations, however, which is nice. If you need to wash the sweat and sand off, stop by the dunes parking lot and go for a dip in the Medosa creek (or use the rinsing off showers they have there) but be warned, the water is cold! Quiet hours are 10 pm to 6 am, generation hours were from 8 am to 8 pm, and both are enforced by active camp hosts. 

There is a camp store in between the 1st and 2nd loops, but it was never open when we were there. For basics, you can visit the Oasis store just outside the park. Beyond that, you need to drive into Alamosa, which is about 30-40 minutes away. 

Things to do: Drive the primitive road to Medosa Pass or take the dirt road to hike Zapata Falls (be warned, you will want 4 wheel drive for these). Hike the dunes (give yourself a good hour to make it to the top of the first ridge. It is only 600 feet elevation gain but for every step up you slide back a half a step; it is tiring.) Play in the creek (besides the dunes, this is the main attraction. Note that you have to cross the creek to reach the dunes, there is no bridge). 

I would love to come back again but I will not be doing so in July. This is the height of the mosquito season.