Spent the night here in a Dirtbag Y site. Tad, the host, is very easy to work with and very…read morehelpful. He promptly met us and reviewed everything we needed to know and all the things provided in the yurt setup. All we brought was food and drink, everything else provided. Definitely recommend. Check reviews on hipcamp.com - 4.6 star rating from 1,344 reviews

Stayed here a couple of days ago cause everything was booked up in Joshua Tree. We reserved a spot…read morea couple of days before, but when we got there, there weren't any spots available. I texted the owner, and in about 1 minute, Tad came out and guided us to a spot we could camp for the night. It was right next to the other spots but had not fire ring. So what does Tad do? Goes and brings us a portable fire pit! Awesome service! Anyways, the place is really just a part of the owners property right by there house. But it is nice, for a few nights of camping when you can't get a spot in the park. I would totally stay here again. They'll even cook you breakfast if you order it the night before. It is an extra charge though, I think $12. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because of the bathroom situation. It was just a bucket behind a wall, no door even! But Tad told us they were getting a port-a-potty very soon. I definitely recommend Dirtbag Campground!

A nice place to live if you don't mind the heat and the wind…read more Everyone is very nice here, I don't have a single negative comment about anyone. The lots are large and private and well maintained. The Pool & Sauna are beautiful along with the Clubhouse, Tennis courts, Pickle courts & other games. The LAUNDRY room is very nice&cheap. The Clubhouse has a beautiful solid oak pool table and a very nice PingPong table with much more. I would totally recommend purchasing a Lot here. I've been here 4 years and I just love it!!!

If you like rustic, quiet and secluded environments with lots of natural landscaping you will love…read morethis space. This is a beautiful place just 15 minutes outside of downtown Palm Springs. What is lacks in luxury - it makes up for in natural beauty. This is a campground so don't expect the Hilton and you will LOVE it. Everyone here is friendly and nice, very much a community feel. It does get windy here but that's the desert, with or without being close to the windmills. It doesn't usually last long unless there is a storm. Personally I feel this place is a hidden gem.

Indian Cove Campground is hands down one of the most unique and peaceful places to stay in Joshua…read moreTree National Park. Surrounded by massive rock formations, it feels secluded, quiet, and incredibly raw -- like you're camping inside a natural stone cathedral. The campsites are well spaced, giving you privacy and that true desert solitude. No RV hookups, no noise, no distractions -- just rocks, sky, wind, and silence. This is real camping, not a parking lot with tents. Sunsets here are unreal, and at night the stars are absolutely breathtaking. If you're into hiking, climbing, photography, or just disconnecting from everything, this place is perfect. You can step out of your tent and immediately feel like you're deep in the wilderness. Facilities are basic but clean and well maintained, which is exactly what you want in a place like this. Indian Cove isn't for everyone -- and that's why it's special. Highly recommended for anyone who wants an authentic Joshua Tree experience

This is a very nice Campground places to book up and weekends to fully book up so try to plan early…read morelike really early different spots have different benefits some are shady and some are not some are more roomy and some are not some have parking for more than one person While others the parking is extremely tight also need to look at the proximity to the pit toilets pit toilets meaning that it's just a hole in the ground but it isn't closed with the door overall the Ambiance and the environment is amazing and well maintained frequently I see that there are Ranger Patrol vehicles that drive by to check and the many times that we have visited we have always been very impressed with the cleanliness and the order and how well the park is maintained many people come here over and over again because of the amazing Ambience and the environment it is so quiet here and unclear nights you can definitely see all the stars and you are one with them this is far enough to be away from the daily hustle and bustle but close enough to be able to do a weekend trip

It's so peaceful, clean and beautiful! We love camping here and so relaxing!! There is tent or RV…read moresites, no hookups but there is a pay dump station if needed. The camp hosts are so nice and friendly. Thank you!

I've camped here a few times and it's always a good experience. Not too far from LA and Highway 38…read moreis a much easier drive than Highway 18 going to Big Bear in my opinion. Flush toilets and free showers available (both are generally clean with adequate hot water to shower with, and you'll see the "off duty" host clean them every day, but their condition will be highly dependent on your neighbors). There are a few hiking trail options during your stay: from inside the campground, if you follow the trail by the entrance/the hosts' RVs, to the right, a quick scurry across the highway, there's a mile long hike up to Jenks Lake. If you go left, you'll go through a few other campsites, then an amphitheater, and then an overlook area with a picnic table. There are a few loops in the trees behind the campgrounds, but I'm not sure where they lead as I just turned around eventually. The east loop (1-22) feels more spread out and private although there aren't really too many decent places to hang a hammock in most spots. The west loop (23+) feels a little closer together (but also not bad) with a lot more trees for shade and to hang hammocks. The west loop also tends to have more RVs and generator users for whatever reason though. I've mostly stayed on the east loop and would suggest bringing a canopy for shade. Even though the temperature may not seem that high, the sun is HOT, and is a little unbearable around 1 PM - 3 PM. Surprisingly, bugs are mostly a non issue even in the summer. Bundles of firewood for sale if conditions allow. $10 a bundle as of 07/2025 cash only. Expect each bundle to last about an hour. The host will go around selling however many fits on their cart or you can just drive your car up to the active host and fill your trunk. Big Bear is also a 30 minute drive away.

Review is for the hike, the payoff is an abandoned adobe homestead with the main structure still…read morestanding and old parts strewn around the base of Ryan Mountain. Joshua Tree will always have a special place in my memory. I came camping here for the first time as an elementary school kid and my friend's father taught me how to pitch a tent, spot constellations, and different types of rocks. Luckily, my kids seem to have inherited the same feelings and loved their time at Ryan's Ranch. Hike is an easy 1.1 miles out and back but you can spend much more time scrambling on the rocks which we did. There are Joshua Trees everywhere you can walk right up to. My favorite part was total freedom to explore. It's not like many hikes that have a set path and barriers to stay in, a lot for the rock scrambles are very close to the trail and there is easy visibility so you won't get lost if you don't wander too far.

When we were there it was quiet and our site, #5, was close to the bathroom. We were pretty close…read moreto site 6 and luckily it was unoccupied when we camped. It felt like we had a lot of space to ourselves. The site is pretty exposed so the sun was burnin'! There seemed to be a lot of sites on the other side of the campground that were next to big boulder rocks so there are sites with more shade. The bathrooms were pretty clean, no showers. The fire risk was high due to the high winds so we were barred from using the fire pit and bbq grill that weekend. The Joshua trees are mesmerizing and are everywhere! There are a couple more campgrounds in Joshua tree that we would like to check out but wouldn't hesitate to stay at Ryan campground again!

This review is the official notice of my resignation from the (dis)honorary title of "Dirt Bag…read moreClimber". Moonlight Mesa Retreats currently offers two different homes for rent in Joshua Tree. This review is for the "Rio House". The house is in the Monument Manor sub-division uphill from HW 62, only a half mile from the entrance to the park. From the outside the house is pretty non-descript. It sits on a five acre lot and has a fenced in backyard. Inside the house you will be stoked by the following features: *Three huge bedrooms, we're still not sure which room is the "master bedroom". One room has a Queen size sleigh bed w/ feather cover and a patio to the backyard. One has the bookcase, and stereo, and wide screen HD TV, and sofa. Upstairs is the (master?) with it's own bathroom, and craftmatic vibrating bed! *New kitchen with black granite counter top, ss gas range, convection toaster oven, dishwasher etc. All- Clad (copper core!) cook wear, lots of stem wear and assorted dishes. *Dogs welcome *Super quiet, and close to the park. For five nights it cost $900.

Book early because all of the houses fill up fast. I was in a rush to book so I chose Quail…read moreCrossing. Looking back, it seems like Sunset Terrace or Rio House might have been a better choice for us. Quail Crossing is described on Moonlight Mesa's website as their "most secluded rental" so I expected some major seclusion but there were quite a few neighbors within a short distance. I suppose it's like saying I am the tallest of the three Asian girls but it still doesn't necessarily mean I'm tall. Get it? Unfortunately, the weather was not very good the two nights we were there. We were only able to enjoy the beautiful outdoor space the first afternoon when we arrived. After that, it rained and was ridiculously windy. When the rain finally cleared up, it was 40 degrees outside so we spent the majority of the weekend indoors. Parts of the house reminded me a little too much of Ikea. However, I do have to say that the house was very well equipped. It had all the condiments and spices you need for cooking, tons of toys for kids, lots of DVDs for entertainment, and all the miscellaneous items you don't realize you need until you do like extra paper to make shopping lists, tape, and even a martini shaker. Each of the bathrooms had hair dryers and flat irons and although you had to bring your own shampoo and conditioner, they provided body wash. Also, Christa was very easy to work with and responsive by email. I would recommend Moonlight Mesa Retreats to anyone looking for a reliable, comfortable, and clean rental in Joshua Tree.

My husband and were there for my 2nd nephew's wedding at the camp…read more Too rustic for us to stay on the grounds, we stayed in Airbnb cabin in Big Bear much better for us. The bathrooms are not that clean either, and their food was so so even for 150 guests, but my 2nd nephew Michael and his bride Norma, wanted to have this Camp for the wedding venue. Plus the very gravel road to drive with our small rent a car was hard and bad weather that came in the 2nd week of August, but My nephew and niece did this wedding their way . And the family friend that did the wedding was very unsual wedding ceremony but they are happy with their choice for this too. But not for me to stay there.

I spent 3/4 summers of my undergraduate career up at this campsite and I absolutely LOVED it here…read more Home of UCLA Unicamp, this is an amazing, large, and open campsite that is filled with open aired cabins- each of which can fit a dozen or so different people. There is a lodge area suited for food service with lodge tables. Everywhere is woodchipped and paths are well marked with rocks lining walkways. The roads leading up to the campsite can be difficult to find as markers are a little hidden but once you get used to the drive, it is very easy to navigate. Big Bear lake is about 40 minutes away from this site. Grab pie on your way up to the site and enjoy a weekend up here- oh but be aware of beard and rattle snakes!

Jumbo Rocks Campground has 124 campsites and is one of the more popular campgrounds at Joshua Tree…read moreNational Park. Because of that, they require reservations year-round for $30 per site. Next to the campground has massive rock formations. If you're not staying at the campground there are only four parking spots but you can park on the side of the road just outside the entrance. The campground is in a central location with other campgrounds and attractions nearby. Even if you're not staying there it's nice to walk around and check out the rocks.

We camp at Jumbo Rocks every year and it never gets old. The rock formations are just stunning like…read morenature's playground. You do need to book in advance though, this place fills up quick. Restrooms? Meh. Not the best, but we bring our own setup so it's not a dealbreaker. Just a heads-up: double-check how many vehicles your campsite allows. Last year we showed up with two cars but only had one parking spot such a rookie mistake! Thankfully our neighbors were cool and let us use their extra. There are tons of trails around here, with different levels depending on how much you feel like sweating. No water on-site though, so come prepared. Especially if you're visiting in the summer please bring a pack, hydrate often, and avoid turning your hike into a heat stroke story. Also, bees! They're not aggressive, but if you're allergic, bring your EpiPen or maybe rethink the trip. And the sunset? Unreal. Watching the sun bounce off those rocks is something else. If you're not staying overnight, you can still swing by and do the Skull Rock Trail it's short, sweet, and perfect for a day trip.