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

We had a great stay at AutoCamp Joshua Tree. The front desk is available 24 hours, and they were…read morevery helpful when we arrived late. The Airstream was clean and comfortably fit a family of 4-5, including kids. There was a grill available, and they provided cooking utensils and a cast-iron pan. You just need to bring your own charcoal. We used Walmart delivery for supplies, which made everything very easy. The location is about 30 minutes from the park and convenient for driving back and forth. They offer complimentary coffee and tea in the morning, and bikes are available to use. They provide paper towels, toilet paper, and bath towels, with more available if needed. I would recommend staying here again.

I have been wanting to check in at Auto Camp for years and finally got to do so. It costs a pretty…read morepenny so it was definitely a treat for us, and bringing our dog costs another $70. It's definitely more on the glamping side. PROS: 1. The location of the site itself is pretty central, close to a popular coffee shop, the main street, and there's a grocery store not too far away. 2. Parking is free and there are EV chargers. 3. The staff is friendly and accommodating and they have a centralized phone number you can text should you need anything 4. They let guests borrow an induction stove and pots/pans for no additional charge 5. Their general store is open 24/7, I believe, and you can buy anything you can think of and the prices are not jacked 6. The free granola in the morning was delicious! 7. I loved the bathroom inside our suite, considering it's of good size and it felt like we were in an actual room CONS: 1. For what it's worth, I did find some stuff inside our Airstream that look dated. Like on top of my head, a tissue holder in the bathroom that has a chipped container, stain on the kitchen countertop from what I assume was from the stove, the blanket being very dusty when we opened it, etc. The TV in the room is also not smart tv and not really sure if it has channels either. I just feel like these areas could be more maintained especially if it's brander as a luxury glamping experience 2. The mini fridge is barely cold. Good thing we only really need to store some meat to grill for a few hours. 3. Check in time is 4 pm and check out is 10 am-- I just think that's too much and not the standard anymore. Why do hotels need 6 hours to clean a single suite? Overall, we enjoyed our time and still think it was worth trying at least once! We felt really safe during the entire stay as the property is secured.

Beautiful Camp site! Had a great time with family tent…read morecamping. Only complaint I have is that some of the other people around our campsite were loud but to no fault of the campground. We will be back soon!

+ The 1/2marathon here was awesome! Thank VR for the organization and amenities…read more + I really appreciated the banana and orange pieces at the snack stations placed every other mile throughout the racetrack. + Beautiful run under the moon and starlit sky. + Music and cheers amping the runners up. A DJ and tattoo art to keep the excitement going. + Ample nearby parking. - The running trail had a few rocks and some uneven ground that could've caused a couple rolled or sprained ankles. - And a couple of the water refill tanks at the main area were empty, but they didn't refill them. Shoutout to Ezekiel for allowing me to visit the giant sculpture while the event was still ongoing. What an ethereal experience!

TLDR: site 29 is the best in my opinion. there's cool wildlife if you look for it. flush toilets…read moreand running water. potable water free and many faucets around campground. hiking trails within walking distance. black rock campground was a great in-between for glamping and regular camping. I think the most defining features of this campsite are the flush toilets and running water in the bathrooms. however there are no showers. there is potable water faucets scattered about the campground. there are many sites to choose from but after walking around the campground, the best ones are furthest from the entrance (like where we stayed at site 29) highly recommending site 29!!!! very secluded and not crowded next to your neigboring sites. close to the bathroom with no smell. the campground has a nature center open 8am-4pm on the weekends and has a Ranger present as well as other staff. there are hiking trails about 0.75 miles from the campground at High View Trailhead (walkable or can drive there since there's a parking lot at trailhead)

+ Decentely remote venue to go camping with folks. + Nice…read morethat there's a visitor center in the center of the campground for our convenience. . The camp sites are close together, so you can see and hear your neighbors. Not so secluded. If you want more privacy, maybe you'll prefer a different campground. Deserts, man. So dry and often warm.

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!

Cool campground located within beautiful Hidden Valley in Joshua Tree National Park. This are was…read moreone of my favorite places to explore while I was here in the park. There are 44 sites with pit toilets, fire pits, but no water. The sites are are first-come, first-served and require pre-payment at an entrance station. The area is surround by large boulders and Joshua Trees. Just remember that it is prohibited to tie a hammock to any of the trees here. Definitely make some time to walk the Hidden Valley nature trail while you are here. There are picnic tables near the trailhead that you can eat at.

This was probably my favorite hike of the whole trip. Hidden Valley Nature trail was so beautiful…read more Great for beginner hikers as it wasn't too long. We came during sunset time and it was breathtaking. There's an awesome amount of rocks, joshua trees, beautiful views, and you can lay to see the stars. I will definitely be back!

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!

Returned to Joshua Tree for a second stargazing trip, and despite unpredictable cloud cover, the…read morenight sky delivered an incredible show. Sunset at Keys View: The view was great, but parking is extremely limited and poorly managed. Someone parked directly in the middle of the roadway, blocking traffic and leaving everyone else stranded. Camping & Stargazing: Set up camp at Ryan Campground, had dinner, and spent the night stargazing right from the picnic table. The Milky Way was directly overhead, and we caught numerous meteors and shooting stars throughout the night. Drawbacks: The main issue was a total lack of etiquette from other visitors. People were driving around late at night and shining bright white flashlights everywhere past 10 PM, completely disregarding designated quiet hours and ruining dark-sky adaptation. Overall, it is a phenomenal spot for astronomy, but fellow visitors lacking basic night-sky common sense can dampen the experience. Note: On the way back home morning, the park rangers check the annual pass / ticket as they are not when we went around 6.3O PM

* another missing review....thanks Yelp…read more Unfortunately I have no photos left and my review as been filed 13. One of the most serene places I've ever visited. There happed to be exactly 3 other people I saw in a four hour period exploring this erir but beautiful place. Just getting there is 1/2 the fun. Driving up from Palm Springs and gradually the desert and those that live there morphs into something very different. I wouldn't hesitate to return if ever in the area and highly recommend you... Go!

Hiked Barker Dam Trail in January 2026 and it ended up being one of my favorite spots in Joshua…read moreTree National Park. The dam was filled with water (which apparently isn't always the case), and I had most of the trail completely to myself. Peaceful, scenic, and classic Joshua Tree views the entire way. Easy hike, big payoff, and felt like discovering a hidden gem. Loved it.

Easy and idea spot for light hiking just after you park your car. Trail leads to some key spots in…read morethe park including the the remnants of the Barker Dam that once served the area. Surrounding area are steep cliffs and bluffs offering some really epic views. Be sure to keep an close eye out for infamous Big Horn Sheep that often adorn the sides of the canyons on top of rocks and steep terrain.

One of the best campsites I've ever been to. It's located near Joshua tree and originally I thought…read morethere would be others here but we were the only ones onsite. They provide many amenities for $150 per night. You get this awning which covers two large picnic tables, a smoker slash grill, a preparation table trashcan and a gas grill for those days when fire season is in full swing. They provide paper towels and TP for the portal potty and they have a large 5,000 gallon water tank and portable 5 gallon water jugs for use around camp which we used to put out the campfire after use. They have a fire pit and chairs and tables. You essentially get 10 acres of land to yourself. You can go hiking, rock climbing or mountain biking in marked trails. We stayed for two nights and had a blast as it was way more than we expected. This maybe our new go to campsite only 2.5 hour drive from the SGV. I recommend if you go that you go in a high clearance vehicle as 4x4 is not needed but you may run into an incline where you loose traction and needs push or pull from someone as one of our friends needed.