• Sunrise at the Cholla Cactus Garden

    Joshua Tree

    National Park California

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  • Pinto Basin Road Renovation

    Pinto Basin Road is being renovated. On weekdays you may encounter travel delays of up to 30 minutes. Cholla Cactus Garden is closed on weekdays. Cottonwood Visitor Center hours are 9 to 4 on weekdays, 8 to 4 weekends. More »

  • Rattlesnake Canyon Will Remain Closed Through May

    To provide additional time to mitigate the vandalism, Rattlesnake Canyon will remain completely closed to the public for another 30 days. More »

Camping

Campgrounds Elevation in feet Sites Fees Group
Sites
Group
Fees
Horse
Camp
Water
Belle 3,800 18 $10
Black Rock 4,000 100 $15 $15 yes
Cottonwood 3,000 62 $15 3 $30 yes
Hidden Valley 4,200 44 $10
Indian Cove 3,200 101 $15 13 $25/40
Jumbo Rocks 4,400 124 $10
Ryan 4,300 31 $10 $10
Sheep Pass 4,500 6 $25/40
White Tank 3,800 15 $10
 

Campsites are limited to six people, three tents, and two cars (a vehicle towing a trailer, popup, tent trailer, fifth wheel or a motorhome pulling a vehicle is considered two vehicles). Holding or reserving campsites for persons not present is not allowed, nor can campsites be left unattended for more than 24 hours. Group sites accommodate 10 to 60 people. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire grate. Water and flush toilets are available in Black Rock and Cottonwood campgrounds. Showers are not available.

Water is available at the Oasis Visitor Center, Indian Cove Ranger Station, West Entrance, and Black Rock and Cottonwood campgrounds.

Quiet hours are from 10 pm to 6 am. Generator use is limited to six hours a day: 7 to 9 am, noon to 2 pm, and 5 to 7 pm.

Food-storage containers capable of preventing access by wildlife are required. Any scented or odorous items must be similarly stored.

Campfires: All vegetation in the park is protected. If you want to make a campfire, bring your own firewood. Fire grates are provided.

RVs: There are no hookups for recreational vehicles. Black Rock and Cottonwood have fresh-water fill-up and dump stations. Motorhomes and habitable trailers are prohibited at Cottonwood and Sheep Pass group sites. At Hidden Valley and White Tank campgrounds, and at Indian Cove group sites, motorhomes and trailers, including their tow vehicle, cannot exceed a combined vehicle length of 25 feet.

Reservations: Sites at Black Rock and Indian Cove campgrounds may be reserved from October 1 through May 31 by calling 1-877-444-6777 up to six months in advance of the date you want to reserve. Or you may make reservations online at www.recreation.gov

First-come, first-served campgrounds include: Belle, Cottonwood, Hidden Valley, Jumbo Rocks, Ryan, and White Tank. Black Rock and Indian Cove campgrounds are first-come, first-served only during the summer-June through September.

Group Site Reservations may be made up to 12 months in advance throughout the year by calling 1-877-444-6777 or online at www.recreation.gov. Group campsites are available at Cottonwood, Indian Cove, and Sheep Pass campgrounds. Cottonwood and Sheep Pass group sites are limited to tent camping only.

Camping Limits: There is a 30-day camping limit each year. However, only 14 nights total may occur from October through May.

Overflow Camping: There is no overflow camping in the park, however there are some BLM areas nearby. Click here for a map (270k PDF). The park also offers backcountry camping.

Overflow Parking is not available in the park. All overnight vehicles must be parked in a designated campsite.

You may call 760-367-3001, 760-362-4367, or 760-367-5549, if you have questions about camping in the park.

Did You Know?

Red Spotted Toad

The red-spotted toad is a true denizen of the desert, where it spends most of its life underground. Found from one end of the park to the other, it appears after good, soaking rains. More...