Address
Indio, CA, 92202
Coordinates:
33.747667, -115.824389
Elevation:
3,000 ft (914 m)
Open all year
Contact
Facility
Policies
(within 10 miles)
Doug and Patti
10 reviews · 5 review votes
Member
This is not what a campground in Joshua Tree National Park should be. But that is what it has become. My wife and I camped here for four nights in April 2022. As beautiful and dramatic as this location is, our experience was spoiled by four nights of annoying noise courtesy of our fellow campers and the NPS: - A troop of scouts arriving with a truck load of supplies, shouting at each other on how to park and unload the truck all while doing so during quiet hours at 11 pm. Worse they were camping... Read More
This is not what a campground in Joshua Tree National Park should be. But that is what it has become. My wife and I camped here for four nights in April 2022. As beautiful and dramatic as this location is, our experience was spoiled by four nights of annoying noise courtesy of our fellow campers and the NPS:
- A troop of scouts arriving with a truck load of supplies, shouting at each other on how to park and unload the truck all while doing so during quiet hours at 11 pm. Worse they were camping in a regular campsite. - Loud partying, babies crying, dogs barking, and general shouting until late at night. - Campers were using bright full size LED patio lights strung around their campsite, lighting up their campsite, as well as everyone in the area's campsite. In a Park trying to bill itself as a dark sky site. - The final straw for me was the National Park Service contractor truck running around at 6:00 am, emptying the many dumpsters in and around the campground on a Saturday morning. Naturally this woke every dog and baby in the campground. The reaction from the staff of the visitor center was kind of amazing. They are also subjected to the same annoying dumpster truck, have complained about it, but say that nobody at the Park Service cares what they think. They practically begged me to fill out a complaint form, which I did. All this in what is supposed to be one of the quietest parks in the US. My opinion of NPS management of our National Parks is that its a mess. Starting with Recreation.gov, one of the most frustrating reservation systems I have ever used. At this campground you must reserve a site in advance without really knowing what you are going to get. Most importantly, without knowing whether the camper will fit or how far the camper's slide will extend into the road. Our site turned out to be a narrow tilted asphalt pull off lined with truck damaging boulders, more of a slanted parallel parking spot, and was barely wide enough for our small camper. I used all of my dozen leveling squares under the tires and still the camper was not level. During our stay we saw no rangers on patrol in the evenings. None. No, I would not stay here again.
Read Less
Doug and Patti
10 reviews · 5 review votes
Member
This is not what a campground in Joshua Tree National Park should be. But that is what it has become. My wife and I camped here for four nights in April 2022. As beautiful and dramatic as this location is, our experience was spoiled by four nights of annoying noise courtesy of our fellow campers and the NPS: - A troop of scouts arriving with a truck load of supplies, shouting at each other on how to park and unload the truck all while doing so during quiet hours at 11 pm. Worse they were camping... Read More
This is not what a campground in Joshua Tree National Park should be. But that is what it has become. My wife and I camped here for four nights in April 2022. As beautiful and dramatic as this location is, our experience was spoiled by four nights of annoying noise courtesy of our fellow campers and the NPS:
- A troop of scouts arriving with a truck load of supplies, shouting at each other on how to park and unload the truck all while doing so during quiet hours at 11 pm. Worse they were camping in a regular campsite. - Loud partying, babies crying, dogs barking, and general shouting until late at night. - Campers were using bright full size LED patio lights strung around their campsite, lighting up their campsite, as well as everyone in the area's campsite. In a Park trying to bill itself as a dark sky site. - The final straw for me was the National Park Service contractor truck running around at 6:00 am, emptying the many dumpsters in and around the campground on a Saturday morning. Naturally this woke every dog and baby in the campground. The reaction from the staff of the visitor center was kind of amazing. They are also subjected to the same annoying dumpster truck, have complained about it, but say that nobody at the Park Service cares what they think. They practically begged me to fill out a complaint form, which I did. All this in what is supposed to be one of the quietest parks in the US. My opinion of NPS management of our National Parks is that its a mess. Starting with Recreation.gov, one of the most frustrating reservation systems I have ever used. At this campground you must reserve a site in advance without really knowing what you are going to get. Most importantly, without knowing whether the camper will fit or how far the camper's slide will extend into the road. Our site turned out to be a narrow tilted asphalt pull off lined with truck damaging boulders, more of a slanted parallel parking spot, and was barely wide enough for our small camper. I used all of my dozen leveling squares under the tires and still the camper was not level. During our stay we saw no rangers on patrol in the evenings. None. No, I would not stay here again.
Read Less
Indio, CA 92202
Coordinates: 33.747667, -115.824389
Elevation: 3000
Directions
From Jct of I-10 & Joshua Tree Park exit, N 7 mi (R). Entrance fee required