Camping at Joshua Tree National Park is a great way to experience the beauty of nature and the rugged landscape of this desert park. Located in southeastern California, Joshua Tree National Park offers a variety of camping opportunities for visitors to enjoy. Whether you’re looking for an overnight stay or a multi-day adventure, there are plenty of options available.
Camping at Joshua Tree National Park is managed by the National Park Service and has several different fee structures. There are two main campsites within the park: Black Rock Campground and Indian Cove Campground. Both campsites offer tent, RV, and car camping opportunities with various amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, grills, flush toilets, and water hook-ups.
Overnight camping fees range from $20 to $30 per night depending on the type of site you choose. Tent sites are priced at $20 per night while RV sites range from $25 to $30 per night depending on hook-ups and size restrictions.
Car camping sites are also available for $15 per vehicle per night with up to 8 people allowed in each vehicle. All sites have a 14-day stay limit and reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance through Recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777.
There are also several primitive campsites located throughout the park that require no reservation or fee to use. Primitive campsites can be found at Sheep Pass Group Site, Hidden Valley Group Site, White Tank Group Site, Belle Campground/Ryan Mountain Trailhead Area, Ryan Ranch/Lost Palms Oasis Area, Indian Cove Group Site and Jumbo Rocks Campground/Rattlesnake Canyon Area. These sites provide minimal amenities such as picnic tables and fire rings but no water is available.
Backcountry camping is also allowed in designated areas throughout Joshua Tree National Park with a valid backcountry permit which must be obtained prior to setting up camp. Backcountry permits cost $15 per person per night plus an additional reservation fee of $6 if obtained online through Recreation.gov.
Group camping is available at Black Rock Campground with rates ranging from $40 to $90 depending on the size of your group and type of site chosen. Group campsites can accommodate anywhere from 5 – 20 people with additional fees being charged for more than 10 people staying in one site.
Camping outside the park, there are several other campgrounds located nearby that offer both tent and RV sites including Cottonwood Springs Oasis Campground (offers both tent & RV), Hidden Valley Campground (offers tent only), White Tank Campground (offers tent only) Split Rock Picnic Area (offers tent only) & Jumbo Rocks Campsite (offers both tent & RV).
These sites usually range from $10 -$25 per night depending on amenities offered.
Overall, there are plenty of options available when it comes to camping at Joshua Tree National Park depending on what type of experience you’re looking for and how much you’re willing to spend. For those looking for an overnight stay or a multi-day adventure there are various options available ranging from primitive backcountry camping all the way up to luxury RV sites with full hook ups.
Conclusion:
How much does it cost to camp at Joshua Tree National Park? The cost varies greatly depending on what type of experience you’re looking for – overnight stays start as low as $20 per night while group campsites can range from 40 – 90 dollars per night depending on size restrictions and amenities offered. Backcountry permits require a fee of 15 dollars plus an additional reservation fee if obtained online through Recreation.gov while there are also several campgrounds located outside the park that offer affordable rates ranging from 10 – 25 dollars per night depending on amenities offered
