Jumbo Rocks Campground

Double check you rig length when reserving. Our 34' fifth wheel just barely fit. The camp host have us permission to park the truck in the "No Overnight Parking" lot of we couldn't have stayed. That said, what a beautiful, sure cool place this is! Boondocking with no cell service. (T-Mobile or Verizon). Visitor Center is in Twenty Nine Palms, a half hour away.

Jumbo Rocks Campground is a great place to camp! You’re completely surrounded by big rocks, and it almost feels like you’re on another planet. The rocks are really easy to climb because they’re smooth and have round edges, so it’s super fun and efrotlesa to explore. There’s also a small amphitheater, and it looks like they might have events there, which would be really cool. The campground has a nice, friendly vibe, and there are just enough people—not too crowded, not too empty. If you want a fun and unique camping experience in Joshua Tree, this is definitely one of the best spots to explore in Joshua Tree and for camping as well !

The day we arrived was fairly windy. Because we had site 62, we thought we would be alright. After setting up the tent without staking down the tent yet, a stormy wind blew our 6-person tent away. It flew about 1/2 miles away. After we retrieved it, we were able to stake it down. Though it was freezing at evenings, overall, we had fun. There were plenty of trails to explore. Be forewarned, there are very little to no cell services in the park.

We went here for a family camping trip. We stayed at campsite 120 which was a great site. Very private with a campfire ring, grill and table. Close enough to the put toilets but far enough that you aren’t dealing with people walking past your campsite to get to them. The site has plenty of opportunities to climb on the rocks just out the back of the site, my kids loved doing that and would have enjoyed if we stayed at the site all day to climb on the rocks. We enjoyed climbing up to watch the sunsets in the evening. The jumbo rocks are beautiful and the campsite itself is close enough to skull rock and other popular sites within Joshua Tree National park. Stargazing from our campsite was great. The kids enjoyed seeing the kangaroo rats come out at night and scurry under our chairs while making smores and we even got to see a coyote. All around great campsite and would recommend to others.

We were here in winter 2024. Perfect time of the year to camp in Jumbo Rocks. The views during Sunrise and Sunset are spectacular. Please bring enough water for the entire family as this campground does not provide water.

I stayed in campsite #15. The grand is hard. Can’t fix my tent very easily. It’s windy during Christmas even and I finally packed the tent and stayed in my car. But the environment was over good! Some other spots with big rocks around might be not that windy.

Stunning. All of Joshua Tree is gorgeous and I highly recommend. Took my family ranging from ages 2 to 12 and they all loved it. Early December was the perfect time to visit the desert and will be making it a yearly tradition for us!

Suck a beautiful place! The sunset and sunrise were out of this world. The camp sites were nestled in between granite boulder outgrows, interspersed with Joshua trees. Pit toilets and no water. Deffinitly need to reserve in advance to get a good spot.

We had a great time for the 1 night we stayed just to view the Milky Way! It was hot during the day (summer time!) but we knew we had to take advantage of the opportunity for this viewing. Who doesn't like Joshua Tree?! We arrived to the campground and it was about 102-104 degrees. We were fortunate that the location of our site was just on the other side of some 'Jumbo Rocks'! Because shortly after arriving and setting up (before dark) the sun set behind the rocks and kept us comfortable. We got two sites but ending up using one. There were many sites open the night we stayed, but the next couple of nights it was almost completely booked! We set our site up with the tent/canopy and cots arranged strategically inside (4 cots). We walked around our little loop for some pics and came across the amphitheater. Bathrooms were near by, but we set up our own little outhouse. After dinner we decided to go to the other site we reserved and took some pics. What a gorgeous night, the Milky Way showed its beauty in the night sky and we were in awe.... We decided to pull out the cots from inside of the canopy/tent scatter them where we were comfortable to lay underneath the stars. We ended up sleeping outdoors on the cots and one hammock until the morning. We slept with a sheet (there were no flying bugs) the weather was perfect. Did not get a chill until 5 or 6 in the morning. We woke and headed up a slope to watch the sunrise. Once sunrise broke we quickly went back to the campsite to pack up before the scorching heat made it's presence. We were out of the campground by 7am and on our way to have breakfast. I would definitely camp at this campground again. The noise will carry because of the the boulders. Some of the spaces look tight, so be sure to do your homework/research for the sites you are looking at. This is a great area to go stargazing!

You can't get better than camping amongst the Jumbo Rocks at Joshua Tree! I was able to reserve site 88, which was essentially a pull through parking spot on the side of the road with the actual campsite next to it. The campsites at Jumbo Rocks vary widely from tent walk ins to more spacious sites so make sure you read the "allowable equipment" section carefully on recreation.gov. This campground, as with all JT campgrounds, is bare bones. Be prepared! There are basically zero amenities: No campground host No firewood No general store No running water No showers No flush toilets (pit toilets only)

LOVE this place. The BFF and I try and come out every year. It's close enough to town that you can grab dinner and enjoy the stars from camp but far enough away that the lack of reception encourages you to be fully present. The only downside is no running water but it's a small inconvenience to pay for the sounds and smells of a roaring campfire, crystal clear views of your favorite constellations, and middle of the night howls from a pack of coyotes. And if you're lucky - which we were this year - you might even get to see the desert sky gleam with lightning.

This is a great location for boulder climbing and star gazing. The campground is clean, and the outhouse style bathrooms are cleaned daily. Important to note there is NO water at this location-so you will need to bring extra for washing and fire control. The camp sites are spaced oddly, so that several are back behind others, which was a bit awkward. Overall it was a fun and unique experience- my first time out here. Lots of wonderful hikes for all abilities- just be aware of the weather, and hike in the morning or evening to avoid the heat of midday.

We enjoyed this campground. It is very central - about 18 miles from the west entrance and 8 miles from the north entrance. Our site (118) was one of the smaller ones - we had our camper van which barely fit, and we probably could have fit a small tent as well. Our kids (almost 5 and 6 years old) LOVED climbing all the rocks and exploring! We went just after Christmas, so it was very cold and despite all sites being reserved, was fairly empty, so this review does not reflect what it would be like during busier times.

One of my favorite campgrounds of all time! It's a pretty popular one so book it early during the reservation season. When you arrive, there isn't a ranger to confirm your reservation but a printed list posted on the bulletin boards up front. Most sites allow two cars, 3 tents and 6 people each...but some only allow 1 car. Extra cars will have to find overflow parking either at Jumbo Rocks or at backcountry camping parking lots. Permits for backcountry are free! At the campsite, there's no running water and no flushable toilets. Instead, you get vault toilets which aren't that bad but the one closest to our campsite would sometimes have bees flying around inside. Closest showers that I knew of were at Coyote Corner, which is roughly a 40 minute drive out of the park. The best part of the campground were all the rocks surrounding the space. A lot are pretty easy to climb up and you can snag some cool landscape shots and sunsets. At night, campfires reflect off of the rock walls and also help shelter against any cold winds.

The majesty that once was Joshua Tree has now been replaced by a camp dump for hungry city folk desparate to escape from quarantine. Maybe not all of Joshua Tree or the Yucca Valley, but definitely Jumbo Rocks, Ryan, and most of the other overpacked camp areas. I recently tried to rough it out there for a weekend just to remind myself of the beauty of Joshua Tree, but was rudely awakened by the reality of camping in Joshua Tree now. The campgrounds have always been popular campgrounda, but with recent quarantine updates and people generally just needing to get out of their house, Joshua Tree seems to have become the newest tourist trap. Members of The National Park System / Joshua Tree are given priority when it comes to campground reservation, but currently most reserve campgrounds are still closed. This has now created a problem where members are now arriving earlier than the weekend and reserving multiple spots for x amount of days so there really isn't even much of a chance of finding anywhere. We attempted to arrive on a Friday morning which usually isn't too busy, but ended up getting stuck in a 40 minute line only to be driving in the desert for another 2 hours for nothing. When we finally came onto a potential spot, we basically set up our camp halfway only to have another group stop us because they had reserved our site the day before and were just waiting for them to come. The conditions of the campgrounds were... unmaintained. The one bathroom we got into had a beehive in the corner, so youd have the occasional bee wander near you for water... Trash was flying everywhere and wedged in between rocks all throughout the campsite and park. Bottles were buried in the dirt, and tarps were bending plants for temporary set ups. It was painful to make a three hour drive only to have to find our way back to Morongo, but it was probably more painful to see what Joshua Tree is turning into.

I camped here by myself for one night at the beginning of April! Coming from out of town and on my own, I was reassured in the fact that I could reserve a campsite. I believe some of the sites are first come first serve only. The campsites feature pit toilets, campfire rings, grills, rock picnic tables, and no water or no electricity. The weather was great in April... I did wear a puffy in the morning and was in shorts and a tank top just an hour later. I stopped at Von's in Twentynine Palms to pick up water and firewood before getting into the park. The sites were close together, but I felt secluded from the surrounding families - at least at my site there seemed to be some bushes/shrubbery that did divide up the area well. I loved being surrounded by rocks that are easy to climb and explore. I did see park rangers driving around, but didn't really do a "check-in" - I'm not sure what protocol is here, but I just found my campsite and set up with no problems at all. I did see mostly tent camping, but some RVs that were a little squished on the narrow road. I like that this campsite is right on an easy trail that leads to Skull Rock. Other trails are not too far of a drive. I hope to return to Joshua Tree again.. it is a beautiful, magical place!! I would also choose to stay here again!

By far my most favorite area of the park. The rocks and boulders here are MASSIVE! As far as jungle gyms go, this is the one to beat and so far I haven't found a better one in the park. Camping can fill up here on the weekends so just be warned in case you wanna randomly head out there. The hiking and climbing here is amazing! I've been here hundreds of times and am always finding new areas to explore. I definitely recommend checking out this area of the park! Even more so if you're a climber. If you've got a night or 2, camping here can be surreal and a must do. There's nothing really like this place anywhere. Everything about this park is an experience everyone should be able to see.

First off, life is simply more comfortable w access to running water. However, there is none here. So, either come here & accept this fact. Or, stay in a local hotel/rental outside the national park. That said, this campground is awesome!! Most of the sites have huge boulders bordering at least one side. All of the campsites have fire rings, bbqs, and a table. The early morning and late afternoon/evening light creates a beautiful setting. The night sky is illuminated with stars. Many other "attractions" such as Skull Rock are close to the campground. I'd return in a heartbeat! Few helpful hints- they do not sell firewood at the campsite. Some kind soul left a burning candle in the outhouse, which helped negate some nastiness!

This campground is just beautiful! While some sites are smaller and less private, the majority of sites have plenty of space. With pit toilets and no running water, it's certainly not luxurious but the views are all you truly need here. We love that this campground is attached to the Skull Rock Trail and has another less popular trail on the backside of the campground. There was no host present when we went so that is something to consider but overall we had a fantastic time with will certainly return in the future.

Jumbo Rocks Campground is by far one of my favorite places to camp. The name says it all. Camping in between these ginormous rocks is amazing all in itself. Going in October was perfect. The weather during the day was great and night time was a bit chilly, but definitely bearable. The sites are pretty spacious and while some are better than others, they are all pretty nice. Here are some quick tips for your stay: - First come, First serve - October - May are the busiest - Bring water! This site has none - $15. Per night: put your money in an envelope with the site number, deposit it in the collection box and you are golden. 4 stars because it has no water :( Check out our blog post on this: http://www.ispyoutdoors.com/2015/10/25/lets-camp-jumbo-rocks-campground/

This was my first time camping in the desert (I'm a forest kind of gal) and Jumbo Rocks did not disappoint. Just like its name, it's a campsite surrounded by enormous stones and rocks. The first thing you should be aware of, is that there's not a drop of running water. No sinks or showers and no flushable toilets. Baby wipes and hand sanitizer is a must here! And be sure to bring plenty of drinkable water. Always bring more than less. You don't want to be dehydrated in the desert. If you're able, I would bring a tarp or canopy of some kind for your campsite. The sun gets unbearably hot, even more so during peak hours. A huge reason why my friend and I chose this camp site was so we could climb all the rocks. And climb we did! You can literally see campers attempting to scale the nearest rock. It was always an incredibly fun challenge. This campsite was also just a quick drive away from most of the attractions and hiking trails. On our last morning, we woke at around 4am to see the sun rise on top of one of the larger rocks. Dawn was stunning. Jumbo Rocks was a great place to stay. Vast, mostly quiet and surrounded by the enormous presence of nature. There was a stillness that you can't quite find in the forest. And the fact that there aren't any trees to cover the sky. Just, wow. The stars were amazing here. My only negative experience about this place was that so many people encroached upon our campsite. Some people would walk at the very edge of it to look at the view, others would climb the giant rock right above our heads and a few would just walk right in the middle of our site. And no one would even acknowledge us or our privacy. I especially loved the two buddies who decided to sit on the rock nearby at 3 am and have a lengthy laughter inducing conversation... (At that point my friend and I just decided to wake up) I normally love people, but damn, I came to camp for nature and seclusion; not to turn around and get freaked out by a stranger behind me.

I finally got to camp at Jumbo Rocks campground this past weekend, and it lived up to all my expectations! They've recently opened this campsite up to pre-booked reservations, so 6 months ahead of time (at 8am pst) you can log into recreation.gov and make a reservation for a site at Jumbo Rocks! Check out a map online ahead of time, especially if you're looking to book a few sites together. Most sites get 2 car spots and can handle 3 tents (but honestly 2 comfortably, especially if you'll be grilling/lighting a camp fire too). All the campsites come with a fire pit (with a grill - so we just grilled our dinner on the camp fire!), a charcoal grill and a picnic table. There's plenty of pit toilet bathrooms around. And some of the sites back right up to the rocks you can climb and hike around! There's an amphitheater in the campsite that puts on an evening presentation on the weekends. The campsite is pretty much in the middle of the park, ~25 minute drive from the west entrance, 10 minute drive from the north entrance and 35 minute drive to the south entrance - so you're central to all the hiking and trails, and right down the road from skull rock. We stayed here on a Friday and Saturday evening and most of the campsites were very lively until at least 11pm or midnight, so if you're looking for a camping place to be able to go to sleep early this may not be the place for you. There's no facilities inside the park to buy anything, so just make sure you bring enough food, water, firewood and beer to last you!

My family camped in three adjacent campgrounds over a 4 day period and it was incredible! We enjoyed ourselves immensely. My 6 year old son asked if we could come back "every week". He loved climbing around on the rocks and adventuring out to the exhibits in the park each day. Our nearby camp neighbors were all courteous. There wasn't any noise pollution or anything unpleasant. If we could've stayed there for longer, we would've... it was so perfect and peaceful. I can't recommend this campground enough. The only advice I would give is to steer clear of the campsites near the entrance of campground when booking (if you have a choice). They seemed cramped in my opinion. Go to "campsite photos" to view the sites before booking. Also, there were coyotes within 20 feet of our campsite on two different occasions and so be sure to keep your lil ones close (kids and pets).

We spent two nights here (Wednesday- Friday) in May and this was the perfect campground. Like everything already says, Jumbo Rocks is first come first serve. We arrived around 2pm and we were still able to find a spot. There was actually plenty of space but we ended up at site #37 which was perfect; not too far from the front gate & not too close to any other sites. We were between two restrooms which were kept very clean. Each site has a fire pit & picnic table. For $15/ night, it doesn't get much better than this. A lot of the other sites were nestled between rocks that shielded the wind. The campground itself was very clean & welcoming. There are plenty of hiking trails and much to explore around this site. Our site was actually super close to the opening of the Skull Rock Trail. We later drove about 10 minutes away to White Tank where the Arch Rock trail is & got lost in there a little while. We'll definitely be back!

Great campground! I believe this campground does not take reservations. We arrived the day before thanksgiving and the ranger told us that all the campsites were full; the only available sites were in Cotton Wood (30 minutes away!). My boyfriend being the optimist that he is, decided to drive through Jumbo Rock and see if we could snag a site. When we arrived there were plenty of open sites! I don't know if we were just lucky, but if you end up in the same situation as us, check out the sites first! You never know who is leaving and sometimes the Rangers do not update the Rangers working the front of the park. The site was 15$ per a night. Comes with a fire pit and a grill. The bathrooms were decent (toilet with a hole in the ground) with plenty of toilet paper. We stayed at campsite 83, not too far and not too close to the restrooms. Everyone at the site was respectful of the curfew rules, and the entire campsite was extremely clean. A park ranger would be constantly driving around the sites which made me feel safe! This site is a great location. Close to all the popular attractions; you can walk to Skull Rock from this location. We actually ran out of wood so we drove back into town the next day and the drive was not bad at all. (Don't be like us and pack more than enough firewood!) Oh and FYI, there is no running water! We packed around 5-6 gallons of water for our 3 day stay.

I wanted to love this campground but I can't. I had the absolute worst camping experience and probably the most stressful. I was forced to move my pop up camper from space 99 to 43. There was a group of 4 families and we were placed in 99. The reservations were made months ago and not by us. So we trusted which sites were assigned to us. A camp host initially came to tell us our site wasn't a camper or trailer site and that we had to move; it was only a tent site. Meanwhile a whole Airstream was in the next site over. This after we are all set up and level. Anyone that knows about a pop up camper knows it's not the easiest thing to just break down and move. We decided to wait it out and get official word from the park rangers. Eventually 2 park rangers came that seemed to be okay with us staying in our site, until another camp host came by ranting about measurements and nonsense. At this point we were told we had to move. And please note...kids were crying and upset at this point. You think these grown adults seeing kids cry cared...NOPE! My son in particular l, because he hadn't seen his friends in months and the thought of having to leave would crush him. So after all the back and forth, we started to attempt to halfway break down the camper down and move to the other site, 43. And note this site wasn't close. So next, some super park rangers with guns came to our site. I was already pissed and here they come. We already complied and agreed to moving so this crazy ass camp host for some reason, felt the need to call the cop rangers to our site. Also note, I never had any words with this woman or anything to have her feel the need to call them. I don't ever like to think race plays a part in situation like this but at this point, when ranger police are called to our site after already agreeing to move, I had no choice to believe it was for anything other than being black. If it wasn't for our crying son, I would have just packed up and left. We made the move and had a rather tolerable weekend. I won't be rushing to ever come back here again. If your black just beware, they will find a reason to mess with you and pick on you for minute things that can force you to move or leave your campsite. Beware of the hosts: Heidi and Ron. And ALL the park rangers. They walk your site looking for reasons to make you move or your camp experience a living hell. They also don't mind making kids cry just to prove a point!

Stayed here on Thanksgiving Thu and Fri nite campsite 1 & 7. What a great memorable thanksgiving camping experience! It is a first come first serve campsite. Great food in our group. The only minus is the bathrooms are a bit smelly at this site. The other parts of the park arent as bad. Also, there is no running water here so you have to bring your own. You can fill up your water jugs at the park entrance. We drove over to the Hall of Horrors area and climbed Jaws 5.6, Lickety Splits 5.7, & Zardoz 5.8. Also went down to barker dam. Totally dry, no water there. Some bouldering.

Amazing campground with lots of great sites. It was very clean. You can pick up firewood at the 7-11 outside of the park. The sky here is absolutely incredible. We saw a ton of shooting stars. Don't forget to bring a jug of water to bed as you are in the desert and you will feel yourself shriveling. Also, don't leave your tent unzipped... if you look closely as you drive when the sun is going down you will see tarantulas cross the street.

My favorite campground in Joshua! All went well, rangers were really helpful. The differences between camp sides are great

Bring the entire family; the kids will absolutely love it. Just keep a close eye on the little ones and make sure the bigger ones are aware of the many dangers. Jumbo Rocks is a first-come, first-served campground; you can't make reservations. It is the largest campground within JTNP with 124 sites. There is no running water, only vault toilets (which are kept fairly clean), so make sure to bring plenty along. It's pretty much centrally located within the park which makes it convenient to visit other nearby attractions within the park... and there's plenty of attractions all around. Within a 15 mile radius of Jumbo Rocks there are several "Nature Walks"; Arch Rock, Barker Dam, Cap Rock, Cholla Cactus Garden, Hidden Valley, and of course you can't miss out on the Skull Rock Nature Trail - a short jaunt that starts and ends in the campground. And then there's Keys View, a must-see panoramic view of the Coachella Valley, the San Andreas Fault Line, the Salton Sea, and... on a clear day you can even see Mexico! There are many trails for day hikes as well; Lost Horse Mine, Ryan Mountain, Queen Mountain, not to mention the potentially endless combination of hikes via the California Riding and Hiking Trail which traverses 35 miles throughout this amazing National Park. You can also blaze your own trail in just about any direction from the campground. There is a main road through the campground which has sites located along it, but there are also 8 separate loops along the main road - 4 on the right and 4 on the left. Although there are more sites on the right (south) of the main road, some of the better sites (sites within the rock formations) are on the left. I suggest driving around a couple of times until you find the ideal site to stake your claim. Hint: The closer your camp is to the main entrance, the more traffic you'll see. Most of the sites are within a half-mile of the main road (Park Blvd). If the entire campground were flat, I would imagine road noise would be an issue. But it's not... thanks to the anonymous giant who laid out all of the jumbo rocks within the campground. However, I've never stayed at one of the first few sites; they're too close to the entrance so everyone that comes into the campground passes by them, so I've avoided them ever since my first visit. If you come here on a sunny day during early Spring just after a good rain, be prepared to witness a dazzling display of colors as the many assorted desert flowers emerge from their deep slumber. Enjoy... "Today I don't need a replacement I'll tell them what the smile on my face meant, My heart going boom boom boom, 'Hey' I said 'You can keep my things, they've come to take me home.'" - Peter Gabriel

Jumbo Rocks Campground is one of my favorites. But keep in mind this site is reservation only, so it's not too great for last minute trips. There are a few other campgrounds in the surrounding area that are walk on only, including Hidden Valley Campground, Ryan Campground, and Belle Campground. Jumbo Rocks is true to name, with giant boulders that are very fun to climb. Gorgeous sunrises and sunsets makes this a remarkable place to camp. Sites include a bench and a pit, with restrooms and bear-safe trashcans nearby. I thoroughly enjoyed this campground! The stars are absolutely breathtaking at night!

Site #84 had lots of space and it was across from a bathroom and trash. If you were camping with another party it connected easily with site #83 with minimal shrubs in the way yet far enough if you wanted privacy yOu had it. You could walk to the back of the site and explore the boulders and area very easily. It was beautiful. January I is very cold and the water that was out froze over night. You can buy fire wood at Vons or Home Depot. Walmart did not have firewood in the area.

Spent the Christmas weekend at Joshua Tree NP from 25th-28th. We were hoping for Hidden Valley because we had planned on doing some rock climbing, it not only has tons of climbing right on the campground, they also have climbers coffee Sat & Sun mornings from 8-10. When we arrived the ranger at the west entrance told us that most campgrounds are full. We checked Hidden Valley anyway and unfortunately it was. Our strategy then was to go for the campground with the most sites and that was Jumbo Rocks. We snagged the first available and was good to go for the long weekend. I believe most of the campgrounds at Joshua is first come first serve except for Black Rock & Indian Cove but those fill up fast. There is also no water in all the campgrounds except for Black Rock (northwest of the park) and Cottonwood (south of the park) so you have to pack enough water for your group. Jumbo Rocks is perfect because it's somewhat centrally located. North entrance and West entrance are relatively close. If you forget something or need to resupply, no worries. It's also near areas for some hiking and exploring. It has an interpretive trail that takes you to Skull Rock and other boulders for rock climbing or just exploring. For us, it was close to Belle Campground and Hall of Horrors where we did some rock climbing and also Geology Tour, Ryan Mountain, and White Tank. Don't forget to check out the evening program on Fridays and Saturdays. I learned so much about the constellations and the night sky along with fun little facts and story telling.

These sites are now available as online reservations. We stayed this Sunday- Tuesday, March 5th, 2018, we have Tab Outback. We'll be going back. Best sites in my opinion, 80, 83, 84. Our tiny Tab has a bathroom, however there are alot of vault bathrooms along the campground that were cleaned daily. No water, no sewer. Clean sites, grills, fire rings, picnic table. Jumbo Rocks offers plenty of chances to climb up into the rocks, just be mindful of vegetation. Photo opps, quietness, night skies. The best, and I'm an avid camper for over 39 years experience. Tents snd RV's all are welcomed. Take binoculars for those starry nights, and pack more food than you think you'll need. Top of your fuel on your vehicle before you get there, or make a trip onto Twenty-Nine Palms. If you go to Twenty Nine Palms and appreciate "U2," snap a picture of "The Harmony Hotel" where the band stayed in the 90's when they recorded "Joshua Tree." This campsite is a do over.

This was a beautiful campground! Being amongst the jumbo rocks was a refreshingly new terrain to camp in compared to being in a wooded area. My boyfriend and I stayed one night last week arriving at a later time (around 6pm) and only a few sites were available on a first come first serve basis. We snatched site 11 which turned out to be a very pleasant site with just enough privacy to feel like you were alone in the national park after dark and during early morning hours; it was also not too far from the toilets. Two of the highlights of my stay here were hearing coyotes howling during the night and hiking to Skull Rock; the trailhead is in the campground and is within walking distance of all sites! Overall, I would definitely return to Jumbo Rocks Campground to enjoy the unique surroundings and explore more hiking trails within Joshua Tree National Park. Also, I feel it is a must to mention to bring plenty of water during your stay here! There is no running water and I presume it can get very hot as summer approaches!

I LOVE this campground. You're near the rocks and surrounded by visual and spiritual serenity. It's peaceful at night, the stars look like giant orbs twinkling as far as the eye can see, it's magical. There are lots of places to hike, don't be afraid to explore, just take lots of water with you, oh and a hat, sunblock, and sunglasses. I loved the jumbo rocks trail, you can't miss it, well maybe you can, but it's accessible from the campground closer to the entrance. We also wandered around the back area, interpretive hiking, I think that's what they call it these days. Do not leave food out, there are tons of squirrels on the look out. We accidently left out a hand full of dog food, didn't think twice about it, it was completely gone along with the water for our dog. Bring your own water, at least two gallons per person and more if you plan on washing dishes and please use biodegradable soap (such as Camp Suds). When washing your dishes be ultra conservative with water not just because of the drought, but because there is no water at this site. Be sure to hide your trash (in a car or some kind of box that is locked up) as animals can easily rip through trash bags leaving your campsite completely trashed. This has happened to us once before at a different campground, we learned our lesson and are just spreading the word. Bottom line is these animals are hungry and kind of creepy, they will stock you and figure out the best time to get to your food when you're not around. Would love to return to Joshua tree during the cooler months since the summers are pretty brutal. I hear it's coldest around December. Jumbo Rocks Campground is clean, but it's probably clean because the campers keep it clean, so keep it up and leave with the campground looking spotless. I didn't see too many trees for hammocks at this campsite, I honestly didn't see many trees besides joshua trees, which I don't think those are strong enough for hammocks. Bring plenty of firewood, it gets chilly at night even during the summer. Enjoy!

We just went to Jumbo Rocks in December 2013. Jumbo Rocks has 124 sites, and is only $10 per night. The campground has its own amphitheater, a recycling station, baskets for used propane bottles, and wildlife proof trash bins scattered throughout. The nearest water is located in Twentynine Palms, where you can either fill up at the Visitors Center or just buy water at the Circle K off Hwy 62 (if you're entering the park off I-10, you can fill up on water at the Cottonwood Visitors Center when you stop to pay your park entrance fee). Most of the sites in this campground are incorporated into the rocks, with some even on the rock formations themselves. Most have a fair degree of privacy, although some are crammed because of where they're located. The campground is divided into a handful of loops, while the main road has campsites on it as well. We stayed at site #77 at the far end of the campground, a large yet private site that backed up right to the giant boulders. Our favorite sites were 10 & 11 for a group, 33, 41, 77-81, 87, 95, 101, and 120. The sites to stay away from are 65-67, if only because of their proximity to the bathroom. Check out the video we shot and the full review at TentTalkTime.com - tenttalktime.com/jumbo-rocks-campground. Feel free to get in touch with questions or comments!

I camped here during Spring Break, so the place was JAMMED with families. The only site available to camp was #123 -- right by the road, right by the front gate. Like camping in a Wal Mart parking lot -- and right downwind of the toilet. I don't get all the fuss about Joshua Tree. You can see the same shit up at Mojave National Preserve -- FOR FREE, and much less crowded! I guess if I were a rock climber I'd feel differently, but as a camper/hiker I was underwhelmed.

Hall of Horrors isn't exactly horrifying, it's another beautiful section of Joshua Tree National Park. There are several camp areas and spots to park here to explore the area. It's predominantly large rock formations and boulders here, great for a bit of a hike or some rock climbing. The shade of the boulders can also be nice to escape the strong sun here during the day. There are also a few restrooms along the stops here.

Went to this campsite at the end of May. Was one of the best camping experiences I have ever had! As soon as you drive through the gates of Joshua Tree park, your phone internet goes off! This was absolute bliss after a long year of non stop emails and calls re work! We did this trip to completely switch off from the world and thats exactly what we did! We drove through the breathtaking Joshua Tree Park and got to Jumbo Rocks campsite on Thursday morning. There were still plenty of campsites available so we were able to drive round the grounds and find the perfect one! Think it was number 63! All sites are private surrounded by boulders and it looks like a movie scene! especially when the sun start going down and you can see the boulders lit up by camp fires and lamps! Each site comes with a fire pit and a bbq! And plenty of space. The skull rock hike from the campsite is not too strenuous (about 3 miles round trip) that takes you past skull rock. There is so much to see around Joshua tree but really think Jumbo Rocks was the best campsite in the park ;)

By far my favorite campground in the park! The rocks are indeed jumbo, which provides for unique activities during the day and night. Most camp sites offer a decent amount of privacy from the natural rock walls. They also offer some shade in the early-morning and late-afternoon, but midday exposure can be intense. There are park rangers driving around, but unless you're making a scene they'll leave you alone. Campfires are only permitted in the designated spots, and make sure you pay up front and put the tag on your camp post, or you will be fined.

The place is beautiful and the camp sites are clean and well kept. The only problem is that they don't enforce quite hours. He had some really rude neighbors that were laughing and drinking till 130am.

I came here in September for 2 nights and it was SO beautiful. It's about $15 per night after the park entrance fee and worth every penny. The climbing and hiking is gorgeous, especially at sunset. The sites can be a little close together so we made sure to go on a Sunday/Monday when it was less crowded. There is NO water so bring your own, even to wash dishes. Each site has a fire pit so bring your own wood too. Vault toilets and trash receptacles are plentiful so no matter where you are camped, you will find one nearby. No showers. Night skies are full of stars and the land seems otherworldly. A truly wonderful desert camping experience.

We had site #40. Little did we know that there's literally no spot for a tent...zero...none. We put our tent in the area we thought our tent was supposed to be;only to be told it must be moved immediately! The ranger then told us to put our tent in the street if we needed room!?! Ummm...okay...so if my family gets run over I will go ahead and hold you accountable!!! We ended up finding a small spot in between our site and the next site...they had the nerve to say that wasn't okay either The campground was empty and they have nothing better to do. The rangers are assholes! Site #40 should be for small camper vans as there is only a spot for a vehicle,a table, and a fire pit. So if you have a tent...do not reserve site #40. However the site itself is beautiful and picturesque. No water...so bring plenty to drink, cook, and clean up with. There are outhouses that are given a good scrub and are restocked with toilet paper daily.

The pros on Jumbo Rocks: Beautiful! Even though spaces were close together hey had adequate privacy Good rock hopping $10/night - not bad! The cons: Bathrooms are what they are... And on a hot summer day they are a bit smelly. No running water, mirror, sink ect. All is expected. When we arrived The signs leading up to the camp all said they were full, but with a short drive through we found it was only 60% filled. Great place to stay, would highly recommend!

***Camping with an RV at Jumbo Rocks Review*** We pulled into this National Park on a whim in October of 2016 on a Sunday afternoon, and were directed to Jumbo Rocks campground by one of the rangers. We have a 32ft fifth wheel and a long bed truck, and headed in through the West Entrance Station (we were driving eastbound on the I-10 and we followed the signs for Joshua Tree NP, which took us to the West entrance, when we left we drove down all the way through the park an exited at Cottonwood Springs, which you could just as easily enter through as well). It's a bit of a drive and the map they give you is a hair confusing - but just stick on the main road until you see the signs for the campground. There are a TON of sites in this spot and the views are AMAZING!!! The map they give you doesn't actually show you the layout of the campground but everywhere you go does eventually end up a loop or circle, so figure you can drive around for awhile and find the perfect spot without getting stuck (there are a lot of gorgeous sites). There were also a lot of other smaller campers and tons of people in tents! It did take us awhile to find a spot that would fit our entire rig (we eventually settled in site #71) and wow are we glad we decided to stay. We barely fit into this spot though, so if you're bigger than we are you may want to look into Cottonwood Springs (the RV specific camping area which you can reserve ahead of time online some months of the year for $20/night). This is a first-come, first-serve campground where you can't reserve anything ahead of time. Jumbo rocks costs $15/night (make sure you have exact cash as you will put your money in an envelope at the front of the campground, and a pen to fill out the envelope with) gets you an amazing view with a fire pit and no hook ups, it was worth every cent! They have some pretty stinky pit toilets, no showers and no water. It was so quiet in the park, it's a big enough area that there you can walk all over and see so many gorgeous rocks and views. Skull Rock Hike also begins right in the campground with amazing views and a fairly flat walk (we wore our daughter on our backs and it worked great). Lots of pavement for bike-riding, huge rocks to climb and a lot of fun areas to explore. Amazing dark skies and night filled with stars under a campfire made this campground one of our favorite spots to go, we are already trying to plan our return trip! I highly recommend it here!!

Its close to others but its very pretty and atleast in my campground we had some privacy. Its very close to skull rock and other attractions. The big rocks are cool making the campsite just that much better. We also we close the bathrooms but not too close and we had a nice fire with a good look at the stars

This campground is perfect! Came early on a Friday morning around 8 am and had plenty of empty sites to choose from. Some spots are small and have no privacy but the spots towards the back of the campground are huge and very private. We got campsite 81 which was my favorite in the campground. Theres a private rock cavern on that site as well as a lot of space! Tent camping is 15$ per night. The bathrooms are all close and well cleaned. I would suggest ear plugs because people are usually loud and up all night. Winds were very strong when we went so prepare for the weather so you can enjoy your stay!

We stayed here for Memorial Weekend this year. The campsites are spacious and very clean. Bathrooms are near by and clean. There is trailheads all around the campsite. Loved it and will be going back for sure!

Wow what a park! Stayed here in late November so it was quite chilly when we arrived at dusk, which resulted in us choosing a campsite near the front. If you get here with some time, do a loop of the sites because there are excellent ones near the back. Clean bathrooms, spacious campsites with good privacy for the most part. The only downside is not being able to purchase wood inside the park! They only sell it at the entrances and the campsites with running water.

I love this campground. Highly recommended. Perfect location in Joshua Tree for exploring the park. Pack out what you pack in and leave your campsite better than how you found it.

This is an amazing campground for kids, especially with all the rocks to climb. However, rangers allowed people to set up speakers and blare music from 3pm to 10pm at night. There was a group across from us that only turned off the music during "quiet time" after 10pm. Listening to someone's really loud playlist while setting up a tent, eating dinner and trying to fall asleep is just not the kind of experience people want when camping. I don't mind people singing, laughing, playing guitar, etc., and the sites are close so you are bound to hear all of that. Rangers need to prohibit speakers and piped in music to help promote the nature experience that the campsite should afford to all people. I was shocked at how rude those campers were!

I came to Jumbo Rocks over labor day weekend and let's just say the night was filled with magic to say the least. While we came on a busier weekend, we were able to find a camping spot (#92) completely secluded from everyone around us. There was room for our huge tent that fits 10 people, and we made two campfires. Each camping spot is completely different and very special in its own unique way. There were 124 campsites total costing $10 each night, and we didn't need a reservation. If you're looking for the ultimate camping experience, this is the place. We were surrounded by gigantic rocks, lots of areas to walk around and explore into the wilderness, some nearby dirt roads for "off roading", and my ultimate favorite thing.... tons of stars to just stare into space and enjoy the surreal beauty of life surrounding you. If you're concerned about safety there is a ranger on site. Each camping spot also has a grill, a picnic table, a nearby smelly bathroom (although we preferred to go all natural), huge trashcan in the vicinity, and at least one parking spot. Nearby is also Skull Rock, which is a nice short stop to enjoy the view and climb around. I couldn't have asked for a better camping destination in Joshua Tree National Park. Advice: 1. Bring pants if you don't want to get scratched up by the plants 2. Close toed shoes are a must. 3. Keep your food in a safe place unless you want to make some raccoon friends like we did 4. Don't bring your electronics cuz that's not cool.... you're camping enjoy it!

One of my favorite campgrounds! Especially because you don't need reservations. If you're weekend camping get there early to find a spot. This isn't glamping, so the is purely for how clean the grounds are, the beautiful landscape and the large campsites. Come prepared! Bring your own EVERYTHING. .. water, food, wood, lots of disposable baby wipes, trash bags, etc. No running water and only those outhouse buildings for toilets, but if you're prepared you'll have a great time. The maintenance staff does a great job of keeping the bathrooms clean. Perfect vacation if you want to unplug (no cell reception), rock climb, and get back in touch with nature.

Love love this place. So clean and has great camp grounds. You can park your car close. There are bathrooms. No sinks or showers. A little close together but overall not too bad. Its a hot summer days when i went so we set up out camping beds, no tents, and just slept under the stars. Its was so beautiful. Started out fire and made smores and hot dogs. Then hiked the trails climb on the Jumbo Rocks. Great place for photography. Enjoy!

Get there early in order to get a camp site. They do not take reservations. Great spot, wonderful views, plenty of hiking and rock scrambling. We went on several hikes and each was a delight. Scull rock is an easy walk. The night sky is incredible. You can have fire but need to bring your own wood and water. Tables, fire pits and separate grill in each camp ground. Grab a yellow park envelope (to pay) at the entrance to the camp ground and then look for a spot that does NOT have a yellow tag or an expired tag. No tag and its yours. Fill out the top portion, tear it off, put your cash in the envelope and deposit it where you got the envelope. No one explains this system and we lucked out by someone telling us. It is first come first serve so you need to be there Friday early to get a spot. We got there at 2 pm and the ranger said the spots were full. We went in anyway. It was full but we lucked out and found someone leaving (very rare). Best camping in So Cal and only place we can find to camp with a real fire.