Any campgrounds you would recommend in Joshua Tree. I have been there a couple of times, but I have never camped there. There seems to be a lot of small campgrounds, but I would like your opinions on them. We have a 30 foot trailer. Thanks
2008 Rockwood 8298SS
2007 Ford Expedition
Equal-i-zer
Prodigy
My favorite is Jumbo Rocks. It's higher in elevation and may be cooler this time of year. No reservations, but there are several spots that you can fit in. Make sure you have water. There is none at the CG.
We stayed at Black Rock in March and enjoyed it. The only problem is that it's a ways from the park. Indian Cove is pretty good as well, and a little closer. Cottonwood is pretty good at the other end of the park and easier to get to.
We spent several days at Joshua Tree NP last month, really an enjoyable trip. Stayed at three different CG's: Cottonwood, Black Rock, and Jumbo Rocks. Jumbo is the best place and as Rv2go noted, take water with you. Second best IMO is Cottonwood, not as dramatic and probably a little warmer since it's located in the lower elevation Colorado Desert. Black Rock just south of the town of Joshua Tree was poor, won't stay there again. It's worn out, roads and tracks all over the place, several shower/toilet buildings in poor shape, nothing much to look at, etc. It needs to be closed and rehabbed to bring it up to a suitable NPS standard. I think Hidden Valley CG which is close to Jumbo Rocks is well thought of, but it has the dirt roads and can be dusty when the wind comes up. Enjoy your trip, hope the yucca is still blooming.
Did Jumbo Rocks last at 17 and is still one of the better camping memories I have. The neighbors trailer going boom at 6am might have had something to do with that (or maybe the GF.... na.. .
In 1972 the park had the most pristine water we had ever had and made several trips back up in a 1964 Corvair to re-load containers and freeze them (bored teenie-boppers and gas was $.32/gal).
Joshua Tree is awesome! We spent 8 days there in late March - early April, splitting our time among Cottonwoods, Jumbo Rocks, and Hidden Valley. JR and HV were the best; HV was a real hoot, for we were the only RV there - all tenters. (Our RV is only 24'). Your 30' trailer would fin in only a couple of sites there. HV is a climbers Mecca, and our site was right at the base of one of the popular climbs. We learned a lot about rock-climbing while there.
You can find some pix of Joshua Tree and the 3 campgrounds on my web site below.
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