Jumbo Rocks Campground California
Jumbo Rocks Overview
Jumbo Rocks is one of the most popular campgrounds in Joshua Tree National Park. The campground has 124 campsites for RVs, trailers and tents that are situated among giant granite boulders.
Depending on the campsite, you can have from 1-2 vehicles and 4-6 people. Most campsites only allow 1 vehicle and are best suited for tent camping. Parking spurs range in size from 13 to 36 feet, but most are on the small side. Several of the campsites require a short hike to the camping area. Campsites 81-94 have parallel parking for larger rigs. There are also a few other sites with parallel parking. Each campsite also has a concrete picnic table, fire pit and grill.
The campground has pit/vault toilets and an amphitheater. There are four extra parking sites at the entrance, but these are not to be used for overflow parking. Park Blvd. (just outside the campground) does have some shoulder area where you can park an extra vehicle. Ranger programs are usually on Friday and Saturday nights. Also remember to bring your own water because there isn’t any at the campground.
Jumbo Rocks’ central location offers a great base camp to explore other areas of Joshua Tree National Park. Skull Rock trail originates in the campground. Other nearby hikes include Split Rock, Ryan Mountain and Pine City. Also be sure to bring your telescope if you have one because the star gazing is epic!
Jumbo Rocks – Joshua Tree National Park – Area Recreation
Outdoor recreation includes hiking, biking, rock-climbing, bouldering, star-gazing, wildlife viewing and exploring the many historic sites located throughout Joshua Tree National Park. “Skull Rock” is a short hike from the campground as are other trails. You may also want to tour the Keys Ranch historic site – reservations required.
Other Joshua Tree National Park campgrounds to consider include Ryan, White Tank, Indian Cove, Hidden Valley, Belle, Black Rock Canyon, and Cottonwood.
Make a Reservation for Jumbo Rocks
Amenities
- Amphitheater
- BBQ Grills
- Campfire Center
- Campsite Tables
- Fire Pit
- Fire Rings
- Grills
- Pets OK
- Picnic Tables
- Restrooms (Vault Toilets)
- Visitor Center
Activities
- Archeological Sites
- Biking
- Bird Watching
- Bouldering
- Climbing
- Hiking
- Historic Sites
- Mountain Biking
- Nature Trails
- Photography
- Picnicking
- Rock Climbing
- Stargazing
- Walking Trails
- Wildlife Viewing
Joshua Tree National Park, California 92277
760 367-5500
Lat / Long:
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Campsite Types
- ADA
- RV
- Tent
- Trailer
# of Campsites:
124
Campsite Vehicle Size:
13 to 36 feet
Season:
Year Round
Elevation:
4,400
Jumbo Rocks Comments & Reviews
Visited Jumbo Rocks Campground lately? We'd love to hear about your adventure. Did you find us useful? Did we forget something? Anything our community should know before heading out to Jumbo Rocks?
campingworld.com
campsitephotos.com
Bonjour,
Pourriez-vous me communiquer l’adresse E-mail du camping de Jumbo Rocks ?
Merci .
Cordialement.
Domy
Bonjour Domy,
Le terrain de camping Jumbo Rocks n’a pas d’adresse électronique ni de numéro de téléphone. J’ai un numéro de téléphone pour le parc national de Joshua Tree si cela peut vous aider: 760-367-5502. Les terrains de camping de Jumbo Rocks se trouvent dans le parc national de Joshua Tree.
At some point, the campsite numbers do not correspond to actual sites. For example, the site listed here #123 is actually #124, 122–>123, etc. Just be extra careful and try using Reservations.gov photos and / or google maps as well.
Hi Andy,
Thanks for pointing that out. We will check out photos and if off, get those corrected.
Hi Andy, We double checked the Jumbo Rocks campsite photos and all are correct except photos for #122 and #123. We corrected those and now all Jumbo Rock campsite photos are correct. We will be reshooting the campground this summer though and will post all new photos later in the year. Thanks again!
Hi, I would like to know about campsite #39. Is it big enough to fit 2 tents? I read parking for this site is 150m away. How is it compared to site #83.
Hi PB, You are correct. Jumbo Rocks campsite #39 is about 150m from the parking area. Here’s another photo of the table/fire ring area below. Parking for campsite #83 is right next to the site (parallel park).
This is a great site! Thanks for the research. What campsites would be best for a group of (3) families of 4 ea, pitching 6 tents?
Hi Kathy,
Thank you and you’re most welcome. We love doing it! If you’re up for just a short walk (100-150 feet on some of the sites), these groups would work as they are all relatively close to each other, have some privacy and are in nice areas: 28-29-30-31; 37-38-39; 47-48-49; 51-52-53-54; 55-56-57; 57-58-59; 68-69-70; 72-73-74; 111-112-113; 114-115-116. And if you want to have your cars parked relatively close to the tent/camping area: 85-86-87.
Sounds like you have a fun trip planned – have a great time!
Which campsites in Jumbo Rock are large enough for a 27-foot trailer?
Hi Marti,
You can visit Rec.gov at the link below and ‘see details’ of each campsite. The details provide sizes of campsites to see if your 27-foot trailer will fit.
Hi!
Can you tell me where the overflow parking is located at the campground? We have 2 cars and looks like our site only accommodates one at the campsite. Thank you!
Hi Esther,
Some campsites only allow for one vehicle unfortunately. There are four extra parking sites at the entrance, but they are not suppose to be used for overflow parking. Sometimes the ranger may give you a pass, but I wouldn’t could on it. Park Blvd. (just outside the campground) does have some shoulder area where you can park an extra vehicle.
Hello, thank you for putting together this post and pictures. Do you have any recommendation for 2 campsites that would have decent shades for the month of October 2021? For a family of 10-12, including children. So we are looking for campsite that would have a min. occupancy of 6 each. Thank you!
Hi Alina,
Thanks and you’re most welcome!
Most of the campsites at Jumbo Rocks campground are pretty exposed, with little shade. There are a few that are set closer to large rocks and/or may have a large Joshua Tree that will provide some shade in the early morning or afternoon. Those include 6, 10, 11, 56, 66, 112, 119 and 121. However, the camping areas of these may be smaller due to the proximity of the larger rocks.
Our favorite campsites at Jumbo Rocks campground include: 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 25, 26, 27, 30, 33, 36, 38, 39, 40, 44, 45, 51, 61, 64, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 78, 80, 71, 82, 83, 84, 85, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 104, 113, 115, 119, 120, 121
Great site! I’m looking for a suggestion for 2 people that want to tent camp. Looking for privacy and quiet, but other campers nearby. Wanting to make a reservation for a site….not necessarily at Jumbo Rocks but somewhere in Joshua Tree where it’s a nice place to be. Also want a suggestion for a non-reservation site. Thanks in advance!
Thanks John!
There’s some great campgrounds/campsites out at Joshua Tree National Park that you should like. We have an article on our favorite (best) campsites in the park and you can view it here:https://www.campsitephotos.com/blog/campground-recommendations/joshua-tree-national-parks-best-campsites/
Hidden Valley, Belle and White Tank are all good (first-come, first-serve) campgrounds. Belle and White Tank are smaller campgrounds and they have some nice private campsites. Hidden Valley is popular and more centrally located, but it has fewer ‘private’ campsites. Jumbo Rocks and Indian Rocks are the best reservable campgrounds (IMO). Both also have some great (private) campsites. Indian Rocks is located on the outskirts of the park though. Hope this helps and remember – spring and fall are very popular times. Campgrounds will sell out way in advance and you’ll need to arrive no later than Friday morning (perhaps Thursday early afternoon) to grab a first-come, first-serve campsite for a weekend stay.
Any insight on jumbo rocks site 77???
Jumbo Rocks campsite #77 is one of our favorites. Flat, has a little shade, great views, and the backyard is an open area where you can hike and rock scramble. It’s also fairly private and quiet. The table/fire ring area is about 30-40 feet from your parking spot.
Any insights on camp site 78? We have a large tent 9 x 14 and might want to bust out a canopy too. Is the parking spot and restrooms relatively close to this site?
Hi Lucy,
Jumbo Rocks Campsite #78 is a sweet site – one of our favorites. You have parking for one vehicle and will need to walk about 50 feet to the table/fire/pint/camping area. The table/fire pit/camping area is fairly large and private. You can pitch a larger tent and a few smaller ones. The best thing about the campsite (IMO) is that you have great views of the surrounding rocks/area (your backyard), and you have easy access to hiking/rock scrambling. You’re also close, but not too close to a restroom.
Hi! Any insights on campsites 33 or 44? We have potentially 1-3 tents and not sure how many are allowed at each site. Also just curious for any thoughts you have about those two sites as we have reservations secured for our dates at those two. Thanks!
Hi Mike,
Both campsites have a fairly large area to pitch multiple tents. You should be fine with 3 (small to medium sized) tents on either site. Campsite 33 has a limit of 4 people and campsite 44 has a limit of 6 people. With that said, you can probably get a couple of more in campsite #33. Campsite #33 can fit one vehicle up to 20 feet, and campsite #44 has a parking spur of 36 feet (up to 2 vehicles). Both campsites made our ‘favorite campsite list’. They are relatively large, flat and with distance between neighbors. You picked some winners! Have a great time out there.
Hey there! Loved my stay at Jumbo last time I visited, but am curious to see which sites might be best for someone who would prefer to car camp rather than pitch a tent. It looks like some sites’ parking areas are more private, and some sites have conjoined parking areas.
Thanks in advance!
Hi there, Limited availability has forced me to select Jumbo Rocks site 10. Site 10 is listed as small tent for up to 6 persons but no dimensions on the site are provided. I have a group of 4 and we intend on pitching two small tents to accommodate our group. Will I have enough room?
Hi Michael,
Campsite #10 is on the smaller side, but you’ll have room for a tent (maybe two small ones) behind the BBQ pedestal, and there’s also room for another tent in the foreground. You’ll be good. Have a great time!
Hi there,
My husband and I have book campsite #11 at Jumbo Rocks campsite. Our trailer is 17.4 feet (but with hitch measures more like 21ft). Our Toyota pick up truck is 14ft. It looks like we could fit both vehicles in this spot. Will we fit, and can we park our truck in the adjacent marked parking space? Thank you for your time.
Hi Liz,
Campsite #11 does have a parking area to fit your trailer and towing vehicle. The maximum length is 18 feet, but there’s a few fee overhang off the back so you should be okay. All wheels must be on paved surface. FYI – the ranger will make the final call if he/she thinks your trailer is too long, but you should be good! Have fun!
How private is campsite 067?
Hi Riley,
Campsite #67 is nice – with good privacy. There’s nice space between other sites and no other campsites behind it. Also has a good amount of room in the camping area.
Can I park two cars at campsite #118?
Hi JB,
Jumbo rocks campsite #118 is designated for up to 1 vehicle (16 feet maximum length) and 6 people.
Hi insights on site 104? Fairly private?
Hi Linda,
Jumbo Rocks campsite #104 is one of our favorite because it has very nice privacy (away from the other campsites). And you have nobody behind you. It also has a large and relatively flat camping area. You’ll really like it . . . it does require a short hike (about 200-250) from the parking area though.
Hello I was looking for a little guidance. How would you compare campsite 99 to 51? I see you list site 51 at your favorites and 99 not on your list. I’m looking for flat area and close to rocks to take a nice view.
Hi Jesus,
Jumbo Rocks campsite #51 has more privacy (away from other camps) and has a much larger camping area than #91. Both are flat. There are rocks near both sites, but #51 has more and they are a little closer. Site #51 probably has a slightly better view. Also, there is a neighbor/campsite very close to #91. Hope this helps!
Hello, I am looking for feedback on site #89. My family will be coming in mid June with energetic kids and a couple of teenagers. We are looking for a site that might provide some protection from the sun, but views and rock scramble opportunities as well. We will have a short RV (19 ft) and one 10×12 tent. Site #89 looks great, but I’m wondering about views and privacy. Any insight you can provide would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!!
Hi Dana,
Jumbo Rocks campsite #89 is one of the best in the campground (in our opinion). It has a fairly large and flat camping area, the rocks/bushes provide for some real nice privacy (compared to others in the campground), and you also have a wall of boulders behind you to play on. No other campsites are behind the boulders and there’s some great hiking and rock scrambling back there. Shade in the desert is hard to come by though. Site #89 will get afternoon sun exposure so what little shade you have each morning (from the rocks) will be gone by about 9am (if you’re planning to camp soon). I recommend bringing a shade canopy. Hope you get the site. Have fun!
Thank you so much for the feedback!!
You’re welcome. I think you’ll really like campsite #89. It’s also a quiet area in regards to camp/vehicle traffic.
Hi – what is the latest check in time at the campground Jumbo Rocks?
Hi Thomas,
You can arrive up to about 6am the following day of your arrival date. Sometime after that, the host may release.
Looking for a quiet getaway for 1 so I booked site #64. Is this a nice location?
Hi Jeff,
You should love campsite #64. It is one of our favorites because has a large (flat) camping area and is a bit removed from neighboring camps with good privacy You also have nothing but rocks and beautify scenery behind your campsite. If I recall, its about 100-150 feet from your parking spot. Have a great time!
Is site 64 good for a campervan?
Hi Luis,
The parking area for campsite #64 allows for a maximum vehicle length of 13 feet. Here’s a picture of the parking spot:
Hi, we are a group of three friends (one is camping for the first time ever) and booked campsite #88 in Jumbo Rocks. Is this a good location? Also can we arrive at night? Thank you 🙂
Hi Kath,
Campsite #88 is a good one and one of our favorites. It’s relative big/flat, up against some big boulders and in a good location at the campground. You can also arrive at night. Have fun!
How’s site 115? How much space is there between the neighboring sites?
Hi Al,
Jumbo Rocks campsite #115 is one of our favorites and has some very nice privacy. The camping area (table, fire ring, BBQ) are set back away from the camp road and other neighboring sites. It also has a nice ‘rock wall’ providing more privacy. I’d say it is about 50-60 feet from the campsites next to it.
Hello! I booked campsite #97 for 6 people. I can’t tell from the photo if this is a bad call. Any suggestions for sites that can fit two tents and offers some shade/privacy?
Hi Anna,
Jumbo Rocks campsite #97 is a nice one and you can fit 6 people (couple of tents) comfortably. Have fun! It also has decent privacy – set back away from other sites. As for shade, there really isn’t any site that has shade. A few have some larger rocks that may provide a little shade (either early AM or PM). I recommend bringing a shade canopy.
Headed here tomorrow! I missed the “small tent” classification on the site we have booked (site# 15). We have one additional person joining us for the last night of our trip. Will the site accommodate a 6 person tent and a 1 person tent? It’s OK if the tents need to be somewhat close to each other. Also, they will be coming in a separate car and I see this site only allows 1 car (did not do my best reading when I booked this reservation, apparently!), is there an area for overflow parking nearby? Thanks for your help, we use your site constantly when booking reservations and find it so helpful!
Hi Stephanie,
Sorry for the delayed response and hope you a fun camping trip out at Joshua Tree NP. Also thanks for using our site and your support! Firstly, there isn’t any overflow parking available at Jumbo Rocks campground. And (depending on size of your 6 person tent), you may be able to squeeze a 1-person tent in the campging area for site #15. It is rather small – but you may be able to make it work.
No worries, and thanks! It all worked out great, we had to pitch the tents fairly close together but that was only for the last night and we’re family so we didn’t mind. It was a beautiful site, we had a blast!
Looking for any help on choosing the best site for a roof top tent and awning extending from side of 4runner. I looked at site 83 but wishing there wouldn’t be rocks where my awning would be. Any sites that vehicle can be very close and awning can fit? Thanks 🙏
Hi, just wondering how far is the parking to site 64 and 66?
Hi Jamie,
Jumbo Rock campsites #64 and #66 are about 55-70 feet from the parking area.
Thanks for the details on the site. If we are in need of extra parking, and since there is no overflow, can we reserve extra sites to use for parking? Do you know if that would be an issue for this campsite? Appreciate any insight.
Hi Eli,
Yes – you can reserve extra campsites to park your (extra) vehicles.
Any insight on #71 on if it fits 3 tents and Does it fit 2 cars? Thanks in advance!
HI Lyndsay,
Campsite #71 can have up to 2 vehicles and 6 people. It can also accommodate a larger RV/trailer (up to 36 feet), as one of the vehicles. The tent camping area is fairly large – you can fit a large tent (9×12) and a couple of small tents. The number of tents that fit all depends on the sizes of the tents, but you can fit 2-3 at the site. Have a great time out there at Jumbo Rocks!
Hi! How is site 27? How far is it from the other sites around it?
Hi Max,
Jumbo Rocks campsite #27 is one of our favorites because it’s large, flat and away from your camping neighbors. I’d say the closest campsite (#28) is about 100 feet away and you have some boulders between sites.
Hi, I just picked up site #053 that opened up last min. It says 1 vehicle, tent only, and “hike in” but we’ve got a small truck camper (that sits in the bed of the pickup truck). Will we be able to park in the site?
Hi Kay,
The “hike in” is not that far – maybe 60 feet, and yes you can park and sleep in your truck camper in the parking spot for #53. With that said, the length of the parking spot is 13 feet so you’ll need to make sure your small truck camper fits in the spot.
Hi
Any insight on site 16
I booked It and then saw some reviews about how smelly it is due to proximity to the restroom and also there’s an abundance of bees in the bushes next to restroom.
It will be me and my husband and our 1 year old and 10 year old. So just a tad worried now
Hi Sam,
Campsite #16 is one of our favorites at Jumbo Rocks campground. It’s large, flat and has some decent privacy (away from other sites and a nice ‘rock wall’ behind it). It’s about 40-50 feet from the toilets and about 60-70 feet from the trash area. It could be smelly, depending on how the wind blows. As for the bees – they come and go, so not sure what they’ll be like when you get there.
Good morning! We have site 86 reserved we have a 26′ travel trailer and I’m not sure that our tow vehicle will fit in the space. Is there another spot where we can park it? Thanks!
Hi Don,
Site #86 is pretty nice with a parallel parking area of 32 feet in length. Might be a bit more room depending on what vehicles are parking in neighboring spots. Slight chance you can detach towing vehicle and angle it a bit (although they do want all wheels on paved parking surface). Unfortunately there is not any overflow parking at or near Jumbo Rocks. An alternative would be to get another site (for towing vehicle) if a site is available.
Hi there! Thank you for all the wonderful photos and advice. We are coming for the first time this summer and I’m already nervous (but excited!) and researching like crazy. Trying to decide between campsites 64 or 113 for tent camping with a family. We have kids who love to climb and explore and a grumpy husband who isn’t a fan of camping who would like to be away from noise and people. Which site would you go with?? Thank you!
Hi Whitney,
Super excited about your upcoming camping trip to Joshua Tree NP / Jumbo Rocks. You’ve picked out two of our favorite campsites. We chose them because they have some good privacy (room between neighbors), are relatively flat with larger camping areas, and because they have those JUMBO rocks to climb on. I’d choose #113 over #64 because it is more private, a bit larger and its backyard includes a large boulder field to climb on and explore. #113 may be the best for tent camping. There is a bit of a walk from the parking area (75 feet – see pic) and the stroll does go by another campsite, but once at your site it’ll just be you, your family, the rocks and the stars to enjoy. For either site I recommend bringing a shade canopy as it’ll be warm in the summer and both sites don’t have any shade. Have a great time!
Thank you so much for the recommendation, we had a wonderful night at site 113! The big backyard was absolutely worth it, just gorgeous and fun to climb!
Awesome! Glad it worked out for you and you/your family had a great time!
Hello! Ill be coming from the east coast for 2 nights & needed recommendations for a campsite! I currently have site 106 reserved in October. I will be Car camping in a minivan that has a side awning. I was looking for the best campsite with a private area, close to rocks and a place that won’t have smaller rocks in the way of the awning. If that’s not achievable, I’ll rent a tent and/or a small popup
Hi Marg,
You should really like Joshua Tree National Park in October! Your campsite description sounds like most of the campsites at Jumbo Rocks. We’re not intimately familiar with every site and don’t have anyone on location to check, but I would recommend browsing the campsite photos to get an idea. I think several of our ‘favorite Jumbo Rock campsites’ may work for you including 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 87, 88, 89, among others.
Hi there, I love your website so much! It is so incredible that you do this and help make camping research so much easier! So we have driven through Jumbo Rocks to check it out, but never stayed there. It is so hard to grab your recommended spots for a Springtime weekend (really wanted 77 and 78), but I just grabbed 33 and 36. My question is, studying the map and looking at photos, I’m not sure if we fit? We have a Toyota 4Runner with a tent attachment onto the back cargo area (extends about 9 feet from the back of the SUV). Do these sites allow for our SUV to back up and deploy the tent? Or is it vehicles in the parking space, then tent only on the site? The description for 33 says “RV allowed” and for 36 says “tent only.” However, neither of them look as if we can pull our 4Runner in and deploy the tent (unless we move some rocks, which I’m sure is a no-no). Please give me your thoughts and expertise! Thanks in advance!
Hi Kris,
Wow – thank you very much for your kind comments and glad we’ve been able to help out with your camping planning!
Looking at campsites 33 and 36, it seems as if Rec.gov has the allowable equipment flip flopped, but not sure. Rec.gov says that you can have an RV up to 20 feet in site 33, however that parking space looks a little shorter than that – probably closer to 18 feet (with no room to extended your tent attachment because of the boulders/height). Campsite #36 (per Rec.gov) says tent only, but I know you can park an RV in there and the parking space is about 20 feet long. There’s also about 3-4 feet past the parking surface and it looks like your trucks tailgate / tent attachment may clear the boulders. Moving the rocks is probably not a good idea and they do look pretty heavy.
So your best option may be site #36 – a total of about 24 feet to work with. Hopefully things will work out for you and thanks again!
Hi! So glad to have found this site which has provided so much helpful info. We (2 families with kids 6-8) are planning our first trip to JT at the end of March next year. We are totally looking forward to camping by these huge rocks! We heard it can get windy though. Any recommendations for best sites next to large boulders for kids to climb, with some privacy, and protected from the wind? Thanks so much!
Hi Cristina,
Glad you found us and thanks for the kind words! The end of March should be a nice time to visit Joshua Tree National Park. As you mentioned, you may get some wind and it’ll be cooler at night. Here are some campsites that would be closer to larger boulders and may offer some wind protection: 78, 79, 80, 81, 87, 88, 89, 113 and 120. A few others (but these require a short walk from the parking area): 18, 19, 56, 57 and 58. Hope you have a great time!
Hi there –
Heading out w two families of 4. (2 parents and 2 little girls each). I could only reserve sites #1 and #91. Any thoughts on size? 91 looks small and #1 looks too close to the road and entrance and potentially loud with high traffic. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Hi Jacqueline,
You’re right about campsite #1 – it is very close to entrance and has a ton of back/forth traffic at campground as well as some traffic noise. Campsite #91 is actually one of our favorites and offers a large parallel parking area and decent camping area (size). It also has some nice privacy with the rocks and distance between other campsites. I’d definitely lean toward #91 over #1.
Hi,
I was wondering if you had insights for campgrounds #6 and #60. We have one group that is just 2 adults and another group that is 2 adults and 2 young children. Just trying to figure out who should go where.
Thank you!
Hi Patricia,
I’d lean more toward #60 for the 2 adults/2 children. It has a little larger camping area, is more private and is accessible to an open area with fun boulders for kids to climb on. Campsite #6 is closer to the entry and has more vehicle traffic. It also has a smaller camping area.
Thank you so much!!
You’re welcome!
Hello and thank you so much for taking the time to respond to all the comments, this website is really helpful!
I am planning a group trip of 10-12 friends in May so I’m looking for two 6 person sites that can each accommodate 2 cars. Usually you’ll want privacy, but in our case we’d like two sites that are adjacent and accessible to each other, but preferably with privacy from other sites.
I went through recreation.gov and found all the sites that look adjacent and that fit my other criteria. Can you tell me if any of the pairs below actually are close to one another with any level of privacy from everyone else? If so, which pair would you recommend?
12/13, 18/19, 30/32, 32/34, 38/39, 38/37, 72/73, 72/71, 77/78, 80/81, 86/87, 84/85, 89/90, 91/92
Thank you so much!
Hi Fawad,
Sounds like you have a fun trip planned for Joshua Tree National Park / Jumbo Rocks. I’ll take a look at those campsites and let you know.
Hi Fawad,
The best two campsite combos in your group (IMO) would be (in this order): 77/78, 80/81 and 18/19. These are all adjacent sites with nice privacy. Others to consider (both adjacent and some privacy): 38/39, 72/73 and 86/87. Hope this helps. Have a great time out at Joshua Tree NP!
Thank you so much, very helpful!
We booked 101 and 104 for 2 families but one is now bringing a pop up camper though these are tent sites. Can they set it up in. The parking space?
Hi Jimbo,
Both campsite 101 and 104 only allow a pickup camper, camper van, car, truck or SUV in the parking spaces. Campsite #101 allows for a vehicle up to 17 feet and campsite #104 up to 18 feet. You’re not permitted to have a pop-up tent camper in either parking space.
Hello, I’m staying in site 011…in the pictures it looks small…. So I just wanted to know if a 4 person tent will fit.
Thank you in advanced!
Your 40-person tent should fit fine. There’s an area behind the table (in the photo) that’s roughly 12×14 feet (maybe a bit more). Have fun!
Hello, campsite 27 shows a driveway length of 0 feet. Do you know if this is correct and if not any idea how long the parking space is? Thank you.
Hi Kevin,
Rec.gov’s driveway length (“0 feet) for campsite #27 is an error and not correct. There is a parking spur for campsite #27 and it is about 16 feet in length.
Hi! We are planning our first trip to JT. We have 4 littles ones ages 18mos, 2yr, 4yrs and 6yrs. Any recommendations on a site? Our kids like to explore and are rumbunctious. Maybe a site they can explore and climb but won’t be too disturbing to others. Thank you
Hi Michelle,
Sounds like you’re going to have a fun family adventure out at Joshua Tree! Most of the campsites have rocks/boulders around them and many are great for the little ones. For those with a little more privacy and room to roam I’d look at 18, 19, 21, 30, 31, 33, 64-79, 88, 89, 95, 96, 97, 99, 100 and 119.
My friends and I (four of us total) have site 45 and was wondering what the parking situation is like. We wanted to bring two cars but there is not clear information that there is two parking spots for the site. If I can’t leave my car at the site where else can I leave it other than outside the park?
Hi Ronnel,
The maximum # of vehicles allowed for Jumbo Rocks campsite #45 is one. Unfortunately there is not any overflow parking available within the campground or outside of the campground. With that said, the parking area for #45 may fit two small vehicles, but not sure if the ranger will give you a pass.
Hi PB! Which site would be best for car camping? I plan on staying one night but do not want to bring any camping equipment to that extent. Thank you so much for what you do and the patience you have with every answer.
You are most welcome Athena,
Probably the best car camping campsites at Jumbo Rock would be 40-44, 61, 62, 71, 76, 79, 80-96, 98, 103, 111, 116, 117, 118, 120, 121, 123 and 124. I chose these because almost all have individual camping spurs (away from other camps). Have a great time out there at Jumbo Rocks!
We will be visiting Jumbo Rocks soon, 6 people with 3 tents. We have booked #72 but this site seem to have no rocks which we really wanted. #82 is open but it says 4 people. The campsite is not full right now because of heat probably. How strict are the rangers with number of people in each site? #82 seem to be big enough. Any insight would be much appreciated.
Hi J. Joshee,
You’re right in that there will be more open campsites at Jumbo Rocks this time of year because of the heat (100+ during the day). Campsite #72 has a larger camping area and is nice and flat. There is also a good boulder field behind it (about 10 feet from the campsite). Campsite #82 has a smaller camping area (that’s why only 4 people allowed), but it has larger boulders that are closer to the campsite. That boulder field is pretty big – stretching for at least a 1/2 mile behind the campground. The Rangers are pretty strict about the # of people per site during the high season, but they may be more lenient (now) if you have just a couple over the limit. In the end, they can force you to leave or reduce your number and pay for another site. I’d say your chances are pretty good of being allowed to stay in #82 if you have 5-6 people but no more as it is rather small.
The best campsites are 80,81, 87 and 90. I picked these sites for size and privacy. Most of the campsites are small and close together. This campground is really hilly, which makes it real hard to level an RV. The closest market is about 30 miles round trip. So, plan ahead. Bring firewood, water, ice (block ice last longer or electric ice chest), a ‘Jackery’ for electrical emergencies and some canopies (there’s no shade from the heat). There is no phone service or camp host to call out for problems. This campground is for young and athletic. If you’re older or have a dog there is little to do other than look at the rocks, which grows old, fast. After camping here, I’d much rather camp at Doheny, San Elijo, Leo Carrillo, Refugio, Big Sur or Yosemite. The check-in was a joke. There’s no one to check you in. So, there’s no way to verify the reservations. There was no campground host when I was there in mid-October. I see this to be huge issue. For me, I’ve checked this off my bucket list.
I should have added, this campground is not handicap friendly at all. No level access to the campsites or pit toilets that I saw. No phone service or camp host for emergencies. I was never asked to verify I had a valid reservation. This campground has so many problems, if it wasn’t for the boulders, there would be no reason to camp here.
As a note: If you’re thinking of being a Camp Host, the site is a terrible site and is not level and also there is no water, electricity, sewer or phone service. Maybe that’s why there was no Host in Mid-October? Maybe I’m wrong?
Thanks for all the detail – awesome trip-planning resource! My elderly aunt (84 yrs) and I will be staying 2 nights in March, camping in a van. We would like to have a site with an elevated view to enjoy the sunrise and sunset, or an easy walk to such a view. We currently have site 33 reserved, but I am concerned about the wind being too cold to sit outside. We could move to site 27 or 56, both which look like they have rocks to act as a windbreak. I’m not sure if 27 has an easy trail behind the site that leads to an elevated view without rock scrambling. My aunt can navigate steps, small rocks, hills, etc. with the aid of hiking poles, but rock scrambling…no! Any thoughts? Thank you!
Hi John,
You are certainly a nice nephew to take your aunt camping up at Jumbo Rocks / Joshua Tree National Park. I hope you enjoy good weather in March. It’ll be chilly at night and may even snow if a storm rolls through but chances are you’ll enjoy sunny skies at temps in the low 70s and mid 40s. You should have some afternoon wind (most days in March).
As you noted, the rock wall next to campsite 56 may provide a bit of a windbreak (if the winds blows south to north). Site #27 also offers a little protection from wind and site 33 would have the most exposure. There really isn’t many places to escape the wind up there.
As for enjoying the sunrise/sunset – site 33 would be very good without the need to hike anywhere. There’s some high ground behind site #27 and the ‘trail’ to reach it is good – gradual, mostly hard-packed decomposed granite. I’d say it’s about 150 feet to the vantage point with an elevation gain of about 15 feet. There may be some (fairly level) large rocks to cross but I doubt it. The camping area for site #27 is much closer to the parking space – compared to sites #33 and #56.
As for site #56 – there’s a good area to view sunrise/sunset beyond the wall (about 50-60 feet from the table/camping area), or you can go a bit farther behind the site – up a small incline/hill. The hiking around site #56 (to reach an elevated view) is easy – hard-packed decomposed granite, few (if any) rocks to navigate).
Hope this helps and that you have a great time!
Hi there,
I love your site, so informative! This is our first time to JT and we are so excited. I would love your input on which is a better campsite, site #62 or sites #72 or #73? Most important to us is to camp right next to the rocks and have room to explore the rocks near our campsite, without being super close to another site. Also being closer to parking would be a plus.
Thank you so much!!
Thank you Trish! Really appreciate the kind words and support. Also glad our site has helped out with your camping/planning.
The majority of Jumbo Rock campsites are close to boulders/rocks but some are a bit closer than others. Campsite #62 is next to boulders, but they are not the most climbable (for little ones). It’s also on the small side. Campsites #72 and #73 are among our favorites – large, away from other campsites (compared to others in the campground), and they are near some great climbing boulders/rocks.
Others you may consider are 78, 79, 87, 119 (a bit of a walk from parking area), and 113-115 (all also three have a short walk from parking spot).
Have a great time out there!
I stayed at jumbo rocks 5 years ago, and I remember some of campsites have lots of rocks that creates a little caves , would be awesome to find out which campsites are those. Traveling with two little kids and would love for them to climb and play right at campsite. We also have a rooftop tent for the car and planning to spend a night there , hoping the parking area is close for those campsites as well! Looking for suggestions, thank you!
Hi Kristina,
You’re right – there are areas (quite a few actually) where the rocks form little caves you can play in. Not sure if I remember though which campsites those were but I’ll give it some thought. Parking for most campsites is pretty close to the table/camping area ranging from 20-150 feet (with most in the 20-40 foot range).
Hi – coming mid October, and looking for a site for 24′ RV… so we want a site that is pretty private from others, flat parking and close table/ring, in and among rocks for view and scrambling?
Considering (in rough order of preference based on pics): 90, 81, 82, 89, 84, 9, 117.
Any comments on which would be top choices with those criteria?
Hi Josh,
Mid October will be a great time to visit/camp at Jumbo Rocks.
#90 – does have some good privacy except for road traffic (vehicles, walkers, bikers). It has a nice area to hang out around the campfire and good rocks to scramble on (although a bit more challenging), although the area is a little cramped.
#81, #84, #89 – all are very nice site with great privacy, room to roam/climb rocks, etc.
#9, #117 – These are closer to neighbors and I’m not sure if your RV would fit (double check with Rec.gov).
I’d definitely lean toward 81, 84 and 89. These are also in a better area of the campground (quieter) and with better access to rock climbing/hiking.
Site 58 looks a bit tight. Do you know what size tent I can fit in there?
Hi Mike,
You’re right – it’s a tight around the table/fire ring area, but you have room for a medium size tent (3-4 people, 7×7) and maybe a little bigger. Here’s an aerial view of where you’d put the tent (X).
Hola!
Thank you for such an informative and helpful site. I was wondering what specific activities you’d recommend for a family of three, including a five year old, during a 2 night stay at this campground? We will be at campsite #69. Thank you in advance.
You’re welcome Emma and thanks for the kind comments. Your 3 and 5 year old children’s imagination will be in high gear with all of the amazing rock formations and places to explore around campsite #69. There’s some great rocks/boulders to explore (and play on) right behind your camp.
Not sure if they’d be interested, but Key’s Ranch historic site has some historic buildings and exhibits. Reservations are required though.
The ruins of Ryan Ranch (by Ryan Campground) are pretty cool. It’s a short hike (1 mile round trip) from the trailhead.
And you might check out the picnic/day use area over by Hidden Valley. There are many amazing rock formations and short hikes your children may like.
And don’t forget campfire, smores and stargazing!
Hope you have a great time!
Hello there,
I am planning on booking a camp site for Nov and we have a roof top Tepui tent that extends on the side of the car. Are there sites that work best for this type of tent? Hopefully a site that is also near rocks to climb for my 5 year old. I camped here about 10 yrs ago and it is one of my favorite campgrounds. Can’t wait to go back. Thanks!
Hey Asia,
Way to go on your plans to take the family out to Jumbo Rocks campground / Joshua Tree National Park! As you know, it’s a great place for children to explore, imagine and have great adventures. Campsites that should work with your Tepui include 3, 9, 17, 24, 27, 34, 36, 40-44, 46, 48, 60-63, 70-74, 76-99, 103-111, 114-121, 123 and 124. Those with some nice rocks/boulders nearby include 9, 27, 36, 60-63, 76-00, 117-121. With that said – most of the campsites at Jumbo Rocks are pretty near some great boulders to climb and have fun. And of those I’ve listed, our favorites include 27, 36, 40, 44, 61-63, 71-74, 76-77, 78, 80-91, 93-95, 115, 119, 120 and 121. Our ‘favorite/best’ campsites are chosen based on location (with a view, near boulders, away from high traffic areas, privacy) and the size of the parking and camping area. Hope this helps. Have a great time out there!
I truly appreciate your website as I’ve used it for other recent camping trips. I am wondering about your insight on camp site #30 for jumbo rocks campground— It states up to 6 but do you think it can fit more and perhaps 3 tents? Based on map it seems fairly large. Also any shade or boulders nearby? Again appreciate your website!
Thanks John and glad CampsitePhotos.com has helped with your camping trips! Campsite #30 is a fairly large site with plenty of room for 3 tents (depending on size – three 3-4 person tents should fit although it may be a bit tight). The campsite is also one of our favorite/best sites at Jumbo Rocks Campground. There is a 6-person limit for that campsite though. Sometimes the ranger/host may let you slide if a few are children . . . and none of your neighbors complain. Hope it works out for you and thanks again!
Hello there!
Do you know the 8 longest sites for a truck and trailer without having to open all 123 site links on the Recreation.gov site? Thank you very much.
Hi there! I’m looking to camp here with one tent and a van to sleep in as well. We want to be somewhere with privacy and ability to have wilderness in our back yard to really feel away from it all — and not to be too close to the bathrooms where that will disturb our peace and quiet. The sites available are none of your favorites sadly 🙁 They are: 109, 116, 70, 49, 23, 8, 114, 20, 108 ,57, 55, 17, 116, 59, 54, 53, 116, 52, 51, and 50. Is there one of these you’d recommend for us?
Hi Melanie,
Of the available sites you listed, I’d recommend these for being away from bathrooms, more private (better for peace and quiet) and either backing up or close to open space area: 8, 17 (may have less privacy), 20, 23 (may have less privacy), 49, 53, 55, 109 and 116. Hope one of these works out for you!
Hi! Most of my favorite sites are already booked for the dates I want to go in November 🙁 I see 51 and 61 on your list, which would you recommend between the two? Thank you!
Hi Rachel,
Both sites 51 and 61 are fairly large and level. Site #51 is a short walk from the parking area (one vehicle) but it’s out by itself (good privacy) with nothing but wide open desert behind it. Site #61 has a large (pull through) parking area right next to the camping area. It doesn’t have any neighbors so it is fairly private too. I guess it just depends if you want to haul your gear (site #51) to camping area – about 120 feet – and have easy access to the backcountry.