Indian Cove Campground
Download the NPS app prior to visiting the park – trail maps and more! Indian Cove Campground lies amid the huge, steep rock formations for which Joshua Tree National Park is known. Because of its proximity to many rock climbing routes, it is a popular camping location for climbers. Indian Cove is one of four campgrounds in the park that requires reservations year-round. To get the most out of your visit Plan Like a Park Ranger Travelers who enjoy warm, dry winters flock to Joshua Tree from October through May, when temperatures hover between 70-90 degrees during the day and drop to a 40-60 degree range at night. Summer is the park's off-season due to the uncomfortably-high desert heat.
The group site has its own page: Indian Cove Group.
More like this: reservable in California · pets allowed in California · dark sky in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 52 |
| Tent-only | 45 |
| Host/management | 17 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
97 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Standard | Back-in | 18 | Paved | No / – | 4 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 002 | Standard | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||||
| 003 | Standard | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 004 | Standard | Gravel | 4 / 1 | Yes | ||||
| 005 | Standard | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||||
| 006 | Standard | Back-in | 18 | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 007 | Standard | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 009 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | 4 / 1 | Yes | |||
| 010 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | |||
| 011 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | 4 / 1 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 35 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Dark sky | Inside Joshua Tree National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park |
| Accessibility | Site 001 is listed accessible |
This large facility has 101 individual campsites, as well as 13 tent-only group sites. There are no hookups or drinking water in the campground, however water and an emergency phone are available two miles away at the ranger station. The town of Twentynine Palms is less than 10 miles away and provides basic amenities. The park allows six people and two vehicles per site, however, some sites are small and may not accommodate the maximum number of people and vehicles.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Take Interstate 10 to State Highway 62. Go past the West Entrance at Park Boulevard and continue east another 9.3 miles. Turn south on Indian Cove Road. Follow the road into the campground. If coming from the east, follow Highway 62 approximately seven miles west of the city of Twentynine Palms and turn south onto Indian Cove Road.
| Nearest town | Twentynine Palms, California |
| Coordinates | 34.1200° N, 116.1558° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation. Depending on when you cancel in relation to your arrival day, it may be considered a late cancellation. Changing an Existing Reservation: When changes are made prior to the cut-off window: If a customer wants to switch dates that are entirely outside of the original reservation dates, there is a $10 change fee. There is no change fee if a customer extends or shortens a reservation, as long as the change includes dates from the original reservation. If they choose to depart early, they may forfeit the recreation fee for the day of departure. There is no change fee if the customer wants to switch sites that are the same price with the same reservation dates in the same facility. If a reservation is made that includes dates beyond the maximum booking window, that reservation cannot be changed until 18 days have passed from the original booking date.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Nomad Ventures ↗ | 9.2 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 13.8 mi |
| RV sales & service | Mountain Air Mobile Home Sales ↗ | 45.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
CAMPING in JOSHUA TREE - INDIAN COVE CAMPGROUND
Worth a stop
- 5.7 miJoshua Tree National Park Visitor Center ↗Visitor center
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Chemehuevi CemeterySite · Twentynine Palms · 5.9 mi
Natural features
Campsites are nestled on a flat, sandy surface between large boulders that tower in unique shapes over the campground and rise up from the otherwise uniform desert landscape. The rocks were formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago and have been exposed and shaped by wind and water over time. They brighten with soft pastel hues during the morning and evening sunlight and glow with campfire light by night. Visitors may want to keep their eyes out for typical desert inhabitants such as lizards, rattlesnakes, scorpions, ravens, squirrels and desert tarantulas during the cooler months of the year. Bobcats and mountain lions do live in the park, however they are rarely seen near humans.
Recreation
Rock climbers flock to Indian Cove Campground for the variety of routes and warmer temperatures that can be found in the interior of the park. Several hiking trails also leave from the campground. There is a short interpretive nature trail and plenty of rocks for the non-climber to explore within the facility. Clear desert skies are perfect for star-gazing and night photography.
Guidebooks for Joshua Tree National Park
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Indian Cove Campground?
Sites at Indian Cove Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Indian Cove Campground?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Indian Cove Campground?
A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation.
Source: Charges and cancellations
How many sites does Indian Cove Campground have?
114 sites, including 52 standard sites without power and 45 tent-only sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Indian Cove Campground?
The longest site here provides 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Indian Cove Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Indian Cove Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Indian Cove Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Indian Cove Campground?
Site 001 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Indian Cove Campground good for stargazing?
Yes. Indian Cove Campground sits inside Joshua Tree National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park.
Source: DarkSky International
Is there cell service at Indian Cove Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G and AT&T 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Indian Cove Campground?
Rock climbers flock to Indian Cove Campground for the variety of routes and warmer temperatures that can be found in the interior of the park. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Indian Cove Campground?
Twentynine Palms, California.
Source: Getting there