NPS · Joshua Tree National Park · Twentynine Palms, CA

Jumbo Rocks Campground

Download the NPS app prior to visiting the park – trail maps and more! Jumbo Rocks Campground lies amid the huge, steep rock formations for which Joshua Tree National Park is known. Close proximity to many boulders and rock formations, it is a popular camping location for families with kids. Jumbo Rocks 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.

More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California · dark sky in California

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Jumbo Rocks CampgroundJumbo Rocks CampgroundJUMBO ROCKS CAMPGROUNDJUMBO ROCKS CAMPGROUND
Photos courtesy of Share the experience, Daryl Horton, NPS · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Tent-only74
Standard, no hookups44
RV, no hookups1
Host/management5
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 32 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

119 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
001Standard35PavedPartialNo / –6 / 2Yes
002Standard35PavedPartialNo / –6 / 2Yes
003StandardBack-in18PavedNo / –4 / 1Yes
004Tent onlyBack-in18PavedNo / –6 / 1Yes
005Tent onlyBack-in18PavedNo / –6 / 1Yes
006Tent onlyBack-in18PavedNo / –4 / 1Yes
007Tent onlyBack-in18PavedNo / –6 / 2Yes
008Tent onlyBack-in18PavedNo / –4 / 1Yes
009Tent onlyBack-in18PavedNo / –4 / 1Yes
010StandardBack-in18PavedPartialNo / –6 / 2Yes

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

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length46 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Dark skyInside Joshua Tree National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park
AccessibilitySite 122 is listed accessible

This large facility has 124 individual tent and RV campsites. There are no hookups or drinking water in the campground, however the town of Twentynine Palms is 12 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

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Jumbo Rocks Campground50°60°70°80°90°100°January: 0.50 inches of precipitationFebruary: 0.56 inches of precipitationMarch: 0.35 inches of precipitationApril: 0.12 inches of precipitationMay: 0.05 inches of precipitationJune: 0.00 inches of precipitationJuly: 0.40 inches of precipitationAugust: 0.65 inches of precipitationSeptember: 0.34 inches of precipitationOctober: 0.15 inches of precipitationNovember: 0.19 inches of precipitationDecember: 0.56 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 52.6°F averageFebruary: 55.7°F averageMarch: 61.7°F averageApril: 67.8°F averageMay: 76.4°F averageJune: 85.1°F averageJuly: 90.7°F averageAugust: 89.6°F averageSeptember: 82.9°F averageOctober: 71.2°F averageNovember: 59.3°F averageDecember: 50.9°F average0 in0.5 in1 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Twentynine Palms, 10 miles from the campground at 1,975 feet, station USC00049099 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 4 inches a year.

Getting there

Take Interstate 10 to State Highway 62. Turn south on Park Blvd. Continue 5 miles to the West Entrance; Jumbo Rocks is approximately 18 miles from the entrance. If coming from the east, taking Interstate10, take the Desert Center exit north onto State Highway 177.

Nearest townTwentynine Palms, California
Coordinates33.9922° N, 116.0625° 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 (see below). 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 gearNomad Ventures ↗17.5 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗19.7 mi
RV sales & serviceMountain Air Mobile Home Sales ↗49.5 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Jumbo Rocks Campground in Joshua Tree National Park - Campsite Review

Worth a stop

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

Pinto Mountains Wilderness begins about 9 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

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 low 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 scramblers flock to Jumbo Rocks Campground for the variety of geological formations 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 and canyons to explore within the facility. Clear desert skies are perfect for star-gazing.

Guidebooks for Joshua Tree National Park

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Trail Guide to Joshua Tree National Park
    Thomas Crochetiere, 2022
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Joshua Tree National Park Tour Guide
    Paul Francis Stickles, 2022
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Landscape Photographer's Guide to Joshua Tree National Park
    Anthony Jones, 2020
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best Easy Day Hikes, Joshua Tree National Park
    Polly Cunningham, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Joshua Tree: Joshua Tree National Park
    James Kaiser, 2022
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Jumbo Rocks Campground?

Sites at Jumbo Rocks 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 Jumbo Rocks Campground?

Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Jumbo Rocks Campground?

A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation.

Source: Charges and cancellations

How many sites does Jumbo Rocks Campground have?

124 sites, including 74 tent-only sites, 44 standard sites without power, and 1 RV site without hookups.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Jumbo Rocks Campground?

The longest site here provides 46 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 Jumbo Rocks Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Jumbo Rocks Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Jumbo Rocks Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Jumbo Rocks Campground?

Site 122 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 Jumbo Rocks Campground good for stargazing?

Yes. Jumbo Rocks Campground sits inside Joshua Tree National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park.

Source: DarkSky International

What is there to do at Jumbo Rocks Campground?

Rock scramblers flock to Jumbo Rocks Campground for the variety of geological formations 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 Jumbo Rocks Campground?

Twentynine Palms, California.

Source: Getting there

What if Jumbo Rocks Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Sheep Pass Group (3.2 mi), Ryan Campground (5.3 mi), and Indian Cove Group (8.8 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby