Indian Cove Campground

Indian Cove Campground is a National Park Service campground on the north side of Joshua Tree National Park in California, reached by its own entrance road off Highway 62 in Twentynine Palms rather than through the main park gates. It sits in a rock-walled canyon among the same dramatic boulders that make Jumbo Rocks famous, but the canyon walls give it a more sheltered, enclosed feel, blocking wind and amplifying the desert quiet. It suits self-contained rigs, climbers staging for the Wonderland of Rocks, and anyone who wants Joshua Tree scenery with an easy resupply run.

Hookups	None
Sites	101 (reservable peak season, first-come summer)
Max RV length	35 feet
Cost	$25/night
Elevation	~3,200 feet
Dump station	No
Water	None
Cell signal	Moderate — picks up Twentynine Palms towers
Generators	Permitted during designated hours

Hookups

None

Sites

101 (reservable peak season, first-come summer)

Max RV length

35 feet

Cost

$25/night

Elevation

~3,200 feet

Dump station

Water

None

Cell signal

Moderate — picks up Twentynine Palms towers

Generators

Permitted during designated hours

Why RVers stay here

The practical picture is dry camping at $25 a night. There are 101 sites, no water, no dump station, no flush toilets, and vault toilets only; generators are allowed during designated hours. RVs up to 35 feet fit most sites, though the tighter loops need careful driving. Booking is hybrid: reservable on Recreation.gov in the October-through-May peak season and first-come, first-served in summer, when the desert heat keeps crowds thin. The trade-off is that you must arrive with full fresh tanks and empty holding tanks; Twentynine Palms, about 8 miles away, is where you fill up.

✓Boulder-canyon setting with natural wind shelter and a quieter feel than the park's more exposed campgrounds

✓Peak-season sites are reservable on Recreation.gov, unlike the first-come interior campgrounds

✓Twentynine Palms and its grocery stores and gas stations are only about 8 miles away for resupply

✓Prime staging area for rock climbers heading into the Wonderland of Rocks, plus the 0.6-mile Indian Cove Nature Trail

✓Moderate cell signal off Twentynine Palms towers, better than deep in the park

!No water, no dump station and vault toilets only; arrive fully self-contained

!35-foot practical limit and tight internal roads in some loops

!Summer sites are first-come only, and generators run only during designated hours

What our guides say about Indian Cove Campground

Excerpts from the RV Parks Guide articles that cover this campground. Each links to the full guide.

Regional guide

Joshua Tree RV Camping: Inside the Park and Full-Hookup Options Outside

Indian Cove is tucked into a rock-walled canyon on the north side of the park, accessed via its own entrance road off Highway 62 in Twentynine Palms. Like Jumbo Rocks, the campground is set among dramatic boulder formations, but the canyon setting gives it a more enclosed, sheltered feel. The walls block wind and create natural amphitheaters that amplify the desert quiet.

The campground has 101 sites, and it uses a hybrid system: sites are reservable through Recreation.gov during peak season (October through May) and first-come, first-served in summer. RVs up to 35 feet fit comfortably in most sites, though the internal roads require some attention in the tighter loops.

Indian Cove has no water, no flush toilets, and no dump station. Vault toilets only. Despite being reservable, it maintains the primitive character of the park's dry-camping grounds. Generators are permitted during the standard park hours.

The campground's proximity to Twentynine Palms — about 8 miles from the town's grocery stores and gas stations — makes resupply runs easy compared to the park's interior campgrounds. The Indian Cove Nature Trail is a pleasant 0.6-mile loop through the boulders, and the campground is a popular staging area for rock climbers heading into the Wonderland of Rocks.

Read the guide →

Indian Cove Campground: frequently asked questions

Does Indian Cove Campground have hookups?

No. Indian Cove is dry camping with no hookups, no water and no dump station. Vault toilets are the only facilities, so bring everything you need and plan to dump in Twentynine Palms.

How much does Indian Cove Campground cost per night?

Sites are $25 per night. Confirm the current rate on Recreation.gov when you book.

What is the max RV length at Indian Cove Campground?

RVs up to 35 feet fit comfortably in most sites. Some loops are tighter, so drive slowly and pick a site with a straightforward approach if you are near that limit.

Do you need reservations at Indian Cove Campground?

During peak season, October through May, sites are reservable through Recreation.gov and we recommend booking. In summer the campground switches to first-come, first-served.

How far is Indian Cove Campground from Twentynine Palms?

About 8 miles. That proximity makes water fills, fuel and grocery runs far easier than from the park's interior campgrounds.

Are generators allowed at Indian Cove Campground?

Yes, during the park's designated generator hours only. Outside those windows the canyon is quiet, which is a big part of the appeal.