Featured in: Most popular federal campgrounds near Joshua Tree National Park · How far ahead do you need to book a campsite in Joshua Tree National Park?
A forested campground near hiking. Most campsites have no hookups, and RV fit varies by site.
Black Rock Campground sits on Joshua Tree National Park's northern edge at about 4,000 feet, among one of the park's densest stands of Joshua trees. The trees' sculptural forms and the surrounding granite outcrops create dramatic silhouettes at sunrise and sunset, and the forest produces showy clusters of white blooms in early spring.
Length limits vary by campsite.
Dump station on site.
Availability on Recreation.gov. Showing 40 of 94 sites.
| Site | Fr 13 | Sa 14 | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 075 tent only nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 080 tent only nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 081 tent only nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 083 tent only nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 084 standard nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 088 tent only nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 096 tent only nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 086 tent only nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 087 standard nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 082 tent only nonelectric |
Hookups (individual campsites): 94 no-hookup individual sites.
9800 Black Rock Canyon Road
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Official facts link to their source; “Listing” facts come from the Recreation.gov listing. Anything we can't source says so.
Themes from recent written reviews on Recreation.gov. Quotes are verbatim.
“Loved having the convenient hiking trails to hit during the day.”
“A quiet, peaceful place with plenty of space between campsites and easy trail access.”
Verbatim from guest reviews on Recreation.gov ↗ (1,954 reviews, ★ 4.0). Not written or edited by us.
“Amenities were available. Had just enough space between campsites to not be too crowded. Felt very safe. ”
“A quiet, peaceful place with plenty of space between campsites and easy trail access. Engraved trail signage readable, but a bit difficult to see.”
| R |
| R |
| $35 |
| 092 tent only nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 094 tent only nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 073 tent only nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 074 tent only nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 078 tent only nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 079 tent only nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 060 tent only nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 069 tent only nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 070 tent only nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 071 standard nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 072 tent only nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 011 standard nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 043 standard nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 062 standard nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 095 standard nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 097 standard nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 053 tent only nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 054 tent only nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 055 tent only nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 020 standard nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 066 standard nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 085 tent only nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 090 standard nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 091 tent only nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 093 standard nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 099 standard nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 016 tent only nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 032 tent only nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 034 tent only nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
| 037 tent only nonelectric | R | R | $35 |
✓ available · R reserved · X not available · C closed · W first come, first served · N not yet released
Available Nov 13–15 · 2 nights2 sites open for every night
Available Nov 13–15 · 2 nights1 site open for every night
Available Nov 13–15 · 2 nights3 sites open for every nightAn idea to start from, built from this campground's listing and real tours nearby. Times, openings and prices change, so check each before you go.
Rentals that may deliver here and whose listed length fits sites up to 35 ft. Delivery may be available — confirm fees and dates with the owner before you book.
Class C motorhome · 32 ft · sleeps 6 · 27 mi from campground
$240/night listed · RVshare · Delivery may be available
View rental
Class C motorhome · 25 ft · sleeps 6 · 35 mi from campground
$223/night listed · RVshare · Delivery may be available
View rental
Travel trailer · 21 ft · sleeps 5 · 55 mi from campground
$96/night listed · RVshare · Delivery may be available
View rentalPaid experiences on Viator. Distances are from this campground when the tour lists its own start point.
Palm Springs area · 1 hr–2 hr · from $34/person
Palm Springs area · 3 hr · from $175/person
Palm Springs area · 1 hr · from $42/person
Palm Springs area · 1 hr · from $42/person
Share of site-nights open, booked and closed on Recreation.gov for the next months, checked Nov 7. Months further out may not be released for booking yet.
| Month | Open | Booked | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2026 | 39% | 61% | 0% |
| Dec 2026 | 74% | 26% | 0% |
| Jan 2027 | 88% | 12% | 0% |
| Feb 2027 | 85% | 15% | 0% |
| Mar 2027 | 84% | 16% | 0% |
| Apr 2027 | 90% | 10% | 0% |
| May 2027 | 99% | 1% | 0% |
For November weekends, book about 151 days ahead. Three in four November Friday and Saturday arrivals were booked later than that, and half were booked 86 days or less before arrival. Past timing is guidance, not a guarantee of what is open now.
| Arrival month | Fri/Sat arrivals: half booked at least | A quarter at least | Other days: half booked at least | A quarter at least |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24 days ahead | 56 days ahead | 11 days ahead | 33 days ahead |
| February | 39 days ahead | 89 days ahead | 17 days ahead | 45 days ahead |
| March | 81 days ahead | 135 days ahead | 34 days ahead | 68 days ahead |
| April | 100 days ahead | 137 days ahead | 36 days ahead | 80 days ahead |
| May | 78 days ahead | 110 days ahead | 21 days ahead | 65 days ahead |
| June | 32 days ahead | 66 days ahead | 13 days ahead | 46 days ahead |
| July | 17 days ahead | 44 days ahead | 18 days ahead | 72 days ahead |
| August | 13 days ahead | 54 days ahead | 17 days ahead | 77 days ahead |
| September | 21 days ahead | 53 days ahead | 8 days ahead | 49 days ahead |
| October | 89 days ahead | 141 days ahead | 14 days ahead | 55 days ahead |
| November | 86 days ahead | 151 days ahead | 28 days ahead | 92 days ahead |
| December | 36 days ahead | 67 days ahead | 21 days ahead | 49 days ahead |
Months with fewer than 30 reservations of that kind are left blank. Sites where nearly every booking was made the day of arrival (pay on arrival) are left out. Closed seasons, windows not yet released for booking, and currently unavailable nights are separate from this history.
Based on Recreation.gov reservations, FY2015–2025 (99,153 reservations in the years scored). Counts reservations made, not nights actually camped: cancellations aren't in the data, and nights a site was closed count as not booked. FY2020–21 (COVID) are left out of the scores.
94 individual reservable campsites from Recreation.gov, checked Nov 7. Rates are the listed nightly rates.
Tents only, no power
54 sites · $35/night
Loops: Black Rock Campground (54)
0 open Nov 13–Nov 15
Tent, van or small RV, no power
40 sites · $35/night
Loops: Black Rock Campground (40)
0 open Nov 13–Nov 15
Palm Springs area · 5 hr · from $249/person
Palm Springs area · 3 hr–4 hr · from $14/person
Palm Springs area · 3 hr–5 hr · from $127/person
Palm Springs area · 2.9 hr–3.2 hr · from $115/person
Palm Springs area · 3 hr–5 hr · from $179/person
