Ryan Campground
The Quick Take
Ryan sits right in the heart of Joshua Tree, splitting the difference between the park's west and north entrances — which makes it a solid base camp if you want to hit both the high desert and low desert sections without burning half your day driving. It's a compact campground with roughly three dozen sites tucked among boulder formations, offering decent privacy by J-Tree standards. The trade-off is real, though: no water, no flush toilets, no frills whatsoever. You're hauling everything in and everything out. What you get in return is one of the park's better stargazing locations (no light pollution from nearby towns) and direct access to the California Riding and Hiking Trail from your campsite. If you're a self-sufficient camper who wants a central location without the chaos of Jumbo Rocks, Ryan is your move.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 32 sites are reservable.
Book at Joshua Tree LodgesWhat You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. No electrical hookups.
Accessibility
1 ADA-accessible campsites. Accessible restrooms available. Ryan Campground has unpaved roads and campsites. There is a wheelchair accessible restroom. Unpaved Roads - All vehicles OK in good weather
Rules to Know
- Bear Safety:Food must be stored securely where wildlife cannot get to it.
- Checkout:Check in and check out are at noon.
Pro Tips
Ryan is reservation-only year-round, and winter weekends (October through May) book up fast — set a calendar reminder for when Recreation.gov opens the booking window six months out. Weeknights in November through February are your best bet for snagging a last-minute spot.
The trailhead for Ryan Mountain is a short drive away and offers one of the best sunrise hikes in the park — a punchy climb to a panoramic summit. Start early enough and you'll have the trail mostly to yourself before the day-trippers arrive from Palm Springs.
Bring at least two gallons of water per person per day, and then bring more. The nearest water fill station is at the Oasis Visitor Center in Twentynine Palms, roughly twenty minutes east. Firewood needs to come from outside the park — the town of Joshua Tree has a couple of spots that sell bundles, so stock up before you enter.
Photos
NPS/Brad Sutton
NPS/Brad Sutton
NPS/Brad SuttonGetting There
Directions
Ryan Campground is centrally located along Park Boulevard. The campground is 17 miles from the town of Joshua Tree and 18 miles from Twentynine Palms.
Get directions
