California / Riverside County / Joshua Tree National Park

White Tank Campground

Open — Open year-round, first-come, first-served. No advance reservations. Camping fees must be paid at an entrance station within one hour of occupancy.

About

White Tank Campground is a small, intimate campground located in the northern section of Joshua Tree National Park, just off Pinto Basin Road. With only 15 sites, it offers a quieter, more secluded camping experience compared to the park's larger campgrounds. The campground sits at the transition point before Pinto Basin Road descends into the Colorado Desert, providing access to nearby trails including Arch Rock and Heart Rock. All sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis year-round. To claim a site, campers must locate an empty spot, set up to show occupancy, and pay at an entrance station within one hour. Each site includes a picnic table, fire pit, and parking area, though site sizes vary considerably. The campground has vault toilets but no water, so visitors must bring all water needed for drinking, cooking, and cleaning. Due to size constraints, RVs and vehicles with trailers are limited to a combined maximum length of 25 feet. The campground can accommodate up to six people and three tents per site if space allows, though some sites only have room for one vehicle. White Tank typically fills more slowly than other Joshua Tree campgrounds, but expect high occupancy from September through May during peak season.

Directions

White Tank is located off Pinto Basin Road in the northern end of the park. The campground is 11 miles from Twentynine Palms and 28 miles from the Cottonwood Visitor Center.

Nearby Campgrounds