White Tank Campground is located in Joshua Tree National Park. Campers love this quiet 15-site small campground with incredible boulders.
White Tank Campground - Joshua Tree National Park
White Tank Campground in Joshua Tree National Park is located off Pinto Basin Road south of the park's north entrance station.
It is extremely hard to get a campsite here due to its popularity, and all campgrounds in Joshua Tree are usually full between September through May.
This campground is in one of the darkest parts of the park, making it an excellent spot for stargazing. It is also a first come, first served, and there are no reservations year-round. You will want to plan and get to the park as early as possible to secure a campsite.
White Tank Campground has no water, so please make sure you bring more than enough.
Joshua Tree National Park Entrance Fee
7-day single-vehicle park pass - $30.00
7-day individual park pass - $15.00
7-day motorcycle park pass - $25.00
Joshua Tree National Park Annual Pass - $55.00
Valid for one year through the month of purchase. Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle or its pass holder.
$80.00 For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.
Campground Fees
Make sure to check with the park for the most updated camping fees
Campground Reservations
Are Reservations Available? No, for first-serve campsites, visitors can locate an empty campsite, occupy the site, go to the registration area, and complete registration.
Phone Number? N/A
Online? N/A
How Far Ahead can you make a reservation? N/A
First-Come, First-Serve site available? Yes
White Tank Campground General Information
Season: White Tank Campground typically closes in the Summer.
Number of Sites: 15
Check-in Time:
Check-in time for first-come, first-serve is as soon as there is an available site. Check-in time for reservation campgrounds is after noon.
Check-out time: 12 pm (noon)
Phone Number: (760)367-5500
Campground Address:
White Tank Campground
Pinto Basin Road,
Twentynine, CA. 92277
Latitude/Longitude:
33.9848° N
116.0168° W
Elevation: 3,800
Accessible Sites: No, White Tank Campground has no ADA-accessible campsites. If you want to reserve an ADA-accessible campsite, please look into Jumbo Rocks Campground, site 122, and Black Rock Campground, site 61, which are ADA-accessible.
Campground Amenities
Potable Water? No
Bear Box in site/area? No
Flush Toilet Restrooms? No, Jumbo Rocks only has Vault Toilets/Pit toilets
Laundry: No
Showers: No
Is Wi-Fi available? No
Is Cellular Service Available? No
Is there a camp host available on-site? No
Is firewood available for purchase? No
Amphitheater: No
Are fire pits/fire rings available at each site? Yes
Are Picnic Tables available at each site? Yes
RV Camping at White Tank Campground
Hookups Available: There are no water or electric hookups available; this is a primitive campground.
RV Length: RVs and trailers may not exceed a combined maximum length of 25 feet
Generators: Generator use is permitted only from 7–9 am, noon–2 pm, and 5–7 pm.
Dump Station: No
For a fun adventure, check out Escape Campervans. These campervans have built-in beds, kitchen area with refrigerators, and more. You can have them fully set up with kitchen supplies, bedding, and other fun extras. They are painted with epic designs you can't miss!
Escape Campervans has offices in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago, New York, and Orlando.
Campground Regulations
The maximum number of people in a campsite: Maximum of 6 people
The number of cars per campsite: 2 cars, A vehicle towing a trailer, pop-up, tent trailer, or fifth wheel—or a motorhome towing a vehicle—is considered two vehicles.
Quiet Hours: 10 pm to 6 am
Pets Allowed: Yes, but they must be on a leash less than 6 feet
Make sure to remember to B.A.R.K.
B - Bag your pet's waste and dispose of it properly.
A- Always leash your pet, leashes may be no longer that six feet in length, under your control and not left unattended.
R- Respect Wildlife - keep you and your pet plenty of distance from park wildlife.
K- Know where you can go; pets are welcomed throughout Greenbelt Park, except inside the Ranger Station.
There is a 30-day camping limit each year. Only 14 of these nights may take place from October-May.
Campsites left vacant for 24 hours will be treated as vacant.
No slacklines in campgrounds.
Food must be stored securely where wildlife cannot get to it.
Don't forget to pack these items!
Insect repellent is always a great idea outdoors, especially around any body of water.
We use Permethrin Spray on our clothes before our park trips. Please read my article on preventing biting insects while enjoying the outdoors.
Sunscreen - I buy environmentally friendly sunscreen whenever possible because you inevitably pull it out at the beach.
Water Bottle
Bring your water bottle and plenty of water with you. Plastic water bottles are not sold in the park.
National Park Passport Stamps
Make sure to bring your National Park Passport Book with you or we like to pack these circle stickers so we don't have to bring our entire book with us.
Things to do near White Tank Campground
- Every sunrise and sunset will capture your imagination at Joshua Tree! Frequently, you can see brilliant reds and yellows covering the sky.
- Explore the Joshua Tree Visitor Center & Cultural Center in Twentynine Palms. This beautiful new information center is near the park's North Entrance, with fantastic educational displays and a nice bookstore you will not want to miss!
- Go for a hike on the .3-mile Arch Rock Nature Trail and learn about the geology of rock formations. For the adventurous, hike into the backcountry on the California Riding and Hiking Trail.
- Continue further south and explore the Cholla Cactus Garden, a must for any visitor to Joshua Tree National Park!
Tours available in/near Joshua Tree National Park
4-Hour Rappelling Adventure in Joshua Tree National Park - Joshua Tree offers some of the best rock-climbing in the National Parks System with over 9000 climbing routes! Routes include anything from beginners to pros, and their certified climbing guides will help you choose the route that best fits you. Guides also provide you with all the necessary gear and training, and all guides are Wilderness First Responders.
Private Vacation Photography Session with a Photographer in Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park - A professional Flytographer will contact you after booking, and they will help you choose your preferred location. Your photographer can double as a guide, offering travel tips and recommendations. This private, personalized experience provides 15-60 high-resolution photographs (based on the package). We have used Flytographer in the past and had an AMAZING experience!
Joshua Tree National Park Offroad Tour - Do you want to go deep into the park away from the crowds and witness epic views of the Mojave Desert, Joshua Trees, and wild rock formations? If so, taking an offroad tour may be for you! Must be at least 6 years old and includes National Park Fees, bottled water, snacks, and a local guide.
Lodging at/near Joshua Tree National Park
There are no Joshua Tree National Park Lodges, cabins, or Yurts within the park. Here is an additional list of lodging options in Twentynine Palms, California.
Fairfield Inn & Suites Twentynine Palms - We have stayed at this hotel our last few visit to the park and it has been great. Free continental breakfast, shopping on site, and laundry facilities are just a few of the amenities provided at Fairfield Inn & Suites Twentynine Palms-Joshua Tree NP. Free in-room Wi-Fi is available to all guests, along with a 24-hour gym and a 24-hour business center.
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Twentynine Palms - Consider a stay at Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Twentynine Palms, an IHG Hotel, and take advantage of a complimentary manager's reception, dry cleaning/laundry services, and a 24-hour gym. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. Free in-room Wi-Fi and a 24-hour business center are available to all guests.
Oasis Inn & Suites - A grocery/convenience store, a terrace, and a coffee shop/café are just a few of the amenities provided at Oasis Inn & Suites Joshua Tree - 29 Palms. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. Enjoy the gym, as well as activities like hiking/biking. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi, and guests can find other amenities such as laundry facilities and a business center.
Hampton Inn & Suites Indio - provides amenities like free full breakfast and a gym. Guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.
Click on the map below for vacation rentals and lodges near the park.
Additional Joshua Tree National Park information
Complete Guide to Joshua Tree National Park - Breakdown of all the information you will need to plan a trip to Joshua Tree National Park!
Epic Guide to Joshua Tree Hikes - Find out the most popular hikes in Joshua Tree, including:
- Arch Rock Trail
- Bajada Nature Trail
- Barker Dam
- Cholla Cactus Garden
- Hidden Valley Trail
- Skull Rock
- Lost Horse Mine
- Fourtynine Palms
- Ryan Mountain & more!
Joshua Tree Camping Guide - Breakdown of each front country campground in Joshua Tree National Park, including:
- Belle Campground
- Black Rock Campground
- Cottonwood Campground
- Hidden Valley Campground
- Indian Cove Campground
- Jumbo Rocks Campground
- Ryan Campground
- Sheep Pass Campground
- White Tank Campground
Parks near Joshua Tree National Park
- Mojave National Preserve
- Castle Mountains National Monument
- Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
- Death Valley National Park
- Channel Islands National Park
- César E. Chávez National Monument
Check out all of the national parks in California, the neighboring national parks in Arizona, Nevada national parks, and national parks in Oregon.
Don't forget to read our Beers Inspired by US National Parks post.
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