Complete Guide to White Tank Campground in Joshua Tree National Park

White Tank Campground is located in Joshua Tree National Park. Campers love this quiet 15-site small campground with incredible boulders.

Campsite in White Tank Campground in Joshua Tree National Park

Here are my top finds for (JTNP) Joshua Tree National Park:
🏨Hotels: RESET Hotel Joshua Tree, AutoCamp Joshua Tree
📍Tours: JTNP Scenic Tour, JTNP 4X4 Off-Road Backcountry Tour
🐻 Save time! Buy your National Park Pass before your trip

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.

White Tank Campground Map

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

Campsite 1 White Tank Campground in Joshua Tree National Park — Campsite 1 White Tank Campground

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.

Campsite 2 White Tank Campground in Joshua Tree National Park — Campsite 2 White Tank Campground

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

Campsite 3 White Tank Campground in Joshua Tree National Park — Campsite 3 White Tank Campground

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

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.

Campsite 7 White Tank Campground in Joshua Tree National Park — Campsite 7 White Tank Campground

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!

Campsite 8 White Tank Campground in Joshua Tree National Park — Campsite 8 White Tank Campground

Best Joshua Tree National Park Tours & Activities

Joshua Tree National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour
⭐️ Rating: 4.6 out of 5 Stars (809+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 3 to 4 hours (self-paced) | 🚗🎧 Check Rates and Availability

This GPS-triggered audio tour is one of the best values at any national park on Viator. Narration fires automatically as you reach each stop along the 63-mile route through the park, covering Skull Rock, Cap Rock, Lost Horse Mine, Hidden Valley, and more. Works fully offline once downloaded, which matters since cell service disappears quickly inside the park.

Joshua Tree National Park Scenic Tour
⭐️ Rating: 4.7 out of 5 Stars (593+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 3 to 5 hours | 🚐 Check Rates and Availability

A small-group guided tour with a maximum of 9 guests, departing from Palm Springs or the Yucca Valley Welcome Center. Guides consistently earn outstanding individual reviews for their knowledge of the park's geology, indigenous history, and ecology, and their ability to make the otherworldly landscape come alive for first-time visitors. General park admission is included in the tour price. Snacks and bottled water are provided.

Joshua Tree National Park 4x4 Off-Road Backcountry Tour
⭐️ Rating: 4.9 out of 5 Stars (470+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 5 hours | 🚙🏜️ Check Rates and Availability

The standout adventure experience at Joshua Tree, this 4x4 off-road tour from Big Wheel Tours takes guests deep into the backcountry on terrain no regular vehicle can reach. Guides Jeff, Ben, Ron, Dale, and Will earn extraordinary reviews for their knowledge of the desert's geology, plant life, and wildlife, and their ability to tailor each tour to the group's interests. Reviewers consistently say they saw parts of the park most visitors never find. Bottled water and snacks included. Recommended by 98% of travelers across nearly 500 reviews. Flagged as likely to sell out. Booked an average of 31 days in advance. Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.

Click here to find more great Joshua Tree National Park tours.

Campsite 9 White Tank Campground in Joshua Tree National Park — Campsite 9 White Tank Campground

Lodging near Joshua Tree National Park

There are no lodges in Joshua Tree National Park. Here are a couple of hotels I would love to stay in on my next trip to Joshua Tree!

⭐️ 4.4 of 5 Stars - RESET Hotel Joshua Tree - Click here for Rates and Availability.

Joshua Tree's first new boutique hotel in 15 years and one of the most exciting hotel openings in the American Southwest, a minimalist Mars-inspired desert retreat on 180 spectacular acres just 8 minutes from the park's north entrance!

The 65 rooms and suites feature private patios with Solo Stove fire pits, outdoor daybeds for stargazing, French doors opening to unobstructed desert views, in-room pour-over coffee setups, spa-inspired bathrooms, and solar lanterns. RESET is the only hotel in the world with a Celestron Origin smart telescope, and guided sessions with a retired NASA/JPL astronomer are available. Shared amenities include a saltwater pool with mountain views, outdoor hot tub, five-person sauna, cold-plunge tub, morning yoga, the Split Rock Cafe and Bar, communal fire pits, a Moonpad stargazing deck, EV charging, free WiFi, and free parking. Pet friendly and open year-round!

⭐️ 4.6 of 5 Stars - AutoCamp Joshua Tree - Click here for Rates and Availability.

The coolest place to sleep near Joshua Tree National Park, a luxury glamping resort featuring iconic Airstream suites, classic cabins, and tiny homes sitting just steps from the west entrance to the park!

Each accommodation features a private patio, kitchenette with microwave and cookware, rainfall showerheads, Smart TVs, and premium linens, with the Airstream Vista suites offering a separate outdoor shower under the desert sky. Complimentary granola, pour-over coffee, and tea are served each morning, and the Clubhouse bar and restaurant host evening live music and events. Additional amenities include a seasonal heated outdoor pool, complimentary bikes, free WiFi, EV charging, fire pits, a kids playground, yoga classes, pet friendly options, and free parking. Open year-round!

Click on this link or the map below for vacation rentals and lodges near the park.

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.

Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.

$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.

National Park Pass highlighting Collared lizard at Wupatki National Monument

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 free entrance days the National Park Service offers for US citizens and residents.