Ryan Campground, Joshua Tree National Park, CA

Ryan Campground is part of Joshua Tree National Park in California (1 hr 20 min north of Indio, CA) with an elevation of 4,282 feet. There are a total of 35 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 16 and 32 feet. 5 sites are currently first-come first-served. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. There is a fee of $20.00 per night. Some amenities include accessible, restroom, trash dumpster. Activities include horseback riding, hiking trails, rock climbing.

Campsite Reviews (190)

4.5 out of 5

5 star		64%
4 star		19%
3 star		8%
2 star		4%
1 star		2%

@MichaelS838841 · Camped on Nov 12, 2024 at Campsite #10

I had beautiful weather. I've stayed at Ryan several times and the site was terrific.

@NathanD4550007 · Camped on Nov 12, 2024 at Campsite #25

Grounds were in excellent condition, and restrooms well maintained. Highly recommend checking out Keys View nearby. Ground can be hard, so bring a mallet for tent stakes.

@RoseannaB05C1C · Camped on Nov 11, 2024 at Campsite #30

Great campsite Joshua tree is spectacular!!

@SungWooJ38D0E3 · Camped on Nov 9, 2024 at Campsite #18

This specific camp site is very open with no rocks/vegetation surrounding it. Would be great for group reservation with the sites adjacent.

@RachelS6363728 · Camped on Nov 5, 2024 at Campsite #8

Super cool camp ground.

@SarahS3283965 · Camped on Nov 5, 2024 at Campsite #3

Not all campsites are created equal here, some are much too close together!

@MichaelF110976 · Camped on Nov 1, 2024 at Campsite #20

The sites in this area are right on top of each other. Way to close together

@HannahD2B8ADFF · Camped on Oct 28, 2024 at Campsite #27

Our time at Joshua Tree unfortunately turned out to be at the same time as a Severe Weather Warning for the area for extra-strong winds. We'd been to this site before, so the 4 stars reflects a combination of this time's trip and last time's trip to Ryan Campground.Overall, we like this spot because the other visitors are pretty peaceful, the bathroom is stocked, the ground is flat and easy to sleep on, and there are great hiking areas and sight-seeing opportunities just steps away. I even got to spot a round-tailed ground squirrel and a rarely-seen desert gray shrew! However, because of the intense, violent windspeed, we were pummeled by strong winds the entire time. We don't mind getting dirty, but it felt like our mouths and eyes were filled with dirt and dust the whole time. We had to put the campfire out early because the wind was throwing embers far from the fire pit, and we didn't want to keep running after them to make sure they didn't stay lit. Our tent whipped around so hard that it ripped at the top. By the time our rainfly started lifting on our first night, we packed it all back up and went home around 9:30 pm. I think this is a great campground for desert-lovers; Joshua trees are so beautiful and eerie at the same time, and if you stay still and pay attention, you might spot some well-camoflauged wildlife. But, CHECK FOR WIND FIRST!

@AndrewC2299590 · Camped on Oct 28, 2024 at Campsite #1

As amazing as the last time we visited.

@EveO0CF4EC1DF8 · Camped on Oct 24, 2024 at Campsite #24

It's an amazing spot, with lots of space and beautiful surroundings. We camped the last week of October. The afternoon temperatures were in the mid-80s and dropped to below 50 in the morning. There was no wind. It was just a glorious experience.

@JaimeEF48B7AA4 · Camped on Oct 13, 2024 at Campsite #21

Pit Toilets were very vlean and well maintained. Had a great time.

@CoralM2A9DDC01 · Camped on Oct 6, 2024 at Campsite #20

Enjoyed our time at Ryan Campground. It was warm, but we enjoyed hiking in the area in the early AMs and late afternoons. Bring your own water. Bees in the bathrooms can be a problem, so make sure to close the lid and the door to the loo.

@AlexH4146314 · Camped on Oct 4, 2024 at Campsite #15

Amazing location. Sites are on top of each other so it can be a bit noisy but its well worth it.

@CarmeloC7DBDEE · Camped on Oct 3, 2024 at Campsite #25

Simply good.A wonderful evening and a stupendous nightCamp is well kept and toilet are outstandingly good and clean

@YenChunC57685E · Camped on Sep 27, 2024 at Campsite #20

campsite is well maintained. each campground is pretty close by so not much privacy. easy to get potable water.

@BertrandAABDAF · Camped on Sep 25, 2024 at Campsite #15

Its very basic, open and isolated, perfect for a quiet night and early morning hiking.Infraestructure is nonexistent, there's only an outhouse that was clean and well equiped. The camping spots are very generous and clean.A small issue for me was the vehicle parking spots, or should I say, the lack of properly marked vehicle paking spots. This led to some people parking in all sorts of way, and getting in the way of others.During my stay there were also a lot of unbooked campers staying for the night. I didn't have a problem with that, but some might.

@NilsK50FBCE051 · Camped on Sep 24, 2024 at Campsite #28

An absolutely beautiful campground in the middle of the dessert. The campsites are scattered between boulders that provide some shade and fun scrambling opportunities. The change of blazing dessert heat to slowly cooling down end of day brings my favorite change in the dessert: The sky slowly transitioning from bright to dark blue, before pastel colors start emerging. If you are lucky purple and pink make a showing before bright orange lingers for at least an hour in the far distance. Finally, gray emerges from the east before black makes it's first appearance. Venus, the evening star, is usually the first dot of light in the sky. Other stars shyly join in and when the last traces of orange disappear the milky way often makes an appearance. For me, witnessing this process is one of the best spectacles that nature has to offer for us. It is well worth it to get up in the pitch black on the next morning to witness the disappearance of each of our actors in turn in reverse order while hiking up Ryan Mountain.

@MarinaR2001920 · Camped on Sep 22, 2024 at Campsite #7

We enjoyed this campground; quiet and peaceful with close access to many trails and sights to explore! Clean bathrooms that are easy to find, and great information on the visitor board on your way in. All in all, perfect views and a great location make this campsite worth returning to.

@KevinM8804744 · Camped on Sep 16, 2024 at Campsite #20

Josh is just the best! Always peaceful, always a nice spot to recharge. The campground was clean and tidy. We love it, and will return again and again.

@KarthikaT4B2F6 · Camped on Aug 31, 2024 at Campsite #5

Clean and well maintained

@DenizO2E8BD9BC · Camped on Aug 31, 2024 at Campsite #2

Great campground with lots to explore in the surrounding area. There are a lot of bees at the moment.

@CorneliaW4B1A9 · Camped on Aug 13, 2024 at Campsite #13

Loved everything about the campground. Well maintained, clean restrooms, nice sites, perfect access to hiking trails. Some of the other campers were a little loud in the evening/night. But we spent two nights and the second night was more quiet.

@damians99338DA · Camped on Aug 11, 2024 at Campsite #28

Great camp site

@RishaM342008A8 · Camped on Aug 11, 2024 at Campsite #30

Great campground, nice big rock for scrambling in the middle. No water, but pit toilets were well maintained.

@KevinD6271011 · Camped on Aug 6, 2024 at Campsite #13

We travelled Long distance to spend 2 nights at Joshua tree. Being at Ryans campground was very quiet, clean, and even though it was during the extreme heat warning it offered everything the desert and the park could possibly given us. Thank you, Joshua, Thank you Ryan campground! An amazing experience!!

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