Chiriaco Summit Dry Camp Area | Established Campground

April 21st, 2024 by positiveelevator01

FREE. No hookups. 2 camp managers/hosts on site. Must check in with them if staying longer than one day. Short walk to gas station, 2 restaurants, post office, and gift shop. Perfect place to stay if you have AC haha it gets hot out here in the desert 🏜️
Also there are coyotes that stay around and a tiny airport for the advertising planes which can be loud when they fly over.

February 20th, 2024 by sleepyhumidity46

Some noise from the road but otherwise a great spot. Very close to Joshua Tree.

February 9th, 2024 by livelysunday44

It’s quite free and clean, what more can you ask for lol. It’s so hot lol, spent 4 days there and it was great. The manger is laid back. I would come here again.

January 10th, 2024 by boringraffle27

Great camping spot with lots of space, big tanks at the entrance!

November 4th, 2023 by Ria

Great little safe spot We found it very noisy at night ! Guess it depends on the traffic? Lol but otherwise a good spot to stop!

April 25th, 2023 by thebeachtoday

Great little spot. You can go way out or just at the main area. Tough to find the road out at first. Looking at the restaurant, the road is just to the left of the courtyard.

February 23rd, 2023 by rachelmoconnor1

Great stay, easy to follow signs and posted instructions at the entrance. Breakfast at the coffee shop the next day was great too, best chicken fried steak I’ve ever had :-) Loved finding mostly level numbered spots with fire pits at the camp sites. Felt formal and safe for a free stay. Would definitely return

February 21st, 2023 by Buslivin

Awesome little camping area allowed up to 7 days. Looks like there’s only 23 spots 4-5 just for tents. Can fit a 40’ bus with ease. Mostly level.

February 17th, 2023 by The Irish Rambler

Super spot. Quiet in spite of being close to the road. We don’t usually stay in campsites and although there were others here and someone popped by with a clipboard early evening to say hello ( only question was if we had a pet with us) it really feels more like super safe BLM.nice level ground- we’re in a 25ft overland vehicle. Full Visible/Verizon signal

February 15th, 2023 by Annette’s VanTease

Nice dry camping areas near post office, gas station, coffee shop. It’s located just off the I-10 freeway behind General Patton Memorial. Will be coming back, stayed 5 nights on my first camping trip.

February 11th, 2023 by darcy.stauss

Spots right behind the General Patton Museum near southern entrance into Joshua Tree NP. Check in with host, allowed to stay 7 days. Tent, Class A, B/C sized spaces. Gas station, post office, coffee shop/restaurant within walking distance. Minimal highway noise.

February 9th, 2023 by retired

Great place to stay.. quiet time 9 PM to 8 AM. No problems, I had a coffee thermos turned on the generator before 9 and made coffee for the morning. Super nice camp host. We had a good visit with him.

January 29th, 2023 by Pam W

This is a nice established free campground generously providers by the landowners. There are perhaps 20 sites and no reservations are needed. We stayed here on a Saturday night when all campgrounds in Joshua Tree were full. We rolled in around 6pm and there were many open sites. If you don't have a toilet, you can use the Chevron station bathrooms. There are rules for courtesy (noise) and for cleanliness (leave no trash) and respecting the area (gather no firewood). There are spaces with fire rings The freeway noise is not bad, the Verizon signal is full bars. What's not to love?

January 28th, 2023 by Pam W

Nicely organized camp ground not far from I 10. Each camp site is large and most have fire rings. It is all 1st come 1st served and on a Saturday night when Joshua Tree is completely full there is still lots of space here. There are sensible campground rules such as take away your trash and specific quiet hour. If you don't have a toilet, you can use the nearby Chevron station. There is background noise from the freeway and from off road vehicles in the distance, typical of this entire area. I have a full signal on Verizon. What's not to love?

December 7th, 2022 by shaderfx

Nice small free campground near Joshua Tree. Near the gas station and highway.

November 2nd, 2022 by rosieclimber

This was a great spot. Stayed one night on my way to LA. Quiet, safe no issues, pulled in around 10pm. Would def return. It’s off the Chiriaco exit follow to chevron there’s a turn off to the left there’s a sign and it’s about 0.5mil on the left another sign.

August 25th, 2022 by ekyd1

restful & quiet. it was the host, myself, and an SUV last night. Slept with my windows down.

this os further behind the museum than I first thought. pass the foreboding tanks on you left and you will see the sign for the encampment to your left.

what a gem! this is my new "go-to" between Tucson & LA.

March 7th, 2022 by Tina

Fantastic free spot. Felt safe. Good internet Verizon

March 2nd, 2022 by drvickyjo

Fantastic overnight place. Camp sites to the left behind museum. You must drive about 200 yards down the dirt road and look left to find marked and approved sites. All amenities also available at this I-10 exit, fuel, market, post office.

February 23rd, 2022 by daleenbell

Not bad for an overnight stay! It’s free and feels safe.

February 20th, 2022 by phntmlvr76

on the left just past the museum. drive past the tanks. turn left. camp host on right. look for numbered space to stay. quiet and perfect. large enough to back our 38' class A & our flat tow next to it. better than getting stuck in sand traps on BLM near Joshua Tree entrance or having a semi run it's gen all night. good cell service T-MOBILE

February 20th, 2022 by phntmlvr76

off to the left just past the museum. go past the military tanks. site host available. quiet. we unhooked our flat tow and was able to park next to our rig that is a 38' class A. way better than getting stuck in sand near the Joshua Tree entrance or next to a semi that leaves their gen on all night.

thank you for this gem!

January 17th, 2022 by sadownam

Great free campground!!!!!! Safe quiet - host on site

October 11th, 2021 by chaun.schwartz

Free Dry Camping. If you want some primitive camping this is one way of doing it.

January 4th, 2020 by clem2usa

This place is in wrong location - it is located at 33.66347, -115.72248

January 4th, 2020 by clem2usa

Correcting location. Great free place to stay! Close services as described by others.

October 15th, 2019 by ikglaze33

I did not see any amenities. I stayed one night and did not have to pay, but I think you pay if you stay long term.

November 20th, 2018 by casarodante

The Photo.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx

November 20th, 2018 by casarodante

I just wanted to add a photo. Good Internet, even at the campground.

September 3rd, 2018 by rebecca_sk99

Free dry camping site located behind General Patton Museum. There is a campground manager on site so I would imagine camp rules are usually followed (I was the only camper during my stay). After passing museum, there is a sign for dry camping before you reach the gas station. The gas station is about a ten minute walk from the campsite and is open 24/7. They allow you to use their facilities, which is a huge plus. You can see and hear I-10 from the site, which is the only drawback, although for me the sound was constant and more like white noise. I’d rather have that than noisy neighbors. Stayed 5 nights with easy access to Joshua Tree.

September 15th, 2017 by Andrew

Great little free campground courtesy of owners of the restaurant and gas station here. No frills, just several nice level campsites tucked behind the George Patton Museum. Comfortable distance away from the main highway noise. Great Patton Museum right in front of the camp. Several spare military tanks are parked right in front of the campground. There was a camp host there when we visited. Services are just about 100 yards or so right off the freeway. I was very impressed with this nice little place.