99% (1.6K) • 59 campsites
Top-rated campgrounds near Desert Shores
99% (1.6K) • 59 campsites
Top-rated campgrounds near Desert Shores
Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community
C
Christine
November 2025
Tent
With pets
Camping on Jeff’s land was the perfect peaceful weekend getaway. Stargazing was exceptional (even w/ a bright moon). I think we caught the end of the Southern Taurid meteor showers—saw my first meteor fireball! In the past, I’ve always camped at campgrounds shared with others so the level of privacy provided by being the only campers on Jeff’s land is absolutely incredible. You take a small set of stairs down to the campsite, which is right off the main dirt road. The campsite is right alongside the road, but it’s at a lower level and never impacted our sense of privacy. I rarely noticed cars going by and when they did, they drove respectfully slow so it wasn’t very noticeable. We felt comfortable letting our dog roam freely and he had a blast exploring the grounds. The porta potty is a short ~1 min walk further down the same dirt road so it’s super close by (also the cleanest porta potty I’ve ever been in which was greatly appreciated). At the campsite itself, there is a table, a few chairs, two hammocks, a putting green (but we didn’t set it up), water tank, gas stove (we brought propane), and a gated pet pen. Note: 3 tents could fit but a large portion of the campsite is slightly sloped. We ended up moving our tent to the flat concrete slab the 2nd day which made for a much better night sleep. I also highly recommend hiking the Eagle Rock Trail that Jeff suggests. Six miles round trip but definitely worth it. We will definitely be coming back!
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Elza
November 2025
Tent
With pets
Great stay —very private and peaceful, exactly what my girlfriend and I were looking for, rather than a standard campsite with a bunch of campers nearby. 10/10 would recommend.
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Matt
October 2025
Tent
Private, clean and convenient. We'll equipped (hammocks, awning available, tables and chairs and a nice concrete pad for your tent).
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J
Jenna
October 2025
Tent
With pets
Our group stayed in both the Canvas Tent and the Creekside Container Cabin, and the combination of these two rentals made for a truly unique and unforgettable getaway. The Canvas Tent was the perfect place to immerse ourselves in the beauty of nature. The full-size futon and bunk bed provided plenty of space, and while we brought our own bedding as directed, it felt cozy and well-equipped. The setting was serene and private, and we loved stargazing around the property each night. The composting toilet was easy to access, and the addition of the sink was a thoughtful touch for convenience.
With the Creekside Container Cabin just a short walk away, we had the luxury of alternating between the rugged charm of the Canvas Tent and the cozy comfort of the cabin. This setup is ideal if you’re traveling with a group or family and want a mix of traditional camping and "glamping." The property is also close to downtown Idyllwild, hiking trails, and other outdoor attractions, so there’s always something to do. We can’t say enough great things about the property owners – their attention to detail, friendly communication, and genuine hospitality really made our trip special. Whether you’re booking just the Canvas Tent or both spots like we did, you won’t regret it!
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J
Jenna
October 2025
Weekend Trip to Serene forest privacy for 4WD
We had the pleasure of renting both the Creekside Container Cabin and the Canvas Tent during our stay, and it was such an amazing experience! The Creekside Container Cabin was perfect for those moments when we wanted a bit more comfort and structure. The beautifully handcrafted furniture added such a charming and personal touch to the space, and the big picture window allowed us to soak in the gorgeous surroundings from the cozy indoors. Having a sink with gravity-operated water and the nearby composting toilet was convenient, and the large patio with bar seating became our favorite spot to relax with a morning coffee. The fact that bedding and basic kitchen supplies were provided made our stay even easier. The cabin has a thoughtful design and provides an ideal "glamping" experience – not overly fancy, but still comfortable and immersive in nature.
What made our trip even better was being able to pair this cabin with the Canvas Tent, giving us options to enjoy both a cozy indoor space and a more rugged camping experience for our group. Both sites are close enough to offer the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation, all within minutes of downtown Idyllwild. The hosts were incredibly accommodating, and their warm hospitality made everything even better. We highly recommend this rental – or better yet, rent both and enjoy the best of both worlds like we did!
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T
Tom
October 2025
Weekend Trip to Starry Night at Rancho Moto
Alex was an excellent host. Beautiful property. Remote and quiet.
Very well kept.
We'll definitely be going again.
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K
Kellen
October 2025
Group trip
Awesome camp site - the set up was perfect, the camper was great and the host was helpful and communicative. Would 100% recommend to anyone that’s looking for a spot out in the Chihuahua Valley.
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Adam
September 2025
Tent
With pets
Great property, great tent, very dog friendly. Quite comfortable. The owners were very responsive to anll requests and Communications. Overall had an absolutely great experience.
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A
Allison
September 2025
Tent
For basic camping it's pretty good. The views up and down the road are incredible. Night sky is clear and milky way is visible. Campsite is clean and has flat spots. There is animal nightlife.
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T
Thuan
September 2025
Tent
host was very nice and welcoming. beautiful property with lots of stars at night and turkeys in the morning 😎
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Naomi
September 2025
Tent
With pets
Absolutely beautiful view, the wild white sage smells amazing and you get a private slice of heaven we brought two large dogs and they had the best adventure.
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M
Mary
August 2025
Tent
With kids
We’ve stayed here multiple times and absolutely LOVE this site! It’s like something out of a fairytale. My son even requested to come here for his birthday because it’s his most favorite place ❤️ We will definitely be back!
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Richard
August 2025
Tent
Group trip
Nice site that’s great for stargazing. Short drive from San Diego.
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Lynette
August 2025
Tent
With kids
Exactly as described. Loved the site. So accessible, but you really felt away frim everyone.
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Cindy
August 2025
Tent
Group trip
We came here to view the Perseid meteor shower. It was so private and secluded. We were able to talk & listen to some light music late into the night—without bothering anyone. Although the campsite is next to a road, we only saw one car pass by. Even though the moon was SO bright, the stars were still beautiful. It was really nice to use the two hammocks provided by the host. The porta-potty was relatively clean, but there were a lot of fire ants near it. Other than that, thank you for the lovely stay, Jeff!
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r
rileyxmccarthy
August 2025
Weekend Trip to Serene forest privacy for 4WD
This spot is very private! Great spot for star gazing and exploring along the mountain side. Perfect for dogs to roam off leash (with supervision, the owner warned of occasional mountain lions). We went in August and the day was very hot but the evenings were very pleasant. The trail going up to the location is short but DEFINITELY requires 4WD. The campsite had everything you need and the owners were very responsive and even came out to guide us in to the spot. We for sure will be coming back again!
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M
Mike
August 2025
Tent
With pets
Loved camping here with my family would definitely come back again and they were so nice and will definitely recommend to others
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G
Gabriella
August 2025
Tent
The location was a great little getaway and close enough to the town center to do some shopping/exploring & hiking.
The tent was gorgeous, clean, well equipped shelter, good views & the compost toilet was clean as well.
The nights get cold, and I brought plenty of bedding to stay warm.
I will definitely be coming back, maybe with a group of friends the next time.
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natasha
July 2025
Tent
The campsite feels private at night and you can see every star. It’s an incredible view and Jeff is the most accommodating host with really cool extra amenities.
I loved the hammocks he provided!
The port a potty was so clean and the walk isn’t that far. Thank you for such a great time Jeff. Will be back soon.
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J
Jeri
July 2025
Tent
With kids
We had a great time! The canvas tent is very spacious and clean. The bed was extremely comfortable which was a huge plus so we didn't have to use our sleeping pads. The sink and toilet were also very convenient. We will definitely be back.
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