88% (48) • 5 campsites
Top-rated campgrounds near Thermal
BaseCamp at Palomar
1. BaseCamp at Palomar
89%
(44)
50mi from Thermal · 9 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Experience excellence at BASE CAMP PALOMAR Campground. Whether you seek a cozy campsite or desire to rent our cabins, retro airstreams, or glamping tents, we have precisely what you're looking for. Our amenities include a newly retrofitted game room, a playground for the little ones, a WIFI Hot Spot, and well-stocked vending machines for ice and firewood.
Choose to relax in one of our rental cabins, enjoy a spacious RV site, or pitch your tent amidst our Oak Groves. Our campground offers a fantastic opportunity to view the Milky Way or keep an eye out for UFOs. In fact, our location is world-famous for being the site of the first documented UFO encounter, Check out the George Adamski Foundation.
This Campground was first opened in the early 1930"s as the Base Camp for the Contruction crew to build Route S6 "Road to the Stars" top of Palomar Mountain. The Road needed to be built wide and smooth in order to transport the Hale Telescope. The construction had to stop due to the start of WW2. Once WW2 had ended the work was completed 1948.
The Base Camp first name was Palamar Gardens, Then Oak Knoll Camp and is now being rebranded back to its Original Name Base Camp Palamar.
The property is rustic, a little dusty and very old school. If you're looking for a new type of camping with 5-star amenities we recommend Pala or Pechanga Resort RV Park Casino RV Park.
We are just plain and simple.
Note: the property has two sections one is for Kamping / RVing and the other is Seasonal / fulltime RVers
Pets
Toilets
Full hookups
from
$30
/ night
Shadow Hills RV Resort
2. Shadow Hills RV Resort
75%
(6)
12mi from Thermal · 149 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Shadow Hills RV Resort is one of the Palm Springs area’s Best RV Resorts
Featuring full RV hookups, heated pool, jacuzzi, ponds, walking trails, fitness center, wifi, cable, dog parks and the “Desert Oasis” glamping grounds with vintage trailers and teepees, all inside a secure gated community.
Located just off the I-10 interstate at Jefferson St. in Indio California, Shadow Hills RV Resort is top rated on TripAdvisor, Google, Yelp, Facebook and AirBnB.
Shadow Hills RV Resort is one of the Palm Springs area’s Best RV Resorts.
Pets
Toilets
Full hookups
from
$39
/ night
Camp Squish Airstream - Joshua Tree
3. Camp Squish Airstream - Joshua Tree
41mi from Thermal · 1 site · Lodging
Relax and unwind in the presence of Joshua trees and sweeping mountain views.
Accommodations feature a single private Airstream, outdoor deck and living area, a wood-burning fire pit, and a BBQ pit. Relax and enjoy the solitude of the desert, or make new memories with those closest to you.
We are conveniently located just 10 minutes from downtown JT, with local shopping, dining, groceries, and more, and 30 minutes from the main entrance of Joshua Tree National Park.
We are thrilled to share our little slice of the Mojave Desert and will provide a current calendar of events happening during your stay so you can live like a local.
We reside in a house on the 2 acre property but will give you all the privacy you need.
Dogs welcome.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from
$76
/ night
Desert Drifter RV Park-Joshua Tree
4. Desert Drifter RV Park-Joshua Tree
85%
(13)
39mi from Thermal · 7 sites · RVs, Lodging
Desert Drifter RV Resort is boutique RV resort experience centrally located in Old Town Yucca Valley with restaurants and shopping within one block from location. Only 20 minutes to the West Entrance to Joshua Tree National Park, 5 minutes to Pioneertown, a historical western town anchored by the famed Pappy & Harriets Pioneertown Palace with great music and food, and 30 minutes to downtown Palm Springs.
Each site is 25' x 80' on gravel pad with 20/30/50 Amp, water, and sewer hook ups. Each site is shaded by pine trees with picnic table. The resort features a seasonally heated pool, pet park, communal fire pit, two bathrooms with hot showers, and clubhouse featuring ping pong table, arcade games, board games, books, streaming television, and complimentary self serve coffee, tea, and cocoa station.
Pets
Toilets
Full hookups
from
$80
/ night
Sunset Hideaway Farm
5. Sunset Hideaway Farm
88%
(4)
50mi from Thermal · 35 sites
Located just 6 miles from Palomar Mountain Observatory- Basecamp is the perfect location to stay at. This historic campground is surrounded by vast farmlands growing mostly citrus and avocados. Drive through Pauma Valley and enjoy the views before you start heading up the mountain to Basecamp.
The campground itself is undGo for a hike, star gaze and enjoy the outdoors!er a canopy of century old oak trees, along with the trailers and glamping tents, there are tent sites, sites with hookups as far as water, power and sewage.
88% (48) • 5 campsites
Top-rated campgrounds near Thermal
BaseCamp at Palomar
1. BaseCamp at Palomar
89%
(44)
50mi from Thermal · 9 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Experience excellence at BASE CAMP PALOMAR Campground. Whether you seek a cozy campsite or desire to rent our cabins, retro airstreams, or glamping tents, we have precisely what you're looking for. Our amenities include a newly retrofitted game room, a playground for the little ones, a WIFI Hot Spot, and well-stocked vending machines for ice and firewood.
Choose to relax in one of our rental cabins, enjoy a spacious RV site, or pitch your tent amidst our Oak Groves. Our campground offers a fantastic opportunity to view the Milky Way or keep an eye out for UFOs. In fact, our location is world-famous for being the site of the first documented UFO encounter, Check out the George Adamski Foundation.
This Campground was first opened in the early 1930"s as the Base Camp for the Contruction crew to build Route S6 "Road to the Stars" top of Palomar Mountain. The Road needed to be built wide and smooth in order to transport the Hale Telescope. The construction had to stop due to the start of WW2. Once WW2 had ended the work was completed 1948.
The Base Camp first name was Palamar Gardens, Then Oak Knoll Camp and is now being rebranded back to its Original Name Base Camp Palamar.
The property is rustic, a little dusty and very old school. If you're looking for a new type of camping with 5-star amenities we recommend Pala or Pechanga Resort RV Park Casino RV Park.
We are just plain and simple.
Note: the property has two sections one is for Kamping / RVing and the other is Seasonal / fulltime RVers
Pets
Toilets
Full hookups
from
$30
/ night
Shadow Hills RV Resort
2. Shadow Hills RV Resort
75%
(6)
12mi from Thermal · 149 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Shadow Hills RV Resort is one of the Palm Springs area’s Best RV Resorts
Featuring full RV hookups, heated pool, jacuzzi, ponds, walking trails, fitness center, wifi, cable, dog parks and the “Desert Oasis” glamping grounds with vintage trailers and teepees, all inside a secure gated community.
Located just off the I-10 interstate at Jefferson St. in Indio California, Shadow Hills RV Resort is top rated on TripAdvisor, Google, Yelp, Facebook and AirBnB.
Shadow Hills RV Resort is one of the Palm Springs area’s Best RV Resorts.
Pets
Toilets
Full hookups
from
$39
/ night
Camp Squish Airstream - Joshua Tree
3. Camp Squish Airstream - Joshua Tree
41mi from Thermal · 1 site · Lodging
Relax and unwind in the presence of Joshua trees and sweeping mountain views.
Accommodations feature a single private Airstream, outdoor deck and living area, a wood-burning fire pit, and a BBQ pit. Relax and enjoy the solitude of the desert, or make new memories with those closest to you.
We are conveniently located just 10 minutes from downtown JT, with local shopping, dining, groceries, and more, and 30 minutes from the main entrance of Joshua Tree National Park.
We are thrilled to share our little slice of the Mojave Desert and will provide a current calendar of events happening during your stay so you can live like a local.
We reside in a house on the 2 acre property but will give you all the privacy you need.
Dogs welcome.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from
$76
/ night
Desert Drifter RV Park-Joshua Tree
4. Desert Drifter RV Park-Joshua Tree
85%
(13)
39mi from Thermal · 7 sites · RVs, Lodging
Desert Drifter RV Resort is boutique RV resort experience centrally located in Old Town Yucca Valley with restaurants and shopping within one block from location. Only 20 minutes to the West Entrance to Joshua Tree National Park, 5 minutes to Pioneertown, a historical western town anchored by the famed Pappy & Harriets Pioneertown Palace with great music and food, and 30 minutes to downtown Palm Springs.
Each site is 25' x 80' on gravel pad with 20/30/50 Amp, water, and sewer hook ups. Each site is shaded by pine trees with picnic table. The resort features a seasonally heated pool, pet park, communal fire pit, two bathrooms with hot showers, and clubhouse featuring ping pong table, arcade games, board games, books, streaming television, and complimentary self serve coffee, tea, and cocoa station.
Pets
Toilets
Full hookups
from
$80
/ night
Sunset Hideaway Farm
5. Sunset Hideaway Farm
88%
(4)
50mi from Thermal · 35 sites
Located just 6 miles from Palomar Mountain Observatory- Basecamp is the perfect location to stay at. This historic campground is surrounded by vast farmlands growing mostly citrus and avocados. Drive through Pauma Valley and enjoy the views before you start heading up the mountain to Basecamp.
The campground itself is undGo for a hike, star gaze and enjoy the outdoors!er a canopy of century old oak trees, along with the trailers and glamping tents, there are tent sites, sites with hookups as far as water, power and sewage.
Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community
L
Lynette
September 2025
Group trip
The Airstream was cute, clean and very comfortable. Bathrooms were clean. Definitely a great place for kids.
See moreJ
James
August 2025
With pets
Great spot . Clean pool. Trailer is spacious. Close enough to restock supplies .
See more
PJ
July 2025
2 nights at BaseCamp at Palomar
Very clean inside the Airstream, a/c was pumping when we got there. The campground is great, they were prompt to respond to messages when we had an issue with a gate code, overall lovely experience.
See moreL
Lauryn
January 2025
With pets
It was really quiet and peaceful. Airstream was really cool and we had a great time. My dog was enjoying the outside and we went up to Julian for the day. We are totally coming back to try the retro tv!
See more
Des
December 2024
2 nights at BaseCamp at Palomar
Jennifer was great and her brother Steven—also extremely helpful and welcoming with my Holiday stay! The airstream is great and has everything you could ask for (water spigot, a heater, power outlets all throughout, portable stove top, microwave, utensils, plates and a mini fridge w/ freezer. Also, the community had a nice little Christmas feast and met some of the loveliest of folks while there. Facilities were all clean and very well kept. Will definitely be coming back!
See moreB
Brian
December 2024
Weekend Trip to BaseCamp at Palomar
From the booking to checking in the entire process was super easy. The RV was super nice. It had a fridge, microwave and a coffee maker. I brought my own gas stove for cooking. The campsite was clean and quiet. I’ll definitely come back and camp here again!
See more
