Over the past decade or two, Joshua Tree has morphed from a relative wilderness to a buzzy destination that seems to be every L.A. hipster’s weekend break of choice. But despite the influx of visitors, this stretch of the desert still makes for a delightfully rugged alternative to glossy Palm Springs.
Just a couple of hours’ drive from Los Angeles (if you don’t get trapped in brutal traffic on the 10), it still feels vast and limitless, and the moody national park is one of Southern California’s greatest treasures. There were just a handful of motels here a few years back—including iconic 1960s-era spots Joshua Tree Inn and Harmony Motel—but now the place is awash with options. One of the most spectacular is this AutoCamp. A Hilton-affiliated Airstream park with sites across the country, including Yosemite, Cape Cod, the Catskills and Zion, this is glamping at its slickest. AutoCamp Joshua Tree is home to 47 shiny silver trailers across 25 acres, and a handful of more accessible tiny homes.
Unlike some other Joshua Tree properties, AutoCamp is super easy to find. We can see the glistening silver Airstreams from the main road and you pull into the roomy park via an electronic gate.
Why stay at AutoCamp Joshua Tree?
Anyone who might feel too addicted to home comforts in order to really commit to the great unknown will appreciate just how safe and secure this place feels. The location is ideal; minutes from the many amenities of Joshua Tree and only a short drive to the entrance of the national park. Some properties in Joshua Tree are down dusty, windy, unlit tracks—this is not one of them. Even so, staying here doesn’t feel like you’re in a hotel, you feel like an adventurer—albeit a very comfortable one.
What are the rooms like at AutoCamp Joshua Tree?
There are 47 Airstream trailers at AutoCamp Joshua Tree, four cabins and four accessible cabins. We’re staying in one of the cabins, which feels like an ultra contemporary tiny home. It’s railroad-style, featuring one bedroom with a comfy double bed, and plenty of room for storage. Blinds operate on a mechanized switch system and open to reveal big glass windows with a view of the twinkling trailers in the distance. There’s a living room with a kitchenette, a sofa that pulls out into a small double bed, and a big television as well as an in-ceiling sound system which you can connect your own devices to via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
The bathroom is surprisingly spacious—bigger than some hotels—and comes with a shower. Hot water runs for around 20 minutes and only takes about 40 minutes to reheat. Shampoo, conditioner, body wash and towels are all provided. There’s also a full air conditioning system. We didn’t need to use it, as the temperature was fine—but this was in March. It’s a much different story during the height of summer, when temperatures routinely break into the triple digits.
The design inside is simple and stylish. There are wood floors, slatted white walls and a single quilt with a sunset pattern on the wall. The hippy-adjacent desert imagery is subtle and not overdone. Overall, it’s a classy take. Every accommodation also comes with plenty of outdoor space to call your own. Each trailer and cabin has its own bench and table with a sunshield above, as well as a personal firepit, while native plants and rocks are dotted throughout the park for that authentic outdoorsy vibe.
What are the best places to eat and drink nearby?
The grand, solar-panel covered Clubhouse offers a short breakfast menu—and free granola and coffee every morning—as well as lunch and dinner, but it’s pretty simple fare. Sure, it means you can spend a full day lounging by the pool with your turkey pesto sandwich, but the best eats are to be found off-site. Unless you want to grab a grill kit from the on-site general store (along with local beers and wine) and cook a meat feast on your own barbecue, or use the microwave and double burner induction hot plate to prepare hot breakfasts or lunch.
Off-site there are some excellent local restaurants and many are even walkable. Open since 1977, JT Country Kitchen offers diner food for breakfast and lunch (try the big biscuit combo), while Crossroads Cafe is an all-day spot for toasted sandwiches, salads and quesadillas. Get your caffeine fix at Joshua Tree Coffee Company or grab stronger drinks at the enjoyably dive-y Josha Tree saloon, and don’t miss the karaoke. Hop in your car for the Copper Room, a former airport lounge bar where country musician Gram Parsons liked to sink sunset margaritas. It’s now a high-end restaurant with live jazz. It’s only 20 minutes to Pappy and Harriet’s, a steakhouse on the Wild West movie set that is Pioneertown. Here you’ll get the best ribs for miles, as well as shows from some of the world’s best bands. And while you’re there, you might as well pop into Red Dog Saloon for a paloma. Try Más o Menos for coffee and cake, or mezcal and natural wine as well as live music in the evenings. Then there’s the rowdy Tiny Pony for drag shows and boozy brunch.
What is the service like at AutoCamp Joshua Tree?
Staff here are friendly and go out of their way to make sure you get the help you need. There was no butter for sale in the general store, but they grabbed some from the kitchen so we could use it in our cabin. I also went to buy some painkillers for a sore throat and was offered a takeout cup and free chamomile tea bags.
What is the pool like at AutoCamp Joshua Tree?
There’s a small swimming pool right by the Clubhouse. It’s pretty no-frills, but there are loungers, fluffy towels and shades. What more do you need? There are also bikes you can rent to spin around the property or take outside, and when we were there, there was live music on Saturday evening.
What’s the area like around AutoCamp Joshua Tree?
It’s pretty easy to end up in the wilderness in Joshua Tree, but AutoCamp is right in town (even if it doesn’t actually feel like it when you’re there). It’s close to Joshua Tree’s restaurants and quirky tourist attractions, from the Crochet Museum to Desert Christ Park, as well as vintage stores and health food shops. It’s the proximity to Joshua Tree National Park though that is the main draw: You’re less than a 20-minute drive to the park entrance.
Why should you book a stay at AutoCamp Joshua Tree?
If you want to experience an “off grid” atmosphere, while still being extremely “on grid,” AutoCamp Joshua Tree is perfect. You feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere but, crucially, aren’t. Prices are high during the likes of spring break, but you’ll get good deals mid-week and when it’s too ludicrously hot for most people to consider venturing out in the desert.