Las Vegas to Joshua Tree RV Road Trip

Route map and itinerary

1. Day 1 Barstow, CA · about 2 hours
2. Day 2 Joshua Tree National Park · about 2½ hours
3. Day 3 Joshua Tree National Park (night 2)
4. Day 4 Las Vegas (near the airport and RV return) · about 4½ hours
5. Day 5 Fly home from LAS

Day by day

1. Day 1 Arrive in Las Vegas and pick up your RV

   Experience

   Land at LAS, get to your rental location (some owners offer airport pickup or delivery; otherwise allow for a taxi or rideshare), do the walkthrough and orientation, and stock up on groceries, water and propane before you leave town.

   Getting there

   After pickup: about 2 hours · 82 mi to Barstow, CA. Keep the first afternoon short; you're learning the vehicle.

   Your stay: 1 night

   Along the routeMid Hills CampgroundBarstow, CA · about 10 min to Barstow, CA (estimate) · 4.0★ (14)Why stay here: A practical overnight on the way; lists RV sites up to 20 ft; 4.0★ from 14 reviews.

   Change or extend:

   Compare 2 other campgrounds

   • Along the routeBlack Canyon Group and Equestrian CampgroundBarstow, CA · about 20 min to Barstow, CA (estimate)Lists sites up to 40 ft; confirm your site fits
   • Along the routeHole-In-The-Wall CampgroundBarstow, CA · about 20 min to Barstow, CA (estimate) · 5.0★ (66)Lists sites up to 30 ft; confirm your site fits

2. Day 2 Drive to Joshua Tree National Park

   Experience

   Two nights let you drive the Park Boulevard through the Joshua tree forest and see the Cholla Cactus Garden, with dark skies for stargazing.

   Getting there

   about 2½ hours · 99 mi

   Your stay: 2 nights (check out Day 4)

   Inside the parkJumbo Rocks CampgroundTwentynine Palms, CA · inside the park · 5.0★ (2944)Why stay here: Inside the park, so no daily drive to the entrance; lists RV sites up to 46 ft; 5.0★ from 2,944 reviews.

   Change or extend: Add a night here in the planner

   Compare 3 other campgrounds

   • Inside the parkIndian Cove CampgroundTwentynine Palms, CA · inside the park · 5.0★ (1826)Lists sites up to 35 ft; confirm your site fits
   • Inside the parkBlack Rock CampgroundYucca Valley, CA · inside the park · 4.0★ (1954)Lists sites up to 35 ft; confirm your site fits
   • Inside the parkRyan CampgroundTwentynine Palms, CA · inside the park · 5.0★ (692)Lists sites up to 32 ft; confirm your site fits

   Getting around Joshua Tree National Park

   From Jumbo Rocks Campground: you're inside the park.

   Driving the RV

   • Trailhead and town lots are often small; check RV parking before you go.

   Shuttles

   We don't have verified shuttle information for Joshua Tree National Park; check the park or town's official site.

   Activities with pickup

   Loading activities…

   Other local transport

   • Rideshare, taxis and bike rentals vary by area and season; arranged and paid separately.

3. Day 3 Joshua Tree National Park: explore

   Experience

   Two nights let you drive the Park Boulevard through the Joshua tree forest and see the Cholla Cactus Garden, with dark skies for stargazing.

   Travel today

   No campground change today; local travel is additional.

   Your stay

   Stay a second night at Jumbo Rocks Campground · same site, no packing up

4. Day 4 Drive back toward Las Vegas

   Experience

   Spend the last night close to the rental return so departure morning is easy: dump tanks, refuel and clean up as your rental agreement requires.

   Getting there

   about 4½ hours · 181 mi

   Your stay: 1 night

   Near the airportKings Row RV ParkLas Vegas, NV · about 10 min from the RV return area · 4.1★ (16)Why stay here: About 10 minutes from the RV return area; site length not listed (ask the campground); full hookups listed; 4.1★ from 16 reviews.

   Change or extend:

   Compare 2 other campgrounds

   • Near the airportLas Vegas KOA Journey at Sam's TownLas Vegas, NV · about 10 min from the RV return areaSite length not listed: ask the campground
   • Near the airportAdults Only -Las Vegas RV ResortLas Vegas, NV · about 10 min from the RV return areaSite length not listed: ask the campground

5. Day 5 Return the RV and fly home from LAS

   Experience

   Return the RV at the agreed time (check-in times vary by owner), then get to the airport. Leave a buffer: returns, inspections and the transfer can take a couple of hours.

   Getting there

   Short drive to the rental return, then transfer to the airport.

Campgrounds are suggestions from our park data, ranked by estimated drive time to the destination first, then listed site length, then reviews; "Inside the park" uses the National Park Service's list. Drive times are estimates. Seasonal openings and live availability aren't in our static park data; the planner checks them for your dates. Open dates and prices are checked live in the planner.

RV pickup and return

Pick up and return the RV in the Las Vegas area. Day 1 allows time to get from LAS to the rental (owners' locations vary; a few offer airport pickup or delivery), the walkthrough, and a grocery stop, so the first drive is short: about about 2 hours to Barstow, CA. The last night is near the return so you can refuel, empty the tanks and return on time before your flight.

Pickup and return times, mileage allowances and fees are set by each owner; check them before you book. This trip is about 362 miles.

RV rentals near Las Vegas airport

Before you go

• Campgrounds inside the park have no hookups; private parks in the nearby towns do.
• Summer highs pass 100°F. Fall to spring is the camping season.
• There is no water at most park campgrounds; carry a full fresh tank.

Official National Park Service pages: Plan your visit · Alerts & conditions · Directions & access · Fees & passes · Hours & seasons

Las Vegas to Joshua Tree by RV: common questions

Related trips

• Las Vegas to Grand Canyon
• Las Vegas to Zion and Bryce Canyon
• Las Vegas to Death Valley

RV parks near Joshua Tree National Park · All fly-and-drive trips · Road trip planner