The Palm Springs/Joshua Tree KOA Holiday
As many times as we’ve been to this campground, I’m surprised we haven’t reviewed it before.
I don’t recall how we first found this campground. Perhaps when my family had one of their timeshare holidays in nearby Indio. Perhaps I wanted a hookup site before we headed off to Quartzsite for an extended off-grid visit. Actually, that sounds most likely.
What I look for in a campground
When we have been, or will be off-grid for an extended period of time, I like to find a nice, full-hookup campground to sort of reset ourselves. We usually use such campground for taking longer showers (maybe even in the bathhouse if they are clean and nice), running the air conditioner or fireplace (depending on weather), and using the laundry room.
It’s always a bonus if these campgrounds have a jetted hot tub.
The Palm Springs/Joshua Tree area
The Palm Springs/Joshua Tree KOA Holiday tells you right in it’s name what you can easily visit while camping here. It’s actually located in Desert Hot Springs, California.
While camping here we have visited Joshua Tree National Park. We also like to visit Shield’s Date Garden, where we learned about the sex life of a date!
We also spend time with my family when they visit Indio, and one of our generation’s activities is to visit tiki bars, like The Reef in Palm Springs. My family also likes to throw away their money at the casinos in the area. One of their favorites is Spotlight 29 Casino. I join them on occasion, but I don’t usually have very good luck, and I get bored when my money runs out!
RV and other camping
The first time we booked a site at the Palm Springs/Joshua Tree KOA Holiday, I chose the 30-amp back-in category. Back-in sites tend to come with a lower price tag, in my experience. We have no problem backing in, so I typically choose this option.
We’ve been to more than one KOA where the sites are so close together we literally couldn’t use our awning if we wanted to. While this KOA doesn’t have many extra-large sites, it does have some. And the “normal” sites aren’t terribly tiny.
This KOA also offers Eco Tents, Cabins, and tent-only sites. Some of the RV sites are 50-amp, some offer both 30 and 50. There are some pull through sites, and some extra-wide back-in sites that offer a bit more space.
Some of the larger RV sites have bushes separating them, but not all. I think the tent sites mostly do have that separation, which is nice for a bit of privacy. The sites I aways choose back up to a row of trees, which also backs up another row of RV site, though they are a bit lower elevation so they feel a little bit more separated.
The standard amenities
This KOA has two laundry rooms. Each room has - I believe - four sets of washers and dryers. The prices are reasonable. One of the rooms has some folding space but not a lot of “hang-out” space. When I use a laundry room, I try to stick close so that I can be sure to empty the machine when they are ready. I don’t like to leave our stuff unattended. But sometimes there isn’t a convenient way to do that. So, I set a timer and head back to the campsite, or take a walk around the grounds. The second laundry room has a couple chairs, and has some chairs and tables right outside. If the weather is nice, I like to hang out there. I usually take my laptop and get some work done while I wait.
There are also two sets of restroom/shower facilities. One is at the pool, and the other is in the building with the second laundry room. They are fine. They are kept clean but they aren’t super updated, although I think they are working on that.
Like most KOAs, there are a couple of KampK9 dog runs.
The Fun Stuff
The heated pool is open year-round. They offer water aerobics a few mornings a week, which I attend when I can. Last time we were there, on the day we left, I went to water aerobics, threw a last load of laundry into a machine, and took a shower while I waited for the washer. We packed up and pulled out of the site while the clothes dried. Tony waited in the truck while I ran in and grabbed our dry clothes. Talk about a productive morning!
The main reason we originally chose this place, as I said, was for the natural mineral hot spring spas. There are three of them, ranging from a little less hot (maybe 99 degrees) to the most hot (106 degrees). I prefer the middle one, that is about 101 degrees or so. Each tub has it’s own jet timer. There are warning signs that children should only go in “Pool 1” - the least hot one. Not all parents obey all rules, sadly.
There is a good variety of activities available at this campground. There are two pickleball courts, a mini golf course, a library, a billiards room, a card and puzzle room, a fitness room. For kids - and some adults - there are recumbent bikes for rent. Also for kids are a climbing wall, playground, and jump pad. Seasonally, they offer ice cream socials and movie nights.
In season, the Desert Oasis gathering room has a breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu on the weekends. We normally don’t stay on the weekend, but the last time we were there we did, so got to enjoy a breakfast there.
Why we keep returning
The Palm Springs/Joshua Tree KOA Holiday is our go-to campground either just before or just after our annual trek to the Quartzsite Sports, Vacation, and RV Show. We like the amenities and the mineral springs, and the chance to soak up the water before or after an off-grid desert visit.
All the people we encounter at this KOA are always nice and they truly seem interested in making the guest experience a positive one.
KOA doesn’t get to claim credit for this part: it’s also a fun fact that every time we visit, we see a really cool vintage or custom-built RV there. For us that’s just a fun bonus to staying at this great campground.
