VLC REVIEWS

"I prefer to stay on BLM, but every once in a while I boondock at VLC for a hot shower and intentional socialising. I really dig the hostel vibes and communal activities. I'm usually stopping over, but there are folks who hang for longer and work remotely here."

"Great community, people & views! The campground has a vibrant atmosphere with plenty of like-minded van lifers, creating opportunities for socializing and sharing experiences. The hosts keep this place running and eco-friendly."

"The last two weeks we spent at Van Life Campgrounds was nothing short of amazing. Still in awe of how awesome our time was there. A trip that was supposed to be 5 days grew to over two weeks. The vibes were too good. Two weeks of meeting some of the nicest people, watching movies together, playing games, cooking food, taking showers under the stars."

"What a great place in the desert. Very much enjoyed our visit. Shay the camp host is very sweet and so helpful. Nice hot shower, super clean composting toilet and great shared spaces. It's definitely a special place I can highly recommend."

"Awesome camp, young vibes. Was great to meet and hang with other van lifers in the desert. The community here is the real deal — not just a buzzword. Everyone actually talks to each other."

"This place is amazing! Give them a text first. Young owner is so welcoming and friendly. He's really making a nice little spot for nomads to come and hang. Hot shower, outdoor kitchen and many things to enjoy — disc golf, a fire ring, hammocks and more. Will definitely be back."

"Aidan was a top notch host and his property is very well suited for the digital nomad and van life crowd. Highly recommended. Beautiful desert oasis — we arrived late and he stayed up until we arrived. Showers were nice and warm. We'll definitely have to come back."

"Aidan even put on a community bonfire. Loved the site! Very amicable and welcoming. Clean toilet and awesome outdoor kitchen. 10/10 will go again. The outdoor shower was nice — showering under the stars is something else."

"Has everything you need. Electricity for those hot nights, outdoor shower (shower under the stars!), and an outdoor communal kitchen. What it does not have is 50 RVs crammed into a lot with noise and light pollution. Geared for low maintenance nomads. If you like a hippie vibe and a sky full of stars, this place is for you."

"Van camping done right. Great spot. Aidan was very thoughtful. Clean toilet and awesome outdoor kitchen. 10/10 will go again for sure. It's a hip place with high vibe. Warmly recommend it."

"We just stayed here for one night so I can't say a lot about the community — it seemed nice though. The host is welcoming and the toilet is a urine-diverted toilet and very clean. The whole place is more of an ongoing project than it appears on the website, which I respect. A work in progress being built with love."

"Aidan has created a great desert campground with lots of amenities. I'm self-contained so I didn't need to use the camp kitchen or the composting toilet, but I did appreciate being able to dump my greywater tank. It's not particularly private, but it's a perfect spot to stop if you're crossing the desert or playing in Joshua Tree. Will definitely stop here again."

"Very cool camp, nice people and chill location. I stayed three nights and made new friends. The shower and community sink were great. Unfortunately the wind was blowing pretty hard while I was there so there weren't many planned activities — but the vibe was still right."

"More than we bargained for. We enjoyed our stay. The facility was great with some nice amenities like showers, games, excellent fire ring, and an upgraded bathroom. I was able to set up my telescope on their deck and take some nice astro photos. The host was responsive and helpful. We also enjoyed its relative closeness to Joshua Tree National Park."

"Perfect Landing Spot! I loved parking my trailer here!! Everyone is very welcoming and the site was close to JTNP, which was great for me. I recommend VLC."

"My boyfriend and I had a wonderful two nights in Aidan's van! The spot provided a super easy way to get to the park — easily within reach of both the 29 Palms and Joshua Tree entrances but far enough out of town to get a nice night sky and quiet surroundings. We loved camp — it had a nice communal hang out spot, an amazing outdoor shower, a solid compost toilet, and our van was sweet. Love that the camp is so sustainable."

"Great Intro to Van Life Community! Aidan has an awesome set up and was a fantastic host! We stayed in his old Van, Ace Vandura and felt right at home. We enjoyed ourselves so much that at the last minute we decided to extend our stay and he was super accommodating. If you're looking for a fun way to enjoy van life camping, look no further."

"Loved Van Camp! Such a fun atmosphere, and community vibe. I was able to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with fellow van life/campers. Would absolutely stay in the future and recommend to others. Thanks Aidan and all!"

"The best in J tree!!! This place is legit! Aiden is a cool dude and super helpful (he helped me jump my car!) it's a communal feel with all the amenities! Would highly recommend!"

"Phenomenal Van Camping. Aidan was an incredibly thoughtful host and has built an impressive community space for van life near Joshua Tree. An amazing amount of amenities here. His old van was comfortable and we slept like babies."

"Great host, great campground. Van Life Campground was our basecamp for 5 days and 4 nights, while we explored Joshua Tree National Park. The campsite had everything we needed and even some luxuries — free hot shower, outdoor kitchen area with sink, running water, stove, counter space and lights. Sunsets and night stars were amazing!"

"A van paradise. What an incredible campsite! Aidan is an awesome host and has built something really special for us travelers. The 360 Mountain views and sunsets are beautiful. That outdoor shower — one of the highlights of the property. You can't beat a hot shower with views like that."

"Could use a picnic table and a grill top on the fire ring."

"Shower was amazing! Night sky amazing! First compost toilet experience was satisfying. Aidan has a great site and work in progress. Outdoor kitchen has what you need. Remember, it's the desert and can get hot and windy. We'll be back next time. Thanks Aidan."

"Great stay! We stayed at Aiden's for 2 nights. It was very comfortable, and the amenities were great! Everything was clean, the shower had hot water, and it was nice and peaceful. We enjoyed the view of the stars at night. Great value for the price!"

"This was a great place to stay in our sprinter van! Each campsite is super level and really spacious, and the evenings were perfect for stargazing and hanging out. The property is set up really well with a cool outdoor shower and kitchen area for easy dish washing."

"Beautiful landscape and skies. Aidan was friendly and VERY helpful! We had many unplanned inconveniences and Aidan was very supportive. Night sky was BEAUTIFUL! Restroom was clean. Communal kitchen was a lifesaver. Very dog friendly site. The site was cleared so our elderly dog could wander without thorns."

"This place is a true gem! Aidan is generous, friendly, and has put a lot of love into this land. Aidan seems to genuinely enjoy meeting the people who come through, and also gives ample privacy if you don't feel like talking. I felt very safe and comfortable there, which isn't always true for me in nature. I'd love to come back again!!"

"Not the quietest campsite ever, but everything there was amazing. Aidan is an extremely welcoming host and the amenities were better than I've ever seen on Hipcamp — a bathroom with a light, outdoor kitchen and a shower (with HOT water!). Would highly recommend for proximity to Joshua Tree and Aidan's hospitality."

"Awesome property near Joshua Tree! He really enjoys meeting new people and is a gracious host who will happily show you around. There are fun activities like frisbee golf, cornhole, and hammocking. There's a nice outdoor kitchen area and tidy restroom facilities."

"Stargazing heaven. Aidan was a great host and this is an awesome spot. Amenities were excellent. Very clean and such a bonus to have an outdoor shower. The stargazing is the best I've ever experienced."

"Great stay! Aidan is a great host and his piece of paradise in the desert was private, secluded, and fantastic for stargazing. I saw the milky way with my naked eyes for the first time in my life."

"Great site and great host. Less than 15 minutes from the J-Tree park entrance, good cell reception, close to town, and a notch above primitive camping but still private. We had a really nice time. Would definitely recommend the campsite if the park is full or you want a little more luxury."

"Thank you Aiden for the great hospitality. With all the campgrounds closed in Joshua Tree we decided to try HipCamp for the first time. Aiden has set the bar high. The campground was clean and easy to find even when we arrived after sunset. The amenities were great including the restroom, kitchen and shower!"

"Desert Fun. Hammocks, horseshoes and a potty! Plus an outdoor shower! Great space, great communication with the host. Stargazing was amazing! We will be back!"

"Trying the VanLife! My trip to Joshua Tree was exceptional thanks to Aidan and Savannah! Staying at their campground and in the vintage van was an awesome experience. The van was cozy and quiet. The bathroom and communal kitchen was a short walk away. The campground really had everything I needed."

"More than we bargained for. The facility was great — amenities like showers, games, excellent fire ring, and an upgraded bathroom. The host was responsive and helpful. Loved the riverfront setting."

"Great community, people & views! The campground has a vibrant atmosphere with plenty of like-minded van lifers. The river access made every morning feel like a treat. Hosts kept things running and eco-friendly."

"Awesome camp, good vibes. Was great to meet and hang with other van lifers along the river. The community here is the real deal — everyone actually talks to each other. The PNW setting is unreal."