Close to Needles · using this for RV fit
Dwell RV Resort and Casita Cabins
AZ · about 20 min to Needles (estimate) · Full hookups listed · sites up to 75 ft
Why stay here: Sites up to 75 ft, bookable online, 20 min to Needles.
Fly-and-drive · round trip from LAS
Las Vegas to Joshua Tree by RV
Needles on the first night, then two nights at Joshua Tree's west entrance. The north entrance at Twentynine Palms is a day drive, not a second camp.
Photo: Renata Harrison / Joshua Tree National Park (NPS) / Public domainJoshua Tree from Las Vegas is about 456 miles and 9 h 31 min of driving, there and back. Plan 4 nights, including the last night near the Las Vegas return. The first drive is about 2 h 6 min after pickup. Best season: Oct–May. Campgrounds and the RV are booked separately.
At a glance
- Trip length
- 4 nights, including the last night near the Las Vegas return
- Route
- Downtown Las Vegas → Needles → Joshua Tree Visitor Center → Las Vegas · 456 mi · 9 h 31 min driving
- Longest driving day
- 4 h 20 min (car, no traffic)
- Fly in and out
- Harry Reid International (LAS)
- RV pickup and return
- Las Vegas area
- Overnights
- Needles → Joshua Tree Visitor Center → Las Vegas (near the RV return)
- Best season
- Oct–May
A suggested itinerary. You book the RV with Outdoorsy, RVshare, or Cruise America, and each campground with the park.
Route map and itinerary
Red Rock line and numbered circles: overnight stops. Dark dots with a citron ring: the recommended campground. Select a number to jump to that day.
- Day 1 Needles · 2 h 6 min
- Day 2 Joshua Tree Visitor Center · 3 h 5 min
- Day 3 Joshua Tree Visitor Center (night 2)
- Day 4 Las Vegas (near the RV return) · 4 h 20 min
- Day 5 Fly home
Dates, travelers, and nights
- Downtown Las Vegas → Needles: 112 mi · 2 h 06 min by carNeedles
- Needles → Joshua Tree Visitor Center: 147 mi · 3 h 05 min by carJoshua Tree Visitor Center
- Joshua Tree Visitor Center → Downtown Las Vegas: 197 mi · 4 h 20 min by carLas Vegas, near the RV return
4 nights, including the last night near the Las Vegas return456 mi round trip9 h 31 min driving (car time)
Drive times are OSRM road-routing estimates for a car, without traffic; an RV is usually slower. Changing nights updates the dates, campground sections, RV prices and search link on this page.
Day by day
4 nights, including the last night near the Las Vegas return.
Day 1 Arrive in Las Vegas and pick up your RV
Experience
Land at Harry Reid (LAS), get to the rental (a rideshare unless the owner delivers), do the walkthrough, and stock water and groceries before leaving town.
Getting there
After pickup: 2 h 6 min · 112 mi to Needles. The first drive is about 2 h 6 min after pickup.
Your stay: 1 night
Compare 2 other campgrounds
Alternative
Silver View RV Resort
AZ · about 35 min to Needles (estimate) · Full hookups listed · sites up to 45 ft
Alternative
Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area
NV · about 35 min to Needles (estimate) · Full hookups listed · sites up to 70 ft
Day 2 Drive to Joshua Tree Visitor Center
Experience
The west entrance and the Oasis Visitor Center at Twentynine Palms are about 22 minutes apart, so this trip camps once, on the west side, and drives to the north entrance for the day.
Getting there
3 h 5 min · 147 mi
Your stay: 2 nights
Close to Joshua Tree Visitor Center · using this for RV fit
Joshua Tree RV & Campground
CA · about 5 min to Joshua Tree Visitor Center (estimate) · Full hookups listed · sites up to 50 ft
Why stay here: Sites up to 50 ft, bookable online, 5 min to Joshua Tree Visitor Center.
Compare 7 other campgrounds
Inside the park
Black Rock Campground
CA · inside the park · No hookups listed · sites up to 35 ft
Inside the park
Black Rock Equestrian Campground
CA · inside the park · No hookups listed · sites up to 35 ft
Alternative
Cabins at Joshua Tree Lake by Hostel Cubed
CA · about 15 min to Joshua Tree Visitor Center (estimate) · No hookups listed · site length not listed
Alternative
Joshua Tree Lake RV & Campground
CA · about 15 min to Joshua Tree Visitor Center (estimate) · Full hookups listed · sites up to 60 ft
Alternative
Joshua Tree Lake RV and Campground - Joshua Tree, CA
CA · about 15 min to Joshua Tree Visitor Center (estimate) · Full hookups listed · sites up to 40 ft
Alternative
Desert Drifter RV Resort - Yucca Valley, CA
CA · about 15 min to Joshua Tree Visitor Center (estimate) · Full hookups listed · sites up to 80 ft
Inside the park
Indian Cove Campground
CA · inside the park · No hookups listed · sites up to 35 ft
Day 3 Joshua Tree Visitor Center: another night
Experience
Most park campgrounds are by reservation on Recreation.gov, up to six months ahead. First-come sites at Hidden Valley, White Tank and Belle fill early on spring weekends.
Getting there
No campground change today.
Your stay
Stay night 2 of 2 at the same campground. No packing up.
Day 4 Drive back toward Las Vegas
Experience
Spend the last night near the rental return so the departure morning is a short hop: dump tanks, refuel, and clean up the way the rental agreement asks.
Getting there
4 h 20 min · 197 mi back to Las Vegas.
Your stay: 1 night
Near the airport · using this for RV fit
Kings Row RV Park - Las Vegas, NV
NV · about 10 min to Harry Reid (estimate) · Full hookups listed · sites up to 60 ft
Why stay here: Sites up to 60 ft, bookable online, 10 min to Harry Reid.
Compare 5 other campgrounds
Alternative
Red Rock Canyon Campground
NV · about 25 min to Harry Reid (estimate) · No hookups listed · sites up to 45 ft
Alternative
Las Vegas Bay Campground
NV · about 30 min to Harry Reid (estimate) · No hookups listed · site length not listed
Alternative
Boulder Beach Group Campsites
NV · about 40 min to Harry Reid (estimate) · No hookups listed · site length not listed
Alternative
Boulder Beach Campground
NV · about 40 min to Harry Reid (estimate) · No hookups listed · site length not listed
Alternative
Callville Bay Campground
NV · about 45 min to Harry Reid (estimate) · No hookups listed · sites up to 40 ft
Day 5 Return the RV and fly home from LAS
Experience
Return the RV at the agreed time, then get to Harry Reid. Leave a buffer for the inspection and the transfer.
Getting there
Short drive from the last campground to the rental return, then to the airport.
Drive minutes between towns are OSRM car times. Minutes from a campground to the stop are a straight-line estimate. Campgrounds come from the Availability API snapshot. Open dates are checked when you set a start date, and only if that service is configured.
Rent this trip from Cruise America
C21 Compact Plus
C21 Compact Plus for two travelers. Sleeps 4. 20.5 ft on the official page. A generator is listed. Pickup defaults to Henderson (LAS), which lists the full Las Vegas fleet.
Nov 12 to Nov 16, 2 travelers. Change travelers or dates in My Trip and this suggestion follows.
The Adventure Travel Trailer is only for a trip with your own tow vehicle. Henderson is the Las Vegas center that lists it.
One-way from Las Vegas is a separate reservation. Cruise America offers one-way trips between most rental centers by advance reservation, subject to availability. Cruise America: RV rental FAQs (one-way).
Deals, on Cruise America’s own pages: Cruise America: half-price mileage deal · Cruise America: Black Friday: 25% off time and mileage on one-way rentals, Nov 1–30, 2026.
RVs that fit this trip
Drivable rentals from Outdoorsy, RVshare, and Cruise America for 2 travelers and 4 nights. Length is kept within the tightest selected site that lists a max (50 ft). Changing nights, travelers, or a campground pick reloads this list.
Finding RVs…
Links to Outdoorsy, RVshare, and Cruise America are affiliate links. Totals are the listed nightly rate times the trip nights, not a quote. Calendars are checked on the provider.
Before you go
RV length on this route
- White Tank and Hidden Valley: 25 feet combined. Belle: up to 35 feet, and most sites 25–30 feet. Reservation campgrounds publish a max length per site on Recreation.gov. NPS Joshua Tree: Campgrounds
- Several campgrounds have no water. Dump stations and water fills are at Black Rock and Cottonwood. Generators are limited to 7–9 am, noon–2 pm and 5–7 pm. NPS Joshua Tree: Campgrounds
One-way options
- Cruise America: one-way reservations are available between most rental centers by advance reservation only, subject to availability; drop fees vary by location, dates and vehicle availability. Cruise America: RV rental FAQs (one-way)
- El Monte RV: offers one-way rentals (pick up in one city, drop off in another), with one-way specials listed on its site; a one-way surcharge can apply. El Monte RV: One-way RV rentals
Sources last checked 2026-11-11.
Common questions
How many days is Joshua Tree by RV?
This suggestion is 4 nights, including the last night near the Las Vegas return: Needles (1 night), Joshua Tree Visitor Center (2 nights), and the last of those nights near the Las Vegas RV return. The longest driving day is about 4 h 20 min.
How far is the drive?
About 456 miles round trip and 9 h 31 min of driving in a car with no traffic. An RV takes longer, especially on grades and in wind.
Where do you camp?
Needles: Dwell RV Resort and Casita Cabins (close to needles). Joshua Tree Visitor Center: Joshua Tree RV & Campground (close to joshua tree visitor center). Las Vegas (near the RV return): Kings Row RV Park - Las Vegas, NV (near the airport).
Can you rent the RV in Las Vegas?
Yes. The RVs on this page are Outdoorsy, RVshare, and Cruise America listings picked up around Las Vegas. You book the RV with that company and the campground with the park. They are separate reservations.
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