Yurt Living in Joshua Tree

Glamping: where luxury camping meets nature

As a kid, we went camping a lot. Most of the time it was in an RV but we also did some tent camping. Although, sleeping on the ground in a tent isn’t my idea of fun anymore.

But, I love to be out in nature so when glamping became a thing, I knew I wanted to try it. It was a unique getaway experience that our family was after.

There are glamping spots everywhere these days, especially here in California. You can find a location just about anywhere from the coast to the desert to the mountains.

One of the things that I love about California is that you can be at the beach, the mountains, and the desert all in one day if you wanted to. From the beach to the desert or the mountains is about a 2-hour drive.

My family and I wanted to see Joshua Tree and what better way to star gaze out in the desert at night than to camp? There are also limited areas to camp inside Joshua Tree National Park so guests that don’t want to tent camp look at Airbnbs and hotels just outside of the park.

Because I’ve been out in the desert a lot, I was familiar with the Joshua trees but if you’ve never heard of Joshua Tree, here is a quick rundown.

These funky trees, known as Yucca brevifolia, are twisted and spikey so don’t touch them because their spines are like daggers. They are so odd looking that you can’t help but stare at their marvel.

They flower and their silhouette is like no other.

Obviously, Joshua Tree is full of them. Joshua Tree National Park is home to thousands of trees along with amazing rock formations and hiking trails.

The town of Joshua Tree is the perfect place to “glamp”.

I set out on my internet quest to find the perfect place to stay. I’d heard of a few spots and even scouted out some Airbnbs but ultimately found the best secret glamping spot.

This was 4 years ago and there are even better places to pick from now. You can choose from old Airstreams, really cool yurts, an old abandoned ship that has been restored, or a cool place that looks like a spaceship.

That one is not really glamping but is worth a look.

The location that I chose had several yurt camping spots with a community pool and hang-out area.

To get to this glamping space, there were detailed instructions that took you off the beaten path. It was like a treasure hunt to arrive at the meeting point.

Pull off the road at the flag, turn at the X, and off-road through some twists and turns to Yurt #3. We passed a pretty big hill and thought we were never going to find it when the first yurt began to show its beauty.

We began to see the others and there was an abandoned ship where the owner of the property lived. We met him at the ship and he gave us a tour of the property.

We started at the common areas which included the outdoor above-ground pool. There was a blow-up doll in the pool and he laughed.

“Oops, I forgot to get rid of that from the bachelorette party last night.” We all giggled.

The pool was next to an old Airstream that had been reconfigured into a kitchen with a big pantry. There was also an outdoor barbeque and seating.

Next to that were the outdoor showers and bathrooms. Although it sounds weird, the outdoor shower was private and the weather was warm enough.

Plus, we were camping, basically. We all thought this was the best way to camp. You just show up and everything is done for you. Sure, it is a little more expensive but you’d spend a lot more on gear.

When we arrived at our yurt, we were all pleasantly surprised. It was big enough for two queen beds, a couch, and a table. Plenty of room for the four of us.

Outside of the yurt, there was an outdoor day bed and a firepit with chairs. All set up and perfect, again we just had to show up and enjoy ourselves.

Our first night there we spent roasting marshmallows, stargazing, and enjoying each other's company without any cell phones or television. It really is the perfect getaway for all of us in today's technologically-obsessed society.

We only stayed two nights and after exploring all day the following night, we were ready for a peaceful night at the yurt.

If you are ever in Joshua Tree, I recommend finding a yurt that fits your needs, as there are many to choose from now.

It’s a magical experience like no other. The next spot on our wishlist is up near Santa Barbara called El Capitan.

Have you been glamping? Let me know where so I can add it to my list.

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Thanks for reading!

Much love, Michele