Twilight Dunes

We rolled without reservations 4 pm on Feb 5th and were informed that the facility was full. When we asked about the Overflow for $10, the lady at the counter stated there was no such thing, but we could have a regular site which was unfilled but was without electricity and needed repair. Our willingness to pay $10, was instead met for a demand for $25. We refused the kind offer and instead returned to our rig parked next to the Home Store. We remained there overnight without bother. Free is a very good price.

I've stayed at my fair share of military RV sights and this is by far the worst of them. If you plan on staying here for any period of time there are no picnic tables, no shade, no BBQ pit, no fires allowed not even the portable fire pits, and nothing can be left outside. All amenities are a drive to get to them commissary, base exchange, and laundry. They have no showers unless you go to the base gym. In my dealings with the staff as well the individual who is over the RV park has no clue what she is doing. I will never stay there again. Not worth it at all.

Other reviewers are right-on, albeit they missed the road noise from the main road into base. It does appear that efforts are being made to make-up for apparent past poor customer relations: the hostess who greeted us was most helpful and friendly as were two staff members who guided us to our site (no numbers - they are being replaced). The paucity of basic things such as rest rooms, showers, etc., makes this a bare-bones place to stay. As others noted, I'd be worried about being here if it rains as sites have no gravel - just sand and dirt. No WiFi. There is a good PX, Commissary, and services station with diesel, albeit $0.20 more expensive than in Indio. It is convenient to Joshua Tree National Park and fills the need for a place to stay over night, especially if you are willing to do full hookups to compensate for lack of facilities. Oh: most sites are taken by long-term visitors.

I echo the previous comments, especially concerning the service and attitude of the employees at the check-in building. Because the help had no idea which spots were available, we found our own and called back with the number, only to discover late that night that the electricity was "dirty 110", making it impossible to use the micro-wave or toaster. After complaining to the help did we get a $5 refund. This place is way over-priced for the value.

They're a little over priced honestly. Like others have said you are just parked on the sand, when it rains you don't sink enough to get stuck but it can make the trailer settle unevenly and there is no protection from the wind. The main access is a dirt road with a new sign pointing to where the park is but you still have to check in at the sleepy tortoise lodge before going to the park. The park is plain and ugly and they're getting anal about keep things like chairs in the shed, it's annoying. The park recently came under new management so they are still ironing out all the kinks that come with that transition.

Normally I only rate campgrounds when I feel that kudos are deserved, however, in this case, it is just the opposite. We made our reservation and confirmed it with a credit card. We were told it would be $125 for 7 days. We were told we would be charged $25 if we did not show. Upon arrival we were informed the price had gone up to $25 per day, or $154 per week. We tried to explain that we had agreed on the $125 rate and we would not have even come for the rate that was 25% higher. This is the most expensive military campground we have stayed in with NO AMENITIES. Doesn't even have a laundry or restroom on site. The wind was so strong we could not even put out our slides the first night. We are parked in the dirt and hope it does not rain or we will probably sink. We will not be back to this overpriced military campground! Instead of going through base housing as instructed on this site, there is a gravel road just past the Home Store that goes into the campground. There is a waist high sign indicating this road.

It is difficult to review this campground without comparing it to Agave Gulch FamCamp at Davis-Monthan in Tucson, AZ. Both are located in a southwest desert setting but the similarities end there. Start with the check-in and registration process. At Agave Gulch, a modern registration office is located at the campground with ample parking for large RVs and is staffed by two camp hosts that provide information about the campground and the local area. They provide brochures, newsletters, pamphlets, and maps and are ready and willing to answer your questions. At Twentynine Palms, registration is done at the desk of the Temporary Lodging facility about 3/4 of a mile from the campground. No RV parking is available. You must use the parking lot of the commissary or the Home Store several hundred yards away. Campground management is a collateral duty for the folks at the registration desk – they are lucky if they can keep track of which sites are occupied and which sites are vacant. Access to the campground is about 1/2 mile off the main road down a dusty gravel road. Or you can try to find your way through the housing area. Campsites are on dirt – not gravel. Thankfully, it doesn’t rain much here or the site would be a muddy mess. But the wind blows a lot and the dust flies. Like an increasing number of military campgrounds, this one has a large population of active duty personnel using it as temporary housing and the campground has the appearance of a trailer park and not a pretty one either. There are no facilities in the campground. The laundromat is 2.5 miles away. There is no bathhouse, no picnic table, no fire rings – this used to be a mobile home park before it was converted to a campground. Other than being near the north entrance to Joshua Tree National Park, there is nothing nearby to attract visitors. One the positive side, most sites have cable TV. Large level sites. Paved interior roads. Most sites have a concrete parking pad, a carport, and a storage shed left over from the days as a mobile home park. The place seems to be popular with the snowbirds. If you have ever been to Agave Gulch, the comparison with this place is like night and day.

First, one must realize this IS the desert, so be prepared for sudden wind / sand storms !!! (don't leave your awning out or windows open). Yes, we've been on the road for over a year, and while this is certainly NOT the best of military campgrounds we've stayed out, we took things in stride...and made it a wonderful couple of months. However, these are suggested improvements: Check in: Courteous, but not much information given out. Could use some area / base maps. Cable TV: The office should advise upon check in that the military book is incorrect...........there is NO cable TV. They should be able to offer a phone number for the closest station for long term stays if you want TV. Road conditions into the campground - sure could use some ashphalt !!! Hospitality at Hashmarks (SNCO club) - we found to be outstanding. Made some "pals". The gals "hosting" the club went above and beyond to make sure everyone was served and having a good time. Miss them. Golf: Not a bad "track", however the course wasn't in the greatest of conditions (we did consider the fact that it was winter). However, for just about the same price you can find a bargain by driving about 45 minutes to Palm Springs area. All in all, for the price and willingness to drive to LA or Simi Valley (hotel overnight stay) we look back at the winter stay with fond memories. God Bless Our Troops !!

I have been to Twentynine Palms twice and am here now, and I don't see that it needs cleaned up at all. There are a lot of Marines who live here and work on base and some of the trailers are pretty old, but after a month or so, they are all covered in the same tan dust and look pretty much alike. A week after I moved in I was told to remove a rope because it was an eye-sore. It was left by the last folks, but I removed it. Not going to argue. They are building a new gas station, so the directions above are a little outdated. After passing main gate, turn right at first traffic light, head south until you see the Home Store on the right. Park in that lot and walk across the street to the Housing office. I would call for reservations, they are almost always full. Oh and don't go off and leave your awning out, I've seen two rigs who thought they had them tied down the wind whipped them right off. It comes up suddenly!

I’m really confused about the status of the Twilight Dunes “RV Park”. It looks to be base housing for a retired Marine that runs his Taxi business out of his motor home. Several more seem to it use the park as base housing for civilian jobs. At least two rigs would make” trailer trash” mobile home parks look like an exclusive neighborhood. I can understand that Marines will stay there if awaiting housing assignments, but is it base housing or MWR sites? If it is base housing, is there not have a housing code that prevents storing junk all over the place? I have stayed in 90% of the military parks nationwide, and the only military park I have seen worse than this, was a spot in Florida panhandle that a guy erected a GP medium tent beside his rig. If this is a RV park, why are there permanent “residences” here? If used for both, why not separate the two and have the back rows for permanent sites and the front for recreational use, thereby having all the trash together and the cleaner short term stays together. Above all, SOMEONE needs to step up to the plate and clean this place up.

The only reason to stop here is to visit Joshua National Park. Great National Park. There is really nothing to say about this CG. There are no facilities, it is a mobile home park converted to an RV park.

I do not think the Housing Office (Temp Lodging) has ever visited the campground. They just take your money and show you the door. I spent one week on full hookups after trying 3 spaces before I found 50 amps. I thought $10 bucks for dry camping was a bit steep, but you pull into a space that has water and sewer, just no elec. You can rinse your tanks, use as much water as you like, fill your tanks before you leave. Not bad!

Directions to the base have changed. It appears the old gate was on Condor Road. That gate still exists, but now has limited hours. Main gate is now on Adobe Road, however, current mapping software shows Adobe Road as ending. What changed is the extension of Adobe Road north across what used to be two runways. The runways have been removed and Adobe now connects with Del Valle Drive. The new main gate is directly west of the FamCamp and you can easily see the FamCamp on your right as you are driving north through the gate. There are no barricades through the main gate, but there are some reasonably nasty speed bumps, so go slow. DO NOT drive to the Bldg 690 parking lot as there is no exit and no turn around. We parked in the commissary parking lot and walked to 690. Many roads on 29 palms are narrow and rough, so don't stray when towing your rig. Even the entrance to the commissary is narrow. Amenities -- No bathhouse at the FamCamp. Laundry facility (not free) is available at Rourke and 4th, a distance of 2.5 miles. The laundry facility can be crowded, but is a short distance from the bx, so you have a place to kill time. Wifi is non-existent anywhere on base, but is available in town at McDonald's. You can sign up for computer time at the library, but only for a short period (1/2 hr when I tried, so not worth it). The library computers often have a line-up of AD Marines, so I was happy to let them have it.Things to do -- Not much. Joshua Tree NP is 5 miles away. We spent 2 days sightseeing and hiking around the park. George Patton Museum is on the southern-central end of the park at I-10 exit 170. The base does have a golf course. There is more to do at Palm Springs, but it is about an hour and twenty minute drive.The FamCamp, as well as the base, is adequate, but not impressive.

I encountered friendly and helpful staff. The CG is part of base housing and there are few amenities. No CATV, BBQ grills or fire rings. I was meeting my son just back from Iraq so I did not really care.

This experience takes the cake...the dry, crumbly, hard icing cake. Worst of our many experiences in military RV camps. This is mainly because no one on the base has a clue what's going on and how to attend to RV'er needs. For starters, there are no signs, no info at the gate, and the MilRV book directions are wrong. Sites are old Capart trailer sites poorly converted to RV sites. Poor markings and awkward setups, some not working. You have to drive through a residential area and are confounded by one-way streets, none suitable to RV's. Did complain to Marine OIC; took me seriously, but did not give me sense of improvements enroute. Price is way high (for the quality) by the day, waaay low by the month. Lots of sand. Fairly good exchange. Lots of tank. Limited rec/dining.

When checking in at Bldg 690 beware of parking lot situation. There is no way out without backing through the entrance. Parked across the street and walked over.

You must drive thru housing to get to campground. Campground is clean. Has full hook-ups. Lots of places to bike ride. Real close to Joshua Tree Nat park. No picnic tables or fire rings at campsites. Has a lot of snowbirds. Reservations recomended. Joshua Tree National Park within 5 miles. Great spot in spring to see wildflowers bloom in the desert. It would have been nice to have a picnic table to eat outside on. And a fire pit for the kids to do marshmallows. Has a nice playground for the grandkids. Lots of sand that blows with the wind.