Starting to consider Palm Springs for a few days after Christmas, ideas on RV Parks that are child friendly, with a nice pool. Somewhere to relax, watch the kids play (ages 6, 12, 15). Originally thought to stay at a hotel but figured we could take the TT instead. It does not need to be KOA style, hundreds of kids everywhere. More somewhere that wouldn't mind our boys playing in the pool etc. I noticed many of the RV Parks there are geared towards older adults which is fine so long as kids aren't frowned upon. We actually like parks that are pretty quiet, and we like to go to bed early rather than sit out drinking all night (had few bad experiences with those places recently).Then we may like to visit Joshua Tree and perhaps head to San Diego for a few more days.. So suggestions at those places too appreciated. We will be driving down from Santa Cruz area and could have about 10 or 12 days total.

Your kids are okay but adding my kids and other kids would be KOA style?

Not really experienced with a lot of SoCal rv parks. Saw a snazzy golf-prison format rv park in Palm Springs I think it was $130 a night for rv parking with a couple rules mostly about outfits like mine :) :)I have heard from more than one rv’r’r that Santee Lakes is pretty nice for family.

Google California State, City & County Parks and NP, National Forest and BLM lands in California.The state has tons of them. And as long as it's not the holiday itself, this is lean season for California and not too difficult to get reservations. State, City and County Parks are more expensive though, like $45 to $75 a night when NP, NF, etc are at $30.

Sam's Family Spa in Desert Hot Springs. Family friendly, great pool, great mineral pools, plus a saunaClose to Joshua Tree for some great hikes. Take the back road for some fun up and down road sections in the TV!Palm Springs/Desert Hot Springs is a long trip from Santa Cruz, we've made the trip many times. Call now if you want reservations after Christmas, it's very popular and there are tons of people from up north going there at that time of the year.Sam's also has hotel rooms (not fancy) with kitchens that might accommodate you. It's less crowded after New Year's, depending on what day of the year it is. Our kids loved Sam's. We haven't been there for a while, but they had a clubhouse with ping pong tables, a pool table, & TV. It's not new and sophisticated, but kind of funky and comfortable (and clean).Sam's is a little bit away from Palm Springs, but there are stores, restaurants and other services within a short drive. The Coachella Valley Natural Area is pretty cool too.

Palm Spring then San Diego with kids | Good Sam Community

ppine
Explorer II
Oct 03, 2018
Death Valley is quite a distance from Palm Springs. There are a lot of things to do around the Coachella Valley. My folks had a winter place there for years. Start with the tram to the top of the San Jacinto Mountains. Check out the oases nearby with native Washingonia palms. I really like the Native American land near PS, which charges a small fee. Take a ride to Idylwild on the Palms to Pines highway.

Great restaurants in PS. Take a day trip out in the desert. I am going to miss the place.
tuna_fisher
Explorer
Oct 03, 2018
JT and DV are both quiet, Reserve a camp spot at Jumbo Rocks CG in JT, nicest campground and plenty for your kids to do.No services at all so you will need to camp dry.
jukes
Explorer
Oct 02, 2018
so our plans have changed and we only have 4 or 5 nights over Thanksgiving, not after xmas... thinking maybe Death Valley? Will it be quieter there than Joshua Tree? We will be coming from Santa Cruz! thank you :)
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Aug 20, 2018
I'd also highly recommend staying in Death Valley Nat'l Park. I believe if you stay in the RV park you can use the resort's pool.

Santee Lakes would be an option for San Diego area.... a lot more reasonable and quieter than Campland.

Are you doing this trip from North Carolina? How many days total are you planning? It's a long trip crossing some potentially bad weather. Flying and motels might be cheaper and better use of your time.
jukes
Explorer
Aug 20, 2018
At the moment we are thinking to camp in Joshua Tree NP for 2 or 3 nights to really get a feel for it, then Sams for maybe 3 nights. And LA for 3 nights (the kids want to go there).
So a little 9 night trip..... will take lots of blankets to keep warm!
I will check out the book, thanks :)
WishWeWereCampi
Explorer
Aug 20, 2018
jukes wrote:
WishWeWereCamping wrote:
Sam's Family Spa in Desert Hot Springs. Family friendly, great pool, great mineral pools, plus a sauna

Close to Joshua Tree for some great hikes. Take the back road for some fun up and down road sections in the TV!

Palm Springs/Desert Hot Springs is a long trip from Santa Cruz, we've made the trip many times. Call now if you want reservations after Christmas, it's very popular and there are tons of people from up north going there at that time of the year.

Sam's also has hotel rooms (not fancy) with kitchens that might accommodate you. It's less crowded after New Year's, depending on what day of the year it is. Our kids loved Sam's. We haven't been there for a while, but they had a clubhouse with ping pong tables, a pool table, & TV. It's not new and sophisticated, but kind of funky and comfortable (and clean).

Sam's is a little bit away from Palm Springs, but there are stores, restaurants and other services within a short drive. The Coachella Valley Natural Area is pretty cool too.

Thanks for this info, it's so useful because this was definitely the RV Park that stood out as family friendly. The idea of the hot springs is enticing, but Sam's has such randomly good and bad reviews! however I like the sound of it! Would you base yourselves there and just drive to Joshua Tree or camp there a night or two too? You must live near us, we live in Aptos!

We are near the KOA in La Selva. We've never camped in Joshua Tree but liked it enough to go back at least twice every trip. It can get pretty cold there in January. Doesn't take very long to get there from Sam's, depending on what you want to see. I bought a book called "On Foot in Joshua Tree" that had some nice easy hikes. Can't find it right now but it's available on Amazon.
98Evo
Explorer
Aug 06, 2018
We were at Sams last winter, really enjoyed our stay. The weekend warriors in the overflow area party it up but the main area is quiet. We'll be back.
1320Fastback
Explorer
Aug 06, 2018
JAC1982 wrote:
Campland on the Bay in San Diego on Mission Bay is about as good as it gets to be in the thick of it all in San Diego IMO.

I'll second CampLand and am local.
caver
Nomad
Aug 05, 2018
Dos Picos county park up near Ramona was a nice stay when I visited friends in SD about 5 years ago.
jukes
Explorer
Aug 05, 2018
Lwiddis wrote:
Your kids are okay but adding my kids and other kids would be KOA style?

Not quite what I meant, but adding another few hundred kids, a pool party, and big groups is not what we want and is what we experienced at the 2 KOA's we recently visited :) Child friendly is nice but so is some peace and quiet :) My kids enjoy a pool and meeting other kids, but it doesn't have to be non stop entertainment...