Palm Springs RV Resort - Thousand Trails

The staff & campers are friendly. The sites are tight and some are filled with burrs. (watch out doggies) On Saturday, we spent most of the day at Joshua Tree National Park. This campground is a good base camp for exploring the area. The freeway is close to the campground. Also, I heard a train going by during the day & at night. Watch for wind alerts when driving to Palm Springs. Overall, I would like to come back here and city camp. :)

I enjoyed

Talking with the staff and other campers
I had a good laugh seeing a public pay phone in the pool area.
I enjoyed walking the perimeter of the park.
Swimming in the pool & hanging out in the spa with the friendly campers
Looking at all the palm trees in the park. (its calms me)

We came in to weather a storm and catch up on some infrastructure. We had planned to do some exploring and hiking in the surrounding area, but Mother Nature didn't cooperate. Nothing flooded or blew away during the storms. So all good on our end. We will stay in this park again when in the area.

It is an older park, but well maintained with very welcoming staff. The spaces are tight, but plenty available. We stayed in a pull through site with plenty of room for our rig and car. The end sites are nice and you have a view of the foothills.

The guests are nice and everyone is very helpful. The laundry room is in great shape and reasonably priced. Some spaces have picnic tables, but not all. The pool and billiard room are nice with all new furniture at the pool.

We can hear the train go by at regular intervals, but parking in the back of the park lessens the noise of the train and the highway. There are no whistling trains, so it tends to just blend in.

The office is able to accept packages. Grocery and Starbucks and every other 'big box' store within a 15 minute drive.

Potential improvements would be concrete patio pads and picnic tables at all the sites (currently only at some).

We enjoyed our stay here. The pool and facilities are great. Lots of friendly campers and staff. It's right off the freeway which is a positive if you are looking to get out and explore the area. The downside is that it's right off the freeway and traffic noise is 24/7.

The sites are a bit dusty and could use some concrete upgrades. Plenty of activities from horse shoes to billiards and pickleball.

We've actually spent a total of 12 weeks here since our first visit in December 2014. We just left after a 4 week stay and it remains one of our favorites in the Thousand Trails camping network system. We are TT 'Elite' members so aside from buying the membership initially and paying annual dues, the rest of our stays are "free" although we did pay $29 this time to stay the extra (4th) week, which our membership allows us to do twice a year.

Overview:
This is a medium-large campground with nearly 450 sites on 25 acres. Sites are fairly close together, but it's never felt too cramped for us and our 36' MH. We mostly stay in peak season (Dec-Feb) but just spent the month of April and it was noticeably quieter. The campground closes for the season on May 15 and reopens in October as the summers are simply too hot. The campground is filled with palm trees planted in a fairly orderly way which makes it attractive, especially at sunset. All sites are full hook up and they have tent camping sites and and little cabins as well - but we have never used or even seen inside those. From the outside they look cute.

There are about 150 sites with 30 amp and the remaining 300 or so are 50 amp (approx 120 of those are annual sites, mostly around the perimeter). All of the 30 amp sites are pull-through and all of the 50 amp are back in. Campground is definitely big rig friendly. In fact, probably 80% of the rigs we see there would be considered big rigs by most.

Roads are paved, but most of the sites are sandy (a few have some gravel) and the area is known for the occasional dust storms that can blow through the park, so don't leave your windows open or your awnings out when leaving your coach unattended.

This park has a lovely pool area with hot tub, pool chairs and a few shaded cabanas and a poolside BBQ. Also a great billiards room with 2 tables and several pickleball courts - which is very popular here. While we don't play (mostly working!) we actually love the sound of pickleball games as it is a happy sound with mostly laughs and good sportsmanship.

Speaking of noise, the campground is situated right off a major highway (I-10) which causes some road noise and there is an elevated rail line on the other side of the highway which you can sometimes hear - and even actually feel the vibration - of trains while in your RV. We didn't find the noise too disruptive, but have almost always been parked toward the rear of the campground and not the front. We feel it's important to mention as this isn't a tranquil, quiet or secluded reserve and so don't arrive expecting that. There are a few laundry rooms located around the campground with plenty of washer/dryers, as well as an adult lodge, recreation center and family lodge by the pool area. All facilities are in good condition.

Campground is a short drive from Palm Springs with great amenities and also to Joshua Tree National Park. We have always found TT Palm Springs to be a very friendly, social and active park and it's always our busiest campground socially, which is fun.

Pros:
- Proximity to Palm Springs, Joshua Tree NP, Coachella and Stagecoach (Music Festivals)
- Great weather and location
- Convenient to supermarkets (Stater Bros just a few mins away), great shopping, restaurants, markets, Costco, Whole Foods etc.
- Big rig friendly
- Great facilities
- Can use swimming pool in winter, nice hot tub too
- Staff accommodating and friendly

Cons:
- Ground can be a bit sandy/dusty
- Road noise and train noise (not bad, but noticeable - worse at the front)
- We have heard some bikes have been stolen in the past, so be sure to lock them up
- A bit more crowed than some might like, though it's never been an issue for us
- The handful of storage sites along the left side are no longer available (we stored out coach here in 2014 for 10 days)

TIPS:
1. Be careful when parking your rig because some of those palm trees lean more than you might think and could damage your coach. Look UP as well as the sides when parking to avoid leaning palm trees. Be especially careful if arriving after dark so you can see the trees and obstacles.
2. Pull in your awning and close windows when your RV is unattended as strong winds can kick up quite a dust storm. The awning repair guy does good business at this campground for above stated reasons.
3. When arriving via Varner Road heading east to west, be careful not to pass the driveway entrance on your right, as the main Thousand Trails sign is located AFTER the entrance which can be confusing if it's your first visit.
4. While the ranger station sells dates from the date palms in the park, the ones we bought on our first visit (2015) were not good (very dry) so buy your juicy, delicious dates from the local markets instead (COD, Villagefest) as that's what Palm Springs is known for.

WIFI
We had very good cell coverage with consistent 3 bars LTE with Verizon and T-Mobile.

MAIL
- We have received a number of packages at this campground. FedEx and UPS trucks will deliver direct to your site as long as you include your site number on the shipping address.
- We have also received our Mail forwarding from Escapees (mail service) here in a 2 day priority envelope and they seem to be OK with those (and packages - not envelopes - via mail). - The USPS Delivery person puts in a big mailbox at the front and the TT PS staff will put a note with your name on the board near the ranger station to advise a package is waiting for you so you can collect from the Recreation Office.
- They do NOT accept regular 1st class mail (envelopes) so they must be addressed to General Delivery, Thousand Palms CA 92276 - and collected from the Thousand Palms Post Office on Ramon Road where they will hold for you for 2 weeks, I believe.

Other Comments / Area Highlights
- Check out the Villagefest on Thursday nights in downtown Palm Springs (Palm Canyon Drive) and College of the Desert (COD) markets on Saturday/Sunday mornings in Palm Desert. Buy your fresh dates there and be sure to stop and taste the delicious jerky samples at Palm Springs Jerky (say hi to Stan and Lynn from us! Lovely people). Also Brandini Toffee samples at the Villagefest mmmm
- The Aerial Tram in Palm Springs is worth a trip to the top to see Mt San Jacinto State Park. Note, this gains huge altitude and is a completely different climate at the top. We were swimming in the pool at the campground in 80 degree temps, then rode the tram up for a hike and it snowed on us. Fun! Take a jacket and sensible, closed shoes for walking and warmth.
- Thrift stores / recycle / consignment stores are awesome in this area as plenty of well dressed wealthy types like to donate/sell their clothes for new fashion updates! (great stuff, designer gear cheap!)
- We share fave restaurant reviews on Yelp, Trip Advisor etc so check those out too

Summary:
We really like this campground and look forward to returning next winter. It's a popular snowbird destination and for good reason. The weather is great and consistent, elevation is so low that it is quite warm in the winter. Park closes for the summer but can't imagine why anybody would want to try to stay in their RV in this area in the summer anyway.

Notes:
We are members of the Thousand Trails camping network and have an upgraded "Elite" membership (which we bought discounted as a resale i 2014). So we don't actually pay when we stay at TT parks as it's included in our annual dues, which makes our camping much more affordable, especially as full-timers. As a result, our experiences and reviews of Thousand Trails parks tend to be shared with the consideration of what we pay to stay. That is, we are generally more accepting of the TT campground standards compared with others we may pay substantially more for (eg. $40+ a night). Our expectations are managed, we know what we are getting for our money and are fine with that as it saves us so much. We have written a lot about Thousand Trails, why we bought the membership, how much it saves us and how to get the best deals (on a zone pass and our subsequent membership upgrade) at our website http://rvlove.com/start-here/camping-options/thousand-trails We also share photos of our campground stays and campsites on our social media pages (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter etc)

Tight spaces and definitely a few really run down campers and overly cluttered sites. The perk of this campground is the location and price- lots of great things to do in the area and we got a free year membership when we bought our camper. Overall, the campground was just fine and bathrooms were clean, but I’d consider it more of a place to sleep/work than a destination in itself. Cell service was great as it’s right next to the highway, they also offer WiFi for a fee, but we didn’t get it. We did feel safe there and the “rangers” were very nice and helpful. They did unexpectedly turn the water off without notice for a few hours on a Monday, not a big deal, but a notice would’ve been nice. Laundry was conveniently located around the park, but we did encounter a few “out of order” machines while we were there (3 out of 4 washers were out of order in the laundry room closest to our site on the day I decided to do laundry). The palm trees were beautiful and that definitely helped with the overall feel of the park. We’d stay here again to explore more of the area, but I don’t think we would’ve paid for a membership if it wasn’t a perk of purchasing our camper.

We are new Thousand Trail members and spent the first week of January 2018 here. We liked it so much we returned for two more weeks later in the month. Back in sites with 50A electrical can be tight while the pull-through are roomier with 30A service. Park staff are very friendly and helpful. At checkin available pull-through sites were marked on the map and the ranger gave his opinion on site desirability when we asked. The pool and hot tub are very clean and delightful. There are many activities planned by the staff and fellow campers. We will definitely be back. Blazing fast T-Mobile internet access with 150 Mbps down and 50 Mbps up speeds

We really enjoyed Palm Springs RV Resort. Although we had heard about some thefts, we didn't experience that. Our neighbours were very friendly and outgoing and we enjoyed our time here. The park is about 1.5 hours from Joshua Tree National park and one hour from Ladder Canyon Trail.

We loved the location, the friendly campers, and the recycling and pay as you go wifi. We would definitely camp here again.

We visited this park the first week of May and it was quite empty. The park closes May 15th for the season so most people had already left the park.There were a few campers that came and went while we were there but all were very quiet and respectful. This was our first visit and it was very quiet but we were in the back of the park as far away from the train as possible. I can only imagine how congested this park might get in the heart of the winter here. The staff here was very nice and seemed to be working hard to keep up with the landscaping and maintenance. While in pretty good shape you could definitely tell this park gets tons of wear and tear. This was a perfect launch point for Joshua Tree National Park and the surrounding foothills area. We had a great visit and will definitely return next time we're in the Palm Springs area.

This is a georgeous park, arguably, one of the best in the TT system. Set under the gently swaying branches of an old date farm, it’s picturesque and relaxing, in spite of the interstate being only a block away. If you have a big rig and can’t get a pull through, expect to spend about 2 hours inching back and forth to squeeze your rig into one of the few, and exceptionally tight spots that can accommodate a trailer over 35 feet. Even if you make it, might not be able to pop your slides out without smacking into one of those beautiful trees. And the sites are so tightly packed you can lend your neighbor a cup of sugar, or a beer, or an oxygen tank by simply passing it through your window. Very convenient. Very tight even pulling down the street. I had to get the drone out and make it follow me so I could watch the rear end swing out and verify that it would not smash into a tree when I made a tight turn. It was close. But once you’re parked, it’s paradise.

We had planned to stay two weeks, but only made it five days. I get that members who full time with families are a minority in the TT system. And that most members are, um, elderly. I read other reviews of this park, and saw what other families had to say about its lack of family friendliness and didn’t believe them. That is, until I experienced it for myself. How can I describe it? It’s pernicious. And it’s consistent among most of the staff, and the residents. Let me put it this way to you, if your children are under 18, you better not let them walk to the bathroom alone, unescorted. Because residents or a staff member are likely to assault them. If your children are over 18, they better be carrying photo ID proving they are your child, or they are likely to be removed from the property.

I’m still shocked by my experience there. My 10 year old son, my oldest, was playing at the playground (the designated child off leash area, also conveniently located next to the dog run) a few sites down from where we were parked, unaccompanied by his parent and/or guardian. His parents and/or guardians were in the RV making dinner when he came running back, crying hysterically saying there was an angry man after him trying to hit him and followed him back to our site. My son is autistic and sometimes exaggerates things. I told him, “there’s no man trying to get you...” as I opened the door and low and behold, there was a man outside in our site pacing back and forth, completely red in the face wearing a TT STAFF UNIFORM yelling at me and my son that park rules specifically state children are not allowed to be anywhere onsite unaccompanied by their parent and/or guardian except within their own campsite and that family members over the age of 18 are required to keep ID on them at all times verifying their relation to a member! Well sure I yelled at the guy for threatening to hit my son, which he didn’t deny.

We left the next morning. Later that day we received an official letter of reprimand via email from the park manager citing us for failure to properly supervise our child and that a future offense would result in termination of our membership. Was he spray painting walls? Keying cars? Bullying other kids? Slamming the door? Peeing with the seat down??? What??? Nope. Playing at the park unsupervised.

Doing that gets your child threatened, chased back to your site in tears, and threat of having your membership revoked - which I’m not sure they can actually do...

Don’t bring your kids here, you will regret it. So much more to say about our bad experiences here. Every day it was something else. This was the worst of it, but I think you get the gist. Completely ruined all that Palm Desert beauty.

Wow. If you actually read to the end of this review, I think you deserve a medal.

This is my 5th Thousand Trails park and my least favorite. I felt totally packed in like sardines here compared to other parks I've been to. There were no good places to walk except along the sites, it butts right up to I-10 and on the other side is a giant warehouse. So the views aren't anything special. The wifi was horrible and not even free. The cell service was spotty. The sites themselves were quite muddy when I arrived. The only saving grace is the amenities: laundry ($3/load) and really nice bathrooms. The showers here are the nicest camp showers I've ever been to. I guess it's an ok location if you plan to explore the area by car, but it isn't a great place to hang out at.