Solo Camping Trip in Joshua Tree National Park - Tesla Model Y Car Camping

Embarking on a solo camping trip as a woman can be a liberating and empowering experience. Joshua Tree National Park, with its mesmerizing landscapes and unique rock formations—and with it being a cool 2 hours away from me— provided the perfect backdrop for my first solo camping adventure.

For me, solo female camping is about embracing independence, connecting with nature, and discovering your inner strength. It was important to me to do this. Every time I told someone I wanted to solo camp, they’d ask, “but is it safe?” “Is it safe as a woman to do that?” How lame. There was no way I was going to let my gender hold me back. I have a ton of camping experience and consider myself a cautious person. I knew I was fully capable of conquering this mission (and so are you!).

But I get it. I’m not naïve. I know the dangers involved, how important it is to be vigilant and take some safety precautions as a woman. Admittedly, I was scared and anxious. I did in fact have to pep talk myself into this adventure, and I’m so glad I did.

So, let’s break it down: How solo camping went for my first time (mostly amazing), how to be safe as a woman alone in the wilderness (you got this), and where I explored in the park to ensure it was a memorable adventure (it was stunning).

Before diving into my journey, here are safety tips I followed as my first time solo camping as a woman in Joshua Tree.

Solo Camping Safety Tips:

Choose Somewhere Familiar: For my first trip, I chose a campground I had camped many times before. I knew the surrounding area well, where the ranger station was, and knew the layout of the campground. Being in an area I am used to helped ease my nerves. As I become more comfortable with solo camping, I’ll try new spots that I’ll be sure to research, but for now, this was a perfect start for me.
Be Vigilant and Cautious: I made sure to maintain situational awareness. When arriving at the campground I scanned my surroundings, taking note of any nearby campers. I never wanted to be taken by surprise if anyone came up to my site. Just be mindful of your surroundings, and trust your instincts. If something feels off, don't hesitate to relocate your campsite, or seek assistance from park rangers—or leave entirely if your feel uncomfortable. It’s always better to be safe.
Inform Someone About Your Plans: I made sure to tell my fiancé, a couple close friends, and family my itinerary. This included: campground, campsite, reservation and return dates. I also shared my location with my fiancé and parents.
Make it Look Like You’re Not Alone: I placed two camping chairs out by the campfire to make it seem like I was with someone else. I saw this tip on TikTok and thought it was a clever and easy way to deter curious strangers.
Equip Yourself with the Essentials: Pack essential camping gear, including a reliable tent, sleeping bag, and cooking supplies. Additionally, carry a first aid kit, navigation tools, and extra water to stay prepared for unforeseen circumstances. Download my free camping checklist to make sure you’re well equipped for your solo camping trip.
Carry Protection: Just as an extra layer of safety I carried my pocketknife always on me, or near me when I slept. You could also bring pepper spray or other self-defense devices.
Do What Makes You Feel Comfortable: This can mean all sorts of things, but for me this meant car camping for my first time solo, simply for the added security. Locked car doors gave me peace of mind.

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s dive into my trip!

Staying Positive

As excited as I was to go on my first solo adventure, I started out a bit frazzled. Because I was leaving after work, I got caught up in a last-minute project, and ended up leaving later than expected. I knew the moment I got on the road that I wouldn’t be arriving to camp until after sunset, and that was a big bummer. And on top of that, I knew I was arriving late when traffic ended up being worse than expected. What was supposed to be a 2-hour drive ended up being a 3-hour drive—but I wasn’t going to let it ruin the trip. I bucked up, stayed positive and told myself: I wasn’t in a rush. I had all the time in the world with this solo trip.

I arrived to Indian Cove Campground, near Joshua Tree National Park at about 9:00 PM. It was late, but the moment I found my campsite and parked, I felt a wave of relief.

Perfect Weather

Getting out of my car, I was immediately greeted with the warmth of the night. It was October, but the beginning of fall in Joshua Tree is notoriously hot—typically hot during the day, but perfect at night. It was an idyllic 77 degree at night. I was in love, still able to walk around in shorts and a tank top with a flannel for any light breezes.

I took in my home for the night and was so stoked by the surrounding boulders encasing my site, giving optimal privacy and cool views. I also took note of how many campers were around me, making sure I was comfortable with my surroundings.

Setting Up for the Night

First thing I did was set up lighting for my campsite. One of my favorite pieces of camp tech is my Devos Outdoor Lightranger. It’s a light pole that extends really high, flooding my site with useful light, and helps keep bugs up and away from camp.

Next, I set up the campfire and the vibes were immaculate immediately. I was already feeling to accomplished, and best of all—relaxed. I cracked open a hard kombucha (lol) and focused on my camp kitchen setup. I’m loyal to my Eureka double burner stove and kitchen utensil kit from Amazon.

One of my new favorite things to do for a simple camping trip is go to Sprouts and get one of their one-pan meals. I simply throw it in a pan on the stove and it’s ready in about 15-minutes. Tonight’s meal was a chicken stir fry. It was delicious.

I set up my loveseat double camping chair (1) because it’s super comfortable, and (2) to make it look like I wasn’t alone.

Sleep Setup

Confession: I was so excited to try, not only car camping for the first time, but also using camp mode in my Tesla Model Y.

You don’t need much for car camping. Simply bedding and your creature comforts (within reason) is all you need. I bought a car camping inflatable mattress from Amazon that would fit my car. Car camping mattresses of different calibers can easily be expensive, but I didn’t need anything fancy. I got the air mattress on sale, and it was such a deal. Regular $77, it was 30% off and came to about $55. You technically just need a sleeping bag and/or blanket to call your car home, but getting an inflatable mattress gives some extra comfort.

I could easily inflate the mattress with a battery powered pump, and took the opportunity to use my giant sleeping bag, normally for 2 people (check it out here), but I was looking for extra cozy and roomie. I also brought a pillow and some fairy lights I usually keep in my camp storage box. Honestly—immaculate vibes.

Car Camping Essentials:

Air Mattress: not necessarily essential, but will add extra comfort. With your car seats laid flat, you could easily use the sleeping pad you use tent camping, or look for a car camping air mattress, but be sure to make sure it fits the model of your car. I got mine off of Amazon.
Sleeping Bag/Blanket: You gotta stay warm. Your sleeping bag would work perfectly, or even a stack of blankets. I love my Stoic Groundwork Double Sleeping Bag.
Pillow: You’re going to want this for added neck support (and extra coziness). Just grab the one from your bed or use the one you’d take camping.
String Lights: Okay, again, not essential, but idyllic for perfect cozy vibes.

The benefit of camp mode is being able to set the inside temperature of the car. So, regardless of the weather, I can make sure I sleep at the perfect temp inside of my car. Camp mode was easy to setup, too. I simply found the setting in my car’s menu, set the ambient temp to 74 degrees (considering, it was still 78 degrees outside, and it was 11 PM and I knew the next day was going to be sweltering).

Good Morning

I woke up at sunrise, greeted with a wonderful orange glow of the surrounding boulders. This is when I truly felt relaxed. With the sun up I could better gauge my surroundings and immediately felt safer.

Breakfast wasn’t a fancy affair. I reheated my leftover stir fry from the night before and cooked it with a couple eggs. Bon appetit.

Favorite Time of Day

And most importantly, I made myself a cup of coffee. This is my most favorite part of camping. The 7AM camp coffee. Someday, I want a big fancy camping coffee setup, but for now simple works just fine for me.

I finally got to try out my JetBoil stove that I was gifted for xmas. It worked amazingly quick for boiling water. I had some packets of Alpine Start Instant Coconut Creamer Latte coffee leftover from my Half Dome backpacking trip. It actually tastes amazing and has dry creamer added to it, but I also had to bring my (sugar-free) French vanilla creamer in my ice chest.

Basking in the morning glow, and wanting to enjoy the cool temps while I could, I climbed the boulders of my site to enjoy my coffee and breakfast.

I was feeling victorious at this point. It was such a simple trip, but I felt accomplished staying the night by myself at a campground. With the expanse of the desert boulders in front of me, I was excited to conquer the day with some exploring and a solo hike inside the national park.

Let’s Go

Time to pack up and get ready for the day. Luckily, with this quick solo trip, I kept my setup pretty minimal. After putting away my air mattress and sleeping bag, I cleaned up my dishes and placed kitchen items and camp essentials in my favorite storage container. I love my Wolfpack storage system by Front Runner. I have about 3 of these boxes, and I love that they stack easily, and you can also get a lid extender. They’ve been great for trips and for storing in my gear at home. (I don’t think you can get the version I have anymore, but they now have Wolf Pack Pro boxes with all the same great features).

If you’d like to see more about what’s in my camp set up, let me know in the comments if you’d prefer a blog or video—or both! (and also don’t forget to check out my gear list below).

Joshua Tree National Park

It was already getting hot as I entered Joshua Tree National Park around 10 AM. It made for perfect cruising weather. If anything, Joshua Tree is worth this drive through the park alone. Stunning boulders, Joshua Trees everywhere, and endless views for sure.

This was a quick solo trip since I wanted to get on the road home to Orange County before traffic picked up. After driving around, these are the spots I visited:

Keys View: an easy viewpoint you can get to at the end of the main road. There’s parking lot and bathrooms. You’ll usually find a decent crowd here, especially at sunset, due to its accessibility. No matter how many times I’ve visited this spot, it’s always insanely windy, but the views of the surrounding mountain ranges are beautiful.
Hidden Valley Trail: I wanted to do a solo hike where I’d feel comfortable being by myself. This trail is very popular, and although normally I’d avoid crowds, I liked the comfort of being around others while visiting alone. But this trail did not disappoint! Although only a 1 mile loop trail, you get stunning quintessential Joshua Tree boulder views and it’s a trail that’s easy to love.

After checking all these wonderful spots off my list for the day, it was time to hit the road around 2 PM.

The Conclusion

Going solo female camping in Joshua Tree National Park was a journey of self-discovery, empowerment, and connection with nature. I loved every second of this trip. By trusting my gut, following some basic safety tips, and embracing the spirit of adventure, I was able to make the most of my first solo camping experience.

So, now it’s your turn to gear up, step out of your comfort zone, and let the beauty of Joshua Tree inspire your solo camping adventure.