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We’ve stayed at Palm Canyon Hotel & RV Resort, and have van camped many times. Located in the desert, we love the Wild West theme. Yee-haw!
The resort is nestled near many hiking trails and attractions. And on one occasion, we even caught some Hollywood action!
I’ll tell you about our experience, what to know and expect, and a few personal photos too. You might find some stars in the sand like we did!
Getting There
To find the resort, you’ll have to travel to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. It takes us 3 hours to drive through Southern California.
We take the I-15 East most of the way. In Temecula, we take the CA-79 South to Borrego Springs.
Staying at Palm Canyon Hotel & RV Resort
The resort is pretty much open daily. However, they close in the summer because it’s way too hot.
A lady working at the resort told us they close in June, but open back up in October. So, you’ll want to plan accordingly.
We’ve stayed here both in winter and late spring. The desert gets hot in the summer, trust me.
Checking In
Right when you pull in on the property, you’ll see the office. That’s where you’ll want to check in.
You’ll want to make reservations ahead of time. Once we came here late, and they were nice enough to call and wait for us to arrive.
The front desk closes around 8 p.m., so if you’re running late let them know.
Resort Amenities
The whole resort looks like a Western movie set. You have the rustic hotels on one side and an RV park on the other.
We always camp in our Sprinter van and use the full hook-ups on the grounds. So, I can’t tell you what the hotel stay is like.
I’ve also seen Airstreams there, and I’m not sure if they rent them out.
The bathrooms and showers were spacious and pretty clean every time we stayed. We never had to wait in line to use the facilities.
They also have a pool, restaurant, laundry facility, and little convenience store. The resort had everything for a long stay.
One time when we stayed, they were playing a movie in the restaurant. Speaking of which, we like eating there.
Big Horn Burgers and Shakes gets a big thumbs up for their home-cooked fries. Absolutely delicious!
Beautiful Landscape
The RV park is right in the midst of the desert. I love the sunrises and sunsets over here.
So outdoor activities here are ideal because there’s a beautiful landscape that stretches for miles. And it’s pretty quiet out there.
Many people come to the desert for hiking, biking, camping, and off-roading. We like to venture out for the day and come back to the resort to relax.
We often hear the howling of coyotes in the evening. And at night, you’ll surround yourself with pretty twinkling stars.
They light up the desert sky at night, and once we saw cosmic lights strewn across the sky. I must return to investigate this.
Stars in the Sand
One time, we booked a spot at the resort and found more than stars in the sky. We found those other stars! You know… the ones you’d find on the silver screen.
We pulled up to find movie trucks and trailers. I wondered who was out there filming.
“It’s probably Leonardo DiCaprio,” I joked. We watch many of his movies, so his name came to mind.
After we checked in, we parked in our reserved spot. The RV park barely had any other campers.
The Hollywood filming brigade took up most of the RV park.
As we left our van for an early evening stroll, a guy on the film crew hopped out of a truck. He eyed our van and complimented us on the build.
He told us they were filming a movie with Leonardo DiCaprio and other actors, and he had a van like ours. When he described it, we knew we had seen it.
“There are a lot of big stars and celebrities filming this movie,” he said, rattling off a few more names.
Well, they say you can see stars better in the desert—Ha!
Did I see him up close and personal? No.
Let’s just say he was a fellow guest staying at the resort. I wouldn’t say he was van camping like us, more like working.
The police had blocked off the road, but we saw filming lights in the distance. We could have sneaked a little hike back there though.
After doing research, I discovered many movies have been filmed in Anza-Borrego. That comes as no surprise, as it’s such a beautiful and diverse landscape.
And they do a lot of filming right at the resort, so you might also catch some Hollywood action. And if you do, you’ll have to tell me about it!
Travel Notes
When we stayed at the resort in the spring, we were the last campers for the season. Besides the movie crew, there was barely anyone there.
In the evenings, the cool air drifted in. But the sun scorched the land during the day, and we didn’t have a shaded spot.
So we pulled out the awning on the van, and the fierce winds whipped it up and almost ripped it off!
If you stay on the RV side during the warmer months, you might try to get a shaded spot. When we camp here in the winter, the weather is much more pleasant.
Final Thoughts
There are many options in Borrego Springs, especially if you want to camp. Palm Canyon Hotel & RV Resort is a fun place to stay in the desert.
We like the friendly people working there and the amenities. We stay here often and will return.
More Travel Adventures
I have many more related posts on my blog. You might want to check them out.
- We also like to stay at Borrego Palm Canyon Campground, a very clean state facility nearby.
- While staying here, we did the Ghost Mountain Trail hike and explored the historic site.
- For more things to do and see in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, check out my post.
- If you’re into recycled artwork and exploring, we also visited Slab City. It’s an interesting desert community an hour away.
I would love to hear about your travel adventure stories!
Originally published: November 13, 2024
