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Van camping at Palm Canyon Hotel & RV Resort is a fun time, indeed. Located in the Anza-Borrego Desert, it’s got that Wild West theme. Yee-haw!
The resort is nestled near many hiking trails and attractions. And on one occasion, I even caught some Hollywood action!
So get ready to stargaze as I share what to know when staying, what you’ll see and expect, and tips.
Getting to Palm Canyon Hotel & RV Resort
To find the resort, you’ll have to travel to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. It takes me 3 hours to travel through Southern California.
The route I take is the I-15 East most of the way, and in Temecula, 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 June because it’s way too hot.
They open back up in October, so you’ll want to plan accordingly.
I’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. 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.
I’ve camped in a Sprinter van that used the full hookups. 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 are spacious and clean. They also have a pool, restaurant, laundry facility, and a little convenience store.
One time when I stayed, they were playing a movie in the restaurant. Speaking of which, I 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. So it’s convenient to venture out for the day and come back to the resort to relax.
I always hear coyotes howl in the evenings. 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, I stayed here and found more than stars in the sky. It was those other stars! You know… the ones you’d find on the silver screen.
The resort was littered with movie trucks and trailers. I wondered who was out there filming.
“It’s probably Leonardo DiCaprio,” I joked. I don’t know why his name came to mind.
On an evening stroll, a guy on the film crew hopped out of a truck. He mentioned that they were filming a movie with Leonardo DiCaprio!
“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 I was, more like working.
The police had blocked off the road, but I saw filming lights in the distance. I could have sneaked a little hike back there though.
Anyway, the movie was One Battle After Another and of course I saw it. I recognized the parts that were filmed in Anza-Borrego.
After doing research, I discovered many movies have been filmed in this desert. 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
I’ve stayed at the resort in the spring, and it was hot. But in the evening, there was cool air. Getting a shaded spot might help when it’s scorching out.
And I’ve also experienced fierce winds on occasion that almost ripped the awning off the van!
Overall
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.
I like the friendly people working there and the amenities. It’s well worth it to stay here, and you’ll be in the center of it all.
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