About Cottonwood Campground (CA)
Number of accommodations: 59
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
Rates, Sites & Availability
59 Sites Available
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Site Details
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59 Sites Available
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews (1105)
What Guests Are Saying
Cottonwood Campground is highly praised for its cleanliness, well-maintained facilities, and excellent stargazing opportunities, making it a favorite among campers. Many visitors enjoyed the nearby hiking trails and the campground's peaceful atmosphere, noting the friendly park rangers and accessible restroom facilities. Some challenges include parking difficulties for larger vehicles and a lack of amenities nearby, but overall, guests recommend it for its beautiful location and enjoyable camping experience.
What Guests Are Saying
Cottonwood Campground is highly praised for its cleanliness, well-maintained facilities, and excellent stargazing opportunities, making it a favorite among campers. Many visitors enjoyed the nearby hiking trails and the campground's peaceful atmosphere, noting the friendly park rangers and accessible restroom facilities. Some challenges include parking difficulties for larger vehicles and a lack of amenities nearby, but overall, guests recommend it for its beautiful location and enjoyable camping experience.
Review Summary
Joe R
VerifiedMay 15, 2025 • Stayed at: A09, Loop: COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA)
Good NPS reprieve that’s close to the freeway (12 minutes). Inside the circle spots are the best with water access, although takes a bit to get the rig level. Scenery average compared to deep in the forest. As a Tucsonan, it looks a lot like home. Easy booking and access for a large RV.
Yauheni C
VerifiedMay 11, 2025 • Stayed at: B06, Loop: COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA)
Beautiful campground with clean bathrooms. Amazing stargazing at night.
James D
VerifiedMay 11, 2025 • Stayed at: A20, Loop: COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA)
20A is next to the bathroom and you'll have well over 100 people walk through your zone at all hours...
Alan M
VerifiedMay 11, 2025 • Stayed at: B07, Loop: COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA)
It's the desert. It's dry, it's hot, etc... Camp ground was great. I was lucky and had the water spicket at my site on front of the restrooms.
Yauheni C
VerifiedMay 11, 2025 • Stayed at: B06, Loop: COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA)
Beautiful campground with clean bathrooms. Amazing stargazing at night.
James D
VerifiedMay 11, 2025 • Stayed at: A20, Loop: COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA)
20A is next to the bathroom and you'll have well over 100 people walk through your zone at all hours...
Alan M
VerifiedMay 11, 2025 • Stayed at: B07, Loop: COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA)
It's the desert. It's dry, it's hot, etc... Camp ground was great. I was lucky and had the water spicket at my site on front of the restrooms.
Luke S
VerifiedMay 7, 2025 • Stayed at: B31, Loop: COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA)
Cottonwood campground is amazing for three reasons:
1. It's by far the darkest campground in the park, and it's very close to the darkest area in the park (the road between cottonwood and cholla cactus garden). If stargazing is your goal, this campground is for you.
2. Cottonwoods is about ~40 minutes from the most crowded areas of the park (White Tank, Ryan peak, etc.) and as a result (I thought) is generally much calmer and quieter than the other campgrounds.
3. It has the best facilities in the park by far, including flushing toilets and plenty of running water.
Phil V
VerifiedMay 7, 2025 • Stayed at: B13, Loop: COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA)
There is plenty of space between each bay, with good facilities and an unbelievable setting.
Luke S
VerifiedMay 7, 2025 • Stayed at: B31, Loop: COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA)
Cottonwood campground is amazing for three reasons:
1. It's by far the darkest campground in the park, and it's very close to the darkest area in the park (the road between cottonwood and cholla cactus garden). If stargazing is your goal, this campground is for you.
2. Cottonwoods is about ~40 minutes from the most crowded areas of the park (White Tank, Ryan peak, etc.) and as a result (I thought) is generally much calmer and quieter than the other campgrounds.
3. It has the best facilities in the park by far, including flushing toilets and plenty of running water.
Location Cottonwood Campground (CA)
Address:
74485 National Park Drive
Twentynine Palms, CA, 92277
United States
The park headquarters address is not the physical address of the campground. To get to the campground, take Interstate 10 to the I-10 exit 168 Mecca/Twentynine Palms exit and follow signs to Joshua Tree National Park. The exit is 25 miles east of Indio, California.
Cottonwood Campground is accessible via Interstate 10, with the I-10 exit 168 Mecca/Twentynine Palms exit located approximately 25 miles to the west.
Latitude & Longitude: 33.75 / -115.825
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Last updated: June 4, 2026
