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
No sites found matching your criteria.
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.
Site Details
Select a site to view details
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
Ann H
VerifiedNovember 5, 2024 • Stayed at: B27, Loop: COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA)
Lights in the bathrooms would be nice. Also the ability to be more flexible in changing locations, having access to internet to see if other options are available. Camp site was clean, as was the rest of the campground.
Pio G
VerifiedNovember 3, 2024 • Stayed at: B20, Loop: COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA)
Great location! Clean restrooms. Drinking water available as well. Trails off of A Loop Camp grounds. I’ll be coming back.
Pio G
VerifiedNovember 3, 2024 • Stayed at: B20, Loop: COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA)
Great location! Clean restrooms. Drinking water available as well. Trails off of A Loop Camp grounds. I’ll be coming back.
Stephen D
VerifiedNovember 2, 2024 • Stayed at: A09, Loop: COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA)
Cottonwood is a decent campground. Water, Trash, and Restrooms were all in good shape. Other campers were generally quiet and respectful of others. We chose Cottonwood for astronomy because it is farthest from city lights, and it was reasonably dark, though not like the open desert can be. But the campsites here, while functional are not picturesque like many of the other campgrounds in Joshua Tree NP. Mostly flat, mostly mesquite, like much of the surrounding desert. The main advantage is a clear Southern horizon for astronomers. Its also quite far from almost everything else in the Park.
Stephen D
VerifiedNovember 2, 2024 • Stayed at: A09, Loop: COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA)
Cottonwood is a decent campground. Water, Trash, and Restrooms were all in good shape. Other campers were generally quiet and respectful of others. We chose Cottonwood for astronomy because it is farthest from city lights, and it was reasonably dark, though not like the open desert can be. But the campsites here, while functional are not picturesque like many of the other campgrounds in Joshua Tree NP. Mostly flat, mostly mesquite, like much of the surrounding desert. The main advantage is a clear Southern horizon for astronomers. Its also quite far from almost everything else in the Park.
Doug S
VerifiedNovember 1, 2024 • Stayed at: A24, Loop: COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA)
Sites are well spaced so you’re not to close to neighbors. Roads are in good condition and hiking trailheads are at the campground.
Doug S
VerifiedNovember 1, 2024 • Stayed at: A24, Loop: COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA)
Sites are well spaced so you’re not to close to neighbors. Roads are in good condition and hiking trailheads are at the campground.
Richard H
VerifiedOctober 29, 2024 • Stayed at: A20, Loop: COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA)
Spacious trailer site, beautiful vistas, and temps were perfect!
Donna P
VerifiedOctober 29, 2024 • Stayed at: A08, Loop: COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA)
Nice campground! We stayed in a tent cabin which was quite nice. We had both a fan and small heater. The weather was cold so the tent was a plus. There is a small store and the campground made it convenient to explore the park. Our tent had 30 amp electric so that was a major plus as well as WiFi. The bed wasn’t great but better than a camp mattress. We enjoyed the Adirondack chais to sit in after dark. The restrooms weren’t super close but the showers near the office were wonderful- nice hot water. I would stay here again - we recommend if you want to hike the park.
Richard H
VerifiedOctober 29, 2024 • Stayed at: A20, Loop: COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA)
Spacious trailer site, beautiful vistas, and temps were perfect!
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
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: June 4, 2026
