Cottonwood Campground (CA)
Joshua Tree National Park
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Cottonwood Campground is one of the best places in Joshua Tree National Park for stargazing and wildflower viewing. Easy access from Interstate 10, makes it a popular stopover for travelers. To get the most out of your visit Plan Like a Park Ranger
Visitors who enjoy warm, dry winters flock to Joshua Tree from October through May, when temperatures reach between 70 to 90-degrees during the day and drop to 40 to 60-degrees at night. Summer is the park's off-season due to the uncomfortably high desert heat; however, reservations are required year-round. Cottonwood Campground is at an elevation of 3,000 ft. and has little shade from vegetation.
There are 62 sites, each with a fire ring and picnic table. There are no electrical hookups. Drinking water and flush toilets are provided.
Need to Know
Download the NPS app prior to visiting the park – trail maps and more!
Reservations are required year round and can be made the same day or up to 6 months in advance.
The park allows six people, two vehicles and three tents per site, however, some sites are small and may not accommodate the maximum number of people and vehicles. See Site Details for specifics. There is no overflow parking. Trailers count as a vehicle.
Due to narrow parking areas, most campsites cannot accommodate RV slideouts.
No-Shows
Overnight Facilities: A no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out (noon) time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time (noon) on the day following the arrival date.
A $20.00 service fee and the first night’s recreation fee will be deducted from any refund for unused nights.
*Note: the entire reservation will be cancelled for no-shows.
Please call 760-367-5554 for information.
$30 per vehicle entrance fee is in addition to camping fee. Passes can be purchased ahead of time online here.
There are no electric, water or sewer hook-ups available at individual campsites; a dump station ($5 additional fee) is located nearby. Flush toilets and potable water are available in the campground.
Generator use is permitted only from 7–9 am, noon–2 pm, and 5–7 pm.
Pets are not allowed on trails but are welcome in the campground, on any dirt road or within 100 feet of any road. Pets must be on a leash no more than 6 feet long at all times. Pets may not be left unattended or tied to an object; leaving pets in unattended vehicles is strongly discouraged – especially on warm days
Don’t Move Firewood: Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood near the park and burning it on-site, and do not use park vegetation, living or dead, for fuel.
All organized events require a special use permit and must be held in designated areas; contact the Special Park Use Coordinator, jotr_permit_office@nps.gov.
STOP THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE SPECIES. Remove plants, seeds, animals, and mud from boots, gear, pets, and vehicles. Clean your gear before entering and leaving the recreation site. Stay on designated roads and trails, and follow local guidelines for firewood. For more information visit the National Invasive Species Information Center.
Natural Features
The landscape around Cottonwood is that of the Colorado Desert, which encompasses the southern edge of the park and a large portion of Southern California. Rather than being surrounded by large rock formations and uniquely-shaped Joshua trees, like campgrounds in the northern section, this facility overlooks flat, open-desert shrubland. It is also further from towns or cities that would contribute light pollution. As a result, it offers wide, dark and uninterrupted views of the night sky that draw astronomers and amateur sky watchers alike.
Cottonwood is at a lower elevation than other campgrounds within the park, so desert wildflowers begin to bloom earlier in the spring than in other locations. Flowering occurs anytime between the beginning of February to the end of March; timing varies depending on the amount of winter precipitation and the arrival of warm temperatures.
Nearby Attractions
The General Patton Memorial Museum, a U.S. military history museum, is just over 12 miles away in the town of Chiriaco.
Recreation
Stargazing and wildflower viewing are among the most popular activities at this facility. Several hiking trails leave from the campground and several more trailheads are within a one to two hour drive.
Changes & Cancellations
Reservation Cancellations & Changes
Cancelling a Reservation: Customers may cancel their reservation prior to arrival both on-line and through the call center. A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation. Depending on when you cancel in relation to your arrival day, it may be considered a late cancellation.
Changing an Existing Reservation: When changes are made prior to the cut-off window:
If a customer wants to switch dates that are entirely outside of the original reservation dates, there is a $10 change fee.
There is no change fee if a customer extends or shortens a reservation, as long as the change includes dates from the original reservation. If they choose to depart early, they may forfeit the recreation fee for the day of departure.
There is no change fee if the customer wants to switch sites that are the same price with the same reservation dates in the same facility.
If a reservation is made that includes dates beyond the maximum booking window, that reservation cannot be changed until 18 days have passed from the original booking date.
Late Cancellations or Cancellations within the Cut-off Window
Individual Campsites: A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee.
No-Shows
Overnight Facilities: A no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out (noon) time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time (noon) on the day following the arrival date.
No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night’s recreation fee for a campsite.
*Note: the entire reservation will be cancelled for no-shows.
Contact Information
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74485 National Park Drive Twentynine Palms CA 92277
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 760-367-5554
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
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.
Available Campsites
- Site B23, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B18, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B11, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A14, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B01, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B20, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B19, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B24, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A12, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A23, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B14, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B12, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A08, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A26, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A19, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B27, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B22, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B26, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A03, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B08, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A18, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A06, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A27, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B07, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B28, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A11, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B25, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B06, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A24, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A15, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A28, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A29, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B15, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A10, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B30, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A02, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B31, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B17, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B02, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A30, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B29, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A05, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A01, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B13, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B10, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B03, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B09, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A16, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A09, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A25, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A21, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A07, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B04, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A17, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A04, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A31, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B16, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B05, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A20, Loop COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA), Type Standard Nonelectric
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