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Cottonwood Campground (Ca)

Joshua Tree National Park — hiking

Location: Twentynine Palms, CA, CA

Price: From $35 per night

Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (1637 reviews)

Season: Year-round

Download the NPS app prior to visiting the park – trail maps and more! 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.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Drinking Water, Electric Hookups

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/cottonwood-campground-ca to be notified when sites open up.

Cottonwood Campground is one of the best places in Joshua Tree National Park for stargazing and wildflower viewing with easy access from Interstate 10. Campers praise the clean flush toilets, potable water, covered canopies, and picnic tables.

Wildlife alert: Gray Fox, White-tailed Antelope Squirrel, Black-throated Sparrow, Phainopepla, Desert Spiny Lizard, Zebra-tailed Lizard, Long-nosed Leopard Lizard

Insider tips for Cottonwood Campground (Ca): Book early as this is a popular federal campground that fills quickly Odd-numbered sites park along the roadway while even-numbered sites are tent or back-in RV spots Download the NPS app before visiting for trail maps and additional park information

Skip Cottonwood Campground (Ca) if: You need full RV hookups — no hookups available at most sites, only suitable for self-contained RVs. You require guaranteed year-round availability — seasonal operations apply.

Best time to visit Cottonwood Campground (Ca): October-May — Warm, dry winters with daytime temperatures between 70-90°F and nighttime temperatures between 40-60°F attract visitors during peak season.

Nearby campgrounds: Cottonwood Group (Twentynine Palms, CA), Jumbo Rocks Campground — Joshua Tree National Park (Twentynine Palms, CA), Sheep Pass Group (Twentynine Palms, CA), Ryan Campground (TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA).

Cell Phone Coverage at Cottonwood Campground (Ca)

Cell signal at Cottonwood Campground (Ca) (Twentynine Palms, CA): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

    Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

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    CamperWatch›CA›Cottonwood Campground (Ca)
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    Joshua Tree National Park — hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

    Cottonwood Campground (Ca)

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    Twentynine Palms, CA, CA★ 4.4 (1,637 reviews)From $35/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
    On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

    Download the NPS app prior to visiting the park – trail maps and more! 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.

    Best for:HikersWildlife watchersFamiliesSites:TentRV
    LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

    Verified facts

    RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
    Check-in2:00 PM
    Check-out12:00 PM
    SeasonYear-round
    Stay limit14 days
    Max RV48 ft
    HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
    PetsAllowed
    CampfiresAllowed
    Max/site6 people

    Amenities

    RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
    Essentials
    Fire RingsDrinking Water
    Recreation
    Picnic TablesElectric Hookups
    Family & Pets
    Flush Toilets

    Straight talk

    CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

    Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

    Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
    Skip it if:✕ You need full RV hookups — no hookups available at most sites, only suitable for self-contained RVs✕ You require guaranteed year-round availability — seasonal operations apply

    Insider tips & when to go

    CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

    Book early as this is a popular federal campground that fills quickly

    Odd-numbered sites park along the roadway while even-numbered sites are tent or back-in RV spots

    Download the NPS app before visiting for trail maps and additional park information

    Best: October-May

    Warm, dry winters with daytime temperatures between 70-90°F and nighttime temperatures between 40-60°F attract visitors during peak season

    Things to do nearby

    RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

    Conditions today

    Live
    at campground coordinates

    Cell signal

    FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
    T-Mobile
    4G · 0%
    Verizon
    4G · 0%
    AT&T
    4G · 0%

    FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

    Wildlife nearby

    iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
    Alert: Gray Fox, White-tailed Antelope Squirrel, Black-throated Sparrow, Phainopepla, Desert Spiny Lizard, Zebra-tailed Lizard, Long-nosed Leopard Lizard

    Location

    Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
    Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
    760-367-5554· Joshua Tree National Park
    Getting there →

    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.

    Campground entrance

    Google Maps API

    Community

    #community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

    Pro tips

    • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Joshua Tree National Park fills fast in peak season.
    • Check current road conditions at Joshua Tree National Park before arrival — seasonal closures common.

    Frequently asked questions

    RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
    How much does Cottonwood Campground (Ca) cost per night?+
    Cottonwood Campground (Ca) costs $35 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
    What season is Cottonwood Campground (Ca) open?+
    Cottonwood Campground (Ca) is open Year-round. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
    Does Cottonwood Campground (Ca) have hookups?+
    No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
    What is the maximum RV length at Cottonwood Campground (Ca)?+
    Cottonwood Campground (Ca) can accommodate RVs up to 48 feet.
    How do I make reservations at Cottonwood Campground (Ca)?+
    Cottonwood Campground (Ca) is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
    What is the cell service like at Cottonwood Campground (Ca)?+
    According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Cottonwood Campground (Ca) is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
    What season is Cottonwood Campground (Ca) open, and what are check-in times?+
    Cottonwood Campground (Ca) is open Year-round. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
    Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
    ●Data sources on this page
    Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
    recreation.gov · RIDB API
    National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
    api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
    Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
    airquality.googleapis.com
    iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
    api.inaturalist.org
    Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
    pollen.googleapis.com
    FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
    broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
    Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
    api.sunrise-sunset.org
    Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
    maps.googleapis.com
    RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
    ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

    CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

    $35 /night★ 4.4 (1637)
    SeasonYear-round
    Check-in2:00 PM
    Check-out12:00 PM
    Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
    Dates full? Get an availability alert
    FAQ
    How much does Cottonwood Campground (Ca) cost per night?+
    What season is Cottonwood Campground (Ca) open?+
    Does Cottonwood Campground (Ca) have hookups?+
    All 7 questions →

    Nearby Campgrounds

    Cottonwood Group

    Twentynine Palms, CA

    From $55/night

    Jumbo Rocks Campground — Joshua Tree National Park

    Twentynine Palms, CA

    From $30/night

    Sheep Pass Group

    Twentynine Palms, CA

    From $55/night

    Ryan Campground

    TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA

    From $30/night

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