Campground

Cottonwood Campground (CA)

Near Indio, California

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. 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.

Facilities

There are 62 sites, each with a fire ring and picnic table. There are no electrical hookups. Drinking water and flush toilets are provided.

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.

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.

Recreation Sites

Standard Nonelectric
Management
Tent Only Nonelectric
Overnight

Activities

Day Use Area
Wildlife Viewing
Hiking
Interpretive Programs
Camping

Amenities

Grills/Fire Ring
Picnic Table
BBQ

Nearby Attractions

The General Patton Memorial Museum, a U.S. military history museum, is just over 12 miles away in the town of Chiriaco.

Getting Here

Latitude

33° 45' 0.0000" N

Longitude

115° 49' 30.0000" W

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.

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.