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Cottonwood Campground (ca)
★4.3(1,258 reviews)
High DemandJoshua Tree National Park · Twentynine Palms, California🚛Big Rig FriendlyDesert/Canyon
Best For
RV campers and long-vehicle travelers who need the park's most generous length limit (48 ft) and easy I-10 access, plus anyone chasing spring wildflowers in the southern Sonoran zone.
59
Sites
No
Hookups
Flush
Toilets
Cottonwood is the southernmost campground and the most RV-accessible in the park, with a 48-foot vehicle length limit that no other Joshua Tree campground matches. Its 59 sites include 6 dedicated RV nonelectric spots and 50 standard sites, making it the practical choice for anyone pulling a large rig. The 4.3 rating from 1,258 reviews is solid given the site's popularity. An unusual data point: July shows 0.0% last-minute bookings with 21.3% planned 6+ months ahead — a tiny but highly intentional visitor pool, likely researchers or specialized desert enthusiasts who know exactly why they're coming in July heat. September is the easiest month overall (48.1% last-minute), while March peaks at 1,586 reservations. The proximity to Cottonwood Spring oasis adds a birdwatching dimension that separates it from every other campground in the park.
Content from Joshua Tree National Park park guide
October through April is the core visitor season at Joshua Tree, with November representing the single most competitive booking month in the park — 17.7% of November reservations are made 6+ months in advance across 8,472 total bookings. March and April see the highest raw reservation volume (11,352 and 10,250 respectively), driven by spring wildflowers and ideal 70–90°F daytime temperatures. August is the easiest month to find a site with 40.8% of bookings made last-minute, but summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F in the lower elevations.
Joshua Tree has two main entrances — the West Entrance near Joshua Tree town and the North Entrance near Twentynine Palms — plus the South Entrance at Cottonwood off Interstate 10, which accesses only the southern campgrounds. There is no park shuttle; a private vehicle is required to move between campgrounds, trailheads, and visitor centers. Note that Belle, Hidden Valley, and White Tank campgrounds are first-come, first-served and must be paid for at an entrance station within one hour of occupying a site.
Total reservations in October 2023: 949
Address
Twentynine Palms, California
Coordinates
33.7500, -115.8250
Very high demand - sites typically fill up immediately when the booking window opens. Plan to book the moment reservations open.
Joshua Tree National Park
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Salton Sea SRA
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Salton Sea SRA
Joshua Tree National Park
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The park entrance fee is $35 per vehicle, valid for 7 days. Nightly camping fees vary by campground and are charged separately through Recreation.gov for reservation campgrounds, or paid at entrance stations for first-come, first-served sites. The America the Beautiful Annual Pass ($80) covers the $35 entrance fee but does not reduce nightly camping fees — it is still worth the investment for anyone visiting multiple federal lands in the same year.
The maximum stay at every campground is 14 days within any 28-day period. Pets are permitted in campgrounds and on paved roads but are not allowed on trails or in the backcountry. No water is available at Belle, Hidden Valley, or White Tank campgrounds, and water is limited even at campgrounds that do have it — bring at least one gallon per person per day. Cell service is unreliable throughout most of the park; download the NPS app and offline maps before arrival. The nearest full-service town is Twentynine Palms, which has grocery stores, gas, and medical facilities.