Campsite AtlasCottonwood Campground (Ca)
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.
Campsites
| Standard, no hookups | 50 |
| RV, no hookups | 6 |
| Host/management | 3 |
| Tent-only | 3 |
| Total | 62 |
Amenities & rules
Compiled from site-level records; individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
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.
Campgrounds nearby
29.9 miles away
Data source: Recreation.gov RIDB, retrieved August 30, 2026. The Campsite Atlas is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Recreation.gov or any federal agency. Always confirm critical details on the official Recreation.gov page before you travel.