Cottonwood Campground

Cottonwood Campground is the developed national-park campground at the southern end of Joshua Tree National Park in California, sitting at roughly 3,000 feet near the Cottonwood Visitor Center and the Cottonwood Spring Oasis. It is the quieter sibling of Black Rock: same potable water, flush toilets and dump station, far less competition for sites. We think it suits RVers arriving from I-10, Palm Springs or the Coachella Valley, and anyone who cares more about birding and the Mastodon Peak or Lost Palms Oasis hikes than about the classic Joshua-tree scenery, which lives further north in the Mojave section.

Cottonwood Campground at a glance

Hookups	None; water + dump available
Sites	62 individual sites (reservable via Recreation.gov during peak season)
Max RV length	35 ft
Cost	$35
Fees	Park entrance is separate; group sites do not permit RVs.
Reservations	Reservation required
Elevation	~3,000 feet
Dump station	Yes
Water	Yes — potable water available
Cell signal	Weak to moderate
Generators	Permitted during designated hours

Source-backed: Official NPS campground page (checked 2026-07-18). Rates and site details change — verify with the operator before you book. Compare it with every other park we track in the price index.

Why RVers stay here

Practically, this is dry camping: no electric, water or sewer at the 62 individual sites, though water and a dump are on site and generators run only in the designated hours. Flat, open terrain handles rigs to 35 feet without drama. Sites are on Recreation.gov in the busy season and first-come in summer, when heat routinely passes 100 degrees and the campground empties for good reason. Fall through spring is the window. The trade-off is scenery: Colorado Desert scrub rather than the park's iconic boulder-and-Joshua-tree landscape.

✓One of only two Joshua Tree campgrounds with potable water, flush toilets and a dump station

✓Noticeably easier to book than Black Rock in peak season

✓Closest campground to the south entrance off I-10, handy from Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley

✓Excellent birding at Cottonwood Spring plus the Mastodon Peak and Lost Palms Oasis trails

✓Flat, open sites that take RVs up to 35 feet without maneuvering trouble

!No hookups of any kind; generators only during designated hours

!Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees at this lower elevation, and can hit 110

!The scenery is sparse Colorado Desert scrub, below the Joshua tree line, and some visitors find it underwhelming

What our guides say about Cottonwood Campground

Excerpts from the RV Parks Guide articles that cover this campground. Each links to the full guide.

Regional guide

Joshua Tree RV Camping: Inside the Park and Full-Hookup Options Outside

Cottonwood sits at the south end of the park, near the Cottonwood Visitor Center and the Cottonwood Spring Oasis. It is the park's other developed campground — potable water, flush toilets, and a dump station — but it is considerably less popular than Black Rock, which works in your favor.

The campground has 62 individual sites and several group sites. It is reservable through Recreation.gov during the busy season and first-come, first-served during the summer months when almost nobody camps here (for good reason — summer temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees at this lower elevation). Sites handle RVs up to 35 feet without issue, and the terrain is flat and open.

The landscape at Cottonwood is Colorado Desert rather than Mojave — you are below the Joshua tree line here, so the scenery is more sparse desert scrub. Some visitors find it underwhelming compared to the park's iconic northern sections, but the birding around Cottonwood Spring is genuinely excellent (over 200 species have been recorded in the oasis area), and the Mastodon Peak and Lost Palms Oasis trails are among the best day hikes in the park.

Cottonwood is also the closest campground to the south entrance off I-10, making it convenient if you are arriving from the Palm Springs or Coachella Valley direction.

Read the guide →

Cottonwood Campground: frequently asked questions

Does Cottonwood Campground have full hookups?

No. Cottonwood is dry camping with no electric, water or sewer at the sites, but potable water and a dump station are available at the campground.

How much does Cottonwood Campground cost per night?

Our specs list $35 per night for an individual site; the Joshua Tree park entrance fee is separate, and group sites do not permit RVs. Confirm the current rate on Recreation.gov.

What is the max RV length at Cottonwood Campground?

Sites handle RVs up to 35 feet, and the terrain is flat and open. Check the individual site record when booking.

Do you need reservations at Cottonwood Campground?

Yes during the busy season, through Recreation.gov. In the summer months it runs first-come, first-served, when heat keeps most campers away.

Can you run a generator at Cottonwood Campground?

Yes, but only during the park's designated generator hours; our Joshua Tree guide lists 7:00 to 9:00 AM and 5:00 to 7:00 PM. Quiet hours are 10 PM to 6 AM.

Is there cell signal at Cottonwood Campground?

Weak to moderate. Download maps and reservations before you arrive.